#this sounds oddly ominous JUST WAIT.

[livingproofoftbd]

my next fic will appeal to a select few on dtblr based on au alone but it will appeal to most on dtblr because its dnf

[lowkeyren]

dangerous infatuation!

in which — you encounter blade while travelling on the xianzhou luofu with the astral express, who saves you from danger, and asks for a reward in return.

pairing — blade x fem!reader (use of she/her pronouns)

₊˚⊹♡ — wc: ~1.2k, from req: here!, 500 words i said to myself and then i end up here, heart squeezed when i saw the ask, blade kissers rise!!!!!!! pls enjoy xx reblogs r much appreciated <3

walking through the unusually crowded streets of starskiff haven, you can’t help but be awed by the sight of the place. it was your first time on the xianzhou luofu, alongside you are your friends from the astral express. march was ahead, animatedly chatting with welt; while you lingered at the rear, taking in the sights.

the air was thick with the mingling scents of exotic spices and freshly cooked street food, engulfing your senses with every breath. in the midst of the bustling crowd, you spot a man who seems oddly out of place. his sole presence draws your attention, and when he catches your gaze, he locks eyes with you, returning your stare with a piercing intensity that sends a shiver down your spine.

beside him stands an elegant woman, a jacket casually draped over her shoulders. but your eyes remain locked on the man; his compelling gaze holds a magnetic pull, and you find yourself unable to tear your eyes away. observing his features, he seems more and more familiar to you.

hey… he kinda looks like the guy on the wanted posters you’re seeing everywhere?? and that woman beside him too!

you don't notice yourself falling behind your friends until march calls out to you. “hey slowpoke, c’mon let’s go!” her words snap you out of your trance, and you quickly yell back an acknowledgment, before turning your attention back to the man —but he’s nowhere to be found.

a pang of disappointment washes over you as you scan the sea of faces, searching in vain for any sign of him. it's as if he was never there to begin with; with a heavy sigh, you reluctantly turn away, following march's lead as you weave through the people.

but even as you walk, your mind remains preoccupied with thoughts of him, his image burned into your memory like a flickering flame refusing to be extinguished, leaving you longing for another glimpse.

“hmm bladie… something caught your eye?” kafka's voice breaks through the air, a teasing lilt dancing in her tone. blade’s gaze follows you as you move along with your companions, “find out who she is.”

kafka matches his line of sight, spotting you in the distance. “ah.. the newest member of the astral express crew” she continues without waiting for his response, "you seem to have taken quite a liking to her."

blade doesn’t confirm nor deny her words, eliciting a knowing smirk from kafka.

the next few days on luofu feels…unsettling. you can’t shake the feeling of being watched, a prickling sensation that crawled along your skin; a shadow lurking just beyond your peripheral vision. every corner you turned, every alley you passed felt fraught with a sense of unease.

you arrive upon an alleyway, stopping to take a breather. then you feel that ominous feeling again, causing your hair to stand on end. a sudden, loud thump echoes in the distance, causing you to whirl your head in that direction. you find a man unconscious, sprawled on the ground; instinctively, your body tenses, and your eyes widen in shock.

before you can make a sound, a bandaged hand reaches out, silencing you with its firm grip over your mouth; a voice breaks through the stillness from behind you, “don’t yell.” your heart skips a beat as the hoarse voice brushes against your ear, the unexpected touch sends a jolt of adrenaline coursing through your veins.

“...who are you?” your voice muffling against the hand.

“knowing who i am is unnecessary.” the grip on your mouth loosens slightly. without hesitation, you whip around, your weapon materializing in your hand, ready to defend yourself. but before you’re able to strike, your hand is seized mid-air, halting your movement abruptly.

“i-it’s you!” the dim light of the alleyway casts shadows across his features, but you still recognize him. “what did you do t—” your words are cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps. in a swift motion, blade pulls you into a more secluded area, his body pressing tightly against yours.

guards swarm around the unconscious man, inspecting him closely. “that guy,” blade nudges his head in the direction of the man, “i saw him following you around.” everything in your head starts to click into place; he continues, “see that needle there.. he spiked it with sedatives earlier today.”

your pulse quickens as his words sink in, “don’t worry, he’s not dead, just…asleep, for a while.” (for a long while)

“i’m sorry, i thought you were going to hurt me— thank you…” he nods in acknowledgement. you can feel the warmth radiating from his body as he remains close even after the crowd has dispersed, a hint of blush colouring his cheeks, a contrast to his stoic look. you turn your head away, flustered by your proximity, your cheeks warming as you try to gather your thoughts.

he grasps your chin with his hand, your cheeks squished between his fingers; turning your head back and tilting it up to meet his gaze. “i just saved your life, aren’t you going to give me a reward?” you blink, trying to process his words, your face growing warmer each passing second under his intense scrutiny. part of you knows that this is wrong and wants to pull away, but another part is inexplicably drawn to his presence.

with a shaky breath, you manage to stammer out, "w-what kind of reward are you expecting?" your voice wavers. “you know exactly what i mean.” he remarks with a subtle smirk.

you decide to follow the urging of your heart, you lean in, pressing your lips against his, a brief and fleeting kiss. just as you begin to pull away, he pushes his other hand against the back of your head, drawing you back, deepening the kiss.

“[name]! where are you?”

march’s voice breaks through the moment, prompting you to push blade away abruptly. his annoyance evident in the slight downturn of his lips, and the subtle furrow of his brow. however, he quickly masks his emotions, returning to his usual deadpan face.

you give him an apologetic look as you peek out cautiously, catching a glimpse of march and welt’s figures in the distance, “i’m sorry bl—” you turn back only to find nothing except silence that surrounds you.

how does this man just keep vanishing into thin air?!

you shake off the lingering sensations, consciously calming yourself down from the rush of emotions stirred by the kiss. you place your fingertips against your lips, still tingling from the ghostly imprint of his touch; your heart thuds rapidly in your chest, each beat echoing loudly in your ears

oh aeons, you just kissed a criminal.

—

“bladie… looks like you enjoyed yourself, huh?”

"what?"

“you’re not fooling anyone” kafka points at her own lips.

what kind of smudge-proof lipstick do you wear… well at least it works... super well. he has a stain on the corner of his lips for the next few days.

“bro… you’re actually so downbad LOL. y'want me to track her location or sum?”

"...no need, i'll find her myself."

silverwolf won’t stop calling him a “simp”, whatever that means.

₊˚⊹♡

masterlist

[iamgonnagetyouback]

I need some Barry crouch x reader hcs!!!

headcanons for barty crouch jr x reader

✧ Barty's tough exterior melts a bit when he's with you.

✧ Although he’s far from “cuddly,” he has his unique ways of showing affection, like brushing your hair back when you’re distracted or tracing your features as you sleep.

✧ Barty’s not one for sweet words, but his actions speak volumes.

✧ He’ll get you your favorite snacks or bring you small trinkets he found while out (which may or may not look slightly ominous) because he thought of you.

✧ Barty might act like he doesn’t care about anyone, but he’s fiercely protective of you.

✧ Even in mundane settings, he’ll shoot anyone who looks at you wrong a glare that practically screams, “try me.”

✧ Barty has a dark sense of humor that only you truly understand.

✧ He’ll make some snide comment about a “light curse” on that annoying person who cut you off, and you’re caught between laughing and wondering if he’s serious.

✧ Expect a list of names only he can call you that would sound terrifying coming from anyone else.

✧ "My little accomplice" or "favorite sinner" are all meant with an oddly fond glint in his eye.

✧ Barty has a twisted sense of what qualifies as a "prank."

✧ He’ll hide your wand and act innocent, or cast a temporary charm to give you a slight shiver whenever you say a particular word.

✧ The fact that he finds these things hilarious somehow makes them even more endearing.

✧ Barty has zero interest in keeping things “normal.”

✧ He’ll whisk you away to strange places or suddenly decide that he wants to dance with you in a forbidden part of Hogwarts, laughing wildly as you try to shush him.

✧ Arguments are intense with Barty but often end up with some kind of wicked banter. "I would gladly hex you right now," he’ll say, and you’ll counter, “As if you’d survive a day without me.” He grins in response, all too delighted by your bite.

✧ He’ll make a big deal about not being “soft,” but then you’ll catch him resting his hand on your back protectively in a crowd or casting discreet protective charms on you.

✧ Barty opens up during the witching hours, sharing bits of his past and fears.

✧ His walls come down, and he’ll even reveal the vulnerabilities he rarely lets surface, confessing his struggles while holding you close as if you’re his lifeline.

✧ As restless as Barty is, he finds peace lying next to you, though he’ll grumble about it if you ever bring it up.

✧ He likes to keep a hand on you while you sleep, subtly ensuring you're there without having to admit he needs the reassurance.

✧ Dating Barty means being the only person he truly lets into his life, creating a bond that’s almost unbreakable.

✧ He’d go to terrifying lengths for you, making you feel like the center of his world, albeit in his own darkly intense way.

some convos that might arise while dating barty

BARTY: *glares at someone looking at you wrong* “Do you want me to handle that, or should I just wait until they’re not looking?” YOU: “Barty, no.” REGULUS: *muttering* “Honestly, let him. It’ll be quick.” YOU: “You’re not helping, Reg.”

YOU: “So, are you a morning person?” BARTY: “Only if by morning person you mean a creature of darkness slowly acclimating to daylight.” PANDORA: *snickering* “At least he’s honest.” YOU: “That… is more fitting than I expected.”

YOU: *quietly* “Barty, sometimes it feels like you’re just… not here.” BARTY: *pauses* “I know. I’m trying. I promise.” BARTY: *sighs, taking your hand* “You’re the only thing keeping me from going too far.”

BARTY: “If anything happens to you, I’ll bring the whole world down.” REGULUS: *chuckling* “That’s rich, coming from the guy who can barely commit to a daily schedule.” YOU: *rolling your eyes* “Thanks for the reassurance, Barty. Not ominous at all.” BARTY: “I’m serious!” EVAN: *snorts* “Yes, and you’re also a menace, so there’s that.”

YOU: “You have to admit you like being with me.” BARTY: *grins* “Like? Oh, I’m far past ‘like.’” PANDORA: *smirking* “I think what he’s trying to say is that he’d hex anyone who dares come between you.” YOU: “Great. Love in true Barty fashion.” BARTY: “I’d curse them with a smile.”

YOU: “Why do you always smirk when things get serious?” BARTY: “It’s either that or throw something.” PANDORA: “He really does throw things. Mostly at me.” BARTY: “Only when you’re too calm. I need someone on my level.” EVAN: *dryly* “Misery loves company, I suppose.” YOU: “You’re all impossible.”

BARTY: “Don’t go. I can handle whatever it is.” YOU: *raising an eyebrow* “Barty, it’s literally an event for flower arranging.” BARTY: “It could still be dangerous!” PANDORA: *snorts* “From the roses, or the daisies?” BARTY: “You know I don’t trust people. Especially around you.” YOU: “Don't worry, Barty.I’ll keep my eye out for sinister roses.”

YOU: “I think I bring out your softer side.” BARTY: “Let’s not spread rumors, love. I have a reputation to uphold.” EVAN: “What, of being intolerably prickly?” BARTY: *smiling* “Prickly enough to keep them away from her.” YOU: “You’re so charming.”

[chibi-celesti]

Time for Your Tune Up(Silver Vanrouge)

A/N: The setting for this one takes place around Book 07(specifically Lilia's Dreamscape). Warnings: Innuendo implications leading Gen! Lilia to go sudden dad mode post Malleus’s Overblot. Sebek denying his presence voyeurize Silver and Yumei while making sure Grim is comfortable.

~TFYTU~

“Oi! You there, human!”

“H-hai, Lilia-sama!” Sebek saluted the General. Or rather as much as he could while holding Grim.

“What are you doing standing outside the camp border?” He narrowed his eyes. “If you are trying to plan something, I will cut you down.”

“It's not that sir. My comrades Silver and Yumei needed to take care of urgent matters, so I'm just keeping an eye out so that they return safely.”

“Is that so…” He fixed his gaze to the forest around their encampment, a nagging feeling in the back of his skull.

“Eh?” Sebek began to paint as he saw Lilia take off into the woods. “Lilia-sama, wait!”

“Aaaaand he's gone…” Grim slouched before taking off behind the Bat fae, with the other first year catching up. “Way to go, Dingus! Look what you did!”

“Me!?”

“Yeah, you! Lilia's gonna ruin the procedure, no thanks to you!”

“Well it's not my fault that the human was failing ill!”

“He can't help that he was born that way!”

The two's running and arguing was silenced as a hand grabbed both by the collar and into a bush. Hands covered their mouths as Lilia glared at them. His eyes ordering them to hush. Grim muffled under the hand to let him go until his ears twitched as he heard the sound of a groan. On reflex, he flattened his ears and curled into Lilia's lap a bit.

‘What was that?’ The half fae thought.

On the other side of their location, Silver loomed over Yumei. The latter had his arms wrapped around his shoulders, hiding his face as he waited for the other to start. “Sorry. I'm really nervous right now.”

“It's ok,” Silver said, gently rubbing circles on Yumei's hip with his thumb. “I'll be gentle, promise.”

“Ok…”

The silver haired boy pushed the Life Extending Agent into the other's back. He felt the hold on his neck tighten, but it didn't deter him from stopping. Remembering how his father used to whenever he was hurt, Silver whispered words of comfort to the younger male. “It's ok. You'll be ok.”

Tears pricked at his eyes. “I'm sorry.” He whined in response.

The last of the Agent disappeared inside Yumei. The tension in his body slowly disappeared, and he loosened his arms on Silver's neck. He felt him lightly press their foreheads together; aurora eyes gazing down at red and blue eyes. “Thank you, Silver. I didn't think I would be affected this way in the dream world.”

