#to save brain cells or whatever to those who wanted to see her there but are not interested in the show itself

[diari0deglierrori]

Valentina Romani, Bardot (2023)

[glass--beach]

Hey I just want to offer some support, plurality is not easy to accept in yourself and more common than people think. Whether that matches you or not, that remains to be seen, but there is zero harm in reconceptualizing yourself whichever way helps you in the moment.

You can be plural and not tell anyone.

You can be plural and identify as just one person.

You can be plural and tell some people but not others.

You can be plural in a way that Tumblr really doesn't like.

I'm a diagnosed DID system. My therapist told me something interesting;

Everyone has parts of themselves. My therapist for example, has a part of her that wants to be a good therapist and pay attention to her client and do a good job. And she has another part of herself which wants to be in PJs eating ice cream and playing games. That in itself is what plurality is, as a concept. Everyone has parts. Everyone is plural in some way.

Whether or not you have parts/alters/headmates (whatever your preferred term) isn't the question. Everyone has those, kinda. But for most people, the line between them is very blurred. Most people can choose which one they want to be, or listen to, at any given time.

A dissociated system is someone who can't choose that as easily. Whose parts don't flow into each other and merge and blur like most people's do. The gaps between them are oceans not rivers.

I'm not going to diagnose you with anything or tell you how to identify and god forbid anyone mentions syscourse I swear I will kill them with an axe. (Joking for legal reasons).

My point is that I understand the embarrassment and shame and pressure associated with figuring out "whether or not you are plural" and I want to help you speedrun to the part where you accept yourself however you are. If you recognize that there are different parts of you, or other people in there with you, then that's how it is. That's your brain's way of doing self and identity. Don't agonize about being correct. Just do what feels healthy. What helps you heal and function and feel good about yourself.

I know that I felt a hell of a lot better after I accepted that I do have multiple parts and just let those parts indulge in their own interests and hobbies and personalities. We went from constant self loathing to actually loving ourselves as individuals and having fun and making our own friends. The amnesia sucks, the disorientation sucks, don't get me wrong, sometimes life SUCKS. But you really dont need to make it harder for yourself by worrying if you're faking or wharever. Humans are complicated and your brain cells aren't arranging themselves so that they apply perfectly to the rulebook of how the mind is expected to function. You are unique and if you discover that plurality is a more accurate way of thinking about yourself then good on you for working it out.

Sorry if this was unwelcome advice. Im just some guy who likes your music and follows your tumblr and I'm hoping I can save you from at least some of the pains I went through when I started wondering if I were plural. The golden rule is do what's useful for you, not what's in the "rules."

yeah totally, i think feeling that your self is divided and the idea of experience fitting into one “self” is a social construct that is not going to fit everyone’s experience. it’s easy for anyone to talk in terms of having multiple parts in what is mostly a metaphorical sense. for me i have no control over which side is going to take over and they pull me in radically different directions and some of them hate each other lol. like i deal with self hate a lot but it’s occurred to me that that necessarily requires a separate subject and object and there are two completely different patterns of behavior and personalities attached to said subject and object. i feel if what i had seen before as maladaptive habits operate as a fully formed autonomous consciousness with its own wants and needs and even its own positives it makes sense to see it as a different person. ive also started to experience this self as often outside my body, only coming in sometimes. it’s very very weird.

if this is the way i’m gonna look at it then i for sure have at least around four different selves that come in at random, usually for at least a week but sometimes for months and they each contradict the others in a way that has made me very frustrating to deal with for others and made it very difficult to complete projects. it’s like, fundamentally contradictory beliefs, but with consistent enough modes that drawing boundaries around them might help me make sense of my own experience and not get too bogged down with one way of thinking.

[madwomansapologist]

Scoring Points (In their hearts)

Masterlist | Rules | Taglist | Library | More Kyuma | AO3

synopsis: Led by your brother, your crew decided to play the King of Clubs game. Arisu might be certain that the best he can do is understand this land, but you are determined to make sure he will survive. Whatever it takes.

warnings: Niragi is his own warning, but the things I gonna make him suffer also deserves some warnings. Hands will be lost. Nudity. Its a aib oneshot, we gonna talk about death and blood and violence and all those bad things. One person will die, only one, try to guess who. Power of friendship. Karube and Chota will be mentioned. Eldest sister worried about younger brother. Younger brother worried about eldest sister. Canon divergent. I love Goken, and I like to represent him as a excited puppy. Happy ending, I promisse. This was supossed to be about Kyuma, but I love the whole team so...

It was a silent trip. Half of you wanted to say something, but the other wouldn’t endure to listen to someone pretending to have a response. So you kept your mouth shut. It was enough to deal with your conscience already.

You thought that nothing would ever be harder than the Ten of Hearts, but the only reason for you to be alive now is luck. None of you knew what to expect now. That game simply started. No names, no rules, no cell phones. If it wasn’t for Ann having a car, or for Kuina to find a safe building y’all could hide in, you would have been shot by the King of Spades. Not even Arisu can save you from a bullet.

Arise led your crew to a new game arguing that it was the only way to finally discover what was happening on this hell land. You told him that you think this is some kind of country, but he said that Hatter ideas clung into your mind. Usagi didn’t believe that knowing what's happening would make that big of a difference, but the majority won. 

After all, no one really had a choice. This sick world is ruled by a simple statement: or you play, or you die.

“This is…” Tatta stumbled over the words. “Giant.”

It was the biggest arena you saw since you started playing. It was a harbor filled with shipping containers stacked on top of each other until they were tall enough to block the view of what was inside of it. You could smell the salty aroma, but you couldn’t see the ocean.

“It says we need six players” Kuina read the board on the table with electronic bracelets.

Usagi was quick to add: “But there’s only five.”

And with just a second to imagine what was happening, all questions were answered by two coarse words. “Six, actually.”

And suddenly all the fear of the future turned into anger. 

The world really isn’t fair. If it was, Karube and Chota would be with you both, laughing and drinking and gossiping about anything that moves. It it was, anyone who ever thought about touching a woman without her permission would be fucking dead. If the world was fair, Niragi wouldn’t be standing there.

Just like Kuina, your first action was to go to another place. Just get back in the car and let him rot. That was your brain talking, because your true will was to punch him until he couldn’t even open his eyes. Punish him for what he did to Usagi. For what he did to your brother. For what he did to you.

When you three were used by Chishiya, Niragi made sure that y’all would suffer. He beat your brother, and almost… He said he would have his way with Usagi and take you next. You think it's kind of ironic that what saved you both were the warning of a new game.

But when Usagi took the bracelet, you knew that you had no choice but to play with him. She saved you and your brother after the death of your friends, you could never abandon her.

“Don’t look at me like that”, Niragi said as he got closer to you. “I know you missed me.”

You took a step forward. Tatta held your hand. You broke free from him and kept walking until you were facing Nigari. You could smell the rotten flesh. Good. Now he is as rotten on the outside as he is on the inside.

“If you don’t play right, if you don’t help us win”, you smirk. “I kill you myself.”

Niragi licked his upper lip. “You're not the first to say that.”

“But I will be the last.”

With your bracelet on, the gates opened. “Registration is now closed. The game will now commence.”

Walking inside, you realized how big that arena was. It took a full minute to walk past the corridor. And now, able to look inside it, you knew it was some kind of a labyrinth. A giant labyrinth, made with shipping containers. 

“What is this place?” Tatta asked.

“The King of Club’s team is now entering the field”, said the announcer, almost like she heard Tatta. And the voice was replaced with rock.

Each from a different side of the labyrinth, four people paraded to the center. And, well, they were cool as fuck. And because of that, you knew it would be harder than you can imagine. Every single calm and centered person that you meet on this land showed you what hell looks like.

“Welcome to our game field”, looking at those four people, you didn’t see the man talking. Until you did. “I am the King of Clubs, Kyuma.”

And he was fucking naked.

Looking at a dead body was less embarrassing than that. You and Kuina looked at one another, trying to make sure that you both didn’t go crazy and started imagining naked people. But if you were to go crazy, it would have happened sooner.

“Okay, let me introduce everyone”, said the naked man. “First we have Shitara.” A hairy man raised his arm.

“Uta.” And she was the coolest woman you have ever seen. In your old life, someone like her would make you blush.

“Maki.”’ He was just a normal average man. Meh.

“Goken.” And he was, for sure, the crazy one. A naked man was right in front of you, but that guy… you could sense the craziness.

“Pleasure.” Silence. “That's all the reaction I get?”

“I think you are weirding them out.” Uta seemed annoyed.

Shitara rested his hands on his thin waist. You were sure it wasn’t the first time they had this conversation. “Put some damn pants on.”

“What? Not a chance! Nudism is an upstanding practice. A social movement with hundreds of years of history! Clothing is a social construct. No biological necessity. Humans should be bare and raw. After all, it's only natural.”

He wasn’t shy. And, well, he didn’t have a reason to be. His body… Don’t get distracted. Don’t look down. Don’t look down.

“Listen, we don’t care about that” Arisu started, annoyance clear in his voice. You hold his hand, trying to stop him from pissing someone off. “Just tell us who you are.”

“Who are we?” The naked men glared at your brother. “We are the citizens of this country.”

You couldn’t help yourself from laughing. You tried to cover your face, but it didn’t make a difference.

“What's so funny?” Goken asked.

“Nothing.” You responded to him, running your fingers through your hair. Looking at Arisu, your smile went bigger. “I told you so.”

Goken and Uta made eye contact. She nodded with her head, and Goken got excited by that. They agreed: you have potential. Maybe your team can finally give them what they are looking for.

Looking at you, not that you have noticed that, Kyuma explained that his team created that game. Shitara was the brain of the project. Six against five. It still looked like your team was at a disadvantage. There were a lot of rules, but they weren't that complicated.

The game lasts two hours;

Both teams try to collect points;

The team with the highest total at the end of the games wins;

Each team begins with 10,000 points;

Players divide these points among themselves before the game begin;

The minimum amount is 100 points;

You can score points by battle, items and base;

You can pair up with a teammate;

Wristbands can give you an electric shock;

Point below zero: game over;

A tie is a win for the King of Club's team.

“So… it's a huge gamble.” You said to yourself. You started to stretch in the way Usagi taught you. How you wish it was a game where you could sit all the time. You are the best in Diamonds, your weakness is those games that demands a lot of physicality. “In a huge arena.”

“You now know all the rules”, Kyuma said. You used all your energy to look at his eyes. “Let the game begin.”

Arisu asked about coming back to the real world, but Kyuma clearly disagreed with the definition of real. “We want the truth”, you said. “Real or not, the truth.”

“You want the truth?” Kyuma repeated. “Face me with everything you have.”

“All right, then.” You caressed Arisu’s shoulder and gave Kyuma your brightest smile. “We’ll play your game.”

“What are you doing?” Arisu whispered when the other team was gone. “Why are you so confident?”

“All will be determined by how we chose to distribute our points.” You whispered back. Nigari was the last person you wanted to hear your strategies. “This is a math game. Play it right, be fast, and we can win. We faced harder games, didn’t we?”

“We didn’t. We literally didn’t. That's the whole point.”

A discussion about how your team should split the points started. Split in equal ways is fucking dumb, no one with working brains would do that, but how else should it be done? Of course Arisu knew what to do.

The faster runners get fewer points. Usagi and Kuina have 300 each. Slower runners get more. Arisu, Niragi and you have 3100 each. And the guard gets the least points possible. Tatta has only 100, but he can touch the base anytime he wants to get infinite points.

“You like me that much, uh?” Nigari asked to Usagi. Running in the labyrinth, you imagined how amazing your life would be if Nigari was mute. “You chose to pair up with me.”

“It's because I won’t care if you die in front of me.”

Laughing, he looked at you. “And you?”

“It’s because of her."

And almost without noticing, you three faced Maki. Together, you three have 6500. No way he can have more than that. With Niragi between you two, Maki did what anyone would do: he ran. 

Kuina and Arisu were trying to find items. 

“Okay, what's happening between you and Usagi? Or between you and your sister? Why did you let them pair with Nigari?”

“Nothing.” Arisu answered, but he wasn’t convincing. “Strategy. Usagi asked to pair her with him, and my sister… Well, she didn’t ask anything, she just did it. I don’t know. I think she is trying to protect Usagi.”

“Or to kill Niragi.” Kuina completed.

“She never killed anyone.” Arisu opened a shipping container. “She was always the kinder of us. My older brother is the brain, I am the useless, and she is the heart. She would never kill anyone.”

“A item!” Kuina screamed. “We did it”

With another 2000 points, they closed the shipping container. And Kyuma was there to congrat them. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Sounds like there is an issue. You are fighting with two of your teammates.”

As Kyuma stepped forward, Arisu and Kuina stepped back. “I learned something about being a leader. You can’t push people into following you for no reason. You have to be ready to listen to them. Wait for them to come to you.” Arisu couldn’t understand why Kyuma was advising him. “Now, let's go. Let’s not end our lives with regret.”

So they battle. And Kyuma lost.

Of course you couldn’t just find an item. Trying to put up with Niragi, even a second lasted more than a year. But when Usagi saw Goken, a guy that totally looked like someone that should be in a band and probably would be the first to be kick-out because of drug abuse, every second started to matter.

Usagi attracted him, running towards the corner where you and Niragi were hidden. You almost touched him, but he was really fast. Here's the first thing you learned about Usagi: no one is faster than her.

“I was expecting more from you”, you said after receiving his points.

Goken got closer to you. You could even sense his breath. He looked at you from head to toe, a smirk appeared on his face. “You are definitely reaching my expectations.”

"What do you mean by that?" You took a step forward. You didn't touch him, a eletric shock is not on your wishlist, but got your face close enough.

“You two gonna flirt?” Usagi stared at you, hands on her waist. “Now? Really?”

The screen announced more points to your team. Kuina just touched Maki on the other side of the arena. You glared at Goken. “We don’t have time for that.”

Goken was already running. "Maybe later!"

Gathered at the base, your team had a lot of motives to celebrate. But the other team… Well, you know what they say about people that lose everything: now they have nothing to lose.

“What do you think about them?” Uta asked. After all, she was the one that didn’t have a chance to interact with the players.

“They have potential”, said Maki. “Most of them.”

“I will keep my eyes on Arisu’s sister”, Goken couldn’t stop moving. “Gonna do it for the gang, obviously.”

