#this was one of my favorite chapters to write so far

[alterchaos]

A HIDDEN GEM

(cw: cuteness overload...viewer discretion advised)

With Knuckles away from Angel Island, Rouge seizes her opportunity to steal the Master Emerald for herself. Though, she would discover a far greater treasure that fateful day...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: CALL OF A HERO

NEXT CHAPTER: ???

“My my…Leaving the Master Emerald alone are we?”

The sly bat watched from a distance below as the echidna joined his friends on their journey. She grinned deviously, unwilling to let such a perfect opportunity go to waste. 

It took only half an hour to make her way to the floating island in the sky thanks to her large, strong wings. Each flap caught the wind gracefully beneath, pressing against the cool air and pushing her higher into the sky. With the countless times she’d attempted such a heist, she was used to breathing in the thin air in the upper atmosphere. Each time, however, she was thwarted by the- admittedly handsome- emerald guardian���s watchful eye. 

This time was different though.

This time, she knew he couldn’t stop her.

Rouge landed on the island’s soft grass, brushing herself off as she folded her wings behind her. She walked towards the altar ahead, stepping up onto the stone steps as her eyes sparkled with glee.

“I must say, Red, I’m quite surprised. Did you really think I wouldn’t take advantage of this little-”

She froze at the top, her eyes falling on the empty altar before her.

“Eh?”

At its center lay a note scribbled crudely with a bright, red crayon. Rouge walked over, picking it up and reading in confusion.

Bet you didn’t think I was smart enough to hide the master emerald, did you, Bat Girl? Ha! You should see the look on your face! 

Anyways, get off my island.

~ Red

Rouge crumpled the paper in her grip as she gritted her fangs, her eye twitching in annoyance.

“Oh you think you’re SO clever do you…” She opened her wings, flapping them hard as she launched herself off the ground, flying deeper into the island, “I’ll show you who the smart one is, you handsome jerk…”

She failed to notice the glowing eyes watching her from behind. 

—----------------------------------------------------------

“Ugh! Where is it!!?” 

Rouge stared up at the endless expanse of blue peeking out from behind the viny ruins above. She was lying on her back, exhausted and frustrated from her fruitless flight through the massive sky sanctuary.

Had he really bested her this time?

Maybe it was all pointle-

“Mmm…Mmmm…”

“Huh?”

Rouge sat up, taking in the sight of a dark, baby chao trying to jump up and reach a bundle of grapes hanging on a tall vine. Its wings weren’t fully developed yet, rendering it helpless in its hunger. Despite its surly nature, its eyes began to water in the same kind of frustration the bat felt as well. She sighed, pushing herself up onto her feet and walking over to the little chao. It looked up at her, eyes wide and expectant, as she reached up to the vine and plucked the bundle of grapes free. 

“Here, kid.” She knelt down, placing the grapes before the hungry chao, “Be sure not to eat it all at once. I can’t promise someone will be here to help once I leave, you got that? You’ll have to learn how to take some things for yourself if you want to surviv-”

She froze, eyes flying wide in shock as the baby chao raced over to her leg, hugging and purring contently as its antenna popped into a heart.

Rouge blushed, glancing to the side, “So cute…” She gently pried the chao free from her leg, nudging it towards the food it so desperately wanted, “Okay, tiny. I have to go now so you enjoy your grapes, alright?” 

The baby stared up at her with big eyes, “Chao?”

“Take care!” Rouge smiled before taking off once more. Seeing the little chao’s determination gave her the strength she needed to continue.

The master emeralds would be hers yet.

She couldn’t give up no-

“Chaoooo!”

“Uh!!?”

Rouge turned, lifting her hands suddenly and catching the small chao from before as it half-flew, half-fell into her chest. It purred once more, rubbing its cheek against her fur as its antenna became a heart yet again. 

She began to sweat, “No. NO! I am NOT in a place to adopt a baby chao!”

Too late. 

She was theirs now.

Rouge’s eyes flew wide as a few more chaos spotted her, calling over their friends in joy. Before she knew it, the jewel thief was swarmed by an endless wave of happy, cooing chaos, all wanting a piece of the boundless love she had to give. 

Shit.

Rouge attempted to fly away, only to be chased relentlessly like some kind of queen followed by her loyal subjects, “Trust me, I am NOT the nurturing kind! Doesn’t that clueless dummy take care of all of you-”

Rouge paused, an idea crossing her mind as a few chaos tugged at her ears and cheeks affectionately.

She grinned deviously.

