#there really wasn't that much celebration and thanks from the gods for saving them from gaea compared to Kronos

[pain-is-too-tired]

percy and annabeth should've moved to Alaska send tweet

Other than the whole out of the gods focus thing, I honestly don't see them having a reason they'd want to?

Its too far from anything familiar. I don't see Percy wanting to be too far from his mom and Estelle(i mean, California is already pretty far. Of course he can use Mrs.O'Leary, but still. Long distances still effect her.)

And, why he definitely wants to stop getting drag into things by the gods, camp half blood still holds importance to him. I'd think he'd want to at least stay somewhat in the loop with other demigods and there if something really bad happens.

We see in Tlo that New York/Manhattan is pretty special to him to. Of course he's going to school on California for New Rome, but I see him moving back to New York after. I mean the guy literally shoved Michael out of the way than got actually angry seeing Manhattan put to sleep. I actually don't think it's talked about how Percy's loyalty also kinda includes Manhattan. Like that's his home. Where he was raised, where Camp is close by. He feels comfortable in Manhattan. I just don't see him really wanting to move. I mean, again yeah New Rome exists. But i think that mainly would be the exception because of the safety of it being for demigods and legacies. Even then I see him feeling wierd there considering what we do know about how they are with elite and old money family that lives there.

Alaska is also more dangerous because of it being out of relm of the gods. Percy wants a peaceful life, I don't think he'd want to risk living where he knows monster can still get to them and be more comfortable doing so. Especially if they plan to start a family at some point.

Its fun thought, but definitely don't think it work out well ^^'

[mediumgayitalian]

okay a few solangelo things i’m curious your take on,

what kind of gift givers do you think will and nico are to each other?

are either of them music nerds? making playlists? gifting playlists? what music do u think they like?

what is their favorite fruit?

do you think either of them keep up with pop culture? are they fans of anything? celebrity crushes? like do you think will would think timothee chalamet is cute bc he lowkey has nico’s vibes and is such a buzzer name for celeb crushes? lolll

and then, do you think nico shamelessly takes will’s sweaters and shirts to wear or secretly swipes them?

ty! love ur blog so much xx

HELL YEAH THANK YOU

what kind of gift givers do you think will and nico are to each other?

i think nico spoils will fucking rotten.

his dad is the god of wealth he is holding NOTHING back. aside from that, he grew up wealthy and spent so so long in the lotus casino. i think he has a rly bad handle on money lol.

however he's such a mysterious guy that i think it doesn't occur to will that nico is actively spending money on him??

like will makes an offhand comment about how he would marry the person who would bring him the mystical rocket launching boba fett. and nico is like word okay and the next day there is a rocket launching boba fett on will's pillow and he's like BRO???? OH MY GOD?????

but he just figures that nico knew someone who had it!! he knows nico is big on figurines & collectibles and has a lot of connections, so he thinks nico just called in a favour.

in reality nico did all those things and also spent like two hundred k lol

basically, nico doesn't even think about it. if he hears a friend express a want that he has to means to acquire...its not even an active choice to him?? he's like well why wouldn't i buy this for them.

and i think this means a whole lot to will!!

he's spent his life in his mom's tour van or a bunk bed. he grew up in two wars. he was responsible for an entire infirmary at 13. he's a nerd and he likes nerdy things but like...collecting takes time. and money he doesn't have, because money isn't really a focus in camp and its not like he's paid lol

so of course there are things that he likes but...imagine being will. imagine having a budget for the INFIRMARY YOU RUN and thinking, like...well the camp has only so much money. i know exactly what these medical supplies cost. i refuse to steal. why would i ever be so selfish to ask for money to be spent on me and the things i like?

and then there's nico, who doesn't need him to ask. who WANTS to give him things he wants, not just what he needs or what he wants for others. what WILL wants. nico will get him.

will on the other hand....he gives away his time like it's free.

he does things for people. constantly. like austin complains about not having anywhere quiet to practice and will builds him a soundproof practice room. you know?

now when nico, who has had no one spend their time on him since bianca....

like his father did not have time for him. even when he lived in the underworld, he was put to work. or else he was bored. it's not like he and hades HUNG OUT, you know?

and of course he had no friends to spend their time on him. even in his first time at camp half blood -- for the first time, bianca didnt have time for him. she chose the hunters for ETERNITY, she said i am done choosing you now. and nico drove percy insane, who certainly didn't have time for him between saving the world. the entire time we saw him in TTC he was being pushed away.

by the time he had hazel, HE was the one pushing himself away before anyone else could. he filled his time so he wasn't waiting for anyone else. besides, through no fault of hers, he and hazel CAN'T give each other as much of their time as they would like!! they live on opposite sides of the country!!

but will.....

gods will. will SEEKS HIM OUT. the first thing will says to him is i have carved out, in my busy healer schedule, three days of time for YOU. not only have i carved out these three days, but in that brief moment of time where i was running around camp, i was thinking about you. you were a PRIORITY and i'm upset that you did not come spend your time with me.

like.....oh my god. can you imagine that? being nico? hearing someone you barely know, at this point, talk about how much time he wants to spend with you? and then as you get closer, he spends SO MUCH time with you!! he makes you a priority!

will walks nico to breakfast and watches him in sword practice and takes out his schedule when nico is making his to make sure they line up. he plans dates and they're FUN and he is so careful to make them enjoyable for nico, too, so much so that he forgets his nerves.

the biggest gifts they give to each other is noticing, i think. i see you, i see what you need and wont ask for, and i care enough to give it to you anyway.

are either of them music nerds? making playlists? gifting playlists? what music do u think they like?

will is the HUGEST MUSIC NERD IN THE WORLD.

he may not have many musical talents himself but music was naomi solace's whole world. you bet your ass it's everything for him, too.

he is teased for his love of country, and he does love country (everybody loves country if you hate country you are lying to yourself, i know you sing along to before he cheats with your whole chest), but he has a VAST music taste.

he is a britney spears stan. i will not be convinced otherwise.

nico, on the other hand, is not nearly as ignorant about music as people pretend he is. y'all he was in a casino/arcade until like 2006!!!!! do you think it was silent in there!!!!! do you think he is not the absolute king of just dance and DDR!!!

however he was, like, 10. so i think he's familiar with a lot of songs but in the way you were when you were a kid, you know?? like i could sing paparazzi w my whole chest beginning to end flawlessly at eight years old, but i would not have been able to recognise lady gaga by name or sight.

i think he and will make somewhat of a game out of it. the first time they hang out, nico is NERVOUS beforehand. like for hours. will said they were going to have a chill day bc he has time off, but what are they supposed to DO?? before they were actively doing stuff together. will was teaching nico first aid basics, or nico was helping him around the infirmary; they were helping rebuild camp together. sure, they were talking, but they had something to focus on if things got awkward or conversation faded naturally.

that is VERY DIFFERENT from just hanging out in person. is nico supposed to have conversation starters prepared? how much silence is rude? is will going to finally decide he's boring? or weird? will is such a hyper person!!! how is nico supposed to entertain him!!

meanwhile will is in his cabin freaking the fuck out to his siblings like GUYS HES GONNA THINK IM A WEIRD NERD DORK LOSER 😭😭😭.....WHAT IF HE SAYS THE WORD SAND AND I GO ON THE ANAKIN SKYWALKER RANT ON REFLEX FUCK KAYLA WHAT DO I DO I DONT KNOW HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS LIKE A NORMAL PERSON HE IS SO OUT OF MY LEAGUE

so he calls his mom 💀

and his mom is like baby....you are a disaster are you aware. and hes like thanks MOM i know i need HELP OKAY

and naomi is like well you got on with my backstage crew just fine. and hes like well yeah we just talked about music that was easy.

...

OH THANKS MOM YOURE SO SMART

and he's like wait nico has spent a lot of time in the underworld...he might not be very up to date!! this'll be awesome. so he stays up till like 3 on the big house computer carefully making nico several CDs worth of playlists.

he makes HOURS of music. way more than they could ever listen to in one day, but he gets carried away. he makes a playlist with his favourite country music, including his moms stuff obviously, with rock music he thinks nico in particular will like, pop punk stuff, regular pop, an entire CD dedicated to the icon herself kesha (whom he knows personally bc she sun backup vocals for his mom when she was a teenager), some musicals, and some iconic european music to top it off. he has a little bit of EVERYTHING.

most important, though, he makes a CD with the top 100 billboard songs from the years 1958 (when it started) to 1985. he doesnt have enough time to do it all the way to this year in one night but vows to work on it when he has time.

when he goes to nico's cabin, he comes with a stack of CDs as long as his arm and chiron's CD player. he's practically sparkling with excitement; when nico opens the door he is already halfway through a sentence lol.

for four straight hours, they just listen to song after song, will pausing after each one to ask what nico thinks. he recognises a lot of them, even though he didn't know their names, but even still he's pretty quiet at first. but as they go on it gets hard not to get caught up in wills excitement, and he dances like such a dork, anyway, is it his fault for laughing? and those four hours pass like MINUTES and suddenly its curfew and will has to go.

this becomes their tradition! will plays a song, nico reviews it. even as they learn how to hang out with each other in different ways, it becomes reflex -- when there's a song playing will looks at nico for a reaction. when they're with others, in public, whenever.

the first time nico makes will a playlist he cries.

the playlist is called sunshine.

will plays on his walkman until its worn right through.

what is their favorite fruit?

at first will thinks nico doesn't like fruit at all because he has to force this dumbass to eat fruit and vegetables. all he eats is like. cereal and sandwiches. it stresses will the fuck out.

he's out here plopping a bowl of fruit on nico's table like eat this whole thing or i'm gonna whoop your ass before scurvy does. (he is genuinely afraid nico is going to get scurvy, although its not a very effective anxiety because hes kind of deeply afraid of scurvy in general and is always trying to push people to eat oranges lol).

nico ALWAYS drags his feet about it. at one point will gets worried that nico just straight up doesn't like fruit and starts fretting about synthetizing supplements.

turns out nico is just, like...a little pretentious. about fruit particularly. in his defense, he has been all over the world. like he's had indian mangoes and algerian clementines okay it is VERY hard to settle for stuff grown in north america as nice as the demeter greenhouses are.

his favourite fruit ever is the lemon though. he had a lemon tree in his backyard when he was a kid that he doesn't remember, exactly, but he remembers how it tastes. will brings him a lemon once and almost as if his hands are working on their own, he cuts a slice, removes the peel and pith, puts it in a jar of sugar, and shakes to coat it, like his nonna would do secretly when he mama wasn't looking. its the best thing he's ever tasted.

will is a fruit fanatic, on the other hand. he steals strawberries every time he walks by the fields. the demeter cabin has to count their blueberries every night because he can and will eat them all when no one's looking.

his favourite, though, and he never ever gets it at camp, is prickly pear. in the summers before camp he would go to the desert with his mom and pick enough to make his stomach hurt -- he's never home when they're in season now, so sometimes when she's free shell drive up to new york just to bring him a box of them. she knows he's busy and cant leave camp in summers but she wants him to have that, at least.

do you think either of them keep up with pop culture? are they fans of anything? celebrity crushes? like do you think will would think timothee chalamet is cute bc he lowkey has nico’s vibes and is such a buzzer name for celeb crushes? lolll

i think all year-rounders are into pop culture just fine, but they're a few years behind. except for music -- will knows music. but things like movies and tv shows and memes, they either get updated from their summer-only friends or they stumble upon in naturally when it's not longer relevant lol.

nico, though, has an encyclopedic knowledge of old pop culture, because the lotus got new tech and games and movies before literally anyone else. he saw back to the future before it was in theatres and it changed his life. he quotes it all the time and no one has called him out on it then, but it is only a matter of time.

(he has seen star wars. he saw star wars before will was alive. but it is 100% funnier to pretend he doesn't know what a galaxy is and watch will's eye twitch when he asks him about luke skyrunner)

and then, do you think nico shamelessly takes will’s sweaters and shirts to wear or secretly swipes them?

yes absolutely. but he's super embarrassed about it at first so he genuinely STEALS them, not just borrows them.

it's a heist and everything. he shadow travels into the apollo cabin at like three in the morning and rifles through will's shelf. when he gets back he panics and shoves it under his mattress, where it lives in shame for four months. will just thinks it must have been an unfortunate victim of some poor sick child or bleeding demigod and writes it off.

after several months, during which nico thinks about the sweater ALL the time but cannot physically force himself to touch, nico finally gets brave enough to take it out from under his mattress. he just stares at it for a long ass time, wrinkling it in his clenched hands. it's just a hoodie, you know?? who cares.

nico cares. obviously.

eventually he gets so annoyed with himself that he just yanks it on expecting to be able to tell himself like SEE you dumbass it's just a piece of clothing it literally does not matter. except.

except.

the hoodie still smells like will.

somehow.

and that is.

well.

he would rather dunk his head into the river of fire than admit it, but he melts. the hoodie is old as hell and worn and so so so so soft, gods, no wonder will wears it all the time. he never wants to take it off ever.

for weeks, whenever he's alone in the cabin, he wears the hoodie. it stops smelling like will pretty quickly but he doesn't mind, it's still the most comfortable thing ever. it becomes second nature to walk into his cabin, throw off his jacket, and tug the hoodie on, wearing it to bed.

on one night, and of course it's the hermes' cabin fault, everyone is rushing out of their cabin to see what the fresh fuck is sounding like twenty four fire alarms at once and also a nuclear explosion. nico, in his haste, does not take off the hoodie.

will, whipped, makes sure his siblings are okay and then turns immediately to find nico. he Sees The Hoodie. nico Sees Him See The Hoodie. nico tries to flee.

will has longer legs and also spots a teasing opportunity, so hera herself could not stop him.

will teases him to pieces but is also visibly pleased. the next morning nico finds another hoodie of will's hung over his desk chair.

he wears will's hoodies all the time.

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THESE IN I HAD SO MUCH FUN

[acourtofthought]

hi, so.. i'm genuinely curious. why do you ship gwyn and azriel? because for me, i don't think gwyn has shown any romantic interest in azriel, and even he himself thinks they're not close enough to be friends. do you think sjm is going to throw all of elriel's moments away in previous books just for a ship built off of a spark in the chest and a private dagger lesson which happened off page?

because if she does, i think it will be fan service. major fan service.

thank you.

You say all the E/riel moments but if you really care about what I have to say (as you felt the need to message me) I hope you'll actually pay attention to the things I'm telling you.

It's not all the E/riel moments. It's all the E/riel moments that were almost instantly followed up by Az's fixation on someone else or lack of true interest on his part.

Az figured out Elain was a Seer? He then went on and agreed that they shouldn't bother following through on her visions.

Az announced he'd get Elain back only after Cassian first said they'd get her back? He went on to disobey Feyre's orders to get Elain to safety so he could stay behind and save Feyre, risking Elain's life in the process. He also said he'd be the one who could also take Briar though it was Elain who helped save her, something Az never acknowledged. Just like he never acknowledged her saving him too when kicking the hounds and Cassian, Nesta when she stabbed the king.

Az gave Elain TT? That's because Mor begged him to sit out of battle. He sat out of the one thing he's known for, being the first to throw himself into danger, because the female he in canon loved at the time had tears in her eyes and asked him not to enter the fight. Also, he didn't bother to check on Elain after the war or provide his condolences for the loss of her father.

Az was so sweet taking the potatoes from Elain's hand? Only a few chapters before he was relieved not to have to get her a gift to help her celebrate her first Solstice after being turned fae and he went on to stare at Mor with heat and yearning while Elain sat in the room with them.

