#the shrimp life gets lonely

[impval]

cinnamon in my teeth pt.2

CaitVi  x fem!reader

You were so used to coming home to an empty, silent house. No parents, no friends, no one to greet you after your shifts at work. Just the soft, solitary hush of an empty house.

The silence sat heavy on your shoulders - that feeling of being alone, and isolated.

You'd spend hours sitting quietly, lost in your head.

You'd go hours without speaking a word to anyone, the only company you had being the sound of your own heartbeat and the voices inside your head.

Life was quiet. Lonely.

But now… now the house was full of sound. Of warmth and laughter and love.

You'd come home to the sound of arguments, of giggles and laughter, of two women who loved you very dearly. You'd be met with smiles instead of loneliness, and you'd be greeted with warm kisses before even finished saying hello.

The silence was still there sometimes, but it was different. Softer. It was a comfort to walk into the house and still feel the presence of your girlfriends, even when they weren't there. Their clothes, their accessories, their distinct scents.

They didn't always come home together, unfortunately. Their jobs often left them both late at night, either one getting home before the other, sometimes both being late. Caitlyn was a workaholic, so often she'd be at her desk well beyond the hours most normal people would consider reasonable.

Caitlyn was an incredibly dedicated person, and while you knew work was important to her, both you and Vi were always happy that she tried to make time for you.

There were times when it was hard, though. When she'd come home in the late hour, looking tired and worn out and stressed. When she'd spend long hours hunched over paperwork, and you'd find her in the middle of the night, still not done.

But overall, it wasn't too bad. You appreciated that she was willing to put work aside for you and Vi.

You can never get excited for Fridays. You love that the end of the week brings a break from work, but at the same time, that Friday energy always seems to bring all the idiots with it. Meetings, last minute reports, and unexpected calls from clients who need their paperwork signed by the end of the week.

You let out a soft sigh, dropping your pen down on the desk. Your back popped as you finally straightened your spine, feeling the knots of pain in your shoulders unknotting.

Your eyes roamed over the rest of the office, eyeing out your coworkers. Just like you, they all had that shrimp-like slouch, slumped over their desks.

Office life was slowly destroying your back.

Your eyes narrowed as you spotted your boss, standing across the office with a cup of tea and another coworker. Your boss is an absolute ass - a massive jerk who thinks that just because you're the younger, he can push every last responsibility onto your shoulders.

But he'd been much quieter lately and seemed to be avoiding you like you had a deadly disease, passing on work to others instead of giving it directly to you. It was a strange change.

And there was something about the glitter on his neck that was familiar… pink and blue, he tried covered it with a scarf but you noticed. The glitter dusted across his skin, plus the hint of a limp he now had, and the fact that someone had spent an entire day cleaning the graffiti from the his office...

You finish the last of the coffee in your mug, unable to help a small smile lifting your mouth.

Caitlyn and Vi hadn't promised to stay out of it, but Jinx… Jinx didn't make such promise.

Jinx was Vi's younger sister, and the relationship between the sisters was… complicated, to say the least. At least they weren't currently fighting, but it was only a matter of time.

She was insane, that was for sure. But you also kind of liked Jinx… when she wasn't kidnapping you or trying to burn down the city, that is. Despite her occasional kidnappings and pranks, Jinx did sort of treat you differently than anyone else. You couldn't quite pin down why.

You were normal. A civilian, no history of violence, no blood on your hands, an average person. Perhaps it was just because you were normal.

It had been an odd encounter when Jinx kidnapped you for first time, but the first thing you'd said to her? "I like your hair."

The clock on the wall finally reached the end of the work day, marking the end of your shift.

You stood from your seat, stretching your stiff back, letting a sigh out of your lips. Your boss looked nervous as you smiled at him, walking past.

The evening air was cool, sending a chill down your spine. With a sigh you tightened your jacket around your shoulders, searching for any sign of Vi.

Suddenly, you felt a pair of hands fall over your eyes, and a familiar voice spoke behind you.

"Guess who?"

Vi leaned her face close to your ear, her smile widening as she heard your comment, her breath warm. You could feel a smile tug at your lips, the familiar scent and warmth of your girlfriend's presence bringing you comfort. The feel of her body next to you was as natural and comforting as breathing.

"A bit predictable, don't you think?" you smirked, a slight hint of sarcasm in your tone.

"Maybe. But it gets you every time."

She moved her hands away from your eyes and instead wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. The kiss was light and gentle, and you could feel the blush quickly take over your cheeks.

Vi's hair was a bit dirty, a mess of tangled locks, yet somehow it still looked as cool as ever. There was a slight smudge of dirt across her cheek, probably from some sort of grease, and you reached up to wipe it away.

Vi's arm wrapped around your waist as you took slow strides towards your house, your pace relaxed in the cool evening air. The walk wasn't far, only ten minutes from the office.

You still couldn't believe it sometimes, living in a mansion now, a far cry from your small apartment, and you had two girlfriends. Life was weird.

"How was your day?" Vi said softly.

You loved your job for the most part. Yeah, it had endless paperwork and tedious reports, but it paid the bills, and the people you worked with were nice and helpful.

Vi didn't always fully understand what you said, but that never stopped her from paying attention and trying to grasp the concepts. It was one of the things you loved most about her - her unwavering attention and curiosity.

The walk home was filled with you discussing work and venting to Vi, who listened and asked questions in the right spots. She nodded along, making noises of understanding to let you know that she was following along.

The lights of mansion glowed warmly in the windows as you and Vi approached, letting you know that Caitlyn was home. Perfect, since that meant she was probably already cooking dinner.

Vi didn't quite know how to cook, although Caitlyn and you was more than happy to help her. You usually took the lead in the kitchen, but you'd grown tired of it recently, and you couldn't deny the appeal of Caitlyn handling all the cooking.

You and Vi exchanged a knowing look, both of you thinking the same thing. Caitlyn's cooking was that good.

The moment you stepped into the house, the scent of freshly-cooked meat immediately hit your nostrils, your mouth watering at the thought of a proper meal after a day filled only with snacks.

Both you and Vi walk into the kitchen, finding Caitlyn standing by the stove. She looks adorable in the little apron she’s wearing, and you can tell she's a little tired - her forehead is creased with a worried little crease, and her messy hair is pushed back into a bun.

The moment you enter, she turns to you both, a warm smile on her full lips.

"You're home!" Caitlyn exclaims with a pleased sigh.

You watch as Caitlyn leans over to give Vi a swift, affectionate kiss. Vi leans into the kiss, her arms wrapping around Caitlyn waist in a tight little pull.

"I missed you," she murmurs.

It was true that a lot of people didn't understand how three women could be in a relationship with each other. So many people tried to insist it was some sort of twisted experiment - that someone had to be left out, or that everyone was secretly miserable.

You had heard the questions - Don't you feel lonely? Don't you get jealous? - and you usually had just shrugged them off with a wry smile. After all, you were dating both the two most beautiful women in existence.

Jealousy? Loneliness? You feel neither.

Caitlyn then turns her attention to you, her expression softening.

"And I missed you too," she adds, her hand coming up to gently caress your cheek. "Did you have a good day, sweetheart?"

"It was..work as usual." You can't help smiling. It's such a stupid, lovesick, soft expression - like lovestruck puppy.

But you don't care at all.

Caitlyn smiles back, the corners of her eyes crinkling faintly.

"You're all happy like an idiots," Vi teases, an amused scoff in her voice. Her arms are still wrapped around Caitlyn's waist.

"Just work, huh?"

Caitlyn raises a curious eyebrow, her eyes watching you closely. A flicker of something - something you can't quite decipher - crosses over her face. There was something in her expression, like she was expecting a certain answer from you.

Well, someone had to set Jinx on your boss, right? Well, Caitlyn promised not to hurt your boss. Smart decision and no broken promises.

She nod regardless, and simply says, "Dinner's just about ready, so you might want to go wash up before you eat."

"Ugh," Vi groans, her grip growing tight on Caitlyn, as if it's to hold her in place.

Caitlyn simply rolls her eyes and gently bats Vi's hands away from her. "Go," she says, her voice firm. "You can't eat if your hands are all dirty."

You take Vi's hand and start to pull her towards the bathroom, leading her away from Caitlyn.

Vi gives one last, half-hearted protest, but she lets you pull her away without too much fuss. She follows you to the bathroom, and you start to wash at the sink.

It's so stupid how cute Vi can be when she's pouting like this. She's always been so used to getting her own way that she acts like a whiny five-year-old sometimes. It's both adorable and incredibly annoying at once.

You all sit at the table, and Vi is already shoveling food into her mouth like a greedy puppy. She's completely ungraceful, taking large, messy bites.

Caitlyn, on the other hand, is incredibly slow, savoring every bite of her food. She's a woman raised with manners and discipline, after all.

Christmas was on its way, and you now had a beautiful tree in the living room. Vi has never, ever been able to celebrate Christmas properly. Now she was going through all the effort to make her first Christmas "proper," and it was adorable how enthusiastic she was about it.

She was practically vibrating with excitement when you all first got the Christmas tree out. Her eyes lit up so brightly as she excitedly babbled about how much she was looking forward to decorating the tree together.

You all chat. The snow is falling outside, slowly blanketing your home in a layer of white, soft snow that creates a sense of comfort. Vi is so excited that you can't help but laugh at the fact that she didn't even notice the mess she's made of her own face.

Caitlyn has to wipe away some of the sauce from Vi's face, muttering about how she's a mess - but there's an affectionate, amused smile on her face.

You remember the days of instant ramen in a bowl and a quiet, empty apartment - you were always alone. The difference now is incredible, the change in lifestyle so immense that it still feels a little like a dream sometimes.

Christmas has always been a bit of a mixed bag for Caitlyn - she didn't hate it by any means, but there was always a lot of pressure for her to be on her very best behavior.

She would have had to arrange an event for the entire Kiramman family, which meant she would have had to talk to an awful lot of people who she absolutely did not like.

You're aware of this, and you'd make sure that she'd never have to go through it again. So you'd insisted that both of your girlfriends spend Christmas with you - no formality, just three girlfriends together in a happy home. You wanted it to be a peaceful holiday, without the usual stress.

As you pick up the dirty dishes, Vi cracks her knuckles and stretches before heading upstairs to take a shower. You know she'll be waiting in bed for you and Caitlyn later.

Caitlyn follows you, her hands at her sides, looking at you as you start washing the dishes. She watches you for a moment, studying you quietly.

Caitlyn has never been fond of people doing chores in her home. She'd rather do it herself, even though it was never necessary. She'd grown up in a house with servants, and she always hated it - it left her feeling like an outsider in her own home.

There is a time you remember when her gaze scared you. The weight of her stare was almost uncomfortable. She was so strong, so smart, so intimidating. Now you cherish that gaze. Now you love it when she stares at you.

"You know, my boss has been incredibly quiet lately," you say, breaking the silence with a saccharine-sweet voice.

Caitlyn's eyes narrow at your comment, a small frown marring her perfect face. She knew you knew.

Somehow, Caitlyn had convinced Jinx to... prank your boss. You knew Jinx wouldn't have thought to do it on her own - she was currently too busy with Zaun politics to really care about your problems. You hadn't seen her in months.

"He was?" she says, her tone as calm as your own. "I wonder why."

You finish washing the last dish in the sink, and turn off the water.

Caitlyn gives you a towel, and you quickly start to dry your hands. There's something you want to say, but you can't outmaneuver Caitlyn - she grew up with all these little games, and you, for all your effort, can never really match her.

No games, then.

"Jinx? Caitlyn, honey, just how?"

Caitlyn snorts, her head tilting to one side as she pushes some hair out of her face.

"How do you know it's me?" she asks, pretending to be unperturbed by your accusations. "Maybe it was Vi."

You roll your eyes, so hard it almost hurts.

There's no way it was Vi. She never would've thought up something like this on her own - and she would never be able to talk to Jinx without a fight. Those sisters are hopeless, two bickering children. You honestly wish they'd just get therapy or something.

Caitlyn laughs at your reaction, the sound soft and amused. She pulls you closer, wrapping her hands around your waist. She smells of spice and food - but there's that lingering scent of gunpowder there, that was just a part of her now. Always lingering like some sort of phantom.

"It helped that she likes you," she said, voice laced with amusement. She knew Jinx had a soft spot for you, and she'd have used that to her advantage. "And she likes to cause chaos, and i showed her the right direction."

Right. Well, you definitely won't tell Vi about this.

You nuzzle your face into Caitlyn's neck, just like a affectionate cat.