“Say…since we’re all friends here, did any of you happen to see where your precious guardian hid the master emerald?”

The chaos all floated in place, looking between one another before all raising their hands simultaneously, chaoing in unison. 

Perfect.

The chaos, as one, began leading her through the sky sanctuary towards a hidden chamber she’d never explored in her many trips to the echidna’s home. She had to take an isolated teleporter there, something she hadn’t accounted for whilst searching earlier. No wonder she couldn’t find it.

Honestly, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

Knuckles was actually much smarter than he seemed…

It was…attractive…

Rouge shook her head, snapping herself out of such embarrassing thoughts. 

“Y-Yeah right…Attractive my-”

She paused, realizing she was thinking out loud. The chaos all stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to finish that statement.

Rouge blushed again, “...w-wings…”

Saved it.

The baby chao in her arms, pointed excitedly at the room ahead, “Chao chao!!!”

“Huh? What is it, Tiny?”

The other chaos followed suit, “Chao chao chao chao chao!!!”

“Oh! Is that where the master emerald is?”

The chaos all nodded.

Rouge grinned, “Great job, everyone!” Her eyes flew wide as the chao hoard all swooped in for a group hug. She began to sweat again, “Alright! Alright! I get it! Get off!” They listened, waving happily as they flew back towards the sanctuary’s open skies. Rouge shook her head as the lingering baby chao crawled onto her shoulder, opting to stay with the bat, “Guess I can’t get rid of you, huh, Tiny?”

“Mmm…” The chao hugged her neck affectionately.

Rouge sighed, “Fine. I guess having a little partner in crime wouldn’t hurt…”

“Chao!”

Rouge continued down the dark hall into the room ahead. Each stone wall was covered from top to bottom in a chaotic entanglement of vines. Fireflies flew about, offering a soft glow to the otherwise dark expanse. That didn’t matter though as Rouge was skilled in both night vision and echolocation. With even the faintest sounds of her footsteps, she was able to make out the various piles of relics and treasures stored away near the far wall alongside what seemed to be a sort of stone pillar or throne. She whistled, taking in the spectacle as she moved further into the room. 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Hmm…By my account, it seems that most of these relics are prehistoric if not ancient. What do you think, Tiny?”

“Chao chao…” Tiny curled up in fear, hiding themselves within their owner’s snow-white hair.

Rouge patted the baby chao’s head, “There there, Tiny. Mama Rouge won’t let anything happen to you, alright?” She winked, eliciting a small purr from the baby chao as it nestled in deeper for comfort.

She continued onward, “Let’s see…if I were a massive emerald, where would I-OOP!” Rouge tripped over something, flapping her wings frantically to regain her balance. Once she had, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked down to the source of her near-accident. She picked it up, curiosity lining her features as she turned it over in her hands, “A…gear?” 

Her intrigue as a treasure hunter got the better of her. Rouge brushed away the dust, her eyes widening as she took in the sight. Blue, wire-like markings lined the relic, an inscription carved below in tiny lettering. She squinted as she leaned in, using her night vision to make out what it said.

“Hmm…it seems to be written in ancient text…I wonder what it-”

At that moment, the gear began to glow a brilliant, bright blue. Rouge shielded her eyes, Tiny following suit, as the throne along the far wall began to glow in a similar hue. The entire room lit up, blinding all who bore witness. 

Then…

BZZZRT!

The glow subsided.

Rouge unshielded her eyes, “What the…What just-”

She gasped, eyes flying wide.

Now, sitting limp upon the throne was none other than…

“...Shadow?”

The ebony hedgehog remained still, unable to respond while in his peaceful sleep. Rouge dropped the gear, the stone clambering against the floor upon which she fell to her knees in shock. 

“How-?”

“ENGAGING. HEDGEHOG. PRIORITY. ONE.”

“-!!?!?”

Rouge turned, catching sight of the massive E-Series Eggbot as it cocked its arms into position, prepared to fire at the sleeping boy. Shit! It must have followed her in order to steal the master emerald for the doctor! And now-!!

How could she be so clueless!?

“NOOOO!!!!”

She leapt up, racing towards the robot in an attempt to stop the inevitable.

SHAZAP!

Before she had a chance to react, he was already there, lifting her in his arms as he drew his arm back. Energy crackled, a few chaos spears emerging as he aimed for the killer robot in defense. 

“AAAARGH!!!”

He shot his hand forward, the spears launching as he teleported backwards with the bat safely in his arms. The robot drew its arm before its face, creating a shield to block the weak attack. Rouge watched in shock as a few beads of sweat formed along the young hedgehog’s brow, his eyes swimming with fatigue. He dropped his head, catching his breath from the strain of having just woken up. 

