#unfortunately I know more about his religious text than he does

[raptorkin]

My brother-in-law decided to have Loud Opinions about religion and oh boy was he not prepared for my response.

[sleepyeepyp3rson]

tf141 as Hozier songs !! (x female!reader section in each)

an: used to so this with hazbin hotel characters, this was my og format before i started writing fics, decided to go back to it!! also shout out my poor best friend who had do read the spam texts of me explaining which song goes with with each character

hope this keeps yall fed until tf141!wwe au pt 2 drops :33

tw: vauge mentions of (soap's) death, canon typical mentions of violence, small references to ghosts childhood abuse, price in the gulag, religion/religious doubt, and civilian death

(masterlist)

John Price

If I ever say Too Sweet isn't Price, I want you to shoot me because THATS NOT ME!!!!

This song is him in every aspect. He's not a "good man," he knows that. He's committed atrocities, and done things no one else has the guts to do, and he does it all in the shadows.

He'd corrupt anything sweet he put his hands on. He has his boys, sure, but they're not sweet. And that's what's best for him.

He's fine where he is. Captain John Price. He doesn't need some sweet thing, it'd be bad for his health anyway.

He's watching his sugar intake.

(x reader section)

He's scared, honestly. And John Price is not a scared man. Not in the gulag, not facing down Shepherd, not staring down the barrel of a gun. He makes other people scared. He is the boogeyman. There's no way some sweet thing can make him scared.

But you do.

He thinks that at any moment, he'll break you. He knows how to nurture skill, he did it with Gaz, but he doesn't know how to be gentle. Not anymore. He tries though. Tries softening his harsh edges, makes two cups of coffee instead of one, apologizes when he's too blunt with you, tries his best to keep Captain and John separate.

He messes up sometimes, slips into commanding officer mode when you drop glasses or mess something up, but he doesn't mean to. He cups your face when you cry, tries to make it better. Just let him fix it. He can fix it, he always does.

Simon "Ghost" Riley

He gets two whole songs! (Price is my favorite but these fit a little too well for me to pick one.)

Simon's a soldier first. Hardened by the years, mean, rough, with blood stained scarred hands. He chose the military not because he was attached to his country or from a sense of loyalty, but because it was this or nothing.

He is what his father made him. A rabid dog, and given the chance, he'll tear men to bone.

His only other job was a butcher. He was made to draw blood. Made to be this Ghost, this horrid thing that haunts the nightmares of anyone unfortunate enough to hear the stories. He would retire if he could. But he can't. This is it. There is no Simon, only Ghost.

Even when the mask comes off, and he stares into the mirror, the scars covering his skin keep him there. Trap him in his own web.

He is a soldier, but he is nobody's. He's just Ghost. Livin' the dream.

(Jackie and Wilson, x reader section)

He finds you in a bar. Or, more likely, Soap finds you and won't stop talking his ear off about "That bonnie lass in the corner, just look at 'er, Lt." And through grumbles, he turns his head and-

He stops short. Guess Johnny knew him better than he thought, if he knew his type that well. And behind the very, very intense stare he's giving you, he's thinking about the future already. Maybe kids, name them Jackie and Wilson, go on coffee dates or whatever it is a bird like you likes. He'll learn.

He'll bury his mask if you ask. With his childhood bear in the backyard. Deep, deep in the mud and dirt, where he can finally keep the Ghost down and be Simon.

This world certainly isn't for him. He never got to feel like a kid, but this sudden crush has him feeling childish.

Johnny snaps his fingers in his face. "Aye! You're scarin' the lass! Stop staring."

He huffs, the smoke of his cigarette blowing out. He puts it out, and by the time he looks up, you disappeared. More of a ghost than him.

John "Soap" MacTavish

This is mostly x reader, but also also! thought the song fit his general attitude and death (HE WASN'T IN THAT URN)

He's used to working on empty. Chugging through missions and fighting his way through Hell to get back to a base with mediocre food. He likes it though. The rush of explosions, the quick decisions and actions, his team. He likes it.

But good Lord, his Mam will kill him for this. An early death is what she warned him of when he left home, with a wary pat on his cheek and a prayer.

Where is his mother's God now? Where is He as Johnny lies on the ground, the splitting pain in his head, the bullet under his skin making his vision blurry?

He sees no God. He only sees Simon, leaning over him.

He won't die. He can't. He crawls right back to his team everytime. He'll crawl home to them.