"I should've handled this myself." You murmur against her skin, your voice a little annoyed. You're not sorry for the man getting what he had coming - the jerk deserved it.

Caitlyn lets out a small sigh, your statement coming as no surprise to her. "I know," she murmurs, her voice soft and gentle.

Your girlfriend knew about your insecurities all too well. She could see the way you eyed Vi and her, the way you'd always compare yourself to the two of them. Just a regular person - you worked in an office job and had never stepped foot in combat. Nothing really special.

Caitlyn was particularly attuned to your feelings - she'd known you long enough now to be able to tell when you were feeling especially down on yourself. You were so much more to her than "nothing special."

Because you were a remarkable person. You should have more confidence, and know that you were worthy, special, and desirable in your own way.

She murmurs apology as you nuzzle against her, and you feel her gently running her fingers through your hair. "You know I hate that man for treating you the way he does," she murmurs, her voice soft and caring.

You and Caitlyn press each other close, clinging together. You both know that you can't stay like that for too much longer - Vi probably already waiting in the bedroom for you both, and she's not exactly the most patient person in the world.

Caitlyn presses a soft, final kiss to your forehead, before slowly detaching herself from your embrace.

"We should go to bed," she mumbles. "I'll probably get chewed out if we keep Vi waiting."

Caitlyn leads you up to the bedroom, a soft look in her eyes as you try to stay awake.

A yawn escapes you, and you cover it with your hand. Not only were you glad you didn't have to go anywhere tomorrow, but you were incredibly happy to get to just curl up in bed all morning, with both of your girlfriends still asleep beside you.

You loved those quiet moments. The stolen glances, the walks through the city, the soft touches and easy banter. It just felt so good, so right.

Yes. Life was good.

[mikimakiboo]

Mermay day 22 - Gilded Freedom

- Leviathantale -

Goth is free, he managed to escape his mother's watch and is going to explore !

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Goth looked up at Geno, the two were on an ice plate, enjoying some sun, and Geno was currently sleeping. The little albino orca smiled, it was the exact moment he had been waiting for, the moment his mother would lower his guard enough for him to sneak out and go for a solo swim ! He slowly slid towards the water, looking out for any sign of the selkie waking up, but he didn't move. Goth kept staring for a moment before nodding to himself and carefully entering the water with as little noise as possible.

Mission success ! He flapped his tail, giggling as he swam away. He was a big boy now, he could swim alone ! Not that he disliked swimming with his mom or dad, but he wanted to go his own way for a bit, and he would be back before Geno woke up anyway.

He decided to go between the icebergs, as there always were some shrimps caught in the holes. He swam past some fish, turned around some blocks of ice, watched some orcas in the distance and finally arrived to the sacred hole between icebergs where they always found the shrimps. Goth smiled, entering the hole, he grabbed the closest one to bite into it, savoring his first solo snack. He kept looking out of the hole, but no one was in sight. Good, he had time to enjoy some more shrimps before having to go back to the ice patch.

After a little dozen he decided it was time to leave, not wanting to push his luck too far, so he said goodbye to the shrimps and exited the hole. He made his way back and came past a lonely fish. He stopped, looking at the fish, was it sneaking out too ? The fish swam away, and Goth followed it, curious, was it going back home ? Or was it on its way for mischief ?

He stayed next to the fish, swimming at the same speed as it, watching it take random turns before taking the same ones. He followed the fish for a while, starting to doubt that it even had a destination in mind, until he bumped on something, forcing him to stop.

- Ouch...

He rubbed a hand on his forehead, before looking at what blocked his way, or rather who: he would recognize that black cape and these massive black bones and blue tail anywhere. The thing he bumped into ? His father's shoulder. And Reaper was looking right at him.

Goth froze, looking up at his father's big form. He hadn't thought of that outcome in his plan, but his father was a god and this was his territory, he knew what happened in it, of course he would notice him sneaking past his husband.

- H-Hi dad.. he mumbled, guilty.

Reaper looked at him with his eternal calmness before letting out at sigh and reverting to his small form to be at eye level with his son.

- Weren't you supposed to be with your mother ? He asked, though he already know the answer.

Goth looked down, nodding slightly, seeing no use in lying.

- I'm sorry dad... he apologized.

- What were you doing on your own ?

Goth fidgetted with his own white cape.

- I wanted to swim on my own for a bit... he admitted.

Reaper hummed, but didn't seem mad as he held out a hand for the albino to take.

- Come, we better go back to your mother before he comes looking himself.

Goth nodded, taking the hand as his father took the lead, not swimming too fast to let the small orca follow easily. They swam in silence for a while until Goth asked the question that was burning his tongue.

- Are you mad... ?

Reaper answered after a few seconds.

- When I was your age I cut my little brother's tentacles because we wanted to see if they would grow back, I used my scythe to do it, if the Leviathan of Life hadn't been there he would have died. He explained, I don't think it would be fair of me to get mad because you went for a swim.

Goth looked up at him, he had never heard this story before, not even when uncle Nightmare and uncle Dream visited. His father was always so serious with his magic, it was strange imagining him almost killing his brother because he used his scythe on him. He did have one question though.

- Did they grow back ?

- They did, but only because the Leviathan of Life made sure of that, as anything touched by Death never grows back. 

Goth nodded, he would need to ask uncle Nightmare about that, he wanted to hear the story from both side, especially a story concerning his father.

They arrived at the ice patch, Reaper getting out of the water to lean on it while Goth only poked his head out, slowly. Geno was very much awake and waiting with his arms crossed, looking at his son.

- I found a fish on my way here, Reaper joked.

- I can see that, he tone was indefinable.

Goth looked to the side.

- Sorry mom...

- Don't be too mad at him, his father defended him as Geno squinted, our boy just wanted to swim and eat some shrimps.

Goth shot his father a betrayed look.

- You saw me there !?

Reaper looked at him.

- Didn't need to: your mouth is pink.

Goth felt his face getting hot with embarrassment, swiftly wiping his mouth. Geno sighed, a faint smile on his lips.

- The only reason I'm not mad is because your father's a god so I know you were safe, but it doesn't mean I appreciate you sneaking behind my back, if you want to go for a swim you ask me first, okay ?

- Yes mom.. Goth nodded, relieved to escape a long lecture.

Goth was very lucky his father was a Leviathan, his magic had partly transferred to him, making any possible threat think twice before approaching him. Without that, no doubt that his mother would have been a lot more mad. 

Geno sighed.

- Now come here so I can clean your face.

Goth jumped back on the ice, going to his mother. Reaper jumped too to lay next to his little family.

Yeah, Goth was very lucky.

[harzilla]

*slaps hand on table*

Tell me about your Yuusona. Your twst protag. I love seeing people's ideas and concepts. Are they just you? That's awesome! Are they twisted from a Disney character? Sweet! Are they your way to work through your trauma? More power to you!

One of my favorites is @ilmacore 's Maria. Blessed adorable abuelita Yuu.

I have four currently rolling around in my head. Each one is based on a type of genre.

The first is chubby!Yuu, the shoujo/magical girl type. My darling lil chubby gal who is another member of the sunshine team. The best damn support these boys will have. Her nickname from Floyd would be capybara(I originally had it as manatee but capybara fits her more because she's genuinely nice and tries to get along with everybody). I see her wearing a lot of cottage core, florals, etc... soft feminine clothing. Her ending would have her finding a way back home but being able to travel back and forth between Twst and her home world. You can guess which boy(or boys) might have a crush on her based on these pics.

The next one I call punk!Yuu. The one who fits the shonen archetype. Had a shitty life growing up and was a homeless teen. They ended up in Twst after dying from being hit by a car. Most likely to throw hands for pissing them off. Floyd calls them pistol shrimp. Climbed on and smashed the head of an overblot. Threw Jade at Floyd during book 2's investigation. Protective of those they care about. Lots of piercing and punk style clothing. My favorite ship with them is actually Riddle. Very opposites attract situation. But they have a lot in common(Yuu's father was a worse version of Riddle's mother) Yuu teaches Riddle to live life more freely, and Riddle teaches them to be less rebellious. This Yuu stays in Twst when they find out the truth of how they got there because they're genuinely happier then they ever were back home.

The third Yuu is adopted!Yuu. The one from my previous musings. A Yuu that fits the reincarnated! Archetype. This Yuu originally died in the bad ending timeline where Yuu overblots and becomes a calamity class monster who destroys the world. They were given a second chance at life when they finally died in the first timeline. They reincarnated as an infant and was adopted by Crowley. This Yuu is fairly mellow, when asked why they did something the answer is just they felt like it, but is also good at pulling at Crowley's strings to get what they want. They have a preference for loose, casual clothing. Preferring to wear things like oversized t-shirts and hoodies. Their ending is they almost repeat the calamity when their past life memories begin to overtake their current life after all the overblots including Grim's. But the difference is the previous life Yuu has nobody, but this Yuu has their friends, Grim, and Crowley to save them.

The fourth Yuu I call Author!Yuu. They're pretty much a Yuu who gained so much magical power they became the equivalent of a god. Because they were the first anomaly, they don't age at all and have lived thousands of years accumulating magic and knowledge, even out living Malleus. Their life is lonely and they actually don't want to see another person end up like them. Their magic allows them to manipulate the timelines within a certain limitation. They can't rewrite timelines completely, but they figure out a loophole by finding the alternate versions of themselves they think will give the best outcome for the "story" of the world. This Yuu is the one who figured out the precognitive dreams system to help each Yuu out. This version of Yuu exists in a world where ALL the stories of Twst are true. Fanfics, fanart, game, manga, novel, etc... every story is its own world and this Yuu records every one of them within their great library. Every book in the library of their soul is a story somebody has written about the world of Twst.

So, tell me more about your Yuus.

[samsalems]

Don't get me wrong I completely agree with your CT review. But calling Lee "the most understanding stalker" is such a funny phrase both out of and IN context lmao

Although I do think he is my favorite take on the "yandere" thrope I've seen in most media. Specially the way it is framed in the bad ending in which when rejected where most yanderes would say "If I don't have you for ME then NO ONE will have you so I'm killing you </3" Lee nearly literally says "You're the only thing that gave my life a sense of meaning. If I can't be yours then I have no reason to exist", which first it denotes how despite being lovesick with Angel (to the point of collecting physical throphies like hair and bloody tissues and The Whole Jacket thing) he Isn't posessive of them as an individual, he wants to be at their side not have their control, and they matter so much to him that he would rather khs than hurt them, and second is completely on character with how his trauma and potential ASD has lead him into being an lonely existencialist (The whole hole to crawl In and die sequence), In both ending it is left to believe that he was convinced Angel would never love him back so he planned to kill their rapist regardless to avenge them and then end his life.

Sorry for the long yapping! I liked this game and I feel it did a nice job telling a lot of things while keeping them subtle ahsjsk

Oh you get me so well - he really is one of the best yanderes out there and let me be honest, the autism and the suicidality gave him so much more depth and made me feel for him a lot (not to overshare). I think if he wanted to kill Angel, that would have really closed the door on feeling empathy for him. But I knew he wasn't going to hurt them - we saw how he took care of the shrimp in his aquarium. By killing the bigger fish to save them.

( ^ us enjoying the game together)

[mochinomnoms]

Lmao poor yuu being the mate of the twins you just woke up crazy stuff happened last night, and you are greeted by the twins in "Lets be productive with this" mode so even if you have the most confused look on your face the twins keep talking about wedding plans and please you just woke up too much information to analyze and come up with an answer to, they are so focused on "What are we going to do with the family introduction" that they forgot that you aren't someone that was raised with mer customs or traditions and maybe they should explain what is happening to you.. Maybe after breakfast you are still a bit cranky

-Vaquita (hkKkaksksmsuiaksbs domestic tweels hehe *blushes like a whore*)

dis u:

The twins are so strange to you sometimes. You like them a lot (like a lot, what's wrong with you), don't get it twisted, but they are weird. How you managed to make it out of their room and into Azul's office is a question within itself. Azul is looking up at you from his desk, fixing up a contact of some sort, with an unsurprised look on his face.

“Oh good, I take it the twins are also finally awake? Can you bring them over so we can discuss—”

“Azul, they're acting strange.”

The octomer blinked at you, raising a brow as if your statement as obvious.

“Okay?”

“Stranger than usual!” You opened the door behind you, peeking out before slamming it shut and covering it with your body.

“They woke me up with things about meeting their parents, about if they want to live on the surface or give me a transformation potion, and Floyd kept talking about wanting to be in charge of the wedding reception. What wedding is he talking about!?”

