#though I do like the idea that these two just do terrible schemes together in an attempt to seduce our reluctant heroine

[heliads]

Can you do Peter Pan x reader OUAT? Peter goes to the modern world with Emma, Snow, David and them as they are looking for someone. He meets this girl and takes an interest to her. He’s never seen someone with facial piercings, and dyed hair before, they come to realize she is the girl they’ve been looking for.

'magic finds magic' - peter pan

masterlist

Peter Pan is leaving Neverland. Worse, he’s leaving Neverland alongside Snow, Emma, David, and Hook. In terms of traveling partners, this has got to be the lowest of the low. However, the sand in Peter’s immortal hourglass is running out, and his first attempt at prolonging his life with the heart of Henry Mills didn’t exactly go according to plan. It’s this or nothing, even though Peter is starting to wonder if it would be better to just die than put up with these people any longer.

Never in his life did Peter Pan think he’d be working with the good guys. But never in his life did Peter think he’d be dying, either. A few compromises will have to be made in the name of preserving Peter’s everlasting life, and if that means he has to put up with some princesses and pirates for a few days, so be it. In no time at all, his immortal life will be restored, and he can go back to Neverland and put all of this behind him. Hopefully.

Peter was supposed to die back on Neverland. He was running out of time, anyway. He had set up the perfect scheme:  kidnap Henry, disorient the boy’s rescuers on his island long enough to win the Heart of the Truest Believer, and cut the organ out of the boy’s chest if necessary. He’d almost gotten away with it, too, except he was foiled at the last minute. Heartbreaking. So unlike him.

For some reason, though, he hadn’t been left to die in the caverns of Skull Rock. Emma and the others had needed him, for some odd reason, and although none of them trust him in the slightest, they do trust Peter’s single-minded selfishness to keep himself alive. So they claim, at least, and so they had gotten a spell to give Peter one more week of life in exchange for help. If this plan works out, Peter will have a way to continue his immortal life without needing to murder Henry. If it doesn’t, or if he betrays them, he’ll die anyway.

He can feel it now, the pang of his close call with death. There’s a pain in his chest that wasn’t there before, a certain weakness in his lungs. Peter gets tired more easily. He feels– well, he feels like Henry and Emma. He feels mortal. Like he could die at any moment.

Peter has, obviously, thought about double-crossing them, maybe even triple-crossing them, but it’s no use. He feels shakily mortal right now, and Peter does not much enjoy the possibility of his own demise. This is the closest he’s ever come to being beaten, and Peter hates the feeling. He’ll have to play along for now, but after that, he will have his revenge.

First, though, Peter has to do what the others want. They’ve been careful to reveal as few details to him as possible, but the idea is solid. There’s a magical person somewhere in the modern world, in a city far from Storybrooke. This person is like the embodiment of a true love’s kiss spell, designed to renew hope in storybook characters through small acts of power that ultimately drive two needed people together. They’re like a guardian angel of those on the brink of destruction, which is exactly what Peter needs right now.

Peter has plenty of time to mull this over. They’ve forced him into a terrible, small room with awful carpets– an apartment, Emma called it– while they talk out what to do with both him and their missing spell-person. Peter is trying to focus, but he’s getting stared at by Henry Mills again, which is absolutely ruining his mood.

“What do you want?” Peter asks, glaring at the boy.

Henry just goggles back at him. “Don’t you feel bad for trying to kill me?”

Peter snorts. “Why would I do that?”

Henry shrugs. “You pretended you were my friend. I know you like the other Lost Boys on your island, I thought you would have felt bad for killing one of them. I guess not.”

“I don’t feel bad about killing someone so I would live,” Peter says, then wonders why he’s arguing with a child. “Go preach your morals to someone who wants to listen.”

“The others are busy,” Henry pouts.

Peter eyes him unhappily. “And what, I’m your best option for polite conversation? You really are desperate, aren’t you?”

Henry rolls his eyes. “I’d say you’re desperate. You’re the one who’s still talking to me.”

Peter can’t really argue with that, so he deftly changes the topic of conversation before Henry starts looking proud of himself again. “Tell me about our target again. You said you saw them before?”

“Only in a dream,” Henry admits, “but it was a clear dream, I swear. I saw a girl who looked about your age. She seemed like any other teenager, but there was something about her that was different. The way she spoke, maybe, or the glint in her eyes. She was magical, I’m sure of it. She can save Storybrooke.”

“And save me,” Peter reminds him. “That’s the important part.”

Henry rolls his eyes again. If he keeps that up, they’re going to get stuck like that forever. “Yes, I know, you’re only interested in keeping yourself alive. So long as it helps us find this girl, though, I don’t care.”

Peter leans forward. “What’s your plan for finding this girl, then? A little scouting party? This city is big. You’ll never find her.”

Henry shakes his head. “Magic has a way of finding magic. Somehow, our paths will cross.”

“That’s a terrible strategy,” Peter grouses. Why is he entrusting his life to this boy again? He remembers something about having no other options, but it doesn’t seem as good an excuse right now.

“Ask the adults, then,” Henry tells him, and gestures towards the miniscule apartment kitchen, where Emma, Snow, Hook, and David are currently huddled around a table, talking in hushed voices about what to do.

Not wanting to mess with the kid anymore, Peter pulls himself to his feet and heads over. “Tell me you have a plan,” he says.

The adults look up at him. “Find the girl,” Hook says shortly. “That’s our plan.”

Peter scoffs. “You could search this city for months and not find her. What if she doesn’t want to be found? If this girl has any brains at all, she’ll know that people will want her magic and she’ll hide. It’s what I would do.”

Emma sighs. “We don’t even know if this girl knows that she has magic. She’s probably just living an ordinary life, and we’re about to drag her out of it with all of our trouble.”

“Don’t tell me you feel bad for her,” Peter scolds her. “You want this, don’t you? So go get it, or I will.”

Snow tries to tell him to calm down, but David, so quick to anger when it comes to Peter, surges out of his chair. “How about you do something helpful and think with us instead of just insulting us?”

“I will do something helpful,” Peter informs him. “I’ll find her first.”

With that, he lunges for the apartment door, and is out of the tiny room and down the hall before they can stop him. Peter hears the thunder of footsteps after him, but he hurries down the stairs and out of the building. He has the advantage of being quick on his feet; if Neverland taught him anything, it’s how to run when you don’t want to be found.

Peter emerges into the bright sunshine of the city and stops dead in his tracks. He’s not used to the modern world, how the knives of its buildings slash up into the sky, how loud it is with those cars and signs and people. Peter swears he can even see metal things in the sky, soaring along predestined paths. It’s all so much compared to the world he used to know. No wonder some of the others had a hard time adjusting. His mortal heart lets out a pang of sympathy.

The door of the apartment building flies open, revealing Emma and the others hot on his trail. Peter curses under his breath and takes off in one direction, hurtling around pedestrians and shooting down the sidewalk. He heads for smaller streets, hoping to lose them in a swarm of alleyways. The others, more used to the terrain of the modern city, are gaining on him, and Peter is just starting to think that he’ll never be able to shake them when someone grabs him and pulls him into a nearby building.

Peter’s first instinct is to defend himself, but when he isn’t attacked, he realizes that the stranger is only trying to help him. There’s a window just to his left, and Peter watches Emma and the others appear seconds after him. They didn’t see him enter the shop, and keep sprinting down the road in the direction they thought he’d gone. Peter waits a few more intense moments, then decides that he’s lost them for good and turns back around to see who’s gone to the trouble of rescuing him.

He’s greeted with the sight of a girl about his age. She’s eyeing him cautiously, although the corners of her lips begin to prick up with a wicked grin. “Sorry for the rough introduction, but you looked like you needed some help,” she tells him.

Peter lets out a short laugh. “I’m glad to be rid of them, that’s for sure.”

The girl arches a brow. “What, did they catch you shoplifting? I’ve never seen people run that fast unless they were getting chased by the cops.”

Peter narrows his eyes, trying to figure out how on earth he would lift a shop, then decides it’s probably some slang term he doesn’t know. “Something like that,” he says evasively.

He studies the girl’s face to see if he’d answered correctly, and, judging by her impressed grin, he had. “Nice,” she says. “I’m Y/N, by the way.”

“Peter,” he replies. He gets the urge to introduce himself as he usually would– Peter, Peter Pan– then remembers at the last second that Emma had warned him about telling people who he was. Apparently, telling people he was a fictional character in their world wouldn’t go over too well.

“Peter,” the girl repeats. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Peter says, and realizes belatedly that he means it. He feels like how he had at the start of it all, when the Lost Boys had first started appearing on this island, but this feeling is far stronger. He wants to get to know this girl. He certainly doesn’t want her to leave.

“I’m new to the city,” he says abruptly. “Any chance you could show me around?”

Y/N laughs, surprised. “You’re new and you’re already in trouble? You’ll fit right in, Peter.”

He grins, in on the joke a half beat late. “I like to have fun, that’s all.”

“Well,” Y/N says, starting to lead him back towards the door of the shop, “I like fun, too. Maybe we should stick together.”

“I’d like that,” Peter says, then wonders why he’s being so honest all of a sudden. When he sees Y/N’s smile– real this time, not sarcastic or joking, but genuinely because of him– he thinks he knows why.

The two of them step back out into the light. “Where to first?” Peter asks.

“I was going to ask you that,” Y/N replies. “What do you want to do? Sightseeing, maybe? We can get some food, or just talk.”

“Anything,” he says. He’d follow her anywhere. The feeling in him right now is like nothing he’s ever felt before. The pain in his chest, Peter realizes with some surprise, is gone. He feels immortal. Like living in this one moment could last forever.

They end up spending the next few hours together. Y/N shows him around the city, taking Peter to her favorite spots. Peter stares at the vast cityscape and finally starts to understand why someone might choose the modern world over the natural one. He’ll always pick Neverland first, of course, but seeing the world through Y/N’s eyes, it makes sense.

The two of them get along like a house on fire. Y/N’s got this rebellious streak to her that fits in perfectly with Peter’s, well, Peter-ness. No joke is too dark, no sarcastic comment too caustic. They feel the same. Peter doesn’t think he’s ever met someone who thinks so much like him.

As the sun starts to set in the sky, Peter feels his spirits sinking. He doesn’t want to let go of this day, not when he knows it can never happen again. He’s supposed to be finding Henry’s spell-girl, but all Peter wants to do is spend more time with Y/N.

His mood is especially ruined when they turn a corner and find Henry Mills walking towards them. Peter’s eyes widen and he tries to steer Y/N back in the direction they’d come, but it’s too late. Henry lets out an audible gasp and starts hurrying towards them.

“Peter,” Henry calls out when he’s close enough to talk, “We’ve been looking for you all over! Where have you been?”

Y/N glances at Henry dubiously. “Who’s this?”

“My little brother,” Peter blurts out.

At the same time, Henry chimes in, “My friend from school.”

Peter shoots the younger boy a quick glare, then turns back to Y/N. “Both, actually. He’s my step-brother. Recent marriage. We’re still getting acclimated. Our family is a little chaotic.”

“You can say that again,” Henry mumbles. Peter fights the urge to butcher him.

While Peter silently advises himself on why murder would be bad at a time like this, Henry stares openly at Y/N. All of a sudden, the boy’s mouth hangs open. “Oh my gosh, it’s you.”

Y/N’s brow furrows. “Excuse me?”

All of a sudden, Peter feels a sick sensation in his stomach. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t.

“You’re the girl from my dream,” Henry announces. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Y/N looks back at Peter. “What’s he talking about?”

The open, carefree expression, which had been on her face all day, is starting to be replaced with deep, unsettled fear. Peter hates to see it directed at him. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he begins. “Something about yourself.”

“You’re sounding a little creepy right now,” Y/N warns him. “Get to the point.”

“Alright,” Peter says. “You’re magical. So am I. We need your help to break a curse and save my life. How about that?”

Y/N shakes her head quickly. “This is crazy. Magic isn’t real.”

Peter can’t lose her, not like this, so he leans forward and holds out his hand. A ball of light appears inside his cupped fingers, glowing and bright. It’s a simple charm, one of the first he learned, but it has the desired effect. 

Y/N stares at it, transfixed, and when she speaks again, her voice is hushed. “That’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible,” Peter says. “Not magic. Not even the fact that you would find me in this city by accident. Magic is drawn to magic.”

Y/N’s eyes slowly raise to meet his. “This is real, then. I have magic.”

“You have magic,” Peter confirms. “Come with us, we can show you. They’re good people, Y/N. You can trust them.”

It’s the closest he’s ever come to honesty. For once, Peter isn’t playing a game. He isn’t trying to trick Y/N over to his side. He just wants her to be safe, and he knows that isn’t through lies.

Y/N smiles at him. “I trust you, Peter. That’s enough for me.”