(x reader section)

You save him. Through hushed curses and Simon looming over you. You removed the bullet from his head before he could be lost.

He thinks you might be an angel, through the fever. The combat medic who saved him, the one person who could reach him in time, sent down from heaven.

He knows you've seen your fare share. He knows you don't care about what he's done, he knows you've seen the explosions and bombs and guns and came right back to your post everytime. You're just like him.

He tries to court you. To show his unending devotion. It doesn't work out well, but maybe he shouldn't have followed Simon's advice.

But one day, while he's lingering by you while you're trying to patch someone up (definitely breaking a few rules,) you take one look at him, sigh, reach in your pocket for your pen, and you write down your number on his hand.

He beams, leans down and gives you a peck on the cheek and leaves.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Gaz!!!! He gets arguably my favorite Hozier song because I LOVE HIM AWOOO AWOOOOO

Whenever he gets the adrenaline rush of battle, he feels like he's floating.

When he was in the SAS, he got that feeling often. The rush before the jump, the air wooshing around him, knowing he was doing something good. He was doing the right thing.

He's doing the right thing now too, but sometimes he doubts. Seeing his friends shoot bystanders alarms the morals floating around in the back of his head, makes him want to jump in between the barrel of the gun and the enemies and keep the peace.

But he can't. This is the right thing. They have to do the dirty work, right? The things no one else will do falls on them. Of course it's not pretty.

He takes a deep breath, and he jumps out of the heli. He falls, yet he feels like he's floating up, like the world is falling away from him.

(x reader section)

He'd do anything to keep you from falling away from him. He knows what the world is like, he knows what he's done, and while he knows there is good, he knows the bad is tenfold. He needs to keep you safe from all of it. To keep this floating feeling in his palms before it slips away.

He comes home from missions ragged, and you soothe.

And in your arms, he is weightless again. He has his wings, he's got the adrenaline he lost long ago back, he is in love.

And he finds himself craving that always. So much so, that on base between one mission and another, he's ranting about you to Price. "--everything to me. Always has been, since I saw 'er, Captain. Has me feeling lighter than a feather."

"Maybe you should get on with it and marry her then."

And that alone has him buying a ring the next day. His Captain knows best, after all.

[perfectwitchcrown]

Allusions in Make the Exorcist Fall in Love

So far in Make the Exorcist Fall in Love there’s been a lot of allusions to various texts. I thought it might be fun to compile all the ones people have noticed so far as far as I've seen. Some of these are more speculative than others and I will update as I go along. Also, I read Ekuoto as free first read chapters on Mangaplus so unfortunately I can’t go back and check much so this is largely through memory, so if anyone has anything else to add I would greatly appreciate it! All I’ve got is a few screenshots and a dream. If I get anything wrong feel free to correct me! I’ve organized this in order of allusions I’m confident about to allusions I’m less so confident about.

CW: reference to sexual violence

Dante's Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova: Dante Alighieri

This one is pretty obvious since there are characters directly named after the characters figured in Dante’s Inferno. It’s been a long time since I read it, but other details are also taken from the text, such as the frozen center of hell where Satan is located.

Lmao Leah from the Bible (who is probably Leah’s namesake) also shows up in Dante’s Divine Comedy apparently in Purgatorio.

Ok also super important to Dante retellings r Beatrice, who’s used as a symbol of divine love and is instrumental to Dante's journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise, so of course Ekuoto Dante advises Priest to fall in love lmao. So far though there hasn’t been a direct Beatrice in narrative (which there might never be one since the text has already made the Dante-Virgil connection an active choice of Virgilius's to reference the Divine Comedy rather than just an allusion by the author).

To be so real though I figure that Vergilius is probably also intended to be the Beatrice in this narrative.

The points I would draw attention in support of this would be these: 1. Beatrice is the woman who Dante has been in love with since early childhood but unable to ever be with because they both married others. Ekuoto Virgilius and Dante have known each other since childhood, and have something going on. 2. Beatrice is, like Virgil, one of Dante’s guides (through part of purgatorio and paradiso) 3. We still don’t know what Virgilius’s name was before he took that one on. Beatrice does not have a masculine form in current use and I tried finding some sort of nickname that would work and was unable to do so. However. Beatrice’s name is rendered in Japanese as ベアトリーチェ, and Beato is at least a surname. Then again, I’m not sure anyone has both a first name and last name except for Imuri so far???