“It's fine. I'm happy to have helped.”

…

From their location, Sebek, Grim, and Lilia were still hiding. Grim had moved his paws off his ears and sighed. “Ah. Finally, they're done. I doubt I'll ever get used to Yumei getting his procedure.”

His fellow first year's face was red as a tomato. He hated how his brain worked against him, wanting to reprimand them for the noises. But he also didn't want to admit the… ‘things’ his mind jumped to listening to them.

And Lilia, was oddly quiet.

“Lilia-sama, are you ok?”

“...”

“Lilia…you good?”

“...”

Later, post Malleus’s Overblot:

This must be what criminals felt being interrogated. Sweating bullets, clammy palms, alot of fidgeting.

Yumei feels like he'd face trial way better with Riddle, or anyone else really cause the ominous gaze the former war general gave him would've killed him on the spot. He didn't know why he needed to see him after everything that happened, and he really wished he turned him down.

He swallowed down the huge lump in his throat before speaking. “Hey, Lilia-senpai.”

“Yumei-kun.”

“Um. If this is about Tsunotarou-”

He hears him laugh. “No, its not. Though I assure you his recovery is going well. I do hope you get to meet him again soon.”

“Yeah. But, uh. I don't think that was the only thing you wanted to talk to me about was it…”

A not so subtle grin colored the Bat Fae's lips. “While it is a bit faint, Silver had helped you in your time of need. Is that correct?”

“With my Procedure? Yes,” Yumei answered.

“And you trusted him with your life?”

“Yes.”

“And he is aware of what Fate awaits you in a few decades?”

“...Yes.”

“Hmm,” He folded his hands on the table, focusing his gaze into heterochromia eyes. “Well, then there's only one thing I wish to say.”

“Yes?”

“Please take care of Silver, even if I were to pass on before you.”

He was so caught off guard Yumei didn't think he'd heard that correctly. “Huh?”

“I give you my blessing to be with my son. And, I will allow Silver to help you til you disappear from this word as well.”

“Th-thank you, Lilia-senpai!” He quickly bowed.

“Not at all, Yu-kun. You can thank me again after your honeymoon.”

“HONEYMOON?!?!?!”

[adhdnursegoat]

Arkhamverse

cw: Crack fic!

word count: 1.4k

Halloween in Gotham is never just a simple evening of candy and costumes—it is an opportunity for chaos. And if anyone knows how to throw a party with just the right mix of madness and flair, it’s the Gotham Rogues Gallery.

Your hideout is transformed into a grotesque wonderland of cobwebs, flickering orange and purple lights, and an array of jack-o'-lanterns that sneer from every dark corner. You have somehow been wrangled into organizing this party, and while the task is daunting, it’s also oddly thrilling. With every carefully hung spiderweb and suspiciously sharp-looking prop, you brace yourself for what will undoubtedly be an evening of madness.

Riddler, ever the stickler for puzzles, insists on an elaborate amenity that takes up most of your industrial warehouse home: a haunted maze of riddles and false doors designed to confuse even the smartest of guests. “It adds to the ambiance,” he says smugly, as you roll your eyes. Naturally, he’s the first to show up, his Rick Sanchez costume bringing you to a fit of giggles.

Scarecrow arrives next, dragging in a fog machine that belches thick, eerie mist through the hideout as he walks, creating his own dramatic entrance. To your curiosity, he is dressed in attire not too far from his brown tweed suit, though you tilt your head with amusement when you see the symbolic fez and sonic screwdriver of the Eleventh Doctor. He nods to you in a rare show of camaraderie, setting up his corner of “terror,” complete with real bones (where does he even get those?) and jars of questionable fluids. “Just in case anyone wants a truly haunting experience,” he murmurs ominously before retreating into the fog.

Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn burst in together, giggling like a pair of schoolgirls planning mischief. Ivy, dressed as a fairy with wings that glow with bioluminescence, brings a tray of “special” brownies. “They’re organic,” she winks, setting them down on the table. Harley, dressed as Jinx, immediately bounds over to the sound system, flipping through tracks until she finds something upbeat and sinister. “Let’s get this freakshow started!” she hollers, cranking up the volume.

Two-Face ambles in next, flipping his coin as always. In a surprisingly elaborate costume with wings that nearly touch the floor, he is dressed as a half-angel, half-demon. And, while the concept seems a little unoriginal, in your opinion, the execution is flawless. “What’s this party missing?” he muses aloud, eyeing the spread of snacks. “Ah, of course.” He reaches into his coat pocket, producing a flask that you can only assume holds something incredibly strong. “Liquid courage, for those who dare,” he offers with a lopsided grin, depositing it immediately into the punch bowl, not really giving much of an option.

Mad Hatter skips through the entrance, making you do a double take. He’s dressed as Alice with a blonde wig, blue dress, stockings, and all. “Time for tea, my lovelies!” he sings, placing each cup meticulously on the table. You know better than to drink from any of them, given Jervis’s proclivity for mind-controlling and mind-warping substances, but it adds to the table’s chaotic aesthetic, nonetheless.

Then comes Penguin, hobbling in with a bicorne hat, a military uniform à la Napoleon Bonaparte, and a stuffed penguin under an arm. “A toast!” he barks, grabbing a glass filled with...well, no one is sure what, exactly. “To mischief, mayhem, and madness!”

And finally, as if he’s been waiting for the perfect moment, Joker saunters in with a maniacal grin stretched across his face. And you never knew he could up the creep factor anymore until you see him dressed as Pennywise with sharp teeth, an old-fashioned clown outfit, and a red balloon in hand. “Oh, now this is a party!” he cackles, spinning around to take in the scene. “Where’s the main event?” he asks, eyes gleaming as they land on you. “Surely, you’ve got something up your sleeve, toots!”

You stifle a laugh as you take in the diverse group. It’s the closest thing Gotham has to a twisted family reunion, and you, somehow, have become the unintentional ringmaster of this carnival of chaos. “Alright, you lunatics,” you call out, grabbing everyone’s attention, “we’ve got games, treats, and enough bad decisions waiting to happen. Let’s make this a Halloween to remember—or forget, depending on how it goes.”

And the night descends into utter madness.

Riddler can’t help himself, challenging everyone to a "riddle off" where the loser has to take a shot of Mad Hatter’s questionable teas. This, of course, devolves into a series of slurred and increasingly convoluted riddles as the night goes on.

Scarecrow sets up a mini-scare experience in one corner, using his fog machine, which he infuses with his fear toxin in a small dose. Harley dares everyone to go through it, only to burst into peals of laughter when Joker emerges, eyes wide with exaggerated horror, screaming about bats.

Ivy ropes you into dancing, twirling you around the room with surprising grace. “I swear, if one of these fools steps on my dress, I’m ending this party early,” she warns, though her smile betrays her amusement.

Meanwhile, Penguin has commandeered the makeshift bar, mixing drinks that are more flammable than consumable. At some point you hear him explaining his costume to Two-Face – “March of the Penguins!” But you don’t get it.

Later, amidst the chaos, you stand, leaning against the nearest table, drink in hand. You smirk, watching as Harley dances with Jonathan, leading the poor man through a lively samba. When she dips the good doctor, making his fez fall to the floor, you cannot help the eye-watering laughter that bubbles up from your throat at the endearing antics.

Beside you, Edward saddles up, swaying just a little on his feet from the alcohol (inadvertently looking more and more like Rick Sanchez). His hiccups draw your attention, laughing, calming to an amused chuckle when you take in the sight of him, a little slouched, eyes glassy, and a warm flush on his cheeks. He gives you a cheeky, dazed grin, stumbling into you as he tries to clasp a hand on your shoulder. You jump to keep him from falling, taking his arm over your shoulders. He leans in close with a goofy smile. “Having fun, my dear?”

“More than I should, probably,” you reply, grinning as you help him find his bearings.

“I find myself more intrigued by how you’ve managed to get this madhouse organized.” He hiccups as he invades your proximity once more. “You’re quite the little ringleader.”

“Well, someone has to keep you rogues in line,” you laugh, flicking his nose playfully. His dazed face scrunches up, nose twitching and eyes blinking at the sudden intrusion, the alcohol making him a little slower than usual.

Finally, he pulls away with a sigh, resigning to lean against the table while you hop up to sit on top of it. The both of you watch the scene unfold.

Harley and Jervis are in a heated argument over who gets to dance with Jonathan, tugging his arms in opposite directions. He’s caught in the middle, looking like a particularly disheveled scarecrow being fought over by two crows. The sight is amusing, especially since Jonathan has no clue how to defuse the situation and unsure how he got here.

Nearby, Ivy has had enough of Joker's antics and has him strung up by a vine, his mouth wrapped tightly to muffle his ceaseless chatter. A brief moment of peace settles in the room as everyone relishes the Joker's silence. Ivy, now munching one of her “special” brownies, looks smug and thoroughly pleased with her handiwork – both with Joker and the fun treat.

At the makeshift bar, Penguin and Two-Face are deep in a bickering match over drink choices. Penguin squawks and flaps his hand dramatically, insisting that Harvey should try something new for once in his life. Two drinks sit on the bar in front of Harvey, both equally appealing to him. He glares at Penguin, who gestures grandly for him to choose without consulting his coin. Harvey's eyes flicker nervously between the glasses, his hand twitching as he almost reaches for one, only to pull back at the last second, muttering something under his breath that only he and Penguin can hear.

“Hell of a Halloween, wouldn’t you agree?” Edward drawls beside you, nudging you with his elbow as you both observe the scene. He hiccups again.

“Yeah.“ You can’t help but grin, cheeks hurting from all the smiling and laughing you’ve succumbed to throughout the night.

Feeling a warm glow settle in your chest amidst the chilly air of the hideout, you observe your eclectic friends. Voice soft and full of amused admiration, you mutter,

“Hell of a Halloween.”

[kthyg]

ghoul. — (consign)

[SIXTH INSTALMENT OF GHOUL SERIES : CONSIGN]

"Kiss your clean record goodbye." Provocation or prediction.

or

S2 squad went to the 13th ward for a Wipe Out Operation but didn't expect to encounter an Owl in the midst of the operation.

pairing. jungkook x reader, hoseok x reader, jin x reader (ft. myg & pjm)

rating. M

genre. tokyo ghoul au, soulmate au, gore, violence, mass attack

disclaimer. this story is a work of fiction. descriptions of the BTS members in this story does not reflect nor portray them in real life. everything in this story only fits in imagination and does not apply outside of imagination.

warning. lots of bloodshed (mostly spilled from the ghouls :/), depiction of people (doves) getting killed ruthlessly by the Owl and killing methodology was described.

word count. 5k+

lexicon & profiles . masterpost . masterlist . navigation

note from winter 💌

sorry for the long disappearance </3 but er hey, a brand new banner for ghoul!! beta read by loyal beta reader @zyphqr <3 this is just a short one maybe can be counted as a filler chapter too, but it will make do. hope you guys enjoy this <33 and u lots might not notice, but i kind of changed my writing style a bit? I think consign has got to be the most elaborated fic I've ever written cause those detailed words? idk how my brain came up with that but I'm proud of this one

💌 what is winter listening to? in sequence; D-DAY, Interlude: Dawn, HUH?!, AMYGDALA. (All by Agust-D)

📑 if you want to know more about this au, you can refer to lexicon & profiles. any other questions you can refer to me !!

dedication. a gift to all of my readers.

The urban avenue of Seoul tonight was oddly still, with only sporadic leaf rustling in the soft breeze breaking the silence. The streetlights emitted a pale light illuminating the desolate pathway and generating a creepy ambience that felt unsettling. The towering edifices on both sides of the street looked imposing and austere, with dark windows and walls stained by the wear of time. In Seoul, quiet streets like this one often serve as a warning sign, hinting at the stillness that precedes a night of horror and violence.

This only served as a warning that hazards could present in any situation, even in the calmest and most tranquil circumstances.

The only sounds that interrupted the quietness were the faraway noise of cars and the faint footsteps’ echoes. A stray feline would occasionally scuttle across the street, eyes gleaming, barely visible in the low light. Despite the peacefulness of the evening, the street’s stillness felt unusual and peculiar. A strong odour of rot and other, more ominous scents, detectable only by those with heightened senses, hung heavily in the air. An enduring sensation of peril seemed to permeate the surroundings, giving the impression of being under surveillance by something lurking in the shadows. The silence was broken by the occasional sound of shattering glass or the screech of metal against metal. A car alarm would blare for a few moments before falling silent once more.

These sounds, too, added to the unease that hung in the air, hinting at the possibility of danger lurking in the darkness.

For those who knew of the existence of ghouls, quiet streets would be even more unsettling. People would be acutely aware that a ghoul could lurk somewhere in the shadows, watching, waiting for its next victim. The silence of the street, combined with the faint scent of blood in the air, would make them feel like they were walking on thin ice, with danger lurking around every corner.

The 13th ward, Seochu-gu.

The pale moonlight bathed the ward where ghouls were recently reported to be lurking in the shadows. The usually bustling streets were now empty, only to be filled in by a large group of doves - some dressed in formal KCCG attire while others were heavily armed. Operating vehicles and drones were also present, adding to the sense of preparation and anticipation in the air. As Jung Hoseok, the Chief Director of Division II, approached, the sound of footsteps echoed through the night, accompanied by the presence of bureaus.

“Alright, good evening, doves,” Hoseok spoke, his voice firm and commanding. “I, Jung Hoseok, Chief Director of Division II, will be leading today’s Wipe Out Operation that is to be conducted here in the 13th ward.”

You and another four supreme investigators stood at attention, listening to Hoseok’s every word. “Operating squad involved in this operation will only be the Supreme Squad S2 and 75 Bureaus. Other than S2 and Bureau Investigators are required to leave the scene. Failed to do so and get caught by S2 squad members, the bureaus, or me, will receive disciplinary action.” Everyone present at the scene nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Hoseok continued, “Commencing roll call on S2 squad. Please present your weapon.”