She reaches over and takes his hand. Now that he’s focusing on it, Peter can feel the slow loop of her magic when they touch. It feels like power, but more than that, it feels like life. A life with her, maybe. A life for both of them.

ouat tag list: @loveanimals0000, @eclliipsed, @w1shes43, @lost-ender

all tags list: @wordsarelife

[misc-obeyme]

XOXO

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to do a cute and quick little headcanon, so this is the brothers reacting to MC giving them a box of conversation hearts. If you'd like me to do the other characters as well, feel free to send me a request for it. 💕 ETA: Part two is here!

GN!MC x the demon brothers

Warnings: none!

Lucifer

He does understand that there is limited space on these tiny chalk hearts, but is that really an excuse for the terrible spelling? LUV U and U R CUTE really make him frown.

Despite this, Lucifer does think it's very cute of you to give them to him. He will keep them on his desk, safe in their box, and woe betide anyone who even dares to touch them. He won't even touch them himself and no, it has nothing to do with getting chalky candy dust on his spotless black gloves.

He may not fully understand your human customs, MC, but he truly does appreciate your thoughtfulness. When you're spending time with him while he does paperwork, he will actually pick one out to give to you. It's the one that says ALL MINE.

He waits to see if you blush. If you do, he's out of his seat in an instant, pulling you to your feet so he can kiss you. He'll whisper in your ear about how you are, in fact, all his.

Mammon

At first he's too busy being flustered by the fact that you gave him something so cute to consider anything else. But once he's calmed down, he starts scheming. Hey, MC! Don't ya think Devildom variants of these'd sell like hotcakes? You'd both be rich!

You get to decide if you indulge this idea or not. Though admittedly, it'd be pretty interesting to see what kinds of phrases you might come up with for a Devildom variant. They might say things like LUV POTION or SPELL ON U or maybe even HEART HEX. The two of you have a fun time coming up with these, whether or not you actually make them.

Mammon might think that you're only giving these to him because it's what humans do on Valentine's Day. He thinks it's cute, but he doesn't know if it means anything special. You can remove his doubts by choosing a specific message out of the box, though.

Put one that says KISS ME in his hand and it's all over for you. If you're around other people, you can be sure he's dragging you into the nearest empty room.

Leviathan

Ahh! MC! Did you know they actually made a promotional version of these for the anime I Made A Cake For My Crush Decorated With Candy Hearts But They Turned Out To Be Cursed And Now She's A Dragon? They had some in the box that were actually cursed and would turn anyone who ate them into a dragon for a day! They were pulled from the shelves, but he still has three boxes of them that have never been opened.

You listen to this in amusement, but you're quick to let him know that these are just regular human world candy hearts. As far as you know, there are no curses on them. Levi finds he's actually quite excited to try the real thing.

That is, until he starts to read the messages. Each heart he reads makes his blush get worse until he eventually asks you if you realize what these candies say. That blush goes deep red when you indicate that you are fully aware.

He'll get it together and actually try one, though. He's trying not to think too much about the messages. They taste kinda funny and they're a little chalky, but he loves them because they're from you. Give him one that says HUG ME to watch him blush all over again before he reluctantly puts his arms around you. Wait a moment and he'll melt in your embrace.

Satan

He's heard of these, though he's never had the occasion to try them for himself. He's skeptical of their texture, but he finds the little messages charming. He will eat some if you insist. He's grateful you thought of him, MC. He truly appreciates your gift.

Then again, these little conversation hearts are like a puzzling challenge. How can he make them say what he wants to say to you? They're so brief and they don't make much sense even when strung together. He spends half a day staring at them and thinking about it.

You eventually find a set of them lined up neatly on the table in your room. They say U & ME, FOREVER, SAY YES, MY LOVE. You look around for him, but Satan isn't there. He left these here for you to find on your own. You'll have to go looking for him in another part of the house.

He's in his room, blushing behind his book, acting like he doesn't know exactly what you're there for. All you have to do is take the book out of his hands and say yes. That single word is all he needs. You won't be leaving his room until morning.

Asmodeus

Oh, wow, these are absolutely adorable! Not as adorable as him… or you… but still so cute! Help him set them up so he can take a picture for Devilgram. He knows it'll do numbers because everybody is so into human world trends right now. Plus, he's going to throw in a selfie of the two of you eating them.

Okay, wouldn't it be cute if he painted your nails to look like little conversation hearts? He does it immediately and gives himself a set to match. You're amazed at the skill it takes to write the words so small and perfect, but Asmo is more than up to the task.

Ask him which one is his favorite and he'll say all of the ones that remind him of you. He'll start putting them into your hand - CUTIE, SWEETIE PIE, and XOXO. He makes kissy faces at you as he puts that last one on your palm.

When you laugh, he joins you. You're radiant and that's all he can see for a moment. And then the candies are forgotten because he can't resist your sweet lips. He doesn't need candy, MC. He has you.

Beelzebub

Surprises you by not inhaling them immediately. You have several boxes for him because you anticipated this reaction. Don't worry, though, he'll still eat everything you've brought him.

But he stops because he's curious. They say stuff on them, right? That's really cute, MC. He picks out one that says only LOVE. He doesn't need a lot of words, candied or otherwise, to let you know how he feels about you.

Turns out you're the one who's flustered now. You cover it up by telling him to try some. He does as you ask and he's happy enough to eat them all. You tell him about the different ways they can be used to decorate other desserts as well. Eventually he realizes he's really hungry. He wants to take you out to get something a little more substantial soon.

He tells you that he's full of sweet candy words now, but he would rather just hold you than say them. You're okay with that, of course, and it's not long before you find yourself covered in kisses.

Belphegor

What are these? Are they for Beel? You'll have to explain that you wanted to give them to him. Tell him about how popular they are in the human world and he'll start to understand. He might even be aware of what they are, but he certainly wasn't expecting you to give him any.

What a nice gift, MC. He's happy that you thought of him. He tries them out of curiosity and finds he's not too fond of their thick texture. But he likes the words. He arranges them into a little sentence for you. SWEET, DREAM, YOU & ME.

You see him blushing slightly when you read them together out loud. Well, that could mean a lot of things, right? There aren't enough words to make a real sentence. But he's just coming up with excuses to cover the fact that he's nervous about hearing you say the words.

It's easy enough to distract him with some kisses. He forgets his embarrassment pretty quickly when he's suddenly far more focused on how you feel in his arms.

xoxo part two with the side characters

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[isolaradiale]

. . . . .

"Mmhm, I see, I see... Your father did tell us you had a bit of a mishap with your art project. We couldn't help coming to give some advice." Solaris muses, circling the diorama of the city. Currently, it's been moved to a coffee table.

"Yes, he told me I should try and spin it as if I had done such a thing on purpose. But I don't see how I could possibly..." "Oh, we had an idea for that!"

Mimosa flutters from behind, resting her hands on Janus' shoulders. The glint of mischief hiding in her rosy glasses does not escape his notice.

"We could help you mirror it in the city proper, you know!" "What?" "It's an interesting theory. The structures you made still stand, but what gives them life and personality has been greyed out." "I wouldn't say that--" "So how do you fix it? Do you paint them with the hues and values they're supposed to be, or do you pick something new?" "What do you do with the spots where the paint bled together? Do you paint over that, too?"

As the two bounce back and forth in this terrible game of brainstorming, Janus begins to put his hands to his cheeks in mounting horror.

"Oh, no. No no no. Absolutely not--" "If we make someone look like an old black and white movie, what happens? Will they try to change to technicolour?" "Would they paint themselves the colour palettes they're used to? Maybe it's something entirely different. If we make those hues correspond with their personalities..." "I--I'll have no part in this! The last time something like this happened, everything--" "Ah-ah, don't worry."

Mimosa leaves Janus side to twirl next to Solaris, who makes an artful pose himself, as if framing the splotchy mess of a diorama in his hands.

"We have this one completely under control. Not like last time." "I'll make sure of it. Just a little bit of editing... ah, Mimosa, what if we..."

Janus can only move his head as the two take their leave, watching them scheme and snicker. He turns back to look at the model of the city. And in a scramble that almost makes him trip over his own feet, he rushes to his boxes of paints.

"--I have to at least put the base coat back on, or they really won't have anything at all!"

. . . . .

Welcome to another zany event for the fall season! It looks like Mimosa and Solaris aren't done causing trouble, but this time, it should be harmless. Right? (Right...?)

Taking inspiration from a creative mishap, the Stars have decided to effectively render the city in greyscale--including the people residing in it--to see what really makes everyone so colourful. Thankfully, most people will start with a base hue.

What does that mean, though? Here's a handy-dandy list of notes!

As soon as it strikes midnight that night, your muse will find that they've been completely greyscaled, save for one colour that represents who they are at their core, and only that colour! - Think of it like those 'what colour is your soul' quizzes. If your muse was only one hue, what would it be? For example, a character that is inherently cheery might turn completely yellow or pink, while a hot-headed character may turn red or orange to reflect their personality.

Your muse cannot help but feel and act whatever hue/personality they seem to be. However! The more your muse interacts with the people around them, the more colours (and feelings/facets of their personality) will open up to them. This will also physically reflect on them. - If your cheery yellow muse bumps into a sad, blue muse, you'll both have a new colour to express. Now you can feel happy (yellow) AND sad (blue)! And perhaps a sort of melancholy joy, like watching your best friend win that prize you wanted instead of you. Of course, you're happy for them, but sad you didn't win. - Or maybe those two colours mix into being green with envy... And suddenly, you have a new colour ;3

Any inanimate object your muse interacts with (except their Island Issued Cell Phone) will take on your muse's hue. Every step you take will leave a colourful footprint in its wake, every hand rail will have colourful handprints. More on that later.

With enough interactions and perspectives, your muse will be back to their old selves in no time! If, that is, they want to go back to their old selves at all. Maybe another colour palette suits them better than before...?

"It can't be that easy, though."

And, you're right! The experiment did more than reduce everyone to solid (or no) colours! Some other strange things are happening, too. Such as...

The NPCs of the city have not escaped unscathed. Unlike you, though, they have no hue to them at all. However, they'll absorb colours from your muses by proximity and action. - If your deep-green jealous muse is around, NPCs will turn deep-green too, and may want what you have--and might try to take it by force. But a calm mint-coloured muse may just leave you alone and soak up some vibes. - This extends to creatures of the island, too, so watch out!

Sources of water in the city (the ocean, lakes, ponds, swimming pools, etc) will wash away at least one colour from you. (You can still drink and cook with it without any effect, though.) Better not get caught in a rainstorm any time soon!

To combat this, you can find paint cans with a random colour paint in them around the city. You never know what you're going to get, though!

The city itself is completely greyscale, so navigating it might be a challenge without any colourful landmarks to stand out. That being said, your muse will leave colour wherever they go, like they're a giant paint roller. And so will everyone else's muses! Figuring out populated areas will be Very Easy, but you might get disoriented in places that don't get a lot of foot traffic.

These are the major issues...... for now :)

FAQ

"Do I have to pick a hue at the beginning? I can't decide on one."

It's entirely possible that your muse can start in greyscale, and just has No Personality. In that case, they'll take on the hue of the first person they interact with.

"What do we do if a colour has multiple associations with it?"

Each association of that colour is a valid one, and there are no incorrect colour associations. Each colour is whatever you need it to be in the moment. The definition of "red" for your muse may not match the "red" of your RP partner--and that's okay! What may be helpful is to make an event info post explaining your colour choice, how you interpret it, and how it would affect your character!

"Do we have to stick to basic colours like red, yellow, green, blue, etc?"

Nope. Maybe your muse is a mauve, emerald, beige, or aquamarine. Pick any colour you think is best for the moment!

"In theory, could we use the paint cans laying around to add hues to others by splashing them with it or something?"

PVP is enabled, if you want to be a menace! (with mun permission, of course)

"Is the comic in black and white for plot reasons?"

No, I'm just lazy :c

Have a question you don't see on here? You can message the Masterlist!

See you in a week! Make sure to get as many colour perspectives as you can, okay? :)

[m-y-fandoms]

COMMISSION: Nagito Komaeda Dating Head-Canons + Small Drabble Sections

Word Count: 1.7K Words

Details: SFW requested and pretty gender-neutral. Established relationship, not just a crush or pining.

Path 1 - Despair/Island Killing Game:

Nagito definitely holds your hand or clings to you as you explore the island from the jump. If the Killing Game hasn’t started yet, he tries to make excuses for his neediness and desire to be attached at the hip. He senses the danger, that things are a little too peaceful, but he doesn’t want to weird you or anyone else out or spread a panic quite yet. Once it’s been announced and Monokuma arrives, he insists on escorting you to lunch and breakfast, on poison-testing your food. He cares very little for his own safety.

Definitely stalks you around the island and keeps to the shadows if you mention wanting space or insist you will be safe on your own every once in a while.