“Oh, they must have forgotten you wouldn't have known. Eelmers mate for life, and based on the sounds the entire dorm heard last night, the twins, err…mated with you.”

Azul cringed at the thought, shaking his head. “I've taken the liberty of writing an engagement contract for you three.”

“Huh?”

“Of course, Jade and Floyd will take a look through it, as well as Mr. Leech, or your new father-in-law, if I may say.”

“Wait a sec—”

“Don't worry, morays have a low divorce rate, but even then I've written you a solid prenuptial agreement in the case that one of them does something you don't like. This way, you'll be set for life if you have to go off on your own.”

“Hey! I didn't—oh actually that's really nice of you Azul, wait no! I didn't agree to any—”

The door slammed open as you removed your body weight to walk up to Azul's desk. You're positive that if they'd really wanted to, they could've mowed you down to open the door. But you're their mate now, so they have to take care of you!

“There's our little shrimp! I turned away to getcha another snack, and you managed to sneak away, come 'ere!”

You yelped as Floyd scooped you up in his arms and gave you a loud, wet smooch on the cheek, loose shirt hanging so that you could see the bite marks you left during the night. Jade was wearing more form fitting pajamas, but you could see in the way he cautiously shifted his back that the scratches you'd left on his back were still stinging.

“See Floyd? I told you they'd be with Azul, who looks like is working on a new contract. Am I safe to assume that's the marriage contract I asked you to work on last week?”

Jade kissed your other cheek and chuckled at Azul's deadpan face, the latter darting between you, Floyd and Jade as the twins cooed at your distress. Azul cleared his throat right as you opened your mouth to start cussing them out for acting weird(er).

“It's an engagement contact, actually, which now I'm glad I switched to, because I do believe your little mate there isn't aware of the commitment you've both bound them into. Maybe you three should go back to one of your rooms to discuss before they turn you down and leave you lonely and single forever.”

The twins blinked owlishly at you, then at Azul, and then back at you. You gave them an unamused glare. The two shared a look of worry before rushing back to their bedroom to explain and convince you why being their mate was a good idea (and to please accept them, they only want you).

(It took them nearly three hours of explaining and convincing you to accept the proposal for their anxiety to go down. To be honest, it only took them the first 5 minutes of explaining to make you want to stay as their mate, but you needed some petty revenge for the confusion they caused.)

[letterex-fyofm]

hq first years playing basketball hc

Because after that one haikyuu CD drama of class 3 vs class 4, my head has been swarming with ideas and scenarios and I couldn't let another year pass without writing them down.

btw, this is as if they were in P.E class and playing a silly basketball match.

Kageyama

would absolutely try to set the ball into the hoop. He would like, win five points straight by setting until the other team started complaining about how that was illegal

he would still pass the ball as if doing a horizontal set though.

gets a bit thrown off because his opponents are LAUNCHING at him instead of standing two good meters away from him behind the safety of a net

again with passing, he just would be so analytical about who to pass? and his teammates would be like "JUST PASS THE BALL" but it is so difficult for him to focus when the ball is repeatedly trying to get taken away from him that he just passes it to whoever is next

one time, that person was tsukishima (other team) and kageyama almost died of frustration

he is the type to be setting the basketball while in breaks. he will later try to set a volleyball and ricochet it straight up to the ceiling and be surprised at how light it is

Hinata

he's so damn fast. like, he will be on the other side of the court in the blink of an eye.

walks a lot, though. he's teammates both hate him and love him.

soooo good at taking the ball from others. until tsukki calls him a bug that has to crawl to play (kageyama thought it was very funny)

after that, he starts competing with kageyama (who is on his same team) on who can score the most points (kageyama wins and hinata insists his first five points by setting do not count)

when he is on the bench, he will cheer for his team so loudly and have the time of his life.

volunteers to be the one jumping for the ball at the start of each...set? idk the name 😭😭😭. his team doesn't let him, tho.

once, he receives a pass. it hurt him like hell but he said "it was all calculated".

once, he spiked the ball, and it hurt him like hell yet he said "it was all on purpose!" with tears on his eyes.

Tsukki

he's having the time on his life watching hinata and kageyama embarrass themselves over and over again

is forced to do the jumping...and that's like his only contribution to the game.

tries to chat away the time of the game with Yamaguchi, but Yamaguchi gets surprisingly into it so tsukki is kinda standing on a corner like 🧍‍♂️

whenever hinata has the ball, he blocks it and is so annoyingly happy about it. ("try to score, shrimp, let's watch you try it" "TSUKISHIMA, YOU JEKR!")

HE'S JUST SO ANNOYING WITH HIS BLOCKING--like, putting his arms like that

he stops in mortification when yamaguchi says "looks like kageyama and hinata aren't the only ones missing volleyball--wait Tsukki I didn't mean it" (he will never forget nor forgive Yamaguchi for that)

after that, he's pretty useless (doesn't want to run, doesn't want to jump, passes the ball to whoever is closer to him, doesn't try to take it away from anyone) so he gets benched

he has a nice view from the bench though, so it isn't that bad. and with nice view i refer to him watching as Yamaguchi thrives and getting a full-on gay crisis (me too, tsukki, me too)

his peace is ruined after hinata is benched too (because, well, all students need to play and it is just a silly P.E match) he feels less lonely but he will never admit that

Tadashii

he's surprisingly good at the sport because he played it with his cousins before. he is getting way too into it.

he mimics tsukki's blocking in basketball after learning it was legal and indeed a common play.

was so crushed when tsukki got benched ("now I'm going to be all alone" "you didn't even talk to me while I was there" "THAT'S NOT THE POINT")

jokingly told tsukki (mouthed the words) "this ones for you" expecting to absolutely fail. he shockingly managed to score when he was way too far from the hoop. he blushed and died and everything and tsukki just pretended to be cool.

the type to apologize everytime he bumps into someone or does something he things might have hurt anyone.

before tsukki gets benched, he passed the ball to him and tsukki didn't notice it so he got the ball smashed on his stomach. tsukki might have recovered but Yamaguchi will never (very guilty and insisted to take him to the infirmary)

after P.E finished, he would joke and said "it seems that my destiny was basket and not volleyball after all." hinata was not amused. yachi was seriously worried that yamaguchi would leave and gave him a whole stuttered speech. yamaguchi had to assure her like ten times that he would, in fact, not leave the club.

the basketball captain tries to recruit him though. it only makes his rivalry with daichi grow.

Yeah, this whole thing could have been written in fic format, but I was too lazy and too tired and maybe I will someday, but who knows!

[dewdrops-whammy-bar]

Tenth Drink Free- Chapter 4- Exclamation Point (!)

It's been a while, huh. Burnout and fatigue are the evil twins keeping me from doing the things I like. And yet I stand before you, cupping this chapter in weary hands after laboring over this like a 10 pound baby. I birthed this chapter. And I will birth another. Specifically six more. Lots of emotional turmoil in this one too. Not as much as last time though!!! Dew's getting better!!!

WC: 3923

Warnings: Smoking, addiction, medical emergencies

Read below or on ao3!

Taglist: @skele-bunny @rain-loves-scallops @dewphomet @0-miles-away

It takes three days for Dew to recover.

The first day is spent in bed with a heating pad and snacks that he convinced Rain to deliver to his room. He plays video games, re-strings his guitar, practices for a few hours, and orders takeout for dinner. He and Rain eat together- a rare occurrence for them.

“Okay. New Vegas.” Rain prompts, spearing a shrimp on his fork. “How do you like it?”

“It’s fun. I made my character gay. Didn’t know that was an option.” Dew picks at his ravioli. “I left off at that factory with all the ghouls.”

“Ah, yeah.” Rain nods. “The flamethrower’s pretty effective on the feral ones.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Dew scours his brain for conversation topics- what did people talk about over dinner? He flips through his options and settles on one.

“Uh- how’s class going?” Dew asks after a brief pause in the conversation. Rain heaves a dramatic sigh.

“Hard… Midterms just passed so we get a quick reprieve but I’ve got chem tomorrow and the teacher always gives so much homework…” Rain sighs again. “I don’t even need to know about chemistry. I’m studying fucking software engineering. What am I gonna do, test the pH of a chunk of code?”

Dew smiles slightly and sits back in his chair. He lets Rain complain until he runs out of steam.

After dinner the two of them put on a documentary on octopi (or octopodes, as the narrator makes clear). Rain taps away on his laptop and Dew plays with a fidget toy stolen from Rain.

It’s a nice evening, even with his cramps. Dew dozes off sometime in the middle of the documentary and wakes up draped in a blanket. He wanders back to his room and falls back asleep.

The second day is mostly the same, except for a setting change to the couch. Dew mopes around, naps, complains loudly about his cramps, and watches trashy reality tv. He has to admit, he feels a little better.

The nicotine cravings hit hard around 2 in the afternoon so he drags himself off the couch and trudges outside in his warmest hoodie.

Dew makes his way down the stairs and around to the back of the building. His lighter clicks uselessly as he thumbs the flint wheel.

“Come on…” He mutters around his unlit cig. A weak flame finally flickers to life and he shields it with his hand as he brings it up to his mouth.

The first drag almost makes him groan with relief. He pockets his lighter and leans back against the wall, his eyes closed.

“Fuck…” Dew mumbles, smoke streaming from his lips and nose. A wad of emotions builds in his throat and he takes a shaky breath. “Fuck…”

A rustling sound nearby pulls him from his spiral of self-loathing. Dew jumps and looks over at the source of the noise.

A fat raccoon ambles out from behind a dumpster, making its way toward a fast food bag on the other side of the alley. Dew watches it pull apart the soggy paper with its little hands and rummage through the trash inside. It finds a lone fry inside and sits up to cram it into its mouth.

Dew reaches slowly into the pocket of his sweats for his phone, only to find he’d left it in his room. He lets out a huff of frustration out of his nose and takes another drag. The raccoon tears open the bag further and finds more food. It shoves its head inside, pushing the bag across the ground.

Dew lets out a little snort of amusement. He doesn’t think he’s ever been this close to a raccoon before. The little bastards are a nuisance, but at least they’re cute.

The raccoon pulls itself out of the bag with a small ice cream cup clutched in its paws. It gleefully laps at the remnants inside. Dew leans back against the wall to watch.

The raccoon removes its head from the cup. Melted ice cream is smeared on the top of its ears. It shakes its head and goes back to rummaging in the bag.

Dew watches the creature until it wanders off around the corner. He raises his cig to his mouth only to realize it’s burned down to the filter in the time he’s been watching the raccoon.

He sighs, stubs it out on the wall, and tosses it into the dumpster. He’s running low and doesn’t feel like lighting up another. The few puffs he’s taken will have to do for now.

It’d be cheaper to quit, his brain offers. $9 a pack, a pack and a half a week, that’s gotta be like $50 a month. 

The voice has a point, as much as Dew hates to think it. Money is already tight. He contemplates this as he climbs the stairs back up to the apartment.

The third day is better. Dew decides to attempt some self-care. Real self-care, not just lazily jerking off and falling asleep.

So he follows the advice of some blog post he found. He gets his favorite snacks from the convenience store, puts his phone on do not disturb, steals borrows one of Rain’s face masks, and draws a bath.

As it turns out, Dew is NOT a bath person. The tub is too small for him to submerge and stretch out comfortably and he can’t find a position that doesn’t make his tailbone hurt. He lasts ten minutes before he drags himself out of the tub and dries off. The face mask is starting to feel weird on his face so he peels it off with a grimace.

Plan B, then. Dew makes a nest of pillows and plushies on his bed and settles in with snacks and a tv show he’d been meaning to watch. It’s cozy.

He doesn’t know when he falls asleep, but when he wakes up it’s dark outside. Wind blows past his window and makes the trees rustle.

“Ouuuuughhh…” Dew groans and stretches. It’s a good stretch, one that leaves him relaxed and feeling like jello for a minute. He closes his eyes and contemplates going back to sleep. He’ll get up in a minute.

He didn’t mean to actually fall back asleep but when he opens his eyes again it’s much darker outside. Oops.

To his surprise, when he gets up he feels better. Not at 100%, but definitely better. Enough to cook something for dinner instead of heating up instant food.

Dinner ends up being scrambled eggs and toast loaded with peanut butter and cinnamon sugar, not bad for a midnight snack. He even washes the dishes afterwards before stepping out for a smoke.

He lights up but hesitates before he brings it to his lips. I should quit.

The itch in the back of his mind grows stronger as he stares at the glowing tip. Dew takes a drag and grits his teeth, blowing the smoke out of his nose like a dragon. He hates being dependent on anything.