“Oh, shut up already!” Shitara rolled his eyes. “We have to go now.”

Tatta was alone when they came. And he touched the base when he had to make a decision. And when he felt his hand against someone's chest, Tatta wished he would wake up from a nightmare. He would be on his bed, alone, safe and sound.

But he wasn't.

“You picked me?” Shitara stepped back. “You better use this to win. If I die in vain, I’m… I’m gonna beat the shit out of you in the afterlife, man.”

Tatta was staring at the man, looking in the eyes of the man he just killed, unable to move. He killed him. Tatta killed him. Tatta killed someone.

“You were my good friend." Kyuma always sound so happy, but now... "I’ll never forget what you did for us.”

Shitara roamed to one of the exits of the labyrinth. He was confused, barely capable of walking. "Let me at least die with some privacy." After he turned into a corner, hidden from everyones gaze, Tatta saw a laser.

Any sign of faith, any hope, dissapeared now. Dead. The crew was fucking dead. By the end of the game, if they don't find a way to save themselfs, they would be dead. 30,000 points. Thats not something easy to beat.

"Couldn't even guard one pole, right?" Nigari spat. He slapped Tatta's head. "Fucking useless. Trash is always gonna be trash. You piece of shit."

"Lay off of him!" Usagi demanded. "He did the best he could."

"We underestimated them." Arisu said. Tatta noticed how he didn't defended him. But he didn't deserve to be defended. He is the reason why his team will die. "They are prepared to die."

"So what do we do now?" Kuina were sitting beside Tatta. He didn't say a word for quite some time, she was starting to get worried about him. "We just have one hour."

"I think that", you interfered. "We should attack their base."

"They gonna be defending it."

"Nigari is right." Arisu made his choice. "Lets split up again. Items are key"

"I really think we should..." But no one listened to you. They were already running. If four people attack their base they won't be able to defend themselfs, but clearly Arisu didn't think that. You don't blame the others. Arisu usually is the one that knows how to win. You looked at Tatta. He was so quiet, it was like he wasn't even there. "It's not your fault."

"It is." He finally said something. "I am the one to blame."

You knelt down in front of him. Holding his hands in yours, stroking the scars he gained as a mechanic, you smiled. "Is it a Diamonds game?"

"What?"

"Or a Hearts game? Spades? You ain't gonna tell me they added one cart suit when I was distracted? God, I hope they didn't. I don't have time for that."

"What are you even talking about?" Tatta couldn't help but laugh. "You sound crazy."

"This is a Clubs game, right?" Tatta agreed. "So you can't be the one to blame. This is a team game. We should work together, win together, lose together. The last time I checked you didn't have five arms so you could kill anyone that comes near while touching the base. You did your best. We, as a team, failed to understand how far they can go. Now we have to fight back. Will you fight with me?"

Tatta tried to stop it, but a tear fell. He closed his eyes, nodding in agreement, and was surprised to feel you thumb brush his cheek. "Then lets fight with our lives. I will go now, but I will come back."

Shitara felt a shiver go up his spine. On top of one of the containers, hidden and forbidden to interfere in the game, he watched your team discuss and decide on a strategy. He also saw how they treated the boy who 'killed' him. He almost felt sorry. And he saw when you knelt next to Tatta, your confused words soon turned into something that completely changed how the boy behaved. You saw him, you realized he wasn't well, and you decided to help him.

He was starting to see what Goken saw on you. Maybe, just maybe, this is their last game. Shitara hope he is right.

But your pretty words couldn't change reality: your team was losing. Kuina lose to Maki. Arisu lose to Kyuma. Someone from your team found a item, and you found one after a few minutes, but it wasn't enough.

Running in the labyrinth, already lost, a scream got your ears. You stopped, but then you realized. You heard that before. "Usagi."

You ran in the direction of the sound, only to find Niragi on top of Usagi.

All you could see was black. It was like when you wake you from a dream you can't really remember. From a deep nightmare that eat you whole. When the colors finally came back, it was all red.

"Stop!" Usagi kept screaming. But she wasn't mad. You know her for a long time. She is worried. She is scared. She is hurt. But she isn't mad. "He is done! He is done."

You were on top of Niragi. He wasn't awake. Your hands... You started crying when you saw all that blood. Niragi was already done after the fire, but now you can't even see his face. His chest was moving, but he wasn't awake. Nigari finally shut his fucking mouth.

You look at her. Her head was bleeding. "Are you..." Your tears fought with your words, and they win. Usagi hugged you, and you could feel your body melting against her warm skin. "Are you okay?"

Usagi used all of her forces to give you a smile. Carressing your hands, getting blood into hers, she keep on nodding with her head. Her body was so warm you could fell sleep on her. "I am fine. I am safe."

Looking at you hands, glaring at the blood, something change. Usagi know that face. She saw it on your brother once a day. Its the face of someone hopeless finding a reason to fight. You had an idea.

Fifteen minutes later, you finally found someone. Watching the ocean, Kyuma didn't bother to look at you. "You'll lose." He warned you.

You nodded with your heard. "I know."

"Then go."

"That's the first game I know I won't win." Looking at the ocean, you realized why the game was happening there. It was beautiful. What a landscape. In another situation that place would be a paradise on Earth. "Even the King of Spades wasn't so difficult."

"Thank you. It took us a lot of effort."

"I didn't knew you were a liar."

Kyuma finally looked at you. "What did you call me?"

"A liar." You took a step forward, Kyuma didn't move. "You told us to fight with everything we have. You told us to not have regrets. Here am I, fighting with everything I have, and you refuse to take me seriously. Liar."

Within a seconds, Kyuma hold your hand into his. "As you wish."

But he lose. And the look on his face... you would never be able to make enough money to pay for it.

"How can you..." Kyuma couldn't look away from his hand. "Did you cheat? How did you...?"

You took your left hand out of your pocket, and between your fingers was the bracelet that once belong to Nigari. And it was covered in blood.

"Are you..." Kyuma couldn't look away from the bracelet. "You are insane."

Still holding his hand, you pulled him closer. "You said that we should use everything we got. Thank you, Kyuma. You offered me suck a pleasurable game. None could compare." You were serious, but needed to laugh. "I got this whole 'clothes are a social construction', but you don't know how pockets work?"

Before he could say anything, you ran away. You only have more 30 minutes. You loved the look on his face, but you needed to find your crew.

"You did what?" Arisu yelled. He was holding you on his arms, trying to clean the blood on your wrist with his shirt.

"You heard her", Usagi replied. "She won a battle. And we both found a item. We can win."

"We just need to touch their base", you said, hopping this time he would hear you. "If three people touch it, we won. Thats all we need."

"Lets do it." Kuina was ready to run.

"No."

"Arisu, we need to..."

"I won't sacrifice anyone here. We won't just run into their base and let someone die. Everyone will survive."

"Then do something!" You yelled at him. "If we do nothing all of us will die! We can't just sit down and shut up!"

"I don't know!", Arisu felt like his head was about to explode. When he touched the base, he realized something. "Someone didn't touch the pole?"

"I didn't", you moved to touch it, but he hold your hand. "Did I broke a rule?"

"I know what we have to do! But... I don't know if it will work. We just need a distraction. Something that would be impossible to look away. They are four but if it work..."

"Stop whispering to yourself!", Tatta yelled. You never saw him screaming to anyone. "We have 15 minutes left. Just explain your plan!"

When Arisu explained, everything was clear as day to you. "Am I the only one who didn't touch the base?"

"You were so excited to talk about your battle with Kyuma that you forgot", Usagi told you. "That means you gonna be the distraction, right?"

"Exactly." Arisu wasn't sure if it would work, but he wouldn't die with regrets. "You think you can do that?"

"I think I know exactly what I have to do."

At the other teams base, they couldn't stop talking about how you broke someones arm to took the bracelet out of it.

"Thats weird for her." Uta was standing against the pole. "She never harmed someone on her other games."

"I said that before but no one believed me", Goken said while running around. "She have so much rage inside her. She just needed a reason to explode."

Maki agreed with him. "But I bet Niragi is alive still."

"I think he is dead."

"No way! He is bleeding somewhere."

"Its a bet."

"Why are you so quiet?" Goken poked Kyuma. "Are you scared?"

Kyuma seen almost lost. "She surprised me."

"Thank you for that." Your voice gave away your location. Leaning against one of the containers, all eyes turned to you. "To be honest, I was surprised too."

And you were naked.

"Fuck", Goken shouted.

"Fuck indeed", Uta pinched herself to see if she was imagining something.

Maki looked to the sky. Suddenly it was so interesting.

"I want to battle again but I knew that no one would believe that I wasn't using his bracelet."

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry." Kyuma was looking at your eyes. Well, he was trying to look at your eyes only. "I'm sorry."

"You will battle me or not?"

When Kyuma did nothing, you got closer to him. Blinking your eyes, with a little smile on your face, you watched his eyes fighting to look at the sky. "You such a nice person", you purred. "You don't need to be sorry because you look at me. Clothes are just a social construction, aren't they?"

"I'm not sorry!" Goken shouted. You guess that's the only way he knows to comunicate with others.

"I've noticed", you smiled to him, but your focous was Kyuma. "Don't be so shy. Look at me." When Kyuma did obey, looking deeply into your eyes, you carressed his chest. And the eletric shock made you fall to the ground.

Then they ran. The surprise made the other team slow, they weren't ready to fight back. Dodging them, running towards the base, the three were like lightning. Trembling on the ground, you watched as Arisu touched the base. Then Usagi. But when Kuina was about to touch it, Maki kicked her away

"Really?" Somehow Kyuma was able to shout.

Squirming, you tried hard to answer. "You should know it was a trap."

"Oh my god", Goken laughed. "That was a booby trap!"

"It's a tie", Kuina cried on the floor. "Usagi, run to our base and come back here!"

"You can try" Uta said. She pointed at the big screen. "But can you run to your base and come back here in 3 minutes?"

"Really?" Kyuma shouted again. How could he be so fine? He wasn't even shivering.

"Oh, get over it! It's not my fault you saw a pair of boobs and got distracted." With a lot of effort, you sat down. Arisu run to you, one hand covering his eyes, and took you his shirt. Buttoning it, you stared at him. "I'm going to die and you are mad because I tried to win?"

"Are you covered?" Arisu asked.

"It don't matter", you answered him. "We are going to die. In 3 minutes we are done. I just killed Niragi and what did it change for us? Nothing. Worse: it made us believe we could win. This is it. I gonna die. We gonna die."

"We..." Kuina couldn't move. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't... I should have fought better. I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry."

"I know. We know", Usagi kneeled beside her. "It's not your fault. You tried."

"And now you are going to die!" Holding Arisu in your arms, you were the one crying. "I did everything to protect you and it wasn't enough."

Insteat of crying, Arisu hugged you back. Carressing your head, he was at peace. Arisu knows he did everything he could. That he tried to win with his whole being. And if this is how he is going to die, hugging his sister with the knowlegde that they would die without pain, than so be it.

"You protected me." Arisu whispered. "Since I was a kid. You did everything you could and it was enough. I had a good life. Not a perfect one, but a good one. If I could chose to live this very same life again and again, I would do it."

"We gonna have to deal with them for how long?" Maki asked. "This is embarrassing."

"What about being kind once in your life?" Uta closed her eyes. "Let them cry. One more minute and the game is over."

"Don't be so cruel", Usagi said to her.

"Why aren't you crying?" Kyuma got closer to her.

"I guess I'm just tired" Usagi hold Kuina closer. Whispering to her friend, Usagi felt something hard on her heart. "Tatta will die alone. He must be so scared."

"It's Game Clear to the King of Club's team." The female voice said when the two hours finally ended. "It's Game Over to the players team."

They waited for their death. Your eyes, before wide open, now were closed. Arisu hold you closer to him. Kuina and Usagi shivered against one another. And on the the other side of the labyrinth, Tatta were crying alone. But it never came.

"Do we agree?" Kyuma looked at his team. His hand was up in the air. "In three, two, one..."

All of them raised their hands on the air, and said at the same time: "I vote for the player team."

You opened your eyes. "We died?"

"I don't know", Arisu whispered.

"Congratulations!" Kyuma was so excited that everyone looked at him. And by doing that, everyone saw that Shitara was standing on a corner of the labyrinth. Alive. "Your team was chosen."

"For what?" Usagi feel like throwing up.

"To be trained by us." Kyuma was looking at you. "Welcome home, new citizens."

GENERAL TAGLIST: @suakemi @notanalienindisguiseblink

if you enjoyed, please reblog! i promise it makes a difference ♡

@ madwomansapologist.tumblr.

[anarchic-miscellany]

Reading "One Piece" for the first time: Part 9 Having wrap up in the village after the fight with the Eugenicist Fish Man was good. Kudos man! I was enjoying the lovable quintet sailing off after the mayhem, it's always better than whatever methamphetamine charged crayon lunacy our author has concocted. Here we have essentially a Dungeons and Dragons party in town, and that makes for some great character moments. The Idiot wants to see where his hero was executed, The Himbo wishes to buy some more gear from the merchants, the Cartographer with a Brain Cell is getting some pretty outfits and materials (happy to see her in a good mood, to be honest), Meme in Progress is adorable and finding eggs on sale, good on him; and the Giga Chad finds a fish which he ropes the Meme in Progress into bringing home. See, these interactions feel natural and- Oh FUCK ME, the Cringe Master "Dracule Mihawk" is reintroduced being vague and edgy and "oh so cool" in the way that only my mate I (and I think everyone else) had when I was 14 thinks is awesome. Fuck this guy, he's like a jumpscare every time I think I'm enjoying this. Anyway, all that bimbling about town is neat, it doesn't quite feel like spinning wheels until the next purple-tinted kaleidascope of stupidity comes along (though it really is); and our Himbo even meets a woman who looks like Uryu from "Bleach". They bond a bit, threaten to make "Bleach" interesting by having this deep-fried dumbass show up in it (alas, no such luck), and part ways after picking up some cursed swords by passing a Charisma check and the DM just going "fuck it". Gotta be honest, I did not expect the "kick off nonsense" to be the return of the Murder Clown and the Club Lady I had completely forgotten about. Where did she find a Magic Fruit? Are they sold in street stalls? Do you ask the author nicely to get one? Was it buried in the club she carries? Not sure how to feel about the "she's hot now" fat joke, but do like that the joke to her is "I'm just as hot as I always was and the only thing missing is my freckles", that was okay. Anyway, I could watch 20 chapters of just Meme in Progress and Giga Chad trying to carry a fish in a hurry, and it was generally pretty funny having everybody rally to come and save The Idiot from being executed by a vengeful Murder Clown ... That was a sentence I had to write. Only OH NO! The 3 way pirate orgy is interrupted by the arrival of an actually pretty cool character I would have loved when I was 14: "Smoker", who smokes a pair of blunts at all times and turns into mist which (no joke) was a character I concocted when I was 13. He and Girl Uryu rush to action, there's panic and mayhem, but then we get... Look, I know that the Idiot is going to escape, I know that he's the main character, but you decided upon a literal act of fucking God to write your way out of this corner, man? You're, well I'm not going to say "better" than this, but certainly wilder. Couldn't you have had, I don't know, Meme in Progress saw the support beams away like a Looney Toon? The Himbo cut a blade with his blade? Cartographer with a Brain Cell bribe some frogs men to brick in the clown? Those were just 3 random ideas I came up with typing this, and they are all better and more sensical than "lightning strike hits the guillotine" (which is my new "Iron Maiden" album); which is really ruining an otherwise dope segment where various pirate groups converge in absolute fucking chaos and we get Captain Cheech and Chong trying to stop them with his raw edge. I like that silly brawl, that madness of varying motivations and grudges, it's a pity about the lightning. ... Another sentence I had to write. This series will be the death of me.