“Shadow!”

“N-Nngh…”

“Chao chaoooo!!!”

Tiny flew from the bat’s shoulder, crying out in determination as they pushed their developing wings to their limits. The chao charged towards the robot, ready to defend its owner.

“TINY!!!!!”

“ENGAGE. TARGET.”

The robot’s blasters came online.

“Chaoooooo!!!”

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

The baby chao flew close, its arm outstretched as a sort of fist. Once it got close, however, its wings grew tired. Tiny faltered, fluttering downwards before the massive robot’s glowing, red eyes. Rouge leapt up, ready to attack when something unexpected happened.

The robot…it caught the baby chao…

It held them…

Gazed upon them…

…

…

Then…

“NO. THREAT. DETECTED. ALL. BATTLE. SYSTEMS. OFFLINE.”

Rouge froze, holding her breath as she watched the robot put away its guns. It remained still, observing the tiny chao as its AI ran millions of calculations. Tiny, having believed to take out the bad guy, smiled and nuzzled into the robot’s hands for a nap.

“ERROR. DID. NOT. NEUTRALIZE. HEDGEHOG. YET. SYSTEMS. ARE. OFFLINE. ERROR.”

It turned to face the bat.

“TELL. ME. WHAT. IS. THIS. PROTOCOL.?”

Rouge softened slightly, “Protocol?”

The robot looked back at the chao, “ERROR. I. WAS. NOT. DESIGNED. TO. DO. THIS. ERROR. WHY. IS. THIS. HAPPENING.? ERROR. WHAT. IS. THIS. CODING.? ERROR. DOES. NOT. COMPUTE. ERROR.”

Shadow rose from the ground, stepping next to the curious treasure hunter as he began summoning another set of spears, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this thing and save your tiny friend.”

Rouge leapt in front of him, “Wait, Shadow! I think I can reason with it!”

“Reason with it!? It nearly killed us!”

“I know that but…” She turned back towards the robot, “I think it’s trying to grow past what it was created to do…”

“What it was…” Shadow jolted, a distant memory of the girl with the golden hair playing in his mind. 

“I’m such a failure!”

“No. That isn’t true.”

“But no matter what I try, it still isn’t enough! I was created to house all manner of medicines…to cure you, Maria!” He slammed his fist into the ground as tears sprung into his eyes, “I’m supposed to be the ultimate life form…What value does my life hold if I can’t even do something as simple as that?”

She hugged him tight.

“Shadow…Don’t say that. Your life holds incredible value. You are so much more than what you were created to do.”

“And what’s that?”

She smiled.

“My brother.”

“Shadow?”

The hedgehog jolted again, his mind returning to the present. He turned away, hugging his sides, “...Just do what you need to do so we can get going.”

Rouge watched Shadow in sadness for a moment, “Alright.” She turned back towards the robot, “H-Hey there, big guy…It seems like you have some empathy underneath all that programming…”

The robot looked back up at the bat, “ERROR. I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND. WHAT. THIS. EMPATHY. IS. YOU. SPEAK. OF. ERROR. I. WAS. CREATED. TO. DESTROY.”

“Maybe so…but it seems as though you want to be more than that.”

“WANT.? ERROR. I. DO. NOT. WANT. ERROR. WHY. DO. I. WANT. TO. NOT. DESTROY. THIS. CREATURE. YOU. CALL. TINY.? ERROR.”

Rouge smiled, “That’s because you value life. Deep down, you care about adorable, little Tiny…about us…”

“I…CARE.?” The robot looked back down at the chao in its hands, “I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND. ERROR. WHY. DO. I. CARE.?”

Rouge placed her hands in the robot’s, “Because you have a heart…”

“HEART…” The robot looked back at the bat, “BUT. I. WAS. NOT. CREATED. WITH. FLESH. AND. ORGANS. SUCH. AS. YOURSELF. ERROR. HOW. CAN. I. HAVE. A. HEART.? ERROR.”

Rouge chuckled, “I don’t mean literally.” She leapt up, flapping her wings to reach the robot’s shoulder and sit upon it, “It just seems that you went beyond your programming and developed emotions…feelings…”

The robot swiveled its head to face her, “EMOTIONS…FEELINGS…”

“You’re choosing who you want to be. Isn’t that amazing?”

“...” The robot swiveled its head to face the sleeping chao in its hands once more, “CHOOSE…I. CAN…CHOOSE.?”