Each member stood tall and proud, eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger. The atmosphere was tense, and they knew they were about to embark on a dangerous mission. Finally, Hoseok began calling out names; each member stepped forward to present their weapon.

“Present as always.” A soulful voice spoke with confidence.

The roll call started with Jeon Jungkook, the Branch Director of 2nd Ward, as he confidently presented his weapon, the Angel Beat, an SS-rated Ukaku type known for its incredible speed and accuracy. Min Yoongi stepped forward with a bored, unbothered expression and presented his weapon, the 13’s Jason, a Rinkaku type rated S+. 13’s Jason was one of the most potent weapons in their arsenal, and Min Yoongi knew how to use it to devastating effect.

As the roll call continued, Park Jimin, another Special Class member, stepped forward proudly with his charming smile, “Never not present,” and presented his weapon, the IXA, a Koukaku type that was rated S+.

Kim Seokjin, your fellow Associate Special Class, followed suit, responded upon his name being called and presented his weapon, the Narukami, an S+-rated Ukaku type known for its incredible range and power.

Finally, your name was called out. Your grip tightened on your quinque as you presented your weapon, the Aus, a Rinkaku-type rated S+. The Aus was a fearsome weapon known for its speed and agility, and you had spent countless hours training with it to hone your skills. As the roll call came to a close, you stood steady, weapon at the ready.

Hoseok looked around at his team, impressed by their impressive arsenal. “Total of five members. Weapon rating from SS to S+.”

He then briefed the investigators on the operation. “This operation aims to cleanse the 13th ward off ghouls. It was brought to our attention that quite a number of ghouls have been roaming in this ward. Expect every worst possibility as the data collected by the bureaus have shown that several S+ rated ghouls are hiding in this ward.”

“Movement will be in personal formation with 15 Bureaus as back-ups. I will be assisting each one of you through the earpiece and monitoring through the drones.”

The investigators nodded, preparing themselves for the dangerous mission ahead. Hoseok gave them a nod of approval. “Doves, fight with your all. Best of luck,” he said before giving the signal.

“Operation commences.”

With a nod from your leader, the five of you set out into the dark night, ready to fight for justice and protect the citizens of the 13th ward from the threat of ghouls. You moved out, determined to eliminate the ghouls that lurked in the darkness. As all of you moved through the eerie streets of the 13th ward, the tension in the air was felt by everyone. The sound of footsteps echoed loudly as if warning any lurking ghouls of the doves’ presence. Jungkook took point, his Angel Beat quinque ready in his grip. He scanned the area, searching for any signs of movement.

“Clear,” he informed Hoseok, his voice crackling through your earpiece too.

As Jungkook ventured to his chosen route, the rest of the team moved forward, staying in formation before breaking into personal formation. Your squad moved deeper into the ward, searching every nook and cranny for any sign of ghoul activity. The tension was palpable, as all of you knew that any misstep could mean certain death or injury.

To describe Wipe-Out Operation with one word would be unpredictable. This operation was assigned to the Supreme Squad for a reason. Given the unpredictability, KCCG only sent out Associates Special Class and above to prevent any unwarranted damages, and it was usually conducted and supervised by Division Chief Director, Hoseok or Namjoon, according to the wards involved. KCCG strictly prohibited any ranks lower than Associate Special and Special from participating in the operation, no matter how great and exceptional one’s skills were.

It was the experience that counted, at least according to the KCCG’s higher-ups.

“Remaining doves, split into pairs,” Hoseok commanded. “The headquarters sent a newly found vision radar of the 13th ward, and the Rc levels are increasing. Jungkook, be informed. I will send out more bureaus to your side.”

“Very well.” His voice echoed in your earpiece following Hoseok.

“Bureaus, load your Q-bullets,” he ordered, stern and commanding.

The bureaus sprang into action, their movements quick and efficient. They reached for their bullet cases, deftly loading their Q-bullets into their quinques. The sound of the bullets clicking into place was the only noise in the silent night as they prepared themselves for the upcoming operation. They stood in line as they finished loading, waiting for the following order. Each one was ready for whatever lay ahead, their minds focused and their hearts beating with anticipation.

“Weapons are to be fired upon the orders of your respective formation leaders,” Hoseok instructed one last time before going off the communication system.

Suddenly, Yoongi urged you to follow him, “Let’s go (Y/N).”

Noticing the confusion on Jimin’s face, he clarified the situation by pointing out that it wouldn’t be a good idea to form a team with two associates and two special classes.

“In that case, you can take Jin,” Jimin countered, crossing his arms.

Yoongi scoffed, “Damn. Did I miss a notice stating that (Y/N) is your partner again?” He then grabbed your wrist and pulled you towards the other side of the ward, leaving Jimin fuming with anger and Jin puzzled.

As you and Yoongi turned to a corner, a loud noise erupted. The two of you stopped any movements, weapons raised as a reflex. You knew better than to speak out loud, so you waited with bated breath. Suddenly, a figure leapt out from the shadows.

It was a ghoul.

Its Kagune gleamed in the dim light and moved at a thunder-like speed, but before the ghoul could even reach the two of you, Yoongi had already unsheathed his jagged quinque. His quinque sliced through the air with deadly accuracy as he pivoted on his heel and swung, slicing through its kagune. The ghoul stumbled backwards, blood gushing from the wound on its side. Yoongi didn’t give it a chance to recover, though. He pressed forward, striking blow after blow with his quinque.

The ghoul crumpled to the ground with a loud thud, lifeless.

You stood back, watching as Yoongi wrenched the blood off his weapon and rested it on his shoulder. You weren’t oblivious to the fact that Yoongi was the most ruthless, quick-witted investigator ever to be born in KCCG. But at that moment, you wished he was anything but those. The ghoul you and Yoongi had encountered was a lone male ghoul. But it wasn’t that fact that made you hesitant.

He looked terrified. Eyes wide with fear.

It wasn’t the fear of being found by doves.

The fear in his eyes was present even before the pair of you arrived. He was about to say something before Yoongi killed him. You didn’t miss the tremble of his lips. “He was trying to tell something.” You approached the dead body.

Yoongi crouched down beside you and examined the ghoul’s face. “It doesn’t matter now.”

You frowned; you couldn’t shake the feeling that you might have missed something important. You scanned the area to see if there were other ghouls nearby, but there weren’t any. You and Yoongi moved forward cautiously. The streets of the 13th ward were silent. The moon shone down the deserted road, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. As you and your partner walked further into the area, Yoongi suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing you to do the same.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, approaching you rapidly.

Yoongi swung his quinque, ready for use, a menacing look on his face. You followed suit, grip on your weapon tightening. The footsteps grew closer, and you could see the silhouette of three figures approaching your direction with crazed expressions on their faces, ready to attack.

Without hesitation, Yoongi charged forward, striking one of the ghouls with a swift blow from his quinque. They clashed back and forth, Yoongi using his agility to dodge the ghoul’s attacks and strike back with his 13’s Jason. Each time he landed a hit, the ghoul would let out a pained growl, but it only seemed to make it more aggressive.

But it made Yoongi scoff.

He found it funny how the ghoul tried to act mighty and strong when he could easily detach the head from the neck with bare hands. Yoongi fought the creature with a clear stance and graceful movements as if he was performing a dance.

A deadly dance.

He was, after all, a killing machine masking as a delicate doll.

The remaining two turned their attention to you. The male ghoul was massive, towering over you with impressive height and a menacing expression. His kagune, a long tentacle-like appendage, whipped through the air as it prepared to attack. He lunged forward, forming his kagune into a claw; he aimed at your chest. But you quickly dodged the attack, stepping to the side and bringing your Aus up in a defensive stance. He snarled and attacked again.

Yoongi launched a powerful attack with his kagune, slicing through the ghoul’s torso and causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. He dragged his quinque painfully slow through the ghoul’s body as more blood flowed out. He lazily turned his head toward your direction. You were fighting two ghouls, but he didn’t have any intention of helping you, so he continued playing with the dead body.

You can handle them…

Probably, he shrugged.

With a swift movement of your wrist, you sliced through the ghoul’s arm, causing him to screech in pain and recoil. The second one finally jumped into the fight. She was relentless, her kagune striking out again and again, but you were unyielding, dodging, blocking, and attacking with unflinching determination. She charged at you upon seeing her friend being taken down, but again, you instinctively dodged to the side, swinging your quinque in a wide arc. She was fast, but you were quicker as you blocked and deflected her attacks while landing blows of your own. Your weapon finally made heavy contact with the ghoul’s flesh, spraying a shower of blood into the air. She howled in pain, but you couldn’t feel any sympathy; instead, you could feel a rush of adrenaline.

Suddenly, the injured male lunged forward with lightning speed, his kagune striking at you with deadly force. You looked at him with a condescending smirk, “A strong one, aren’t you?”

It was almost psychotic how your tone sounded because nothing could’ve prepared your opponents for your sudden move. Your quinque pierced through the ghoul’s flesh in a blink of an eye, and he let out a final howl before collapsing to the ground, dead.

It took the female one off guard, but you didn’t give her time to recover as you jumped over her head and delivered a powerful kick to its back. She was sent flying with great force; probably broke a few bones and damaged some areas of skin. You looked down at her spasming figure with malice and plunged your Aus into her back, ending her life immediately.

The bureaus under your command had shocking looks on their faces. They exchanged glances with each other as if realising that you were not to be underestimated. Of course, they had always heard the praises that fell from the lips of the higher-ups that you were a skilled investigator, but seeing you in action was entirely another thing.

“New recruits?” Yoongi’s voice was calm and collected, betraying no hint of emotion as he finished off the ghoul he was handling just now.

He did detach the head from the neck.

The bureaus’ complexion paled, every colour drained at the horrendous sight before them.

“Right, I forgot bureaus don’t kill all the time,” because it was clear that killing ghouls was just another day in the life of a KCCG investigator.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down your spine as you caught a glimpse of a figure moving in the corner of your eye. It has to be a mistake. A low growl echoed through the hallway, causing the team to freeze. They knew that sound all too well - it was the sound of a ghoul.

Not just an ordinary ghoul.

“It’s the Owl.”

Yoongi’s voice was the last thing you heard before the explosive sound of the Owl crashing on the ground, announcing its presence and causing debris to rain down on everyone. The heavy feelings that have been crawling on your back. The first ghoul you had encountered, the terror and fear in his eyes.

The three ghouls that were killed.

They died in the hands of doves instead of the Owl.

It was unintentional that they encountered us.

They were running away from the grim reaper but still stumbled on death’s door.

“Take cover!” You commanded the bureaus, grabbing the nearest to you by the arm and pulling them towards the most immediate cover. You and Yoongi were split as he jumped toward the right side. You positioned yourself in front of the female bureau you had pulled with you, shielding her from any potential danger.

The Owl planned all of this. None of these were coincidences.

Reaching for your ear device, you contacted Hoseok, “Emergency code red-O, triple S; Yong. Location, North–”

“Bureaus, fire!”

Upon Yoongi’s command, the bureaus opened fire on the Owl. The air was filled with the sound of gunfire and the whistling of projectiles. But the bullets seemed to have no effect on it. The Owl grew even more enraged and began to thrash about wildly. Its tentacles flailed out in every direction, knocking over walls and sending debris flying through the air.

What the fuck?

Why is he provoking Yong?!

Owls were immune to Q-bullets; sometimes, even quinque does no damage. He should know that.

“Fall back!” You shouted through the chaos, but your command fell on deaf ears. The sound of the continuous firing prevented your voice from reaching your comrades. You scrambled to dodge the tentacles and find another safe cover. You could feel the ground shaking beneath you as Owl continued to wreak havoc on the ward. The dangerous creature let out a deafening screech. Its eyes glowed red as it turned its attention toward the bureaus. It flapped its kagune and leapt into the air, swooping down towards them with incredible speed. The armed investigators scattered desperately, trying to avoid the creature’s deadly tentacles.

“Investigator Min, we need to–”

Yong pounced on a group of bureaus, slashing and tearing with its razor-sharp appendages. They screamed in terror as the beast’s relentless assault tore them apart. Some were still shooting and firing in hopes of distracting or even injuring – just a minor wound on the Owl, but despite their best efforts, the attacks seemed only to enrage the Owl further. It seemed almost invincible, unstoppable in its rage. Its attacks became increasingly ferocious, and the investigators found themselves quickly losing ground.

You turned to your partner in terror, hoping he would just look you in the eyes and bellow a command. “Min Yoongi – !” Except he was not in his spot.

The Owl turned around just in time to block your superior’s attack with its own kagune. It countered with a devastating strike that nearly took Yoongi off his feet.

“Yoongi, Hoseok is on the way. We need to retreat first!” You tried to reach him again while trying to gather the bureaus. The situation was already chaos at its finest; Yoongi definitely didn’t need to add up to it.

With a violent swing of his 13’s Jason, Yoongi charged forward once more, his quinque gleaming in the dim light of the ward. The two engaged in an intense battle, their weapons clashing with each other in a violent symphony. He lunged at the Owl, his quinque slashing through the air toward the ghoul’s head. But no matter how skilled Yoongi was, Owl was no easy opponent, and it had yet to unleash its full power.

Yoongi was not Namjoon.

Not even Hoseok.

Skills unmatched.

Yong’s eyes glowed with malice. Sidestepping the attack, it launched itself towards Yoongi; massive kagune extended, robust scale-red slashed through the air and to his abdomen. Yoongi stumbled back as blood seeped through his shirt.

He cursed under his breath, looking down at his open wound. His stamina was decreasing significantly from all those attacks and defences. But his body had long entered survival mode; he was far from exhausted. The Owl that stood in front of him, he knew very well.