[ggyuha]

memorias de un amante / miguel

[ summary ] : your geneticist boyfriend who couldn’t save you from disappearing, no matter how hard he tried. ( wc is 1k )

[ note ] : and we’re back with angst. something about a sunday at 1:00am, i guess. regardless, hope you enjoy! notes are always, always appreciated <3

miguel o’hara is a selfish man. he thinks that to himself everyday, beats himself up for it everyday. he usurps things he cannot have. he is quite the dreamer—and a fool, a fool he must have been. he wanted you for himself and now he’s left with nothing. he killed you.

and now, he’s void. he finally understands why it isn’t wise to be greedy. it’s because the universe has made it that way—that some people are just born with everything while there are those that are born with nothing.

nothing belongs to miguel, he will never have something or someone he can call his.

what a sick rule that is, what a sick universe this is. he thought he had the power over it, over worlds he could easily slip into. so he tore the rule down, ripped the universe itself in search for you, clawed each strings of realities, kicked through the gravity that denied him of his love.

it was so vivid, still so fresh in his mind. when one faithful evening, as you lied on his bed with him, arms wrapped around each other’s bodies, you awoke with a gutting feeling, a pit in your stomach. “miguel, miguel,” you called, “wake up.”

his eyes slowly fluttered open, his eyes curved up in a small smile, seeing your face but upon noticing the crease on your forehead, your deep set eyes gazing at him anxiously, he frowned and got up, leaning on his elbows.

“¿qué pasa?” he asked, cupping your cheek with a big, warm palm. you got up too and whispered, “i don’t feel good.”

he hates himself for this. whenever this particular scene replays in his head, he grabs his hair, as if by pulling on his scalp would force the memory out of his brain. ‘move, now!’ he wants to tell himself. if there was a god, if there was the tiniest possibility that that reality could exist again, open for him again, he’d ruin his life trying to force his way in just to make a minute difference. maybe then… maybe then you’d live.

but in that time and reality, miguel didn’t know any better. he provided the comfort and warmth you needed, gazed at you lovingly. “tell me what hurts, cariño.” you looked at him and shook your head, “i don’t know.”

and it all happened so quickly. in a matter of seconds, you could see your arm glitching and disappearing. the atoms, cells, flesh, skin—all that had made you began to melt away.

miguel sprung out of bed, slipping into whatever garments he could find and lifted you up. “don’t worry, baby, i’ll save you, okay?”

he gently put you in the car and drove to spider-society. once inside, he hurriedly lifted you in his arms and placed a kiss on your forehead, his own way of reassuring you. or himself.

you were on a white round platform, sitting silently as he worked on multiple monitors, typing and swiping and eventually looking at you from time to time, flashing you a soft smile with creased brows.

error—error—error

“no, no, no,” he frustratedly yelled and pressed his face on his palms, agitatedly restarting the go-home machine. margo popped out as a hologram and miguel angrily briefed her about the situation which margo tried to help without further questions. her illusion seemed to be multiplying, standing by every monitor while miguel busied himself with a single one. he ran a hand through his hair and you thought how handsome he was—that if this is where you die, you’re glad he is the last thing you’ll ever lay eyes on.

all the efforts and frustrations and anger resulted in nothing but the word ‘error’ typing itself over and over as if to punish miguel, reminding him of his foolishness. ‘you shouldn’t have brought her here’, it’s saying, ‘you shouldn’t have been greedy.’

miguel watched in horror as you slowly dissipated. every inch of you was being taken away, red and blue and white lines hugging your glitching figure.

he ran towards you, jumping to the round plate of his machine. “no, please, stay with me, mi vida.” he cupped your cheeks and knelt in front of you. he shouldn’t beg you, it was probably better if he had begged the sky, the universe and maybe then, it would have shown him greater mercy.

“i feel funny.” you smiled at him, pressing a kiss on his cheek and it sent him a shiver, how your lips were so cold and light as if it were just a breeze and no longer flesh.

tears pooled his eyes as he tightly wrapped his big arms around you, the fear and regret eating him alive as he desperately clutched onto you. what was left of you anyways.

“it’s okay,” you whispered weakly, “it isn’t your fault, miguel.” you slightly pulled away and looked him in the eyes, leaning in to place a kiss on his lips.

his hands pressed against your back to push both of your bodies closer together but you were gone.

every inch of you just warped into nothingness, leaving not a single trace of you in this world but in his memories and how cruel was that? miguel cried out, his fists slamming on the white surface several times until his knuckles swelled and bruised. “no!” he screamed in agony, “not again…”

if he’d ever get the chance, he’d relive every second of that time and he swears he’d do it differently this time.

he would send you back home and it would be him that would rip the universe apart, it would be him forcing himself somewhere he doesn’t belong and he would live out his remaining days loving you until it is him that’d glitch, it is him that’d slowly dissipate.

it’s a dilemma, he always thinks. it’s either you or him, nonetheless both of you would be terribly hurt but he’d rather be the one to die in hopes you would live the rest of your life happily, only remembering him with a smile.

because to miguel, nothing belongs to him. just his love and he’d give everything of himself to you. he’d give everything to be a part of your reality and know that he’s meant to be with you.

miguel is a selfish man, yes yet he would ruin himself just for wanting you back in his arms, smiling and warm, in love.

[rosewood-multifandom-writer]

My thoughts on Death Island from what I’ve seen from the character models is that the looks are basically recycled. Leon looks like Infinite Darkness Leon, Chris looks like Vendetta Chris, and Jill looks like Resident Evil 3 Remake Jill, who has been the main subject of discussion. So it’s not just Jill’s model they recycled and actually, this is not the first time Capcom has done this.

For Vendetta, Capcom reused Rebecca’s Resident Evil look, just changed the shoes, shirt and removed the gear. At least that what it felt like to me.

And like I said in my other post, RE4MAKE Ada feels like her RE6 look got reused in some way, they just replaced the blouse with a turtleneck sweater.

Honestly, in my opinion I think the design recycling started in Vendetta in a way.

Also, Leon and Jill in that one screenshot of them holding hands (there’s gonna be a whole new wave of fanfictions dedicated to them fucking kissing), there is barely any color on their outfits. The reason why I point this out is because Jill and Leon both have their signature blue color schemes mixed with blacks, whites and grays. An A tier color palette in my opinion. Leon has no color on him whatsoever, and the only blues I’m seeing on Jill are her eyes and her tank top.

I have no problems with her looking young (another hot take regarding female characters in Resident Evil) but I do have a huge problem with her not having a BSAA uniform in the movie and her RE3MAKE model being reused even though the film takes place post-Vendetta apparently. The only thing I will ask for is wanting Jill in a uniform. She hasn’t worn one since Revelations.

A problem some of the CGI movies suffer from is the fact that they lump the events of some of those films in between the events of the games. Sometimes it works like Damnation, sometimes it doesn’t like Degeneration and Infinite Darkness.

But either way, the biggest wish I wanted to happen in the series has come true: Jill and Leon in the same screen canonically. I can see their sarcastic dry sense of humor bouncing off of each other and I can honestly see Leon making heart eyes at Jill. I don’t know why (because I’m a two brain cell shipper is why). Also, if there is not a single scene of them both kicking zombies or whatever threat they’re up against, my review score will be lower. Jokes aside, I wanna see Jill kick a B.O.W. in the face. Maybe even have her blast a B.O.W just to save Leon or Chris.

TL:DR, Leon, Chris and Jill all should’ve had new models and Jill deserves to be in uniform again, but I’m still happy to see Jill and Leon on the same screen. For reasons. 🙂

[supernaturallyginger]

I watched like 40 episodes in 3 days. Wow. And hellsite now has a luffy tab. Wow. This anime watches itself, the next thing i know is that i clicked on the next episode button.

I can kinda see why my friend said it's like jojo, some of the characters and fights are weird, but more in a unique quirky way than in a bizarre way.

I like this zoro guy a lot. With the navigation skills he has, it's a miracle he even found pirates, yet everyone recognizes him as pirate hunter zoro. Impressive. Guy has one brain cell and it revolves around swords and his friends. Also will i be seeing johny and yosaku again? Those were funny guys.

Usopp's friend's butler turning out to be a catboy pirate is one hell of a story. I liked how he adjusts his glasses that way because of the claws that he fight with. And the other guy who also hypnotized himself!

Very sexy of that pirate cook that he saved little sanji because they have the same dream. Kind of a dilf.

And he made food for those pirates because he knows what it's liketo starve...bro...

I do not want to question how those starved out pirates became ready to fight two minutes after consuming food so... yeah. How? Lol

And there are pirates who work for the government. But like which government? Is there only one?

Nami: im quitting and stealing your ship

Luffy: no you're not :) you're our navigator, our friend!!:D

Racist shark merman pirate. Smh this anime

All these bitches have sad backstories, but nami's got to me specially. And when she asks luffy to help her and he gives her his hat, his treasure i almost started crying. I also liked the Ost very much when the crew marches to kick arlong's ass. I'm glad luffy destroyed the room she slaved away drawing all those maps.

First i saw pinwheel hat guy i thought his design is funny, but ot turns out he wore the pinwheel to not scare little nami🥺

Every time Luffy says he will be the pirate king im like i sure hope so bestie :) <3

Baby's first wanted poster!!! Love happy they are about it and then nami is like you guys do realize it means people will come after us???haha. And even shanks got to see the poster!!! Amazing.

I like it so far!!!

Have a good night/day!!!

omg anon!! I never saw the tumblr notification for this and then an entire month passed....???? literally how is september almost over??

I AM SO GLAD YOU ENJOYED WHAT YOU SAW SO FAR!! THE EAST BLUE SAGA IS SO NOSTALGIC TO ME <333

a few notes:

no Zoro's two bounty hunting pals don't come back :( they are in like one filler episode pretty early on but that's it for them. I miss them <3

Zeff is 100% a dilf. he can feed me any day!

do not apply too much logic into food = instant healing because it will happen time and time again

government and politics become a big part of the overarching story as one piece goes on. but yeah. there is one world government overseeing most islands. each island also has its own leadership. but the world government pulls the strings in the bigger picture and have control over the marines

this will not be the last time you see racism and fish

Luffy's first wanted postered omg <333 <- now deeply considering rewatching all of east blue

anon, I am so glad you are having fun with one piece!! it's a great series to binge!!!

have an awesome night/or morning/or whatever <333

[michumiis]

late mukuyuki propaganda but hear me out!

since a3 is an acting themed game, of course you have roles within the characters too. trust me, whatever you like, there’s probably something for you within the plays they’ve done.

muku and yuki have had some amazing roles over the years and i am gonna ramble about them! not chronologically because my brain just. cannot.

the first i’m going to talk about is florence and rose, from the floral prince, muku’s lead play.

florence, muku’s character, is a narcissistic, proud prince with a heart of gold, able to help others at any moment due to his naivety but also his belief that he puts into others. his whole adventure is about trying to save the princess, but not purely because he wants to marry her — it is mainly to save her.

florence is different from mukus usual character. whilst muku is still sweet and believes in others, his self confidence is starkly different. muku has a habit of going into self-deprecating rants. he’s a good kid, but fails to see the good in himself.

the event story focuses around muku and him pushing himself to be what he’s wanted to be this whole time — a prince. it’s the reason why he joined the theatre in the first place, and this sheds a lot of light onto his character. muku sustains an injury and proceeds to keep it a secret from everyone else, giving him no time to rest. the last time he was injured, he was in the track team and had to quit, finding theatre shortly after. therefore, he keeps it secret, not only not to worry others, but also to avoid those older memories.

the floral prince event is a great one, in terms of both character development and the play itself. muku shows a lot of care towards the other members and his dream of being a prince and the final result is an entertaining and funny play with a host of great characters.

rose is originally introduced into the story as a young boy that florence finds whilst on his adventure to cure the princess’ curse. rose is shown getting increasingly distressed by florence’s kind attitude, though they start to get along together and have a nice bit of chemistry. eventually, rose ends up storming off and florence finds something finally to cure the princess. instead of wishing for that however, he goes to wish that he could make up with rose but is stopped before it can come true. the other comes out from a hiding place and scolds the prince for his actions, but he’s more happy that they get to be friends again. in the end, when at the castle, it is revealed rose was the princess who was cursed and they quickly return her back to her usual form. rose states how she’ll simply have to marry florence, because he’ll need a smart wife like herself.

yuki throughout the event story doesn’t have too much to say, since the play focuses more on muku and his cousin, but his support for muku never wavers. muku and yuki, whether platonic or romantic, are soulmates in their own right. they work on their own as their own characters, but together they have a whole new air of comfort and support. so, when muku is struggling, yuki is there to help, even with the smallest details.

florence and roses relationship is important — it is heavily implied florence started falling for rose even before finding out she was the princess. their dynamic is playful, yet fun. opposites attract in a way. rose is resourceful, a good hunter and intelligent, whilst florence is more kind, thoughtful and naive. overall, they have a wonderful balance between them, and i’m excited to see how they do it in the stage later this year.

next is henry and francois from captain sky pirates, muku’s colead play.

muku’s character, henry, is the right hand man of the pirates ship, and at first, the only one with a brain cell aboard /lh. he’s more just along for the ride with the rest of the crew, but tends to keep his own. at least, until he’s recognised as bloody henry, one of the most ruthless pirates on the seas. henry is caring of his crew, giving up his life as an infamous pirate to instead join a small crew after attempting to rob them and find there’s nothing there to rob (i swear to you they are so cringefail and i love them for it).

francois comes onto the ship in disguise, hiding the fact that she is indeed the infamous blackbeard. she ends up putting sleeping medication into the food and going to steal from them, only to be stopped by henry. it’s a nice moment between the two, of francois realising there’s someone on the ship who’s actually intelligent and can match her own scheming and henry having the confidence that shows he’s kind of known all along. he speaks about what his crew means to him and that convinces francois to join their crew.

in the stage, this plays out very differently. they help francois hide from the navy and as she tries to sneak off, henry grabs her wrist. full of confidence, he pulls out a black moustache he managed to pull from her and teases her by raising it higher than she can reach. in the stage, they have more of a supposedly playful arrangement in this moment, compared to the game in which henry shows how much his crew means to him. henry and francois are similar people, as opposed to florence and rose. they can rely on each other to understand what it’s like to be alone on the open seas and support the rest of their crew.

uh i am,, running out of steam but trust me to ramble about these guys some day. the character designs are great but these are just two of my favourite dynamics!!

vote mkyk <33

(all images are taken from yaycupcake here!)