He tosses the cigarette on the ground and steps on it before he can overthink it. He twists his boot, splitting the paper wrapping and grinding the tobacco into the dirty pavement.

Regret washes over him. I can’t do this. He reaches for his pack again, fumbles out another cig, and flicks his lighter. The little device clicks uselessly, mockingly even. The empty tank stares back at him. Dew throws it against the wall with a frustrated growl. He stomps on that too.

He takes a few steps back toward the stairs before he pauses, thinking of the raccoon. He backs up, scoops the lighter shards into his hand, and drops them in the dumpster. I’d hate for the little guy to get hurt. 

Dew wakes up feeling… refreshed, he realizes. It’s an unfamiliar feeling. His eyes don’t feel dry and tired for once. He still feels that ever-present tightness in his shoulders and neck though and the itch in his spine. Better than nothing.

He lazes around in bed until he has to piss. His cramps are less painful today, thankfully.

He shoots a text to Cirrus while on the toilet-

—

Dew: i’m feeling better do you have a spot for me?

—

He changes his pad and brushes his hair and teeth while he waits for the reply. 

—

Boss lady 2: How much sleep did you get?

Dew: what are you, a cop?

Boss lady 2: Answer the question

—

Dew glances at the time- 11 AM- and resigns himself to some basic math. Damn, it’s been a while since high school…

—

Dew: 9 hours

Dew: just woke up

Boss lady 2: Can you come in @ 1? Got a 4 hour shift for you

Dew: Yep

Dew: See you then

—

He eyes the shower and ultimately decides to blast his scalp with dry shampoo instead. The wet box can wait. He throws his hair in a braid and calls it good.

Dew’s breakfast consists of two cheese sticks and a Coke. He leaves a note for Rain requesting a grocery run soon and gets dressed. He forgoes eyeliner today and packs his backpack.

He steps out for a smoke out of habit. He’s halfway down the stairs when he hears a rattling from the alley. Two raccoons emerge from an overturned trash can. Dew remembers his broken lighter. He sighs and looks at his nearly-empty pack.

”Fine.” He mutters, pointing at the creatures below. “You win for now.”

The raccoons don’t seem to care, instead preoccupied by hissing at each other over a chicken bone. Dew trudges up the stairs back to the apartment.

That doesn’t take away the cravings but it gives him reason to ignore them. Why he cares so much about a few critters in the alley he doesn’t know.

He sees the bastards again when he starts walking to work. He gives them a little wave.

”Good to see you, hun.” Cumulus greets him when he walks into the kitchen. “You mind working the ovens and sink today?”

”Not at all.” Dew is relieved that he won’t be subjected to customer service today.

”Thanks. There’s a batch of bagels cooling, could you take them out to the counter when the muffins come out of the oven?” She asks, plopping a bowl of dough out onto the countertop.

”Yes ma’am.” Dew gives her a two-finger salute, which she returns.

He’s happy to get back into the routine of scrubbing pans and moving baked goods around the kitchen. He puts in his earbuds and zones out. He even forgets his cravings for a bit.

He learns from Sunny- looking under the weather but still gleeful- that Aether is here. He brushes her off but that doesn’t stop him from idling behind the counter as he restocks the bagels. He sneaks a glance at Aether- god, he’s gorgeous- and tucks the empty tray against his hip to bring back to the kitchen. He tries to sidestep Aeon at the register but they grab his arm.

“Hey…” Aeon mumbles. They look pale, their fingertips deathly cold against Dew’s skin. “Need…”

Then their eyes flutter closed and they fall forward. Dew yelps and drops his tray to catch them, lowering them to the floor carefully. The metal tray clatters to the linoleum, drawing startled eyes from the cafe’s patrons.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Dew mutters. A worried murmur spreads through the shop as people crane their necks over the counter to investigate. 

Cumulus pokes her head out of the kitchen and gasps. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Dew replies a bit louder than he’d meant to. “They just- passed out, I think…” He looks down at Aeon, who thankfully seems to be stirring.

“Let me through!” Aether’s voice rings out over the worried chatter and Dew looks up just in time to see him vault over the counter. He immediately zeroes in on Aeon and kneels next to them. “Did he hit his head?”

Dew takes a moment to realize Aether is talking to him. “No- they fell on me first and I lowered them down.”

“Good. Get some water and something sugary.” Aether tells him. Dew nods and scurries into the kitchen.

When he returns with Aeon’s water bottle and a sucker from Cumulus’s candy stash, Aeon is sitting up against the wall with their eyes closed. Dew awkwardly holds out the water bottle and Aether takes it with a grateful nod.

“Are they okay?” Dew asks cautiously. Aether nods again.

“For now, yeah. I definitely recommend they go to the ER or at least urgent care to get checked out fully. I can only do so much right now.” Aether steadies Aeon’s hands to help them drink.

“I w-wanna go hom-me.” Aeon mumbles. “I’ll be okay, this just hap-pens sometimes-s.”

“How often?” Aether asks, his brow furrowing a little bit more. “If this is a frequent thing, you definitely need to see a doctor.”

“M fine.” Aeon snaps and immediately shrinks back into themself. “S-sorry. I gotta f-finish my shift.”

“Uh-uh.” Cumulus shakes her head, her fluffy ponytail bouncing. “I’ll pay you for the rest of your shift, hun. You go get checked out.”

“I don’t w-wanna.” Aeon mumbles. “I can’t- don’t-nt make me go. Ple-ase.”

Dew recognizes the look in their eyes. The fear of a cornered animal. He sits down next to them.

“Aeon.” He whispers softly so only they can hear. “If you don’t go talk to a doctor about this, it’ll only get worse. I care about you.”

“It’s-s expensive.” Aeon whispers back. “A-and it sm-mells weird a-and there are n-no wind-w-winds-“ They grit their teeth. “Win-dows. And the nurses m-make fun of my-y stutt-ter.”

“I’ll come with you.” Dew decides on the spot. “I’ll say I’m your brother or something so they’ll let me stay with you.”

“You promise?” Aeon asks. “How’re w-we gonna get the-there?”

“I’ll drive you.” Aether offers. “I don’t have anything to do today. May as well help you out.”

Aeon side-eyes Aether before their eyes flick back to Dew. “You’ll stay?”

“Promise.” Dew nods. “I’ll get your backpack.”

“I’ll be out front when you two are ready.” Aether stands up, giving Dew a chance to glance at his thighs. Damn. “Be careful standing up.”

Dew scampers into the back and retrieves Aeon’s purple backpack. Aeon takes it gratefully, digs through it for a minute, and produces a small plush bat.

“Ready-y.” They clutch the bat to their chest and grab Dew’s hand. With only a bit of struggling, they’re standing.

The walk to the car is mercifully quick, with Aeon hiding their face in Dew’s shoulder to avoid stares. Sure enough, Aether’s car is idling outside- a nondescript gray SUV. Dew pops the back door and helps Aeon inside, then tosses in their backpack and climbs in next to them.

Aether glances at them in the rearview mirror. “The hospital I work at is about fifteen minutes away. There’s probably a bag back there if you need to hurl.”

“Thanks.” Aeon replies weakly and pulls their knees up to their chest after buckling in. They rest their chin on their bat and stare out the window as Aether pulls into the street. 

Dew tips his head back against the seat and sighs through his nose. He realizes he’s left his own backpack at Cloudy Skies and grinds his teeth. He just hopes they’ll get out of the ER by closing time. He has his phone and wallet in his pockets. No keys, no jacket, no cigs. In a stranger’s car, taking his friend to the ER. He just wishes he’d brought his earbuds.

Quiet rock music drifts from Aether’s car speaker. Dew wants to ask about his music taste but it doesn’t seem like an appropriate time. It sounds like pop punk, a song Dew hasn’t heard.

He takes the time to look around Aether’s car while they’re driving. There’s a guitar-shaped air freshener and a motel-style  keychain hanging from the rearview. A few rubber ducks sit on the dashboard and Dew can spot some textbooks on the passenger seat with Aether’s bag. The car smells faintly of vanilla and lemon.

Dew reaches over the middle seat and offers Aeon his hand. They take it and squeeze hard.

Check-in is quick with Aether’s help. They’re given a wait time of an hour and pointed to the waiting room. Dew lets himself hope that the visit will be quick. This turns out to be a grave miscalculation.

Dew shifts in his chair for the umpteenth time and looks at his phone again. The ER’s waiting room is fairly empty but they’ve been waiting for almost three hours. Aeon is curled up on the seat of a wide chair, presumably trying to nap.

Aether is on Dew’s other side reading a book. From what Dew’s been able to peek at, it seems like some kind of supernatural thriller. Dew doesn’t read much but he stores the title of the book away in his brain for safekeeping. Maybe he can turn it into a conversation if he works up the courage.

By the grace of some merciful deity, Aeon’s name is called. They unfold themself from the chair and clutch their bat to their chest.

“Want me to come with?” Dew asks. Aeon nods. Dew stands, stretches his legs, and slings their bag over his shoulder. A tired-looking nurse guides the two of them to an exam room and leaves them with an assurance that a doctor will be in soon.

“I don’t like-ike it here,” Aeon mumbles. They pull their knees up to their chest and stare at the wall through a curtain of shaggy bangs.

“Me neither.” Dew sighs. He stretches out his legs and sighs again. The fluorescent lights hum above them like a swarm of flies.

It takes too long for another nurse to show up, then a doctor, then a swarm of nurses taking blood and hooking Aeon up to some kind of machine. Dew holds their hand and tries his best to not zone out entirely.

Finally, Aeon is discharged with a stack of papers, a referral to a heart specialist, and an equally exhausted Dew.

“Home.” Aeon signs, chewing on the wing of their bat. Dew sighs and nods.

“Yeah. Let’s go home. Aether said he’d wait for us but I can call an Uber if he left already.” Dew pulls out his phone and checks the time. Six hours since they’d walked into the ER. It feels like double that.

“Mmm!” Aeon mumbles, pointing to Dew’s left. Dew is relieved to see Aether hurrying toward them.

“How’re you two holding up?” Aether asks, his brow furrowed adorably.

“Tired.” Dew replies at the same time that Aeon signs, “Like shit.”

“Hungry?” Aether asks. “I can stop for food if you want.”

Dew is hungry, but he looks to Aeon for an answer. They shake their head no.

“Alright.” Aether twirls his keys around his finger. “Let’s go.”

Aeon and Dew climb into the backseat again. Aeon curls up with their bat, clutching the discharge papers with their free hand. Dew stares out the window absently.

He snaps out of it when Aeon nudges his arm. “Hm? Oh-“ He opens the door and slips out to let Aeon out onto the sidewalk. He waves goodbye and watches Aeon disappear into their apartment building. He hopes they’ll be okay.

“You alright?” Aether asks once he gets back in. Dew looks up to see him looking at him through the rearview mirror.

“Yeah.” Dew’s jaw aches from how he’s been grinding his teeth. I need a smoke.

“Okay.” Aether doesn’t sound convinced. “Are you hungry?” he asks, meeting Dew’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Dew hesitates.

“I don’t have money.” He semi-mumbles, glancing away. He hates letting people know that he’s broke. They always look at him in a pitying, condescending way. It makes him sick. 

“You can’t eat money.” Aether taps on the steering wheel with his fingertips. “It’s on me.”

“You don’t have to. You’ve done enough to help me and Aeon today.” Dew crosses his arms and stares down Aether in the mirror.

“Alright.” Aether shrugs, puts the car in gear, and pulls out into the street. “Where should I drop you?”

“Back at Cloudy Skies. I left my backpack there.” Dew uncrosses his arms, pleased that he’d won. “...I appreciate the offer, though.”

“Don’t mention it.” Aether makes a dismissive gesture like shooing away a fly with two fingers. Dew turns his attention back to his phone. It’s almost dead, so he texts the work chat an update and asks to be let into the building.

Cirrus meets him at the back door with his backpack. “Take care, Dew.”

”I will.” He promises. He means it this time.

Dew waves goodbye to Cirrus and drags his weary feet in the direction of home.

“Extra shift?” Rain asks when Dew kicks the front door open. He heaves a tired sigh and shakes his head. Rain is fully occupying the kitchen table with some sort of project involving some kind of helmet, wires, a soldering iron, and various other mechanical bits.

“Aeon fainted. I took ‘em to the ER.” Dew grunts. He tries to untie his boots with freezing fingers. “Ow- fuck-”

“Did you walk them there?” Rain raises a thin eyebrow over his safety glasses. Dew shakes his head and finally gets his boot off.