The same Owl that caused a riot and havoc back in his hometown.

The very same Owl that became the reason why he was in KCCG instead of living happily with his family.

The one and only Owl that was responsible for his first ever traumatic event.

The fucking Owl that–

“Yoongi, dodge!” You slammed your body toward Yoongi without thinking twice the moment you saw his eyes go blank. You’ve seen that Yoongi way too many times. The Yoongi that would be deep in thought and stare into nothingness when you passed by his office. The only moment where he would show vulnerability unconsciously, and you knew how much he hated it– because you hated it too– but that always happened in the KCCG building and never, ever during a mission.

The collision between your body and Yoongi’s was extremely powerful that it sent him flying to the other side, to a safer side. His eyes finally met yours as his train of thought was interrupted. The worried expression on his face was the first you ever saw in your time working with him as he screamed your name with great desperation. You could swear you saw his eyes turn glossy before you were sent flying.

You pushed him just in time but were a second late to dodge the Owl’s full-force attack. Your Aus managed only to cover your torso as the Owl’s movement was too quick for your reflex. Your whole body met with the Owl’s heavy blow.

Since when does getting hit by your own quinque hurt like bitch? “S-shit…”

Your body was numb.

Hey, at least you’re not feeling pain.

Better than feeling the pain like someone was taking away your soul.

“Oh, my lady,” A voice reached your ears, although it was very faint due to the impact your body had experienced. You knew whose voice it was. “Do you recognise me?”

It was Hoseok.

You blinked twice as a yes.

“Good girl.” Weirdly you could feel his gentle stroke on your hair. His warmth reached your cold, numbing body. You wanted to close your eyes. “I need you to stay with us until you reach the hospital. Can you do that for me?”

You were tired. You didn’t think you could comply with this order.

“I know you’re tired and hurt, (Y/N), but I need you to just stay conscious. Jin will keep you company. I will take over everything from here. Take a rest, but please stay alive.”

The next thing you know, Jin was already on your side with a worried expression. “(Y/N), hang on there. The ambulance is on the way.” He stroked your hair with his rough, calloused hand – probably due to handling those heavy killing weapons. Your hands were no different. In fact, all ghoul investigators were bound to roughen their hands.

With the quinques.

And with blood.

Oh, are you regretting your decision, (Y/N)?

Never.

“Stay with us, (Y/N),” you heard Jungkook’s voice. Quinque was thrown to the side as he kneeled next to you. You swore his force could’ve injured his knees, but he didn’t seem to care at all by the looks of it. His eyes were only on you. Pupils dilated in fear. Hands and lips trembled as he spoke. “It must’ve hurt a lot, Sakura.”

Sakura.

“Yeah,” you said with minimal energy. “It hurts a lot, Koo.”

Jimin arrived last at the scene. He was out of breath from the sprinting he did when he received Hoseok’s assembly order. His eyes first landed on your half-alive body before the sight of the hideous monster caught his eyes.

Yoongi and (Y/N) couldn’t be that stupid to try and take the Owl down.

One was a half-ghoul, and another one was pure human.

“Oh, Yong Owl,” Hoseok had left your side, hands stuffed in his pockets and walked towards Yoongi, ordering the other fellow Supreme Squad members to follow him with bureaus at the ready. “It’s been a while, don’t you think?”

Yong Owl.

That name caught Jimin’s attention. When Hoseok commanded him to come here, he wasn’t informed which Owl was at the scene; only his rate was told. Jimin pushed back his hair from his forehead. He so badly wanted to burst into a loud laugh. He let his hand stay on his face longer but couldn’t contain the vicious smirk tugging on his lips at the realisation. Of course, it wasn’t you that could be so stupid in this situation.

You were the result of Yoongi’s stupidity.

Yong wasn’t some random Owl. Of course, he wasn’t, even for KCCG. But Yong was especially not some random Owl for Yoongi.

Jungkook hesitated to walk away from you but got on his feet and stood next to Jin with a concerned face for a few seconds. You were, after all, a Jeon. He couldn’t bear to see his family in pain and let the assaulter run away. He was torn between staying by your side or taking down Yong Owl. Jimin slung his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, pulling the younger with him heading towards the Owl.

Yong was the murderer of Yoongi’s family.

“We’ll be right back, (Y/N),” Jimin sent you a wink. A smirk followed shortly after as he continued. “After this, no more danger you can’t take on will come your way.”

Silly Yoongi, but thank you for the opportunity, soulmate.

“Didn’t expect to see me?” Hoseok smiled. “I know you wish to have encountered Namjoon instead because he always lets you go unscathed, worried for his teammates.”

Yong took a step back as the Chief Director took a step forward. Hoseok was known for his ruthlessness, and that fact was well-learned even for ghouls, even for Owls. While he seemed like the most gentle and caring person, the fact was that he was still a ghoul investigator. His motto in KCCG was to kill with passion. He has worked for KCCG for the longest among everyone. His entire bloodline was born only to serve KCCG for the betterment of the world.

Most Owls have their own hideouts that were undetectable by KCCG; hence it was unlikely for Owls to bump into the doves. Moreover, Owls always stayed lowkey.

“But things work differently for me. You bark, I bite.”

A bureau walked towards Hoseok to hand him a quinque suitcase. Jimin whistled at the sight. He knew what was in that. Heck, it even looked different than any other quinque suitcase.

It was the legendary quinque.

It was the quinque imported from CCG, Japan. Previously wielded by Kishou Arima, the legendary ghoul investigator before he died, since then, the quinque has been stored in CCG’s top secret room. It was only recently an evaluation was done to hand over the quinque to worthy hands and make use of it. Hoseok was invited to take part in the evaluation and easily scored the highest. The quinque was named Owl, created from a kakuhou torn out of the Non-Killing Owl during the battle against Arima. Crafted with precision and designed for devastating efficiency, it possessed an air of elegance despite its deadly purpose. It was the only known SSS-rated quinque and the only one known to be created from a living ghoul. 

“Unlucky for you; you hurt my favourite person.” Hoseok shook his head in disappointment as he was just scolding a child for his wrongdoing. He activated the suitcase, and immediately, it transformed into the Owl.

The Owl quinque was a masterpiece of engineering, combining intricate craftsmanship with advanced technology. Its appearance was both captivating and haunting, resembling a pair of oversized metallic wings. The wings were adorned with intricate patterns and etchings, reflecting the meticulous attention to detail put into its creation. The surface of the quinque gleamed with a metallic sheen, hinting at its superior strength and durability. The blade of the quinque was razor-sharp, capable of easily slicing through flesh and exoskeleton. Its edges were finely honed and meticulously maintained, ensuring maximum combat-cutting efficiency.

But it was not just its physical attributes that made the Owl quinque so formidable. Within its core lay a unique and deadly mechanism. With a simple flick of a switch, the quinque would unleash its true power. The wings would unfold, revealing hidden compartments and mechanisms, each serving a specific purpose in enhancing combat capabilities. The Owl quinque was known for its incredible speed and agility. It allowed its wielder to move with astonishing swiftness, striking down enemies in a flurry of precise and lethal attacks. Its versatility was unmatched, enabling the wielder to seamlessly transition between offensive and defensive maneuvers, easily adapting to any situation.

Moreover, the quinque possessed a unique ability to absorb and manipulate the kagune, the potent weapon of the ghouls. It could absorb the kagune’s energy and redirect it with devastating force, turning the enemy’s own power against them. This ability allowed the wielder to effectively counter even the most formidable opponents, turning their strength into their downfall.

The sheer power and elegance of the Owl quinque made it a symbol of Arima’s skill and prowess as a CCG investigator. Its reputation preceded it, striking fear into the hearts of ghouls and admiration in the minds of fellow investigators.

It was a weapon of legend, capable of rewriting the course of battles and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Weapon at ready, Hoseok began again, “I don’t want your death.”

In the hands of Arima, the Owl quinque became an extension of his own being. It embodied his relentless determination and unwavering resolve in the face of darkness. With each swing and strike, he delivered justice with chilling precision, carving a path through the ghouls that dared to challenge him, and it was about to be the same for Hoseok.

The legend of the Owl quinque would be relived in his hands.

“Your scream when I extract fragments of you in Cochlea sounds more satisfying.”

And he would start by painting the blood of Yong on the quinque.

All rights reserved © 2023 kthyg. Do not copy, translate, modify or repost without permission. Feedback is very much appreciated. It keeps me motivated! Send me an ask!

[animekpopsimp]

Just in Time (Mike Schmidt x sister reader)

The house was quiet, both Abby and you were in your room, ignoring your aunt Jane all together.ike had left in a panic, so you had decided to distract yourself with homework. Your bedroom door was cracked open, giving you a view of the hallway. Suddenly, you heard the sound of a soft thud, as if something was hitting the ground. Confused, you placed your homework down and stood up from the bed. Slowly, you made your way over to your bedroom door, hesitantly reaching out to grab the doorknob. As you did so, a mysterious voice reached your ears.

"(Y/N)" it spoke, sending a shiver down your spine. You finally gathered the courage to open your bedroom door, as you did so, you peaked out, seeing Abby standing near her room. You fully stepped outside, leaving the door cracked as you walked over to your younger sister.

"Abby?" You asked, oddly enough, she didn't respond and walked past you, toward the living room. Confused, you followed her until the two of you were standing in view of the living room. Your eyes went wide in horror when you noticed your aunt laying motionless on the floor in front of where she had been sitting before. One of the animatronics from Freddy's was standing in front of the front door, eyes glowing ominously. Instinctively, you grabbed Abby's arm, trying to pull her back. However, she smiled, seemingly not scared at all.

"Abby, don't go near that thing" you warned her, still staring at the animatronic that towered over the two of you menacingly.

"He wants us to come with him" Abby told you, an innocent smile on her face as she looked up at you. Your eyes flickered over to the bear, then back to your sister. She began to tug on your arm, and stupidly, you went along with her.

----------------------------------------------------------

When the two of you arrived at the Pizzeria, the bad feeling that had started to bubble up in the pit of your stomach got worse, way worse. Staring up at the building, you regretted following your sister here. Abby pulled you toward the run down building. Inside, the animatronics were waiting for the two of you. Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica were on stage, their eyes looking at the two of you as soon as you stepped foot into the pizzeria.

"Alright, we can say hi, but he should head home after, Mike won't be happy that we left" you looked down at your sister. Abby still had a smile on her face as she let go of your hand and ran up to the stage. Without any fear or hesitation she went over to the four main characters. They acknowledged her with more emotions than you could have ever expected from robots. It only reminded you of the fact that they were possessed by children. You gathered your courage and approached the stage, but you didn't dare get any closer. Your eyes didn't leave them as Abby Interacted with the animatronics as if there wasn't anything bizarre about the whole situation. You were wondering where Mike was. He was supposed to be here working, so why wasn't he running out to scold the two of you. You were suddenly snapped out of your thoughts when you saw Chica stepping off of the stage, Abby walking next to you.

Panicking you followed them, hoping there would be an opportunity to get Abby away from the animatronics and back home where it would be safe. Chica led the two of you to what appeared to be a storage room with two dangerous looking suits sitting inside. The parts looked dangerous, which only made you more worried. You gently grabbed Abby by the arm once more and tried to lead her out of there, but Chica wouldn't let you. She stepped in front of you as the door was slammed shut. At this point, Abby was getting scared.

"What's happening?" She asked, hiding behind you, you could feel your heart starting to race as you kept your eyes on the animatronic in front of you.

"Just stay behind me, everything's gonna be ok" you reassured her. Though you doubted your own words, you couldn't let Abby know that. Chica stared at you, eyes glowing in the dark room, you could feel your body shaking in fear, but you stood your ground. With heavy, booming footsteps, Chica approached the two of you until she was close enough to grab you. Thinking quickly, you pushed Abby out of the way, immediately after, Chica grabbed onto you and lifted you into the air as if you weighed nothing. With a bruising grip, she brought you over to one of the suits. Your eyes went wide as you began kicking and screaming.

Abby screamed your name as you tried your best to escape, terrified of what the animatronic was going to do to you. Suddenly, the door was slammed open, the sound echoing off of the wall loudly.

"Let go of her!" You heard your brother's voice shout, causing Chica to let go of you and turn to face him. You fell to the ground with a thud as Abby ran over to you with tears in her eyes. You wrapped your arm around her as you tried your best to calm down. Your heart felt as if it was going to beat right out of your chest. Mike aimed a taser at Chica, hitting his target. The electricity caused the animatronic to fall to the floor, stunned. As soon as she did, Mike ran over to the both of you, pulling you into a hug. You cried into his shoulder as he helped you up.

[aspenlovesmedia]

Ep 2: The way I see it there are 2 options here, either Arthur’s new friend is a human of great importance to the cult, or he’s the diety.

“Why are you asking about such things” It’s a funny story really.

“Is this a wise idea” Nope.

“Not paper” Oh it’s another skin book isn’t it?

“I don’t think we should have read that” No shit.

Are you going to get rid of the body yet? Never mind, yeah that’s what you pair of idiots get for waiting to dispose of the body.

Honestly they could frame Eddie for the murder.

Oh yeah just shoot when there are fucking cops in the building.

Yep, the deity theory seems to be true.

Lol Arthur is having a crisis already.

“Let’s just say they found her in the basement” well that’s not ominous as all.

These two are literally sharing a brain cell and it is very funny.

This is going to end poorly.

Honestly the most unrealistic thing of this whole podcast so far is how coordinated Arthur and probable cosmic horror guy is. Like it is genuinely impressive.

“Give me the child” what happened to a hello Arthur?

Lol the laugh caught me so off guard.

That sounded oddly like a sheep and now I can’t get that image out of my head.

“We didn’t leave the the radio on” fuck no.