He stared at Elain's headache powder for a year while he imagined what she'd look like during sex? He was pissy towards Helion because of Helion's question on where Mor was. He interrupted Nesta's question to Feyre on whether Elain knew about the pregnancy to ask if Mor knew. And because he STILL looks at Mor with longing glances. "Few and Far between" doesn't equal Zero. It means they still exist though to a much lesser degree......all while he's supposed to be so captivated by Elain. He didn't bother asking Elain how she was doing after her fights with Nesta, didn't bother saying he'd help her train her powers. You know, important things when it comes to endgame couples.

Not to mention Az wasn't remotely affected by Elain's catatonic state, where she was withering away. Lucien was DEVASTATED. Az drew straws so he didn't have to stay behind and guard her. THAT'S supposed to be who I want for Elain? The IC was not allowed to enter the Rite otherwise it would guarantee death to them all. Nothing prevented Az from staying with Elain to guard her.

Did you read the TOG series? Did you see how many moments existed between Dorian and Celeana? Beautiful moments too. Did you see what transpired between Celaena and Chaol? She literally tells Chaol that she'd always choose him, she says that he is her home.

Tell me how anything that happened between Az and Elain is any more poetic than what we witnessed between Celaena and Chaol yet Sarah had no problems chucking that out the window.

How about the buildup between Nesryn and Chaol? Sarah had her travel with him to the Torres Cesme, she was willing to accept him with his disability yet Sarah knocked down that house of cards in Tower of Dawn.

Dorian and Sorscha?

Feyre was engaged to Tamlin for gods sakes.

I truly don't understand how you think buildup means anything in Sarah's books. Unless two characters are mates, Sarah will easily tear down whatever buildup once existed between two non mates.

Theia and Fionn were forbidden lovers yet she went on to stand by impassioned as he was murdered only to later be willing to give up everything for Aidas, her mate.

And though you'll refuse to see it, I think Sarah already ended them on Solstice. Az and Elain were doomed from the start and there has now been 7 months that have passed from Solstice until the events of HOFAS. We are given absolutely no buildup for the E/riel ship in all that time, not since Elain returned his necklace. There has been no on page bantering between them, no longing glances, not even an indiscernible peak out of the corner of their eyes at one another.

"All the E/riel buildup" except it's already gone? E/riels entire buildup amounted to an almost kiss that never happened in a bonus chapter which makes it pretty easy for Sarah to move on from considering she tore down Feyre's engagement to Tamlin within the span of a few chapters. And Feyre and Tamlin had an entire book dedicated to them.

You can ship E/riel still, of course, but you can't honestly act like it would be difficult for an author like SJM to walk away from whatever they had going since she had no issues breaking apart multiple other characters who shared so much more.

Serious question for you.

How many books do you read where at the very start of the novel, the two characters instantly want one another?

Did Claire want Jamie at the start of Outlander? Pretty sure she was married to and in love with her husband. She also tried to escape back to said husband after marrying and sleeping with Jamie.

I just read a book where the guy ends up helping a girl who was homeless and she's worried that he'll expect sexual favors from her as she's seen happen on the streets and he says and thinks "she's not remotely my type" though of course they end up together and she's the most beautiful thing ever.

Off the top of your head I'm guessing you can't tell me 5 books where the endgame couple starts the book already in love or romantically interested in one another. So why would Az and Gwyn not being true friends yet be a problem at all?

As far as Gwyn's interest or lack thereof, I don't even need the bonus but if after 2 years and knowing what Elain did during the war he still doesn't think she's capable of handling the darkness of the trove but after a few months he believes in Gwyn's ability to make it through the Rite, it's pretty obvious who the author is setting up as his love interest. Sarah's writing and preferred behavior for her MMC with his endgame person is not difficult to spot at this point.

While we don't currently have confirmation of physical attraction (something that could easily change with a simple change of pov), we do have confirmation of curiousity on Gwyn's part. And a lot of admiration on Az's side.

How is that not a wonderful jumping off point for these two characters? Az is no stranger to lust for beautiful females but he doesn't often give them credit for standing on their own two feet. And Gwyn's curiousity about Az, a male, after what happened to her, is a huge step forward already.

Gwyn started SF not having left the library in 2 years but by the end she was fine being alone with Az on the top of the roof in the middle of the night. She was teasing him over his title, "Shadowsinger."

I'm not sure how you don't see that as being playful / flirtatious. Does that mean she's in love with Az and wants to jump his bones? No, it's just the first hints we're seeing. I'd rather only see hints of something before two characters are ready to bang one out on page before they've even had a POV and shared any sort of meaningful conversation (which Az and Elain have never done, they have never spoken about anything of true importance). That's the difference between a romance book with sex and a book with smut.

As for Az, I'd much rather wait for his romance to build on page, where he's only focused on one female, rather than the shit-show that has been the Mor / Elain situation. Where he can't even admit to his best friend that he's over Mor in the same chapter he thinks how he's not thought of a plan on how to be with Elain beyond his sexual fantasies.

Elain deserves a hell of a lot better than that. And so does Gwyn. Which is why I'm glad Az isn't romantically interested in her at this point in time. Have you ever liked a guy who was panting over you and another girl? It's really not the romance E/riels like to pretend it is and I'd rather Az truly come to terms with his past with Mor and letting her go (something that he has not fully done) before he shows any romantic interest for his endgame person. But with Gwynriel I see that future potential. The banter already exists, she's a bit bloodthirsty like Az, she's seen him slaughter which means she's seen a little what Az is capable of versus how he's behaved around Elain, and his shadows are happy around her (which is better than how Az notes they tend to vanish around Elain after telling us how they're his companions). Not to mention Az won't suffer being around someone who already has a mate and will forever have that mate.

Crying fanservice because you don't get your way rather than paying attention to the author you're reading is a copout and I hope you respect Sarah's writing more than that.

[cherriegyuu]

Enchanted | csc

pairing: seungcheol x fem!reader genre: fluff word count: 1.2k summary: in which you meet seungcheol for the first time

requests are open

a/n: a small thing in celebrations of cheol's birthday 🍒

You nodded quietly to the man in front of you. His name had completely left your mind and you lost track of whatever it was that he was talking about. Your cheeks were already numb from smiling for too long.

There was nothing you hated more than attending those parties on your brother's behalf but Jeonghan did so much for you that going somewhere you didn't really like and having to play nice with people you didn't care for was something that you were willing to do. 

That party, especially, was a little worse because there wasn't anyone you knew so there wasn’t anyone to help you hide, anyone who could keep you away from the boring conversations. But all you had to do was endure it for another hour, just sixty more minutes until you were finally free to go home.

You and Jeonghan had an understanding that when he wasn’t able to attend one of these events — either because he was busy or because he just didn’t want to, more often the latter —, you had to be there for at least three hours. Someone needs to be there to represent the family, he said when you complained. And since he did all the boring work, the parties and the networking were left to you. 

At first, you enjoyed it to some extent. It was a perfect opportunity to put on some makeup and wear a pretty dress. But soon you learned that once one attends a couple of events, they’d seen all of it. 

“Sorry, I’m late,” a man said on your right. 

You were completely caught off guard when the stranger put his hand on your lower back and leaned in, his warm breath against your ear.

“Jeonghan send me” he whispered softly before placing a quick kiss on your cheek, his lips on your skin for barely a second

At his words, your stiff body relaxed. It wasn’t the first time an unknown man had approached you at one of those events, but he was the first one to do so at your brother’s request.

You turned your head to look at the stranger and your breath got stuck on your throat. The man was mesmerizing. His face wasn’t familiar at all to you, you’d know if he was. There was no way you’d forget a face like his. 

He had big eyes, bright but also with a hint of mystery in them, a bit mischievous too because he knew that his arrival had thrown off the man in front of you.

“Seungcheol,” the man who had been talking your ears off said, dragging your attention back to him “I haven’t seen you in years”

Seungcheol.

You played the name on your mind over and over again, trying to place him in any of your memories. If Jeonghan had sent him to save you from boredom then he and Seungcheol were close. Friends even. You had attended those parties for years and it was the first time he had sent anyone for you. 

“Ji Hu,” Seungcheol said “I got back a few months ago”

God, his voice. It was like silk. It was different from when he whispered, more filling in a way. 

The two of them briefly shook hands before Seungcheol whisked you away. He walked you to your designated table and pulled the chair out for you. You sighed in relief once you sat down, thankful that the pressure on your feet eased down a little bit. The shoes you wore were beautiful but way too uncomfortable. 

"How do you know my brother?" 

Seungcheol suddenly raised his hand, and a second later a waiter was by your side, placing a glass of water in front of you.

"Jeonghan said to not let you drink," he said when you made a face at the water "And to answer your question, we went to college together"

No matter how much you thought about it, you had no memory of Seungcheol. Of course, you didn't know all of Jeonghan's friends from college but if Seungcheol was there it meant that your brother trusted him enough — which was something to be considered because Jeonghan hardly trusted anyone. 

"I don't remember you" 

"We weren't really friends at the time, we just attended college at the same time and had a few classes together. I went abroad to get my master's. Jeonghan and I only reconnected," he tilted his head to the side, unsure if that was the correct word to describe their relationship "last year"

You nodded quietly. That did make a lot of sense. Seungcheol had never been to any of those events, no dinner in Jeonghan’s house, no golf either. There was no way you'd forget someone like him.

"How did you guys get in touch again?"

Seungcheol smiled at you, a glimpse of a gummy smile showing before he quickly sobered up. You could swear that your heart skipped a beat.

"Aren't you a curious little thing" you smiled then too "Who do we still need to talk with tonight? I know Ji Hu isn't one of them. If I remember correctly, five minutes by his side is worth weeks of a conversation with a normal person"

You ended up staying at the party longer than sixty more minutes. Somewhere along the way networking for Jeonghan took a back seat and you just stayed there talking with Seungcheol. 

He talked about living abroad on his own for his master’s, how he considered staying to get a PhD but how ultimately he just wanted to come home. I missed my family too much and though I had friends there I still felt alone. How Jeonghan's job offer came at the right time so not getting a PhD didn't feel all that important when he weighed the pros and cons.

Seungcheol found out that you attended those parties as a way to repay Jeonghan for taking care of you when you were a teenager, for allowing you to hide behind him so he took almost all the cursing from your rebellious teenage years.

"You make it seem as if you were setting buildings on fire" he laughed "If it makes you feel any better, Jeonghan never complained about any of that. He only had nice things to say about you. Granted, we weren't the closest people you'd find but still"

That was the first time you had fun, real fun, at any of those events. You didn't need to hide behind fake smiles and pretty, and carefully, chosen words. Seungcheol made you feel comfortable, made you laugh, and seemed to genuinely laugh with you, rather than at you. 

You didn't want the night to be over. If anything, you wished for it to last a little longer. You wanted to talk with him, wanted to get to know him more. 

"I had fun tonight," you said outside.

Seungcheol waited by your side for the car, his hand still placed on your lower back as it had been almost the entire night. You wished it would take a few more minutes for it to arrive. 

"I did too" he sounded sincere, a second later the car arrived "I'll see you soon, y/n"

You couldn't contain the smile that spread through your face when Seungcheol closed the car door and the driver pulled the car away from the curb.

Maybe, you thought, attending those events again would be so bad after all. 

[deceitfuldevout]

Play Me a Tragedy

Dark!Ivar x Wife!Reader

Word Count: +2416

Warning(s): +18, Forced Marriage, Kidnapping, Mentions of past non con, Raiding, Forced pregnancy.

Author's Note(s): Y'all should know by now I'm all for the dramatics.

You and your husband, King Ivar, have been invited to a play. Accompanied by your children to celebrate your wedding anniversary. Filled with entertainment, games, and a feast. But it wasn't just any day, no. This was the day your entire world fell apart. When you were taken from your home, and everyone you loved. All to celebrate what was you considered to be the worst day of your life.

There had been stories told throughout the feast. Every last one of them stroked your husband's never-ending ego. Within only a few years, Ivar had gained a large mass of devoted followers who were willing to die for him and his cause. With that kind of power given to a mad man such as himself, of course it would go to his head.

Ivar convinced the people of Kattegat of his new world order. That if they follow him and him only would they achieve Valhalla. It was more a cult if anything. He made his people believe that you were his very own 'deity'. He claimed that you were made especially for him by the gods. That the two of you were destined for one another, as a way for Ivar to justify his actions. Even after being given the title of 'Queen', you had no say in politics. You were a glorified broodmare. There wasn't a single day that passed where Ivar wouldn't claim ownership over you. He would dress you himself in the finest silks and jewels during the day. By nigh. he would ravage you until the morning.

After the birth of your first child, you had finally broken. Willingly following his orders, knowing that there would be no one else to protect you and your child. Ivar was glad to claim you were finally his. Body and soul. Now proven with his cub. He would remind you everyday to be grateful that it was him who found you first. In his own words, "Who knows how it would end with any other man, this is what's best for you.", That you should be thanking him. Deep down you knew if it were another warrior, they'd tear you apart. After all, it was your husband's status that gave you access to such a luxurious life. A gilded cage fit for a queen.

Today he was obnoxiously louder than usual. His voice booms throughout the dining hall. The entertainers had saved the best story for last. 'A Tale of a Fallen Kingdom.' they called it. There were actors in costume to represent Ivar and his warriors. It only took a moment to realize which day they were reenacting.

The narrator clears his voice before beginning, "Five years ago, to this day..." he states, "King Ivar and his men visit a Kingdom, untouched by war and plague." it was then when the crowd decided to spew their distaste towards your people. Spewing insults and curses at your country's flag. Your brows furrow as your eyes widen. Had that much time really pass? Surely it hadn't been that long...it felt as though you'd been 'married' for almost a decade. But then again only a year with Ivar felt like forever.

It was almost unreal how accurate their clothes were. It had been a while since you'd seen someone dressed in your people's clothes. From the stage setup, to the costume design. It was like a memory had been extracted and put on display. You tear up at the sight of it. Truly missing your home more than ever. Part of you wasn't sure your family were still alive. There was a young maiden dressed in modest clothing. Not just any garb no, it was specifically designed for a lady in waiting. A title you were given from being the general's daughter. There your character stood, following the other meek women of the royal court.

You were portrayed as a ditzy, clumsy little thing. Who couldn't fend to save her life. Scoffing at the display, you turn to face Ivar who had found it all amusing. You roll your eyes. Did he truly find this mockery entertaining? It was obviously a political tool. Then your mind began racing. Was this truly how the people of Kattegat view you? That you were willing to betray your own people so easily. All to become Ivar's own personal whore. Your blood began to boil. This wasn't a love story but a tragedy. The young man dressed as Ivar lets out a triumphant laugh. Your counterpart had depicted you as an absolute moron, who craved the attention of a man that would give a second glance.

You scoff at the display. Out of all your ladies in court, you were the most educated. That's how you captured Ivar's interest. He had been fascinated by your intelligence. It was rare for women in your kingdom to seek an education, let alone willingly. Your parents supported you furthering your studies alongside the men. No one would question their general's only child.

Ivar used to sneak in a few pieces of literature for you to read. The next time he summoned you was for a game of chess. To his surprise you'd beaten him, his entire demeanor had shifted. He partially blames himself for underestimating a woman of these lands. But then again, not many were educated here. It was at the moment where his final decision was made, he had to have you.

