#through the briar

[ofallthingsnasty]

I know I haven't been following you for that long, but I have gotten invested in your fanfics and ocs so FAST. Not even kidding when I say that I spend tons of time just daydreaming about your fics lol They just scratch that itch I have for dark stories, it's amazing😭😭😭 And damn all these character lore drops are just watering my crops😫 Especially the bits about Evan and Micah.

I knew I was right to be scared of Evan since the beginning but yikes on bikes, I didn't expect him to straight up resort to maiming you if you act out ⊙▂⊙ I imagine that if the reader did ever manage to escape while Evan was out, it wouldn't be at all out of character for him to go "well reader, looks like you're losing the 'having both of your legs privilege'🙂" And he would feel super bad about it, but he would still do it. Probably while crying and saying something along the lines of this is going to hurt me more then it's going to hurt you, while the reader is begging and crying for him to not do it. Ughhh I got chills just typing this out💀Yeah Evan scares me quite a bit, anyways amazing character cant wait to see more of him lol🥰

And our favorite resident jerk Micah Bell, I do hate his guts but I have always found his character really morbidly fascinating and fun to witness in game. I sit there and go 'wow this guy is such an asshole.....why isn't he in more scenes and missions?(look if you hate him then that means that Peter Blomquist did his job perfectly👌) Micah is definitely one of my favorite villains ever and my goodness you have done this awful and nasty man justice in 'through the briar' 😖 And that bit of lore you posted just adds to it. Micah already doesn't like the reader in the slightest, in the beginning he saw her as an annoyance, an easy target to bully, and a opportunity to one up Arthur. But from what you posted, if the reader ends up pregnant he seems to genuinely resent you for the situation "you" put him in. To Micah you just had to have the utter AUDACITY to get pregnant, when he just wanted to have a little fun. And now he has to do all this work to look after the reader and their children (by work it means he probably shows up once a month, twice if he's feeling extra generous. And hands you a single can of beans that prob expired three years ago, 15 dollars and a quarter, don't forget the quarter💀all that to feed maybe 2-4 kids? Gee thanks for the help🙃)

I imagine whenever he does come home its like walking on eggshells for the reader and the kids, cause Micah is looking for any reason to get verbally and physically abusive towards them, especially the reader. (btw do you think Micah has even a hint of affection for his children? I know he doesn't love you in the slightest💀 but maybe the kids got a fraction of his cold, dead heart😭😭) In the little escape attempt from Micah scenario you have planned, I can honestly see him calling the reader an 'ungrateful bitch' for running from him after all he's done for you🙃🙄 That he didn't have to do "right" by you after you got pregnant, but he did. And this is how you repay him? And after that little speech....yeah it won't be pretty for the reader🫥

Anyways enough of my rambling😅As you can see your fics are just feeding my brain hahaha (holy crap this is a long ass post I'm sorry lmao💀)

Oh my god, this is so sweet!! I am amazed that my writing could have such an influence on anyone 😭💕 You don't know how much internal back-and-forth I did before I finally was able to publish 'through the briar' - because I thought the concept was so silly and had big, big self-doubts but that fic really showed me that there is always someone who wants to read whatever idea it is one has 💕💕 So, thank you, really!!

I knew I was right to be scared of Evan since the beginning but yikes on bikes, I didn't expect him to straight up resort to maiming you if you act out ⊙▂⊙

Yes, yes you definitely should!! I only scratched the surface of his true nature in 'capture kill' but I was trying to leave some hints for the readers - I see him as a very 'classic' yandere, like the ones I used to read about when I was younger. Desperate, lovesick, willing to go to hell and back to have you - the only thing that holds him back is his little wolf pack because following their code is intrinsical to him. He's easy to underestimate, especially for a defiant darling.

I imagine that if the reader did ever manage to escape while Evan was out, it wouldn't be at all out of character for him to go "well reader, looks like you're losing the 'having both of your legs privilege'🙂" And he would feel super bad about it, but he would still do it. Probably while crying and saying something along the lines of this is going to hurt me more then it's going to hurt you, while the reader is begging and crying for him to not do it.

Yup, exactly! Like I said, it's all for the "greater good" - he already fucking hates what happens to you in 'capture kill' but again, he'll surely be the one to impregnate you and then you two can forget all about this, right? Then he will have earned you fair and square - and no one can take you away from him.

I sit there and go 'wow this guy is such an asshole…..why isn't he in more scenes and missions?

gdfdsgh same!! I would KILL for more lines like "No need to keep your face covered now. It's just you and me, sweetheart." during An American Pastoral Scene (link with timestamp for your viewing pleasure ehe) - I soaked all these missions up like a fucking sponge, both absolutely disgusted and captivated.