The illusion of choice would be a huge issue with him in the Killing Game setting with an S/O. It may not be healthy, but even when you think he’s out of sight or not plotting any crazy schemes/ideas,, rest assured he is already two steps ahead. He would do anything to make sure his bad luck cycle affects anyone but you and works over time, sometimes into the early hours of the morning to try and find Monokuma’s creator and the “traitor” that is surely among you all.

He insists on sleeping in your cabin or you in his. He feels better in yours, though, convinced his terrible energy and the dangerous aura that follows him around like a shadow has probably sunk into every corner of his own domicile. Anywhere he can call his own surely has to be haunted with misery and blackened with terrible omens of what’s to come. He feels at peace when he enters your safe space: your cabin decked out with items that are personalized to your talents and hobbies. He feels less alone, less burdened by the energy that surrounds himself.

When you blush and explain to him that it may not be appropriate for him to stay the night in your cabin, he brushes it off. He’s not even thinking about that kind of stuff, about the implications of a student sleeping over at their lover’s cabin. He wouldn’t even see himself as worthy enough to be more intimate with you in the first place. When he would hold your hand or cling to you like a human shield it was always for your good, not his own pleasure or to sate his own touch starvation.

“W-what do you mean?” Your face flooded with a warmth when he first suggested (more like insisted on) it. Your cheeks felt hot to the touch.

“Huh? Why do you look so flustered right now? It’s no big deal, really!” He displayed a crooked, paranoid grin. It was only your third night on the island and he’d already reached his limit. Watching you go into your room alone every night was stressful and tore away at him. How could he protect you if someone snuck in from the opposite side window, or if he couldn’t hear an altercation through the walls? The distance and limited time for reaction were just too risky.

“Nagito… I mean… you don’t think the others will, I don’t know, maybe judge us?” You put a hand to your face in contemplation, unable to meet his eyes. “Maybe they will think it’s weird… or that something inappropriate is going on here… usually two students aren’t allowed to spend the night together… if this were a regular school-“

“Oh well if that’s your concern, I can sleep on the ground! I was going to suggest laying in the bed with you, but that may have been presumptuous of me! If you’re uncomfortable-”

“I think you’re missing the point!” You cut him off, heart beating wildly at the thought of your boyfriend just crawling into bed with you every night. You’d never done more then hold hands, now he wanted to snuggle up in the dark wearing nothing but your bedclothes? It was a huge step. You feared the judgmental smirks of people like Hiyoko, the lectures on proper behavior from your more uptight classmates. People would whisper for sure. Some would confront you and want the details. Nagito was the black sheep of the group after all. Nobody was as close to him as you. You could already hear Ibuki and Akane teasing you, making up crazy scenarios of what they thought happened when you and Nagito spent the night together.

“O-oh, if you’re that worried about what our peers would think, I can understand! I would be embarrassed to be dating someone like me as well, but I will make sure they know nothing unbefitting of a ray of Hope like you happened! I’m just here to keep watch. I wouldn’t dream of trying anything!” He flashed a cheesy smile, holding his hands up in submission. It seemed like he wasn’t going to take no for an answer this time. You sighed deeply in resignation. He already stands outside the bathroom when you shower, so this wasn’t really that much further of a stretch.

He spends hours thinking about how he wants to kiss you, how he wants to touch your bare skin to his, even in the most ticklish or innocent of ways. He lets his mind stew over it, fantasizes, but never acts on his desires. He believes his filthy hands - cursed with bringing harm to others in order to bring luck to himself - could never defile your perfect skin, never dirty your soft hair. Even to ask for your consent to do so would be pathetic, embarrassing. Someone like him lived to serve, please and protect a glowing source of Hope such as yourself. This was bigger then him. You needed to survive, to bring change and Hope to the entire world.

If one day by some miracle you asked, begged him to touch you, to give you more the a vice-like hand-holding session, he could never deny you that request. The last of his restraint would break. His hands would shake, afraid to mess it up, to upset you. His mind would race. Even a small kiss would set his pale, clammy skin on fire.

It would set into motion another hyper-fixation, an addiction… obsession. He would know what true Hope tasted like when your lips touched his.

Nagito is definitely the type to kill others for the sake of his S/O. In canon, he offers to help the blackened, sets up traps and tricks to get people caught or assists in trials, but if he had someone to truly love him and love in return, I think it would set his crazy into overdrive. I would expect he would actually get a bit sloppier, too focused on your safety and happiness above all else that he doesn’t even care if he gets caught or slips up. It’s kind of like how some people in powerful positions or criminal organizations don’t want their family known or easily accessible. That’s an easy hostage, easy leverage. You have something to lose, and therefore you are weaker.

Path 2 - Hope’s Peak Academy School Life/Normal Non-Despair:

Nagito is constantly staring at you, taking in your beauty and radiance. He’s obsessive, constantly adjusting the buttons on your uniform or fixing a pleat that is out of place. He doesn’t even notice when his own tie or collar are loose.

He offers to do your laundry, fold your clothes, clean your dorm. Little favors that make your life easier feel like an honor to him.

When he does your laundry, he dives his nose into your dirty outfits and breathes deeply of your scent. He can’t help himself. Your aroma is like a natural pheromone to him. He will feel guilty, disgusting as he tucks a sock or pair of underwear into his backpack or pocket. He swears to himself he will return it to you… someday, once it’s lost its potency.

There’s a shrine of sorts to you in his own dorm room, which he never lets you enter. He always has an excuse: it’s dirty, it smells in there, he doesn’t want anyone seeing you enter such a lowlife’s room. He fears that if you see the extent of his love for you, his unhealthy obsession, that you’ll be scared away.

The shrine consists of strands of your hair, things he’s swiped from your dorm room without you noticing, photos of you printed out and framed (some photos, he was even blessed enough to be in with you!)

He plans at least one date night every single week. As soon as classes are over he spares no expense on taking you out and letting you pick whatever activity you’re in the mood for. He’s just happy to be there.

He dismisses your worries about him spending money on you, reassuring you every time that he has more money then he knows what to do with.

He’s of course made sure his class schedule lines up with yours perfectly. You think it’s just a coincidence that you get to spend so much time together! You knew he purposely picked some of the same elective classes, but didn’t realize the extent of his influence over his own class schedule.

He sometimes gets a little jealous of your classmates spending time with you, but lets those feelings be released in private. He doesn’t want to scare you away or ruin the privilege of being with you. He knows others deserve to bask in your brilliance and overwhelming energy too, knows that he can’t expect to hoard such a glowing Hope all to himself, but it bites at him. Of course everyone else wants you too. He’s delusional about your importance in the vast universe because he’s totally blinded by love. He will misinterpret someone letting you borrow a pencil as flirting or being partners in gym class as something more. He lets this manifest as sadness or trying harder to please you. He may sabotage the “competition” sometimes, but never let you catch on to his meddling.

He could listen to you talk about your hobbies and interests forever. He wants you to show him how to do it, tell him all the backstory, lore, origins of your hyper-fixations or passions. Spending nights on your dorm room floor listening to your favorite musical artists and just eating ramen would mean the world to him.

[babycharmander]

Oleander and the effects of psitanium

A popular headcanon is that a major factor in causing Oleander to snap was the high levels of psitanium at Whispering Rock. The evidence cited for this is is typically Ford’s explanation of how psitanium works: “It responds to psychic waves, focuses them, amplifies them. It can make psychics more psychic, but it can also make unstable people more unstable. Not everyone can handle that much activity in that part of their brain. It can drive them completely out of their gourd.”

One issue with this is that it doesn’t account for Ford’s situation. Ford himself is completely shattered, but the psitanium stabilizes him. When he’s close to the giant psitanium boulder (or when he’s around a big enough chunk of psitanium, like the one he straps to his back later in the game), he’s able to function. If it were true that psitanium makes unstable psychics more unstable, Ford would be worse off.

Now you could say that maybe Ford responds well to it because he’s able to handle it, but that just brings up another problem. If psitanium was good for only some psychics and caused other psychics to lose their minds, that would make Whispering Rock a terrible place to train psychic kids. The kids would either become more skilled psychics or else lose their entire mind. If that were the case, it would make more sense for the camp to be placed elsewhere.

Given those factors, I think it’s safe to say that psitanium is good for psychics, but bad for non-psychics. This also works when we consider the history of Shaky Claim, in which most of the residents of the town slowly lost their minds, resulting in the creation of Thorney Towers. (Granted, parts of that history stump should probably be taken with a grain of salt given its timeline is kindof a mess, but I digress.)

And now for some speculative rambling!

It didn’t strike me until recently, however, that the high concentration of psitanium at Whispering Rock (which Ford explains is the highest concentration of psitanium known to man) may have been a reason why Oleander was sent to work there, as opposed to a reason why he attempted a takeover.

Even disregarding the li-po doc, Oleander is shown in canon to be aggressive and is known to attempt wild schemes, and before the first game, had also been suffering for a long while due to unresolved childhood trauma. He may have been sent to Whispering Rock not only to get him out of the way of different missions, but also so that he could be at a place with a larger concentration of psitanium to help stabilize him.

Heck, Ford could have been the one to suggest it. Something of note is that Ford was aware, to some extent, of Oleander’s trauma. Shortly after Raz arrives in Meat Circus, Ford remarks, “That’s right. Morry’s old man was a butcher!” It wouldn’t be all that difficult to put two and two together to realize that a psychic with zoolepathy having a father who was a butcher would be a recipe for trauma, though Ford might not’ve known the full extent of it.

It would then make sense for Ford, seeing how much better he himself was doing at Whispering Rock, to suggest that Oleander be sent there as well. (Of course, IIRC we don’t know who ordered Oleander to be sent to work at Whispering Rock, but Ford could have passed the idea to Sasha or Milla, who would’ve then brought it up to Truman and/or Hollis.)

Rather than the psitanium making things worse for Oleander, it could have helped stabilize him... for a time.

Unfortunately it would also put him in a place where he had very, very easy access to Thorney Towers and its residents, which would become instrumental in his eventual takeover plans.

And as the psitanium did not make Ford’s unresolved trauma go away, it also didn’t magically heal Oleander’s unresolved trauma... so all it could do was prolong his eventual breakdown.

[thewritetofreespeech]

Obey me - Christmas dates

**did anyone else feel a little cheated we didn’t get real individual date options for the boys in the new event? no. just me? ok.**

Lucifer

“Come along [Y/N]. We don’t want to miss the other exhibits.”

“Coming!” You call after Lucifer before you jog up next to him.

The eldest brother had claimed victory once again, and won the bet to spend the day with you. You couldn’t say you were really surprised, or disappointed, when Lucifer won. But he took his victory graciously, even if his brothers were still sore about it.

“Lord Diavolo sure works fast, doesn’t he? Putting together this White Christmas outdoor light display in the park.” You comment. “He only knew about the ‘White Christmas’ idea a few days ago.”

“Indeed.” Lucifer agreed. Though I suspect a big portion of the work was accomplished by Barbatos.” You both chuckle at that.

The light display in questions was a winding maze of lights, decorations, and displays in one of Devildoms most popular botanical gardens. The beautiful white lights and sparkling icicles was a stark contrast from the dark and dangerously elegant greenery. It was truly magnificent.

“Still, it really all is amazing. Thank you for bringing me here. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Lucifer replied with a soft smile, before he took your hand in his. The warmth seeping from your gloves into your skin. “And I’m glad I got to share it with you. Any moment being with you is something I’ll never forget.” He leaned in to give you a kiss. Brisky, as you were in public. “Your cheeks feel a little cold. Let’s complete the tour and then head home. I’ll have some warm mulled demonus waiting for us when we get there.”

“Hooray!”

Mammon

You’re practically panting to keep up with Mammon as he all but sprinted off to the next venue.

For once, he’d won one of the bets he’d pressured the others into and seemed to be making the most of it with the time he had remaining.

Since the morning the two of you had been go, go, go. From getting iced hot chocolates at a trendy new coffee spot in downtown. To window shopping (and actual shopping) in the fashion district. To now, after a quick wardrobe change into your newest & latest holiday fashion fare, running off to a Christmas pop-up club in the city.

“Mammon, slow down!” You finally cry out. “There’s no need to rush. The place will be there when we get there.”

“No it won’t!” Mammon insisted. Turning around and coming back to you a few paces behind. “It’s a limited time deal that ends at midnight. After that, the pop-up literally disappears and won’t be back ‘til next year.”

“And there’s no chance we can table this until then?” You sarcastically ask.

“No!” The demon barked. “Because it’s different every year, and I only got ya for today!”

“You have me every day Mammon.”

“It’s not the same.” Mammon replied with a sigh. Relaxing out of his panic for a moment and rubbing the back of his head. “I know yer around every day, but it’s not the same. We have classes, and the others are around. It’s never just the two of us. We spend a lot of time together but it’s not….”