Soon enough the audience follows with boisterous laughs. 'Ivar' releases his crutches before making an exaggerated dive for the woman. She squeals, "No no~you handsome heathen!" squealing as the man began to 'ravage' her. You felt a deep pit of despair, falling ill at the sight of their performance. Ivar on the other hand, was ecstatic. He indulged in the portrayal of himself, covering the growing smirk behind his cup. As the narrator continues, "How will the poor maiden survive such a world?" announcing it to the crowd.

It was then when the women clings onto 'Ivar' as if her life depended on it, "Please! King Ivar! Take me! Take me away from this boring life! Make a woman of me!" the woman boasts as she rips her blouse open, "I'm yours!" She lifts her skirts in a seductive manner. You felt sick to your stomach. This is not what happened, not at all. You had a life, a family that you were taken from.

You remember clawing at his face, hard enough to break skin. Ivar hisses from the sting. He lifts your shoulders and slams you against the ground. You felt dizzy from the impact. Air escaping your lungs as you cough to catch breath. Your vision blurs for a moment before realizing he'd already ripped through your blouse. He skillfully cuts through the garment, lifting your skirts to make way.

You despised Ivar's efforts at keeping a heroic image in public. Angry tears fell down your face. Because you, of all people, knew the truth. You have scars to bear with. From the leather bindings that burned into your wrists during that cursed wedding night, to the following months after. How he'd bound you to bed like an animal, until he was sure you were with child.

Ivar chuckles at your eldest son's discomfort. Seeing his parents being depicted as very passionate lovers. He rubs his head, "Someday you will also become a man." causing the four year old to gag. Ivar doesn't wince when your second born sits on his lap. She adores her father. Of course it was easy being the apple of his eye, and at times, she uses it to her advantage.

Every time you'd scold her, she'd run into her father's arms. You on the other hand despised his efforts at keeping a heroic image. When it was clear as day he was not to be trusted. The same hands that held your daughter close, were used to slaughter hundreds.

Seeing such a mockery being displayed to your children made your heart shatter. Tears began to trickle as you sob in silence. Your daughter notices and leaves her father to comfort you. Ivar is too absorbed into the play to pay attention. He lets out a boastful laugh, clutching his sides as the crowd roaring continues. It was during the king's coronation when the Northmen attacked.

Ivar and his men raided the other surrounding kingdoms. As a peace offering they were invited to the ceremony. Little did your leader know what sinister actions would play out. Ivar and the young king had been in talks for a peace treaty.

You held your girl close, shielding her from the next scene. It was the day he had taken you.

You and the other maidens just so happened to pass by the dining hall. It was at that moment when Ivar swore time itself had stopped. He had been mesmerized by your presence. You, a noble maiden had captured the heathen king's heart.

For the entire evening he hadn't cared for anyone's attention but yours. Ordering you to halt everything to give the King your attention. His obsession was obvious to everyone but you. He followed you around like a love-sick puppy. To the point where the King himself appointed you as his foreign advisor.

Ivar had tried everything to woo you. From the promises of riches, to land, to the title of noblewoman. All of which you politely declined. Stating that you were happy with you life the way it was. Part of you knew he wouldn't stop until you gave him the attention he so desperately craved. So much so that he decides to take matters into his own hands.

Suddenly the stage began to erupt with an array of ribbons thrown into the air. To symbolize the arrows lit aflame. Flashes of that night came to you in small doses. You're no longer in Kattegat but now residing in your kingdom, before it was burned to the ground. You could see what was once your home, burning right before your very eyes. Hearing the echoes of your people's screams. The day your life changed forever.

There Ivar was, crawling towards you as you ran for the door. "Help! Help me! Someone please!" you ran as fast as you could. The gates began to close. There was not a moment to waste. You ran because your life depended on it. But it was too late, the guards on the other side began to pull harder for the gate to close. Soon enough it had shut.

You slam it as hard as you can. Until your fists began to bruise, "Please! Someone help me! I'm the commander's daughter! Please!" taking a breath loud enough so that they can hear you, "Don't leave me!" sobbing against the metal doors. As you turn around to find Ivar had caught up with you. He grins from ear to ear covered in blood from the fallen soldiers. With a look in his eyes that said: You're mine.

On the other side of the border your father and his men fought to defend the kingdom's last line of defense. "Sir!" a solider ushers for your father, who scolds him, "Not now boy!" he swings his sword at a heathen climbing the walls. But the man insists, "It's your daughter." causing the general to halt, "What is it boy?!"

"She's missing."

"What has happened?!"

"She left for the market this morning."

Those words alone made his blood run cold, "No..." It was that day when your father had made the ultimate sacrifice. Either let the gates down and weaken the kingdom's last defense, or lose his only child. Soon enough, Ivar had already reached the gates, halting his army from furthering. He demands to speak with your father to make a deal, “General, will you let me wed your daughter?”

He scowls at such a command, “When it rains fire.”

Ivar hums, nodding at the man's proclaim, “So let it be.” He raises his arms in the air, signaling for his warriors to shoot. Hundreds of arrows are lit aflame and shot into the sky. It took three days and nights until your kingdom had finally surrendered. Ivar had won. Your kingdom had lost.

This was the ‘Great love story’ of King Ivar and his queen. Your remember the pain and betrayal felt was immeasurable. Those strong feelings from years ago all came down at once. Like something inside of you had finally tipped over. You finally reach your breaking point, bowing your head in shame. Crying to yourself as your daughter tries her best to comfort you. But her soft heart could no longer take the sight of her mother weeping, as she wraps her arms around you and cries.

It catches the attention of your husband. It was then when his mood had shifted. He couldn’t help but feel like a deep pit had been dug in his belly. Ivar swishes the ale in his mouth, swallowing it as if it were bitter.

He sighs, standing up from his seat, “Halt!” he commands. The room goes silent. There isn’t so much as a whisper. Ivar gathers the actors, lining them up in a row for interrogation. He orders the guards to bring the writer responsible for the play. Soon enough, a timid man is put on stage. It was then when you had to beg your husband to spare his life. Ivar lets out a huff, "You should be thanking my wife for sparing you. Don't let it happen again." with that the celebration had come to an end.

You left as fast as you could. Sending your children off to their rooms before returning to your dreadful marital chambers. You ready yourself for bed, hoping that Ivar would return much later. When you hear his footsteps approaching you don't bother to look him in the eye. You help your husband remove his leg braces; since he's only ever let you do it.

When the two of you are finally in bed, Ivar reaches for your waist. He wraps his arms around your body as he held your bodies together. He presses his nose against the top of your hair, whispering, "It was the gods who led me to you my love..." he sighs, breathing in your scent. He hums, "The healers have already informed me." he brushes his hand flat against your mid drift. He feels for the swell of your under belly, one of his favorite things to do. If he could stay like this forever, he would. Ivar reassures you with soft whispers, "There there my love, it is in the past..." as he gently wipes the tears away, cooing as you cried the rest of the night in his arms.

[george228732]

A little fun fact about my AU here since AU Posting is busy.

You know that in several art pieces, I used Film Tape symbolism? My AU, basically can be interpreted as a theater play, in which the outcome is always a bad ending.

In context, Cosmounse made the script that way, and Fylass wants to rewrite the part of the script that's not written yet, based on countless other scripts he managed to see in back stage (Note, this is not literal, just an interpretation of certain outcomes based on that idea since the AU was partly written with that interpretation in mind, that's why in my fic, the names of the chapters are from other stories or plays).

Which for it, means that Fylass helped in changing the ending, with the help of the others, reason on why some parts of my AU seem to be very fitting in the context of a play. I made jokes about Fylass "Undooming the Doomed narrative" but it's not really that much of a joke, which pretty much implies that if no one had done anything or be made aware of what was happening, my AU would've always ended up in a hypothetical Bad Ending.

Besides the religious take on it that's basically what happened in the Garden of Eden with Fylass being Lucifer, and Adam and Eve being the ones he loves. The Apple is the "Forbidden Knowledge" so in this context is basically The Truth and yet another reason why Fylass' main color is Red.

It kinda goes along with the lines of Fylass hating Magolor! Just that in Magolor's case, He's both Jesus and Judas, but in Fylass' case, God and the Devil are one and the same, since at the end of the day, you can figure out he has both roles. Fylass did bring down the Pardus Clan with him, like how Lucifer brought down Adam and Eve, but also in Popstar he tries to take the role of a messiah figure to save 4 people, also why Crowned Fylass both takes inspiration from the bible and pagan holidays, with the main one being Walpurgisnacht (Witches Night).

Also for more parallels, Walpurgisnacht was a celebration for the person "Saint Walpurga" who seemingly kept the witches away from the masses and healed the sick, not too dissimilar from how Fylass behaves with the Dream Team and Wave Three. And last but not least, it was rumored that Saint Walpurga was a witch herself, and the reason why Fy is a basilisk, which are creatures that are kings of serpents, fire, and usually come from Hell.

Now Niru

Niru, for the ones that don't know, is Void Termina when Kirby was still part of him, being the body that surrounds Void's Soul. He is often associated with Water, but specifically fluids in general, since he's meant to be something that flows as time passes. He gave impurities and some darkness to his creations to truly enforce free will, but overall, he was sad seeing his creations be sad over these things and knowing that if they believe in god, they would be begging for them to cleanse their sorrows, so at one point, he regretted his decision and started to slowly consume those impurities himself, being something like, carry the burden of others upon himself, but eventually this made him lose himself in corruption and became Void Termina.

Before he was sealed though a part that wasn't corrupted by the Darkness was separated from him and became Kirby, while the Darkness that got loose in battle became 0, who can reincarnate constantly thanks to Niru's impurities.

At the end of the AU, both parts reunite, and Kirby swears that he, along with the others will help him carry the burden and cleanse him of his Impurities, something they achieve.

In terms of Motifs, if Fylass' motifs are religious, Niru's are Cosmic.

Normally, when a Star gathers insane amounts of energy, they explode and become supernovas, a thing that parallels Niru but instead of Exploding, he gets consumed by a Black Hole he did himself.

Also the fact that he's based on Owls, being Night Birds, and Lovecraftian Entities, specially Cthulhu, who belong to Cosmic Horror.

He also shares a motif with time and a play along with Fylass and Cosmounse

If Fylass is the Pendulum and the script writer, and Cosmounse is the hands and the Director, Niru is the Hours and the Play itself, or rather, he's the End Roll.

Also he's based on The Happy Prince

[lets-laughagain]

Hi! I saw that you were in 3 shows of Louis in Brasil. Do you mind sharing your favorite moments of each show? If you do mind ignore my ask, I just love reading fan experiences of Louis' shows.

I hope you have a nice day!

hiii i'm sorry it took so long, i was enjoying the rest of my vacation then i got sick due to the different weathers in every city 😬, but anyways here we gooo

i know you asked for my favorite moments but i talk too much and rambled about everything kjsdnadsk

RIO I got to the venue at 7pm, after a lot of traffic and anxiety 🫠, and there was still a big line to get in making giant rooks go on stage 15 minutes later than expected. I had listened a bit to them when the opening acts were announced but i loooved seeing them live, their concert was so much fun, i had a lot on my mind that day but as soon as they started playing my worries were gone like, music is everything really.

The venue's capacity is for 18k people, but i guess there were about 12k there? I'm not sure but, the chairs around me were half empty (a lot of people moved to closer seats), the floor was full but the stands not so much yk. It makes sense when you think it was on a wednesday and a lot of people couldn't make it.

As I went alone to this one and there weren't many people around me it was like me and louis and just letting out all of my emotions. Idk if it happens to anyone else, but I get a lot more emotional when I'm alone at shows. I don't even have much to say here cause I was really there in the moment giving my all, screaming my lungs out to hoth and feeling all this time deep in my soul (the drama lmao).

SÃO PAULO I was really tired after barely a day of rest at home, then packing another bag to curitiba, it was hectic, but thank god i had stands tickets again and my friends got there ealier and saved a seat for me.

Not to paraphrase harry but, that show was loud, loud and LOUD. Seriously, I've never seen so many people scream and jump for an opening act?? I was actually kinda shocked at how full the stadium was, its full capacity is 60k but as they were using only half the space i guess there were about 25k-30k people, it was really packed. Like, that video from outside the stadium that you can hear the screams is kinda crazy if you think it wasn't at full capacity.

This concert left me so proud of him, of how far he has come, like he said with no radio support or anything, seeing him in my favorite venue in my city with so many people screaming for him was something really special. This one was really about US, the fans and louis, i can't say it enough but the crowd was like part of the show too. Also, the big stage, the catwalk, the fireworks, those things made it all so much bigger, like a celebration for where he is now. I'll never forget his face impressed by the crowd like every five seconds, he deserves it all, i love this man to death.

His only wrongs that day tho were wearing that ugly outfit and not singing saturdays on a saturday!!!!

CURITIBA I had slept for like 4 hours, took a flight in the morning and spent the whole day kinda sick and anxious, I really do not know were i took forces to this concert but i did and i gave 200% of myself. I had floor tickets this time so i let myself go and jump around like crazy.

We stayed in the left side of the stage were it was a lot more chill and we could walk around. Most of the time I stayed a bit close to the stage but not so much cause i like having my own space to breath, sometimes I'd get closer to record something. By the encore I found an empty space in the far left of the barricade to see him better during silver tongues.

For me it was the most fun concert, you could see louis was happy, there was a group in front of me dancing and having so much fun together, like he said no one will stand still in a brazilian crowd that's for sure! Also, there was this girl who was talking to us before the concert who found me during the encore and we literally just screamed wdbhg at each other lmao i don't even know her name, but i can't stop thinking about it, it was really funny.

Oh and that outfit!!!! The way i screamed when i saw him in all black, i kept looking at my friends like why the fuck does this man look so good!!! WE WON!!!!

When the barricade moment happened I was only looking at him so I didn't understand what was going on, then by the end my friends said he was with a kid, but only when i got to the apartment we were staying i saw the full context and video, that broke me. He so sweet and precious, it makes everything i did for him so much more worth it than it already was, this plus the donations for Rio Grande do Sul filled my heart with so much love for him.

Also, after the concert we were trying to buy merch, but most sizes were sold out, the line was huge and security was hushing people out of the stadium 🙃 then 10 minutes later we found out louis was playing football at the pitch lmao

Some other points - I absolutely LOVE the stage design, the lights and screens going up and down work so great, it's amazing to witness it live - THE BAND, i don't even need to say anything right? his band is fucking incredible, i live for every single guitar solo from michael - The 2 seconds that takes people to realize that he is singing night changes and wdbhg are the funniest shit istg kskdnkll - People will ask me why I would go to the same concert 3 times, and just istg it IS different, they are all different experiences and i'd do it all over again (which i actually did, cause i saw louis twice and harry 3 times in 2022)

---

Last but not least, i will to speak in portuguese to thank my friends skjndkjsan

Eu sei que ela não vai ler, mas muito obrigada @hiddlestomlinson por aceitar fazer essa maluquice comigo, por vir até SP, ir pra Curitiba e me aturar por 5 dias seguidos, mesmo com tanto cansaço e doença foi tudo maravilhoso 🥹💜

@delicatepointofview de novo, muito obrigada por me ajudar tanto no Rio e pelo ingresso de última hora, mesmo passando por tanta coisa você foi um anjo 🥹 só conseguimos nos ver de longe, desse 🤏 tamanho, mas da proxima vem aí!!