Yeah, I’m suprised they got this far without crashing since Arthur is blind being led by voice in his head. As I said before, their coordination is remarkable.

[akirasarchives]

[00] | 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥

sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: In a Spades game, you find yourself weirdly drawn to a concerningly relaxed man.

🂥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟬𝟬: Five of Spades

TOEI SENDAGAYA APARTMENT

A large, grey apartment complex casts a shadow over its surroundings. Yellow lights flicker ominously, dimly lighting the twisting hallways that lay vacant. A small group of individuals stand idle on the steps just inches from the doorway leading into the eerie and most likely death-inducing building. They speak silently between each other, passing weary looks and judging stares, though they seem to outright ignore your obvious presence as they glance back down at their mobiles. You suppose you can’t blame them, as your figure is all but swallowed by the mere size of the complex.

A woman sporting athletic attire briskly jogs past you, taking no time to accept a phone and find a place to wait until the game commences. Perhaps her visa was due today.

“Second thoughts?” A voice echoes. Slowly, you twist your neck to peer over your right shoulder. A man leans against the wall beside the steps leading into the complex. His posture suggests that he’s relaxed - oddly, but the hood of his white jacket casts a shadow upon his facial features. You stare at the faceless man for a few seconds, allowing the silence of the night to replace your reply.

Before you stands 9 participants, each seemingly mirroring each other's worrisome expressions. Whether it be from the unknown of the game or due to your presence, you’re unsure, though you decide to not dwell on it and calmly grab a phone from the table.

Muffled sounds of music fills your ears, causing you to cock your head to the side. The man from outside stands with his eyes closed as he seemingly listens to music from earphones which are hidden by the hood of his jacket. You can’t help but stare at his blatantly relaxed form.

“Registration has closed” The robotic voice calls, signaling that all participants required are present. Your lips purse anxiously as you stare at the brightly lit screen, waiting for the next set of text to appear.

“There are a total of 13 participants. The game will now commence”

“Excuse me” A meek voice calls, to which your eyes flicker in the direction of. A man wearing a hat hesitantly asks the duo, which you previously hadn’t noticed, enter where the people of Japan have gone. You can’t help but bite your lip as an unsettling feeling washes over your body. Though hypocritical, you can’t help but feel he will drag down those who he associates himself with. Having almost died from your own inexperience and just barely getting out the kind woman who helped you with your first challenge, you can’t help but think that the man may not be so lucky.

You shuffle on your feet as you look away, coincidentally glancing at the mysterious man who catches your gaze momentarily. It’s almost as if there's a glint in his eyes and you can’t gauge what of. Mischief? Curiosity? Malice? Judgement? Anxiously, your eyes settle to stare at the worn material of your sneakers.

“Difficulty, Five of Spades.”

The sporty woman begins to stretch. You observe curiously, all the while the tense atmosphere from earlier begins to thicken.

“Game, ‘A game of Tag.’ Rule. Run away from the Tagger.”

Players begin to mumble between themselves. A sigh parts from your lips as you think about the size of the building. Although big, it becomes clear that it seems too narrow to properly escape from said tagger.

“Clear Condition. Discover the safezone hidden in one of the building rooms within the time limit. You clear the game when the objective is fulfilled. Time limit, 20 minutes.”

Easy enough.

“Once 20 minutes has passed, the time bomb hidden in the building will explode.”

Oh.

Making a beeline for the elevator surprised you as others from the small group did not follow. You wonder if they simply think that the lift is out of order, though you suppose that the act of preserving some energy may give you an advantage when it comes to running from the tagger.

Seven floors, you note as you scan from the list of floor options. The top floor feels most practical as you can easily watch for the tagger - though a part of you hopes that the tagger doesn’t have the same thought as you.

“Top floor, please” A voice calls. Your finger slips from the button as you peer over your shoulder at the person asking. It’s the guy with shaggy blonde hair from outside again, yet he now watches you with a quirked brow. You turn silently, clicking the ‘7’ button before turning to lean against the metal railing inside the lift. He scans you once more in a blatant act of outright staring yet somehow it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable but more so inquisitive.

“Following me?” You ask amusedly, trying to find some light in the weird coincidence. He only snorts lightly, dropping his head as if your question had caused him to think carefully about his response.

“Would seem so” He replies casually as he shoves his hands into the pockets of his suspiciously clean jacket. You hum, finally being able to study the features of the stranger. Tanned clear skin, stubble attempting to grow in, deadpan eyes, overgrown bleached hair and a shorter stature than most other men. He glances at the floor numbers changing on the small screen, shifting as the floor grows closer.

“Hey” You call, wanting to receive an answer before he can scatter off once the doors open. He hums, throwing you a quizzical look. You shift, standing with more confidence.

“What’s your name?”

Arisu. You believe that is his name anyway. He and his friend seem to have split apart, but he forms an unlikely alliance with the athletic woman from earlier. She impressively scales the building, jumping between floors and attempting to open doors. Something tells you he’ll be of great help in this game, especially with the help of the short haired woman.

You’ve already attempted the top floor and to your dismay the doors won’t budge. Usually, you would’ve ran to check the others but the tagger stays focused on the lower floors where most players run between. The fifth, third, sixth and seventh floor have all been checked and you watch as said woman checks the first and second floor. It’s risky, seeing as the tagger has disappeared into the stairwell following Arisu’s friend and the two other serious looking men.

It’s similar to observing an ant farm, watching how players scatter frantically. You try to ignore the blood stained walls and carcasses of those massacred but you know it is a scene you’ll think about later when leaving the arena.

“There are currently 10 minutes left.” A reminder that your life is on the line pushes you to leave your current position. Many players are dead, which means less people are here to do your bidding and attempt to open the doors on the lower floors. The killer has been in the stairwell closest to you for a few minutes now, so you chose to use the stairs furthest from yourself.

“Making yourself useful now?” He asks. You can’t help but laugh lightly, turning to examine the man who stands at the intersection of both hallways.

“Could say the same about yourself” You muse, turning back to the stairwell.

He snorts “Do you know where the saferoom is?” He quizzes.

You pause, looking back at him “No.”

He nods “There is a difference between us afterall”

You plant your feet determinately, staring at the long-haired man sternly.

“Show me”

The blonde slinks past your figure, silently jogging down the stairwell without a glance back in your direction. You chew your lip anxiously as you follow with a raised heartbeat. No clear view of the tagged creates an unsteadiness in your being, so you silently create a spacing buffer between you and the man.

After he turns the corner with no sign of being shot, you follow after. Arisu, the man from earlier steadily makes his way towards the door that the blonde was heading too as well. You almost pat yourself on the back due to your earlier prediction.

“I had a feeling you’d find it” You nod, looking at Arisu. He passes a look between both you and what seems like your game partner, but his hand stops at the handle. You frown, glancing at the floors to see where the tagger is.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” You ask, showing him your phone screen. The timer displays three minutes and Arisu seems to sweat nervously as he watches the seconds pass.

“Why did the tagger follow us?” He asks, looking at the man in the white jacket. He shrugs passively “Maybe they know something we don’t?”

Arisu nods, slowly turning the handle.

“Thank God” You praise, watching as the door slowly creaks open. The room is dark, dimly lit and another black door is attached to a wall to your left. Arisu and Blondie enter first, pacing cautiously. You enter too, looking to your right.

A small, darkened hallway is to your right. Perhaps a coat room, but something feels off.

“Guys” You call anxiously, attempting to ignore the rising feeling of uncertainty. You try to tell yourself that it is the natural fear of the unknown and just a normal human instinct, yet a small glimpse of a white shaped diamond emerging from the blackness causes you to stiffen.

“Tagger!” You almost screech, ducking as the two before you split mere seconds before gunfire rings out. You all but slam yourself into the door in a failed attempt to pivot your feet, stumbling messily as you attempt to balance yourself.

Blondie somehow tasered the tagger in your split second of clumsiness to which you catch both him and Arisu breathing heavily as they glance down at the taser he had hidden away in his pocket.

Bring a weapon, you note. The rules never said you couldn’t.

“It never hurts to be prepared” The blonde starts, yet is cut off by the second tagger firing his gun. In just a split second he has pushed you outside into the hallway and slammed the door closed. You fall back unceremoniously with your spine slamming into the brick wall as you fall onto your ass.

“Arisu is in there!” You panic. Frantically, you check the entirety of your surroundings without care for your neck.

“I just saved you” He states, regaining control of his breathing. You swallow the lump that had risen in your throat in the short amount of time, before shakily moving to a crouching position. If you weren’t so shocked, you would’ve snapped back that he only pushed you out because you were in his way.

However, you exhale shakily as you look at the hallway connecting to the closest stairwell “The other tagger. He’ll come”.

“Thirty seconds.”

More gunshouts ring out before you can expand on your worries. The man blinks, rising to his feet as he opens the door once more. Your heartbeat quickens once more, shuffling to move yourself out of the view of the open door. He glances around the corner, ducking as a round of shots are fired into the wall behind his head. Arisu screams for help and you hope that he is not hurt. A part of this feels like it is against the rules to have two taggers but the game never specifically stated that there was just one tagger.

In the split second of silence, you swear you can hear a woman in the room. Blondie throws his taser into the room after, standing back to pivot behind the doorway.

“Ten seconds”

The robotic voice begins to count down, yet the sound is drowned out by your own heavy breathing and loud heartbeat. Your chest heaves erratically, causing you to grip at the ground in an ironic attempt to ground yourself.

“One”

You brace, eyes scrunching as you begin to curl in on yourself.

“Game Cleared. Congratulations.”

Huh?

Your eyes snap open, finding the man already looking back at you. For a second you see relief flash upon his face but he is quick to glance back at the room as a small explosion rings out.

“We’re alive?” The question is rhetorical yet you find yourself staring at the man with his back turned to you. You can’t help but let out a silent laugh.

Something in you tells you to follow the blonde man. He definitely belongs to a group though you can’t help but suspect that he is well off in terms of supplies. Clean clothes, working earphones and a clear objective after finishing the game.

Sheer curiosity, or stupidity? Internally, you slow yourself for being too curious.

One of the men from earlier follows behind, it’s the man with the shaved head, yet they don’t speak or acknowledge each other. Maybe they fought?

Blondie pauses, allowing the buff man to continue past him. Even with the distance between your figures you can’t help but feel you two are barely inches apart.

“Following me?” He asks, referencing your first verbal interaction with him. You freeze, hands stilling by your sides.

“... No” You mumble with your breath caught in your throat, staring silently at the back of his head.

His shoulder shake slightly, indicating that he must’ve found your answer somewhat amusing. He turns, cocking his head to the side.

“Chishiya” He replies, turning on his heel once more.

The word stuns you, allowing him time to wander off to the vehicles hidden by the moonlight.

masterlist | next

[alexanderflowerbird]

DAY 22

Hey! I'm alive! I'm here! And I'm writing! Haha! Woof, my real life has been an interesting blur of work, sister time, friend time, caring for my polycule, husband time, ARCANE, and of course, writing. I have excellent news to report-- my goal for the month was to produce 30K words and GUESS WHAT. YA BOI HAS DONE IT. Even more than that, cuz of COURSE I'm gonna keep going. The writing group had a sprint night where many of us got together to do sprints, and I got so many little scenes done that I'm very excited about lol I got gators that jump like flying fish, I got the Seneca Beast being a fucking nightmare and nuisance, I got Dolcezza and Malachi finally kissing and admitting they like each other [Dolcezza says like, Malachi is so down bad it makes him look stupid lol poor guy he's such a romantic], I got all kinds of shit outta the sprints! My husband also helped me with a situation for the book I'm writing where Malachi and Dolcezza get stranded for a minute due to a car malfunction, and since Harrowben is a Car Gay, they were ready to help me, which resulted in me having a Husband Insert character lmao his name is Ben, he rides a motorcycle, he helps people fix their cars, he razzes Dolcezza for not having a work log for his truck, it's very fun.

I don't think I could have accomplished this much without having a group of people that inspire and encourage me, having a writing group fucking rules tbh. And we're doing a gas up call for me on Wednesday were I get to sit and listen to people bark about the fact that I keep writing emotionally charged stories and scenes that make them wanna scream cry throw up lol I'm SO excited. The gas up calls I've been a part of where I'm on the support side have been so fun and I think taking a break to tumble someone else's concept, to come up with ideas with them, to ask questions about their stories, it's a very good way to reinvigorate your own story/writing brain! Hmmm... I don't think I have anything else exciting to report. I'm just a very busy man lol, I make plans with everyone all the time, and I am not tired, or ungrateful for all the love and attention I receive, or how deeply I am valued in my communities, but man it sure is hard to journal when you're running full sprint and breaking the sound barrier to get all of your shit done lmao. But I'm back on it! Lovely to talk with you again. Today's excerpt is a pre-husband-insert moment between Malachi and Dolcezza while they're waiting for Ben to show up, watching a pair of tortoise-deer creatures battle each other and talking about philosophy. I made Dolcezza a Sagittarius because I can and it makes me laugh lol Taglist: @theskeletonprior @tragedycoded @badscientist @thelittlestspider If you'd like to be added to my taglist, please interact with this post

“Looks like your spark plug is busted…” Malachi says from within the car hood. 

“Ah, damn it all.” Dolcezza groans, sighing and tipping his head back before he goes around the truck to dig around in a large duffle bag Malachi only knows contains some first aid supplies and the flare gun. He produces that and continues digging, checking the canisters for the gun before selecting one with another belabored sigh. 

“Ben’s gonna have my ass.” He says to himself as he moves off the road and into the lush, mossy grass, putting several feet between himself, Malachi and the truck. He raises the gun and fires, the flare producing a comet of black smoke that is oddly ominous for an issue as trivial as spark plugs being shot. Though… Malachi thinks of all the cars abandoned in the wilderness, reclaimed by the land. Perhaps something like this is the sort of life or death situation that calls for a flare that blots the blue of the sky with pitch black. 