"Book of Tobit"

I wasn’t familiar w this one so I didn’t notice it until I saw posts pointing it out, but the Asmodeus flashback was a retelling of the book of Tobit. Other people have already done analysis of this so I’d recommend checking other’s out. Unfortunately I failed to save the link to any of them so I can’t pass any along :’) Belfagor arcidiavolo: Machiavelli

Another one that I wasn’t familiar with but have seen people referencing. As above, I recommend checking out other’s analysis. "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas": Ursula K. Le Guin

The Brothers Karamazov: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Ok major spoilers and I also highly recommend this book, but also, its super long so I don’t blame anyone who chooses not to read. This book is about the most disgusting father alive and his three, maybe four, sons: Dimitri, Ivan, Alyosha, and maybe Smerdyakov (rumored to be an illegitimate son). Most of the action follows Alyosha, who is the youngest and probably the most idealistic character in the novel, at least in the beginning. Alyosha starts out as a novice in the local Russian Orthodox monastery under the purview of Father Zossima, an elder who really emphasizes love in religious practice. There's a series of chapters that cover a theological debate between Ivan and Alyosha.

In this theological debate, Ivan is arguing not that God doesn’t exist, but that the foundation of the world as understood by Christianity is something he fundamentally rejects.

Quotations from the Signet Classics edition:

“I don’t accept this world of God’s. Although I know it exists, I don’t accept it at all. It’s not that I don’t accept God, you must understand, it’s the world created by Him I don’t and cannot accept” (Dostoevsky 266) - “If all must suffer to pay for eternal harmony, what have children to do with it?....I understand solidarity in sin among men. I understand solidarity in retribution too; but there can be no such solidarity with children. And if it is really true that they must share responsibility for all their father’s crimes, such a truth is not of this world and is beyond my comprehension” (Dostoevsky 276)

“Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last. Imagine you are doing this but that it is essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature—that child beating its breast with its fist, for instance—in order to found that edifice on its unavenged tears. Would you consent to be the architect on those conditions?” (This quotation, although from a different translation, is the one that inspired Omelas - I think the bowling alley theological discussion between Virgilius and Priest bears some similarities to this conversation. Its not a debate about the existence of god, but rather a debate whether or not the world envisioned by Christianity is inherently unjust or not. Demian: Hermann Hesse

“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas”

Potential references but tbh they’re a bit of a stretch:

“Book of Martha”: Octavia Butler

"Book of Martha" is an Octavia Butler short story in the Bloodchild collection about an ordinary woman who is visited by god one day who tells her to choose one thing to change about people to try and make the world a better place. It’s a very short read and I’d recommend reading it before you read the next sentence where I’ll spoil the end.

She eventually decides that the thing to focus on is people’s dreams. Specifically, to give them the things they desire most within their dreams, in the hope that people will be less violent to each other in real life. A stretch, but Octavia Butler comes from similar recommendation circles as Ursula K. Le Guin (feminist science fiction authors with overlapping periods of activity) so I don’t think it’s impossible for the most recent chapters' use of dreams to hold some sort of inspiration from this short story. Again, this one is a pretty big stretch, as the idea of dreams to escape reality is pretty common.

The Monk: Matthew Lewis

Ok! So! Demon seduces a person is like not at all an original story (The Daemon Lover, Cazotte’s The Devil in Love, etc etc). BUT! The Monk is specifically a story that’s like. What if there was this extremely virtuous young man who has never lived in the outside world ever because he was raised in the church as an orphan and then the devil sent a demon girl to seduce him.

I have not finished the book yet so I can’t comment in depth on it other than to say the concept is similar but the execution so far is very different (It's a fairly misogynistic text. Ambrosio turns evil in ways that I doubt Priest will because thematically they’d go completely against the story. Also, The Monk is veryyy lurid in terms of Lust is Evil!!! And will turn you into a murdering maniac!!!! Because evil women are out there seducing you!!! Whereas so far sexual desire in Ekuoto has been handled as a perfectly natural thing, but complicated by religion, patriarchy, trauma, etc.)

This is all I have so far but I'd be interested to see if anyone else has any other ideas!

[k-s-morgan]

Recently checked back up on ATLWETD to see if it had updated and followed the tumblr thread here. Imagine my surprise seeing all of the wonderful snippets and asks you answered. Tom using the mood stone? I almost forgot that was a thing. And finding out that Tom was just being a possesive/calculating bastard when he took Harrys food is embarassing to me since my guess was so far off. I thought that Tom inferred that Harry suspected him of poisoning/ truth seruming his food when he told Tom "Happy Poisoning".