I imagine whenever he does come home its like walking on eggshells for the reader and the kids, cause Micah is looking for any reason to get verbally and physically abusive towards them, especially the reader. (btw do you think Micah has even a hint of affection for his children? I know he doesn't love you in the slightest💀 but maybe the kids got a fraction of his cold, dead heart😭😭)

Absolutely. You look at him a little funny and he'll be going off in an instant, laying into you as though you're his personal punching bag. For his kids? I think it's complicated. Again, he did write to Amos - whether it's to stake a claim on his kin or because of some brotherly love, we can't know - but I do think that even that man can't help but melt a little (like on a molecular level) when a little horde of Bell children vies for his attention. That lasts for three exact seconds, then he's back to cussing them out. What I'm trying to say is that he has his moments, as many abusive parents tend to have.

And I agree SO MUCH with everything you've said about Micah and the reader-character. Really, the only good thing about him is that he's gonna die in a couple of years. Although that would leave you in even rougher shape, financially. Maybe we can both hold hands and dream about John magically coming into money and helping her out or something 😭 She is so fucked. I feel so fucking bad for my own creation, especially because she's a really shy, nice little lady. She really doesn't deserve it.

(Don't apologize omg!! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts!! It's the highest form of praise that my writing makes you think™, it means I did something right 😭💕)

[o0kawaii0o]

Papa and mama are flirting 😳🌹

[pjs-everyday]

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[thelilylav]

Ok but like imagine this: you're best friends with the straightest girl in the world. She makes jokes about you being more fun and amazing than any prince. You make jokes about her naming her firstborn after you. You're destined to lose her. One day your whole world will be gone, all your friends and family, and it will just be you and some stranger who came to rescue you because it was written down. It's all any of you have ever known. You will marry a boy born a century after you. But you see the way she smiles when you guys talk about your future, so you keep it down. It's what your parents expect, what your friends want, what the world is telling you is the right thing to do. You swallow down the apprehension and fear and eventually it becomes so easy it's second nature.

Then something changes. A girl says this isn't how things have to be. Maybe this isn't even how things are supposed to be. And you're angry, because you've been playing this stupid part your whole life and it's as bad as hers, so why can't she just fall in line? Can't she see the pain she's causing everyone (the pain she's causing your best friend)?

You try to make things right. You tell people that the girl is wrong, that things aren't meant to change, that everything is fine. You do everything you can to make your best friend feel better, you push down your own thoughts on the situation because they're not what's important right now. Your opinion has always waited in second, it clearly can now too, right?

Right?

But you can't stop thinking about that day. The sound of the page tearing. At the time it sounded like something horrible, like something disgusting and forbidden and scary. But you keep going back to it. You keep thinking of what would happen if you did the same. If you didn't have to leave your friends behind. If the terrible future you'd resigned yourself to your whole life wasn't as inevitable as it once seemed. The sound of the tearing page begins to sound like freedom.

Your best friend doesn't get it. She thinks you're being selfish and erratic and crazy. You push each other away. Of course she didn't understand. She never thought about things like that. Never thought about you like that.

Things keep changing. More people say they haven't been happy with the way things are. Your other best friend says she's in love with a boy she's not supposed to be in love with, and you start to realise that things are more broken than they seemed.

You go to Wonderland. You made a mistake, a big one, but you're trying to fix it. Things are still awkward between you and your best friend. She still thinks you're wrong. But she accepts that she can't change your mind, and you guys are beginning to admit that, even though things can't go back to how they were, maybe you can still have a future together. Maybe you don't have to lose her after all.

[claws-and-all]

Unpopular opinions

Today’s been one of those days where all my least favorite theories regarding Tamlin have been popping up, so I thought I’d share some of my unpopular opinions in case anyone else feels the same.

1. Tamlin should not get his own book

From all the male povs we've seen thus far, it's evident that sjm struggles to write male characters with complex feelings. They tend to lack depth, have the libido of a teenager, and the romance aspect is nonexistent. This coupled with the way she handled Nesta's "healing" journey (a character she supposedly loves) - suffice to say, she will not do justice to Tamlin's journey nor his inner monolog.

On top of that, we don't need a Chaol 2.0 book. The only people I've seen enjoy Chaol's book are the haters who became slightly lenient towards him. I feel like that book was not meant for the fans who actually loved Chaol from the get-go (like me). It was yet another "healing" journey that did not heal him 😒 (it's been 7 years since it's release and I'm still mad at it 🙈).