“We in some trouble?” Malachi asks cautiously, watching the black smoke disperse. Dolcezza follows his look and huffs a laugh. 

“Oh, no honey. I’m in trouble, but not you. Our travel mechanic just likes black, ah, goth I think they call the style. Town uses red for trouble, yellow for new folks found, blue for new resources. Benji just likes black is all. Shouldn’t be long, they ride a bike like a bat outta hell.” Dolcezza says, returning to the truck to put the flare gun back where it belongs. Malachi hums, coming around the truck to stand next to Dolcezza where he’s leaned his hip against it to light up a cigarette. 

“Is that why there’s so many cars with their hoods opened up?” He asks and Dolcezza hums around his smoke to affirm Malachi’s observation. 

“Makes it easy to tell which ones have been gone through for parts. Ben’s the sort of guy who would know by looking which one’s he’s touched, but they keep the hoods popped for the rest of us that might know what to do with our cars and want to go hunting for bits ourselves.” Malachi knows how to change spark plugs, it’s easy work, but as he looks around them all the cars in sight have been opened up and scavenged. Nothing to do but wait then. Dolcezza offers him his cigarette. Malachi takes it, breathes in the smoke, thinking about Dolcezza’s lips for just an indulgent moment before offering it back. There’s a comfortable silence between them, especially when a pair of tortoises have wandered from behind some of the cars, spotting each other at a distance. They are altered by the territory like anything else have, made strange in that they have long, jagged antlers protruding from their wrinkled heads and their shells are covered with fur the way a water turtle might get grown over with algae. The fur is raised like hackles as they stomp towards each other, making good time for tortoises. They meet and clash their antlers together with clacking that Malachi and Dolcezza can hear from where they stand, battling with slow and determined swings of their long necks. One of them catches the other in the shell and flinging its head back, some of that earthy brown fur goes flying. Malachi and Dolcezza wince in tandem, Malachi softly saying ‘oof’ while Dolcezza whistles. 

“It’s always like this, isn’t it?” Malachi asks, glancing Dolcezza’s way. 

“Sure. It’s always changing, but it’s always like this, yeah.” Dolcezza confirms, eyes still focused on the tortoises and their struggle. “Sometimes it’s worse than this, sometimes it’s better, just like anywhere else I suppose. People make a real fuss outside the territory, ‘specially with how odd the Tennessee Void is, but my heart goes out to people that way. It’s not so bad here… the changing is the worst part, of course. Ain’t nothing comparable to it in this world, I don’t think, not that we know as people.” Dolcezza sighs and looks Malachi’s way.

 “I’ve seen a lot of shit, helpin’ people out here, cartin’ around scientists and shit. Nature don’t got no qualms about killin’ and eatin’. With a lot of things, that’s the whole point of bein’ here. Fuckin’, fightin’, feastin’. Don’t know how we got to thinkin’ we’re different and separate, but it’s what makes us I think… we don’t kill and eat things we love, try not to, anyway, build the whole world round trying not to. But it’s natural.” Dolcezza laughs softly at the way Malachi is looking at him. His stupid fucking face is doing what it does always, admitting his fascination, revealing that he’s captive to Dolcezza’s handsome mouth and the words coming out.  

“Philosophical, I know it. I can go on an’ on, I’ll tell ya that. Some sweet girl I caught up a few months ago told me it’s cuz I’m a Sagittarius, whatever the hell that means. Somethin’ in the stars- she told me all about it but just now I can’t tell it to you again. Don’t know what the stars got to do with us… this, all this here? It’s got to do with us, to be sure.” He gestures around them. 

“Yeah… I get what you mean. We’re not in the stars, we’re here, in nature.” Malachi answers back, and Dolcezza smiles, beautiful, pleased to be understood. 

“‘Xactly.”

[half-blood-goods]

My live Undertale Yellow Reactions - Dunes Edition Part I. - Ft Mines

Oh we western now?

Curse whoever programmed this stupid sandstorm

That's a rock

*Mo appears* MY MAN

"In case the conveyor belt ceases to work, fix it" sounds oddly like something a real company would say

How the hell do I fix the elevator

*Fighting Bowll* NOT THE SANS ATTACK

*While going through the falling rocks area* Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck-

Oh wow, they referenced the Tile Puzzle from Undertale

*Riding the minecart* Preeeetyyyy

I still have 0 trust in Flowey

Ominous Corridor is ominous

*El Bailador appears* TF are you?

"If I didn't know any better, I'd mistake you for a Sentinel of Silence" You're not gonna believe this pal

Are we seriously just gonna play DDR

Okay this looks more like Guitar Hero

Wait what do I do-

Why are we in Powerpuff Girls color scheme

Help why am I struggling

*Gets killed by Bailador's fake out* Oh go fuck yourself

I had to turn on auto rhythm but don't care, this motherfucker killed me like 5 times

*Lives on 1 HP* FINALLY! Now get out of my sight-

*Martlet appears* Hey girl, what's up?

Oooo we get a party Deltarune style? Probably just an overworld thing but still nice.

I hope someone makes a compilation of her talk options, cause I ain't gonna go back all the way to Snowdin to check every room. I did that with Papyrus and Undyne's calls in Undertale and I felt like I aged 20 years.

*Reacting to that one fortune* Are we.... Are we Frisk in a pervious life?

I legitimately spent like an hour playing Mew Mew Love Blaster and the only times I managed to get to the Final Boss (including my winning attempt) was the one where I didn't move. I let RNJesus take the wheel while I was blasting my love and it worked out.

Not the giant girlboss cactus

"Well well well what do we have here" Do you want me to push you into this well?

Flowey is being a jealous little bitch

[lilacartsmadsion]

Dark Choco Cookie observed the dawn from one of the castle's balconies, the day looking oddly free of snowstorms, as the Dark Cacao Kingdom was a sugar snow filled land

But what called his attention was not actually the dawn itself, but rather the cookie observing the dawn before him

"Father?"

"Hmm? Dark Choco, what are you doing up at this hour? I supposed you'll still be asleep"

"I would say the same to you father, I understand that you're ussually awake and about early, but I didn't knew it would be this early"

"You're right to say I don't ussually stay up at this hour, but I am sure you are awake due to the same reason as I"

"You mean, that feeling? It's feels... ominous... as if something is comming, but I can't tell if it is a bad omen"

"Me neither, that's the reason I decided to go out and observe earlier-"

A sound cut off both cookies chat, it sounded... like fire, like the sound of a wildfire like those that were rarely seen in the kingdom in extreme circumstances, but where more comming in other kingdoms, it was loud, and it felt like hitting both cookies present as well as every other cookie up at that time-

Dark Choco's eyes widened as he looked at the dawn behind his father

"Father! Look!"

Dark Cacao turned around to what could only be described as something massive, a fireball as bright as the dawning sun, approaching at a high speed and the origin of the firey sound

Both cookies could only stare, frozen in place as the bright object grew smaller but not dimmer, flying over their head and landing with a thunderous roar not far from the main gates of the kingdom, scaring a few of the watcher's that were nearby

The father and son duo looked at eachother, their heartbeats ringing on their ears as they took off running

It felt like hours, despite being just minutes, before they arrived at full speed to the landing of the foreign object

As the protector of the kingdom and as the prince, they were the first to approach, ready to assess and dispatch any posible threats

But as they walked carefully and approached the charred place where the object landed, they lost their breath

A child, with burns in a few places of his body and clear dough, was right in the place were the object was supposed to be

And he was breathing

Dark Cacao and his son ran over to the unconscious child, Dark Cacao taking the small child, who looked not older than 10, into his arms and running back to the kingdom, Dark Choco yelling for the medics to make act of presence asap and tend to the child

Questions can wait, they had a child to care for

Oooh niiice!!! ^^

I liked the way Gingerbrave comes in a ball of fire. It’s neat! ^^

[bears-tickle-cave]

Trials of the Forgotten Temple

The dense jungle was alive with sound. The constant hum of insects blended with the distant calls of birds, creating a symphony that surrounded Lara Croft as she pushed through the thick foliage. Sweat trickled down her temples, and the light blue cropped tank and black athletic shorts she wore clung to her from the humidity. Her iconic braid swayed as she moved, her boots crunching against the uneven terrain.

She paused, brushing aside a large frond to reveal her destination. The Temple of K’aletzi loomed ahead, its golden carvings shimmering in the dappled sunlight. Laughing figures adorned the façade, their joyous expressions oddly foreboding.

“Well,” Lara muttered, placing her hands on her hips. “This looks promising.”

As she approached, the air grew cooler, a faint floral scent wafting from the entrance. Inside, the temple walls were covered with more carvings of playful figures, their faces seemingly alive with mischief. In the center of the chamber, a soft golden light illuminated the prize: the Feather of K’aletzi.

The feather floated delicately above a pedestal, its golden hue glowing faintly. Lara’s eyes narrowed as she read the inscription beneath it: “Only those who embrace the joy of laughter may claim the relic.”

“Joy of laughter? Sounds ominous,” Lara muttered. Still, she reached out toward the feather.

The moment her fingertips brushed its surface, the chamber came alive. Vines shot out from the walls, coiling around her wrists and ankles. Lara gasped as she was lifted off the ground, suspended midair.

“Oh, brilliant,” she groaned, twisting against the bindings. “Should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy.”

From hidden alcoves, golden feathers emerged, their movements light and deliberate. They hovered close to her, swaying in the air as though sizing her up. Lara’s brow furrowed.

“Alright, feathers,” she muttered, steeling herself. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The Trial Begins

The first feather darted toward the back of her knee, brushing lightly against the sensitive skin. Lara’s leg twitched involuntarily, but she bit her lip, refusing to give in.

Another feather joined in, stroking behind both knees. Lara’s lips quivered as a small giggle escaped. “Heheh—okay, not funny!” she snapped, squirming against the vines.

More feathers descended, swirling around her neck and ears. She jerked her head to one side, trying to evade their teasing touch. “Hehehe—cut it out! That’s cheating!”

The vines tugged at her boots, pulling them free and exposing her bare feet. Lara’s eyes widened. “Wait! Don’t you dare—leave my feet alone!”

But the feathers didn’t listen. They glided along her soles, drawing precise circles. Lara erupted into laughter, her toes curling instinctively.

“Hahaha! Nohohot my feet! Stahahap! Hehehey, that’s enouhuhugh!” she cried, shaking her head. Feathers slipped between her toes, and her laughter turned to squeals.

As the trial continued, feathers traced her hips and sides, causing her to thrash in the vines. “Ahaha—nohohot there! I c-can’t—haha—breathe!” she exclaimed.

Two feathers targeted her underarms, gliding in teasing circles. Lara’s laughter became frantic. “AHAHA! Alright, alright! Stop it! Hahaha—this is torture!”

The Breaking Point

Finally, the golden feather descended, hovering just above her bellybutton. Lara’s breath caught as she shook her head wildly.

“Oh no. No, no, no! Not there! Please! Anywhere but—”

The feather dipped into her navel, swirling and flicking with precision. Lara exploded into hysterical laughter, her body convulsing. As her laughter increased, her top shifted upward, exposing just a hint of the underside of her breasts. Lara squirmed in her restraints, trying to adjust it, but her wrists were held tightly by the vines. She let out a sharp, embarrassed gasp, her face turning a shade redder.

“Hey! Not the time!” she huffed, trying to shift her shirt down. “Come on, give me a break!” The golden feather was relentless, its dance on her navel sending waves of laughter through her.

“HAHAHAHA! Nohohoho! Plehehease! I c-can’t—snrk—HAHAHA!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The other feathers joined in, teasing her feet, ribs, underarms, and neck, while the golden feather remained fixed on her bellybutton. Lara’s laughter became a mix of squeals, snorts, and hiccups.

“Hahaha—alrihight! Ahaha—I give up! Plehehease, nohoho more!”

The Trial Concludes

The feathers retreated, and the vines gently lowered Lara to the ground. She collapsed in a heap, panting and disheveled, her skin glistening with sweat. She quickly adjusted her top as she sat up, noticing it had ridden up during the tickling, exposing a small hint of her stomach. With a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks, she pulled it down, muttering to herself.

“Great, now I’ve got to deal with that too?” she grumbled, adjusting her top with a little more care now. “Just what I needed—humiliation with the laughter.”

Still catching her breath, she rubbed her ribs and the soles of her feet, wincing slightly. Her hand instinctively brushed her bellybutton, and she let out a small, breathless laugh. “You’ve really outdone yourselves, haven’t you?”

She slipped her boots back on, muttering as she laced them. “You lot had way too much fun with that. Next time, pick someone else!”

Victory

The temple’s voice echoed through the chamber: “You have embraced the joy of laughter. The Feather of K’aletzi is yours.”

Lara stood, brushing herself off as she approached the pedestal. She tucked the feather into her pack, shaking her head with a small smile. “At least it’s over,” she said, her voice light with relief.

As she exited the temple, she glanced back at the carvings of laughing figures. “You all knew what you were doing,” she muttered, chuckling softly before disappearing into the jungle.