Anyways, I decided it was finally my time to step up and praise you like the glorious writer you are. How on earth you could ever believe that your works arent as creative or as plot heavy as other tomarry works is beyond me. To me, your fics have lovely foreshadowing that makes me pay very close attention to anything that is mentioned offhandedly by a character because in your works everything means something. (Like seriously, one detail I missed in WHGTB on the first read was Harry reading the description of the book Tom was going to use to bond him and you stuffing permanent bonding inbetween fertility and necromancy. You had Harry misdirect us by having him muse about necromancy so we wouldn't notice. And you're right, I didn't)

And the humanity and characterization that you give to any character you write? Hell, i'd say you give them more layers than the origional authors. I always know that you won't make the characters make stupid and out of character actions just to advance the plot.

My experience with your writing started with WHGTB (my first convincing tomarry fic btw, you were the one who snagged me). After that, I trailed after your content like a lost puppy. I consumed your hannigram fics without having a spec of knowledge other than "haha cannibal eats the rude". I have now watched the telltale John Doe/Bruce Wayne playthroughs on youtube and rewatched the lego batman movie for the first time since i saw it in theaters when it came out. A Rule for a Rule is shaping up to be the best thing that happened to batjokes (outside of Half Way Across). I've even tenatively read through your Black Butler work, which I was hesitant to look at given the age gap and having never watched the anime. Should have never doubted that your approach to their relationship would make sense. You make an anime which could be categorized as ridiculous (I apologize, I have no nostalgic memories of this anime holding me back. I read your fic first, the anime can't compare) into something psychological and beautiful. Just so so real.

Anywho, there's my small (because I could genuinely write an analytical essay on your works and enjoy it) love letter to your writing.

Stay safe angel, it's unfortunate that I can't do anything to help you or your country. Even more disgusting that my country could help if they gave half a shit but won't. I would say I'm praying for you, but given that I'm not religious that goes nowhere. So, pathetically, my 11:11 wishes will be used for your continuted health.

Hope your writing continues to bring you joy <3

Hi! Thank you so much for such a lengthy, wonderful ask - I have a few more unanswered ones in my ask box, and I'm so delighted that my stories evoke so many thoughts and feelings in my readers!

Funnily, quite a few people thought that Tom sharing Harry's food and drinking from his cup is related to Harry's 'happy poisoning'! This never occured to me. I admit I love when such stuff happens because it proves how a text is its own thing, a living organism, something that the author and every reader can have vastly different interpretations of. In this case, yes, I intended for Tom to keep testing the intimate boundaries and to see how much Harry would allow, to gauge what exact type of relationship they used to share. Slowly turning him into a possessive, obsessed monster in love is such a delight.

I'm so gratified that you enjoy the foreshadowing I'm trying to build! I do love it, and I can tell that in ATLWETD, the seeds of the largest plot twists and the ending have already been planted. It's difficult to recognize them without knowing the rest, but if someone re-reads the whole story after it's done, these little hints should become obvious.

Also, it's so flattering that WHGTB became the first Tomarry story you really liked! Really, it's an honor, considering how big this part of fandom is and how many brilliant stories fill it. And knowing that you followed my fics across the fandoms despite not being a part of them - wow! I'm speechless! You honestly made me blush, I'm so happy to hear all this.

I appreciate every word you wrote - this means so much to me, I re-read your ask a couple of times because of how happy it made me. I hope you continue to enjoy my stories and discovering new great fandoms :D Thank you!

[softie00]

TO THE MOON 🌙

pairing; lee know x reader

warnings; fluff, established relationship, minho is away so long distance, bunch of texting and calls, reader feeling a bit upset, lil angst, crack, brat reader, humour, teasing, minho showing appreciation, love gestures, images, use of jagi, birthday wishes and a surprise.

words; 2k+

a/n enjoy for whoevers birthday that comes by❣

summary; it's your birthday, minho asked what you wished to have only for you to ask for something which is quite the impossible, or is it not when you have such a considerate lover?

[Minho💜] how are you feeling jagi?

[Minho💜] omg it's your birthday soon!!!

[Minho💜] im going to make sure im the first person to wish you ok

You smiled as you glanced at the text messages your boyfriend Minho was sending right now, it was your birthday in a few hours and you couldn't wait to get wished by him.