Also, just like Tam, Chaol is another character that is hated by 90% of the fandom. His book had the worst timing. In-between a high stakes book where you NEEDED to know what happened next and instead, you're forced to read a book that took you completely out of the action. It garnered more negativity towards a character that was already so heavily hated upon. It was such an unfair thing that occurred, and his fans were the ones that had to deal with the backlash of our favorite character being torn apart by the fandom. I truly hope history does not repeat itself with Tamlin. The fandom is waiting for the elriel/elucien confirmation, and I can just see the hate pouring in if it's a book about Tamlin instead. He deserves infinitely better!

2. Tamlin and Lucien should never be friends again

I'm sorry, I know a lot of you love Lucien, I'm rather 50/50 on him. If elucien happens, it will mean Lucien is now a part of the NC family, bil to Rhys, friendly with the ic, uncle to Nyx, already friends with Nesta and Feyre. That's not the kind of energy Tamlin needs in his life nor the constant reminder of everything that he lost (Rhys is doing a fabulous job of that already).

I liked Lucien and Tamlin's relationship in book 1, but I was not a fan of how he kind of abandoned Tamlin for Feyre. It's like he became more her friend than Tams as the series progressed. I think Tamlin deserves a better friend - someone who will have his back and not his partners back. And someone not so heavily intertwined with a court that has caused so much pain to him. I can almost see Lucien slowly trying to convince Tam that the nc guys are actually "the good guys". Who knows, maybe he'll also pull a Feyre and compare Springs food to ash since nothing can come close to precious NC food, you know.

That being said, I have no idea where such friends will come from because every character we've met thus far automatically dislikes Tamlin and are fans of nc guys (still waiting for the explanation as to why Jurian, Vassa, Eris, and even Nuan are Tam haters?? Make it make sense, Sarah!).

Alternatively, I do love angst. I would love a storyline of Tamlin moving on with his life without Lucien. As in his future wife/mate/partner doesn't even know who Lucien is. Whilst Elucien is also thriving in the human lands/NC/DC/AC. Yet the entire time, they both feel like there's a missing piece in their life. They would see each other at HL meetings or balls. Yet they're too stubborn to speak to each other. Until decades later when one of them finally breaks the ice. The yearning and the hurt, love that shit lol

3. Tamlin x Briar?

Let’s keep that in the dark where it belongs. - nuff said!

4. Elain should not even look in the direction of Spring

Just because she likes gardening doesn't mean she should be spring queen 😑 I'm sure she can follow in the footsteps of her sister and brother in law and trespass into Spring if she needs to see flowers in abundance. It is afterall, nc tradition to lecture Tamlin in his own court and kick him in the shins. I really don't want to see her becoming friends with Tamlin, helping him rebuild Spring, making it her second home, etc etc etc. Like the point above, she and Lucien have enough homes to go back to. They don't need an extra one in Spring. And Tamlin doesn't need any more nc "friends".

[violant-apologia]

i don't know if i ever shared this apologist writing i did a while ago, so:

“I have penned poems in all the many colours of the Neath. Here I shall relate some of their effects.”

Peligin: “Writing in peligin inspires some kind of fear, irregardless of the content written. I have seen battle-hardened zailors left pallid at tame horrors, and the hands that pull society’s strings rendered clammy with fear of unseen metaphor.”

Violant: “My colour of choice. It nails a piece into memory, inspires relation to various memories. It is no substitute for quality writing, make no mistake – but it renders poignant words yet more so.”

Apocyan: “I find apocyan tales the most inspiring to readers: the easiest to visualise. They are perversely compelling; you can find yourself nodding along to ideas you would usually find rather disagreeable.”

Viric: “Writing in viric seems, at first, to have no abnormal results (besides pointed comments on the novelty of green ink). As could be expected, the effects become pronounced behind the mirror, shaping the reader’s dreams to imitate the writing.”

Cosmogone: “I had expected cosmogone and viric to have similar effects, being together the palette of Parabola. A surprise, then, that it seems to have more immediate results: inspiring nostalgia and memories of sunlight, true or false. Perhaps the glass-rumours I’ve heard about the Parabolan sun have some merit…”

Irrigo: “I’ve never written in irrigo.”

Gant: “Gant is a strange colour. It seems to affect the writing more than the reading; I find it unnaturally hard to write in it anything other than what I know to be true. It's a useful tool for dispelling self-deception; if only you didn’t have to snuff all the lamps to read it!”

[briefhottubcoffee]

Hey so I love spyxfamily, yet I have some issues with the pacing lately. I miss The Forgers like crazy and I am desperate for more Yor content. I suppose that’s what I’m most worried about, she’s not getting fleshed out enough and being used to her full potential. She’s such an amazing character!