“Aether- hot guy- drove us.” He picks at the laces of his other boot now. “Drove us back too.”

Rain’s other eyebrow joins the first near his hairline. “You and Aeon got into his car without even knowing him?”

“He’s in nursing school. And he’s really nice. He offered to buy me food.” Dew wriggles his foot out of his remaining boot. “I think you listen to too many true crime podcasts.”

“I’m not paranoid, I’m cautiously aware.” Rain adjusts something with tweezers. “Never go to a second location”

“You are paranoid.” Dew huffs. He plops his backpack down by his boots. “Whatcha working on?”

“Rigging up this LED mask for a friend.” Rain holds up the mask as Dew gets closer to show the inside, covered in a grid of tiny lights. “I’m attaching a little computer so I can program different patterns into it.”

Dew gently takes the mask. From the outside it looks like smooth, black plastic that covers the wearer’s face. “Cool.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty proud of it.” Rain grins. There’s something slightly off about his expression. He’s hiding something. Dew decides it’s not worth poking his nose into.

He microwaves a cup of ramen and retreats to his room with it. As soon as he sits down in his desk chair his body reminds him of just how exhausted he is. He sets his dinner on the desk and lets himself go limp with a groan. This results in him oozing out of his chair like a bag of wet meat. Ugh. 

After a minute of laying on the floor, his hunger overpowers his fatigue and Dew is forced to drag himself back up into the chair. The noodles are gone in what seems like seconds.

He yawns and automatically reaches for his cigarettes. Then pauses. He’s tired enough to sleep through the cravings tonight. He can have one in the morning, he promises himself.

Dew buries the cigs in the back of his drawer with the journal pages and crawls into bed. He’s asleep as soon as his eyes close.

(comments and kudos keep me going)

(tip jar)

[wistfulcynic]

just finished a full rewatch of OFMD season one, which i'd not done for a while, and am now deep in the shrimp emotions. Why is this show so good.

specifically i'm thinking about the beginning of 1x07 when Ed says he's thinking about leaving. On to the next adventure, etc. He says it so casually, like it's no thing at all, and it makes me wonder how that scenario might have played out.

There was a meta i read shortly after the season aired (sorry, can't remember who wrote it) which said basically the plan to leave is Ed's way of protecting himself. By that point Ed knows he's falling for Stede, they've had their almost-kiss in the moonlight, their tender bathtub moment. Ed knows, even if it's only subconsciously, that if he stays he'll just fall deeper and harder and that will leave him vulnerable in a way he's not quite ready for.

so i wonder what would've happened if he had left then. Not with Calico Jack in all the heat of fraught emotions but on his own terms before his feelings for Stede grew beyond his ability to control them. i wonder how he'd have coped with losing Stede then.

because at that point, he's got no real reason to think his feelings are reciprocated. Stede clearly likes him, says flat out that he's Ed's friend, but nothing he's said or done would lead Ed to believe it's anything more than that. And Ed, as we know, is convinced he's unlovable so of course in his mind Stede could never love him.

which means that if he'd left then he wouldn't actually have lost anything. Stede and the Revenge could be kept as a lovely memory of a brief good time in his life. He might pine a bit, maybe give himself the luxury now and then to think about what if, but i don't believe it would ever reach the point of painting cake toppers or even crying in a dressing gown. i think, honestly, that had he left then Ed would've been okay, or at least not significantly worse than he was before. Still bored, still wanting to get out of piracy, still feeling sad and lonely and unloved but at least he'd have the memory of his friend.

what eventually renders that scenario impossible--what makes him leaving on his own plausible while he could never truly have left with Calico Jack ("never left")--is that by the end of episode 7 Ed has started to have hope. He's started to think that maybe his feelings aren't one-sided. Maybe he can actually have Stede. Maybe he can actually be happy.

i've often thought (as ofc have others) that it wasn't the loss of Stede as such that brought on the kraken era. If OFMD had ended with a successful talent show and Ed and the crew deciding to be a sailing theatre troupe instead of pirates, even without Stede, Ed would've been okay. Broken hearts mend. What tipped Ed over the edge was the loss of his hope, and the better life he thought he'd found a way to have.

not quite sure where i'm going with this if i'm going anywhere, just... it's an interesting contrast and imo a quiet turning point that neatly underlines just how important this is happening really was.

[shhh-secret-time]

Star Park AU: Kyle Broflovski Edition

-> Moved back to the Valley after graduating and getting his doctorate. (He's essentially where Harvey is in game.)

-> Couldn't find work out i the city so he moved back to the Valley

-> His parents stayed in the city but they allowed Ike to move back with Kyle as long as he agreed to take good care of him.

-> He has files on everyone's medical history and they're organized based on who's the easiest patient to deal with to who he has to literally drag in to his office. It goes: Karen, Wendy and Nichole, Kenny, Craig, Heidi, Tolkien and Scott, Butters, Ike and Jimmy, Tweek, Sharon, Shelly, Bebe, Stan, Clyde, All of the Goths, Randy, and finally Cartman.

-> He makes monthly walks to the Wizard tower to check on the Goths. They've told him before they don't need it because they have magic but he doesn't believe them.

-> Kyle and Wendy work hard to make things easier for Jimmy around town. The mayor fights them over the funding. Wendy has to practically drag Kyle away from fighting the mayor.

-> He's the only person that Scott trusts with his meds, always making sure to pick his medication up.

-> When he's not working he checks in with Heidi over Ike's education, sometimes he sits in and helps out when he can.

Gift Guide:

Loves: Fire Opal, Pomegrantes, Poppy, Starfruit Wine, Artichoke Dip Likes: All Books, Emerald, Coffee, Magma Cap, Tea leaves Neutral: All Fish (Except Shrimp), Beer, All Eggs Dislikes: Radioactive Ore/Bar, Fertilizer, Escargot, Mudstone Hates: Bananas, Banana Pudding, Shrimp, Bug Meat, Roe (Any)

Loved: "A..Are you serious?! Thank you so much!" Liked: "You thought of me? That's very kind, thank you." Neutral: "Thank...you? It's the thought that counts." Dislikes: "Ugh. I don't want your trash." Hates: "Really? What went through your head when giving me this? God...."

Heart Event @ 2:

Kyle is outside with his brother, one of the rare times he's free from working. He's sitting on the bench at the park reading through his medical files. Ike is playing by himself looking a little lonely. Farmer walks up and sees him sadly rocking on the spring rider. Ike tells the Farmer that he misses playing with his brother, it just seems like he never has time for him anymore. Farmer thinks for a moment before walking over to Kyle, who only notices them when they sit down. He greets them with a smile, quickly going back to his reading. >> Do you ever take a break? How can you be on your laptop right now? It's so nice out! (-) >> Ike looks a little sad, doesn't he? (+) If First Option: Kyle gets slightly annoyed, Farmer should know better than anyone here that he can't just stop working. He notes rather dryly he would have thought he'd be free of their lecturing, seeing as he gets enough of it from Stan.

"I appreciate your concern really, but I'm this towns only doctor last time I checked. I happen to like reading outside."

If Second Option: Kyle looks up from his laptop with concern on his face. He frowns when he realizes that he's been ignoring his brother, and how Ike is rocking back and forth with no care. Turning to the Farmer, he expresses gratitude for bringing it to his attention. He feels back for not seeing it himself, he was just hoping to catch up a little on work before he went home. He closes his laptop, putting it to the side, and stands up. Farmer jumps up with them and offers to play with him and his brother!

"Then I hope you're ready for the longest game of hide-n-seek of your life. You didn't have anything planned for the rest of the day right?"

Heart Event @ 4:

Kyle visits the Farmer early in the morning, greeting them while they're walking to the shipping bin. He apologizes for showing up unannounced. He would have called but he didn't think the Farmer would be able to hear the phone from the fields. Farmer doesn't seem to mind which makes him feel better, physically relaxing. Looking past them, he compliments their hard work on turning the fields into an actual farm. Afterwards he goes on to tell them that their crops have made things better even if they don't realize it. Tells them that the fresh food is better for the townsfolk than Jojo's food. >> I don't actually do that much farming. I'm more into fishing or mining. (/) >> Thanks Kyle! It's nice to get a little appreciation! (/) >> I didn't think of it that way...you really think of everything huh? (/) If First Option: Kyle goes quiet, the longer the silence the more his face turns red. Embarrassment dusting his cheeks. Under his breath he says something about the farm at least looking clean.

"At least your farm looks cleaner then Mr. Marsh's. Smells better too."

If Second Option: Kyle chuckles and tells them there's no reason to thank them! He's in the same boat sometimes and that even now he's here's to do his job. He wonders if anyone else has been out this way yet?

"I just realized you haven't had a checkup with me yet. Swing by the clinic okay? I don't want you to get sick."

If Third Option: Farmer turns the table on them, Kyle gets flustered over the small praise. At least he takes it as praise. He scoffs, telling them to stop being so humble. Being a Farmer is hard work and they should realize the good they do.

"Please. Not just anyone can get Cartman to eat a vegetable. You're good at what you do!"

Heart Event @ 5:

Next time Farmer walks into the clinic they walk back into Kyle's office. He's surprised to actually see them, telling them that he is pleased that he didn't have to drag them in. When Farmer looks at him confused, Kyle tells them that sometimes he has to go and "collect" some of the townsfolk for their appointments. So, it's nice that there's someone else so willing to come in. After a moment he gets a little embarrassed that he started rambling again. Farmer is just easy to talk to, they listen. Before they can comment on the blush on his face, he gets down to business. Kyle opens his laptop and looks up at them, he begins to ask Farmer about themselves, wanting an insight on their medical history.

"Sorry, you didn't come here to listen to me complain. It's just easy to talk to you. A-anyway, before I keep making an ass of myself, lets get started on filling out your medical history!"

Heart Event @ 6:

Farmer is walking from town to the mountains, they can hear faint shouting. Walking closer, they see Kyle and Ike standing next to the mountain lake away from Kenny's house. Ike is sitting on the wooden bridge with his face in his hands, looking more and more upset. When Farmer gets close enough to hear what they're saying clearly, they overhear what the argument is about. Kyle is upset that Ike's grades are slipping, telling him that he needs to put in a little more effort in school. Apparently, he's been blowing off his homework and Heidi is having a hard time getting him to pay attention in class. Ike complains that all Kyle ever talks to him about is how he's doing in school and his stupid job, that he doesn't care to ask Ike about anything else. He asks him when was the last time they did anything fun that didn't require the Farmer having to all but pull him away from work. Ike cuts Kyle off before he can rebuttal. Shouting something about how he's acting just like their mother and he's supposed to be his brother, not his parent! Kyle gets upset and snaps back at him, telling him that he won't apologize for caring about Ike's well being and he wouldn't have to act like their mother if Ike just grew up a little. This makes Ike tear up, he stands up and shouts that he should just go back to the city then. Kyle stands there watching his brother storm off, leaving him alone next to the lake, he looks destroyed. Farmer walks out from where they were hiding, and when Kyle doesn't get upset that Farmer was listening in they know he's really torn up. It takes him some time but he eventually address them, telling them that he never meant to fill the role of a parent. He knows he's hard on Ike, he just wants to see his little brother grow into the best version of himself. The Valley is good to him, better then the city was. He knows it's good for Ike too.

"Am I being that overbearing? I mean...I'm in charge of him. I promised Ma that I'd look after him! I'm not asking for much right? Just for him to apply himself more!"

>> Maybe you're not as right as you think you are. (-) >> Does he know that? Have you told him how you feel? (+) >> I don't think you're really listening to your brother. (+) >> Lighten up Kyle, he's just throwing a tantrum. He'll get over it. (-) If First Option: Kyle looks up with a flash of anger in his eyes, he can't believe what he's hearing. How could Farmer say something like that? He thought they were friends! As Kyle storms off he glares at them.

"Jesus Christ, if you talk to your friends like this then I'd hate to hear how you talk to people you hate!"

If Second Option: Kyle thinks on both Farmer and Ike's words. Like he's replaying the whole thing in his head again. When was the last time he talked to Ike about how he feels? About anything that wasn't him being a hard ass.

"No...I guess I haven't. Ugh I'm an asshole, he deserves to be a kid. I really do sound like our mom. Thanks for listening again Farmer."

If Third Option: Kyle's brows furrow, he wants to be upset but Farmer's right. He makes his frustration known and somehow in the same breath is grateful that Farmer said it. He tells Farmer that this isn't the first time their stubborn attitudes have clashed. Something they both get from their Mother.