[You] just missing you babe 🥺 wish u was here

[You] hehe you better be 😤 or else

[Minho💜] we'd be seeing each other tommrow finallyyy then i can wish you properly, hug kiss you and everything

You bite your lip, you cannot wait for it either. It's been way to long without his presence.

[Minho💜] ofc baby how could i forget my precious jagi's birthday?

You're grinning in excitment at the thoughts of Minho finally arriving and immediately rushing to hug you tight. His kisses which you miss very dearly will soon be on your skin.

[You] I've missed you so much minho I can't wait 💗 ur so cute

Delivered

God it's been so long since you both have met up, his busy schedule unfortunately requires him to be out of the states often leaving to you both just texting, face time and phone calls.

Though lately it's been a bit less. And you know he's busy. It's not fair to blame him but sometimes you just miss having Minho near you, where you can wrap yourself in to his arms.

You're more excited about seeing your boyfriend than anything else, really. But seeing him say these words warm up your heart and reduce any negative thoughts you've had.

He loves you. He does. He says it everyday without doubt.

You remember one time Felix slyly captured a picture of Minho looking completely immersed through his phone screen late at night.

And when Felix peeked up and see what was keeping his attention, oh it was you.

[Felix] yo y/n

[Felix] ur man is whipped

[You] ??

[You] what happened now

[Felix] he's looking at pics of both of u

[Felix] before he goes to sleep what a sap

image.1

[Felix] don't tell him I told u

[You] omg...

[You] that's so cute ??

After that thanks to Felix, you realised how deeply Minho loves you. Not that he doesn't say it, of course he does. But there are moments where he sometimes shows love in other ways which only makes you endear him more. And ofcourse Minho got teased for it by the members which made him fluster.

All you could think of during that time is how badly you want to be near him. To hold him, touch him, cuddle him. To tell him how loved he is with your gentle kisses. Your poor little heart couldn't stop looking at that image sent, to know your boyfriend religiously looks at your images/videos together before he falls asleep, making your heart melt.

To know after his long scheduled days he still finds time for you. Minho always made sure he did, you was his life. His routine starts with you and finishes with you, despite the distance. If only you knew how much energy he gets just by seeing your angelic face.

His worries all wash away. Having a bunch of dance choreographys to do and memorise can become very challenging some days more than others, however during those moments he turns his phone screen on and looks at his wallpaper of the two of you for ease.

As you watch the time tick closer to 12, some thoughts creep back in. Will he be the first to wish you? What if he falls asleep since it's so late there? The constant thoughts begin to form. He didn't reply back to your last message, so what if he has gone to sleep.

If only things were different and the two of you were in close proximity right now.

You sighed whilst watching the time, it's already 11.59pm yet no sign of any message from Minho at all.

Maybe he has gone to sleep.

You know he's always over working, right?

He barely catches a break.

It's okay, it's okay. He can do it tommrow morning too. Even that works.

You muttered to yourself, trying to convince yourself for the lack of response. But you won't lie how it would upset you when he mentioned he would do it.

Already you felt sick of your thoughts constantly watching the screen. You took a deep breath, closing your phone screen whilst you leave it on the table.

Just as you try to walk off and shift your mind, until your phone rings.

Incoming call Minho💜

You immediately jump. Your heart is speeding at the sudden ringing. He called. At exactly 12am. Letting out a little, no loud squeak as you jump around the room. You finally try to calm yourself down with some breaths.

Moving your thumb over to accept the call and talk, Minho has started already singing away.

"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday my precious darling lovely angel Y/N, happy birthday to youuuuu." Minho managed to whip out despite having the others in his room, which all you could think of is how deep his voice sounds, smiling away.

God, your heart still is pacing fast. Thanks to Minho's sweet but deep voice during this time for making you heated.

"Minho, thank you s-so so m-much." You stuttered, feeling so much overwhelmed at this given moment. However, Minho can tell there's a bit of hesitance to your words. "Y/N is everything okay?" He asks genuinely.

How are you meant to tell him that you thought he wouldn't wish you, feeling like you sound stupid, you huffed, scratching the side of your neck, "N-Nothing babe it's just silly.."

"Nothing is silly, tell me jagi."

"Well I don't even know what to say," you chuckled, "I guess I miss you very much Minho. And because these days we speak a bit less, I thought maybe you won't wish me tonight."

Minho instantly felt his heart sank at your words. Unfortunately with their new album and releases, he's had less time to be talking and he wishes he could just change that and return to you.