“Quality time?”

“Don’t get all sappy on me.”

You giggle at Mammon’s grumbled, then step forward to lean up and give him a peck on the lips. “If you really feel that way, then why don’t you just say something? We can spend quality time together if you ask. You don’t have to come up with these hair brained gambling schemes to try and win me over.” Plus, that he was terrible at. “And you don’t have to try and cram everything all in one day. I’ll be here.”

The demon scratched at his white hair again and scrunched his lips. “Ok…” He agreed. “Can we still go to the party? I really do want to see it and…I kinda wanna see it….with you.”

You grin and give Mammon another peck before you fall in line beside him. “Just so long as we don’t have to run there.”

Levi

The snow was still falling outside at a leisurely pace as you walked down the hall at a similar pace toward Levi’s room. Surprising everyone with his masterful snow work, he’d won the bet to spend the day with you on a date. You were curious to see what he had come up with.

“Levi?” You ask as you knock on the door with your secret knock and let yourself in. Only you were allowed to enter Levi’s room alone with your secret knock.

“[Y/N]!” Levi exclaimed when he saw you, and bolted up from his spot on the floor.

“Hey Levi!” You giggle at his excitement, finding it infectious. “Wow. You must be really excited for your date.”

“I am!” He must be really excited because he didn’t stammer or fluster at all at the word ‘date’. “I can’t wait to show you what I have planned.”

“I can’t wait either. Where are we going?”

“Oh. Nowhere.” You cock your head to the side at his response. Then Levi darted off towards his desk before he came back with a set of goggles. “Put these on!”

“Your VR goggles?” You ask cryptically as Levi when to tap on his keyboard. “You mean we’re not going out?”

“Nope.” He confirmed with an oblivious smile at your response. “There’s a new real world winter wonderland map that just dropped in Fallen Qin. That new MMO game I’ve been playing. I wanted to check it out with you, so I’ve been waiting for like 3 days to key in.”

“So like the car game we did a while ago?” You remember a similar experience, just with a beach. “You do realize there’s a real winter wonderland outside, right?”

“Don’t the outside have new ice resistant Christmas theme armor, and a quest to steal Krampus-mon’s scowling whip?” Levi asked. And after a long pause he added, “didn’t think so,” before turning on his headset.

You sigh and turn on your headset as well. It was his date. And as long as you didn’t get stuck in the game (like so many times before) grinding with Levi was usually fun.

Since it was a seasonal quest map, it only took you a few hours to finish together. Your characters forged across the frozen plains. Battled new winter monsters. And even stopped into a tavern for hot coco before defeating Krampus-mon and getting the scowling whip into your collection.

“That was so much fun!” Levi cheered as you took off your headsets.

“Yeah, it was fun.” You agree. “I wasn’t really sure I’d like a VR date but….it was nice. Different.”

“I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you were expecting.” Levi said. Confidence fading now that he was back in the real world, and picking the straps on his VR set. “I’m not that good at the real world. So I figured if I planned a normie date I’d do a bad job at it. But a VR date, that I can do. I read all the chats to try and find the best spots before we played. To make sure we got to all the fun stuff fast.”

“You read the spoilers for me?” Levi nodded. An unprecedented act of otaku skullduggery on his behalf.

Quickly, you scoot over and give Levi a kiss before he could react. “Thank you Levi. I’m sure that was hard for you. And for waiting to play. I appreciate you doing all this for me and working so hard to make sure I had a good time.”

“Y-Y-Y…You’re welcome!” The demon stammered back. Beet red at your simple kiss.

“Do you want to play again? I’m sure the forums didn’t find everything in the game. How could they if you haven’t played yet.”

Levi grinned at your compliment and snapped his headset back out. You smirk and turn your headset back on as well to play some more.

Satan

“I’m actually surprised.” You mention to Satan as you stood in line, up at the ticket counter, waiting to get entry into the film festival. “I thought this would be more Levi’s thing.”

“There’s no animated films here.”

Satan had won the snow building contest, and the bet to win a date with you for the holiday. His pur-fectly sculpted cat display was so meticulously crafted that it looked like real cats frolicking in the snow. “Still, movies are really more his thing. I know you’re more into books.”

“Don’t pigeonhole me into one genre of entertainment.” Satan replied with a frown.

Now waiting in line for popcorn he continued. “Books will always be superior, in my opinion, but film has it’s place too. Besides, the cinematic techniques used the La Petite Noel for the sidewalk scenes it truly a masterpiece.” You chuckle a little at his enthusiasm.

As one could guess, the film festival was dedicated to all things Christmas in the art nouveau film arena. Typically international films, Satan seemed positively giddy to sit in a theatre for several hours watching grainy shots on a makeshift screen in this run down ‘classic’ of a theatre.

“I just hope they have subtitles.” You comment as you pop a few kernels into your mouth.

“They should.” Satan replied as you moved behind the double doors to find seats. “And if not, I’ll translate for you.”

“You’re going to translate every movie for me?” You ask as you take a seat in your chosen spot.

“Of course, it shouldn’t be that difficult.” He sat down beside you. The seats in desperate need of some oil or grease. “I speak several languages. So translating a simple film shouldn’t be too challenging.”

“Smarty pants.” You quip, before getting a mischievous grin on your face and darting over to give him a quick kiss. “I just hope there are subtitles. I can’t think of some other things I’d like to do with your mouth in this dark theater while the movie plays.”

“[Y/N]--!” Satan’s remark was cut off by some other patrons shushing him violently as the lights dropped and the movie began to play. “You don’t play fair.” He whispered.

“What would be the fun in that?”

Asmo

The decorations in the fashion district were always the nicest.

Maybe it was the reputation for being the most…well…fashionable, but it seemed that every shop really put in effort and their best foot forward to make their displays stand out.

“Ooooo! Look at this one [Y/N]~ !” Asmo cooed as you walked hand-in-hand down the busiest street.

Asmo had won the snow sculpture contest. Who knew you could make a real dress out of snow? But, if anyone would be able to do it it would certainly be Asmo. Winning the date with you he choose to spend the afternoon going window shopping to find the best display in all the shopping quarter.

“It’s nice. But I still think the clock tower one is better.” You comment. Thinking back on the huge wooden clock tower, with little elves dancing, working, and moving about as they counted down Christmas. “I’m more of a traditionalist myself. These trendy displays are lost on me.”

“Hmmm…I can see that.” The demon agreed as he sipped his skinny salted caramel mocha. “Not that it would be lost on you! Never! I mean, that there is something to be said for being more traditional. Especially this time of year.”

You giggle a little. “I never thought you would be one for convention Asmo.”

He giggled back. “Not always. But there is something to be said about it from time to time.”

You continue your walk and come up to a jewelry store that made both your jaws drop. “Wow…not that’s impressive.”

Inside the window as a winter wonderland of dazzling jewels. Diamond snowflakes. Ruby boys. An emerald tree that had to be as tall as Luke in the corner. Even an onyx terrier playing on the carpet with a sapphire blue ball.

“Somebody must have big connects with the orc mines to pull this off.”

“There are orcs here?” You ask curiously, and Asmo just giggled at you.

“Oh [Y/N], you’re so cute. Of course there are orcs here silly. You’ve met yetis, and mermaids, and all kinds of demons, but you’re still surprised by things.” You supposed that was true.

“Hey! I know.” Asmo exclaimed. Quickly changing the subject. “Let’s go in and look around. We could get you a ring and tell the others that we got married. They’ll be so floored and jealous!”

“I…don’t think that’s the best idea.” You tell him.

“Awww….no fun….” He pouted in his typical Asmo way, but you could sense that he was genuinely a little disappointed in you rejecting his idea.

“But if you want to go inside, we can. A ring seems a little much, but we could maybe get matching bracelets to wear.”

That seemed to pick Asmo right up, and he leaned in to give you a quick kiss before pulling you into the store.

Beel

“Are you doing ok? Do you want me to hold your pack for you? I could carry you if you want?”

“No Beel, I’m ok.” You insist as the two of you continued your hike.

Though the snow was still coming down around the Devildom, the snow sculpture contest was over. Beel had won with his massive snowball. Collecting the snow in the garden by pushing a small ball around until had gathered nearly all the snow available. A feat of strength the judging parties had to take recognition of.

After breakfast Beel told you that you’d be leaving for your date, and that you’d be going on a hike into the mountains. You were actually excited to get back into the outdoors for a bit. Your brief trip up the mountain to where the yetis were had rekindled your wilderness spirit. So after packing up you both hit the trail on an adventure.

“Where are we going anyway?” You ask as you follow beside Beel on the journey. “I know you said there was something you wanted to show me at the end, but that’s not really an answer.”

“It’s an answer.” Beel insisted. “It’s something I found on one of my runs. I started taking this trail a few months ago, since I was getting bored around school. It’s just up ahead.”

You don’t ask anymore questions. Since the destination was so close. The two of you walk silently for a few more paces before the trees break into clearing with a small frozen pond in the center. “Wow!”

“Yeah. It’s pretty cool.” Beel agreed with a smile as he looked at the beautiful scene with you.

“Thanks for taking me up here Beel. This is really magical.”

“We didn’t come all the way up here just to look at it.” He pulled his bag to the front and pulled out two pairs of ice skates.

“We’re going ice skating! Wait. Is it safe?”

“It should be.” He said. Gesturing you over to a rock near the pond’s edge and helping you lace up your skates. “I jumped on it a few times and it didn’t break. If it can hold me, I’m sure it can hold the two of us.”

“What if you had fallen in?”

“I would have swam out.” His confident tone indicated that he really thought he was strong enough to fight the ice and swim out, so you just chuckle and finish with your skates.

You both make it onto the ice with limited issue. Beel went out first and told you, “take my hand.” When you did, he pulled you onto the ice and close to his chest. “If you want to hold on to me to stay balanced, I don’t mind.”

You smile up at Beel, then lean up (as carefully as possible) to give him a kiss for being so sweet in bringing you here and planning all this. “I’ll try not pull you down if I fall.”

“Don’t worry,” he said as you both start to skate, “I’ll catch you before you fall.”

Belphie

No one was more surprised than Belphie himself that he won the snow sculpture contest, but he did. You told him after that you weren’t surprised, given that he was so artistic, to which he replied, “well I can usually get things done if I apply myself.” Then immediately went to take a nap from all the hard work.

He texted you the next day to come to his attic room for your date, and you immediately obeyed. Climbing the stairs, you found the room redecorated in Christmas themed blankets and shawls over the astrology ones usually there. “Oh wow, it looks like Santa’s workshop in here.”

“Santa isn’t real.” Belphie stated. Ironic, since he was wearing a Santa hat. “Come here. I want you to sit next to me.”

You come over and snuggle in next to Belphie. “So this is what we’re doing today?”

“No. I mean, not all of it. Look.” He pressed a button and the shutters to all the windows opened. To the point that it looked like the two of you were floating above the mansion and grounds below. “We can watch the snow fall up here and it’s almost like where in a cloud. Much better than being down there in the actual snow. I’m still cold from yesterday.” Belphie shuttered at the thought.

You chuckle at him, and lean over to give him a kiss. “I agree. This is much better.”

The demon smiled and cuddled in to rest his head on your shoulder. The two of you watching the snowflakes dance and cover the world in white from your ivory tower above.

part ii

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'Royal Academy Stories' (First Year)

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Royal Academy Stories: First Year by Miya Kazuki, You Shiina, Quof

adventure

fantasy

magic

library science

librarian

royal academy

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ortwin the innocent. Angelica the humble. Hannelore the disastrous. Traugott the insincere. Solange the optimist. ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM: ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR), though bereft of drama and lacking much meaningful narrative, successfully bevels the sharpest corners that define several characters that lend color and shape to the Royal Academy. The most intriguing characters in this collection of short stories are those whose self-awareness and grasp of their role in the grand scheme of things shifts just enough for readers to glimpse a critical, lonely truth they might not otherwise have witnessed.

This volume is a serviceable middle-ground between offering the best of what this novel series has to offer and ultimately maintaining a brisk and healthy pace for the long haul. The novel series spends so little time on major events that readers must often pull together the tiniest details through various epilogues or character-specific narratives. Spending a single volume on Lady Rozemyne's first year at the Royal Academy certainly wasn't enough. And neither was the single volume dedicated to her second year. Fortunately, a few crumbs yet remain.

ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) holds a few overlapping tales, but readers will find their events largely in sync. For example, when Dunkelfelger reacts to losing a game of treasure-stealing ditter, readers view the fallout through the eyes of the duchy's dorm supervisor (Rauffen), a fourth-year apprentice archscholar (Clarissa), and a first-year archduke candidate (Hannelore). It's a puzzle worth assembling.