Semifinals

[intwoweekstime]

What if you were given two weeks to live?

By Lauren Ohnona

(Image credit to Getty Images/Cultura RF)

May 3rd, 2022, Entry 1, Day 1: 

I don’t know how to breathe anymore. Something so simple lost all at once. Two lungs, alive but so useless? It started when Dr. Marlen told me I had two weeks to live, and it didn’t end until they strapped a hard-shell plastic mask over my face and forced oxygen down my throat. Or however, that works. In two weeks, I will be dead. I’ll be dead at thirty-two. 

They’ll think of me fondly, I think. I think I’ve been a good person so far. (*Reminder to text Judy that you have her rice cooker.) 

May 4th, Entry 2, Day 2: 

Today, Mom and I went to the mall. I needed new running shoes, and we’d planned this mother-daughter outing two weeks back. As we walked through the harshly lit expanse of zealously odored candles and sparkly short-shorts, Mom clutched my hand like I was six years old. The man at the T-Mobile kiosk stared. He probably thought we were in some religious cult. Well, he can think whatever he wants. 

May 7th, Entry 3, Day 5: 

I haven’t moved in 48 hours. The stream of family and friends and some people who’s faces I don’t even recognize flows endlessly like the salmon streams we used to visit on the island. The people who come all have glassy eyes and tender movements. When their eyes meet mine they do not see me. They stare straight through the sockets and fix their gaze on the enormous mass of cells resting idly, yet so evilly, against my brain’s nerve tissue. I watch them wince and move to hug my Mom, and I can’t understand why they are all telling her, “It will be okay, Nicole.” because in what world will this be okay? 

May 10th, Entry 4, Day 8:

One more trip to the doctor’s office and nothing has changed. I hate how everyone is looking at me like I am already gone. 

May 12th, Entry 5, Day 10:

Has anyone told God that I’m thirty-two? 

May 15th, Entry 6, Day 13: 

The local Save-On-Foods decided to grant me a Make-A-Wish-esque moment, and I told them I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon. 

The flame ignites and casts eerie shadows against the tarp-material, warmth presses against my cheeks. We begin our ascent, slowly rising higher and higher into the damp-spring air. I watch as blades of grass flatten in an untextured expanse of green. The coast materializes into view, I trace each point and inlet with my eyes swallowing back the memories of hours spent on those sandy outcrops, splashing in the water and turning over stones to watch tiny crabs run circles around my bare feet. The city below looks so vulnerable, and for now, I am in control. 

(Video credit to Shutterstock)

(Photo credit to MJ Ballooning.)

[marvelslut16]

The one with two Pietro’s

Pairing: Pietro x reader, Wandavision!Pietro (Peter Maximoff) x reader FORCED 

Synopsis: you find yourself in Westview living with Wanda, Vision, the boys, and your boyfriend Pietro. But happens when you start to remember your Pietro and figure out what Wanda’s doing to you and everyone else? 

Word count: 1.4k+

Warnings: Swearing I think. Angst. Fluff if you squint. Mind control. Forced relationship. Briefly mentions the idea of a forced magical pregnancy. Bullet wounds. Death. Grief I suppose. Mentions pmsing. The over use of italics. Kinda feel like I make Wanda a psychotic asshole. SPOILERS FOR WANDAVISION!

A/N: This was so much fun to write! Probably the darkest thing I’ve ever written, if you can really call it dark. Writing for Wandavision was a fun little challenge. Takes place in the 90′s so my title is a reference to friends, and so is a tv show character I use in the one shot. Pretend Evan Peters’ hair isn’t that blonde cause I will always see him with the silver he has in xmen and wrote him as such. 

"Vision, that's not my Pietro," you mutter in horror to your friend as the two of you stand in the kitchen. 

You’re not quite sure what makes you say it, but you’re glad you do when you glance at the new Pietro in the living room, he's been playing video games with Tommy and Billy for close to an hour now. He's sweet and funny, but he's just not your Pietro.

"I'm afraid not, (Y/N)," Vision's voice is sullen, but he's glad you're not in on Wanda's mind games. Unless you are, and this is just another way for Wanda to mess with him. He’s not quite sure what’s happening, but he knows from what you’ve reminisced in passing to him about Pietro on nights when Wanda isn’t in the room, that that’s not the Pietro you know and love. 

"Oh my god," you murmur, hand coming to your mouth as little bits and pieces of memories race through your head. The genuine pain, horror, and sadness that cross your face make it obvious to Vision you're being manipulated like everyone else, even if you are Wanda's oldest friend. "My Pietro, he had an accent."

Your knees buckle when you hear his native accent saying his catchphrase in your head, 'you didn't see that coming.' Vision rushes to your side to help you stand more firmly.

"His face was longer, hair a white blonde not silver, his body more toned, and he had gorgeous blue eyes- bluest eyes I've ever seen," you grip onto Vision's arms as you imagine moments with your Pietro.

You grew up in the cell beside his and Wanda's, immediately forming a sisterly connection with her at a young age while Pietro hated you. He would tease you, pull on your pigtails, and steal some of your food on the off chance you three were eating outside of your cells. Over the years the teasing turned to flirting, and your dislike for him turned into a huge crush.

One night-a night you can normally remember with full clarity- after Hydra fell and before Ultron, the two of you were out on a walk, much to Pietro's chagrin. You were telling him about this new book that you were reading and how the characters annoyed you so because they were obviously in love but wouldn't admit it. Pietro zoomed in front of you, causing you to smack into his chest and almost fall to the ground, you would have if not for Pietro's arms wrapping around your waist and bringing you close to his toned chest.

The wind was blowing his hair into his eyes ever so slightly, so without thinking you reached up to move it out of his face and away from his eye. The small act of tenderness that you had displayed caused Pietro to give into his desires, he leaned in and his wind chapped lips descended onto yours. You melted into the kiss, clinging tightly to his biceps to ground you. One of his hands slipped down from your waist to squeeze your ass, the other wrapped more tightly around your waist and kept you anchored to him.

"I love you, Printesa, I have since we were kids," he admits when you pull apart for air, leaning his forehead on yours.

"I love you too, Quicksilver," you use the superhero nickname he gave himself when you were twelve. He grins before attaching his lips to yours once more, it was an unforgettable kiss that filled you with warmth and hope for your future.

"(Y/N), are you okay?" Vision's voice brings you back to reality, or whatever this is.

"No," your voice cracks as you remember the last kiss Pietro planted on your lips, right before he protected Clint. The memory that still haunts your dreams, seeing him with all those bullet holes and knowing there was nothing you could do to save him. "What kind of person forgets the love of their life? I'm a terrible person Vis!"

"No you aren't (Y/N)," the sincerity in Vision's voice makes you really believe him. "Wanda's doing this, she didn't want you to remember."

You gasp as another memory floods your mind. You had agreed to go on a road trip with Wanda after being resurrected from Bruce's snap and defeating Thanos. You both wanted a break, or so you thought.

Wanda had stopped right when you had passed the entrance into Westview, she claimed to be checking her directions when you asked why she had stopped in the middle of nowhere. And no matter how weird it was that she chose to stop at the border to the town and not at a gas station, you believed your best friend and sister in law because she had no reason to lie to you.

A moment later her eyes and hands were glowing red as she touched your temple. She pushed all your memories behind a wall in your brain, then filled your head with memories of a happy life with her and Vision in Westview.

She did it again when 'Pietro' showed up on your guy’s doorstep, this time filling your head with memories of him. Memories of a different first kiss, but an eerily similar first date to the one you and your Pietro had. It makes sense to you now, you and Pietro had never told Wanda the real story of your first kiss, instead telling her you had it weeks later on your first date. You had tried to keep your relationship a secret for a little because you didn't want to make it awkward for Wanda if it didn't work out.

Another thing she didn't add was your engagement and subsequent marriage to her brother. In this reality you and 'Pietro' are just dating. You have to assume that it's because it happened weeks before the battle against Ultron and she doesn't want to remember anything that close to her brother's death.

The thing about the new Pietro is that he seems to rub Wanda the wrong way, something your Pietro never did. He makes comments that you know yours would never, and Wanda always tenses up near him. This Pietro likes to show you off more than yours did, which is saying a lot because your’s used to cling to your side, praise you, and show you off in town when girls would flirt with him. Every time this Pietro kisses you it doesn’t feel right, it’s nowhere near the earth shattering kisses that you had somehow managed to remember from the deep parts of your brain. 

"My ring," you shudder in horror when you realize the diamond ring that your Pietro stole from the jeweler in Sokovia is no longer sitting delicately on your left ring finger like it was before entering Westview. You hastily search your body for your most prized possession, sighing in relief when you find it hanging from a simple silver chain around your neck.

"(Y/N)," Vision says gently, resting a hand on your shoulder, it’s one of the few times he doesn’t know what to say. 

"He's dead," you cry, knees buckling under your weight again. This time you catch yourself on the kitchen table, before sinking in the seat to your right.

"Who's dead?" Wanda appears in the doorway out of nowhere. She has an innocent, concerned expression on her face, but the tilt of her head tells you she'll come take your memories away again if you slip up in the slightest.

"Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days Of Our Lives, the soap opera I was watching this afternoon when you and the boys were out. He fell down the elevator shaft, and I'm apparently taking it harder than I thought I would. I must be pmsing or something."

"Or maybe you're pregnant," there's a red glint in her eyes that scares you to no end.

"Oh," you swallow the lump in your throat, and hold back the bile rising up your throat from anxiety. "I don't think so, I'm not ready to be a mother yet."

"It would be so fun though," 'Pietro' zooms behind your seat, leaning down to place a kiss on your cheek. "Little mini me's and you's running around the house with Billy and Tommy."

"I think two super human children are enough for the house right now," you let out an uncomfortable giggle. You and Vision side eye each other, both very aware that you'll probably be as pregnant as Wanda was a few days ago within the week.

[medicus-mortem]

chatcambrioleur​:

Nami’s awkward phase was one that most would consider themselves lucky to experience. She shot up in height, seemingly overnight at eleven or twelve, and developed the rest of her figure shortly after. She was a little too gangly for her size at first, but it was a phase that didn’t last long. Arlong gave her a dagger, to protect herself on their sea faring missions. They occupied plenty of seedy establishments during that time, and when he noticed men’s eyes lingering, mistaking her for a much older age, he’d grown concerned. Not for her well being, but that someone might snatch his prized charter away. Despite her hastily developing body, she was as fine as a girl could be in those rough, pubescent years. Her skin was clear, thanks to all the fruit that she ate. All things considered, things were fine, aside from being forced into a group of pirates and working from sunrise to sunset.

And she learned how to work her situation in her advantage. A pretty face started getting her out of trouble early on. A pretty body started getting her what she wanted. 

Her smile seemed satisfactory, when Law gave her the answer she’d been waiting for. Not death, but close. Still bad enough. Although, thinking back to that time period in her life, she couldn’t imagine protesting such a fate. She wouldn’t even bring up how skilled she’d been with technology that was supposed to take twenty years to master; from what she knew, though, a submarine needed two people to operate.

“See? There you go. And to think, you’d let all this beauty and brains go to waste.” 

Sure, she had her reasons for doing what she did, but they weren’t known to anyone but herself. Luffy, in all his simplicity and anarchy, saw past everything, and saved her. 

She’d settled into the warmth of the surgeon’s hoodie, the comforting cocoon already making her feel safer. More relaxed. She would probably end up walking out with it, although she wasn’t going to point that out now. She shifted towards him, just a little closer, observing the tattoos on his knuckles. 

“Which came first?” She tapped his hand, a fingertip tracing over the letter on his index finger. “Your tattoo, or the title?” 

   Weird how she’s satisfied with the idea of him mutilating her in vengeance for a betrayal but he supposes she’s just happy she was mostly right. Her words demonstrate that pride, teasing and flirty but Law finds his jaw tightening because in a way it draws on a question he has lingering in the back of his mind. A question of trust, because Trafalgar Law isn’t certain he can trust the Cat Thief Nami. That she doesn’t have an ulterior motive somewhere in that pretty head of hers. Of course, he doesn’t believe Straw Hat to be smart enough to come up with some duplicitous plan to get close to him but Nami certainly is. Thus, words too serious for this moment slip out.

   “All of that,” he mutters, nodding at Nami. “Isn’t worth anything if I can’t trust you with what is most important to me.”

   He’s not referring to his ship, although the Polar Tang is indeed incredibly important to him. It is his home, has been for so many years. Losing it would be heart breaking for him and his entire crew. But no, he speaks of his crew, his family. They are what is most important to someone like Trafalgar Law, someone who has lost everything twice over.