"I'm so sorry precious, but I love you. Even if I had to stop my work in order to wish you, I would. I could careless about that stuff, I care about you."

You felt a slight tear drop down, screw your hormones for feeling extra emotional today. You speak up slowly, "Thank you for being so sweet Minho." You try to lighten to mood up, "But that was proven wrong when I heard my phone ring and I just ended up jumping around like crazy-"

"Fuck how cute can you get?" He laughs, imagining you just looking cute as ever jumping around. "Now tell me, was I the first to wish you?" He asks cockily, he loves to be the first that does everything with you.

"Yes babe." You excitedly answer.

You can't see his smile but he is smiling, real hard right now.

"That's good, because I wanted to be the first to wish you and tell you how amazing you are, how blessed I am to have you in my life. You make my life, Y/N. Morning and night all I think of is you. Your cute giggles, your beautiful smile that can turn a bad day to good. Having your arms around my waist while you cutely snuggle. Your mind, your laughter, your presence. Everything about you Y/N, is special."

God, you feel like tearing up again. You sometimes think what you did to deserve such a wonderful boyfriend who cares about you so much and always reassuring you.

"Minho, you're going to make me cry for being this cute." You whined, voice becoming softer.

"I know, you're upset I'm not there right now but Y/N, I promise I will be there soon. God I can't wait to take you out to different places and feed you, buy you gifts and give you all my love and kisses." He expresses with love, as he thoughts of tommrow come seeing you all cute and dressed up for him.

"Ughhhh im so excited, I just need you right now babe," You whined cutely. You cannot wait for it all either, to be with the love of your life and spend your lovely day.

"Me too Y/N, but still is there any gift you'd like to have?" He asks gently, Which makes you ponder and maybe you do want to tease him a little too.

"Can I get anything?" You raised a brow.

"Of course love. Anything you want." He affirms, only for you to tease him.

You responded, "Hmmm, can you get me the moon?" As you bit your bottom lip to suppress a laugh.

Minho felt slight confusion at your wish, "The moon?"

"With my name on it." You proposed. "Saying Y/N is the best."

Minho cackled as his hand brushes past his hair, "Baby I don't think that's possible to get. It's beyond our reach." He explains on, only for you to stay stuck on it.

"But you said you'd get me anything I want!"

Honestly you live for teasing your boyfriend a lot. If only you could see his face right now, you'd burst out. So you continue further.

"Yes but unfortunately I'm not that financially stable to get that for you, Y/N." He sighs cutely. I mean, if he was a billionaire then sure that could be sorted.

"Hmmm, they always said if he wanted to he would," You frowned as you roll your eyes playfully. And maybe it worked, because all he's doing right now is twirling his soft hair thinking thoughts.

"Y/N you're so stubborn babe," He groans feeling defeated.

But suddenly replies, "Actually give me a minute or 2 I'd be back."

Oh? Did you perhaps say something wrong? Did someone wake up? Did you take it too far?

Maybe you shouldn't have said this when it's so late in time for him.

Which made you quickly try to redeem yourself, "Minho i was just joking babe." But you find yourself with no response at all.

A minute seems like eternity when you're overthinking but thankfully you're able to hear some shuffling now from his end which means he's still around.

30 seconds

60 seconds

Still nothing.

God, why was you feeling so nervous all of a sudden? You start to walk around your room, trying to wait and think of what Minho could possibly be doing.

Why is time suddenly moving so slow?

The nerves got you biting your nails, phone placed against your ears waiting for Minho voice already.

2 minutes passed. Nothing. You walk around in circles, until your ears perked up at his deep voice.

"Check your messages right now," He ordered, returning back only to make you feel even nervous. Now it's gotten you thinking what could it be.

"I'm scared now" You slightly giggle as you bite your nail but Minho was reassuring you once again. "Don't be baby, just check."

"Alright."

You start to flick through your phone and opened up your text message thread between you both, only to be left stunned.

[Minho💜]

[Minho] ahhhh jagi I'm in space

[Minho] this is so fun

[Minho] wait let me focus

You looked at the texts sent and felt so confused, trying to decipher his messages.

[You] babe what's going on ??

[You] im confused

[You] minho are u drunk

Minho typing...

[Minho] no im not drunk!!

[Minho] wait

[Minho] img.3

[Minho] im there jagi

[Minho] damn im floating this is so cool

The way you just burst in to a laughter fit. Minho always had a funny sense of humor but this was absolutely hilarious. What even is this game, you thought.