Rauffen reacts with surprising placidness, and his discernment regularly and authoritatively puts Lestilaut in his place (Rauffen: "Did you really gain nothing from that game of ditter except petulant anger? [..] If so, no way I can deny that you lack the self-awareness and mindset required of a proper aub," page 81). This insight into Rauffen's disposition outside of games and warfare establishes him as a credulous and genuine figure, a perspective otherwise missed in the course of the novel series' regular narrative.

Hannelore, hilariously, has no idea what she's doing. She's a mediocre person, and frequently chides the gods for her inborn lack of confidence and her terrible sense of timing. Hannelore tries her utmost to stay out of the way, but she often incites others into action by sheer accident. One should hope she marries away from Dunkelfelger. But alas, that appears to be the fate of Clarissa, a duchy peer whose high affections for the so-called Saint of Ehrefest means she has set her sights on gaining access to the inner circle of Rozemyne.

Another highlight of ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) is a startlingly emotional profile of Angelica. The medknight confesses to receiving consolation from temple attendants with greater sincerity than she ever found at home. "Now I really understood why Lady Rozemyne preferred staying in the temple instead of the castle," she says to herself. "That was maybe the first time anyone had said they were pleased to have my company in particular" (pages 143, 151).

Meanwhile, Ortwin, a fist-year archduke candidate from Drewanchel, grows close to Wilfried when the two young men learn they each have sisters with wildly uncontrollable personal agency and senses of individuality. Ortwin's sister, Adolphine, is a bit different though. Destined (cursed?) to wed Sigiswald, next in line for the throne, Adolphine equally dotes on and pushes her younger brother to be the best. She lost her opportunity to rule the duchy, but she won't see her kid brother suffer the same fate. This intrigue will likely remain an underplayed splinter plot, but the repeating affairs of a royal prince potentially forced to marry someone he does/does not love keeps coming up. Ortwin's anecdote of feeling helpless, watching his sister sob, as the news of her engagement reverberates, carves an indelible image.

The current volume features regrettably little from older students at the Royal Academy. And further, the only adults readers hear from are Rauffen, of Dunkelfelger, and Solange, the librarian. Episodes related by Prince Anastasius would have been entertaining, as would have events narrated by anyone else of status close to Lady Eglantine. Further, when one considers all of the nicknames students have for the legendary Ferdinand during his days at the Royal Academy (e.g., "Lord of Evil," "the lonely genius created by overwhelming misfortune," and "the Master Tactician of Ehrefest"), a few reminiscences from other professors may have proved illuminating.

Side stories are fun, but one doesn't anticipate many of these characters returning with any significant influence on the greater narrative. Hopefully, readers will see more of Ortwin, and hopefully, readers will see the more sensitive and pragmatic Angelica, but the odds aren't in their favor. On the plus side, ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) includes one of the most phenomenal intersections of character writing and novel translation to date: A single instance in which Wilfried (pathetically) attempts to explain pound cake to a group of girls, uncomfortably rationalizing the unadorned and unflavored plate as "puh-lein." The scene is an achingly comical exhibition of Wilfried's sad detachment from commonality, as well as a strikingly brilliant example of a novel translation and adaptation team that knows its source material inside and out.

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews || ahb writes on Good Reads

[imtrashraccoon]

Hello! It's me again with another drabble! This is the first of five or six planned bonus chapters (?). For a slight change of pace, I wrote this one from Papyrus' POV as it seemed a bit more entertaining, but let me know if you liked this or not?

Timewise, this takes place a little over a month or two after the humans fell into the Underground, somewhere between Day 7: First Kiss and before Day 10: Dress Up.

First Day, Previous Day, & Bonus Two.

Bonus 1: Scarfs Part 2

Papyrus finished buckling the last strap, securing his chestplate to his person, before turning to the dresser to put on his gloves and scarf. He was rather proud of his armour, especially because it was unique, thanks to Sans helping him model it after a character from a comic book. Over the years, he'd had to improve it or do repairs whenever someone got a lucky hit on him, however, certain elements had always remained the same like the colour scheme and his favorite red scarf.

Speaking of which, his scarf was missing. He knew he had it yesterday after getting home from work, and after changing out of his armour, he'd put it on the dresser with his gloves like he always did. Had he misplaced it?

As unlikely as this was, he couldn't rule out the possibility all together, despite how meticulously organized he always was. He was of the belief that everything had its place and that was where it should be.

He started looking around just in case. He did remember being rather tired last night so maybe he'd just slipped up? He frowned and shook his head. As if... He didn't mess things up, he was the Great and Terrible Papyrus!

His scarf wasn't in the washing machine or dryer. It didn't seem to be anywhere in his room or in the bathroom either. It didn't make sense to be downstairs, but it was the only other place he could've left it.

Had someone stolen his scarf?

Sans would often try to pull pranks to mess with him, but he should know better than steal his favorite scarf. Usually his pranks were more obnoxious or messy though. Like there would be a ransom note demanding some stupid fee in exchange for seeing his scarf in one piece again or something.

He wouldn't put it past Frisk to take something without asking as they were a child. They may not know better or may not realize this was a big deal to him. Still, they were a smart kid and seemed to have a decent sense of social cues, plus, you were very proactive in taking care of them. There was no way you wouldn't notice if they'd stolen it.

That left you as the only remaining possible culprit. Unlike the other two, you had a more believable motive. He remembered that you really liked how soft his scarf was and had even called his armour cool. Still, you were also smart, as evidenced by how quickly you'd managed to convince him and his brother to spare you and Frisk. He liked to think you were smart enough to know stealing from anyone, let alone him, was a pretty bad idea though.

He found you and Frisk where he expected you'd be - in the living room. Frisk was playing with Doomfanger by teasing her with one of those feather wands he'd bought her. The cat was absolutely fascinated and he couldn't help but smile at how cute they both were.

You were huddled up on the couch with a blanket and a book. Normally that wasn't suspicious, however, you were practically cocooned in the blanket like you were freezing cold, despite the temperature in the house being rather warm. You also hadn't acknowledged him like you usually did whenever he entered the same room. He hadn't exactly been trying to be quiet either.

He narrowed his eye sockets suspiciously and stalked up behind you. He was an expert at moving silently when he wanted and despite how much you hated it, he found it quite funny to sneak up and startle you. Maybe it was slightly cruel, but he really liked how you sometimes jumped from the shock and how your surprise would morph into anger. You were especially cute when annoyed at him and he really couldn't help teasing you about it.

That was his intention this time as well and he was just about to hug you, when he spotted the reason you were this huddled up in the first place. Hidden underneath the blanket was his red scarf, although it was mostly covered save for a gap where the blanket had bunched weirdly by your neck.

"Oh You Did Not..."

You let out a cute little gasp when he wrapped his arms around your shoulders, crossing over your chest and gripping your upper arms firmly. He was careful not to dig his claws into your skin too much but it was a bit tricky as he hadn't put his gloves on yet.

"Thought You Were So Sneaky, Huh, Precious?" he whispered in your ear.

He could see how quickly the realization that he knew what you'd done dawned on you. It was slightly cathartic to watch your eyes widen and your cheeks turn pink with embarrassment. He wasn't content leaving this here though, no, he was going to take this even further.

"Yeah..." you murmured. "I'm sorry for taking it, but I really like your scarf." Glancing up at him over your shoulder, you asked, "Any chance I could borrow it for longer...?"

He didn't miss the way your blush deepened slightly and he couldn't help the smirk that now graced his skull.

"I Do Not Take Kindly To People Stealing From Me..."

He could hear your heartrate steadily increasing the longer he kept you trapped like this. It was a bit strange that you hadn't even tried to get away, even if you were completely trapped, he had expected you would at least try.

You struggled to speak for a moment, opening and closing your mouth as you tried to say anything at all. "...I didn't actually steal your scarf..." you finally muttered. Although it was apparent that you knew how weak of an excuse this was when you couldn't make eye contact with him.

He hummed softly and shook his head. "Then, What Do You Call This? Because 'Temporarily Borrowing Without Asking' Is The Same Thing At The End Of The Day..." He loved the shocked look you gave him when he said that. It seems he'd taken your next excuse right out of your mouth.

You squirmed a little bit but predictably, couldn't get out of his grip, even if you weren't currently tangled up in the blanket on top of everything. "Look, you can have it back if you care that much..." you grumbled.

He clicked his tongue at how quickly your tone had gone from embarrassed to annoyed. That wouldn't do... You were the one in the wrong here and it seemed he would have to subtly remind you of that fact.

"Oh I Care A Lot, Precious~" he purred. "There Are Consequences For People Who Cross Me...And I Happen To Be Quite Creative When It Comes To Punishments..." He could hear your heart skip a beat at that.

"Oh This Was Turning Out Deliciously."

You glanced at where Frisk was still playing with Doomfanger, they didn't seem to have noticed the exchange somewhat surprisingly, but he tilted your head back to look at him again. You seemed worried about something but not actually scared, thankfully.

"Tell You What," he whispered. "I Know A Way To Make This All Go Away..." He could see the curiousity flicker in your eyes and couldn't seem to wipe the smirk off of his face.

"You do?" you asked softly.

He nodded in an admittedly smarmy kind of way. Moving his hand from your chin, he cupped your cheek and leaned closer to your face. He paused for a moment and when you gave him a slight nod, pressed a slow but gentle kiss to your lips.

He was fully aware that his sharp teeth could seriously hurt you if he wasn't careful. Still, this wasn't a new issue, although some of his previous lovers had actually preferred if he was rough, you were much softer than anyone else. The last thing he wanted was to hurt you afterall...

Your skin was absolutely addicting to touch, even if he'd only had limited contact so far. You were squishy and yet there was a certain firmness at the same time. You'd explained that you had a whole skeleton that held everything together which was more than a little mind blowing for him.

When he finally pulled away from the kiss, he took an unbridled amount of satisfaction in seeing how flushed and out of breath you were. It just gave him a small thrill whenever he could see the effect he had on you.

"Positively Adorable..."

He finally let go of your shoulders and drew back slightly, but not before whispering one more thing. "Could I Have My Scarf Back Before I Have To Leave For Work, Precious?"

You were apparently stunned speechless and could only nod in response. There was a hint of a frown on your face though, but he wasn't about to leave the house without an important part of his uniform. Not even if you begged him...

Probably not anyways.

[goron-king-darunia]

Annon-Guy: Thoughts on the songs from Shadow The Hedgehog (Game)?

"I Am (All of Me)" perfectly encapsulates, to me, everything they're trying to get across with what the main game themes are. The capacity for both great good and terrible evil inside all of us, and the specific struggle Shadow has to face in deciding how to direct his immense power. It's all coated in that Edgy Branding that Shadow built up. I think the only criticism I can give it is that in order to parallel the first and second verses, the rhyme scheme is limited and sounds a little amateurish. That said, it is a video game for teens, it doesn't have to be high art in order to be a good game, and toying too much with the phrasing to get other rhymes to work wouldn't necessarily make it better. It's just an unfortunate result of having to use the particular rhyme scheme over. The game hits you with an absolute banger right out of the box. I approve.

I wasn't a fan in my younger days of either the deep rumbling vocals or the higher pitch more gravely growls in "Almost Dead." I appreciate them a bit more now, but I still find it hard to decipher the lyrics, even knowing what they are, because they meld together with the harsher blown out electric guitar. I understand these are staples of the Metal Genre, but it's why I'm more into power metal and symphonic metal over straight heavy metal a lot of the time. That said, it works surprisingly well as a dark theme. Part of the appeal of a game where you can choose to be good or evil, even though the choice largely doesn't matter in the broader context of this game given the true ending, is that feeling of righteous anger and getting to unleash your fury and rage. But the morbid lyrics almost beg you to question that. Shadow isn't really happy going down this dark path. The lyrics signal a sort of resignation to a fate where he's hated by others and can't trust the people he fights beside and feels caught in the middle of two sides of a world he can't relate to. Which brings us to...

"Waking Up." A guilty pleasure of mine and definitely where I would have put my vote in the poll if it wasn't for "All Hail Shadow." Waking up feels much more like Shadow indulging in a righteous anger. Teen me loved this song and when we were picking songs in Dance Class, this is one I put forward as something we could choreograph to. Didn't end up happening but man, it would have been rad. Works tremendously as the neutral end theme. It really hammers in that this is Shadow doing things for himself. While his goals may occasionally align with someone else's, he's ultimately out here to break anything he feels like if he thinks it will get him answers. Slay, king.

Unironically, "The Chosen One" was a theme I once arranged for a poetry assignment in English class to "write a song about what it feels like to be a teenager. Edgy as fuck and cringe as hell. I had so much power being unlimited cringe back then. That said I do think the song resonated with me for a reason. Besides the broader experience of chūnibyō (中二病), with that obnoxious anime protag phase I absolutely had, I do think the main sentiment of the theme of inheriting a responsibility I wasn't aware I signed up for by being born and having to move forward in a world that I suddenly understand is imperfect. Teenage years are about slowly easing into adulthood and realizing that childhood magic is largely a gift bestowed upon you by the adults in your life and that being a teenager is a sticky place where you have the rights of a child but are shouldering more of the responsibilities of an adult.