   The navigator continues, moving onto whatever other topic might distract her from the nightmare still swirling in her mind. Law sighs, relaxing again to rest his chin on his forearm. His goatee tickles this skin there. Black ink tattooed into tan skin, leaving a mark that speaks of his history. This one here, on his forearm, is a stylised depiction of a red blood cell under the affects of Amber Lead poisoning. Yes, suffering such an affliction was horrible but he refuses to forget it, to forget where he came from and what he has been through.

   The tattoo Nami asks about has a meaning just as important. This one isn’t history. It is about duty, about who he is, what he aspires to be, and the inherent responsibility in that. Golden eyes lower to the ‘E’ Nami traces, his fingers flexing so he can turn the letters to him, positioned on his fingers so only he can read them properly and upside down for everyone else.

   ‘DEATH’ always just a single twitch of a finger away.

   “The tattoo. I was fifteen,” he explains, voice soft and a small smile tugging at his lips. He remembers how Bepo, Penguin and Shachi reacted to him stepping out of the tattoo parlour with this. They thought it was so cool. “Though I was an angry, edgy teen I didn’t get it for those reasons. Not to intimidate others. It’s for me. A reminder that, as a surgeon, I am closer to death than most and just a single mistake can end the life of my patients.”

[nxrthmizu]

Crash and Burn

fandom | miraculous ladybug

genre | salt, lila salt

pairing | n/a

w.c | 3.2k

author's note | hey remember that lila salt fic i promised? this isn't it but this is something i made today so yep. please accept this as an apology for yknow. me promising to write and. not doing it.

Enough was enough.

“Marinette, stop accusing Lila! She just wants to make friends!”

“Take the high road.”

“Be a good model student, Marinette.”

Enough. Was. Enough.

Marinette had the connections, the power, the choice to make Lila’s entire world crumble apart. The only thing that stood between the liar’s demise was the tiniest pinch of morality and self-restraint— And no, that self-restraint did not come in the form of Tikki. Even the kwami, who had to be an aggregation of all the good and nice things in the world, was fed up and ready to retaliate.

“What a joke.” Lila cackled, tossing a chunk of her sausage hair over her shoulder flamboyantly. The two girls were in the bathroom, with Lila smirking in front of the sink and Marinette a little distance away from her. “You can make my world crumble? What is this, a threat?”

“A promise.” Marinette corrected. “Stop telling lies. Come clean to every one. No more lying about knowing celebrities left and right, no more making excuses about not being able to take your own notes, no more making up ‘diseases’ just so your life gets a little more convenient. To be frank, I really don’t care what happens to you— But by making these empty promises to introduce my classmates to great ‘celebrities’, you’re ruining their futures. Stop.”

“And what are you going to do if I don’t?” Lila sneered, face twisted into an ugly grin. “You going to cry in front of the class? Try and convince them that I, the one they adore— That I am lying?”

“No.” Marinette’s eyes were clear when she met Lila’s. The clouds of self-doubt that used to hover over the bright, shining star inside her soul had now dissipated, letting the bluenette emit a confident, glowing appearance as she met the liar head on. “I’m just going to keep my promise.”

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

Lila headed off to a modelling shoot after school, pleased at the prospect of spending more time with Adrien. There were a couple tendrils of Marinette’s words hanging behind in her mind— Did the girl mean what she said? Did she actually… Was she actually capable of causing Lila’s downfall? … Surely not. Marinette may have once been the ‘Everyday Ladybug’, but there was no way she was that competent, there was no way the girl was capable of plotting.

The Italian hummed, brushing away thoughts of the annoying bluenette from her mind. She was going on a photoshoot— One that was going cause the rise and burst of her career, the one that was going to make her name a globally-known one. Unfortunately for Lila, her plans were going to be derailed quite soon— In fact, as soon as Gabriel Agreste’s car rolled into the parking lot of the shoot location.

“Explain this, Mlle. Rossi.” Gabriel’s nostrils flared as he pointed to the tabloid article on his tablet. The Italian girl froze, the headlines seared into her eyes, big and black and bold, shooting poison right into the core of her body, paralysing her cell by cell starting from her heart. “What is the meaning of this?”

‘Adrien Agreste Reported To Be Harassed by Fellow Model’— The image under the caption was one that was clearly taken by a hidden photographer. The picture was framed with leafy foliage, which suggested that the camera was tucked up in a tree. Despite the distance, it was quite obvious in the image that Adrien was reeling away, disgusted and uncomfortable as a faceless woman in an orange blazer, back turned to the camera— Invaded his personal space.

The subtitle was the cream on the cupcake.

‘Witnesses State Gabriel Agreste Ignorant of Workplace Harassment’.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

As if things couldn’t quite go down a worser path, Lila returned home to a fuming mother and an unexpected visitor.

“Lila! You come here right this instant!” The diplomat demanded as soon as the front door opened, her daughter shrinking slightly at the tone and pitch that her mother was using. The last time her mother had been this angry— Well, it was when she got expelled from her last school. “I can’t believe what you’ve done! If it weren’t for your kind classmate, lord knows how long you would’ve continued with this!”

The Italian meekly followed her mother into the living room, eyes widening until they were as large as saucers, mouth agape at the last person she expected to see sitting on the couch.

Marinette smiled kindly, waving at the girl, looking every bit the part of the innocent, pure, kind child that every parent wanted to have. Before Lila could release a torrent of questions about what the hell Marinette Dupain-Cheng was doing in her living room, her mother charged on, beginning to take out her anger on her daughter while a literal angel sat on the sofa, cradling a box of pastries from her family’s bakery.

“Your friend here tells me that you’ve been taking absences from school to go on trips to help humanity!” Mme. Rossi exploded, waving her arms around madly. “She says she’s here to share her notes from the classes you’ve missed! You’ve never left Paris this year! What’s this I hear about flying off to the kingdom of— What was it called again, Marinette dear?”

“Achu.” Provided the bluenette helpfully, the diplomat’s expression instantly softening when she talked to the other teen in the living room.

“Ah, yes. Thank you, dear.” The woman turned back to her daughter, instantly snapping on a mask of anger in a matter of a fraction of a second. “What’s this about flying off to this kingdom of Achu to help homeless orphans with some random prince?”

“Um…” Lila piped up, wriggling as her brain churned at 200 lies per hour, trying to whip up a cover of some sort.

“I’m not done! Your friend here is such a helpful child that she even went as far as to ask her family doctor is there’s a cure for your… Lying disease!” Mme. Rossi practically roared, breathing flames as if she were an intimidating dragon, her daughter flinching away from the heat. “I’ve never heard of anything more ridiculous! And then there’s the fact that you lied to your classmates about having tinnitus?!”

“I actually do have tinnitus!” Lila cut in forcibly, widening her eyes to make herself look more pitiful. “I was just afraid to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry!”

“Bullshit!”

“Um… Sorry to interrupt, Mme. Rossi,” Marinette piped up, the diplomat instantly cooling down as she faced the bluenette, a soft smile tracing the Italian woman’s lips. “But it’s getting rather late and my parents would love me home soon. I also have some tests to revise for tonight, so I think I should get going.”

“Oh, of course, dear.” Mme. Rossi hastily got up to help the bluenette to the door, shooting a warning glare at her daughter— ‘Sit still and don’t you dare go anywhere’, the glare read. “Feel free to come over again anytime you want, dear. I’m not home often, but you are such a sweet child. I’m sure Lila could learn a lot from you.”

“Thanks for having me as well, Mme. Rossi. I really like your home. I left the pastries on the counter— Make sure to warm the curry puffs before you eat them.” Marinette returned the smile, bowing slightly to the older woman as a sign of respect.

“Thank you for the pastries as well, Marinette. I ought to visit your parents’ bakery sometime when I’m free.” Mme. Rossi opened the door kindly for the bluenette, waving the girl off with an affectionate smile. Her parents must be so lucky to have such a sweet little thing like her, Mme. Rossi sighed internally, turning the key so she locked the door. And she seems to be a high-scoring student as well.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

Lila seethed, having been grounded by her mother. As far as Mme. Rossi was concerned, there was a boarding school not too far away from their current residence, and by the next week, the Italian girl would be transferred over. Lila had never hated Dupain-Cheng as much as she did in that moment.

Still furious, the Italian snapped her laptop open, too angry to bother with the fact she might’ve scratched the surface. Clicking into the web browser, she started to type in the words ‘Ladyblog’— That was, before a news article caught her eye.

‘Jagged Stone Interview Reveals Underage, Obsessed Fan’.

What on Earth…

As soon as Lila clicked into the link, the news footage from the interview immediately begin to play. The date stamp on it showed that it had aired last night— Which meant that she would’ve missed it, since her mother was too busy yelling at her to turn on the television to watch Nadja Chamack’s daily news.

“As soon as I heard this rumour about some underage teenage girl claiming that she had saved my cat on an airport runway, I called Penny and asked her to book a slot for me to clarify this,” Jagged Stone said grimly, dressed in more formal attire as he sat in the comfortable, cushioned chair of the news station, with Nadja nodding equally seriously beside him. “Let me clarify— I’ve never owned a cat. I’m allergic to fur. The only pet I’ve had was Fang, and he’s an al-li-ga-tor. Not a cat. Whatever the girl is claiming, she’s obsessed and making up stories.”

“It’s also kind of bewildering that she saved it on an airport runway,” Nadja continued, shaking her head in disappointment. “That kind of thing only happens in dramas— It’s too dangerous for anyone besides authorised workers to be on airport runways.”

“Right, right!” Jagged agreed instantly. “The whole rumour is just really baffling.”

“M. Jagged, may I ask what kind of effect these rumours have on a celebrities’ career?” Nadja continued, leading the conversation on like a professional.

“Well, rumours that circulate around tend to have really bad effects, and the worse ones can hang around for a long, long time. Tabloids are often spun off from rumours, baseless and with no evidence. Those tabloids will never truly disappear, so they can leave a mark on a celebrity’s reputation as some people will believe anything— Even things they read from un-cited tabloids.”

“That is simply terrible. Have you ever had any cases of rumours created by underaged teens before this?”

“I’ve had quite a number, but none of them really got as big as this one. From what Penny has found from digging around, the teen girl managed to spread the rumour through her school and onto a once-popular blog.” Jagged explained. “Penny has also found out that the same girl has claimed that I’ve written songs for her to thank her for saving my cat! I would never write songs and dedicate them to an underaged girl— Trust me. If I could do such a thing, I’d already have written a dozen in honour of my niece— She’s my favourite designer.”

Nadja smiled at that sentence. “Then—“

The news footage cut off abruptly as Lila slammed her laptop shut, too upset to continue watching.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

On the other side of Paris, Alya was pacing around her room frantically, wondering why on earth Lila wasn’t picking up on her calls. She’d left at least four dozen messages to the Italian, who was absent from school that day. There had been a couple whispers here and there about why she was missing— Rose had suggested another impromptu trip to Achu.

Lila’s absence wasn’t the weirdest part of the day, however.

That award would go to Marinette, who walked into class with a smile, the slightest sprinkles of delight colouring her bluebell eyes when she spotted Lila’s empty seat.

Growing in frustration, Alya threw herself onto her bed, phone clattering onto the mattress with her. Within the next few minutes, however, her phone suddenly started exploding with notifications. Excited at the prospect of Lila finally texting back, Alya turned on her phone, only to be disappointed by the notifications all clamouring from the class group chat.

Kim had sent a link to the chat— Without hesitation, Alya clicked into it, frowning when she saw Nadja and Jagged appear on the screen. Throughout the interview, the colour on the Ladyblogger’s face only paled by the second until she was as white as a sheet, and if it were halloween at that time, she would’ve won the best costume award for being a ghost.

There must… There must’ve been a mistake.

A notification from Lila’s number made the blogger perk up, instantly clicking into the conversation— But her newfound hope didn’t last very long.

[Lila]

Hi, Alya. This is Lila’s mom. She’s currently grounded right now. Is there anything important you need to tell her?

[Alya]

Oh, nothing much… I just wanted to ask where she was.

[Lila]

She’s at home.

[Alya]

Okay, thanks.

Flopping onto her bed, Alya begin thinking, revising over the past few months like it was an old clip. Lila’s exciting adventures and interactions with celebrities of every kind— Lila going overseas and face timing the entire class— Lila letting her in on the secrets of being Ladybug’s friend…

… Marinette trying to tell them that Lila was lying…

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

The class was awfully silent the next day. Adrien was absent as well— A social worker was looking into his home life as a result of the tabloid that arose. Things for the blonde could either get better or worse from then on, as the matters were still foggy and things hadn’t cleared up yet. The blonde maintained contact with his friends, however, calling and texting them whenever he could.

“Class, settle down.” Mlle. Bustier stepped into the class, looking very tense and uncomfortable. “Today, we will have a guest, so please be on your best behaviours, alright?”

Just as the teacher finished speaking, a tall, regal-looking Italian woman entered the classroom, a cowering principal and a meek-looking Lila in tow. The class brightened slightly at the sight of their friend— But by the way she wasn’t looking into their eyes… Things weren’t going to be good.

“Good morning. I am Mme. Rossi, Lila’s mother.” The woman begin speaking, her firm and no-nonsense tone instantly making every student sit straight, their eyes too afraid to look anywhere else but the Italian diplomat. “It has come to my attention that my daughter has been taking absences from school to do charity work— And I have to clarify that this is a lie. Lila has been doing nothing but holing herself up in her room, lying to me and saying that there are no classes due to akumas.” The Italian diplomat glowered at Damocles. “What’s even more baffling is the fact that neither her homeroom nor the principal bothered to check up with me despite a student having extended periods of absence with no note or email written whatsoever.”

The class was so quiet that they could hear the quiver of Mlle. Bustier’s trembling lip.

“In addition, I’ve been kindly told that Lila has claimed to have a lying disease, which is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard this week.” It was impossible to miss the way the Italian diplomat was glaring daggers at both Mlle. Bustier and Damocles. “No one bothered to look it up online to see if it’s actual disorder, nor did anyone call me to confirm and ask for a doctor’s note, which is standard procedure.” Chills burst over the room, making every one shiver as the woman hissed out her words.