That said, I do have complete faith in Endos storytelling capabilities. He’s created a truly amazing story with compelling characters (side characters included) awesome world building, and both light and dark themes. I think, in pointing out the slow pacing and lack of the Forgers recently, we’ve forgotten all the awesome directions the story can take with all the different plot points Endo has set up at this juncture of the story.

I feel like, based on the narrative, the story is about to reach a big climax, a change in the status quo for the Forgers. Exciting things have happened, but nothing has truly changed the status quo, or the relationship dynamics between the main characters. Since we have reached 100 chapters, and the way the narrative is propelling upward, I think we are due for a big shift. Not the biggest, but a change for sure. Just remember all that’s been set up! Here are a few things I’m fairly confident is gonna happen soon to the Forger’s in the story:

Manga spoilers obviously!

- Twilight is going to continue to try to distance himself from the family, because of the Wheeler stuff, but he will be challenged on that and face a work vs family thing. This is a big theme of the series obviously, and it will take a lot to break down his walls. But it will happen.

- Twilight will learn something about Anya’s past. Most likely related to her knowledge of classical language. Perhaps her history with other families or where she is from. I doubt he’ll learn about her mind reading, that would be huge, but I’m honestly kinda hopeful he does because I don’t want Anya to have to hide anymore. Whatever he learns will affect him and hopefully bring him and his daughter closer in the end.

- This means we will finally get the Anya backstory Endo’s been hinting at for a while! Again, I expect this to lead up to a sweet family moment that brings them closer.

- A new Yor arc. We are truly due for one and I don’t think Endo is ignoring her purposefully. It just may take a while to set up because it will be a big climax of the story. Perhaps Garden lore. A big assassination that affects her character or the plot.

- Yor will get closer with Melinda and maybe find out what the heck is going on concerning her relationship with the other Desmond’s.

- As this happens I think Garden will come into play. I don’t think they like the Desmond pro war agenda. Yor may report her findings from Melinda to them or something. This would be a continuation into that one panel of the Shopkeeper when Yor brought up that Loid was interested in their politics. They will start questioning Yor’s husband as well.

- Damian will confirm Anya can read minds, but will keep her secret. Maybe Becky finds out as well. Dimitri will come into play somehow. I would love to see Damian stop bullying Anya so severely and truly start treating her like a friend, while still struggling with his crush.

- Some Authen’s chapters with some information on their backstory. Are they related to Anya’s mind reading stuff?

- We were recently introduced to Chloe! Yuri’s co-worker and potential romantic interest. I think we will see more of Yuri x Chloe. This will hopefully help him in his crazy obsession with Yor lol.

- Yuri maaay become more suspicious Loid is Twilight (a reach I think). He may also start to like Loid more! (an even bigger reach lol).

- BUT I do think Endo is setting up a funny chapter where Yuri has to stay over and Loid and Yor will have to share a bed! That’s been hinted at several times!

- I also think we are leading up to a big moment between Twilight and Yor. Some type of physical affection. (I’d love a hug, but I’ll take some erotic hand holding once they’re forced to share a bed or something) It’s not a reach, the setup is there for a shift in their physical relationship. This will obviously change things between them. Again, Twilight will be confronted with his feelings after the Wheeler arc and struggle with his feelings for Yor.

- Yor is definitely going to realize she is in love with Loid.

- Finally, after the Wheeler arc, Handler gave Fiona some important patient files for Twilight. I think this will lead to a big break for Strix. He may also meet Melinda as Loid Forger in this capacity.

So yeah, based on basic narrative storytelling, we are due for a climax and change in status quo in sxf! I’m excited to see which way the story goes, there are so many different directions. I’m confident some of these points will happen sooner rather than later. Of course Endo could throw us for a huge loop. But he has setup all of these points and it’s bad storytelling to leave them open ended with no closure or shift in the story.

We have to remember Endo is setting up a truly big story! We should be excited about that. I think it’s fine to criticize the slow pacing (and lack of Yor) but I can only hope it is just building to something big!

[nekoro-san]

I’m starting to seeing lot of comparison obsessed gags for Yuri in recent chapters.

But here is what Yuri bought to Anya ( which clearly is Loid daughter and person he currently hated) without Yor wishes to.

Yuri was bad mouthed yes, but he does care for Forgers deeply. He’s like Loid in beginning in the progress to open mind about having a new family due to all the lost of their parents.

Yuri was still too young and being headstrong to accept. But action does acts faster then speech. It was proven following in old chapters and it’s a small detail we can see that in him.

In bus jacking arc, Yuri was rushed to asking his boss when he heard about Anya situation was kidnapping right away although his group trying to hiding from him. He did used for Yor excuse to made it “ For the mission” just like Loid to motivate him but these 1st panel can show how worry he is. And he does care for the kids to the point breaking the rules, brush out orders from the group and almost risked his life.