“Yes. Do you like it?”

The robot looked back up at her, “HOW. DO. I. KNOW. IF. I. LIKE. WHAT. I. CHOOSE.?”

Rouge smiled again.

Almost there…

“Hmm…I guess you feel…a bit warm inside? Oh! It’s like that feeling when you complete a protocol! I think…”

“HMM…” The robot looked back down at the chao before its glowing eyes closed happily, “YES. I. LIKE. THIS. OVERWRITING. ERROR. CODE. NEW. PROTOCOL.: I. WANT. TO. PROTECT. TINY. CREATURES.” It then turned to face the brooding hedgehog, “YOU. HEDGEHOG. ARE. A. TINY. CREATURE.”

“Hmph! Maybe to you…”

Rouge leapt down, grasping both the hedgehog’s and robot’s hands and joining them together, “That’s so sweet! Now we can be an official team!”

Shadow jolted, “WHAT!!? I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS!!!”

The robot’s eyes smiled, “I. LIKE. THIS. TOO.”

“Awesome! From now on we are…” Rouge thought for a moment before raising a triumphant finger in the air, “TEAM DARK!!!”

“AND I DEFINITELY DID NOT AGREE TO THAT NAME!!!!”

“I. LIKE. IT. I. THINK. IT. SUITS. US.”

“YOU’RE NOT HELPING!!!!”

Rouge ignored the fuming, emo hedgehog, turning back towards the giant robot who now placed the sleeping chao on its head to free its other hand, “So…You got a name, handsome?”

“MY. SERIAL. NUMBER. IS. E. 123-”

Rouge held up her hands in surrender, “Woah there! I was thinking something more like what we have. You know…’Rouge’...’Shadow’...”

A flap clicked partially over the robot’s lenses, giving its eyes a frowning appearance, “I. DO. NOT. HAVE. A. NAME. THIS. I. DO. NOT. LIKE.”

“Well then…” Rouge nudged its side with a wink, “We’ll just have to pick you one, won’t we?”

The robot smiled, “YES. I. WOULD. LIKE. THAT. VERY. MUCH.”

Shadow folded his arms with a scowl, though he couldn’t help but feel somewhat for the self-actualizing robot.

In a way…it reminded him of himself…

Rouge put a hand to her chin, “Hmm…how about…”

“Omega.”

The bat’s eyes flew wide, both she and the robot turning towards the antagonistic hedgehog.

“Omega?”

Shadow glanced to the side, “Yes. It’s a symbol used in math to represent a function…you know…like how this robot wants to find his function in life…”

Rouge snickered, “Oh my- Did you just make a math pun!?”

Shadow growled, “Don’t test me, nurse.”

“OMEGA…” The robot paused, taking in the name with a smile, “I. LIKE. IT. FROM. NOW. ON. YOU. CAN. CALL. ME. OMEGA. DESTROYER. OF. ALL. WHO. WOULD. HARM. ADORABLE. TINY. CREATURES.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Ugh…”

—----------------------------------------------------------

By the time Team Dark left the hidden room, the sun was already setting against a crimson sky. Shadow shielded his eyes, not yet accustomed to the light of the planet below. 

“Hey…Shadow?”

The hedgehog overlooking the darkening planet turned towards the girl, “Hm? What is it, Maria?” 

She smiled, “Do you know why the sun sets red?”

His eyes widened. He looked back towards the planet, “It…doesn’t seem red to me…”

She giggled, “No, silly! On Earth! Apparently the sun turns a deep red on Earth as it sets for the day!” She smiled with glee, “It’s amazing, isn’t it!?”

Shadow paused before looking down in remorse, “I…wouldn’t know…”

He looked back up with determination.

“But I’ll find out for you one day, Maria. I promise.”

The hedgehog watched the sunset, his face just as determined as it had been that day aboard the Ark. 

“Maria…I haven’t forgotten that promise…”

Rouge’s ear flicked, “Maria? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while…”

Shadow’s eyes popped wide, having not realized he’d been talking out loud. He turned away, hiding his face, “And what’s it to you? You’re a government spy, are you not?”

“Was, honey. You’ve…been gone for a pretty long time…”

Shadow turned towards her, “How long exactly?”

“Depends on which dimension you’re referencing.”

Shadow jolted, “D-Dimension!?” His face grew stern, “You mean to tell me we aren’t on Earth!?”

“No, darling. We aren’t.”

Shadow’s eyes widened in horror, “W-Where-”

“Mobius.”

“Mobius?”