@somuchstrdst e @icouldbeluckyagain amei encontrar e curtir um pouco do show com vocês!! NÓS VENCEMOS MUITO!!! ste, eu ate tava vendo seu recap hoje tomando café da tarde ajksndkjs

[everchased]

Hi! If I may ask from the Companion!Tav List: General 11 and Romance 4 :D

hi! thanks for the ask <3

11. GENERAL: Are there any moments in the game that trigger unique dialogue for your character? (Like Gale’s anecdote about the barfight after you save the goblin prisoner)

If Finch is in the party when they meet Alfira and the MC gets her to play her song, he comments that it reminds him of his time in Baldur's Gate. If the MC asks for elaboration, he admits that he used to busk as an attempt to save up for his first sword, but will say he wasn't very good. He doesn't have the mouth for a flute or the finger dexterity for string instruments. But after a low DC persuasion check, he'll coyly say that he wasn't bad on a piano and found most of the funds he managed to earn playing being thrown in his lap along with splashes of ale by drunk fools in taverns once he learned how to play drinking songs.

He notes he spent most of that coin on a bath and a big dinner for the night because he had no real concept of how to save that money. So it's good his Order eventually found him because who knows if that sword would've ever become a reality without them. Gods, he might have ended up a bard... He laughs at this, but his tone is just slightly wistful.

4. ROMANCE: Do they have a special romance scene at the tiefling/goblin party?

Only at the tiefling party. :) He's people watching, muttering absently about how he's never really stayed for the celebration after the victory before. Fighting the battle and then on to the next before the blood's dried...

When he notices the MC, he tells them how happy everyone looks to be saved, how much of a relief it must be to be free of the threat of goblins and druids. He thanks the MC wholeheartedly, stepping in to their space without meaning to. There is so much for them to fight against, but they've still taken the chance to defend goodness along the way. He says he's lucky to be traveling alongside them.

If the MC tells him he's being dramatic, notes how close he's gotten, or accepts his thanks, the outcome is the same. He remembers himself and takes a large, flustered step backwards, commenting that they probably still have to hear more of the same from the actual people they saved, so he won't keep them. But he wishes them a good night.

[eway]

Ok so looking at the results, I'm talk about it. To the people who voted no, ignore this.

This crossover game hypothetical is called...

So in every Ace Attorney crossover I know of, trilogy Phoenix and Maya are featured. So they will be main characters. So for this for some reason Ecolo just brings Phoenix and Maya over to Puyo Puyo's world. And then Sig is accused of murder. So the murderer is linked to a mastermind of all the cases. 5 cases. Also, many OCs because having only one per case makes it kinda obvious who did the murder. Dunno much about these cases besides first and last. In the first case Amite helps Phoenix and Maya. Also in this case Sig tries to have his bug friends testify because they can give him an alibi. Phoenix is like "parrots are one thing but BUGS!?" But Maya and the judge make him do it. It doesn't help much since they can't talk but still. After that case, Amite and Sig dissappear for the rest of this crossover game (more on that later)

From here, Phoenix and Maya must figure out who is masterminding the framings and murders, and also during investigations Arle and Ringo help. And witnesses will not help Phoenix and Maya with anything until after a Puyo battle. Ringo or Arle usually help them out a bit.

Last case of the game, Schezo is the defendant, and Arle asks Phoenix for help in this case. Well in EVERY case someone asks Phoenix to help the defendant. As it turns out, the murderer/mastermind tried frame Arle, but like, Schezo was deemed more suspicious by witnesses and both suspects apparently had equal chances of being the culprit (but it's neither. Look I really wanted a case where his inability to not speak in innuendo got him into big trouble and also it saving Arle is just funny to me. Also this way we can have a scene where once its discovered that the wrong person was framed, The Dark Prince can be all like "Why does HE get to play Hero and take the muder charge for Arly? I'd do it for her!" And Arle is just like... "um...thanks..." because none of that was intentional and Phoenix is like "thank God I don't have to defend another 'I'm totally guilty' but didn't actually commit the crime client").

In this game there would be references to every game in the series, including Maodou Montagari. Because why not?

Now, about Sig and Amite... DLC cases. 5 of them. They end up in the Ace Attorney world. Where Puyos are raining down. And in every crossover with Ace Attorney, be it a fighting game, a two game mix, or a strategy game, Edgeworth appears, though usually its a minor role. Not this time! Amite and Sig help Edgeworth find the source of the Puyos while also teaching him and many characters from the trilogy and AAI games how to play Puyo! And it's not just the trilogy and AAI characters! Great Ace Attorney characters gets mentioned, and we see younger versions of characters from the Apollo Justice Trilogy!

The DLC cases are all packaged together in Puyo Attorney: Investigations.

Puyo Attorney is a celebration of Puyo Puyo, with many references, but most of the gameplay is Ace Attorney. Puyo Attorney: Investigations is the exact opposite!

References to every game in both series' would happen. And every crossover a character from each series was in. Even minor background Easter Eggs count as references by the way.

And of course Puyo Attorney: Investigations wouldn't be localized because many Puyo games aren't localized and it has Investigations 2 characters and that game wasn't localized

Also! Full voice acting. Ace Attorney characters who were in the anime get their anime voices.

If anyone has more ideas for this lemme know

[miss-oranje-disco-dancer]

love at first interrogation

pairing: norman jayden x ethan mars

cw: addiction, oral sex, infidelity

summary: they fall in love (plus a few bumps along the way)

a/n: again, sorry, i gotta crosspost stuff bc i want to <3 anyway, play heavy rain (pls, for me 🥹)

cw: 8.4k

October/November 2011

The Origami Killer case went well by the FBI's metrics. Norman got a promotion that came with a raise and a larger office. What more could he ask for? The kid survived. Norman had given him CPR and was the hero of the story, getting interviews and thank you's from people he'd never met. This was a novelty.

But Tripto was still there. The fact that Tripto and ARI were his partners on the most monumental case in his career did not encourage him to stop, and Norman knew that he needed to stop using both. Tripto wasn’t difficult to kick at first - he flushed the last vial in the mensroom of the Philly PD, and for a while, that was it.

ARI was harder to kick, but necessary. He used it for work and for pleasure, but other than sleep, most, if not all, activities can be broken into the categories of work and pleasure. Things that suck are work, things that are fun are pleasure.

Though, getting sucked off would be classified as pleasure .     

Norman had to wean himself off ARI slowly. Initially, it would be for work only, but then work plus ARI equaled twice the headache and he wasn't going to let himself use Tripto to take the edge off anymore. Things got harder when his workload got heavier.

More work equals more suck, and less getting sucked.

Besides throwing himself headfirst into his work, which was his knee jerk coping mechanism, he started reading more, cooking instead of getting takeout, and remembering movies. Norman had always watched movies, but with a drug-addled brain, preoccupied by technology, he couldn't absorb anything besides the color scheme and the general aura that a movie gave off.

Everything was memorable for better or for worse. Days stopped blending together. He bought a calendar with a different picture of an Italian city for each new month where he could tick off every day that passed, like he was giving himself a gold star for surviving.

Coming to grips with the loneliness and isolation that he trapped himself within was much less satisfying. His apartment was not minimalist, it was undecorated, under furnished, unsuitable for guests.

His second bedroom was a place to fold the laundry. He left unmatched socks on the bed because he could. Norman didn't feel like a guest in his home, per se, but more like a passerby. He came and went. It was a layover between one workday and the next. If he slept in his own office, he could save time, but for what purpose? His apartment was a change of scenery.

December 2011

He was barely hanging onto his sanity by December.

In December, four months after the Origami Killer's case was "officially" closed - as always, there were still loose ends leading to other cases on the periphery that continued to drag on - Norman got a call from Ethan Mars. The last time he saw Ethan there were prison bars between the two of them.

“Are you doing anything around Christmas?”

“Uh…no, why?”

For Norman, Christmas was the most depressing time of the year. Norman had decided religion wasn’t for him the day he found out that God sends gays to Hell. And since he’d come out to his parents, he hadn’t gone home for the holidays. He used to have Jack, which made Christmas worth celebrating. After Jack’s death, there wasn’t anything to celebrate.

“We’re having a Christmas party and I - we - wanted to invite you.”

Well, shit - now, he’d admitted to being free during the holidays, so it’s not like he could say no. Plus, he had vacation days - and cash from the raise he’d gotten - piling up.

“I think I might be able to make it.”

“Great. I’ll text you the details.”

The Christmas party went over better than expected. Norman didn’t typically go to parties because he wasn’t really a social person.

He showed up to the Mars family’s home “fashionably late” - the time of arrival having been perfectly calculated in advance because Norman was never late… unless he wanted to be. Grace Mars was the one to answer the door and Norman realized what Ethan meant by “we”. He handed her the bottle of wine he’d brought because flowers weren’t really in season.

Grace responded as is socially expected with a “you shouldn’t have”, pulling him into a friendly side-hug.

To Norman’s surprise, Shaun came over and hugged him, too. After the initial shock of the situation, Norman breathed the biggest sigh of relief.

He’s alive.

The hug came with a “thank you for saving me”, to which Norman responded, “Don’t mention it.” Norman had failed so many times that being somebody’s hero just didn’t feel like an honor he didn’t deserve.

The only awkward part of the night was his conversation with Madison Paige, the journalist and Ethan’s new girlfriend, which was a brief one.

“I mean, how did you do it? Administering CPR and fighting off the Origami Killer all by yourself?”

It felt somewhere between an interview and flirting. He did not want to engage in either with Madison.

“I was just doing my job.”

“No one else in the Philly PD was doing theirs, then, because you were the only one there to save Shaun.”

It was hard not to tell her that she was actually right about that part.

“I have a lot of experience working in homicide cases, so I had a leg up.”

That was only partially the truth. He had worked on plenty of homicide cases, but he wasn’t able to save anyone else.

“Don’t be so modest,” Madison said, putting a hand on his arm.

It felt weird to have a woman touch him, and not just because it was a rarity.

“I think you’re giving me too much credit.”

She didn’t argue, but with a light squeeze on his bicep, she said, “This suit looks great on you.”

“It’s just a regular suit. I have to dress like this for my job, so-”

Ethan came over and Madison conveniently removed her hand from Norman’s arm.

Ethan was Norman’s savior tonight.

“Hey, you made it,” Ethan said with a grin on his face that Norman had yet to see, pulling him into a full hug, which was more surprising than the one Shaun gave him. It was sweet, though. Norman gave him a friendly pat on the back and tried to hide the redness in his cheeks. Ethan smelled nice. His cologne or aftershave was probably expensive.

Ethan dragged Norman over to the kitchen to make him a drink. As it turned out, Ethan was a bit of a mixologist, who whipped up something similar to a Manhattan, but a little fancier - a little tastier.

“Where’d you learn to do this?” Norman asked.

“Grace gets those home magazines that have recipes in them.”

Does Ethan still live here? Norman has not had enough alcohol to inhibit his social awareness enough to ask that, not yet.

The night went by smoothly, and the drinks went down just the same. People started to leave around 9 or 10 because Shaun had to be put to bed. Ethan convinced Norman to stay a little longer, though, since he was from out of town.

Grace went to bed and Madison left, and Norman was glad because although they seemed civil, there was no way they wanted to hang out with each other. It didn’t take a profiler to know that the ex-wife and the new girlfriend were not friends.

“So, you and Madison?”

Norman wasn’t a gossip, but it felt like prerequisite knowledge to any other questions about Ethan’s life.

“Yeah, we’ve been together since she helped me during the, uh, case.”

“Are you making a confession here?”

“Shit - she’s not gonna get in trouble for me saying that, right?” Norman saw genuine worry in Ethan's eyes. It would've been funny if it was truly just Ethan's naivete about how the law works - not that the cops are good, but that the cops don't tend to do unnecessary work, sometimes even necessary work . But Ethan's concern was surely a product of his own experience, which Norman still felt a bit guilty about. 

“No, don’t worry about that.”  The amount of conduct violations - admittedly, some done by him - that had already been committed during was high enough that not turning her in was just less paperwork to do.

“Oh, thank god. I wouldn't want her to get in trouble because of me."

“Ethan, you're innocent. Case closed." Norman paused and then added, "Plus, I already knew about her involvement."

And turning Madison in for helping Ethan would be hypocritical.  

“You already know that? How?”

“It’s classified,” Norman said with a smile that hopefully didn’t look too flirtatious.

In all honesty, it wasn’t classified, but he didn’t want to rehash the whole thing.

“I assume flattery and bribery don’t work on you?”

What’s the bribe, Ethan?

“Generally, no.”

Over the course of the night, they both caught up on each other’s lives - in some ways, learning about each other for the first time because as much as Norman had studied Ethan, he only knew him as a suspect, not as a friend.

Norman did not bring up his addiction because it was over, right? No need to tell Ethan and bring down the mood. His life was fine, albeit boring compared to Ethan’s life, consisting of a new house, a new girlfriend, and his son - who lived , and that’s what mattered most.

Norman sobered up a lot before going home, but still called a cab back to the hotel to be safe. He cared about his own life. 

January 1, 2012

Christmas quickly became New Years.

Norman barely knew anyone at the party, and it felt like everyone was watching him. Not in the way that people gawk at celebrities, but in the way they crane their necks towards train wrecks. Norman and Ethan were standing close enough that either of them could lean in and kiss the other and call it a drunken mistake, clumsiness, a case of mistaken identity. If someone else caught them, one of them could throw the other under the bus.

Maybe it was just the alcohol, but time started to move at a different rate and Norman was not really focusing on what he was supposed to be talking about because he was looking at Ethan's lips around the lip of the beer bottle he was drinking from. It felt like he had just gotten there, but the countdown was starting, bringing him back to reality. He looked over to the TV to see two C-list celebrities who looked vaguely familiar standing in Times Square counting down from 10. Everyone in the room began to chant along with them.

Except for Ethan whose voice summoned Norman to turn around. There were 4 seconds left when Ethan said, "It's a tradition, right?". And Norman knew what Ethan meant, so he nodded and took a last swig of beer.

When the countdown got down to the last second Ethan and Norman were standing even closer than before, so close that their lips were almost touching. "Happy New Year," Norman tried to say, but was cut off by Ethan's lips, and he probably should've pulled away, but instead he closed his eyes and pulled him closer.

Norman hoped that he put the bottle in his hand down on the countertop because otherwise, there was broken glass and beer on the floor - he certainly wasn't holding it anymore. Both of his hands were touching Ethan.

Thank God Madison was somewhere else. Probably kissing someone else at some other party. Norman wasn't just jealous that Madison had Ethan, but angry that she didn't appreciate him.

Ethan's tongue was teasing Norman's lips and Norman would not refuse - all of his willpower was being used to prevent himself from clawing at Ethan's dress shirt, desperately trying to undress him in public. Like most people left at the party, they were making out, breathing heavily into each other's mouths. Norman - an atheist until this moment - prayed that his suit jacket was enough to hide his hard-on.

It was definitely past the point of "it's-just-a-tradition" kissing, and Norman was envisioning every parallel universe in which they were not at this party, surrounded by potential witnesses, every universe where Ethan is not straight - if either of them were being honest, there is no way that Ethan is straight in this universe, either. In these other universes, the luckier versions of them are fumbling up the stairs of someone's apartment, and in a few, they are still making out in the parking lot and barely make it to the car before they're both undressed. There are universes in which one or both of them are wealthy and they are in the elevator of the Ritz Carlton on their way to their hotel room that they've rented for the night.

But, in this universe, Ethan will go home with Madison, and sleep a little further from her in the bed. Norman will go home alone, and won't sleep at all. That will happen when one of them is brave enough to break the kiss, just not yet.

New Years was one day out of thousands that Norman had lived, but it was the only one he cared about. He couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan, even when he was back in D.C.