You get exposed to a lot of problems of the adult world and have no real experience to realize that even the stuff that looks easy on the outside is complicated, so you get this idea as a teen that either you're the smartest person to ever exist and being a teen is so unfair because if adults would just let you take a crack at it you could *totally* fix things (delusions of grandeur) or you see this yawning void of joyless drudgery and realize it's all too much for you so suddenly and you're being asked to help contribute to a world you barely understand and it's 3 AM and you're gaming even though you have school later and realize that your future, at least if you want a better world, is going to be picking up the pieces in the aftermath of problems you didn't create and you feel like a lamb to slaughter (this is mostly depression, I think.) It's coming to terms with imperfect parents, realizing you're alive against your will and it's nobody's fault, coming to terms with your own imperfections.

For Shadow it's a much more direct lyrical connection. It's him coming to terms with the fact that he was created with a specific purpose that he's being expected to fulfill, even though he doesn't have a full understanding of his past and himself. It's him realizing that he has to inherit the purpose he was born for and the life his past self led, including the harm he did in SA2 and during the events of Shadow The Hedgehog as well in order to remember even a fraction of who he is and what he has to do. The almost mournful wailing of the guitar in this alt-rock masterpiece and that uncertain synth droning vibration ending honestly carry so much. Absolutely a number 3 pick. Ratatosk DotNW could have had a vibe like this and it would have been so cool. Shadow stepping the fuck up and realizing even if he doesn't understand everything fully, that he still needs to make the right choice for the good of humanity, even though he's doomed to be, basically, alone in this task forever because he's functionally immortal. Absolute king shit and I love me a sad boy with a god complex, even if that sad boy is a 50+ year old alien hedgehog alien.

Crush 40 absolutely crushing it with "All Hail Shadow." My top pick. Unironically feels more like a vengeance song than the dark theme does. Shadow is in his element and this is audibly a triumphant song, but the lyrics are almost DANGEROUS. This is Shadow absorbed in the absolute euphoria of being able to justify all his pain by throwing down against an enemy he doesn't fully understand. He's been given blanket permission by the "good guys" to throw hands and he is more than happy to take them up on that opportunity. This song is "fuck it, we ball" at its finest. Shadow the Hedgehog woke the fuck up, couldn't remember a goddamn thing and went "neat, I fucking hate this but since there's nowhere else to go but up, let's fucking GO." The song unironically feels like a reward for being a goodie two-shoes without making you take off your edgy dark eye-shadow and goth/scene/emo clothing. The game is about an edgyboy shooting guns and driving vehicles and smashing everything in the way, so the song does lean a bit heavy on the glorifying violence aspect, even lyrically, but dear god. This is Shadow and the player wallowing in the euphoria and power fantasy of being given permission to raise hell. Delicious. 10/10 no notes.

"E.G.G.M.A.N." is a remix that almost lives up to the original. The extra synth and cutting the original vocals together to up the scat factor that showed up at the tail of the original rendition and cutting the lyrics as a whole down to just the essentials is honestly an incredible move. Keeps everything good about the original and amps up some of the parts that needed attention. Maybe it's the rose-tinted goggles, but the original will always be better in my opinion. But holy crap this is how you do a remix, especially considering that Eggman goes back to being a background character in this game rather than a playable and focal character like he was in SA2. Chef's kiss.

"Never Turn Back" is absolutely a baller ending theme. The sad reprise of "All of Me" as part of the intro is a stellar move. Crush 40 is incapable of missing. Not as triumphant as "All Hail Shadow" but the more steady, almost shanty/worksong rhythm has such a rugged and determined feeling. This is confidence. Shadow has decided what he's about now and he's sticking to his guns from here on out. He's moving forward regardless of what's true or not, he's decided what he wants regardless of and independent from everyone else.

This is my first time learning the history behind "Broken." I did see the trivia about it being an unused hero theme because they couldn't get the rights in time. I'm actually kind of glad. "The Chosen One" being written especially for the game makes it more fitting anyway and it wouldn't exist without the mishap, but I can definitely see where they were going with "Broken" and it honestly gives me that same feeling "The Chosen One" does about, well, what being a teen felt like. Coming into your own identity, but still wanting to be approved of by others, or at least not hated for being who you want to be, and the tension that sort of thing creates.

The Music from Shadow the Hedgehog is honestly always going to sit in a foundational place in my core. Absolutely stellar stuff that hit my squishy brain at exactly the right time in my life to get wedged there permanently. An absolutely incredible track list.

[idiotwithanipad]

Yes Again

(Based on this idea I had a while back: https://www.tumblr.com/idiotwithanipad/756252433408311296/alternative-ending-to-not-again)

Barclay wasn't expecting to get a call from Annabelle; usually the penny pinching, sly old fox would be the first to make his sneaky moves, the first to weasel his way into the Cooper's affairs. Yet, he wasn't expecting his loose jaw to drop and hit the floor.

There had been a terrible accident at Button House, during the brief and unprecedented thunderstorm that wafted over the two estates, Michael had been hurt, but that wasn't the reason that the tearful and panicking Annabelle was calling him. She'd begged for him to help, pleaded with him to do her this one favour; to call the Fire Service, since the dear old Gatehouse had been one of the three casualties to he struck.

With a chattering jaw and fumbling fingers, Barclay set aside his scheming side and dialed for help while Alison had Mike taken to the hospital. But the early hours of the next few mornings, before the sun rose in the sky, Mike and Alison were sent home with the advice to get plenty of bed red and ice packs for the multitude of atrocious burns that curled up the length of Mike's right arm.

The ghosts each fluttered and fretted around the car as Alison pulled up to their home.

"Guys, guys- please. Not now, okay?" Alison's brow was heavy and a pained crease in her cheek spoke volumes.

"Is Michael alright?" Cap questioned, leaning over Kitty's shoulder to get a look inside the car window.

Pat slipped between the group and peeked his head through the car window. Mike sat slumped in his seat, his heavy head cradled against his seatbelt like a sling, his lips slightly parted, allowing shallow breaths to escape in barely audible wheezes, his eyes closed.

"Bloody Nora-..." Pat started, pulling back away from the car and addressing his dead friends.

"He's not looking good"

Kitty gasped and pressed her fingers over her lips, even Fanny mustered herself to place a gentle hand over Kitty's shoulder as she stared at Mike's sheltered silhouette.

Alison ignored her concerned friends and helped Mike slowly rise from his seat, hooking her arm around his back and whispering sweet praises and encouragement as they stepped inside the house. The ghosts watched in exhausted shock and disbelief as Alison helped Mike up the stairs and to their room, barely any of them said a word at first, before their eyes turned to Robin who's eyes still lingered on the top of the stairs.

"Well, that was handled well!" Julian berated, flourishing his wrists in Robin's direction, gathering the caveman's attention.

The others each shared Julian's look of disapproval and disappointment, Cap even subtly shook his head as Robin stepped closer, looking like a kicked puppy as his knuckles strokes against his furs.

"- Didn't mean for-" Robin started, before Pat piped up.

"Didn't mean for what? Mike could've been burnt to a crisp, mate!"

Robin blinked in shock at Pat's rare and sharp tone.

"Was accident- I tried to help!"

"By doing what? By going out there and dragging young Michael into the firing line?!" Cap spat, edging his shoe forward as though looking like he held back from rushing at Robin and squeezing his neck till the savage fell limp.

Kitty wept.

"What if Michael won't ever be the same again? What if we've lost him? Alison would be heartbroken".

Cap seemed to crack his tough shell at the pitiful sound of Kitty's cries, turning his gaze from Robin to the rug beneath their feet. Even Thomas expressed no wistful hope of finally having Alison all to himself with Michael out of the picture. Instead, the poet sat, his hands clasped together before his mouth, just as shocked and nervous as the others.

Pat paced back and forth between the windows and the sofa before coming to a standstill and pointing directly at Robin, sternly.

"You wanna buck your ideas up, mate, cause if anything 'appens to that lad-" He couldn't finish, the Yorksharian just huffed out an agitated sigh and turned away, striding from the room through the wall.

The others watched the spot where he disappeared for a few seconds before subconsciously coming to the conclusion that enough was enough. One at a time, each ghost arose from their spot and left the room in alternating directions, passing through the walls and doors, not looking back over their shoulders at Robin who seemed to struggle with himself, silently begging for them to understand.

Julian remained, standing by the doorway, his face devoid of any emotion other than shock; the shock of being duped, mislead and lied to. His little chess buddy, the receiver of many a dirty joke the MP uttered, his closest friend- the same friend who may have potentially ruined the rest of their living friend's life. Julian had nothing to say, but tightened his lips and turned away, disappearing elsewhere in the house before Robin could explain.

Robin's arms dropped heavily to his sides, having just lost his tribe again. He rose his gaze back towards the stairs. Maybe, just maybe...

Alison brought in a fresh ice pack wrapped in a tea towel, placing it gently against Mike's scarred shoulder. A weak wince bloomed on Mike's face as Alison sat in the bed beside him, fluffing the pillows to the best of her ability without stirring him too much.

"Alison? -" Mike uttered under a short breath. Alison leaned in and clasped his hand gently.

"I'm sorry about the other day. It was selfish. I won't do it again" Mike spoke quietly, his eyes still closed, looking and sounding about ready to drop off into sleep at any moment.

Alison's heart tugged with guilt; the situation would've been laughable if it weren't for the dire consequences and the weakened tone in Mike's voice. It reminded her of the times where he'd caught the flu, or when a fun night lead him to demonstrate his throat bass to their friends.

Alison patted softly at his wrist and nestled closer to him, reaching over him to spread more of the blanket over him.

"Don't worry about that right now, Mike. Just get some rest, okay?"

Mike gave the slightest little nod and tilted his head to the side, resting his temple against Alison's shoulder. Alison didn't expect to get any sleep that night, but as the hours drifted on, Mike's condition didn't seem to worsen at all, giving her a shred of hope that all of this would just blow away like dry leaves in the wind. The slightest tint of blue in the dark sky outside alerted Alison of the time as she checked her phone.

5:36am

Mike would be fine; his breathing is normal, his pulse is back to a normal state, and his temperature is as it should be, he'll be fine. Alison finally let herself go, dropping off into a peaceful sleep almost instantly.

The Cooper's didn't sleep alone that night, another presence joined them in their room. One that watched closely and guarded. Kept it's eyes on Mike's stomach as it rose and fell with each shallow breath. One who's hand slowly hovered over the fresh scar on Mike's shoulder before pulling back as if the very scar gave off a searing heat as hot as lava. The presence had felt that heat before, forgotten how bad it was, how unfair. Nature's own darts shot at the most unsuspecting targets.

10:26am

Alison's eyes cracked open to the brightness in the empty bedroom. Her first and almost instant instinct told her to look over at her husband. He'd turned over in his sleep, his back facing her, the horrendous scars still there. At least he could move without help, mist be a sign that he's making progress.

"Mike? Mike?" Alison spoke, softly rubbing at a spot on his arm that was scar-free. Luckily, he stirred at cracked his eyes open, just managing to crane his neck to look over his shoulder at her.

"Mornin'.." He croaked. Alison smiled; at least he's looking and acting a bit more like his usual self.

"Want some breakfast?" Alison smiled. Mike gave a slight grin and let his head drop back against the pillow.

"Egg on toast, please" He smiled weakly. Alison gave a playful sneer and dropped her feet from the bed, pulling on her dressing gown and heading down to the kitchen.

In the brief silence in the bedroom, Mike felt the urge to stretch, but the pain still burned and chewed at his muscles and flesh, almost immobilizing him to the mattress. It took him a few attempts to sit up, propping himself up against the pillows and headboard, his eyes screwed tightly shut and his teeth grit.

He pressed his palms to his face firmly and dragged them down with a groan, his eyelids stretching down and blurring his vision. But he could see something, a blurred figure stood at the foot of the bed. That was quick; the eggs usually took a while to cook on that busted up old aga. And Alison's dressing down was white, not looking like someone had just flung wet teabags all over it...

Mike's eyes adjusted and his jaw dropped. That figure he'd caught a mere glimpse of in the storm stood feet away from him, staring at him, it's sunken eyes widened along with his. The figure stood frozen in place, like a naughty child caught out in some mischief. In a brief moment of dazzled panic, Mike involuntarily tilted his head to the side, only for the figure to copy him.

Alison just finished rooting the toasted bread from the toaster before Mike's shrill scream shook her to the core, even from down in the kitchen.