[miamignonette]

ok it’s early 2024 and it’s just been confirmed that yellowjackets season 3 is coming next year, so i’m posting my predictions for the season now and we can wait to see if i got anything right!

i think there’s a very good chance that it will be revealed that coach ben is alive, but he was never rescued from the wilderness. he had already defected from the group at the end of season 2, so he wouldn’t have been with them when help came, and the girls (at least most of them) would have no problem leaving him behind after he set the cabin on fire. maybe they told the rescue team that he died? maybe they genuinely thought he did? idk. but i think he’s still out there. probably in the underground tunnel or smth

i doubt we’ll see the pit girl scene for a good long time, but just in case i’m going to throw my hat in the ring and say that the pit girl is either gen or mari, but her identity doesn’t really matter. it isn’t who they were hunting, it’s the fact that they were hunting people in the first place. it’s fun to speculate though—maybe the phantom dripping sound mari keeps hearing is foreshadowing the scene where pit girl’s blood is drained? mari was put in charge of cooking food for the group, so imagine if she was their last meal!! also mari picks on misty a lot by reminding her that she isn’t trusted with the food, and misty looked pretty pleased after eating pit girl, sooooo….

the antler queen was a title that the girls passed around. natalie was not THE antler queen, just one of them. and lottie was the og antler queen, i’m dying on that hill

on that note, we know that shauna was jealous of natalie for becoming their first official leader (she was seen writing about it in her journal) so i think she’s going to distance herself from the group and possibly make an effort to overthrow natalie. maybe the title of the antler queen is taken by other girls at different points in time instead of being ceremonially given to them

van’s cancer is going to be cured because she allowed natalie to be sacrificed. this one feels obvious, but whatever

tai will probably figure that out pretty quickly, and van indirectly causing natalie’s death will drive a wedge between them again

something big and ominous is coming for callie (another obvious one)

lottie’s cult will probably be forcibly dissolved after natalie’s death. i mean, the police are going to investigate and they’re definitely up to some even shadier shit than we saw in s2

s3 might end with them being rescued?

we’ll finally learn something about the guy who built the cabin

we’ll see more flashbacks from before the crash

misty and walter officially become a deeply dysfunctional yet oddly wholesome couple

there will be a much bigger emphasis on shauna and callie’s relationship, and i actually think it’ll be a cute, mostly positive bonding experience for them

jeff will continue to be some guy

that’s all i have now but i might add more in the future <3

[slothquisitor]

Neverwinter

A collection of vignettes from Liv and Astarion's time in Neverwinter in which healing is not linear. Astarion x Liv, 4.5k, post-campaign healing trauma together.

Also on AO3.

Neverwinter is more beautiful than Astarion imagined. Liv teleports them to a small alley near the main clocktower, to a warm, bright night, and a city square still filled with people. There’s a market of sorts happening, and Liv’s eyes immediately light up. They spend the evening wandering the stalls and buying silly trinkets they don’t need. After the market closes up for the night, they wander the city through gardens and unfamiliar architecture, taking in the sights. 

He’s scarcely seen Liv this open and free. As Baldur’s Gate has fallen away, so too has her tight control of her emotions. She has always been freer with him, more open, but there is a contagious joy to her as she points out the beautiful buildings, and the streets that might contain something interesting. They wander until sunrise, until their feet are sore from walking, and then they find an empty street, where Liv can cast the spell, opening the doorway to their little haven. 

They spend the first few days in Neverwinter in much the same way, though as they learn this city, pick up on its rhythms and heartbeats, they begin making acquaintances. They bribe museum guards and gallery curators to let them in after hours. They learn the names of restaurant owners and wait staff, especially the ones who don’t bat an eye when Astarion never orders food and only drinks wine. They become fast favorites of a bookshop owner when Astarion befriends the resident feline of the shop, and the owner promises to stay open late one night a week for them. 

It’s incredible how quickly a life begins to take shape here. Liv’s name opens doors, gets her access to libraries and books and researchers. She wears this notoriety better than she ever did the Vires name, perhaps it is because these people are interested in her as the hero of Baldur’s Gate rather than the daughter of a wealthy diplomat. It matters that it is something she’s done and not simply because of the circumstances of her birth. 

Astarion is slower to trust. He’s fine with acquaintances, with passing familiarity, but still suspicious of almost everyone’s motives. But he likes the messiness of life. He likes knowing names, and gathering pieces of these people he comes into contact with in order to puzzle them out. But he rarely offers up anything of himself. Still, on the nights when Liv is deep in her research, there is something oddly comforting about being alone in a crowded room. Of watching and waiting and drinking in taverns and bars and he never has to leave with anyone, he simply gets to return home. 

Perhaps someday he will not have to go out only to return home to feel like a person, but until then, this will suffice. 

***

Liv wakes alone. It’s not an uncommon occurrence. The clock in their room tells her it’s just early afternoon, and that there are still several hours before sunset. She rises with the intent to make coffee and to check in on Astarion who is more than likely in his solarium, reading or dozing or finding some other way to fill his time. 

With their arrival in Neverwinter, with the gift of this home, his restlessness has abated somewhat. He is still often moving, often flitting around, as if the space has granted him the opportunity and he must take it. She is glad they left Baldur’s Gate. 

When she emerges to the main room, he is not there. The door to his solarium is shut. That has been yet another thing to navigate together. Shut doors mean privacy, which he hasn’t often had, but they also feel ominous, like a cage. Sometimes, she’ll be reading in the main room just to see the solarium door open, and Astarion standing there for a moment before drifting away, leaving the door open.  As if he still needs reminding that he could leave at any point. 

As she approaches the door, she hears the sound of wood splintering accompanied by his frustration. She pauses a moment but when everything falls quiet inside she knocks. “Astarion?”

“I’m fine!” The answer comes quickly, almost too fast, and definitely too angry to be entirely true. 

“Can I come in?”

There is a long pause, long enough she almost wonders if he heard her, but then the door opens, just enough for her to see him. He’s covered in paint and his eyes have a haunted look about them that she hasn’t seen in a long time. His head is bowed, eyes focused on the floor. 

She keeps her tone light. “What are you up to?” 

He doesn’t reply, instead, he opens the door the rest of the way so that she can take in the scene. The solarium is a mess, every space filled with things. An easel for painting lays broken to the side, paint scattered everywhere. There are small, chipped blocks of wood in another corner, shavings and wood dust coating the ground as if he had perhaps been inspired by Halsin’s whittling. Across the room, the hastily compiled and then abandoned attempts at creative projects lay scattered, like dead bodies on a battlefield. 

“I just wanted to find something…one fucking thing I’m good at. You have your research and I have…nothing.”

She can’t even tell him that he’s wrong. They both have their shared love of books, but that has not been enough to fill his time and his days. To see the way he has desperately fought and clawed toward something in this room today makes her invariably sad. 

“Well, it’s very hard to paint when you snap the easel in half,” she says, an attempt at injecting some humor into the situation. 

He seizes on the opening. “Yes, well, I’m sure that the paint is also meant to go on the canvas itself.” He runs a paint-spattered hand through his paint-spattered hair, jutting his chin out as if he always meant to be this messy. He’s still beautiful.

“Generally.”

He looks out at the solarium with sad eyes. “I’ve made such a mess of it all.”

“It’s alright.” The magic of the house will clean it all away, it will be as if it never happened at all. In fact, she’s almost sure that if they simply close the door and ask, the room will revert back to its usual pristine self. 

“I just wanted to make something…leave something instead of taking something.” He sounds like he’s pleading with her, pleading for her to understand. 

She does. “You’re quite deft with a needle, aren’t you? Did you try embroidering something? We can buy you real supplies, not ones that will disappear to smoke.”

He shakes his head. “I…can’t do that.”

Because it had been a necessity under Cazador, a means of survival. “We’ll find you something.” 

“I don’t care if we do. It doesn’t matter,” he adds bitterly, shutting the door and walking away. It is a retreat if she ever saw one.

***

Astarion wakes, dropping out of fitful remembrance that is never quite as restful as he hopes. He reaches for Liv in the darkness, only to find her side of the bed empty. It is an odd sensation to find her the one gone. He is the one who leaves, but not always. Sometimes he is content to just be in this shared space, to listen to her steady breathing. Sometimes he curls around her and dozes, enjoying her waking up in his arms. Sometimes he returns just to be the first thing she sees when she wakes. But today, he is awake and she is not here. 

He finds her in the main room, sitting in a chair by the fire. A book is open on her lap, but she’s staring into the flames instead of reading. Her eyes are puffy, her face smeared with tears. “Is everything alright, my dear?” He knows everything is decidedly not alright, but he’s not sure what this is. So he’s trying to navigate it with care. 

She jumps a little at the sound of his voice, and turns, hastily wiping at her eyes. “Oh…I just…I couldn’t sleep.” It’s not the whole truth of it. 

He approaches the chair and kneels down beside it. “What’s wrong?”

She stares at her hands, at her book, back at the flames of the fire, but she doesn’t quite look at him. Not for a long, long time. Finally, she sighs, her shoulders folding inward. “I sent a message to Roland a few days ago.”

Her brother in Candlekeep. Percy had suggested she reach out, said that perhaps it would be welcome, and Liv had seemed thrilled at the prospect. “And?”

“And nothing. He never replied.” 

Damn it. He wishes he could yell at Percy himself for making the suggestion in the first place, for filling her with hope when clearly he was wrong. “Ah.”

“It’s just…Percy seemed so sure it would be a good thing, and I…I thought…” her words tumble short, start and stop, fall away into the quiet. 

“Thought what?” he prompts gently. 

She looks so sad, so tired, so…young when she meets his eyes. “I thought that…after everything we did…he’d want to talk to me…I don’t know what else I could possibly do or say or…”

Because she is still, even now, sure that it is some deficiency on her part, something she has failed to do that keeps her from having these familial relationships she wants so badly. In times like this, he is grateful he doesn’t remember his own family. Doesn’t know where they are or what they would think of him now. They are a shadow of his past, buried right along with the man he was. He’s toyed with the idea of looking them up, surely he has family somewhere, but perhaps some things shouldn’t be exhumed. He has watched Liv grapple with her wreck of a family. Whether she severs the connections or keeps reaching she’s hurt either way, and he hates it for her. He hates that after everything she has done and accomplished and become, she still wonders if she were different if she would be good enough for them. 

“It’s his loss. You know that, right?” 

Her hands twist in her lap, and he covers them with his own, quiets them, and tries to inject some measure of comfort. “Your family are the people that are supposed to love you no matter what…sometimes…sometimes it just makes me wonder if the problem isn’t me.”

He brings their joined hands up and kisses her palm. “It’s not. I love you, and we both know that my taste in people is impeccable.”

Her smile is a strained thing. “I just really wanted this…really wanted him to be in my life again.”

“And maybe someday he will be, but whether he does or not has more to do with him than you. You’re incredible.”

She nods like she believes it…or is at least trying to. “I shouldn’t have tried to contact him anyway.” But he isn’t surprised she did. She is always reaching out an open hand; even when others don’t deserve it. It’s her best and most heartbreaking quality. 

“You know, you don’t need him or any of them to love you. You are already so loved by so many. You don’t need them.”

“Things with Percy were just…better than I expected, and Roland and I used to be so close before…” Her words trail off. 

“Maybe he’ll come around; maybe he won’t. But just remember, you are loved regardless.”

She holds tighter to his hand, an errant tear running down her cheek. He catches it with his thumb. “Come on, you need sleep, and I need a cuddle…thankfully, both of those things are possible in the bed.”

She kisses his cheek before following him back to the bedroom. 

***

Liv discovers something about herself in their weeks in Neverwinter. She is more of an introvert than she ever believed, and unsurprisingly, Astarion is not. Astarion needs interaction and people. He doesn’t always want to be the one interacting, but he does love a crowd, getting lost in a sea-change of people. 

Liv doesn’t mind going out with him, but it is not something she wants every single night. There is something to be said for quiet. Tonight, she had kissed him goodbye and sent him out into the city while she enjoyed being utterly and completely alone. Being alone is a bit of a novelty these days.

She’s curled up on the long couch in front of the fire, enjoying a book, a glass of wine, and plenty of snacks. She’s not sure how much time has passed, but she’s not concerned. She’ll go to bed whenever Astarion returns home. 

Some time later, the door opens. Only Astarion could even open the door, so she doesn’t bother giving him more than a cursory glance before returning to the excitement of the page she was reading. He strides over and drapes himself across her lap, batting her book away, grinning the whole time. Sometimes, he reminds her of a giant, overgrown cat. 

“I got a job!”

She tries to contain her surprise and probably does a terrible job of it. “A job?”

His smile is huge, his fangs glinting in the light. “Yes! There’s a criminal that everyone is looking for. It’s quite the scandal. They’re offering five hundred gold for his return…dead or alive! Naturally, I’m thinking dead.”

“So it’s a bounty?” 

“We’d be bounty hunters!” Astarion’s excitement is palpable. She hasn’t seen his eyes this bright since their first week here in Neverwinter. “Can we please do it? It’s been so long since I’ve killed anyone.”

She sets her book down, knowing that there will be no return to it for now. “You do know that most people go their whole lives without killing another person.”

“Ugh, those people are soooooo dull. But we’re not. We’re heroes! Plus, we’d have an edge over everyone else. You can do your little scrying thing to find them and I’ll be the one doing the hurting. Please?”

She laughs, letting her fingers tunnel into his curls as she looks down at him. She’s wanted nothing more than for him to find some sense of direction, something that he can call his. “Of course.”

His smile broadens. “Really? I really thought I’d have to do more convincing.”

“Oh? Did I spoil your plans?” She teases.

He shrugs. “Just leaves me more energy for other things.” And then he pulls her down to kiss her. 

***

Sunset is almost upon the city, and Liv has bid her friends at the House of Knowledge goodbye for the evening. The newly rebuilt temple and library is as impressive as it has been useful. She still doesn’t have anything concrete for Karlach or Astarion, but she’s learned much about infernal machinery and blood curses and diseases. Her research is not only obscure, but often knowledge most consider unsavory, so she has had to be careful and specific about who she trusts with her real plans. Still, she’s met other scholars and researchers and been grateful for the comradery.

Neverwinter is filled with gardens that spring up in riots of color, that seem to grow a ways into the houses in the neighborhood she and Astarion have claimed as their own. She could cast the spell to their home anywhere, but they liked this neighborhood. It’s nice to pretend that though they’re the only ones who can see the blue-painted door tucked into the wall on this street, that this place is theirs in some way. 