So, when Ethan called and asked him to come over again, it was the easiest “yes” of his life.

Norman almost hung up the phone with an "I love you" before the "goodbye", but thank god he stopped himself. Ethan texted him all the details, while Norman tried to slap himself awake.

But it was hard to wake up when his life became a fucking dream.

February 2012

Ethan and Norman spent most of Friday night on Ethan's balcony, standing a friendly distance apart, each holding a beer. Alcohol relaxed the brain, finally allowing them both to get out of their endless internal spirals - that was one thing they had in common: psychological self-torture. The cold bottle in his hand kept Norman from fidgeting and engaged his senses enough to keep him from dissociating completely.

They did not acknowledge New Year's - it was better to leave it in the past than to risk vulnerability. And he couldn’t make eye contact with him. He had no idea who he’d see staring him back in the face - a friend or a lover?

And when they did, Ethan coughed in a transitional manner, clearly wanting to continue to avoid the tension surrounding the New Year’s incident. But Norman’s not one to act childish about these things.

“Listen, Ethan, we need to talk about New Year’s.”

“No, we don’t.”

What other reaction should he have expected?

Ethan grabbed Norman’s face and kissed him.

Not that one.

Tomorrow, they'd blame it on the alcohol, but if he had the courage, Norman would do it sober. It was like they owed each other for lost time. They paid off their debts with desperate kisses and hands, feeling for anything previously untouched, anything needy.

For a moment, guilt took hold of Norman's conscience. 

This is worse than letting Ethan escape from police custody. That was a valiant act, saving an innocent father; whatever "this" is, it is full of guilt, indecency, sin - if that exists, and certainly not innocence.

But soon. Nothing mattered anymore, not the beer in his hand, not the balcony, not how absolutely fucking reckless this is. Definitely not how Ethan's girlfriend could come home at any moment . Selfishly, Norman didn't care about that possibility anyway. 

Before Norman could think about any reason that they shouldn't, Ethan's lips were on his, every movement was urgent, and none were intentional. It was better that way. It was authentic, it was raw. Norman's hands were in Ethan's hair, pulling him closer, as close as possible. They were both panting, out of breath, but needed the kiss more than they needed oxygen. Norman was getting dizzy by the time Ethan kicked open the door and led Norman to the living room couch. It would've be a fucking miracle if they'd made it to the bedroom fully clothed, but there was no time for the divine - this was hedonistic, chasing some unknown pleasure, something in the taste of each other's tongues. 

Both of their shirts were gone, somewhere on the floor between the living room and the door. Norman pushed Ethan onto the couch and climbed on top of him. Ethan's hands grabbed ahold of his waist, pulling him closer, bringing their lips back together. Ethan took Norman's bottom lip in his teeth and gently tugged on it, making Norman groan in response. His face flushed - he was not used to being so expressive. To resume control over the situation, Norman took a risk and stood up, watched disappointment and confusion flood Ethan's face - 

Ethan looks like he might beg for it. For what? He doesn't even know yet .

Norman maintained eye contact while sinking to his knees. Ethan's eyes widened, and he bit his lip, but Norman could hear his breath hitch. 

Norman placed one hand on each of Ethan's thighs, which were still inconveniently covered by denim. He spoke in a breathy tone, "D'you mind if I -?" Even though Norman was not the inexperienced one in this scenario - Norman had ample experience on his knees - his fingers were trembling. He had to make this right. It was not just about this - it was about Ethan, about Ethan and Norman. 

This might be the determiner of whether that "and" exists . 

Ethan nodded with pink cheeks replacing any hesitation. Norman's tipsy mind was a master of impulsive decisions based on overconfidence, but he knew the dexterity and precision it would require for him to be able to unzip Ethan's jeans with his teeth was much higher than what could offer right then. As much as every second that stood between Norman and Ethan's naked body ached, Norman knew that he would only embarrass himself by trying to pull any sort of advanced shit like that. 

That's not to say that Ethan won't get the best head of his life - Norman planned to suck him dry right there in the living room.  

While he fumbled with Ethan's belt, Norman felt a hand in his hair, stroking his head gently, and it felt like praise. In a coordinated motion, they managed to get Ethan's pants off. 

Norman began with gentle touches and kisses downward. He wanted to make this last for Ethan, so his hand and mouth working in tandem were a teasing, tantalizing duo. Not tight enough, not fast enough, not wet enough to make him come just yet. If Norman wasn't madly in love with Ethan, he would have him begging for it right now. 

But he liked Ethan too much to tease him for too long.  

Norman was satisfied by his own performance when Ethan finished in what felt like five minutes. Ethan was expressive when he came - back arching, hands gripping the couch, trying so hard to be quiet and failing miserably. 

When Norman pulled away - only after Ethan had fully ridden out his orgasm - they locked eyes. Ethan came out of a state of bliss and into a state of something between shock at what they had just done, and awe at Norman's skills. 

" Holy shit ," was all he had to say. 

Norman stood up and wiped his lips with his thumb; then, he stuck it in his mouth, licking away every last drop. He took the liberty of taking a sip of a glass of water that was left on the counter - hopefully Ethan's. He walked back over to the couch, unsure whether to be proud or embarrassed - he was the king of debauchery. 

Ethan took him by the hand and pulled him onto his lap to give him a grateful kiss. When they stopped to catch their breaths, Ethan said, "I think I owe you."

"You don't owe me anythin'," Norman said with a gentle smile. "I did it because I wanted to, and I know - I think - you've never done that before, so I don't expect you to reciprocate." He stumbled over his words - it was an awkward subject, even after the events that had transpired. 

"You’re right," Ethan said with his eyes still full of passion, "but I trust you." Somehow that meant more than "I love you", and it hit like a shockwave - causing him to short-circuit and then melt. 

"You sure you wanna do this?" Norman was still in disbelief - he didn't deserve this, "It's not easy on the knees. I'll probably wake up with a few bruises."

"What will your cover story be?"

"Nothin' - I don't plan on gettin' naked in front of anyone."

"Not even me?" The glint in Ethan's eye - playful, yet so, so sure of this, was enough to convince Norman. 

Even in the dim living room light, his cheeks were noticeably pink. "Maybe I could do that..." He said with a coy grin. 

"How about we move this to the bedroom then, so my old man knees won't get bruised." 

And so you won't have to tell Madison what happened.      

Norman gladly accepted the invitation, and got up, collecting their clothes from the floor and passing them off to Ethan to deposit in a laundry basket on the way to the bedroom. 

Being an adult equals two things: having sex and doing the laundry; for the most efficient, each of the two tasks could be conducted in the intermission of the other. 

Ethan and Madison's bed had optimal room for two men and zero clothing. 

And there was something particularly salacious about the fact that both of them could see Madison's accouterments scattered about the room. Spite enhanced arousal. 

Ethan pushed Norman onto the bed, climbing atop him and kissing him fervently. Norman couldn't remember the last time he'd been wanted this badly. He groaned at the mental image of the imminent. Ethan's lips left Norman's mouth in search of what made him tick. He found it in the nape of Norman's neck, the spot behind his ear, and most evidently right around his hip bones. Norman's breath was heavy, his forehead was glistening with sweat. It would be embarrassing if he wasn't overwhelmed with desire. 

When Ethan reached Norman's cock it was throbbing. The way Ethan grabbed it made it seem like he had done this before - in a way, he had, just not to anyone else. He gingerly kissed the tip, making it twitch. Norman inhaled and braced himself, grabbing the covers to stop himself from reaching for Ethan's head. He knew he was going to lose his self-control soon, and it was only the beginning. 

Ethan stuck his tongue out, and licked a stripe from the base back up to the tip, looking at Norman dewy-eyed the whole time. Whether it was because he was nervous or because he intended to tease Norman, Ethan took just the tip between his lips. 

But there was something about it that made Norman crazy. "Jesus Christ," he said through gritted teeth. 

This prompted Ethan to take more of him, slowly, carefully, deliberately, taking one inch at a time. Norman had to close his eyes to save the shred of pride he had left. Because if he saw Ethan's cheeks hollowed out, tears threatening to run down them, it would be over for him. 

It was like Ethan had studied for this, which is something you really can't do, no matter how much porn you watch. It just takes experience.

Norman was biting his fist to keep himself from quiet. 

Not that anyone was home, but you can never be too careful.  

He took his fist out of his mouth, causing drool to roll down his chin, to say, "I'm close." It was a warning. One that Ethan did not take. He had little time to regardless because Norman came hard, down Ethan's throat with a strangled moan. His entire body was trembling. The aftershocks coursed through him, making him convulse, then twitch, then lie there limp. Air re-entered his lungs, quelling the overwhelming dizziness that came with the euphoria that had taken over his body. 

"Goddammit, Ethan!" Norman was impressed, but also a little jealous, "Where the hell did you learn to do that?"

"From watching you." He said with a sly grin.

"Thank you," he exhaled, "for the compliment and the blowjob ."

There was a sound coming from the stairs, footsteps, high heels, Madison . Ethan and Norman locked eyes and exchanged a look of panic. Luckily for Ethan, he was already dressed, but Norman was still naked and did not have the mental faculties to locate his clothes, which had been lost somewhere on the way into bed. Ethan threw him a pair of pajama bottoms, which he put on, and a t-shirt that was clean enough. 

In a moment of brilliance amongst the brain fog, Norman rolled onto his side and pretended to be asleep, hoping he could pass off his post-orgasm state for drunkenness. Ethan got the memo or was great at improvising. 

Madison called, "Ethan."

"Yeah?" Ethan responded and opened the bedroom door to step out into the hallway, wiping his face of any physical or emotional evidence of his affair. 

She walked towards him and said something that Norman couldn't quite make out, though it sounded like she might be intending to seduce Ethan. 

"Why'd you pull away?" he heard her whine.

"You've been drinking. Haven't you?" Ethan gave her his fatherly tone. 

"Yeah, but what does that matter?"

"I don't want to do something that you might regret in the morning." 

"Just kiss me - just one more kiss. Please."

One more kiss ? Ethan, that bastard kissed her with his dirty mouth. 

Norman would be in hysterics if he had any energy left at all. The "passed out act" was barely an act anymore. Madison bought their bullshit and slept on the couch, while Ethan "tended to Norman who didn't feel well". 

Ethan was lying well enough to make Norman suspicious. Maybe he was the Origami Killer after all? Norman considered the ways he could interrogate him and what he could get him to confess. But that was for another day. 

February 2012  

Norman left town the next day. He’d already planned it that way. He can only take so many vacation days before the FBI tracks him down and drags him back to D.C. - plus, it’s easier this way. Norman can reject the idea of object permanence and pretend that since Ethan’s not in front of him, he doesn’t even exist and therefore, Norman doesn’t need to consider the fact that he might be feeling a little bit more than simple desire.

Normally, he would rely on Tripto and ARI to get him through, but he’d given up on both, so he had to find new ways to waste time. There are only so many movies to watch. The number once seemed infinite. But Norman realized that an awful lot of media is not very interesting when you consume it sober.

He picked back up exercise, reluctantly, because despite the fact that he was the least stubborn person in the Philly PD, he was much more stubborn than the average American. Everyone had tried to convince him that exercise would help his persistent depression and constant stress, and he was adamant that they were wrong.

Norman didn’t tell anyone when he partially conceded that exercise did help him get some sort of emotional release. It wasn’t a cure-all, though. It brought up his self-esteem, which was well-below average. Now, at least, he could handle more than a passing glance at himself in the mirror. But it wasn’t like anyone was going to see his physical transformation. He hadn’t been touched in any capacity since Ethan.

Norman didn’t need something else to get addicted to, so he took a rubber band from the junk drawer in his kitchen and kept it on his wrist, tucked behind his watch at work, so it wouldn’t become a topic of conversation. As an expert in psychology, he knew all about Pavlov and decided to try to create a negative association with Ethan. Every time he thought about calling Ethan, he would snap the rubber band hard on his wrist. This didn’t work at all. In fact, quite the opposite, he started getting a little turned on by the pain of the rubber band, so he stopped the Pavlovian experiment before it got any weirder.

Ethan called again. Norman waited a few rings before picking it up and took a deep breath in a futile attempt to compose himself.

“Hey, Norm,” Ethan’s cheerful tone that he’d come to know in the months post-origami, rang through the phone.

We’re doing nicknames now?

“Is that a Cheers reference?” Norman chuckled lightly.

“Huh?”

“You know, Cheers, the ‘80s sitcom?”

“No, I don’t think I’ve seen it.”

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“Guess we’ll have to watch it next time you come over -”

Next time?

“Speaking of, are you busy next weekend?”

Norman tried not to say ‘no’ too quickly. It took no convincing to get Norman to come visit.

Never thought I’d wanna go back to Philly. .

March 2012

Next weekend couldn’t have come sooner.

Norman had gotten used to a loveless life due to a combination of self-isolation, social awkwardness, his parents' disapproval, and his polarizing deep need for justice in a criminal justice system that wasn't created for such a purpose, Norman hadn't felt love since Jack died.

So, feeling something for someone was terrifying. Remembering how he felt with Ethan - was the longing, after having made peace with solitude - worth the possibility of love?

Next weekend, things were good. Almost too good.

Ethan, thinking he’d have the house to himself since Madison was going away, invited Norman over, having forgotten, according to him - though Norman had no reason not to believe him, that he had Shaun that weekend.

It was better this way. Norman told himself. God is stepping in and saving us both - Ethan from cheating and him from getting too close to someone when things would inevitably end.

He was right. Having Shaun there was nice, but not for the reason he’d initially suspected.

Norman thought of himself as “not a kid person”. When his sister had her first child, he tried to keep an open mind, but a screaming baby and dirty diapers confirmed that he did not want to be a father

And he wasn’t. But hanging out with Ethan and Shaun, watching their father-son dynamic, was heart-warming.

Norman and his father never had this kind of relationship. Theirs was cold and distant. Maybe his father always knew he was gay. Norman couldn’t decide if that would make it better or worse. 

They sat at the dinner table one night, eating some fancy exotic concoction because Ethan was a great cook as it turned out.

Dammit! Just another reason to like him.

Shaun turned to Norman and said, “You’re so cool, Agent Jayden.”

“Why do you think that?”

“You catch bad guys - you’re like a superhero.”

If only.

“Thanks, Shaun, but I wouldn’t go that far.”

April 2012

The second time Norman saved Shaun was much less dramatic than the first. Ethan was out buying groceries while Norman was inside catching up on some work - the FBI didn’t really believe in vacation time. Shaun had been playing outside - he had just turned 12 and was allowed to go out and play basketball with the other kids in the neighborhood without Ethan’s supervision.

Norman was sitting at the kitchen table when he heard crying. With FBI training, maybe even some innate paternal instinct, he jumped out of his seat and ran to the front hall to find Shaun with scraped up knees.

“Oh my god, Shaun, what happened?” Norman asked gently, surveying the damage.

It seemed likely that no stitches were needed.

“I was playing basketball and I tripped.”

“Do you know where your dad keeps the first aid kit?”

“In the bathroom.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Norman found the medicine cabinet stocked with various medical supplies. He would have to compliment Ethan on his preparedness later. He grabbed some bandages and rubbing alcohol as a disinfectant, as well as a wet washcloth, and rushed back downstairs.

Shaun was sitting on the living room couch.

In this situation, Norman could see his own father getting mad at him for hurting himself and his mother telling him not to get blood on the furniture.

“Sit still for me, okay?” Norman kneeled down to Shaun’s level and wiped the gravel off his knee.

Shaun nodded silently.