“Yes, a world that exists in a dimension parallel to Earth, yet is home to an entire population of people like you and me.”

Shadow continued staring at her in terror before pulling his gaze away sharply, “Tsch!” He closed his eyes, his clenched fists trembling as he found his next words, “Then this is where you and I part ways.”

He took a few steps forward towards the edge of the sanctuary’s cliff as Omega joined Rouge, Tiny still fast asleep on his head.

“Wait what!?” Rouge gritted her fangs as she reached out to grab the young hedgehog’s hand, “No way!! You just happen to appear out of some mystic portal alive and well on a planet you know nothing about and you expect me to just let you walk away all alone!? I don’t think so, mister!! You’re coming with me!!”

Shadow stayed turned away, “I have a mission to fulfill first.”

“And that is?”

Shadow opened his eyes as crimson as the setting sun.

“To see Maria home safe at all costs.”

CHAPTER END

Fun Fact: "Tiny" is the name of my hero chao in my SA2 save file. Ajax is my dark chao. I could have kept it accurate, but just thought "Tiny" would make for a cuter name and could be incorporated more naturally since, you know, Rouge comes up with all the nicknames based on physical characteristics lol.

I'll have to update with a pic sometime.

[tomaturtles]

IT'S KAWOSHIN DAY!!! As well as the last day of Kawoshin Week :') It's been such a blast, gonna miss it when it's over

Kawoshin Week Day 7: Cuddling/domestic fluff! + Sleepover and Spinoffs (again)! Based on the Campus Apocalypse sleepover chapter ☺️

[acommonanomaly]

Maglor for @feanorianweek.

Inspired by a scene from my fic, What Fades Away.

Excerpt:

...Now he made his way toward his brother’s room, and he let his anger from the day before rise up again to burn away his regret at having fought with the younger brother who was also one of his closest friends.

Makalaurë was careless, so often lost in his own thoughts that he gave no thought to others, or to anything around him. It was something that Maitimo found endearing at times, but just now he resented his brother for his eagerness to escape into his music, leaving everything else behind. Though he would never dare to say so out loud, he felt that Amil gave her second-born too much leeway in this regard.

Coming to Makalaurë’s room, Maitimo balanced the tray with one hand and flung the door open, his recent bitter thoughts easing his shame over the spitefulness that made him want to startle his brother.

The door came to rest silently against a small pile of laundry—something Amil would certainly have scolded him for—and any noise Maitimo did make was lost beneath the waves of music that washed over him.

Maitimo came to a stop.

Caught despite himself, he quietly closed the door and moved deeper into the room. He set the tray down on the chest of drawers against the wall, cringing at the tinkle of glassware despite his attempt at noise a few moments before. He walked on light feet around the bed to the spot near the window where his brother sat with his harp.

He felt a pressure building in his chest at the poignant tenderness of the melody, earnest notes that tumbled forth in a hopeful spill. It was wistful, light, and so beautiful that at first Maitimo could not reconcile the sound of such moving music with the sight of his disheveled younger brother. But then Maitimo’s eyes began to really see, and his heart skipped a beat. The thick, dusty drapes had been thrown open, and the golden light of Laurelin had set his brother aglow. 

Makalaurë’s partially unlaced blouse hung off one thin shoulder, and his silky dark hair was a tangle down his back, carelessly tied at the nape of his neck with a stray bit of ribbon. Maitimo’s eyes lingered on the slender fingers that danced over the strings, but then his gaze lifted to Makalaurë’s face. 

The pressure in Maitimo’s chest squeezed around his heart in a painful grip.

Makalaurë did not tend to fuss over his appearance when he was at home, as caught up as he often was in his creative pursuits, so that Maitimo’s impression of him was most often of frayed braids, an expression too often pinched in thoughtfulness, and gangly limbs swimming in awkwardly fitting garments. Maitimo had allowed himself to forget the ethereal beauty of his brother when consumed by music. He studied Makalaurë’s face now and was filled with love for him.  

Makalaurë’s eyes gazed somewhere beyond the confines of the room, and the ugly bruise that had formed over his pale, high cheekbone made something dark and fearful stir in Maitimo. 

Maitimo suddenly had the inexplicable urge to keep his brother close at his side so that he might guard him against harm, and he moved nearer. He stopped though, surprised at himself for such strange thoughts, for what possible danger would they ever encounter here in the safety of the Blessed Realm?