“Mme. Rossi, we didn’t want to disturb your busy schedule—” Damocles begin, only to be blown backwards from the sheer intensity of Mme. Rossi’s glower.

“M. Damocles, standard procedures exist for a reason. Unless you’d like to tell me about any other things you’ve been letting my daughter get away with?”

“N— No, Mme.”

The Italian diplomat continued on her war path. “My daughter also claimed to have tinnitus, am I correct?”

“Y— Yes, Mme.” Mlle. Bustier answered when it seemed like no one was going to.

“And I heard that the class seating arrangement was shifted to accommodate for that?” The homeroom teacher didn’t dare answer this time, for it seemed like whatever she said would be the incorrect answer. “And apparently, my daughter has also been faking broken wrists and requesting for her classmates to complete her work for her.” Mme. Rossi was practically breathing flames at that point, “And I am incredibly upset at the lack of action from the homeroom teacher.”

No one could breath.

“I have many concerns about the running of this schooling facility, and I expect to discuss this with M. Damocles privately after this. However, there is still something to be done.” Mme. Rossi swept her gaze towards her daughter, who found the floor incredibly interesting at that point of time. “Lila? Something you’d like to say to your classmates?”

“… I’m sorry for lying to you.” Lila mumbled resentfully.

“Louder, Lila. No one can hear you.”

“I’m sorry for lying to you!” Lila swallowed, bursting like an explosion that had finally been triggered, tears in her eyes and fists hatefully curled. “I’m sorry for lying about my diseases and injuries. I’m sorry for making you do my work,” She spat. “Sorry for causing any inconveniences.”

Mme. Rossi raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “Is that all?”

Lila glared at her mother, who was completely unfazed. “Oh, so you want an apology from me? Fine!” She turned to the class, a maniacal glint in her eyes as she sneered at the class, a few gasps puffing from around the room as they caught their first glimpse of the liar that resided in the ‘harmless’ shell of Lila Rossi. “I’m sorry that you are all such idiots that you all fell for everything. I’m sorry that Marinette has such terrible, untrusting classmates that turned their backs on her even though she was still a goody-two shoes till the end, even though she still wanted to help you sorry peasants. I’m sorry that you were all so goddamn gullible! There! Good enough for you?”

Shock was etched into the faces of every human in the classroom— Including Mlle. Bustier, M. Damocles, and Mme. Rossi themselves. Clearly, that part of the apology had not been part of the plan.

“Did I miss something?” Said a sweet voice, followed by the presence of a bluenette, her hair tied in a half-up. A royal blue blazer decorated her lithe form, accompanied by a smart-looking white blouse and a black plaited skirt. Formal had never looked so good on anyone— And if someone didn't know better, they'd think that the bluenette was a young lawyer, emerging victorious from her first successful case.

“Marinette!” Alya exclaimed.

“I’m sorry that you’re such an annoying, little, pest.” Lila bit in the girl’s face, disdain colouring her features as she ignored her mother’s enraged gasp behind her.

The bluenette simply smiled, unaffected by the liar who had crashed and burned like the liar once wished upon her. Marinette Dupain-Cheng stood at her full height, the perfect image of grace and poise as she maintained her composure, quite unlike her nemesis, who thrashed under her mother’s restraining hands.

“And I’m sorry that you didn’t take my promise to heart.”

this can count as adrien redemption depending on you cause ehhh i dont like how passive he is but i havent caught up with the recent episodes, he might have become better. idk.

also where the hell is my miraculous taglist i cant find it so eep. no tagging ppl ig oops

[dearemilia]

Ackerman Strength | Chapter ii | Older brother Levi

Warnings | Profanity, slight manga spoilers for aot [?]

You sighed as you stretches your arms, going outside of your room and downstairs. You were shocked to see her uncle or relative?

Oh whatever, your clan is sort of confusing to you anyways.

"Afternoon" You greeted Levi who got a tea bag and cup as he presses on the hot button of the dispenser "[Name]" Levi spoke.

You hum and asks what he needs "Your teacher told me that you skipped class again" Levi added. Before he went home, he got a call from your homeroom teacher. Telling him how disrespectful it was for you to skip class.

"Was it those brats again?" Levi drank his tea with a bored expression.

You almost threw a book at him for trying to annoy you but you remained calm and answered him "Yes, I was with Mikey and Draken"

Levi hums uninterested as he reads the newspaper.

"We had to go and meet a new friend, I think his name was Takemitchy? I forgot" You replied as Levi side-eyes you "Well, don't do it again, or else I'm beating up those brats again" You glared at him and Levi turned away from your gaze, going back to reading his newspaper.

'Old ass shorty...' You thought to yourself, insulting Levi in your mind.

You both heard a knock on the door and once you opened the door, a paper was thrown at you "Shit! I'm sorry [Name]! I was just so mad that I didn't know you already opened the door" Baji nervously chuckled as he apologizes to you.

"Ah...It's fine, come in" You closed the door and locked it.

Baji then looked around "Levi's not home?" He questioned, feeling uneasy and afraid "The hell do you want, brat?" Baji froze as he let out a high pitch scream.

Levi clicked his tongue "Don't shout at my house" Levi crossed his arms.

You took Baji's hand and told him to go to your room while you deal with Levi. Levi sighed, tired of your friends' childish acts.

"You two better study" You narrowed your eyes at Levi.

"We are going to study, Keisuke's mom called me yesterday and asked me to tutor him" Levi nodded, remembering when Baji's mom cried about how her son got held back.

Baji let out a huff as he sulked "[Name], can you explain this again?" You then begin to explain Algebra.

After a few minutes, he spoke up "So basically, 7 = 2 - x is x = - 5?" He turns to look at you as you nod your head "Yes, Keisuke" You give him a small smile "See! I am smart!" He grinned.

"Of course you are, just not academically" You mentioned as you look through all of Baji’s answers "Hah...I'm bored. Hey, did you know that there was a cat I saved from being hit by a car?"

"Really now, where is the cat now?" You questioned "Somewhere, sadly I couldn't bring it home since I had to go to your house. But I got the cat food!"

You hum until you snap your head at Baji again "You saved the cat from a car, right?" Baji looked at you, confused "Yeah?" An irk mark appeared on your forehead "You imbecile! You could've gotten hurt you know!"

"But I'm not hurt, right?! Right?! And plus what does imbecile even mean?!"

You slap yourself as you feel your brain cells falling "Oh god, it's ---" Before you could even tell him, you both heard noises coming from outside the house.

"OH MY GOD! THERE'S A CAT ON YOUR ROOFTOP! [NAME] LET'S GO SEE THE CAT! MATH CAN WAIT!!"

You didn't even get to say anything before Baji dragged you up to your rooftop.

You watched as Baji tried grabbing the cat but the cat didn't seem to like Baji.

'Weird' You knew how much Baji love cats. You remembered when you and Baji used to rescue stray cats from trees and other places.

Baji used to think that Cats came from storks.

To which you had to remind him that they came from actual cats and not birds. If it were birds, the storks would be eaten right away.

Well, that's what Levi told you.

"[Name], come help right now!! This cat won't come to me!" Baji whined as you deadpan, too tired for this kind of thing.

When you opened your arms for the cat, the cat immediately came to your arms.

You were shocked, but mostly Baji was shocked. Why did the cat go to you but not him? Baji sulked as he crossed his arms and watched the firework.

"Don't sulk like that, you'll look like Levi" You told him as Baji frowned.

Baji doesn't respect people much, but he has to admit that you and Levi are one of the few people he can openly respect.

Levi's like an uncle to him.

As you and Baji watched the fireworks, he couldn't help but slowly hold your hand, feeling the warmth, he smiled.

When someone had to interrupt.

"Oi, oi, oi" You both looked behind to see Levi, crossing his arms with a glare, looking short as usual "Come in, I made dinner" You nodded, heading towards the living room.

Baji frowned that he couldn't have a slight moment with you.

You placed the rice on the bowl "Oi, brat, don't fail your next test, [Name] helped you even when she's already busy" Baji felt shivers run down his spine as he frantically nodded.

Out of the blue, you feel an electric shock running through your skin. You gasps, suddenly you see Takemichi running, blood, and Draken with screams being heard.

The bowl that was in your hand, drops on the floor as it breaks into pieces, causing Levi and Baji to run to you.

"[Name], you alright?" Levi asked you as he squeezed your shoulder, easing you up.

You snap as you shook your head "I'm sorry, I thought I saw something" You stared at your hand.

"[Name], you okay?" Baji asked as he checks your forehead "Yeah, don't worry, I'm not sick Kei" [Name] thanked him for worrying you "[Name], I may be stupid but you're clearly not okay, just sit down while I help Levi" Baji made you sit down on one of the sofas.

You deserve a break anyway after helping him with his upcoming test.

'That...felt weird...why did I see Takemichi and...Draken..' You thought to yourself. Although, you decided to ignore that, thinking it was a distraction.

November 8th, 2021 Thank you for reading, stay safe and healthy I love you all so much! <3

Tag list | @sup-zfam @imkumichan @dai-tsukki-desu​

© butterflyemi, 2021 | Do not translate and repost my work in any other platform and in Tumblr without permission.

[mrpenguinpants]

Genshin: Roommate HCs [V1]

To be honest, I just wanted to ramble some more and let my brainworms take over. This is sorta late but Happy Valentine’s everyone! I was gonna post this earlier but this honestly took me a long time to write so I moved it to today. 

Once again, this is 90% crack 10% content. Seriously, as much as I love writing this non-serious fics. Why do you people like this?

—

Based off my ramblings with Keqing anon: Link

Genshin: Holding Hands [V1]

Genshin: When you’re cold [V1]

Genshin: University AU [V1]

Genshin: Royalty AU [V1]

[Masterlist]

—

[taglist]  <- if you want to be added, please read this first.

@youaskedfurret @diaxfeliz @wintergreen-aix @kaechu @thegayrubberducky @lovelykittycatmeow @yuunoagivesmelife​  @dokidokisama @rokipersonal​@minakohasmanyhusbandos​ @strwbrry-lia @tigerpriestess​ @yuu-yuukurotsuki​ @hanniejji​  @mikeysbike @unionwitch @musekala @sunnshiii​ @stanzastic @akaasea​ @xoneaboveallx​ @adoring-ghost​ @asheseiler​ @childelover​ @dilucsz​ @dai-tsukki-desu​ @thicmitten​ @nonniechan​ @htnicayh​ @genshins1mpact​ 

---

Diluc

What? Diluc has a roommate? Did you blackmail him in living with you? Is that even possible? Did you throw yourself in front of his car because you needed someone to pay for your student loans and the easiest way was to file a lawsuit? In this economy no one would blame you. Diluc seems like such the self-isolated character that would murder his roommate in cold blood but in reality, he act’s detached from the world because he forgot how to socialize and he’s desperately trying to cover it up without choking. That or he’s trying to learn how to astral project. If he could drink away the pain he would but instead he buys 20 packs of grape Kool-Aid and injects it into his veins. 

Does not and will not ever have a normal sleeping schedule. You’ll wake up to him working, come back home to him working, and will sleep to him still working. His daily dose of Vitamin D is from the brightness of his screen rather than the sun and he’s filter feeding at this point. It’s concerning. He’s going to crumble and he’s bringing the world down with him. Through the power of tax evasion. But as soon as he needs to walk out into society, he pulls movie magic and looks like perfection. It’s both physically and mentally disgusting. 

He’s actually is a really nice roommate to have just so long as you give him space. Great cook and knows to clean up after himself. Though he does have crash and burn days where’s he’s completely out of commission. You could set the entire apartment on fire and he would sleep through it. The entire two weeks are dedicated to zombie eye marathons and then he’ll suddenly collapse and sleep for 46 hours straight. When he wakes up from his hibernation he’s the most groggy and nonsensical person. His life blood is coffee because you keep hiding the 5 hour energy away from him because, you know, life is enjoyable and those cancer bottles will actually kill him.  

“University sucks our money out of our bodies faster than our will to live.” 

Beidou [Happy Birthday Queen 💕]

Despite her appearance, she’s actually really strong and it scares the piss out of you when you’re doing something or scrolling through your phone mindlessly and you suddenly get your spine re-arranged when she slaps you on the back to ask what you’re doing. Likewise, when she hoists you up and throws you over her shoulder so you come with her on her 3am convivence store raids for alcohol. It’s either you change now or else we’re walking out of the apartment in your t-shirt and no pants self. She can and will carry you under her arm that way. It’s both incredibly attractive and horrifying at the same time. 

She’s really friendly and a great talker if you’re alright with her “I must hold you in my arms, fresh prince of bel air style”. It doesn’t matter if you’re taller than her, she’s doing it. She does however, get in a bit of trouble from her rowdiness and you often get noise complaints but Beidou just passes them off to Ningguang and everything is fixed. She has ovaries of steel when neighbors rather confront her personally and she’s ready to 1v1 in the parking lot. You’re trying to desperately hold onto her shirt to stop her from pile driving your neighbors for the third time this week but she’s too strong.  

She’s constant party until we die attitude and suffers the hangover in the morning. It’s actually really funny to catch her in her hangover moods because whatever filter Beidou had, which is none, is gone. She really takes “cursing like a sailor” or the next level and the amount of creativity she comes up with is actually impressive. She can be a bit messy but she’s really likeable and always down to go anywhere with you as long as you’ll do the same. It’s a very ride together, we die together situation. You’re my best friend, you’re dying with me. I’ll see you in hell. 

“Imma T pose over my dad and then crash the car into the parking garage.” 

Kaeya

Kaeya on the surface seems like such a chill roommate. And he is for the most part. But he’s such an ass. Your things are his things, no questions asked. If you just bought a really nice sweater or you had leftover food, that’s his now. He’s innocent until proven guilty even if he’s literally holding your lunch. The pure amount of bullshit he can spit out to convince you that no, he did not pull the fire alarm because he wanted an excuse for not going to work, puts him on Shakespeare level. He’s also very pretty, way too pretty, sir can you share some of your genes? 

But aside from that, he’s actually super dependable. You forgot something at home? Sure, he has nothing better to do so he can bring them for you. We’re missing eggs? No problem, he’s just by the store. You’re 95% sure that he just wants to be cheeky and make you thank him for 20 minutes before he actually hands you what you asked for. It’s better for you if you never tell him anything you’re afraid of because Kaeya has no social cues, or more like he throws them out the window, and he’s probably a psychopath. 