"MIKE?" Alison dropped the toast onto the table carelessly and sped towards the stairs, her mind racing with the possibility of even more trouble.

She burst into the bedroom only to see a pitiful sight. Mike practically leaned out of the bed, half his body leant against the bedside table, his eyes wide and his finger trembling and pointing towards the end of the bed. Robin perched, almost like a cat, at the foot of the bed before Mike, a gleeful yet stunned expression on his bearded face.

Alison stood confused and irritated in the doorway.

"Robin? What the hell are you doing? Get off the bed!"

Mike reached over, as if to grip onto Alison's dressing gown to give it a panicked tug.

"Alison? Thats- the cave one, right? The one I saw in the lightning? I've not gone crazy, have I?" Mike stuttered, never removing his bulging eyes from the caveman.

Alison looked between Mike and Robin, the picture adding up like a puzzle. There was only one definitive test...

"Robin, hold up as many fingers as you want. Just do it... " Alison said, a cheeky glint in her eye.

Robin shrugged, and held up his hand, all five digits rose.

"Mike, how many fingers is he holding up?" Alison asked, stepping closer.

Mike peeled his eyes away from the caveman and peered up at Alison, almost questioningly; like now is the time for games?

Mike returned his focus to the caveman's hand.

"Uh- five?"

Robin looked at his hand and rolled his eyes.

"No. Four. Thumb don't count. Four finger and thumb" Robin corrected smugly.

Mike looked like he'd swallowed a lobster, before a wave of shock hit him and his head dropped down. The poor guy had fainted. Oh boy, this was going to be a long day....

[weswhoreland]

Heavy Glow Snippet

A very short snippet of what I've been working on lately. It's a prologue of sorts, for the fic I'm tentatively calling Heavy Glow. Hopefully you guys enjoy it! Thank you for all the engagement and for sticking around even though I haven't written in months. This has been so fun to work on, and I'm hoping I can whip out some Wes x readers for you guys soon too. I'm really hoping I've finally conquered this Writers Block, and this gives me hope.

yes, this is a very self indulgent Wes x OC fic. Sue me. I'm having fun.

Ship: Wes Borland x Original Male Character || Rating: G || Words: 536

It’s a terrible idea.

Daniel Kincaid knows this from the moment he sees the promos for the show. He knows it as soon as he buys a ticket. And he knows it the second he steps into the venue. Really, this fact is something he’s known for the last decade; that this is all one big, horrible idea. A mistake waiting to happen. Something he can’t win, that will only get him hurt.

And yet, here Danny is, out on the floor of this venue. He’s two drinks in – a Vodka Red Bull to wake him up, and an Ultra to calm him down. So far, it hasn’t worked. He’s been nervous and jittery all night. The openers were a good distraction, decent bands that he’s never heard of, but enjoyable nonetheless. But the closer it grows to the main set, the more Danny’s anxiety mounts.

What if he doesn’t remember him? It’s possible, Danny knows. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen each other in person, and Danny’s… well, different. Much different from the last time they were together. And as well as they’d known each other in the past, that’s what it is. The past. It’s been ten years. A long fucking time, in the grand scheme of things. A long time for them to grow apart, to change. There’s every chance he won’t remember Danny, and every chance that even if he does, they’re just too different from who they used to be. And if that’s the case…

Well, Danny isn’t really sure what he’ll do. He takes another sip of his drink, letting himself get lost in his own thoughts. The truth is a hard thing to swallow. 

He’s still stuck on that fact when the lights finally dim. The crowd cheers, a swell of anticipation washing over the room. And it’s there, between the heavy glow of the lights above and the moment they fade away, that Danny feels like he can’t breathe.

He could leave. He could turn tail and run, slip out the door and be out of this forever. He could go back to his normal life, the one he’s been living for the last decade, and pretend none of this ever happened. It would be so easy. He could just–

And then Danny sees him.

Wes looks good. Older. His hair’s longer, a little unkempt. But even with the slight differences, with all the years that have changed both of them, he’s still Wes.

Danny holds his breath.

The band – Black Light Burns – launches into their first song. It’s one Danny’s heard briefly before. Mesopotamia. It’s energetic, and Wes is just as good on stage as he always was, prowling around as he sings. Danny stares, can’t take his eyes off him. And suddenly it’s 1997 again. Danny’s nineteen, and he’s in love with the man he met at the record store. It’s 1997, before all the fame and the money, before the obligations and commitments. It’s 1997, and all that matters is the two of them.

And I’d give it all up just to be with you.

It’s been ten years since Danny met Wes Borland. And tonight, he just might talk to him again.

[ultravioart]

Peepers you fool, of course Hater needs you! You’re his emotional support watchdog. (Seriously though, I love your deathglare ideas. Please keep them coming, I’m obsessed with these two awful awful men)

ALL ABOARD THE HATE TRAIN!!!! WOO WOO!!! thanks tho LOL I get shy about posting my death glare rambles, but I really do love these two goobers. emotional support watchdog is hilarious. Perhaps Hater is Peepers emotional support front man lol, Peepers absolutely has a "DO IT FOR HIM" board with pics of Hater that he looks to for motivation. Something about this silly ship just fills me with inexplicable joy, fr. It can be cute or sad or uplifting or a tug of war. So many scenarios, and it brings out interesting facets of their characters and what they represent. If Wander is Love (fueled by self-love=true love), and Hater is hate (fueled by self-loathing), then Sylvia might be... tough love? Or how it's tough to love, but love is strong/love makes you strong? And Peepers is ...puppy love? or how a person can fall in love with hate, relying on hate to give them strength? etc...?

I think it's notable that Peepers' and Hater's issues seem to mostly stem from their environment, with Peepers having a harsh home life offering little love, and Hater most likely waking up with no idea who/where/when he was, with no one to teach him how to navigate such a scary world. Dejected and abandoned, they STILL managed to find each other in this big, lonely universe and become a part of a great, terrible thing Together. Lonely, together. Broken, together. Dorks, together. Hating others, together. Loving each other, in their own ways, together, and no one else has to know! Hurt people hurt people, but sometimes hurt people find each other, and perfectly fill in each other's gaps. It's a bit sad, and certainly not the healthiest, but for a time those two had real hope between them. A hope for a better life than what the universe currently handed them, a passion. A love, or what they could muster of it. Peepers was the very first person to see just how GREAT Hater truly was, and that makes Peepers special. Peepers struggles with feeling insignificant and forgotten, so I think he takes great pride in knowing he's special like that. I imagine even if Hater never admits it, Hater will always cherish that about Peepers, and to think Hater maybe kept Peepers around all this time bc Peeper was the first person to truly like him...? Yeah. yeah. And maybe that's why he believed a little watchdog when that said he could get the WHOLE UNIVERSE to like Hater too? yeahyeahyeah And yeah.... evilly, but still!!! Peepers is special in that regard. And as I imagine that's a big place of pride, I also see it as a place of anxiety for Peepers. Peepers is nothing without Hater, at least nothing remarkable. And Peepers seems to have a fear of being replaced/losing Hater. Because sure, Peepers was the FIRST to see Hater as the greatest, but it could have been anyone else in the universe in his place. Peepers was just lucky enough to get the opportunity to be the first. He feels lucky every single day.

And that's why Wander is such a threat. Not just to evil schemes-- that one's obvious, but to Peepers' very significance.

Hater is his everything, in both an emotional and literal sense. Without Hater, he's nothing, just another insignificant, forgettable, teeny tiny watchdog in a sea of eyes that only look down on him. But with Hater he's big and he's strong and he's everything he's ever dreamt of, others finally take him seriously and others actually look UP to him and... ...and Wander is a better friend, a better mentor, a better companion, and can love Hater in nearly the same way: authentically. That probably scares the bajeebus out of Peepers. It's one thing to lose the empire, heck even his job, but to lose Hater?

I imagine Hater and Peepers, though at first glance one sided, have this two-way street to their relationship: they don't entirely see each other as a person, instead they see each other as a part of themselves. A piece that is deep down truly scared, angry at the universe, ambitious... worthless. Yearning to be loved because it's so hard to love yourself and wanting to be someone's everything because you are utterly nothing. "Who would ever love a loser like me" meets "Who wouldn't". And a super genius stays silent so his very first fan can feel big and mighty for being smarter than the greatest in the galaxy. I think something that I am particularly empathetic towards is that they both embody common insecurities within boyhood/manhood. Wanting to be the "cool guy" and "popular" because loving yourself is really hard. Fitting in is hard, "friends" are hard, dating is hard, girls are confusing, and boys are scary, and society too often labels being authentic as "uncool" so there's a lot of posturing or acting like a jerk to compensate for lack of confidence. Or the insecurities guys too often face of not being strong enough, big enough, tall enough, manly enough, not being taken seriously enough by peers. "If only I was bigger, taller, cooler..." It's all rubbish and what really matters is who you are on the inside. Sylvia learned that, and Peepers has yet to learn that. Lastly, I really do think Peepers pours all the love he can muster into Hater. That includes self-love. Because Lord Hater is everything Peepers wishes he was and isn't, so how could he NOT love that? That in turn does make Peepers a bit possessive and dismissive of Hater's feelings. Good fuel for aus that explore character development..... (I'd also like to think, since Hater was weak to lil bits' googoo eyes, that Hater has a soft spot for cute things... and Peepers is pretty cute. Perhaps consider turning a weakness into a strength there, ey Peepers?)

[morningstargirl666]

Sneak Peak

Sneak snippet for chapter 27 of TBBW, and I say snippet, but really its a couple of pages - though that isn’t much in the grand scheme of things (yes, it’s turning into another long chapter and I refuse to split this one up, so like, we’ll see how long this one gets).

Sam didn’t notice the change, not at first. The nagging feeling at the back of his mind that something was off.

It started at Caroline’s house, when he decided to make those damn burgers he never got to eat. After the day he’d had, he’d just assumed the craving to eat some good, greasy food was the wolf not so subtly telling him it needed its daily dose of protein. Just scratching an itch for his next fix, if you will. He hadn’t considered he was actually hungry. Like, vampire bloodlust ripper-style hungry. When he pulled over on the way back to the mansion after leaving Caroline’s, just because he saw someone walking down the street, and then proceeded to pounce on them the second he got out the car like some kid of feral cat-

Well, now Sam was considering it.

It didn’t matter that he’d already drunk an entire blood bag on Liz Forbes’ couch with her daughter not two hours earlier. It didn’t matter that he just drained some innocent bystander dry in the middle of the fucking street-

The hunger didn’t go away.

Keira found him in the Mikaelson’s kitchen later, dripping head to toe in blood because he’d killed two more people on the way back, before raiding the Mikaelson’s entire blood store in the fridge, draining that dry too. And it was only then, when his body was still shaking with bloodlust, and the fear in Keira’s eyes matched his own, did Sam finally admit to himself something was terribly, terribly wrong.

Now, Sam wasn’t a ripper. He hadn’t been concerned about the bloodlust part of becoming a hybrid, mostly because Klaus hadn’t been, and Sam trusted Klaus. He’d given him the Vampire 101 with the same annoying sharp-edged bluntness that somehow - Sam had no idea how, Klaus was paradox at the best of times - bordered on gentle, teaching him to feed and most importantly stop feeding, regardless of how bad the hunger got. Sam, having reigned in his temperamental wolf side for most his life, took to the lessons like a fish to water, and when Kiera arrived, she’d given him her own tips which he’d taken to heart, and just like that, the bloodlust part that came with being half-vampire never arose as a problem. So much so, that Sam started wondering what all the fuss was about, even aloud, which often ended with Klaus muttering under his breath about how easy kids had it these days.

(“Surely it was hard for you to fight off the hunger the first time-”

“Well, yeah but-”

“Exactly. Now imagine doing that without someone explaining in your ear what to expect, or how to control it. And then add in the factor you’ve been fighting the bloodlust for weeks, not even aware it is bloodlust, and your control has finally snapped, and maybe, you might be close to what it felt like for me when I tore into my first victim’s neck.”)

Sam had just thought Klaus was jealous that he was better than him at something. Now though, Sam saw it for the warning it was: the greatest illusion is the idea of control. You can’t control bloodlust. You can learn to live with it, learn to fight it, and some are better at fighting it than others - side-eyeing you Stefan Salvatore - but you can never permanently control it. That would be like trying to wrestle a saddle onto a dragon and expecting it not to burn you to a crisp the minute you get close.

So, seeing his hands dripping in blood and still feeling the urge to lick every drop of his skin was certainly a rude awakening.

He’d barely gotten himself together before the Mikaelsons arrived. Kiera had more or less thrown him into the shower, and he’d listened to her talk on the phone through the tiled walls as lines of red water dripped down his face into the drain below, trying to focus on her voice instead of the dozen or so human heartbeats belonging to the people the Mikaelson’s employed. By the time he got out and pulled himself into a fresh set of clothes, her witch, Delilah, was waiting for him, standing right next to Kiera in their bedroom, grey hair twisted into an elegant hairstyle and arms littered with bangles, warm brown eyes kind.