And here Yor was requesting Yuri to tutoring Anya and at 1st he was not motivated to do so but after Anya said she does want to get good grade for making Yor happy it’s moved him and trying to giving him a motivation to study.

This is from the light novel but Yor was requesting to Yuri babysitting Anya and he did taking her to a career center to having fun with her.

This is my favorite line from Yor to him the end of lightnovel,too.

[ofallthingsnasty]

Hey Nasty hope you're recovering from your dentist scare lol ( Same honestly, my dentist is always telling me to relax and calm down before they do the x rays because I freeze up😭)

But your red dead reblog(Arthur is so fine in that gif🥵) has me thinking about the"through the briar" aftermath again😫 Specifically after Micah kicks the bucket(Rest in Pieces Jerk lmao) With John bumping into the reader a few weeks after he killed Micah and seeing what a bad situation she's in. I can just imagine it goes something like:

Reader your still here? What happened to y- *sees the gaggle of blonde haired, blue eyed children running around behind her and the oldest son looks a lot like a certain someone he blasted a while ago* Ahhhhh shiiiiit💀💀

Honestly I think even John would feel pretty sorry for her and want to help at least a little, cause lets be real, reader and her kids are probably all half-starved and wearing nothing but rags. And also maybe for the fact that John probably noticed how much Arthur cared about the reader before the relationship fell apart, and feel some type of obligation to help her out of respect for Arthur's memory idk

But either way I am still choosing to believe John finds reader and gives her 3 gold bars to start over🥲

Hi!! That's so sweet of you, thanks! It's such a paradox when I go in for my own appointments because on one hand, that typical dentist office smell is so comforting to me because I like what I do, on the other I always have the cost of everything in the back of my head 😂 I guess I'm just scared of getting a big, fat bill fhdjshefdj Right?? His bad fucking stomp in that gif has me squirming in my chair lol 😳 I could stare at gifs of him all day

I think even John would feel pretty sorry for her

Oh my god, absolutely. If he sees you with three little mouths to feed, a shadow of the woman you once were - that is definitely going to sting, especially when he does the math and realizes that at least the oldest kid is Micah's brat. I mean, John grew up with that gang, with Arthur, Hosea and Dutch - and the way you've gone from full-cheeked and fat, with a timid demeanor and a sweet laugh, to haggard, dirty and utterly exhausted is just another reminder of how things have turned to shit. You're the living, breathing proof of how his life came crashing right down. He probably doesn't recognize you at first but when he does, he'll make sure that you at least have enough for dinner that night, flustered at the way you smile at him despite everything that has happened. (Because you're still so sweet to him just like years ago - and it's a great injustice that you aren't married to an honest, just as kind, man.)

Honestly I think even John would (...) want to help at least a little, cause lets be real, reader and her kids are probably all half-starved and wearing nothing but rags. And also maybe for the fact that John probably noticed how much Arthur cared about the reader before the relationship fell apart, and feel some type of obligation to help her out of respect for Arthur's memory idk But either way I am still choosing to believe John finds reader and gives her 3 gold bars to start over🥲

I think so, too. John is a little hard-hearded, not the smartest and plenty selfish, sure - but he also has a good heart. He won't save you and the kids by moving you into Beecher's Hope on his dime (he has his own shit going on, haha) but you can't tell me he wouldn't find a way to help you start a new life somewhere else. You've never been the closest friends but even he can see what Micah did to you and how rancid it all is. He'd find a way. Hell, maybe Charles is kind enough to take you up to Canada to find a place for you and your kids (maybe a new husband, too, after passing you off as an American widow - no one knows you up there and with marriage being less about love and more about convenience maybe there is an older bachelor who can support you and the kids and doesn't mind them all that much. Not a pretty fate, still, but everything is better than Micah.)

Reader your still here? What happened to y- Ahhhhh shiiiiit

fhjhsd I had to laugh so hard at that because I can HEAR him saying that, exactly like this, too. The way he'd need a solid minute to realize what's going on only to swear immediately afterwards bahaha

[tea-potato-gt]

A Borrower at the End of the World part 14

Word count: 2500ish

Previous / Next / All Chapters

TW: blood, hunting/killing/skinning a rabbit for food, emotional/child abuse, and panic attack described. (Oop, writing that out makes this chapter sound crazy, but it’s not that bad (I don’t think).)

***

Three Years ago...

THWAP.

The sound of crushed leaves and a quick thud interrupted the two people sitting at the tree.

One of their traps had been activated. Jace and Briar froze and looked around the tree towards the trap. A gaping hole in the earth sat where they had laid leaves. Jace stood up and quickly walked towards the pitfall trap. 