"I think if you were anyone else I would be furious but...you're right. It does make me feel a little better to know I'm not the only one who's stubborn. I'll apologize to him in the morning. Goodnight and thank you Farmer."

If Fourth Option: Kyle snaps as that comment strikes a nerve. He goes to yell again but he just stops, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. When he opens his eyes he looks past them and wishes them a good night. Leaving them alone because just the thought of responding to that is exhausting.

Heart Event @ 8:

It's late, later than Farmer realized. As they go to leave the mines, a group of Shadow beasts corner them. It cuts to them limping out of the mines. Beaten down and exhausted, they collapse against the side of the mountain. The last thing they see is Kyle running over to them and the dim light of a flashlight. When they wake up again, they're laying in one of the beds of Kyle's clinic. Their wounds are bandaged and cleaned. Looking over in a daze, Kyle's eyes meet theirs and there's a look of relief. He closes the first aid kid sitting next to them, picks up the medical tools and puts them away. Farmer can hear him breathing deeply, like this is the first time he's able to. Eventually he breaks the silence, speaking as softly as he can. He scolds them for being reckless, and that they're lucky that Ned was nearby to hear that fight. Kyle stops in the middle of his lecture, catching himself doing it again. Lectures are the last thing Farmer needs right now, they need sleep. Farmer just smiles and shakes their head at him and it almost makes Kyle laugh. He can't believe the energy they have, how they're even awake right now. He promises to keep them company, that he'll be right here for them when they wake up. Time passes again as Farmer drifts back to sleep, when they wake up again they see Kyle asleep in the chair next to them.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?! Seeing you bleeding out in the dirt like that! I know you can be more responsible then that, what were you-.... no I'm doing it again. I'm sorry. Look just get some sleep, you need to rest." - "What? I'm not going anywhere, someone has to look over you and make sure you actually get rest. I swear I'll turn my back and you'll try and get out of that bed."

When given the bouquet:

"!! Y-You're not fucking with me right? This isn't just some cruel prank? ...Then of course I will- be your partner that is!"

Heart Event @ 10:

Farmer walks outside of their house to Kyle sitting on their porch. A picnic basket sitting next to him, a bottle of wine sticking out of the basket, and a red-checkered blanket tucked neatly inside. When he hears the doo open he perks up and stands up quickly. With a grin on his face, he greets them with an energetic good morning. He holds up the basket telling them that he wants to take them out. The day is beautiful and he intends to spend as much of it with them. Farmer agrees, leaving the farm going south past Tegridy Farms. Kyle takes them near the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The two sit there enjoying the picnic that Kyle's put together. When he sees how happy Farmer is with the food, he goes on to tell them that he learned how to cook from his Mother. The conversation leads him to ramble about how he was the only one who could cook in the friend group for a while. That Stan used to beg him to make dinner so he didn't have to eat with his family. Farmer continues to just look happy with everything. Good food and getting to listen to him talk about his best friend, watching as he lights up! Then they feel a rain drop hit their forehead. Looking up, the two se as the sky starts to darken and rain clouds begin to roll in. Immediately Kyle throws his jacket over the Farmer and urgently moves them towards the trees. As the rain starts to come down harder, Kyle looks so disappointed. Farmer takes their hand giving it a little squeeze, breaking down that wall of anxiety. He lets out a sigh, expressing his frustration. He tells them that he wanted today to be perfect, now it's ruined because of the rain. Farmer laughs and pulls them down, planting a kiss on their cheek. Kyle's face turns red from the sweet action. He goes to kiss them back, to return the kiss, but as he does water drops down from the top of the trees. They're both soaked now, water clinging to their clothes. Kyle looks down and just laughs. He wraps an arm around them and pulls them in for a kiss. Pulling away, he brushes his fingers across their face and whispers.

"You always find a way to make things better. I don't feel like I have to be perfect all the time, that it's okay to mess up because I know you'll still love me. My worries just seem to melt away. I love you so much."

Heart Event @ 14:

Ever since Kyle moved in he's slowed down, taking better care of himself. No longer piling too much on his plate, so it surprises the Farmer to se him falling back into old habits. Kyle is pacing around the house in a huff. Ike tells the Farmer that their parents called and that they're making a surprise visit soon. Kyle stops his frantic cleaning for just a moment to stress how much he hates this. He's worried that they're going to be mad because he didn't invite them to the wedding, even when they already reassured him that they're not. Farmer questions why they're coming, which Kyle just sighs and tells them that they want to meet his partner. Farmer reassures Kyle that everything will be fine, that they can't wait to meet his parents. He just grumbles and tells them to hold off on that excitement. Once again Farmer calms the man down, Kyle takes a deep breath and watches his beloved partner get to work. Between the two of them and Ike, they're able to get everything together. Just as dinner is finished, Kyle's parents arrive. Kyle introduces the Farmer to his parents who immediately start gushing over them. The dinner table is set and soon the entire family is sitting around the, making small talk. Sheila starts asking Farmer a list of questions, trying to get to know them. Why did they become a Farmer? What drew them to the Valley? >> Honestly? I needed to start over. Grandpa gave me a second chance and I guess I just fell in love with this little town. >> The city life was too loud. I needed something quiet and easy. >> The Valley needed help! I couldn't just ignore it! If First Option: Sheila smiles and puts her hand on her chest. She tells the Farmer that it's incredibly sweet of their grandfather to look after them. She thinks it's great that they love the town that Kyle grew up in! If Second Option: Sheila doesn't agree that the city is that bad, but she goes on to tell the Farmer she grew up a city girl. She does agree that city life can sweep you away if you're not careful, she's glad the Farmer taught Kyle to slow down. If Third Option: Sheila isn't quite sure she understands what Farmer is trying to get at, but if it's what drives them then who is she to argue? She's just happy that Ike's grades have improved and that Kyle is happy. Either way dinner is lively, once they're finished they thank the Farmer for everything. For taking care of their sons and welcoming them into their lovely home. Sheila admits that she was skeptical at first but after seeing how Kyle looks at the Farmer, she's wholeheartedly approves of their marriage. They leave with a quick hug, letting Kyle know that they'll be staying at the tavern for a few days before going home. As they make the trip back to town, Kyle wraps his arm around the Farmer and smiles softly.

"They really like you, not that I had any doubts they wouldn't. You're amazing. I always knew you were, ever since you moved to this town. I'm just glad they love you almost as much as I do."

Random Marriage Quotes!!

"Good morning my love. Yeah... that still feels weird to say but...I kind of like it. Waking up next to you is everything." "Please make sure you're being careful when you go out. I'm not going to stop you, just come home to me. Please." "Look I love you, but please if you have to go to the mines...shower before you come to bed. Shower with you? That-...isn't a bad idea." "Read up on how to take care of crops on my lunch break! I hope you don't mind that I already watered the plants for you!" "Ike really likes all the animals, he actually woke up before to feed them all!" "Do...do you think my hair is stupid? Cartman said something about it today and I know I shouldn't put merit in what he says but...You like my hair? And my nose? But I didn't- God you're too good to me." "I always had this fear of getting married, I was afraid that I'd end up like my parents. They're not bad just...never mind. Just thank you for being my partner." "Hey, take this medicine with you. If you get into trouble it will help. I don't care if it tastes bad! I don't want to find you passed out again!" "I'm taking Ike over to Kenny's today, he wants to hang out with Karen. Feel free to swing by when you're done doing what you need to do! The guys would love to see you." "You know I love you right? And I'll tell you it as many times as you need. You make it so easy to love you that I'm worried I'm not enough."

Tag List: @hunnysnoops

[averycutesalamander]

https://x.com/ziranotzireael/status/1807083208007135503

(Cyborg shark merman Boothill)

IMAGINE, siren Boothill who wants to kill off pirates and etc who stole from innocent people, and meets y/n on the S.S.Astral Express, and falls real hard

—

Alternatively, ruffian cowboy Boots kidnaps Royal y/n to go party on the town.

(here's the link if you're on mobile)

oml that art is SO CUUUUUUUTE !!!!! and it's so funny you mention that because i do actually have a mer au cooking hahaha. here's the summary (haven't put it up on the WIP list because it's already pretty dense up there lol)

You are a mer that lives a rather simple, lonely life at the edge of the reef, farming a variety of algae with your mysid shrimp. Your peace is disturbed when deep sea mer rise from the depths to claim the bounty of the reef for themselves, killing everyone that gets in their way – and the situation only grows more complicated when you find a dying shark mer near your farm.  So much for simplicity. 

he won't be mechanical in this au (kinda tragic but i think it makes more sense with the setup/backstory im giving him) BUT i do imagine him as a thresher shark. they whip prey with their tails to stun them !! and i imagine that if he put spurs on his tail like piercings then he could do some REAL damage with that shit. also, bonus:

THEY'RE FUCKING IRIDESCENT. it's not very visible unless the lighting conditions are just right but i still think it's awesome. also if you're curious about the "mysid shrimp" bit in the summary, tl;dr there is a species of damselfish that "farm" them in the wild!! they protect them from other predators and the shrimp fertilize the algae that the damselfish eat. very cool. milf (man i love fish)

anyway yeah im planning for that fic to be released for mermay (it'll be multichapter) but who knows. my mind is an enigma or whatever.

[prefect-nemesis]

Nemesis Ravenscroft-Crowley

This image is created using neka.cc.

Nemesis is a first-year student in Ramshackle, and the prefect of Night Raven College. She's the only female student, and possibly the youngest. While her lack for magic talent caused her to be left out, she's more than willing to fulfill the "mission" entrusted to her by a certain Ramshackle student.

Technical Information

Japanese: ネメシス・レイブンスクロフト・クロウリー

Romaji: Nemeshisu Reibunsukurofuto Kurorī

Nickname: Herbivore (Leona), Little Shrimp (Floyd), Mademoiselle (Rook), Child of Man (Malleus)

Voiced By: Satō Satomi

Voice Claim: Wendy Marvell (Fairy Tail)

Biographical Information

Gender: Female

Age: 12

Birthday: May 12

Zodiac: Taurus

Height: 145 cm

Eyes (Color): Heterochromatic, white (right) and black (left)

Hair (Color, Style): Raven black, twin tails

Homeland: England

Family: Unnamed older brother, Dire Crowley (foster father, Earth counterpart)

Professional Status

Dorm: Ramshackle

School Year: First

Class: 1-A, Student No. 9

Occupation: Student, prefect

Club: Light music club

Best Subject: Alchemy

Preferences

Dominant Hand: Right

Favorite Food: Pastries

Least Favorite Food: Liver

Dislikes: Rude behavior

Hobbies: Reading and writing

Talents: Singing

Appearance

Nemesis has a child-like physique. She has waist-length, raven black hair that she keeps in twin tails. Her eye colors are different from one another: her right eye is white, while her left eye is black.

Nemesis came out as a male student with a feminine physique at first. She did this to lessen the awkward air as a female individual in an all-boys school. After she was discovered to be female, she continued wearing the male school uniform even if the headmaster offered to tailor a set of skirts for her.

Dorm Uniform

Her dorm uniform is tailored similarly to the outfits of the Ramshackle Dorm ghosts, which includes the signature top hat and gray cape. Additionally, it is comprised of a white, long-sleeved button ups, blue-gray vest with a black tie, tan pants, and brown boots.

Personality

Nemesis first displayed a fidgety and aloof personality. She doubted her capabilities and is always relying on Yuuta's memories to get through experienced circumstances. Over time as she solved difficult situations outside of Yuuta's memories, she finally gained the confidence to stand on her own feet.

She is very responsible with any work assigned to her. Her dedication to her occupation as the school's prefect (which is more of her form of gratitude for sheltering her) helped her to be recognized as one of the most decent students on campus. She is also remarked to be doing well in written works and practical activities that doesn't involve magic.

Background

Nemesis is an orphaned girl adopted by a rich yet lonely man named Dire Crowley. She has vague memories of her past life, but her family was said to have perished in a house fire.

Nemesis' first exposure to Twisted Wonderland was when Yuuta Himura approached her through an antique mirror inside one of the many rooms of Crowley's mansion, which she initially assumed to be a dream. She learned about the situation of Night Raven College slowly leading to its mass destruction as a result of a berserk Grim, and the reason why Yuuta came to ask for her help.

In order to save everyone, Nemesis was transported to the time when Yuuta first appeared in the school. She gained ownership of his memories in order to retrace his steps and prevent the upcoming future of destruction. However, unfamiliar faces and situations proved that she was sent to the wrong timeline.

Powers and Abilities

Mind Walking: Nemesis has an unexplainable ability to enter the minds of mages who are under the influence of overblot, albeit beyond her control. It allows her to see the memory that influences the individual's negative energy the most. It is characterized by the complete loss of consciousness, which renders her vulnerable during its activation.