[You] omg why are u like this

[You] babe I'm laughing so hard u look so cute in that fit

[Minho] because someone decided to be a brat 🤨

[Minho] thank u jagi, i look pretty handsome dont i

[You] excuse meeee

[Minho] just got hit on the head by an asteroid

[You] HAHAHAHA

[Minho] u think this is funny??

[Minho] i am suffering

[You] karma sweetie 😘 maybe it'll help u think straight

[Minho] how dare youuu

[Minho] are u implying im stupid

You giggled as you continue poking fun at your boyfriend, he's just so cute.

[You] yes stupid

Minho is typing...

[You] stupid for me <33

[Minho] brat

[Minho] im getting closer to the moon now, had a fight off with jupiter

[You] oh really babe

[You] did u win

[Minho] ofcourse I am on a mission for my jagi i gotta fight for you 😤

[Minho] img.6

[Minho] ha beat his ass

[You] where is the moon then

[Minho] patience jagi

[Minho] don't be a brat

[You] hehe I'm waiting ❣ patiently

[Minho] good girl

You cheeks flared at the pet name, waiting for more details on your boyfriend's little adventure.

[Minho] ahhhhhhh

[Minho] went thru so much to get this 🥲 u ready?

[You] im ready

You don't really know what he was asking you for, playing along with him as he continues only be be left rather surprised.

[Minho] img.5

He did not.

Your mouth opened wide in shock, eyes bulged out in admiration what's on your screen. A gush of wind almost pushing you away, having to maintain composure with a hand on the table for support. Your face flushed in heat whilst you smiled, ears turning red. You was gasping for air, as the jolt flew all around your body.

You can't believe Minho just, did that.

As your still lost in daze, your phone is making a bunch of sounds which was the only thing to snap you back into reality. The vibrations along with your own, your shakey hands places the phone back on your ear.

"You told me to fetch the moon so I fought with the stars, I brought it with your name written across." He continued on speaking already causing you to burst. Your boyfriend was this romantic? "Since your my moon, will you help me find the way back to your heart?" He flirts, causing you to have one massive meltdown.

You gasped so hard with a fluttering heart, "Fuck fuck, Minho I'm so lost for words- my god. This is so... wow... I can't even begin to express the words.. you did this? For me?" your voice getting soft in fondness for the gift. Not only do you feel butterflies but the entire zoo. You're visibly shaken, a hand creeping over your mouth.

You've never had anyone do this. Never anyone who went out their way to do such sweet gesture. This was probably the most wholesome gift you've had. Not thinking your boyfriend just playing a random game would be so sweet?

And that's why Minho left you for a little whlle. He wanted to give you this joy out of love. God, he only had wished he could get the moon itself.

He grins, "Of course Y/N, it's your birthday and your wish is my command jagi.''

"I was just being a brat babe." You sighed quietly, only being playful with him not expecting anything at all.

"And i like it when you're being a brat," he truthfully answered, making you instantly feel flustered. "So did you like it?"

"Liked is an understatement because this just made me fall for you a thousands times more than I ever did, really Minho. I'm so fucking happy yet shocked- this is perfect the most wholesome gift I've received, i am so so grateful to have such a considerate partner."

Minho tugged his ear, you was just as amazing he thinks. But he wanted to tease you, "You better be, my head still hurts getting hit ahhhh." He whines loudly, making you laugh at his dramatic side.

"I am very very happy" you continue before placing the phone above your lips sending a kiss, "Here's a kiss for your cute head." If only you saw the way he was grinning right now, scratching his head.

And that's what he wanted, to see you so so happy that you never feel any kind of emotion except happiness. He felt satisfied knowing you liked the gift.

"Good, because i'm so happy that you're happy babe. You deserve this and so much more. God I wish I could get the actual-"

You quickly interrupted him because what could be better than this? "Nope, babe this is the best thing ever ok? I love you so much Minho, thank you for everything you do." You expressed wholeheartedly.

A smile crept on to his face, feeling the warmth of your love, "You're wonderful Y/N, so cute and kind. I love you." He professed.

"To the moon?" You giggle.

"And back."

do not copy, plagiarise translate my works or ideas. copyright ©2023 softie00

[emathyst9]

can you tell us about your henry i want to know more about him ^.^

I'm not sure exactly what you want to know so here's some stuff off the top of my head and some stuff I had to look for on my Twitter (to be honest I'm having a hard time remembering the stuff about him especially because I've only recently been making some progress in developing his character, it's been hard thinking about anyone that isn't William I fear...)