“This might sting a little bit, but I have to do it to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

Norman applied the rubbing alcohol as gently as possible, but Shaun still ended up in tears. He reached for Norman’s hand - the one that wasn’t on his knee - and grabbed it. Norman held his hand without question until he finished both knees and then bandaged them up.

“Can you not tell my dad that I cried?”

“It’s not a bad thing to cry, you know.”

“It’s embarrassing. The other kids made fun of me.”

“I’ve been there, kid. It sucks to be made fun of, but just remember, they’re probably insecure and that’s why they’re mean to others. They’re trying to cover up their own insecurity.”

“Did you ever get made fun of when you were my age?”

“All the time. It gets better as an adult.”

You still get shit from people like Blake, who still act like children.

“Does that mean someday I could be cool like you?”

“You’re already cooler than me.”

April 2012

Norman relished his time with Ethan when Madison was gone. He was determined to savor every moment, every kiss, all the little delicacies that one gets as a treat only on special occasions.

He wanted to take things slow, especially since they were hurried by their own eagerness the time before. Ethan, on the other hand, craved the rush that the novelty and shameless indulgence into what should be a guilty pleasure gave. More than that, he craved Norman.

He was going to tell Ethan to hold on, that he wanted this to last. But something overtook Norman, and he knew that the only way he could be satisfied was through Ethan's satisfaction. He needed to please Ethan. It was do or die. Norman, as an experienced investigator and sexual partner, knew how to make Ethan shiver. He had technique, experience, and a slutty level of dedication to the art. 

So, the time between the first subtle, but knowing shared glance and Norman on his knees was short. It didn’t take long for Ethan to finish when he was looking at Norman’s glossy eyes the color of sea glass, silently pleading for praise and reassurance.

Norman shouldn’t have been surprised that Ethan wanted to return the favor and that it was good. It was good the last time. He had tried to pass it off as beginner’s luck - out of jealousy that one could be good at this without practice, but beginner's luck wasn't really a thing that could be applied to oral sex.

Or maybe he was just easy. Not since they’d put him on antidepressants, which could kill anyone’s sex drive. But somehow, Ethan was the cure for that side effect. 

Sex wasn’t the only good thing between the two. Ethan wasn’t just a character in a wet dream to Norman.

Sure, prior to this, Norman wanted to live. That’s why he quit tripto. He still dealt with depression, but he didn’t want to die. There was still some sort of self-preservation left in him. For God knows what.

Then, Ethan came along. He was a different kind of reason - a reason to care about his current life, and by extension, about himself. Ethan's presence alone made him want to set a bedtime and an exercise routine. Initially, he thought it was aesthetic, trying to impress Ethan, but eventually, he realized that for once, he felt the need, no - the want, to stay alive.

May 2012

Norman’s life was good for the first time. Good doesn’t last forever, though.

It wasn’t just one thing that caused the relapse. Norman was getting poor performance reviews at work for the first time, so selfishly and idiotically, he called Ethan. Ethan usually was the one to reach out, but Norman figured it was time to make an effort.

Apparently, things were going well with Madison again because the two of them were having a romantic getaway for her birthday the next weekend, so Ethan was busy.

It was stupid to think of Ethan this way. He had a girlfriend, a woman he loved and could show off to the world. Norman was just a dirty secret. Maybe a friend sometimes.

It was just a blip in time. It probably won't be memorable for anyone else involved. Ethan and Shaun will move on with their lives and only he'll remember it all. Because it was important to him. But it's gone now. In this cheap motel room in downtown Philly, it's gone. If Norman makes it back to DC alive it'll be a miracle. That's what he should do, right? Go back to DC, beg for forgiveness there. Tell the FBI a lie he hasn't had a chance to come up with yet. His mind is too foggy. Triptocaine without ARI is just a feeling. There's nothing to see and nothing to do. It just feels like something for a while. And then like nothing once he's done too much and he builds up a tolerance to it. But nothing is better than pain. And pain is what happens when he tries to stop. His nose is gonna bleed anyway, so why not have fun with it? He'll barely notice if he gets high enough.

Maybe when he dies from this it'll be like the Earth was hit by an asteroid and one second his consciousness was there and the next second it was gone.

Tripto will kill him. He's sure of it. And he doesn't have anything to live for anymore, right? So who cares? As long as he can pay for the room he's in, which is not very expensive. The price to pay comes in the form of roaches and spiders - though, he's not entirely sure that they're not a hallucination.

It might be better that way.

It sounds like rain outside. If he had the energy to walk to the window and open the curtains, he'd know for sure. But, like most things, it remains a mystery for now.

Norman lies back on the bed, sighs, closes his eyes and hopes he can choose what he sees inside his mind. Even now, curled up on the motel room bed, writhing, trying to go without another dose for just one more minute, he could remember the feeling of Ethan’s hand on his.

God, it was so good for a while.

Life had to sabotage him. That's just the way life is - some people are just meant to be sad. Norman is one of those people. It was always going to end like this. Lying on the motel room bed, listening to the tap tap tap tap of the leaky bathroom sink, and thinking about Ethan.

Norman watched the Origami Killer fall to his death and get eaten by the trash compactor. The memory stuck. Triptocaine could not get rid of it. Norman went without a hit of Tripto for about a month after the incident. He spent his time being lauded as a hero and basking in his new promotion. Then it started to hurt again. Memories strung together. He found himself wandering through his partner's house and finding his lifeless body on the bed night after night. Then it wasn't just Jack - there were more and more bodies. His mind was decaying without the Triptocaine. He woke up in a cold sweat, shaking, and sometimes, when he'd get up and look in the mirror, he'd find dried blood that came from his nose.

At some point, the headaches got bad, the sweats came back out of nowhere. Advil, alcohol, taking a walk - none of it worked. It was either use Tripto or sit there and accept the pain. Norman kept a vial in his bedside drawer for emergencies and took it with him if he was vacationing. The first time he cracked it open it had been four months. He held the vial of blue powder in his hand and contemplated it. He thought about how bad the addiction got, how good Tripto feels, everything that happened with Jack, everything that happened to Jack, Jack is dead, how bad it feels that he's dead, how good Tripto feels. The cycle repeated itself until he was snorting it, blood dripped out of his nose. It wasn't death, he just wasn't used to the effects anymore. Low tolerance meant more side effects. Low tolerance meant he could get higher. Everything was fine for about an hour. Better than fine.

When the high started to wear off and Norman realized what the fuck he’d done, he felt everything all at once. Pain - physical and emotional, guilt, anger, sadness, and a certainty that now nothing could be good - because of him. He was the reason for all his own problems.

However, many minutes or hours later he was coughing up blood and calling someone on the phone. He just pressed call. He didn’t even know who or why. Considering he didn’t have much to live for or anyone to call anyway.

He only realized it was Ethan when he heard his voice.

“Hello?”

"Sorry for calling. I didn’t mean to. I just - I guess I don’t wanna die.”

“Whoa whoa whoa - die? Norman what the fuck is going on?” Ethan was whisper-yelling, like someone else was in the room with him.

“I shouldn’t have done this. Fuck! It’s all my fault.”

“What’s your fault? Where are you?”

Norman was losing consciousness.

“Hello?! Norman! Where are you?”

Norman must’ve told Ethan his location because he woke up on the motel room floor to Ethan trying to lift him up while holding his phone between his ear and his shoulder.

“I need an ambulance -”

“No, no, no! No ambulance. I’m fine.”

Ethan gave the operator their location, which was the right thing to do, and even though Norman wasn’t happy in the moment, he was later, when he woke up in the hospital.

“Oh thank god, you’re awake.”

It was Ethan. By his bedside.

“What?”

It was more of a “why” as in “why are you here?”

“I thought you were gonna die.”

"It probably would’ve been better that way.”

He didn’t meet Ethan’s eyes, but he could feel them staring.

“Did you just say it would be better if you died?”

“Yeah,” Norman made a gesture to convey that it should be obvious."I’m an inconvenience to everyone around me.”

“Not to me.”

“Especially to you.” Norman turned to look at Ethan.“You’re in the ER with me. That’s the ultimate inconvenience.”

“If you found me bleeding on the floor, would you come to the ER?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Exactly. Because you care about me. Just like I care about you.”

“Well, you should stop caring about me.”

“No.”

Ethan crossed his arms and gave Norman a stare that said he was not conceding.

“If you really care about me, then why can’t you let me make my own choices, do what I want?”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Norman didn’t mean to raise his voice, but it came out like that.

“Then why won’t you let me care about you?”

Norman just sat there in silence. Not only because Ethan was practically yelling at this point, but also because he really didn’t have anything else left to say. Ethan played the ultimate card.

Norman sighed and tried not to cry.

“It’s okay to cry.”

He turned to Ethan who also had tears in his eyes. Ethan leaned down to hug him, calling a truce.

Then, Ethan leaned in to kiss Norman. Initially, he accepted - blame it on his dizzy head - but then he pulled back.

“Don’t do this to Madison.”

Not that Norman particularly cared about Madison, but he cared about whatever - and whoever - Ethan liked.

“I broke up with her.”

“What? Why?”

“She said I shouldn’t come here.”

Norman was about to say, “See?” when Ethan cut him off, “Don’t. I can make my own choices.”

Norman held up his hands in surrender.

“I’m glad, actually, she really showed her true colors. Doesn’t care about anyone other than herself. I can’t believe I brushed off what she said about Shaun.”

“What did she say about Shaun?!” Norman was no longer on her side.

“She was talking about wanting to have a baby with me, and I said that I wasn’t sure I wanted another kid. I already have one - had two.”

There was a pause, acknowledging the part that didn’t need to be said.

“She said it wouldn’t be the same thing. That she wanted her own kid. That I would be happy that way, too. That I should leave Shaun with Grace. She said it would help me with ‘my trauma from this incident’.”

“Bullshit excuse.”

“I know.”

“I normally would never say this about a woman, but she’s a bitch. I can’t believe she’d say something like that about Shaun.”

“She was never very good with him anyway. They never really got along - not like you two do.”

“He’s easy to get along with.” Norman smiled and then followed it up with, “He gets it from his dad.”

“Are you trying to flirt with me?”

Norman feigned innocence. “Just trying to break the tension.”

Ethan gave him a stern look that eventually broke into a bashful grin.

“She didn’t deserve you.”

“And to think - I thought she was outta my league.”

“Pssh - you’re way more attractive than she is.”

“Seems like you’re doing better.”

“Now that you’re here.”

Ethan rolled his eyes, but his pink cheeks betrayed him.

Ha! Still got it.

June 2012

Norman was doing well. He flushed the last vial of Tripto down the toilet at Ethan’s house, so that Ethan could verify. Physically, things were worse at first - he had the shakes, the sweats, the shivers - you name it, Norman felt it. But, then it got easier, the symptoms lightened up. Tripto wasn't constantly in the back of his mind, especially when he was with Ethan. Ethan made him feel better than Tripto ever could.

They had to tell Shaun at some point. It was always going to come up. The conversation ended up being less awkward than expected.

Shaun had caught the two of them kissing. It was nothing pornographic, just a peck on the lips, but it still felt a little embarrassing.

Norman excused himself from the room to get a glass of water, hoping this could just be a father-son talk.

Dinner was ready within the hour, and Norman wasn’t going to be an asshole and skip dinner. Plus, Ethan’s cooking was too good to miss out on.

So, Norman sat there with his hands in his lap like he was in a job interview, awkward smile and all, while Ethan went full dad-mode.

Allowing Shaun to just ask questions turned out to be the right approach.

“Does this mean you’re gay, dad?”

“Uh, well, I think that some people don’t have a gender preference. Would it be bad if I were gay?”

“No. One of the kids in my class has two dads, and they’re both gay.”

Then Shaun turned to Norman and asked, “Does this mean you’re gay, Agent Jayden?”

Norman almost choked on his water, not because it was a particularly shocking question - at least, it shouldn’t have been given the topic of conversation.

“Sorry if that’s a stupid question.”

In a way, he would’ve assumed it was, but Norman forgot that not everyone knew that about him.

He felt bad for laughing, so once he was done coughing, he said, “Sorry for laughing. It’s not a stupid question. I just didn’t expect it. Yes, I am.”

“Does that mean you’re boyfriend and boyfriend?”

They hadn’t really established that yet.

Ethan grabbed Norman’s hand and said confidently, “Yeah, I think it does.”

And Norman didn’t even have a chance to object. Not that he would have.

Now that Madison was gone, the newly official couple, thanks to Shaun, who had no idea what he’d facilitated - could be affectionate. Even to a certain extent around Shaun because no one needs to see their dad kissing anyone. But when Ethan and Norman are alone at night, and they are a lot after Norman moves in. 

He was planning on getting a new job anyway, so when the opportunity arose, it was an easy choice. The FBI had only ever taken, not given.

Ethan was the opposite.

Ethan's first "I love you" to Norman wasn't a spoken one, as "I love you's" rarely are. He wrote love letters in forehead kisses, packed lunches, and gentle, reassuring squeezes of his hand through all of life's anxieties. They were both so different, but one thing they had in common was how hard they both loved - it was the type of love that seemed almost impossible, dangerous, reckless, unstoppable, terrifying and glorious love.

July 2012

On one entirely typical night, when Norman gets bored of whatever TV show they’re watching and leans over to kiss Ethan, Ethan is allowed to kiss him back without hesitation. No one has to pull away and pretend to be sorry about it.

When they do pull away, Norman puts his arm around Ethan.

Knowing Norman isn’t the one to normally initiate affectionate touches, Ethan asks, “What’s up, Norman? Is there some sort of confession or apology I should be waiting for?”

“I’m not Madison.” 

Norman hoped the joke would go over well and it did. 

“Thank god,” Ethan muttered.

“I was just hoping I could convince you to change the channel,” Norman admitted.

“You don’t like this show?”

“I’ll level with you here, Ethan. I will offer you something very special in return, if you change the channel.”

“I thought a member of law enforcement would be against such bribery,” Ethan mockingly chided him.

“What can I say? I’m a corrupt cop.”

“Always have been.”

“You bring out the worst in me.”

They locked eyes and smiled, knowing that was the biggest lie of all time. 

[neonpaperlanterns]

Thanks for the Not my neighbor story! And hey, if you want. Have another story request for it.

Sunny (heh) has to get the... Meat... From somewhere. So, after giving your story some thought. How about this.

Sunny works as one of the Double Doormans' coworkers. Going out to "clean" the entry rooms at other apartments, sometimes their own apartment. And "cleaning" up apartments that had a doorman whom... Failed to notice a few inconsistences with a neighbor. Any body left in a doubles' feeding rampage has to be ultimately dealt with.

Basically what this story idea is about, is Sunnys' work day. Maybe having a near death situation and later getting chewed out metaphorically by his roommate once they find out they got tricked long enough for a double to do some damage. To his suit or to himself, I'll leave up to you.

Maybe carrying that... Meat... For his roommate drew Doubles after him on his way home.

They both know Sunny can handle himself. But Sunny is, ultimately human. And humans make mistakes.

-Sunny Anon

Ps. If you ever wanna draw one of these "Sunny" characters. Give em sunflower glasses please.

[A/n: Since you gave Sunny male pronouns I shall to. Double Doorman will be dubbed Ayna. Which if Google translate is to be believed means mirror in Turkish. Also this took a different turn that I intended. The story kinda go away from me.]

[Part one]

Teeth in the Dark

Sunny scrunched up his nose as he stared at the amount of blood that splattered from the door to the hallway. This one had been messy, frantic even.