Facts and Trivia

Nemesis temporarily omitted her foster father's family name upon entering Night Raven College to avoid unwarranted questions about her relationship with the headmaster, who happens to be her foster father's Twisted Wonderland counterpart.

Nemesis' Twisted Wonderland counterpart is Rameses van Reenen.

[omnishanked]

David fucking dies, a gift for @paleo-vodka

It's early in the morning. David Keybird is awake, He has been awake for the past 3 days slaving away at his keyboard and screen.

His fingers hurt, his breath stinks, his back is shrimped and his brain feels fuzzy. The company he worked for, Alnast Outercommunications and Interconnecting Exisrazona Company (Alnast Communication Company, for short or just alnast for shorter.) Is restless even when their employees are on their day offs.

A knock, rhythmically identical to five night at freddies iconic 'hor hor hor hor hor'.

David sighs and turns his gamer chair around. “Come in, doors lock is broken anyways.”

“Hiiii daviiiddd, you look.. fucking awful. I have some empanadas for you they're only a little frozen.”

A beautiful plate of half frozen half molten empanadas probably from trader joes.. Oh and the guy was his roommate, we don't know his name yet.

“Okay.” David takes the plate and puts it ontop of his ‘programming for arizona residents’ book. “Did you get any mail, I haven't left this room since forever.”

“You got a letter from felix aaaaaalll from maryland! It's literally just money and some vials of his blood.”

“Who's felix”

“Mr. Reverdin? The guy who gave you that concussion that one time?”

“Oh yeah.. I'll take the blood and money, thanks.” David starts eating the delectable empanadas.

His roommate, currently unnamed, laid on David's untouched bed and stared up at the hung up gerard way poster above them.

“Hey David, are you gay?”

“No.”

They looked at the framed picture of mikey way.

“Okaayyy..”

David picks up the plate of empanadas and inhales it as he should, because he definitely should, it's only been liquids for days and the piss cans aren't enough.

“You ever yearned for something more? Like starting a family or like, marrying, or like.. something along those lines? I know you're kind of like super lonely but can you imagine that?”

David downs an arizona ice tea and crushes it.

“I stopped dreaming for things when I joined alnast.”

“I should've expected that, okay. Oh and by the way you should probably tighten the screws on your anime figure shelf because—”

A shelf falls ontop of davids head, cracking it and killing him. His roommate makes a clay copy of him and goes on with their life.

It also dies.

[hummingbird24220]

Chapter Seventeen: The Crew’s Favorite Disaster

Life aboard the Sunny had become… a little too normal lately.

No marines. No sea kings. No spontaneous fire.

So naturally, the chaos had to come from you.

And the crew had, for better or worse, gotten used to it.

Luffy loved it.

You were his favorite unpredictable teammate. One day you’d steal half a fruit cart, the next you’d be upside-down on the crow’s nest shouting “I AM THE WIND.” Every meal, you showed up with a new trinket tucked somewhere under your shirt and a suspicious sparkle in your eye.

“You’re like a living treasure chest!” he giggled once, as you coughed up three gold coins and a spoon.

“Thanks,” you wheezed. “That one was under my ribs.”

Chopper looked up to you, obviously and dangerously.

He’d started mimicking your sneaky prowling behavior. You caught him trying to “borrow” Nami’s favorite pen once, then hiding behind a barrel.

“What are you doing?” you asked.

“I’m being stealthy,” he whispered proudly.

You paused. Looked left. Looked right. Then patted his head. “Steal better stuff.”

Robin, nearby, sipped her tea and murmured, “You’re going to break him.”

“I'm going to train him.”

Nami claimed you were a walking liability—but when you dropped two rare gemstones into her lap after a “quick” walk through town, she gave you a very long sigh.

Then:

“You’re my favorite again.”

Sanji just called you “trouble” with a grin and handed you snacks. You suspected he secretly liked when you swiped things for him, especially rare spices or hard-to-find cooking knives.

You were, after all, his black-market bestie.

But Zoro?

Zoro was the enforcer.

He was the only one strong enough, fast enough, and unbothered enough to actually frisk you on a daily basis.

You’d walk by, jingling suspiciously.

He’d sigh.

“Stop.”

“I have nothing,” you’d say, already trying to shuffle away.

“Give it.”

He’d corner you against the rail and start patting you down like you were a feral bag of holding.

“…Three silver rings, someone’s watch, and my whetstone?” he muttered, holding them up one by one.

“They were lonely,” you mumbled.

He gave you a flat stare and kept going.

“Why is there a shrimp skewer in your boot?”

“Emergency-snack.”

“Why is this hot?!”

“I run warm.”

It became a routine.

Zoro would frisk you every morning before breakfast.

And every evening before bed.

At first it was about stolen items. But eventually, it just became... habit.

You'd pretend to sneak past.

He'd grunt and grab your wrist.

You'd groan, “Oh nooo, not again—”

He'd pat your pockets, lips twitching in amusement.

And maybe—maybe—you’d let him.

Because no one else got that close.

And because being known, being caught, and still being wanted… felt kind of nice.

One night, you dropped a little gold trinket into Zoro’s lap without a word.

He blinked at it.

“…This yours?”

“Not anymore,” you said, tail flicking. “Consider it a frisk tax.”

He smirked and tucked it away.

“You’re still getting checked tomorrow.”

You grinned.

“Can’t wait.”

-----------

Franky wasn’t exactly... your biggest fan.

You knew it.

Everyone knew it.

He didn’t dislike you, not outright. But he had that look in his eyes whenever you strolled past the workshop—like he was bracing for you to chew on a wire or steal a wrench mid-repair.

“Don’t touch anything with buttons,” he’d say, every single time you got within five feet of his tools.

“Too late,” you’d reply, grinning.

He never laughed.

The others said he just wasn’t a cat person. Didn’t like the unpredictability. The twitchy movements. The constant threat of scratching and stealing.

So naturally, you made it your personal mission to change that.

Day 1: You brought him a wrench you found (definitely not stolen).

He stared at it. Sniffed it. Grunted. “…This is mine.”

“I knew that,” you lied.

He snatched it back and kept working.

Progress: Minimal.

Day 3: You perched on the edge of his bench like a loaf and watched him fix a gear system for two full hours without touching a single thing.

He kept glancing at you like you were a bomb about to go off.

At one point, he whispered, “Weird.”

Progress: Passive Tolerance.

Day 6: You helped.

Kind of.

Held bolts in your paws. Passed him the right wrench before he asked. Only chewed on one wire sleeve (and replaced it after).

When he finally looked over and muttered, “Huh. Not bad,” you almost fell off the bench.

Progress: Cautious Curiosity.

Day 9: You fell asleep in his lap.

You hadn’t meant to. You were watching him install a new cooling system, curled on the floor nearby, and the hum of the machinery, the smell of metal, the warmth from the tools—it lulled you.

Next thing Franky knew, there was a very fuzzy, snoring lump curled over his thigh, tail twitching and claws gently flexing like you were dreaming of treasure.

He froze.

Looked down.

Whispered, “Oh no.”

Tried to move.

You purred louder.

Tried again.

You clung.

Eventually, he just… sat there. Stiff as a board. Working one-handed while you napped across his lap like a weighted blanket made of chaos and fur.

By the time you woke up, you stretched, yawned, and blinked up at him.

“Did I drool on you?”

He looked shell-shocked.

“…A little.”

You grinned. “You’re warm.”

He huffed. “You’re heavy.”

You stuck your tongue out. “No I'm not. I'm 90% floof.”

He didn’t answer.

But he didn’t push you away, either.

Progress: Emotional Damage (Good Kind).

By Day 12, Franky let you hold the soldering torch.

Supervised. But still.

He even said, “You’ve got good paws for detail work,” and didn’t flinch when your tail knocked over a measuring tape.

Later, as you handed him a bolt and nuzzled into his shoulder like a sleepy gremlin, he gave a long sigh and muttered:

“…Damn it. I think I like the cat.”

You purred louder.

Victory.

[groochi-gang]

Clinical trial by homie. Parallels, analysis, brain dump. Unrefined and incomplete

Massive spoilers, don’t read until you finish the game

A: “You talk as if your life is as good as over”

L: “I can see it. The rest of my life.”

L: “Someone was meant to die here. Not me, him.”

L: “You should leave in 10 seconds.”

>>This is more foreshadowing and backstory than parallel

foreshadowing:

A: “Why have I felt like I’m constantly being watched?” Lee immediately shows up.

This is week 6, already he’s collected the blood tissues, knows their schedule, knows where they work because they arrived in uniform and probably took the pictures at this point.

motif:

“1, 2, and…”

>blood and drug inject

>brandon

>>suicide countdown

abusive codependency:

You NEED me, what are you going to do?

He lies and keeps a lot of secrets, purposefully misleading people to his advantage.

>brown recluse being reclusive >specifically doesnt mention that theyre infamously fatally venomous— this is another animal parallel to him positioning himself as lonely instead of dangerous like with the fire shrimp being “good at hiding” and not about them being “opportunistic hunters” to the point other fish had to be taken out of the aquarium.

1)>Midlevel grunt work >Not respected among doctors >Im not a doctor. i thought you read my jacket? // all of angel’s self depreciation

2)some things he expects to be seen and doesnt keep a secret (You dont even know what time it is), but on top of Angel’s natural obliviousness they trust him to be honest and open

Lee lying parallels

L: “Please dont go to work. He might be there” He is dead. And he knows he has been dead for a day and rotting in his hole for 2. And that’s also why this week was so much better and normal for Angel

L: “Please stay. It might rain” It is drought season.

>Reminiscent of baby it’s cold outside

>Angel specifically walked to the bus in the rain after second incident w Brandon

BLUFF: L: “Be quite or I’ll shoot.” “That wasn’t a gun.”

>>More of a bluff than a lie. Still a lie though. Actually, a drill without a needle is closer to harmless than an unloaded gun.

the abduction was 5 days before the discovery, the day after the missed appointment, and the day before he was pronounced dead

He lies about things he knows arent true

The wifi router, saying it's in the garage when really it's the modem

He had bought and installed and hid a Jammer in the case -- He bought it while going grocery shopping for Angel, and installed the jammer after going upstairs and giving them the phone charger.

Lee keeping things purposefully hidden

Doesnt mention the jacket

Doesnt mention brown recluse

Doesnt mention the killing/stalking lol

Doesnt mention the jammer

Lee bluff? Lie?:

REJECT: BLUFF(?): “Youre heavily implicated in this. Your phone pinged a signal to your location after you turned off the jammer.” <- Angel didn’t say they turned it off. Either Lee is bluffing and assuming they did that, or he already knew they did when he went to the closet to get to the dungeon.

(But there’s another door leading from the bathroom (the other door is the one he used after leaving the master bedroom to wash the jacket) to the rest of the house, like the storage room, that is also off limits. In the REJECT route he doesnt take a shower, he goes straight to washing the jacket, and disappears. No explanation. It’s commented bow weird this is. In both routes the bathroom and storage room are off limits, and because he’s only ostensibly using the bathroom in the one route, that leads me to believe he isn’t actually using it in ever.) It is always commented on how weird it is that we haven’t see Lee.

He disappeared a after washing the jacket and came back after we found the body. Where did he go? He wasn’t anywhere in the house or shown in the backyard. Only place unavailable in the house was the bathroom. That narrows it down… he had to have been there, or is it a red herring? There’s nothing in the bathroom. Or is there, and Angel overlooked it.

What’s up with the storage room? You can play the whole game without ever going in there. It doesn’t serve a purpose other than that Lee got his pajamas from there offscreen.

When you go in, nothing is really inspected, just general statements. No reason to snoop… but that’s just what Lee wants

A: “That was quick.”

L: “Was it? I only knew what I was looking for.”