“I think we got something, boss!” Jace looked back to the branch, but the small man wasn’t there. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw taller blades of grass move erratically towards him. After a minute the borrower walked out from the grass. 

Jace couldn’t explain it, but just looking down at this man made him feel vertigo. It was like he was standing on top of a skyscraper looking down, but he himself was the building. His own legs were the support beams. He felt like his body wasn’t his own as he looked at the borrower standing in the grass.

“What is it?” Briar called up, his voice soft and distant, even though he was only a couple of feet from Jace. 

“Uhhh– Oh!” Jace bent down, he reached into the hole and brushed the leaves away. Inside the box sat a wild hare with terrified eyes. It’s heart was beating erratically as it pushed itself in the corner furthest from the boy. Jace grimaced, he was kind of hoping they would catch something ugly, like a goose or a snake. “It’s a rabbit,” said Jace.

The borrower finally caught up with the boy, he stood before the pitfall trap and looked down. To Briar, this simple hole looked like a sheer drop off a cliff. Jace was half tempted to pull the man away from the edge, but he remembered he promised not to touch the borrower. This was a grown man, he can take care of himself, Jace reasoned. 

“Looks like a sizable meal, could last a couple of days or a week. For me at least.” Briar laughed, “It would probably only last you one meal with the way you and your sister eat.” That last part was a little quieter, so as not to offend the giant pre-teen.

Jace nodded, but he wasn’t really listening. He was staring at the rabbit as it stared right back.

The Borrower continued, “Later I’ll show you how to catch other things, like fish. You can’t just go on eating only rabbits, you’ll get sick if you only eat hares for a long time, not enough protein. But an occasional rabbit makes for a good meal. And the fur is perfect for a winter coat.”

Briar looked up, he couldn’t see the boy’s face from where he stood. Briar was a little taller than the boy’s ankles and he couldn’t really see past Jace’s torso. But Briar could tell the giant’s posture gave off an air of uncomfortably, like he wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment. 

“Jace? Are you alright, boy?” Briar called up.

“What?” Jace finally looked down at the borrower. “Did– did you say something, Boss?”

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine.” 

Briar wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t want to push further. “Then let’s get this over with.”

Jace got onto his knees and reached down into the hole and pulled the box out. He set it on the opposite side of his body, where Briar wasn’t standing. He watched the rabbit in the box, eyes that were usually all black showed the whites. This creature was petrified. Terrified of Jace. 

“Now get your knife.” Briar finally broke Jace’s thoughts. As commanded, Jace grabbed his pocket knife without thinking. But his hands were clammy and he almost lost his grip on his weapon when he looked back at the rabbit. Locking eyes, it's anxiety was contagious. Jace didn’t feel good. He was sweating profusely. Was the sun always this hot?

Jace reached into the box and wrapped a shaking hand around the small rabbit. He felt its soft fur and its rapid heartbeat through its chest. Jace’s own heart thundered in his ears. Was my heart always so loud? My chest hurts. Too tight.

Jace grabbed the rabbit and began lifting it out of the box, but he wasn’t prepared for what happened next:

The hare started to scream. 

Jace immediately let go of the creature, it dropped back into the box with a thud. He had never heard such a horrifying scream. He felt completely sick to his stomach. Was the world spinning before? I’m going to throw up. 

Tears began welling up in the boy’s eyes. His vision became fuzzy, he couldn’t focus on anything. 

No. I can’t cry. Don’t cry!

A familiar angry voice echoed in the back of Jace’s mind. A voice he hadn’t heard in three years. It chastised him, telling him to Man up. Crying was only for weak sissies. The voice continued to grow louder and yell more insults. It screamed that he was a pitiful and disappointing excuse of a son.

The turmoil of his mind overwhelmed Jace. He wanted to scream and cry and throw up and run away all at once.

He had to kill this rabbit to survive. His sister depended on him. But he couldn’t kill it. But he had too. But he didn't want to. He had to.

Tears began to fall.

I can’t do this.

The angry man in the back of Jace’s mind yelled he wasn’t going to amount to anything if he couldn’t stop crying and just kill this stupid pest. That only made Jace more upset. 

Jace raised his knife with a shaky hand, it glinted in the sunlight. The boy’s breath hitched and his heart did somersaults. His stomach ate itself away.

I can’t kill it. It’s so small. It’s so fragile. I don’t want to kill it.

It’s scared of ME.

The angry voice of his father continued to shout to kill the creature or he would never be a man. 

Too much was happening, Jace felt like his body was dying. The world was disorienting and he completely forgot where he was—

“JACE!”

A new sensation tapped rapidly on the boy’s right leg. This new feeling coming from outside his body grounded him.