He’s incredibly private of his room and things despite his attitude towards yours. You’re convinced he either has a secret lab or that’s where he’s storing the bodies. I was the good guy but due to unfortunate circumstances, I need to stab a bitch. But he’s a really good serious talker for those 3am, because everything happens at 3am, talks about life and the meaning of the universe. It absolutely wrecks your sleep schedule but some of the things you talk about are the most crackhead things like what’s the lowest amount of money someone would have to pay you to walk outside without clothes? It’s a legitimate question. 

“Never before have I been so offended with something I 100% agree with.”

Jean

Okay, what world did you save in a past life to live with his absolutely wonderful woman? Mother Teresa take a load off, take a seat. You have nothing to worry about. She’ll bring home little treats back home and it’s the most wholesome thing ever?? Is this what love and affection feels like? We’ve been starved for so long. She says it’s not a big deal and anyone would do it BUT THE MOMENT SOMEONE BUYS FOOD FOR YOU. IT’S A MAGICAL MOMENT. They are forever stuck in your will until proven otherwise. An absolute ray of sunshine that must be protected. 

She does get super busy so you don’t often see each other or get to hang out as much. She’s a bit of a workaholic but a lot more easier to talk her into taking a break. She’s also a pretty decent cook but she prefers baking and jesus christ, girl can you calm down? Be still my beating heart, I’ve been smitten. Has mother hen vibes that you’re not sure if she’s your roommate or if she adopted you into her family. It’s time to start a petition for the Jean protection squad. Given the opportunity, I would aggressively hold your hand. 

She’s always open to whatever you want to do. Any recommendations or things that you like she will try out at least once despite her busy schedule. She’s lowkey lonely because work consumes her so any time you want to hang out or do something together, she jumps on it like she’s feral. She get’s a bit shy to ask if she can join in on your plans because she doesn’t want to bother you or intrude no matter how many times you tell her that’s okay, she still get’s a bit iffy about it. Please save this girl before she trips. In your arms. Platonically. Just kidding haha. Unless?

“I can’t wait to see you happy and not hating everyone again haha.”

Childe

First impressions of Childe were great, until he opened his mouth and you realized how much of a two brain cell child(e) he was. He has two braincells because they constantly have to 1v1 in his brain. He’s lived with a lot of siblings so he has no social awareness or concept of privacy that you’re lucky if you come home and he’s half-dressed. It doesn’t matter if you’re 2 weeks older than him, he’s going to call you 82 years old and why your bones aren’t being fossilized at this point. He’s such a little shit, this fucker licks the yogurt lid peel.  

He get’s really restless when he’s stuck under house arrest, because apparently 1v1ing in the parking lot of a Wendy’s is illegal for some reason, so he makes dying whale noises until he get’s to go outside again. But he’s actually a really wholesome guy, probably because of his younger siblings, that he’ll sometimes get you something because you seemed down and it’s such whiplash? Who is this man and where did he come from? You’re starting to have a change of heart before he tells you that he got banned from the library for accidently punching the school’s computer. How you “accidently” punch something you have no idea but Childe always comes home with some sort of injury. Maybe he’s just incredibly clumsy. For your sanity, you’re going to go with that. 

He’s actually so uncultured that it’s crippling. You can’t blame him too much considering his upbringing and it’s great that he’s so interested in learning new things but...child no...It makes you want to take your spine out of your ass and rip it like a Beyblade. Watching him take chopsticks and stab his food like it’s marshmallows makes you want to fall into a blackhole and let the chair consume you. 

“I, too, fantasize about beating the living shit out of people.”

---

Is this another tag yourself game cause I resonate with Diluc. I’m crying in insomnia. As much as I enjoy writing these fics I absolutely hate tagging them. I remember I used to have a tag anon but that was back when I wrote for bnha. 

Valentine’s Day was fun tho. I had a drinking game with friends as we played league then ended it off with a movie night. 

[galaxywhump]

Darkness Day

For @brutal-nemesis Whump of the Month.

Remember Bradley McKenna from Caged Canary? Well, recently I’ve been toying with a very loose AU in which he’s a good guy who gets kidnapped by a group of villains led by a woman going by the name of The Puppetmaster. You don’t need to be familiar with the original (barely started) story to understand this drabble, as they don’t have much in common save for the character of Bradley.

Context for this particular piece (which is just one of the possible timelines of the AU, not necessarily canon): Bradley has the power of metalkinesis, but to use it he needs to see the object he wants to manipulate.

contents: captivity whump, heroes and villains, lady whumper, eye whump (not gore), blinding, medical setting, referenced failed escape attempt, creepy villain whumper, hero whumpee, manhandling, self-loathing, feelings of loss.

~~~

Somehow he immediately knew what was going to happen when the door to his cell opened. The villains who came for him didn't say a word, but their silence was tense, had been ever since he tried to escape. As they led him through the winding hallways he feared that his heart would crush his ribcage, and he could already feel sobs forming in his throat. He gritted his teeth, trying not to break down, when they reached their destination and soft beeping filled his ears.

He couldn't stop a fearful whimper from escaping him when they lifted him up and forced him to lie down on a table; his breath caught in his throat when they closed restraints around his wrists and ankles, immobilizing him. The blindfold was removed and he squeezed his eyes shut when light flooded him, and so did despair when he realized that soon there would be no need for that, that he wouldn't be blinded by light ever again.

He blinked and looked around. The room he found himself looked like a fairly regular clinic, which meant… The villains who had brought him here had left, there were metal tools and objects everywhere, if he could just- if he could-

"Hey!" he heard a stern voice when he managed to gather his powers enough to pull a metal stool closer, making it scratch against the tiles. "Stop that."

Such a simple condescending reprimand, like his desperate struggle was nothing more than a mild annoyance, but it made sense, didn't it? He looked at the restraints, sturdy leather, and he knew that even if he had some kind of tool or weapon, he wouldn't be able to free himself quickly enough; and even if he was, there were so many people in the base, so many cameras, he didn't even know where to look for the exit, so he really had no choice but to stay here and let them-

"Please," he whispered. "Please don't, don't do this."

Someone finally appeared in his field of view, a woman wearing a lab coat. She took a quick look at him, then shrugged and got to checking his restraints, making sure they wouldn't come loose.

"Boss's orders. Don't waste your breath on begging."

So it really was going to happen - and this time he couldn't hold back a sob. Terror took over reason, he was about to be rendered even more useless than he already was, than he had always been, and he was pathetic, crying like a baby in front of those sadists, but he was unable to stop.

"I won't try to escape ever again, I promise, I'll tell Puppetmaster whatever she wants to know, just please, please don't do this, don't take away my- my-"

"Not a chance. Listen, I'd gag you, but you know what else the boss said?" She leaned over him, looked into his eyes glistening with tears. "She said that she wanted to hear your screams all the way over in her office."

"No…" Bradley choked out, closing his fists, his mind spiraling.

The door opened and he craned his neck to see who entered; a stupid part of him hoped it was Puppetmaster, coming to say this wouldn't happen, that she just wanted to mess with his brain again, to hear him beg. But it wasn't her, it was someone else, someone he recognized, the villain who came for him once, who removed the blindfold only to immediately flash blinding light right into his eyes, just for fun.

No.

"Already crying?" they laughed, approaching him as he started to fight for every breath. 

"He was begging a moment ago," the medic informed with a smirk.

"Shame I wasn't here to hear it." The villain stopped by his side and lay their hands on the edge of the table. "So, shall we begin, Imelda?"

Bradley choked and frantically shook his head. The medic, Imelda, sighed and reached under the table, and a split second later there was a wide leather strap pressed to his forehead. The restraint was pulled tight, and he couldn't move his head at all anymore.

"No, no, no," he stammered, barely aware of what he was saying, trembling feverishly, wishing he could just wake up from this nightmare, find himself anywhere else, even back in the cell, but he was still here, tied to the table, and he started hyperventilating when Imelda showed up by his side holding an eye speculum. He squeezed his eyes shut, but she forced his left eye open, and he spasmed when the cold metal, metal, of course it was metal, he fucking hated it, was slipped under each eyelid, keeping his eye completely exposed.

"Alright, Flashlight, you're good to go."

He couldn't even muster any words anymore, mumbling incoherently, pleading, sobbing when Flashlight's hand covered his eye, and then-

Explosion. Pure white so intense that the world rang, his scream grated his throat raw, his back arched in agony, and then it happened again, and again, and again, he pounded his fists on the surface of the table, a second explosion joined, an outburst of power in his fingertips.

"Shit!" 

There was a firm grip on his hands, pinning them down, but all he could focus on was the way his eye felt like it was on fire, the flashes were getting more and more dimmed, and then they just- stopped, but they were still happening, he still felt them, but he couldn't see them.

"Okay, that- that should be enough."

He was fighting for air that wouldn't reach his lungs, but when the burning sensation disappeared, he went lax, his chest heaving desperately, and he flinched when he heard deafening clatter and looked to the side to see the medical tools that used to rest on the instrument table now in disarray, some of them on the floor; the metal stool from earlier was tipped over. He could still see, then, so maybe- but no, he was looking to the right, it was his right eye, because he felt the speculum being removed from his left eye, making him shudder, so Flashlight must have already retracted their hand, but he didn't see it.

His left eye was blind.

"Ugh…" Imelda scoffed, appearing in his field of view again. "You should be glad you didn't throw a scalpel at me, you would've regretted that."

"I think that worked really well, though," he heard Flashlight's voice, but he couldn't see them - they must have still been by his left side.

"Yeah, yeah, but you saw what happened," Imelda sighed, gathering the tools to put them in one of the drawers of her desk. "If he can still use his powers like that when we're done-"

"I won't use them," Bradley croaked, still panting desperately. "I promise I won't, just don't- don't do this again-”

"Shush." Imelda closed the drawer while Flashlight picked up the metal stool and disappeared again, presumably to leave it out in the hallway.

"Alright, I think we should be safe now."

"Great, let's finish this," Imelda said, circling him.

"No!"

There it was again, the speculum getting closer to his good eye, and in his panic he tried to manipulate it; he made it twitch, but Imelda just gripped it tighter with yet another exasperated sigh of someone dealing with something mildly irritating at most. Then, freezing metal prying his eye open, the last thing he was ever going to see, and the last face he was ever going to see belonged to the person doing this to him, and they grinned at him before pressing their hand to his eye.

"NonoNO-" Explosion again, white light, agony, ringing, hoarse screams so painful he wouldn't be surprised if his throat started bleeding. He didn't want the explosions to fade, he didn't want to be left in darkness, but it was happening, the flashes were getting hazy, no, no, no, please, and that was it, the speculum was removed, and he opened his eyes- no, they were already open, and he saw nothing.

"Blind as a bat," Imelda said matter-of-factly, and he jolted in place when he felt her hand patting his cheek. "And your screams were more than satisfactory, I believe. But just so we're sure…"

The restraints were removed, at least the ones on his forehead and wrists, and cold metal was briefly pressed to his burning cheek before disappearing.

"That was the speculum. I'm holding it above you right now, but high enough that you can't just reach for it with your hand. Try using your powers."

Maybe… maybe it would still work. Maybe he still had his powers, maybe if he just… if he just focused, if he imagined the speculum, and that wasn't hard, its image was burned into his mind… He raised one shaking hand and took as deep a breath as he could, he knew what the speculum looked like, he visualized it, he tried to pull it closer, he knew where it was, right above him, but he felt nothing.

That didn't mean anything, though, he had been here for… far too long, he hadn't had many opportunities to use his powers, he was out of practice, his fear definitely wasn't helping after the outburst of his power earlier. He just needed to remember how to do it, just like how he'd moved the metal stool earlier, like how he'd made Imelda's tools float, he had to feel the familiar tingling in his fingertips, but there was nothing, absolutely nothing, and there wasn't going to be anything ever again, and new tears started to flow from his unseeing eyes.

"I-I can't," he choked out, devastated, lightheaded. "I can't use them."

"Good. I'm going to assume you aren't lying to me, then. Flashlight, you can go now."

Bradley swallowed heavily. That was it, then. Blinded. Stripped of his powers, the only thing that made him somewhat useful. Pathetic.

The restraints on his ankles were removed as well, and Imelda helped him sit up. His feet touched the floor, but he didn't get up - he doubted he'd be allowed to, anyway - and he closed his fingers on the edge of the table until they hurt.

"Lift your head."

He did, and then he felt her hands on his face again, fingers carefully moving his eyelids as she no doubt examined his eyes more closely. He couldn't even remember what it felt like to be able to breathe normally - there were only shallow hiccupping sobs now, threatening to turn into hyperventilating all over again. In an attempt to ground himself he recalled what the room he was in looked like, what Imelda looked like, but the distraction ended up only making his despair worse - because what did it matter? Why would he force himself to remember everything he had seen before the Puppetmaster made sure he wouldn't see anything more than that? He slouched further, and a shudder ran up his spine.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway and two people entered the room; it was yet another layer to the realization of what had just happened, that he would never be able to know who was approaching, friend or foe. But he wouldn't need it, he wouldn't need to stay alert like he used to. He wasn't a hero anymore, after all.

"Oh, just look at you."

Puppetmaster. Bradley shrank in on himself when the footsteps got closer, then there was a hand grabbing his chin, lifting his head up, and he could only assume he was facing her this way. 

"You really can't use your powers ever again, can you?" she whispered.

"Unless he's lying, he can't," Imelda said, and Puppetmaster laughed.

"Look at him. He can't be lying, unless he's the greatest actor to have ever lived." Bradley flinched when she stroked his cheek. "And you aren't, are you? You're just how every hero should be. Defeated. Powerless. And before that, screaming in pain. It was music to my ears."

He wanted to respond somehow, to snark, but there was no point. He was a shaking, crying mess, and all he wanted was to be left alone.

He didn't know if Puppetmaster said anything else, if anything of note happened. To his relief he was hauled to his feet. The villains who led him back to his cell were strangely gentle, careful, and it made him want to scream.

He didn't pose a threat anymore.

Back in the cell - the cell he would never see again, but not in the way he wanted - his arms were twisted behind his back and he braced himself for being restrained again, but the villain holding him paused, sighed, and loosened their grip.

"Nevermind," they said, leading him to the wall so he could lean against it when he sat down.

Of course. There was no use restraining him now.

Then he was left alone, shuddering in overwhelming darkness. He pulled his legs up to his chin and wrapped his arms around them, then rested his forehead on his knees with a shaky exhale. It was easier to zone out now, to pretend all of this hadn't happened, and he stayed like that, completely still, for what felt like hours, but eventually his despair caught up to him, and he couldn't hold back tears. He pressed his hand to his mouth to muffle the sobs he couldn't stop.

It wasn't cathartic crying, because relief never came, and he was furious when he ran out of tears and could only sob dryly, his throat still sore from his agonized screams that had been heard by so many people. 

He still wanted nothing more than to escape or be rescued - even though he had been here for so long, and it felt like nobody was looking for him - but deep down he started to think that maybe there was no point. His powers had been taken away, leaving behind nothing, an empty shell, completely useless. There was nothing left of the hero he once was.

There was nothing left worth saving.