[bunnieswithknives]

sorry if idk this but what do you think about Wordgirl now in 2024 do you still like it do you still want to make art or talk about it or are you just done with all of it forever and plus i seen that you haven't made art of it since 2022 so you just done with all of it oh yeah and what about The Magnus Archives + Wordgirl ao3 fic too like is that just going to be and i know that your working on 2 au's now just wanting to know that's all

My interests tend to come in intense bursts and then fade. Unless something like, big happens like it gets a reboot its unlikely I'll be coming back to it anytime soon. As for the fic I don't have any current plans to finish it unfortunately.

[demaparbat-hp]

For the Spirits—

Chapter IV: To Be Human.

To feel like crying, but say you're fine

To think you're losing all the time

To never truly know your mind

Just to breathe, and to bleed

Is how to be human

—How To Be Human by Amber Run

.

The Painted Lady hummed, “I was beginning to think you’d pretend I wasn’t here.”

“Are you?” he muttered, leaning over the rail. She tilted her head.

“Am I what?”

Zuko turned to face her.

“Here.”

[go-go-devil]

Chapters: 16/70 Fandom: Dark Souls (Video Games), Dark Souls I Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Chosen Undead/Solaire of Astora, Chosen Undead & Unbreakable Patches Characters: Chosen Undead (Dark Souls), Knight Solaire (Dark Souls), Unbreakable Patches (Dark Souls), Griggs of Vinheim, Laurentius of the Great Swamp, Anastacia of Astora, Siegmeyer of Catarina, Rhea of Thorolund, Big Hat Logan (Dark Souls), Rickert of Vinheim, Petrus of Thorolund, Crestfallen Warrior, Domhnall of Zena, Knight Lautrec (Dark Souls), Alvina the Cat (Dark Souls), Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls), Shiva of the East, Shiva's Bodyguard (Dark Souls), Sieglinde of Catarina, Crossbreed Priscilla (Dark Souls), Everlasting Dragon (Dark Souls), Oswald of Carim (Dark Souls), Witch Beatrice (Dark Souls), Original Characters Additional Tags: (Everyone in the game is gonna show up here these are just some key players), Dark Fantasy, Angst, Humor, Friendship, Queerplatonic Relationships, Character Death, Middle Ages, Blood and Violence, Character Study, Worldbuilding, POV Alternating, autistic main character, Period-Typical Ableism, on-going story, will add trigger warnings as i go, Do not copy this work to other websites

In this chapter, Leiurus finally takes a break at Firelink Shrine and joins in on a campfire story.

[actuallyjustabiscuit]

[Preview] Closing the Distance: Chapter 3

Pomni thought she heard someone. She tried to focus but the constant static in her ears was making it difficult.

“ …ni……omn…”

Whoever they were, they sounded so far away. She wanted to call out to them. To do anything other than just sit here curled up in a tight little ball. But she remained locked in place. Her body refused to budge.

“Pom……mni…..Po…”

She could almost make out a name trying to push its way through the noise. A pathetic whimper slipped from her lips in her attempt to make her presence known.

“POMNI!”

Before she could register the voice, a pair of soft hands landed on Pomni’s shoulders and began to shake her. The sudden sensation of contact brought a wave of sharp pins to spike throughout her body. Her eyes flew wide open at the discomfort as blaring alarms replaced the static to rattle around inside her head.

Pomni felt her hands quickly curl up into tight fists. In one swift motion her right arm extended outward with all of her strength to sucker punch the person in front of her as she let out a broken yell. Her knuckles landed squarely on something plush, and whoever had their hands on her shoulders were abruptly thrown back from the force, effectively releasing her from their grip. The jester had her eyes shut tight with her head down, breathing heavily as she felt the pins gradually subside.

“……Ow,” she heard someone groan.

Pomni’s eyes flew open as her head darted up with a gasp. She finally recognized the voice. 

In front of her, sprawled on the checkered floor, lay Ragatha. The ragdoll had propped herself up on one hand while wincing as she rubbed her left cheek with the other. The pupil in her good eye had turned into a spiral as she sucked in a breath through gritted teeth.

Ragatha then blinked and her pupil returned to normal, settling on Pomni as the jester continued to look at her in quiet disbelief. The jester watched as the doll took a moment to straighten herself up and kneel in front of Pomni with both hands folded politely on her lap.

A wobbly smile fixed itself on Ragatha’s face. “Haha. Boy, that’s some right hook you got there,” she chuckled wearily. “Huh, New Stuff?” 

Pomni felt something wet trickling down her cheek. Her breathing slowly became ragged again as she stared at the doll in front of her. Ragatha’s face fell when the jester started to shake.

Gripping her head with both hands, Pomni began to sob.