Jace returned to the present. He was still in the forest. The breeze wafted through his hair, his face was dripping with tears. The boy took a long shaky breath. He opened his eyes wide as the tapping sensation became a continuous gentle stroke on his leg.

Jace looked down. There stood a small man, no more than 5 inches tall, tenderly stroking the boy’s leg, bringing him back to reality.

“Jace?” Briar finally got the boy’s attention.

Jace didn’t break the no touching promise, the borrower did. The small man willingly made contact with the boy, reaching for the only part of the bean’s body he could reach. 

“Are you alright?”

“I… I,” Jace sputtered. He could barely speak, his voice was shaking so much and tears continued to fall from his eyes. 

Great, Briar thought, I’m stuck in the woods with a mentally unstable giant pre-teen. 

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Jace was silent, he looked in the box, the rabbit was still there, still alive, staring at him with terror. He let out a shaky sigh as he looked to the sky. My father was right. 

“You can’t kill it can you?” The borrower seemed to read the boy’s mind.

Jace looked down, unable to meet Briar's eyes, then shook his head. “I’m sorry.” Jace’s voice was hoarse. “I’m sorry for being so… weak.”

Jace expected to be berated by the small man, for him to yell or leave, maybe even throw things. It wouldn’t be the first time Jace’s crying aroused that kind of reaction from a man.

“You are such a kind boy. I admire that.”

Jace looked down at the borrower in surprise. The man still stood right next to his leg, gently petting his skin in circular motions. Keeping him grounded. Keeping the boy present. 

“You can’t bring yourself to kill it, is it because you don’t want to…” Briar searched for the right words, “end a life?”

Jace nodded.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Briar understood, “Listen, I would much rather you be kind to creatures smaller than you. Than you not caring if they lived or died.” He gave a weary smile, “If you hesitate this much to kill a rabbit, then maybe there’s hope for me too.”

Something snapped in the boy and he crumbled into himself, inadvertently bringing his face closer to Briar. “I-I would never hurt you…” Jace started sobbing again, He’s afraid of me too.

The borrower smiled up at the child, “I believe you.” And he meant it. But something in the back of Briar’s mind egged, the boy would never hurt you on purpose, but on accident? You could be dead in an instant. And what about the other bean child? She’s more dangerous than her brother.

Briar shook that thought out of his head, it didn’t matter right now. “Jace, let’s make a new deal.”

“Okay.” The boy hesitated.

“If you keep the three promises you already agreed too, and as long as I stay with you: I will kill any animal you catch so you don’t have to.”

Jace slowly nodded.

That was all the confirmation Briar needed. He stepped back from the giant and untied his rat skinned cloak. It dropped from his shoulders onto the ground. Then he reached for his shirt and pulled it off. Briar didn’t want to get blood on his nicer clothes. Cleaning his cloak was a pain, most of the time large chunks if fur usually fell out if he tried. He didn’t feel like making a new one. Though a new rabbit fur cloak sounded pretty nice and warm. 

Jace let out a soft gasp, the first thing he noticed was how muscular the borrower was. If this man was the size of a human, he could easily be a bodybuilder.

The next thing Jace noticed was the menagerie of scars that stretched across his 5 inch tall body. The stories those scars could tell. He had several on his torso, one of which looked like he was stabbed in the stomach and the weapon went out his back. 

Briar grabbed his hook, needle and knife. Where he was going he’d only need these to attack and defend himself. Everything else would be extra weight. This wouldn’t be his first tussle with a rabbit and based on the deal he just made with the boy, it probably wouldn’t be his last.

Jace watched as the small man swung his hook several times. On the highest swing, released the string. The hook sailed through the air and embedded itself in the box. Briar pulled on the string to ensure its security. Then he began his assent up the 90 degree climb cardboard box. 

Briar reached the top and stood on the box wing. He looked back at the Bean. “You don’t have to watch,” Briar was now standing at level with Jace’s shoulder. “In fact, don't look.” 

Jace gulped, nodded and looked away. He promised he’d do everything the borrower asked of him. 

When Jace’s eyes weren’t on Briar anymore, he walked around the edge of the box until he was just above the rabbit. He pulled out his needle, aiming right for the rabbit’s wild eye. Taking a deep breath. Then, he jumped.

Jace didn’t see what happened, but he could hear it. The cry of the small creature as it panicked. It was painful. Jace thought he was going to be sick all over again. But, eventually the scampering and crying stopped with a soft thud. 

Jace held his breath. The only thing he heard was the wind in the trees. Till a soft coughing sound came from the box.

“B-boss?” Jace said worriedly. 

“I’m fine.” The borrower coughed. “Just swallowed a bit of goo.”