That only really happened if the Doppel knew it didn't have time. Or they were desperate. No more discretion, no more tricks, just near mindless slaughter. Doors hung from their hinges, claw marks on the ground, and a pile of bodies.

Ayna really hated when Sunny took these jobs in particular. They said it would draw more Doppel's. Like moths to a flame they would swarm. The smell of blood too tantalizing to ignore.

Supposedly.

Sunny hadn't actually encountered any problems with these clean ups before. A part of him thought that Ayna was just being over protective, that they worried too much. They didn't like the fact that this was his job. But Sunny also didn't like them working as a Doorman so he would call it even.

Grumbling under his breath he slapped the mop down. The smell of vinegar and salt filled the hallway. Logically he should start with the walls or inside the apartment. The cheap carpet they furnished them with was prone to staines that took the will of God to remove. But he really hated kneeling down and getting his suit covered in blood. Made him feel dirty and this wasn't the only floor that needed cleaning, let alone the only building. So to save himself just the smallest discomfort he started with the floors first. Even if the runoff from the walls would require him to clean them again.

As Sunny cleaned he was surprised at the lack of body parts. Besides the initial gruesome scene on the first floor there wasn't really anything left.

He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. It was good in the fact that it meant hopefully less people were murdered but bad for him in the fact that the D.D.D were more likely to notice any pieces missing.

The freezer at home was picked clean and the fridge wasn't looking much better. Ayna didn't need to eat every day like him. Doppel's digested slower than human, like snakes. One good meal could tide them over for awhile but it's been awhile since Ayna had a good meal.

Sunny hoped the next stop had more to offer.

.

It didn't and neither did the next one. Sunny didn't know how to feel about his rising disappointment and crushing relief.

.

A heavy sigh left Sunny as he carefully packaged what little meat he could scavenge. It feels wrong that he feels so defeated right now. He should be happy that people are dying less. The D.D.D are getting better at their job, he should be celebrating. Yet all he can think about is the fact that Ayna wont get to eat properly.

Again.

And he knows it is affecting them no matter how much they are trying to hide it.

Running a hand down his face he slung his bag over his shoulder. Strolling through the facility he kept his gait easy. Exchanged polite goodbyes with any coworkers he passed. Smiled at the gate keeper as he left. Everything he did before meeting Ayna, he did.

Breathing in the night air he looked down at his watch, it was 8 p.m. He had an hour before curfew, if he was not back home before then the D.D.D had the right to search and "detain" anyone they found suspicious.

Still keeping his pace easy Sunny broke out into a light jog. Home was only 35 minutes away. He's done this countless times by now but the worry was still there. Niggling around in the back of his mind.

One slip up was all it would take. He doesn't know what would happen to him if The D.D.D found out. He knows what would happen to Ayna though and he wouldn't let that happen.

Rounding a corner he glanced down at his watch again.

20 minutes till he was home.

Passing in front of an alley a sudden movement caught his eye. Being to slow to react he felt something wrap around his ankle. Sunny felt himself turn sideways as he was yanked towards the alley. The air getting knocked from his lungs as he made contact with the cold concrete of the sidewalk.

"HeLLo~" A voice sang out. The pitch warbly and mismatched as a hand skittered up his other leg. Nails traced along his knee as a gasp left his assailant. Snapping his gaze towards the mouth of the alley he felt himself freeze.

"i'vE SeEn YOu beFOrE~" Sickly green flesh bloomed along the tan arms that held him. Their veins bulging and writhing against the skin.

"yoU ALwaYs SmElL SO strANgE~" It sounded contemplative. Steet lamps flicked to life and reflected off glassy eyes and extended teeth. It's lips smacked as little clicking sounds escaped the wrong mouth.

"LIke US, buT nOt.~" It dragged him in a little further, it's grip a little tighter.

"SHouLd i sTill EaT YOu~" It nuzzled against his calf.

Sunny stopped breathing.

"OR LEt yOU Go aNd LEarN...UnDeRstanD whaT THEY arE doinG~" It searched his face for a moment.

Sunny didn't know what it was looking for.

And then the hands were retreating.

"IT'S alMOsT 9~"

Standing on legs that didn't feel like they could hold him, he looked at the Doppel for a second.

It smiled at him.

Sunny broke out into a dead sprint.

[inseasofgreen]

thank you for answering my question. now i have a follow up one.

i would imagine having war after 500 years of peace has some sort of emotional reaction from everyone involved. does sciosa see this as a personal failure? does zemorri celebrate having purpose as many soldiers do? or do they both dread the consequences of war?

and what fatal flaws does this new war reveal about themselves? what fatal flaws does zemorri reveal about sciosa, and vice versa? you told us how they balance each other out—how do they ruin each other?

Sorry for the delay in answering this!! but here we go!

So I should specify the 500 years of peace are for those within the treaty. They can't attack each other but that doesn't stop them from attacking other's outside the treaty. Namely Vultis. Vultis has been in various wars with in the 500 years. There have also been many uprising against the usurper that Zemorri has had to fight in and defend the usurper. So Zemorri is no stranger to combat. What he is a stranger to is going to war with the idea of conquering vs stopping a rebellion. Zemorri hasn't had to do fight in a foreign land, and one that neighbors those within the Nite Treaty.

Sciosa doesn't take it as personal failure but more so a failure of her ancestors that her father has tried to correct in preparation for her to take the throne. The Kings of Dawn have historically ignored their whole reason of even being as powerful as they are. It wasn't until Ilyos took the throne did thinks start to change and they become more active in trying to keep peace and prepare for the last dawn. And even then, Ilyos has had a short reign that is looking to end prematurely. So Sciosa doesn't fault her father, but her grandfather and so on? Oh yes. One of her biggest grievances is people take her for granted. Her ancestors have shrugged it off for millennia because there where no signs of hells gates opening, which left a lot of work for her.

They do both dread the consequences of war, but it differs. Zemorri fears the Kings of Dawn, or even the gods, coming down full force of Vutlis and bringing ruin to both dragon and civilization as he knows it. He knows the usurper is taunting the kings of dawn, and the treaty as a whole and it terrifies him. In Zemorri's mind, Vutlis is his birth right. So every time the Usurper weakens it/brings it harm Zemorri takes it personally. He believes without a doubt he will rule Vultis some day, it's only a matter of time.

Sciosa's focus is making sure as much mortals survive the last dawn, though rationing, taking shelter, etc. So when she sees the treaty on the verge of collapse and knows the other sovereigns will not stand with Ivaenia and attack whoever breaks it first it's scares her. Any war that is not the last dawn is a waste of resources and time.

As for fatal flaws, Sciosa's inability to be 100% selfless when it's required of her to be. People around her don't show any appreciation for her acts of trying to save them. They often take it for granted. She's some prophesied hero, so the gods have thought a ahead and it will be so easy for her! Wrong. Very wrong.

Zemorri starts to lose some self control. He'll know he shouldn't do something but does it simply because he can't tell himself no - and doesn't listen to the council of others who tell him those actions are a mistake.

Sciosa and Zemorri are really good are feeding each other's fatal flaws and justifying the other's actions, and that is one of their downfalls.

Zemorri makes Sciosa start to realize she has free will. She has spent so long doing as she's told, being told she can make her own decisions and doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to. Which is all great and dandy for everyone but her. She takes that new found freedom and runs with it.

Zemorri's lack of self control only worsens the more his life becomes intertwined with Sciosa's. I don't want to go in too much about that, but let's just say he can't tell her no for things he really should be telling her no.

Thank you for the ask!! This one was a bit harder to answer because I didn't to spoil too much with fatal flaws. There's a lot going on with that that's not just Zemorri and Sciosa feeding each other's flaws that I didn't want to dive too into right now

[kasienda]

Celebrity Status - Ch 1: The Struggle is Real

Chapters: 1 | 2

Read on Ao3

Chapter 1: The Struggle is Real

Rays of golden sunlight lit up the sky in a brilliant cerulean blue uninterrupted by clouds or akumas. Marinette was humming and twirling happily in circles on her short walk to school.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” Tikki commented from her shoulder.

“I know!” Marinette gushed, her arms shooting out in excitement. “What’s not to love, Tikki? The weather is gorgeous! I got a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, I took a shower this morning, I’ve already eaten breakfast! I even managed to get all my homework done! And, as if all that was not enough, I’m going to make it to school on time!”

The kwami giggled. “I think you need higher standards.”

Marinette didn’t really hear her, as she gazed up at the clear and open sky with a beaming smile. Maybe today was the day she would manage to tell Adrien how she felt.

Before she could get too lost in her daydreams, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Marinette pulled it out and glanced at the notification. Her grin vanished as fast as her father’s freshly baked croissants during a holiday sale.

She groaned, tugging at her pigtails in frustration.

Couldn’t the stars couldn't align for one single day? Was that too much to ask?!

Marinette darted back the way she came, ducking into the alleyway that was adjacent to the bakery, while cursing Hawkmoth’s existence!

Wasn't she supposed to be lady luck? She shook her head even as she let Tikki’s creative force wash over her, her whole form buzzing as the red suit enveloped her like a glove.

No, Ladybug was lucky. That good fortune didn't seem to transfer over into Marinette's day to day very often.

Ladybug tossed her yoyo and launched herself into the Parisian skyline. She swung from building to chimney rapidly, making her way to the akuma. 

"Look! There's Ladybug!" a voice shouted as she flew past. She tossed back an absent-minded wave even as her attention remained glued to arriving at her destination as quickly as possible. 

It only took her moments to land as gracefully as any gymnast next to her partner atop the Arc de Triomphe.

"What do we have today?" she asked even as her gaze took in the strange sight of a car flying through the air as if it was in slow motion. 

“She calls herself Slowpoke,” Chat Noir explained, resting his staff across the back of his neck, with his two clawed hands holding it in place on either side. 

“Of course she does. She’s already slowing me down today,” she grumbled. 

“Basically, if she hits you, time seems to slow down for you and only for you,” her partner explained. “But don’t worry m’lady, my heart will gladly stop for you,” he tacked on as he swept up her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. 

She giggled, wishing she had time to just hang out with her partner who never failed to make her laugh. Sadly, she definitely didn’t have time for that today. She needed to be in class with all her homework done for once in her life. 

“Let’s break a record today, okay?”

He grinned. “As my lady wishes.” 

And they leapt into the fray. 

They didn’t break their record. Forty-two seconds to defeat Mr. Pigeon was almost an impossible record to beat. But neither of them got hit with the slow-down beam, and within twelve minutes Ladybug and Chat Noir were sharing their traditional fist bump with the victim staring up at them in surprise.

“Ladybug? Chat Noir?” the woman asked, startled. “Oh my god! Did I get akumatized?” 

Ladybug leaned down and offered her a hand. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” she assured. “It’s not your fault. It could happen to anyone.”

The woman blushed. “I… thank you for saving me. I don’t suppose…” Her brown eyes darted nervously between the two heroes. 

“Don’t be nervous,” Chat Noir said, his face bright with an open smile. 

“Could I get a selfie with the two of you?!” the words tumbled out of the woman’s mouth rapidly, her eyes wide in excitement. 

Chat burst out laughing. 

Marinette suppressed a sigh of frustration. She was already late, what was another thirty seconds? This lady looked so hopeful, and she was clearly having a terrible day if she could be akumatized. 

She and Chat posed dutifully on either side of the victim for a quick shot.

“I hope the rest of your day is better,” Ladybug said. 

The woman looked up with bright eyes. “Are you kidding?! I got to meet Ladybug and Chat Noir in person. This is the best day ever!” 

Ladybug shook her head, wishing that’s all it took to turn around a rough day for her. 

She said a quick goodbye to Chat and then launched herself back into the air towards her school. If she was lucky, maybe she’d only be ten minutes late.

"Hey! Over there! It's Ladybug!" a voice rang out as she flew past. 

She turned towards the exclamation and waved blindly, not sure who had called. There was a whole group with their phones out filming videos of her passage. They all waved back excitedly.

She supposed it was nice that she could make someone’s day. But the attention also meant she couldn’t always find a place to detransform. At least, not in a place that was conveniently close to where she needed to be. 

She ended up in an alleyway three blocks away from school when she switched back to Marinette, and began the mad dash to class. 

She ran up the stairs leading to the school building three at a time. She didn’t spare any time to visit her locker.

She reached the classroom door and discovered she wasn’t the only one running late. Adrien stood there with a patient smile. 

“Good morning, Marinette,” he greeted softly. 

“M-morning Adrien,” she managed back with only a tiny bit of heat in her cheeks. Hopefully, not enough for anyone to see her blush. 

He held the door open for her and they slipped silently into class with Ms Bustier acknowledging their arrival with a nod. 

The day went smoothly after that, but the wind had already evaporated from Marinette’s proverbial sails, and with it, her courage. She headed home that afternoon hoping to get a jump start on her homework, so that maybe the stars could align tomorrow.

"Marinette!" her mom called as soon as Marinette pushed herself through the bakery doors. "I got a robocall from the school that said you were late to your first class. But you left with plenty of time. What happened?"

Marinette winced. "I... was in the library," she improvised. "Finishing my homework."

"You said you had already finished your homework last night."

She nodded. "I thought I had. But when I got there the girls were talking about chemistry and I realized I hadn’t done a pre-lab, and the lab was worth ten percent of our grade, and Mlle Mendeleiev won’t let you do the lab without the pre-lab. It was better to miss the beginning of homeroom than it would have been to take a zero on the lab.”

"Sweetie, do you think you need to see a doctor? You've been very forgetful lately," her mother asked, placing a hand on the girl’s forehead like she was checking for a fever.

"I'm fine, maman,” Marinette reassured, ducking under the motherly concern. “Promise. Just overwhelmed."

"For future reference, not having your homework done is not an acceptable excuse for not going to class. If you get more than three tardies this week, you're grounded this weekend."

"But maman! Jagged Stone sent me back stage passes for his concert this Saturday!"

"I guess that means you'll be really motivated to get to all your classes on time."

Marinette screamed in frustration before bolting up the stairs. "Motivation is not the problem," she grumbled to herself as she climbed into her room.

"Tikki, it's not fair!” she wailed the second the trap door latched shut. “I've become so much more responsible, better with my time because I know I can't ever put off anything. I juggle so much! But she can't ever know it! My own mom thinks I'm unreliable."

"I know it's frustrating, Marinette,” Tikki said, floating at her side. “Some things are more important than what others think of us."

"It's not fair," Marinette said again, flopping into the rolling chair at her desk, her shoulders slumped and her head hanging low. "What do you think the chances are that I'll manage to get three or less tardies this week?"

"It's happened before," Tikki offered optimistically.

"Yeah, like half a dozen times in three years," Marinette bit out. "I really hate Hawkmoth. He ruins everything."

...

“Pound it!” they cried out in unison, as their fists met softly. Ladybug honestly wanted to collapse on the spot. She was just so tired. And Chat seemed to sense that as he was at her side immediately holding out an arm for support. 

She didn’t take it. She wanted to, but the reporters were already on the scene surrounding them. And she didn’t need the gossip that such a picture would lead to.

Foam microphones jutted into their faces from five different directions. That was the disadvantage of fighting an akuma on the ground instead of over rooftops.

"Ladybug!” someone at the front of the small crowd shouted. “This is the fifth akuma this week! Do you know the cause of the sudden uptick?”

“Do you think this is a sign that Hawkmoth is becoming stronger?" someone else asked. 

"I u-uh..." Ladybug stuttered.

"We're just two super-heroes!" Chat Noir immediately jumped in with a supportive hand on her shoulder. She relaxed. 