We don’t know what we’re looking for. We don’t know anything about what’s in the boxes, the duffel bag, the plastic containers, the quality of the tools. Why there’s a (presumably) blank CRT in ther when there’s a flatscreen in the room over? The whole room is overlooked due to an unreliable narrator, it’s a mystery. There is literally nothing important of note, other than on twitter the containers are used to bury a body. It’s all tucked away in boxes. What happened to the gloves, hat, and green jacket im the brandon flashback? Canonically there’s clothes kept in there, the middle school pjs. Assumedly the reason why there’s no coat on the coat rack is because it’s all in boxes. Why? Why hide something so trivial? Why hide the clothes you wear in your own house? This room, which is a dead end, tells us more about Lee than sny other part of the house. This room says “stay out” “this is private” “don’t look” “i don’t give you permission to be here.” I guess because he wore it the day of the abduction, he didn’t want to have it anymore. Or maybe he kept it and put it in the boxes. What each room says about him personally, this room rejects. You learn nothing at all about him in this room. This room is a complex about privacy and metaphorical sanitization

The shrine is the polar opposite, and the critical change in getting to know him. Mr cleans everything or he’lll get in trouble ejaculated on a jacket and left it stuffed on the floor to crust. This room, of all rooms tells you the most you need to know about him. It is the most impure, repressed part of him. Hidden. A secret uncovered. Terrifying. He is a scary creep. He is bad. Do you accept him and all his flaws, after seeing him at his worst? (The murder isn’t him at his worst, the only good rapist is a dead one!)

Was there something that only he knew where to look for? What was he doing?

Why did he leave Angel in the room where everything would be discovered? Such a glaring oversight, means that something even more important had to be dealt with, probably in the tool room. Something he “got rid of” and now we the viewer permanently can’t know. What could possibly be more important than the shrine and body? There was nothing important in the boxes. Or was there, and Angel just didn’t know where to check.

ACCEPT: MISLEADING(?):

L: “The jammer meant you wouldn’t have signal for days.” <- talking as if Angel doesn’t know what it was

A: “I turned it off.”

L: “And what happened?” <- Talking as if he didn’t know Angel turned it off.

Lee lies and cover ups:

On Monday Lee first lied about fixing the car. He wasnt anywhere near the car. He disappeared.

COVER UP: REJECT: He showed up at the shrine and said he needed “30 minutes”, no reason. Clearly trying to do something secretly.

LIE: ACCEPT: He said he NEEDED TO THINK IT OVER, and that he got sweaty and needed a shower. The water was running. The room is off limits.

CANON: Lee’s guessing and covering up

A: “Why didn’t my work message me? Why didn’t my roommate call me?”

L: “Maybe this happened, maybe that happened.”

A: “So you don’t know. You don’t know anything.” <- Angel addressing Lee is guessing

L: “It’s probably better if I didn’t give you any details.”

What Jade represents

>backstory of Jade >Him pacing around and looking at Jade >Jade being Theory 1 Angel “beauty drove him to madness” > Theory 2 Brandon (parasite buried together) >Theory 3 Lee “the only thing i wanted consistlently as a child was to die” “he was psychotically depressed”

Balancing rock

>mormon

biggest red herring is how it’d be about the medicine.

>the description

>the premise

>the control group, placebo

>going against policy, texting, leaving together

it breaks down the premise, breaks down your understanding over time

[kkpwnall]

if it wasn’t for bad luck i wouldn’t have luck at all

part one | rated t | 1270 words | cw: parental death

all my thanks and love to my beloved @fragilecapric0rnn for beta-reading 💜 you're a rockstar and your feedback was so so helpful

Eddie was born under a bad sign. That’s what his momma always used to say. Friday the 13th, and in October? He never really stood a chance and neither did anyone else he got close to. He was like a black cat walking across their path. 

[ keep reading below, or read on ao3 ]

His momma was first, of course. Cursed by the fate of Eddie’s birth from the very beginning. And if he hadn’t dawdled on the way home from school that day, if he had gone straight home just like he’d promised, if he hadn’t stopped to pick a bouquet of ditch weed wildflowers for her and got distracted by caterpillars and rollie-pollies— Well, maybe he would’ve been able to tell the 911 operator she was still breathing when he found her.

His daddy was next, not much long after. Eddie worshiped him like a hero in one of his fantasy stories, the charming, devil-may-care, down on his luck protagonist who stole from the rich and gave to the needy. But the first time Floyd brought him out on a real job, just the two of them, when all Eddie had to do was hot wire the getaway car after he heard the signal (three hoots like a barn owl), Eddie panicked. Did he say barn owl or barred owl? Was that two hoots or three? Why did the wires all look the same in the dark?

When the police cars painted him in their flashing red and blue lights, he dropped the wire cutters and ran. Floyd went down in a hail of bullets behind the car Eddie had been trying to steal, and Wayne got his own life sentence when the State dropped Eddie on his doorstep.

Uncle Wayne got the worst of it, obviously. Working himself to the bone, nights and weekends, to put Eddie through school. Not to mention senior year for a second and third goddamn time.

It was too late by the time young Eddie figured it out. By the time he decided to keep everyone at arm’s length.

It’s safer that way, for everyone.

Chrissy was just the latest in a long line. And he’d only lowered his guard an inch, a millimeter, when he saw someone just as lonely and desperate for a friend. He’d only barely started to let himself have an inkling of what an actual friendship with her might be like when—

This is exactly why Eddie doesn’t have friends. He has minions. He has little lost sheepies, he has twerps and shrimps. And that’s it. That’s enough. It has to be enough.

But all that changes the day he dies.

Or maybe it’s the day he finally wakes up. His new birthday, welcomed to the world once again in a cold, bright, sterile hospital room.

And really, the way he sees it, it’s all Henderson’s fault.

The little shit wanders in every day at visiting hours and makes himself right at home. He props his cast up on Eddie’s bed, and steals the remote to change the channel on the ancient, minuscule tv over to cartoons, and then he just… camps out! All day!

The kid will not leave him alone, no matter how cold a shoulder Eddie tries to give him. He even broke down and explained everything to him. How he’s bad luck, he’s bad news. And people who get too close to him end up dead.

But maybe the painkillers they’ve got him on scrambled his brain as bad as the bats scrambled his guts, because Dustin steamrolls right over him.

“If curses were real, which they aren’t,” he posits in his professor voice, “Your dumb curse can’t try to kill me again. It already took a shot and it missed, and the worst I got was a busted ankle.”

Eddie opens his mouth to tell Dustin that’s not how curses work but—

“And what was its goal anyway? To get you alone and friendless, dead in a ditch? Well then, mission accomplished!”

Which is… weirdly comforting when he puts it like that.

Dustin brings with him a rotating cast of the rest of the fellowship. Eddie finally gets to meet Baby Byers and finds out he’s already been recruited to Hellfire before Eddie can even say hello.

More often than not, Steve tags along too since he’s already ferrying them all between the hospital and home. Usually after he’s spent some time with Red and the other kids in her room, he’ll drop by. To check on Dustin of course.

It’s not because he likes Eddie. Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t even know him.

All that… before… it was just some harmless flirting to keep himself from completely losing it while he was on the run from homicidal bible-thumpers. And Steve was just humoring him.

So he hides behind stupid flirtatious remarks, easy to brush off when it’s always undercut with sly winks and salacious expressions. Enough to keep everything surface level. Keep him at arms length.

It doesn’t matter that his eyes still seem to linger on Eddie, even when he hasn’t said anything for a while. Or that he brings Eddie extra pudding cups from the cafeteria. It doesn’t mean anything when he stands in the doorway trying to finish one last story or joke, until the kids almost literally have to drag him out when visiting hours are over.

Because it turns out Steve is an incorrigible gossip. And Eddie’s not about to be the one to corrige him. Not when he brings an extra dr. pepper for Eddie every time he stops by the vending machine for a coke and gleefully tells Eddie which of the doctors, nurses, and shady government agents are sleeping together.

A can of coke he taps on the lid with a peculiar rhythm before he cracks it, every time.

“What’s up with that?” Eddie finally has to ask one day, when it’s just the two of them and the Price is Right.

Steve hums this confused little sound at him, tilting his head with furrowed brows as he takes the first sip.

Eddie repeats the pattern, tapping it out on his own can.

Steve blinks a few times, first at Eddie, then at the can in his hand.

“I didn’t even realize I did that,” he huffs out a laugh. “It’s uh… something my grandpa taught me when I was a kid. Y’know just for luck.”

The blood in Eddie’s veins freezes and he’s stuck like that for a painfully long moment. Propped up against the lumpy hospital pillows with his mouth half open, staring at Steve.

“For luck.” he says flatly.

“Yeah, so the fizz doesn’t explode when you open it.”

“And has that ever happened to you?” Aiming for flirty, aiming for scathing, aiming for anything that’s not desperation.

“Well no,” Steve says with an easy shrug and a conspiratorial smile, “that’s why it’s lucky. It’s like picking up a coin that’s face-down on the sidewalk.”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure it’s face-up, darlin,” Eddie says coyly, like every alarm bell in his head isn’t ringing a deafening cacophony.

“Nah see, you gotta leave those ones for someone who really needs the luck.”

“But then you get the bad luck.”

“Nah, doesn’t work that way,” Steve says, and fucking winks at him.

Eddie wants to shake him. What is wrong with him? He’s got it all backwards and it’s dangerous. How is he walking around like this?

Whatever, it’s not his problem. Steve can do whatever Steve wants. Eddie doesn’t need to protect him from himself. It’s not like they’re friends. And really, that’s the best way to protect him.

[ part two ]

[ also on ao3 ]

[forsaking-serenity]

Get to know your mutuals!!

all the love and care to indi, my beloved munchkin @aixabi, for tagging me <333

What's the origin of your blog title? it’s a lyric from my all time favourite song “again&again” by against the current (im wearing their hoodie rn actually lmao)

OTP(s) + Shipname: uhhm idk my dudes parksborn and gwenmj will always have a soft spot in my heart and probably musa/layla from winx too

Favourite colour: blueeee :) any and all shades, my second favourite is red and colour combinations (do not separate, im attached) are pink & blue, red & black, purple & yellow

Favourite animal: (red) pandas, otters, manta rays and cats :) (also the peacock mantis shrimp)

Favourite movie/show: depends on the category, animation, live action, anime, genre, mood im in and whatnot, but mostly in that order. movie: treasure planet (2002) shows: the owl house (2020-2023), bones (2005-2017), the apothecary diaries (2023-present)

Favourite food: uhhh i love anything pasta/noodles, thai is probably my favourite cuisine rn, i also really enjoy korean, indian, japanese and italian (im not counting surinaams bc thats my own culture and ill always be biased lmao)

Favourite game: uhm idk i like card games and some board games, do puzzles (from sudokus to jigsaw and the human mind, i enjoy picking them apart) count?

Song stuck in your head: uhh probably k.o. by haiden henderson (its the first song i thought of lmao vv catchy)

Hobbies: photography, reading, writing, listening to music/going to concerts, puzzles and uhm bouldering? maybe? ive only gone once but i wanna start going once a week

If you work, what's your profession? currently, im a piercing apprentice, id like to find actual work in that area tho

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be? marine biologist, absolutely obsessed with marine life as a kid and i still think its fascinating

Something you're good at: my friends have told me im a good photographer and ive also been told im good with words, be it giving compliments or writing poems or fics

Something you're bad at: trying new things, new things are terrifying

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: how winx club fumbled and lost its cuntyness (i have a miro board, pp slideshow and word doc abt it)

Something you love: lots of things truly, flowers, nature, wildlife, photography, music, writing, reading, my found family, puzzles (see the other question)

Something you hate: hypocrites and entitlement idk i don't really hate all that much

Something you collect: seventeen albums, plushies, tote bags and pins

Something you forget: to be kind to myself i suppose, tho i am working on that

What were you like as a child? lonely, quiet and tired lmao

Favourite subject at school? biology and chemistry

Least favourite subject: math and physics (i had really bad teachers, i didn't understand anything when they tried explaining stuff)

What's your love language? words of affirmation and acts of service are the "traditional" ones ig but idk im not that big on love languages, i kinda just see it as showing ppl i love that i love and care for them in any way i can that they are comfortable with. like if my friend isnt comfy with physical touch then ill focus on other things yk

What's your best character trait? hopefully my kindness and compassion, that's what id like it to be. can't really say if it is tho

What's your worst character trait? saying "im fine" when im clearly not lmao, and also i tend to undersell myself/talk myself down bc i don't feel like im good enough

Weirdest habit/trait? pickle pits? pit pickles? ticklessssss (this has context btw but i dont feel like typing it all out, also i asked my bf and this is what he said so blame him for the confusion)

If you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be? idk my dude nothing in particular, other than maybe the abysmal weather in amsterdam rn

If you could travel in time, who would you like to meet? my maternal great grandmother, she died when i was two years old, but i have so many things i wanna ask her. she literally took secrets to her grave and now im left curious

as for who im tagging @tmarauder101 @outofmyhead-justlikeyou @sarah-sandwich @shipskicksandgiggles @ordinaryhorror @toa-greatmind-nothingislittle @calliiopes and anyone else who wants to, ok byeeeeeeeee <3