“Can I look now?” 

“Sure.”

Jace turned back to the box, one of the corners began to turn a dark shade of brown as it absorbed fluids. When Jace peered inside the box his heart just about stopped. The borrower was covered head to toe in blood. 

“Are you alright!?” Jace began to panic, unsure what to do. If all that blood was the borrower’s, he should be dead! How is he still standing? How do you perform first aid on a man about as tall as a hand? Jace was about to completely freak out, but the smile and laughter from the smaller man made him pause.

Briar found the fear on the boy’s face to be hilarious. He never thought a bean would care about him this much. “I’m fine, none of this is mine.” He smiled up at the boy and held out his arms. “Well, I’m fine other than the fact I smell terrible and these boots are probably ruined.” Briar sighed. But, he’ll be making new boots out of fluffy rabbit skin soon. 

Jace was at a loss for words. Looking at the dead rabbit that was almost twice the size of the borrower. He could never imagine trying to fight a creature that big. Jace didn't even have the stomach to kill a bunny. With his promise to Briar, he wouldn’t have to kill anything any time soon.

Once again, Jace was saved by a man the size of his hand.

***

The rest of the afternoon was taken up with Briar washing himself in the creek, but not before he instructed the boy on how to gut and skin a rabbit. Briar only knew how to to teach by example, which caused more blood and guts to splatter on his already filthy body. Jace in comparison only needed to wash his hands of blood and bile, while Briar was soaked head to toe.

“You never want to gut or skin animals near your house. It attracts predators.” The borrower advised. “Don’t want no foxes coming to your camp looking for an easy meal.”

By the time Jace had finished stringing up the skinned rabbit fur and leaving its guts over other pitfall traps, the sun had almost set. He needed to get back.

They left Layla alone at the abandoned house all day. She got lonely most of the time and had an unfortunate habit of wondering off. But she had a headache that morning, so Jace wouldn’t be surprised if she stayed inside and played by herself all day. 

Jace and Briar made their way home separately. Even though Briar knew the boy would get there faster than himself, he didn’t have the courage to walk near a giant in the dark. 

In an empty pot Jace carried the skinned rabbit. It was free of its fur, bones and intestines. All that was left was the meat for the kids to cook and eat. 

Jace had never cooked rabbit before. He had never properly cooked anything before, but the borrower promised to catch up with him and explain how to at the house. 

“I’m back!” Jace pushed open the door with his shoulder. Usually at this point his sister would drop whatever she was doing and run to give her brother a big hug. Nothing happened. “Layla?”

The sun had set, the room was dark and cold. No sign of his sister. 

Then he saw it. A small hand sticking out next to the mattress. Jace walked around their bed, his eyes widened and panic set in. 

On the floor lay a little girl. She wasn’t moving. 

Jace dropped the pot and screamed, “Layla?!”

***

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[pjs-everyday]

entranced by each other at the grocery store… and peanuts.

03. First Meet 🥬🥐🥜💕 // Twiyor Month @twiyorbase

[deconstructthesoup]

This... this is probably an absolutely insane idea, but...

*small sigh, head in hands, mumbling under my breath*

A Slay the Princess "Barbie: Princess & the Pauper" AU where Damsel is Annalise, Prisoner is Erika, and... god help me, but you know that Opportunist would be the perfect Preminger

[fadedstarsfms]

who: you choose it's an open starter where: random street by the woods/pit

Briar had a lot on their mind recently after the festival and nothing they could do seemed to get them to calm down. After one of the many long days of self isolating, Briar decided that they needed to check out the pit for themselves. That maybe it would help them ease their mind. So once the sun set Briar set out to where she heard the pit was. However once there, doubt started to creep in.

Keeping her distance Briar just stood there staring at the pit that was now a crater, not knowing what to do next. It seemed normal enough but it was hard for them to believe that this was the cause of so much destruction and death. Which brought back the similar thoughts of was it really the demons that caused the blood on Briar's hands or was she truly the monster that the demons loved calling her?

All of Briar's inner alarms went off when her vampire senses felt someone nearby. Shit. She wasn't normally the person to just go off and explore things like this plus she didn't really want to be left alone with someone she could hurt. "Sorry. I didn't mean to just be standing here creepily." Briar called out, trying to at least let the other person know she knew they were there. "I'm a journalist and just wanted to check it out for myself. First eye account and all that." Which wasn't exactly a lie but it sure as hell wasn't the full truth either.

[carmenscarnations]

The difference between Briar and Hopper's notes from their Mothers

[xbomboi]

apple: briar, remember when we first became best friends?

briar: only when i’m thinking about where my life went wrong.

[x-enocyon]

new ldb in the works