"We have no idea what goes on through a supervillain's head,” he continued. “But Ladybug and I will always be here to protect the citizens of Paris! Now, if you'll forgive us, we must be going."

Ladybug breathed a sigh of relief before waving goodbye. "Bug out!”

...

Marinette arrived to school the next day on time for once, but it hadn’t been enough for her parents given her multitude of tardies caused by the increase in akumas. She plopped down next to Alya and slid over a white envelope.

Her friend opened them revealing the backstage passes to Jagged Stone’s concert.

“This is going to be so awesome!” Alya squealed. “Backstage passes! Do you think I could get a selfie with Fang?”

Marinette smiled. “I don’t know. You and Nino will have to let me know how it goes,” Marinette told her.

Alya frowned. "Nino? I thought you and I were going together!"

"I'm grounded,” Marinette said, keeping her voice carefully neutral.

"What for?"

"Too many tardies."

"Girl, that sucks! Your mom just doesn’t understand that pesky details like start times are far beneath your creative genius.”

Marinette smiled. “Thanks Alya.”

“For what?”

“For always believing in me,” Marinette said, truly grateful that Alya didn’t seem to mind that she was rather scatterbrained and flakey. It probably helped that Alya herself had a tendency to dash toward every single akuma even if Marientte wished she wouldn’t. But still. It was convenient for Ladybug in many ways. 

“Aww! Girl! Come here!” Alya said. She yanked Marinette into an embrace and Marinette wrapped her arms tightly around her best friend.

Marinette wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. Not over missing something as silly as a concert. There would be other concerts and movies and parties. 

A few tears leaked onto Alya’s sweater anyway. 

Being a superhero was hard. 

…

[queerfables]

911 season 5 liveblog part the end

5x15

Heh I knew this lady was full of shit about this house being hers. I hope she doesn't die for it though.

Ugh her face T_T

"Don't you wonder about stuff like that?" "Not really" lol Eddie you liar

I need Maddie and Chimney to get back together I miss them

Ugh the fact that they are so good to each other even though they broke up

Oh no I'm so emotional over Buck saying Maddie raised him. They're so much I love them

Man the fact that May is asking Athena's advice about a big life decision shows how much their relationship has grown and that is really down to Athena working hard to give May the space to be her own person, I'm so proud of her for that

Aaah Hen did a great job saving that guy

Man, I've been thinking about how this show used to let them lose more people and how it's lost some of its zing when it always feels like everything is gonna be ok. But ugh I really did not want it to be this one!!

This is so sad oh no

Ugh the two younger girls excited about going in the fire engine but the older one knows

Oh i like this conversation between Eddie and May, the two of them bonding over the ways their lives have been changed by trauma

Heeee Hen and Karen doing extremely silly detective work together

Oh no Maddie and Chimney getting to celebrate a baby milestone together!!!

Oh jeeze seeing those kids walking on the hill together with their dad made me cry again

5x16

I fucking hate Claudette stealing the credit from May the worst

Aw Bobby. I love that you wanna protect May but please listen to Athena (and lol I can't believe she's the voice of reason in this)

Do not fucking "sweetie" her

Heeee Josh has a cruuuush

Oh the other guy likes him too I think

Yaaay I have missed seeing Eddie in action

Claudette is such a dick, with most of the characters even when they're not being their best selves I still love them but she makes it really hard. I hate the way she treats May.

"Today you're a guest in this house" "ugh, he's been waiting months to say that" lmfao

Oh man nothing better happen to Albert, jeeze, Chimney can't go through that again

Enjoying seeing Eddie and Buck being partners again

Jesus everyone's reliving the worst moments of their life huh?

Gosh what a lovely Bobby & May moment

"Wait, that's my dad" I'm gonna cry

Oh a beautiful Chimney and Albert moment too

Oof, yeah, Taylor has figured it out

Huh, and it seems like she's more worried about Buck than herself? That's a surprise

Oh no??? Claudette didn't make it?? That's so sad. I don't hate her less but I'm still sad about her dying.

Jonah's reaction was a bit weird but. honestly however someone processes that kind of thing, I feel like it's hard to say what's normal.

5x17

Oh, May. Of course you feel responsible but it wasn't your fault.

I love Chimney being very concerned about Hen's weird theory but ultimately believing her

Buck and Eddie screentime! They're being cute

A project from the MAYOR that was a way too enticing lie

Oh that is such a cute story about Eddie trying to drive his mum to the hospital

Oof it's no wonder this story is getting to Taylor though, someone whose job it is to save lives using their expertise to hurt them instead, that's gotta feel familiar with her family history

Jesus that is the most terrifying call please tell me Jonah doesn't have Hen's family

Oh NO the moment that Hen said he sounded jealous, I figured it out

Because I love Hen and Chimney's relationship so much, this set up is like crack to me

Oh thank goodness

Great unspoken communication guys you really pulled it off

Oh Buck is pissed at Taylor

Lol at Chimney and Hen both being like "whaaaat I'm fine"

"I'm all in, ride or die, just unhook me and help me find my pants" they're so good. I love their friendship so much.

5x18

Why is Bobby riding the ropes

Oh my god the cliff is going down

Jesus fuck that's not good

Oh Buck is feeling real betrayed by Taylor right now

Tiny human!!

Aw Chimney trying to be supportive of Maddie dating again but she just wants to go back to work

Urg God where did he get the hair

OH NO UGH the morgue??????

Aw my little boy and I are cuddling and watching our shows on our own devices but he keeps getting distracted and watching mine. it's just cute. And he's so good at cuddling I love him so much.

"When did you two kiss??" LOL BOBBY

Oh no the guy doesn't remember anything about his wife or the baby they're about to have

Wow, Taylor, "I'm sorry you're still upset about that" is soooo not an apology (I'm so happy she's going back to her douchebag roots)

Oh wow Buck ended things

Eddie checking in on Bobby T_T soft

Oh Bobby you should tell him you don't want to be alone right now. Even if he can't stay he would help you find someone who could

Ohhhh Bobby I'm so proud of you, and so happy that Eddie showed up right when you needed him

Aaah Hen and Karen surprise vow renewal!!

Oh my gosh and Nia's there too T_T

Man when Buck gave Taylor the homing beacon braclet I couldn't help thinking it would be a great story for him to have to find her after they broke up and now they have broken up I'm really hopeful they might actually do something with that

(I would give serious bonus points for it to be post a Buck+Eddie get together but I'm still not quite ready to hold my breath for that)

Eddie!! Eddie's back at the 118!! Finally

[nightingaletrash]

Figured I'd write up some little summaries of Nem's friendships with her companions by the end of the game:

--

Lae'zel: they started out very much as an alliance of convenience with no real expectations of friendship or even mutual respect. Yet somehow, they've overcome the initial hostility, coming to respect each other's nerve and resolve, and have since become firm and loyal friends. They may never see each other again, as Lae'zel left Faerun to free her people from Vlaakith's rule, but they will make sure that no one could ever forget the role each of them played in the liberation of their homes from the so-called gods who crave them. Lae'zel's name will be told in song and story, and Nemeia's will be etched in slate. Their friendship will endure from Faerun to the Astral Sea.

Shadowheart: surprisingly, they warmed up to one another quite quickly despite the blatant secrecy and evasiveness on SH's behalf. And when the time came in the Shadowfell, it was Nemeia who SH listened to. And when she defied Shar, it was Nem who helped her to stay standing long enough to really process and accept what she'd done and what had been done to her. After the defeat of the Absolute, Shadowheart stayed with Nem the longest, as she still had to decide what came next. They're practically sisters now, and the bond they share runs deep.

Astarion: this friendship was a real slowburn, especially on Astarion's behalf. Nem accepted his vampirism with grace, allowed him to feed on her the first time, and she generally agreed to have his back, but she genuinely came to believe that he just didn't like her. It wasn't until act 2 that he stated otherwise; in reality he just didn't trust her to be capable of living up to her word. She's just too much of a reckless do-gooder and is vastly underestimating what Cazador is capable of. Yet as time goes on, he comes to believe that she might actually be someone worth putting his faith in. And in the end, she doesn't just save him from Cazador, she saves him from his own fear. She helps him break the cycle of abuse and helps him to be more than what he was made for. After he's forced to flee the sun, Nem is genuinely unsure if she'll ever see him again, but he shows up at the celebration after the sun goes down because he refuses to skip out on the party that he's more than earned. And he feels like he owes Nem a proper goodbye before he leaves.

Gale: these two get along like a house on fire from the get go, and it's thanks to him that Nem's view of Elminster takes a dip because how dare you tell my friend to kill himself on behalf of the goddess who could have helped him and chose not to. Still, they had their moments of friction whenever the Wizard Hubris started to show. Nem had to frequently talk him down from ideas of reforging the crown and dissuade him from the notion that he needs to be More to be worth something. While she still didn't believe that Gale ought to chase Mystra's forgiveness, she did encourage him to let her handle the crown because it was clearly a bad idea to leave it in the hands of mortals. After the Absolute's defeat, an agreement is settled upon: they have a bi-annual meet-up where they come to visit each other's homes and catch up. Tara still can't believe that Nem won't side with her on the matter of Gale's beard.

Wyll: another fast friend and one whom Nem was quick to offer her support to after his transformation at Mizora's hand. She tried to help him adjust to the change, offering him advice for dealing with the horns and trying to help him find foods that taste good. They've not made much progress on that front, but the effort is appreciated. Ultimately, Nem encouraged him to break his pact at the cost of his father because Mizora is toying with him and there might still be a chance to find his father without her help. And ultimately, she was right. They saved Duke Ravenguard without Mizora's help and Wyll was freed of his pact, leaving him free to decide his own fate as the Blade. They meet up for the occasional adventure, and Wyll knows that there's a place waiting for him when he needs a rest.

Karlach: oh boy. There were instant sparks there, and they got on super well from the start, so it was only a matter of time before they fell hard and fast for each other. They enjoyed each other's company and had each other's backs in every fight. Nem went out of her way to help fix Karlach's engine, and genuinely believed that they could find some way to fix it so that she could stay in Faerun and live a full life, filled with love and music and excitement. Even in the face of the inevitable, Nem kept picturing a life together with Karlach and refused to believe that there was no way out. So imagine the heartbreak when, right as they've won and defeated the Absolute, Karlach's engine finally gave out. Nem made sure that she got a headstone with her parents and makes sure to visit, but the thought of staying in the city is a bit too much for her. So she preserves Karlach's memory in every way she can - in stories and songs and art, so that no one can ever forget Karlach the Fearless. There's also a really mean goat named after her. It's what she'd want.

Halsin: considering that he was the first person who could actually offer any substantial help that wasn't a poison or a deal with a hag/devil, Halsin earned Nem's respect and friendship pretty early on. She actually pestered him about druidic practices too because all she ever knew about her own father was that he was a druid, and she wants some kind of connection. Then oops it turns out that Halsin is her father! There was definitely a spike of complicated emotions there, but they worked things out and talk about how they feel regarding the revelation, and they decided that they'd give this whole 'being family' thing a go. After the defeat of the Absolute and once she had sorted out her business in the city (such as Karlach's funeral), Nem joined Halsin in his new community for a time to get some distance from the city, heal from her grief, and to build a bond with her father.

Jaheira: the Cub and the Crow, that's them. Nem isn't much like Fianna at all - she's a fast talker who can talk someone into killing themself to spare herself the trouble of fighting them (and she's done exactly that. Multiple times!) - yet she still reminds Jaheira of her Bhaalspawn kid in her determination, her staunch belief in doing what's right, and her fierce loyalty to her friends. It wasn't hard for her to fall into the role of the motherly mentor (even if her brand of motherly is more sarcastic hardass than you'd expect). As for Nem, well, she likes to give Jaheira a hard time every now and then, but that's because the last legend she met told one of her friends to kill himself and this one threatened to kill her, so she's ready to push boundaries rather than fawn, and it turns out that Jaheira loves that shit. It's refreshing that she can take a few prods, and she has the exact kind of experience they need for taking on literal gods. Even after they go their separate ways, they stay in touch, and Nem has written a song about Jaheira that leans more into her being a prickly old woman than some legendary warrior. Jaheira prefers it to any of the other songs ever written about her, which means that all of her kids sing it whenever she comes home. Next time she sees Nem, she's grounded.

Minsc and Boo: Nem grew up in the Wide, so she's more than familiar with the stories of Minsc and Boo, and so she thought she was more than prepared for dealing with their quirks. As it is, the hamster is definitely the sensible one. Nem doesn't dislike Minsc in the slightest, but it'd be nice if he actually learned from his mistakes instead of trusting Jaheira to clean up his messes. But he's all in on stopping the Absolute, and he has his own strange brand of wisdom that is surprisingly insightful... but Boo is definitely the brains of the operation, make no mistake.

[ggoatz]

Special Operations Original Art Concepts & Thumbnails!

Since it's been over a year since Special Operations was first ever uploaded, I thought I should celebrate and make a proper masterlist of everything I've compiled throughout the year. I will also go ahead and link the official designs down below!

Quick disclaimer: Special Operations is MY fanfic, but I obviously don't own the characters! As always, thank you to Spoon & double-thank you to the fanartists and for 1,000 hits on the fanfic!!! Thank you thank you!

This post will get pretty long, so I'm gonna go ahead and make a cut below if you're interested in seeing more/reading my rambles!

Here are the very first ever art I did about a year and a half ago, before I even started writing the fic:

God damn, has my art come far. I don't want to get too sentimental, so let's move on the redesigns of these designs & my thoughts on these:

This was Donnie's first ever concept design (after the original designs) - I always knew I wanted to have him have a gas mask or mask of some kind - his ultimate design really changed there at the end! It's really cool to see how far my art has come since this last year LOL.

-

This was Mikey's original design concept for this au, once I reworked the original one above. I wasn't really happy with it, or any of the designs, for that fact... I didn't really have anything directly in mind over than the fact that knowing his brothers were mad overprotective of him would mean he's covered in clothes. I wanted a mask for him as well and really took inspiration from his design from the show, and tried to include the aspects from that. below here is a few mask concepts I tried out, and a sneak peak of Raph's design/doodle I did.

Even though these other mask concepts were cute, I just couldn't resist going with the first and original design I had. I took the inspiration off of that for the stickers/paints on his shell from the show. Below is an additional drawing of Mikey! Not much changed in his final design other than the fact that he has no shoes, really.

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Here's Leo's first ever intial design. I am glad Spoon convinced me to change it, because while it's cool, I don't think it really fits Leo's flashy and show style. He is a fighter who works beautifully with his skills, so while stealth was obviously the #1 thing to be considered on the list, I ultimately just kind of handed his design to Spoon to decide how he should look LOL. This was such a starch contrast to the first drafts...

-

I've always struggled at drawing Raph, so I don't really have any photos of him saved ): / to show off. Sorry Raph lovers, but Spoon did him JUSTICE and I will forever be grateful for them for that <3<3

Below are the final designs, done by Spoon through nearly a year of us talking about the designs!

Spoon does not have a Tumblr, but they do have a Twitter, which you can find here: @Hydratedturtle! Without them, these designs would have never been finished/completed. It was so beyond crazy to see the very first drafts by me and the finished concepts executed beautifully by Spoon and making my ideas coming to life.

Below are all of the thumbnails of Special Operations that I've done, and the improvement is obvious! These are done through the year of 2023!

Annnd, finally, here's a sketch I did of Donnie back in November/December with his more updated design!

And that's all for now!!! <3