I punched her. The static returned with full force as she continued to scream inside her head. I PUNCHED her. I PUNCHED HER. I JUST PUNCHED RAGATHA IN THE FACE.

[killershrike]

sorry I been gone and haven't replied to messages and such but I am editing chapter 5 like a LOON it's at 30k words and I'm SO excited to share it with everyone. I know it's going to be a lot to read and I'm really sorry about that. But so much happens.. without too much spoiling.. we learn a lot about Ghost's past, his family, and his own insecurities.. trauma is revealed.. so-yin gets some exciting new additions.. some angsty moments.. lots of fluff (maybe even smut)... ka'tora-han spilling the beans on some embarrassing ghost moments... my god I'm frothing st the mouth ok back to work this will be posted WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS

[whumpy-wyrms]

i… must not… spoil… ANYTHING (<— struggling immensely)

[agnimybeloved]

regarding that last post... not that black butler's canon has to be uplifting or have dadbastian or a happy ending to be "good" (i'm actually partial to tragedies especially the cyclical kind and would love for the series to straight up end with despair and the collection on the contract lol) but i do think that toboso's largely fumbled the found-family/interpersonal,/introspective aspects of her story and sacrificed a lot of narrative and thematic meat there for low-brow and off-putting comedy.... which is really exactly all she does with ciel's trauma as well-- shallowly using it for the purposes of trauma porn and/or comedy/inappropriate fanservice.

ciel only seems to have reasonable responses to his trauma when its aesthetically convenient if that makes sense. i honestly could go as far as to say that she depicts his trauma fetishistically-- every instance i can recall of ciel having an extreme traumatic response (i.e. vomiting, flashbacks, psychosis) is represented with (imo but honestly.... i'd be shocked if this wasn't intentional...) sexual undertones. his episode during the green witch arc doesn't have one of these moments within the episode itself as far as i can recall, but certainly i think the preceding/inciting medical emergency that forces him and sebastian to bathe together contributes to the reoccurring sexualization of "sickness" (physical & psychological).

not to mention ciel's subsequent episode is treated as the dramatic peak of his ptsd and something that he "overcomes" through sheer force of will (and the threats of sebastian... neither of which are a proper/reasonable way to handle such an extreme trauma response) and doesn't really battle going forward in the story. of course a lot of stories take this "one dramatic moment and then its fixed" approach to representing mental illness, and it makes narrative sense for toboso to want to more or less settle that thread to gear up for the important blue cult arc, but i think toboso's handling of mental illness in general goes so far beyond suspension of disbelief and tastelessness that i think she should lowkey be brained for it. the way she intermittently writes ciel's traumatic experiences as something horrifying and wrong and to be given sympathy meanwhile relentlessly putting ciel in inappropriate fanservice situations that diminish the severity of csa & pedophilia as well as disrespect the complexities of trauma and turn them into comedy... mind boggling...

overall though i think that black butler shows a real mastery of narrative arcs while falling short in terms of character arcs. most of the time these arcs are shown in retrospect with the addition of new backstory, but it feels as if the characters in present have barely grown at all... not that every story has to be character driven and a static character type makes sense for someone like sebastian, but for all that ciel is a unique and mature thirteen year old due to the circumstances of his life, he is still a thirteen year old, and one that has experienced a significant trauma quite recently at that. not allowing him coming of age-esque character arcs considering all that sort of breaks the believability of his character imo.

but i think that coattails does a lot in staying loyal to ciel's character and experiences while also respecting his trauma and bringing the depth and flexibility of adolescence to his worldview and actions that toboso unfortunately seems disinterested in. i love that aforementioned chapter of coattails and its sentiments especially with how it reexamines ciel's actions at kelvin's manor and the worldview that lead to burning it down with the children inside... not that it was an out of character decision for ciel in the moment, but i think it established a lot more severe facts about his character and worldview than toboso is willing to address in her writing and therefore feels unresolved. coattails' remedy to that awkwardness by coming full circle is so intriguing and fulfilling in contrast... it shows how adolescence and trauma can work together to so completely convince one of hopelessness and yet how just a bit of hope can change that worldview entirely. literally just the honest love of a random dog and the mundane care of a guardian... there is a cure and it is this..... what da helllll....

[aparticularbandit]

So I started the dub of Fruits Basket again.

Forgetting, of course, that the primary theme is about life changing and having to be okay with letting go of the past even though the future is uncertain.

More importantly, forgetting that one of the main threads of this throughout the series is Tohru's grief (and guilt) over her mother's death.

....