She’d asked for symptoms. Kiera had answered, the hunger building in Sam’s throat stopping him from doing so himself. He spent a good few minutes entranced by the pumping artery in the poor witch’s neck, and it was only when she snapped his fingers in his face, repeating her question and asking if Kiera had left anything out, that he finally tried to concentrate enough to formulate an answer.

Because there was something else, now that he thought about it. The left-side of his chest hurt too, right over his heart, like a pressure was building and Sam couldn’t release it.

Delilah had nodded, brow furrowed, and then quickly began to run some diagnostic spells. Kiera hadn’t questioned what she was doing - the two had known each other for about two and half centuries, and with it came a loyalty that was nigh on unshakable.

(Kiera was Delilah’s daughter’s godmother, and her granddaughter’s godmother, so really, it was a family business at this point)

When Delilah had finally finished all her spells, an answer not immediately on her tongue, Kiera had spoken up, prompting her.

“What is it?”

Delilah had paused, for the first time since Sam had met her, seeming unsure.

“It is…strange.” She had begun. “Physically, there is nothing wrong with you. You are not on the brink of dessication, nor are you recovering from it, and your undead heart is fine, if beating at a slightly higher rate than your vampire counterparts-”

“And magically?” Keira had jumped to ask, familiar with how these things worked by now.

“The pain, the bloodlust… you can feel it, but I cannot sense it, which leaves me to conclude either it is something mentally crippling or…” She had stopped, staring down at him where he sat on the bed, a consideration in her eye, before it snapped into realisation. “...Or it is not his own. An echo, almost.”

As soon as the words had left her mouth, Sam understood. The puzzle pieces clicked into place. Sam may not be dessicating right this second, but they knew someone who was. Or already had.

Klaus.

Sam was starving because Klaus was starving. Magically starved to the point of desiccation. And Sam’s chest hurt, experiencing the symptoms of more or less a heart attack, because Klaus’ heart had stopped.

The realisation had been sickening. Sam had nearly thrown up the entire contents of stomach right then and there. But after the horror and nausea, then came the rage. A fury so hot and all-consuming, that if Delilah’s attempt to dull the pack bond between him and Klaus hadn’t succeeded - therefore dulling his second-hand sympathy bloodlust - he would have punched a hole through Elijah’s face the minute he suggested making a deal with Elena and her merry band of idiots.

As it stood now, Sam wasn’t ruling out punching Elijah in the face just yet.

Can anyone take a wild guess how this chapter is going to end? Lmao

[dumpster-lizard]

We need more shipping positivity out here so I'm gonna go off about all the Ghirahim ships I can think of and why they're rad. Now, if you purely like vanilla ships, you might not like these for the same reasons I do! I love toxic and/or angsty dynamics, and love the darker sides of all these ships so I'm going to focus a lot on those parts. I'll look at the vanilla perspective where I can too. If you like this and want me to try another Zelda Character (preferably a villain) shoot me an ask and I can do this for other characters!!

GhiraLink - The OG- I feel like most people who ship him with anyone shipped him with Link first. I certainly did. There's a ton you can do with them man. Link is tied to Zelda as Ghirahim is tied to his master and both are pawns in the greater scheme of things. You can do so many ways - personally I do prefer the darker route that plays into the creepy obsessive side of the character. The softer versions of the ship are nice too, though personally I like it better when you can see Ghiras development in these depictions. They can find solace in each other post game- and if you hc Demise was a bastard to Ghirahim this is also an opportunity for him to unlearn all the bad shit. Ghirahim becoming Link's new sword too? agh, Good Soup.

GhiraDemi: Master/Servant dynamic is ALWAYS a winner in my book. The adoration Ghirahim has for Demise is fantastic, and makes for a great dynamic whether it's returned or not. Again, I do like the darker route here, cause they are both mean bastards- I like the idea of Demise rubbing off on Ghirahim... but also think it would be rad if Ghirahim was deeply disturbed and violent BEFORE they met. Let them be terrible together, let them be CODEPENDANT! The angst potential for this ship is absolutely fantastic, and regardless of the level of toxicity you prefer - you KNOW he didn't handle it well when Demise was sealed, and he was left alone for centuries. I

DemiGhiraLink: Real ones know. Kudos to the folks who have made it their own and put different spins on it.

GhiraFi: I've drifted away from this ship, but it's still the parallels that get me. How they are functionally for the same purpose but so different? Have they always been like that? Which one changed? There are so many stories you could give them that could provide a variety of rich histories. I personally love the angst portion here. Love a good betrayal. Adore the scenarios people come up with where Ghirahim speaks to Fi during the events of the game, whenever she's separated from Link. And, of course, depending on whether you think she was changed, he could realize there's something wrong, this isn't the person he knew, and he would never get the closure of explaining himself. Or, if she remembers... Ghirahim being cold to her to avoid his feelings so he can do his job. Maybe a solemn understanding on Fi's side.

GhiraZant: Two super different guys dedicated to the same master. Both are massive creeps in their own right (see Zant's confrontation with Midna after the water temple), but have way different motives. Zant wanted to be a king. Ghirahim wanted to serve a king. I can see that being a good source of conflict. Perhaps they could find solace in each other if they ever understood they were being used.. or just magnify each other's obsession with their master. I suppose it depends on how much either of them remember. Does Zant remember the end of TP? Does Ghirahim remember the end of SkSw? The timeline of Hyrule Warriors is pretty unclear. Of course, there are AUs where Zant finds Ghirahim in TP...

GanGhira: Very similar to Ghirademi, but give Ghira some internal conflict about serving this mortal who's so different from his perfect master. Would he hold Ganondorf to higher standards? Would he just settle? Would he admire Ganondorf with the same fervor he did for Demise? Or, perhaps he sought Ganondorf out purposefully to continue his master's legacy. I have a lot of thoughts of a sword spirit mentoring a younger Ganondorf though sword fighting, dark magic, and seeding a deep hatred for the Goddesses. And it wouldn't be difficult, Hyrule really does create its own enemies.

GanGhiraZant: Combine the above two and add in Zant's dynamic with Ganondorf, and you've got some good soup babes GhiraVaati: I like Ghirahim, and I like Vaati (understatement of the century). And these two could NOT be more different. Vaati is essentially the hylian equivalent of a fae that decided he wanted to be a god and has a serious issue with authority. Meanwhile, Ghirahim is drawn to authority to the point he "waited his whole existence" for the chance to bring his master back. Now, perhaps Ghirahim would admire Vaati for this - ignoring his minish origins. But if we throw Ganondorf in the mix, I'm talking rivalry, I'm talking petty fights, hohoho it can get UGLY! Good opportunity for Enemies to rivals to friends to lovers here.

Getting into ships I'm not too knowledgeable on --

GhiraZel: Look. Heroine/Villain ships rock. Especially if you go with the HC Ghirahim betrayed Hylia and/or was her original sword. Perhaps he has some lingering regret about that. Perhaps he has mixed feelings about sacrifincing her- or perhaps he redirects his feelings into something more malicious. This isn't a ship I'm personally drawn to but there are quite a few possibilities and Godspeed to the folks that ship this, you rock.

GhiraVolga: Look a dragon getting possessive over what he deems a valuable treasure just gets to me ok. Two monsters, both keeping a barely restrained facade, but one that can turn into a fire-breathing monster at will? It's been a while since I indulged in this ship, but I know firsthand there ARE fics out there that explore this better than I can.

GhiraImpa: Could be an interesting history with these two. Considering, Ghirahim certainly have very intense feelings towards her in game. To the people who ship this rarepair I see you and I love you.

I know I definitely missed some, so feel free to send me any other rarepairs so I can send them some love too!

[velathetanager]

Supernatural AU: Official Kay Origin

Kay is not the only one. There are seven, actually. About ten years ago, underworld scientists got funding from the ring of Greed/Avarice to create a mimicry of the Seven Swords concept that hadn't been touched since before the Fall (as far as they knew) using a nigh-limitless resource. Specifically, void power. The results were meant to be weapons. Objects. Certainly not sentient. But science isn't exact. And the seven experiments got out, eventually escaping to Earth and hiding among humans. The Seven, each bearing a number and mark on them matching one of the Seven Deadly Sins, don't fully know their story, but they're drawn by instinct to try and find each other. All of them have names, but I haven't decided any except for Kay's. Also, all of them love their wielders/hosts and will do terrible things to whoever tries to hurt them.

Pride found a princess of a little-known island, and with its power/knowledge and her ideas/connections (that totally don't involve weapons dealing or trafficking a drug that grants humans supernatural abilities), they turned that small island into a powerhouse nation in the 5 years since their coronation.

Envy found a business executive, and together they cut the others out of their jobs until they controlled the whole company. They've been helping Pride and its host with certain parts of their operations.

Greed found a con man that was down on his luck and the two go around stealing without getting caught. That part's just for fun, though. They mainly broker deals for the Six (all of them want it to be the Seven, which will spell problems for Houston) and handle all finance things (with Envy).

Gluttony found a nice guy who runs a restaurant chain. It's become a money laundering scheme since then, but the food is genuinely good. They also created whole new drugs that don't affect the body, but the soul (so they don't appear on drug tests or damage the body's systems), and had a physical fight with Greed to keep prices low.

Lust found a dancer, and through some very shady actions, they have come into ownership of clubs where dark deals and the like can take place, drowned out by music, dancing, and sounds of the night.

Sloth found a streamer whose mansion sometimes has to serve as a safehouse. One you access through tunnels. Also, they've become a hacker (partly to get an easy edge for games), and sometimes they have to do some track-covering for the others in their team.

And Wrath? Well, Wrath found a guy being shot at and jumped in. That guy is terrified of her power, but he loves her anyway. He named her Kay. Kay, when she has permission to use Houston's body, has been running hits for this smooth-talking guy who pays really well. Her instincts tell her she and Houston can trust him, but can they? Can they?

Please reply with commentary/questions, I want to talk about this so much

[charmac]

Ok so my idea for dtamh day, after seeing the new promo, the gang is scheming over Dennis, possibly even them behind his car not working, they are trying to cause the breakdown either to punish him for being terrible or to prove they can be as bad, Mac possibly getting his own back for the Johnny thing, possibly they may even make Dennis cry else we just get angry Dennis to the max and raging a lot. The diamonds and pressure cooker thing makes me thing the gang wants Dennis to explode.

You?

I've talked about this before a few times, but never hurts to keep going!

Nothing in the promo (besides the diamonds) surprised me. Basically since March when we got a shitty video of Glenn filming outside a parking garage I've been convinced this episode would be the Tesla Garage Story from TASP.

I don't think the Gang will actually have anything to do with Dennis' plot, other than serve as a parallel to his rage (and probably be all together in the Cold Open, setting up the fact that it's the Gang boiling Dennis' blood, and why he needs a break). And I say the diamonds surprised me, but I was certain we would have a Gang B plot to parallel Dennis' plot (which I talked about at length, but alas, verbally).

For pacing and comedic timing, they need something to "cut to" between Dennis' increasing rage. So, the Gang wouldn't actually be involved in what's happening to Dennis (nor are they actively contributing to his problems that day). Essentially, Dennis has taken himself out of The Gang's next 'stupid/insane/ridiculous' scheme and is of 'no contact' for the episode, as per the characters motives in the plot. But for the writing/audience, Dennis not having any involvement with The Gang's plot is to parallel the two and push the heavy handed metaphor that both plots are under pressure, building up to an explosion.

That brings me to this moment from the trailer that has yet to be used, and we now have Dee and Mac's outfits to connect (even though, like, 90% of takes from the trailers haven't been used at this point...).

My best guess is this is when the pressure cooker is about to explode, which should parallel Dennis' explosion but wouldn't it be so, so nice if it didn't? Wouldn't it be so fucking beautifully poetic if there is no explosion. We build and build and build, tension on the bar side, thinking they're about to destroy the place, tension on Dennis as he gets more and more frustrated with the car, and we think it's all going to explode... but then, it doesn't. And we cut to Dennis, who finds his moment of zen. He makes peace with himself and his situation somehow and we get, something (what? I don't know, we'll see soon).

We know he goes to the beach, I can only hope that's toward the end and not the beginning, that our resolution is beautiful fallout.

Basically my idea/structure is: Gang together, opening credits, majority of the episode is back and forth between stupid making diamonds scheme and Dennis' flop at a mental health day (both plots have no canon connection, but are parallel/meta heavy), climax of explosion (will it happen?), Dennis moment (hopefully beach), hopefully Gang together, end credits.

(Not sure if this needs the disclaimer, but I don't like, have any more knowledge than anyone else does about the episode, this is just all my personal thoughts and speculation, lol)