She wouldn’t have minded a few more hours of research, but Astarion has found them another job to do this evening. After their first successful bounty, Astarion had made the discovery that not only is he quite good at this sort of work, he enjoys it too. 

“It turns out, no one actually cares about murder, as long as you murder the right people,” he had gleefully observed the other night while he had looked over a small stack of bounty contracts. 

Liv is just happy to see him with some direction, and if she’s being fully honest, a part of her had missed the heat of battle. 

When she steps in the door, Astarion is already in his armor. He sits at the table, carefully applying poison to his daggers, his hand crossbows set to the side, waiting. He beams as she approaches. 

“Hello, darling.”

“Let me just change and we can go,” she says, pressing a kiss to his hair as she steps around to the bedroom. 

And she is looking forward to stalking the streets with him, to working toward a common goal. They make a very good team. 

***

There are times when Astarion goes whole days without once thinking of his life before the nautiloid. He keeps a mental tally as if it is some game he can win. How long has it been since he has remembered Cazador, those two hundred years of pain? He is sure that if he can simply lengthen the stretches of time long enough that someday he will not think of it ever again, or if he does, it won’t be quite so jarring. 

Despite his best efforts, he finds himself frustrated by the memories that bob to the surface, unbidden. Moments he relives, triggered by a word or phrase or smell…things he hadn’t remembered until that moment, a new facet of the nightmare he had somehow smothered down. 

He hates the way some days still feel haunted. He had mistakenly believed that burning Cazador’s home to the ground and getting out of Baldur’s Gate…would somehow also put all that unpleasantness behind him. But there are still too many days where he finds himself trapped in his own mind, memories sharp as broken glass and drawing more than just blood. 

He does his best to recover afterward, to push on to something, anything he can use to distract himself. The tactic had worked once upon a time, shoving the disgust and the loathing down with the next conquest, but now it’s not conquests…it’s hobbies he’s trying. 

He’s shit at drawing, despite Liv’s best attempts to help him. But hand-lettering? He’s actually quite good at. His solarium is littered with pages of words and phrases. He gets a weird sort of kick out of writing words like ‘fuck’ and ‘bastard’ in the prettiest fonts. 

But even that isn’t serving him this afternoon, so he wanders into the kitchen just for a change of scenery. Liv isn’t home, spending her afternoon at the House of Knowledge knee-deep in research. Today, he’s jealous of her ability to come and go as she pleases no matter the time of day. He’s sure that walking Neverwinter’s streets would get him out of his own damn head, but even a quick glance at the clock tells him he still has at least two hours of daylight left. 

Is this the freedom he clawed and killed and fought for? To live his life watching the hands of a clock? He used to wait for nightfall with a mix of hope and dread. Getting to leave the palace was both the best and worst part of his day. Leaving meant breathing just a little easier, but it also meant that he had to go out hunting. Had to give away the parts of himself he didn’t know how to hold anymore. Had to bring some unlucky soul to their doom. He might be free, but he is still cursed. 

Nights and nightmares and horrors and orders twist themselves together in a specter of memory that seems to constrict around him. Nothing is whole, just flashes, phantom touches, echoes of pain. Distantly he knows none of this is real…these are just memories…but the pain is real for a few bright hot seconds, and he is lost. 

He is sure he hears his name. But is it spat out like a curse word? Whispered like a caress? No…it’s laced with concern and familiarity.

A warm touch of fingers on the back of his hand wrenches him back to himself. He jerks away from the touch, instinctively. “Don’t! Don’t touch me.” The words leave his mouth, venomous and sharp enough to cut. 

He is still standing in the kitchen, but Liv is there and there is a look in her eyes that tells him that she has been calling his name for a while and he has been…somewhere else. He didn’t mean to snap at her, his hands are shaking as he reaches up to run a hand through his hair. “I…I apologize. It’s been a bad day.”

Liv doesn’t move away but doesn’t draw any nearer. He can tell she is trying to hide her worry. “What do you need right now?”

He’s not sure; he glances around the kitchen for some clue as to why he even walked in here in the first place. He comes up empty. 

Liv saves him from his floundering by gesturing toward the fireplace and sitting area. “Come on, let’s go sit down.”

He follows her in silence and takes the blanket she hands him, careful not to touch him. He wraps it around himself while he collapses into the corner of the couch as if it could swallow him whole. He runs the edge of the blanket between his fingers, trying to remind himself that he is real, and he is here, and he is free. 

Liv sits in the nearby chair, legs folded up under her, watching him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” 

“Do you need to?” 

No. Maybe. Probably. He sighs. “Why does any of it still matter? I thought I was getting better…but sometimes it feels like it’s worse somehow. Is it all just a circle? Am I doomed forever to be stuck like this?” Still somehow tied to Cazador, even in death?

Liv considers his questions and weighs them as if they matter. It’s the first thing he noticed about her, just how carefully she listens. He used to think it was simply kindness, her bleeding heart. And that is part of it, but not all. She is forever yearning for knowledge, for understanding.

When she speaks, her words are soft and measured. “There’s a play I love and a character asks much the same question. She wonders if the future is just a mirage we hold out in front of us as we march around in a circle, but I loved the response the other character gave. He said that it’s not a circle, it’s a line that stretches out forever and because we can’t see the end, we can’t see how it changes…but we’re still moving forward. You are still moving forward.”

“How can you be so sure?” Because today he is not. The shadows still feel too close, too hungry. 

“Because I’ve watched you and just how far you’ve come. Don’t let the bad days convince you otherwise.”

Her words are gentle, and he doesn’t want them. He wants to yell and rage and pick a fight with her. He wants to twist this vulnerability back on her and find some way to shift the attention off of him. He wants to do anything but sit here in this moment, and it takes all of his self-control to bite back every cutting word. 

She watches him in silence, and he’s sure she’s seen. He’s sure she knows that even after all this time, his first instinct is to lash out. It makes him feel even more wretched, but she hasn’t moved, hasn’t left. 

He picks up and discards a series of words and phrases. Finally, he offers something true. “I just want to be done with him.” He had stabbed Cazador himself, watched the light leave his eyes, and told himself that it was over. But it doesn’t feel over. He worries it never will. He is tired of being defined by the actions of others. 

“You are safe. You are free. Some days it might be hard to remember that, but I will be here to remind you for as long and as often as you need.” Another promise to join the ones she’s already offered him, but like all the others, he believes it. 

He wishes in this moment that he could stand for her to touch him, that he could curl into her, burrow somewhere near her steady heartbeat. “That play you mentioned…do you have it here?”

“I do.”

“Read it to me?” The question comes out small, barely louder than a whisper. As she reads, he finds his mind swimming through the words instead of wrapped in memory, and he slowly returns to himself. 

He restarts his count. 

***

They are both in Astarion’s solarium, passing the early evening hours together, but not quite together. Astarion lounges on the chaise, reading a book. She sits on the ground, notes open and books scattered around her. Her research has shifted toward looking for the first vampire, for what began this all as if finding the root might be the answer. It means sifting through rumors and folklore, and it is slow, slow work. 

There’s a gentle, insistent connection in her mind, and suddenly her brother’s voice fills it. “It’s Roland. I’ve struggled to know what to say to you after all this time…but Percy told me about your partner and I found something.”

She freezes as the message unfurls, his voice at once familiar and not. “It’s so good to hear from you. You found something?”

Astarion looks up at her, a question in his eyes. “It’s Roland,” she manages while she waits for his response, heart hammering. 

“Probably best discussed in person. How’d you like to visit Candlekeep?” 

She sits in shock for a moment before looking at Astarion. “Do you want to go to Candlekeep?” 

He smiles. “Of course. I’ve heard there are a great many books there. Estranged brothers too, I suppose.”

“He says he found something that might help us.”

Astarion shrugs, returning to his book. “I’d settle for him apologizing to you, but if he has a lead we’ll take it.”

And just like that, another adventure hovers on the horizon.

[phantomdoofer]

Lap 2

Peppino picked his way quietly through the dark room. Every nerve jangled like a string of bells. Just a little-a more, Peppino. You've-a got to be getting close-a to the top! He was terrified, but he refused to let Pizzaface destroy his pizzeria. It was all he had left.

He clutched his head. All this stress is-a giving me headaches! In fact, he'd even gotten a few nosebleeds on the way up. At least the thought they were nosebleeds - they were the right color, but they were oddly thick. That-a can't be good. Is-a this place doing something to me?

He creeped through the shadows. Considering how threatening the Tower had seemed, it had been surprisingly empty. Very few inhabitants, every door open. Half the lights were off. He'd just strolled in and made his way through. It-a feels... abandoned. Every path had looked like a bulldozer had been through it. Every inhabitant he'd seen had run away and hidden, clearly terrified. Here on the fourth floor, though, there had been more. Those creepy clones had been everywhere, infesting the place like roaches. He whimpered at the memory of them. Hopping-a around like frogs that look-a like me! He'd run them down, of course - he had no choice. It was them or him. But he'd wanted to scream the entire time.

He crossed through another open gate, this one with a caricature of his face on it. That's-a not ominous at all... wait, what-a the hell is this? On the other side was a run-down parody of his pizzeria. All over the walls were scribbles and drawings of his face, and his name. Peppino, Peppino. I'm Peppino. On the wall was a grotesquely accurate drawing of himself.

It took everything he had not to turn and run right out of the Tower.

Suddenly the door slammed shut behind him. He shrieked and leapt forward, landing in a crouch. On the wall behind him was some sort of creature. Another-a clone! But this-a one's bigger and nastier! It dropped to the floor, dripping and oozing. It struggled to stand - it looked like it was having trouble staying together. It finally stood, well over seven feet tall. It wobbled and wiggled, like jelly. No, dough. It's-a made of dough. It's expression was terrifying - the look of rage was clear even through the distorted features. It shook and quivered, then roared at him.

"GIB UT BUG!"

It lunged, trying to grab him. He leapt away, desperately trying to avoid it's hands. He spun and ran, but found he was trapped in the room with it. Il cielo mi aiuti, I have-a to fight it! He ran back at it, trying to knock it down, but it leapt away, latching onto the ceiling. Then it launched itself at him again, the impact knocking him to the ground. He quickly rolled away and back to his feet, then took a swing at it. Its goopy body just twisted out of the way. It wrapped an arm around him and threw him into the wall. He gasped as all the air left his lungs. It's like-a it knows what I'm going-a to do! He kicked off of the wall, looking for any way to escape. I-a can't beat it! It's-a too strong! No windows, no other doors, the barred one's gate looked solid and unbreakable, even at full speed. What-a do I do? WHAT-A DO I DO??

Suddenly its arm wrapped around him again, this time around his head. He couldn't breathe. It lifted him off the ground, held him up to its face. He struggled, but it was hopeless. I'm-a dead this time.

As he faded out, it burbled something. "Aim slurry..."

~~~~

He woke up surrounded by fluid. His ears bubbled. He looked around blearily. What-a... where-a am I? Some-a sort of... glass tube?

He heard a noise to his right, and turned. There was a glass tube beside his, and out of it fell...me?

The other him groaned and picked himself up. "Ah, meno male, it worked." He wiped his face and brushed fluid from his clothes. He shook himself, then turned to face the other tube. He walked over, and put a hand on the glass.

"Bwat... is... habbenig?" He burbled. His voice sounded strange, even in the fluid. Like-a that monster's voice. Oh-a no...

The other Peppino looked sad. "I'm-a sorry. You don't-a have much time, so let me explain. I'm-a the real Peppino. You're a copy, made-a by Pizzahead."

"No!" he yelled. "I'be he rule Bebimo! I cabe ear do zabe ma beesareah!"

The other shook his head. "Yes, I-a did. When I got to the fourth floor, that big-a clone knocked me out. But Pizzahead wanted to torture me more, so he put me in-a that failing body, and copied just enough of me into-a my body to make it run through the Tower again, so I could watch while I fell apart. He told-a me so. He knew it would-a drive me crazy. It almost-a worked. It took everything I had to stay-a sane til you got there." He looked up. "Think about it. Do-a you remember anything about before? Mama, Papa, Gustavo, any of them? How-a you even started the pizzeria? Where Papa is?"

Nothing. There was nothing.

He shook in horror. Who are those-a people? What is he-a talking about? Of course I... I... he shook harder. What... was before?

He reached his arms up and grasped his head. His hands sank into his head, terrifying him more. "Dur's nodding dere. Nodding! Who...? Am I...?" He sobbed. Peppino watched from outside, looking both angry and sad. "What... habben... me... now?"

Peppino shook his head again. "I'm-a sorry. There's-a nothing else I can do. I barely-a figured out how to get this thing to swap my brain back in time. I wish I could-a do more for you. Give-a you a chance."

He twitched. His body was coming apart. His thoughts were unraveling. "I... I..."

"I'll-a get him for this. For you, too," Peppino said. "That's-a all I can do for you." Peppino leaned his forehead on the glass.

He reached the melting remains of his hand out and touched the glass. I...

~~~~

Peppino watched as the clone dissolved into a cloud of goo. He seethed. A few more hours, and that would have been me. Even if he was just a sad copy of me, he didn't deserve that. Suddenly his anger burst, backed by fear and hate, and he turned to the machine, punching and kicking it to pieces, shattering the glass and metal. He screamed his defiance, his grief, his rage for the whole tower to hear. He'd been angry before, but now he burned with deadly fury. Row after row of tubes broke as he worked to destroy everything he saw. His knuckles were bloody and shredded by the time he was done, but it was irreparably destroyed. No more clones for you, you bastardo. He stalked out of the room, his eyes wild. Maybe he'd have spared him before, but this had been the last straw. I'm coming for you, Pizzahead. I'll break you if it's the last thing I do.