Well, you know what, my therapist told me to engage with grief as homework the past couple of weeks, so between this and starting Anohana again I THINK IT COUNTS.

[bansheeys]

Chapter 4

Jaina stared in the mirror as Pained pinned her hair in an elaborate Kul Tiran style braid. Tonight a ball will be held to celebrate Arthas and Jaina’s engagement. Pained let Jaina choose her hairstyle this time rather than Arthas, which she appreciated. 

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[waywardsalt]

bellum x linebeck chapter summary drafts that won those polls:

chapter 8

chapter 14

chapter 20

[aberooski]

An excerpt from a future chapter of Your Princeton Is In Another Castle:

- Chazz

[wakeofvultures]

In honor of the end of spooky season, an excerpt from Chapter 24 of Cracks in the Crypt, because nothing is spookier than immortal children:

Word Count: 637

Summary: A conversation pertaining to immortal children, the Volturi, and purpose between Felix and Myrtis.

Within a year, it was clear that the immortal child could not learn. 

It’s tenure as a newborn and indulgence of its unending bloodlust had ended.

Within two, it had spoiled enough meals to dash Felix’s hopes of teaching it restraint.

Prolonged exposure made her feel sad for the thing. 

They were careful not to speak of its fate in Latin. They told the guard to avoid any dialects of Gallic as well. 

When Caius’ leniency had finally reached its limit, it was just Myrtis and Felix. Felix did not want an audience, so he had told Caius and Aro that he would be taking care of it. Myrtis had come along of her own accord.

It would have been easier to toss the thing into the flames and walk away. It was what Myrtis would have done— what she had wanted to do from the beginning.

Instead, Felix twisted its head off first.

A kindness. It wouldn’t feel pain. 

And there would be no crying.

Myrtis watched the whole thing. 

It burned quicker with its small size. 

Myrtis’ sight faded, but Felix was still watching the flames. 

He had not moved.

Myrtis took up a seat nearby.

Felix stood rooted to the spot until the fire burned out on its own. 

Myrtis shook her head.

As a breeze rustled through and sifted through the ashes, Felix finally turned to her, or at least she assumed that he did. She heard the shifting of cloth and then his voice:

“Why?”

“Because they can’t control themselves,” she answered patiently. 

People often asked her these questions after a particularly harsh ruling or execution. 

“No, why does anyone make them?”

“Oh.”

Myrtis thought about it.

“I suppose that the answer is the same, although I doubt it’s the one you’re looking for.”

Felix was silent.

“A more satisfying answer, although I can only offer conjecture, is that they’re looking for purpose.”

“Purpose?”

“They see their life stretched out before them and realize that that is how you have to live. Wandering with no goal and purpose may be bearable for a few years, but a few hundred? A thousand? An immortal child will always be reliant on its creator. It gives someone a purpose to have something reliant on them.”

Felix mulled her words over.

At last he stated,“We have a purpose.”

“We do,” she said. “But others are not so fortunate. Centuries as a nomad with centuries more on the horizon, leaves people wanting. It’s a selfish act, to create an immortal child.”

“And we aren’t?” Felix asked. “Selfish?”

Myrtis shrugged.

“We’re saving hundreds, perhaps thousands of humans of being rid of them.”

Not that, this meant much to them, so Myrtis added:

“We are ensuring our kind survives at the same time the humans do.”

Felix shifted, and Myrtis knew that he was almost there. 

“It is easier to let them die,” she said.

“I’m not letting them die. I’m killing them.”

Now, they were just having a conversation that they’d had before.

“It will be you or it will be me, or it will be someone else. It doesn’t matter. Don’t make it hard for yourself.”

“You make everything seem easy.”

He paused.

“We are fortunate, aren’t we?” Felix asked.

“Yes, we are.”

Felix’s hair brushed against his cloak.

“I don’t think it will ever not be hard, but it’s necessary.”

Myrtis nodded, without knowing if Felix could see the gesture.

She stood from where she was leaning her back against a tree trunk.

“Let’s go home,” she suggested, holding out a hand to grab hold of her friend’s arm.

She would hate to run straight into a tree.

Felix did not move. 

“Felix?” 

There was the crackle of fire, the sound of cloth dragging over blades of grass, and finally, a steady set of footfalls.

(The rest of chapter 24)

[missr3n3]

content warnings: overhearing torture, implied gore

as promised yesterday, its new cut down the altar time! in which sarah enters the story, jonah is bad at lying, evelin gets a crumb of closure, adam goes through war crime, and alt!gabriel is a lil bitch