~~~

taglist (tagging the Caged Canary crew): @funky-little-glitter-bomb @lonesome--hunter @redstainedsocks @maracujatangerine @just-another-whumper

[anna1306]

New in town

Masterlist

Previous | Next

Part 10

- No... - Michael sat on your bed for half an hour now and repeated this again and again. - No!

- Michael, come on, snap out of it. I know you aren't the brightest one, but dude... - you flicked the cigarette in the window and turned to your nephew, looking at him worriedly now.

- How...

- Thanks everything, a different word! - you scoffed. - It's... I would say a long story, but it really isn't. We were in a car accident. Me and Lucy. She received the least damage, I was jammed in a car and was... Slowly dying, - you hated to remember that day. You shivered and averted his gaze. - Rebecca was driving nearby, she saw all of that and... Helped.

- Wait, mom is... Too? - he looked terrified. You sighed deeply, understanding that his mind was all over the place. But you didn't have time and nerves to deal with him.

- Michael, I need you to calm down. Because when you are in shock or panic, your brain turns yourself off to save the remaining cells, - you smiled softly at him, sitting near. You hoped that it would calm him down. He nodded, but still moved away. Okay, that hurt a little. - Your mom gave birth to both of you. Plus she's aging. Vampires can't do both, - he processed it and nodded, then looked at you suddenly.

- That's why you moved, - he suddenly said. - So me and dad won't understand...

- Yes, finally some rational conclusions, - you laughed. Michael smiled a little, but... It seemed his brain jumped to another scary (for him) thought.

- Wait... Mom knew all along?!

- Here we go again... We got into an accident together, I told you...

- No, about this! About Santa-Carla! About boys! About me?! - he looked at you expectantly. What could you say? That his mother wouldn't listen to him because she's in love? That you tried to put her mind in place? That you understood, why she made those decisions and said those words, even if you didn't agree with her? You sighed and took his hand into yours, squeezing his fingers a little.

- Yes, - you simply answered. - I told her in the first week, that the town smells like blood. Almost the next day they took you to the cave. Maybe in two days? I don't know, I wasn't there. But yes, she knew. The moment I realised it, I told her.

- Oh gosh... Then we definitely has to kill boys, kill David, Mom is sick worried! - he jumped to his feet, but you stayed on your place.

- It's not him. He is just normal vampire from the coven. There is their sire in this town, - you looked at your nephew, but when he tried to say something, you shook your head. - I won't say who. Lucy would hate me for that.

- What do you mean hate?! She is worried for me, I know, and I can't be like it, I... - he suddenly stopped. You could swear you heard the clogs in his head getting back into right place to work right and his heart shuddering. - She doesn't want me to go back...

- Michael, - you sighed, standing up. - Me and your mom went through a lot. I know things about her she doesn't know and understand and vice versa. She doesn't want to kill your sire for the same reason I don't want to kill boys. He is close to her, he is...

- It's Max? Or whatever the name of her freaking boyfriend? - he almost growled, looking at you angrily. You got nothing left to do, but to nod, being in the corner. - I'm gonna kill him.

- That's very unlucky event. He is old, we don't know how much, but... He got four of the boys turned and they have been here for a while, so... Yes, he's old with, might I add, help of his coven on his side. And you are just a halfling with two braincells, that kills each other every day. You can't beat him. I could have tried, I offered to ask for help from my sire, but...

- She doesn't want him killed? But me - oh well? - you could see angry tears in his eyes and you hugged him, stopping from making mistakes. He thrashed a little, but froze. - Why? When dad was with us, she chose him over and over, only when you came, she saw something bad in him, she didn't listen to us. And now this?! - he sounded angry, but you heard tiredness in his voice too.

- She wants to be loved. Wants to be just a human who can love in return. Wants to have someone here for her. She loves you to no ends, believe me, I've seen it all. She doesn't want you to be like that, like me, like... Whatever, my point is she tried to find a way for you out of this, before she knew of the head vampire. But she can't be alone, she's... Just like that, - you caressed his messy hair, trying your best to calm him down.

- I understand that! I understand her reasoning! But... But I don't have to live with it! It's my life, not hers to choose it, - he grabbed your back, pressing into you, but soon he pulled away, scrunching his nose. - You smell like them. Especially like Paul, what did you all do... Oh, hell, nevermind, - you blushed a little, looking away.

- Your mother is lost. She needs a little help and...advice. I'm not the best for it now. We argued. So now I can't appear and snap my fingers to make it all better, like I did with the situation with your dad.

- Shame you are so useless... - you both snickered. Michael sighed. - What about Star? Laddie? They don't deserve it. If we won't kill boys, they would be stuck here forever.

- Star tried to... Warn me about them. And I told her one thing and I will tell you this. Rebecca, my sire, she's good. She can help them get out of this. So we can ask her.

- But this sire... I don't want to be like... You. Sorry, but it's true, I don't want to be a vampire! - Michael exclaimed. You nodded, smiling sadly. At this point you were getting used to that.

- I understand. Don't worry about my feelings, Lucy doesn't. There isn't much fun about it, you can't go anywhere in the day, be close with people e.c. But you don't have to kill anyone. Look at me, I live on blood from the hospitals and blood banks Becca is giving me. You can go to her too. She isn't that pressing like boys.

- I don't know what to do now... - he finally admitted. You put your hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

- That's normal. It means you have feelings and care about all of this, - you smiled a little. - We'll figure something out. Just... Not kill anyone in the process, please, - you asked. He looked at you with strange mix of feelings in his eyes.

- Alright, I'll try to reason them. About you... I won't tell anyone, but Sam, but... Do the boys know?

- No. He shouldn't know also, - you shook your head. - It's safer for him that way. And for the boys. And for us if they don't know the truth. It's... Territorial thing. Long story about vampires and their stupid instincts, - you smiled with a strain. - Now go. The sunrise is soon, we both need to rest. Especially you, but I want you to know that you are not alone. I'm with you, whatever happens, you can go to me.

- Got it... Thanks, - Michael nodded, going to the exit. - Still sorry. For everything, - you smiled at him and locked the door, once he went out.

They were longing for you. You felt them somewhere deep inside of you, their blood still in your veins. You almost felt its taste. All of your being screamed to go back. To tell them truth, find peace in them, in their hands. Yes, you felt betrayed, knowing that they manipulated you and if you were humans, things would be different. At the same time you couldn't imagine your life without them, wishing to go back to them, to be theirs. But you had to do everything you could for the family.

Michael didn't want it and you understood him. Star and Laddie too couldn't just return to normal life. But kill Max meant to hurt Lucy. You couldn't do one without the other. So you had to come up with the idea of what you could do to save everything. The best solution was to send them to Rebecca, as she would understand their wish to remain not-vampires and would take care of them. But still...

You were worried that the boys could got hurt in the process of their "day activities", or whatever these hunters wanted to do. You went to the closed window, looking out from the fabric to the street. It still was dark, but the horizon was slowly becoming lighter. You should have just shut down the curtain, but you stood in your place, all of the thoughts circling on loop inside your head. You were stuck.

- Y/N? - you heard knocking on the door and Lucy's voice. You shivered, closing the curtain and walking to the door. Thinking for a moment, should you do it or not, you opened the door. Lucy stood there as silent as you were. It was only after a minute she threw herself onto you, hugging you tightly.

- When we found your car, I was so worried! - she whispered frantically. You grabbed her back, hugging her as well, closing the door behind her. - Are you okay?

- Yes, yes, I'm fine. I ate today and... Everything's good.

- I'm sorry. For calling you monster, for forcing you to do anything you hate! - she almost cried, and you had to force yourself to smile. Your doubts in her still hurt, being there, deep inside your heart, but you couldn't stand the tears of your younger sister.

- It's okay. What matter is that we are all alright, - you lead her into the room and sat her on the bed. - Are you okay? Max said you were nervous, when I met him. Before... The crash.

- He was just worried, - she looked at the side. You, using the opportunity, looked at her neck. Alive and well, he still didn't bite her. Alright, maybe you could trust him. More or less. - He said he would look for you, but...

- I think he knew where I was, - you interrupted her. She looked at you questionably and then sighed, finally understanding. - Before you got more worried, once again, I'm fine. And I haven't killed a soul.

- You told me to be careful around vampires and you yourself was at these boys'... Nevermind, I don't want to argue, - she sighed, taking your arms in hers. - I missed you, darling. And I thought... I thought that you were gone, the car was under the sun, I... Remembered that evening.

- It's okay, - you kissed her wrist. - We gonna be okay, but... I think we need to do something about it. I mean Michael's situation and all. It's not safe for him here, he doesn't want it.

- What do you suggest? Letting him go? Y/N, remember yourself, I hardly held you from biting people, still don't know how come you haven't bitten me even once, - she sighed. - I know where you are coming from. But we won't hurt Max, and you both, maybe even your... Boys would help with his hunger and turning.

- He doesn't want to turn, we need to respect his wish, it's his life, - you answered sternly, making it clear that the final word would be after Michael. - I mean, technically he could stay like that, but not here. We can send him and... A girl, who's staying with the boys to Rebecca. She's all alone with me gone and no other covens around, she could use a little company. We ask her first, but...

- You think it would help? Maybe it's better for him to stay near to his sire, - Lucy didn't seem to be convinced. You shrugged.

- I have only one thing to say. Rebecca doesn't kill. Max and boys do.

- Valid point, - she whispered, nodding. She sighed and put her hands in her hair, letting go of you. - When it became so hard, Y/N? It used to be just us and boys against the world and now...

- Nothing changed, hey, sis, - you sat near her and hugged her again. - I'm with you and boys understand you. We just need to adjust to the situation. Plus talk more, the amount of talking and truth is terrifying, we screamed at each other the first suitable time.

- You are right, - she giggled and sat straight. - It's late, I mean... Early. You need to have some rest. And tomorrow night we gonna talk. About Max, truth, Rebecca and everything. We need to tell boys the truth finally and make sure that everything is okay, - Lucy was stressed, but you knew she would be alright now. Telling her that Michael knew would stress her out too. Tomorrow. Everything tomorrow. You kissed her in the forehead and let go of her.

- You too need to sleep, - you followed her to the door and closed it on lock after her. Sam still didn't know and you shouldn't let him wander in accidentally. You walked to the crossbar over your bed and jumped on it. Oh, how you missed this feeling of relaxation, it was as if your back just straightened itself.

Everything would be okay. You would deal with problems step by step. Everything would be fine. You would talk with the boys and tell them the truth and... You'll figure out the way to be happy together and trust each other.

***

You woke up with a scream, falling to the bed. You felt such immense pain it was like you were stabbed. You heard someone's screaming, and you didn't understand what was going on, screaming with them. You thrashed around, jumping to your feet.

There was sun behind your curtain, it was day, you should have been asleep. And you had never ever had nightmares. But this pain was so overwhelming, like burning inside out, you woke up immediately. In a minutes you walked around your room, pain dissolved, leaving...

The same overwhelming amount of emptiness after. It was like you were ripped from something important, becoming void in your chest again. You thought of boys, but... Michael said they wouldn't do anything, so... They should be safe, right? Right?...

For the rest of the day you couldn't sleep normally. You heard some commotion in the house, someone even tugged on the door handle, but ran away quickly. In the evening you sighed, standing up from the bed.

- To hell with talk and decisions, I'm going to boys, - you grumbled, walking out of the room. By the stairs you were met with... Frog from the comic store? He pointed a self-made stake on you, making you step back. You raised your hands, ready to fight if needed.

- HEY, WOW, What the actual hell?! - you exclaimed, being very careful. Sam ran from his room and stood between you, probably saving you. Or the boy.

- Chill out, dude, it's not one of them!

- There weren't any reflection in the mirror in the store! - answered the boy with his weapon. Now you understood why he was so quiet the last time you saw him and why they darted to the phone. And why Sam didn't want you in the house. Freaking self-proclaimed hunters...

- They are like me, only halfway there, - interrupted Michael, and you were grateful for that, looking at him. He nodded a little. - If you have trust in me, trust them too, - Frog thought for a moment, having his doubtful brother behind his back, but finally he lowered his weapon, looked at each other.

- Fine. You should stay inside and listen to us, - he commanded. You raised your brows and scoffed.

- No.

- What do you mean no?

- I mean no. You wanna hear it in Spanish? 'No', - you rolled your eyes, heading for the stairs. - I'm going for... Business, gonna take dad's car. You be careful, make some noise and go to bed after midnight.

- No, Y/N, wait! - Sam ran around you and stood in front of you, on the stairs. You only now noticed Star near Michael, Laddie hiding behind her skirt. She looked at you sheepishly and almost scared. The hell they were doing here?... - They would kill you, you need to stay inside.

- Kill me. Right... Mind if I ask who?

- The boys from the freaking cave, - the red Frog answered. You looked at him and laughed.

- Guys, I know you are scared of them, but they won't touch me, believe me. So don't worry. I will be fine. And you can play hide-and-seek here. I will be back before morning and we will discuss our little situation. I mean I'm not gonna just sit and...

- They killed Marko, - said Star suddenly. You froze, not looking at her, all of the fun and sarcasm going away. - So they would come for all of us.

- No... - you whispered, not daring to believe that the pain and emptiness you felt was from... The loss of part of your being. You shook your head, looking into nothing. - You didn't.

- They did, - Michael nodded, making you look at him. His face expressed worry and fear. - Marko is dead.

Taglist New in town: @minafromasgard