Lot of text incoming btw hehe sorry in advance...

-As I've said on the ref sheet, he's nonbinary, and doesn't feel much of a gender most of the time, he does like things that can be considered stereotypically masculine and goes by masculine terms, but he doesn't consider himself a man

When Henry thinks about gender as a concept, the best way to describe it is he just feels and pictures this sort of static feedback, there's nothing really there

-He's also bi, and only found that out when he met William (he met him pre op and thought he was a woman, eventually finding out once he had feelings for him that he wasn't), he did have a wife that he found after trying to suppress his feelings for William, though Henry's feelings for her were genuine and everything (I'm still working on their character if you can't tell)

-He does have a twin sister that I have yet to properly expand on the character of, and I think you could describe their dynamic as kind of like Stan and Ford from Gravity Falls, with Henry being like Ford

-Henry not only likes to build little gadgets and gizmos in his free time to keep himself busy, but he takes them apart and puts them back together

He can also find out how something works if he takes it apart and looks at the components of it

-He's Christian, sort of

...As in he forgets about it half the time because he kind of abandoned any sort of religious stuff when Charlie died (I have wrote something on here about that but it never got seen I don't think), he has that cross necklace on to keep up appearances and to keep his family off his back too (because I think I want them to be very very religious and Henry will probably have some trauma from that unfortunately)

He doesn't care if he does anything inherently "sinful" either, because he believes in the "wrong act, right reasons" (also from that Leverage character whoops), any sin or even something immoral is worth it if it can get him to his goal

-He'd be the one you'd want to pick for like one of those stranded on a deserted island scenarios, Henry's got quite a bit of survival knowhow, and knows a few things about hunting too (like a bear hehe see what I did with that)

Actually expanding on the bear thing because I've been learning stuff about them recently that I want to put into his character, he gets kind of sleepy in the winter, especially when it's snowier

His ideal afternoon would be a nap in front of the fireplace on a very snowy day (especially in a recliner he definitely has one both at his place and William's that is basically his with how much he sits in it)

-If he didn't take on engineering, Henry probably would have become an animator or cartoonist, since he's actually pretty good at drawing, he even helped William get a little bit better at it

-I totally didn't take this from a character from that show Leverage I talk about but his planning skills are somehow a lot sharper when he's drunk, which he drinks a lot (as well as smokes like a freight train) despite working at a family entertainment place, it's easier to get away with when you're one of the owners

Of course he gets a lot more erratic when he drinks and is prone to anger and outbursts in that state

-Henry unfortunately learned a little from William on how to be a better manipulator of situations, sometimes being better at it than Will

-Ok one more thing because I think that's a bit much but his birthday will probably be in November, don't know what exactly but I think that birth month suits him

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

Loving the new AU that's come out of the asks and specifically Greed's role in it, which just made me remember that actually Greed/Scar is a top-tier shape even though I've no idea how to write a story for them - I just found some really good fanart of them including an NSFW doujinshi that had me thinking😩

Something I find intriguing about Greed/Scar is the idea of them perhaps meeting before Scar begins to actively use alchemy and killing state alchemists (thus blaspheming against God)

We have some time between the murder of Scar's family and Scar's hot girl state alchemist killing spree; given the state of his injuries, he must have spent at least some months more recuperating somewhere in secret (and alone😭😭😭 Kimblee, when I fucking GET you 🔪) and I think it'd be nice in a Greed/Scar scenario if they meet during this short period of time...

...which leads to the idea that's been hounding me and that is Scar, before he loses his name and turns away from God, sharing his name one last time and actually perhaps giving Greed a real human name rather than that of a deadly sin😩

I too come from a culture where names are exceptionally important; we particularly value given names and routinely change our surnames to honour different ancestors - half my older sisters and cousins have a surname derived from a great-grandfather, but I and my younger cousins have a surname derived from a grandfather because we were born after his death

(Yeah, it's an actual nightmare when we travel abroad for any reason because one family shouldn't have this many surnames for seemingly arbitrary reasons, but it's a nice way to honour the dead so we keep doing it😤)

And I just really like the idea of something nice happening to Scar once - like being treated with some respect and caring after the extermination - and Greed not only gets to interact with a person unassociated with F*ther's government, but he himself is humanised when Scar bestows unto him a name

I also like the idea of Scar back in his priestly days helping parents pick names for their children by consulting holy texts, religious tales, and classical Ishvalan poetry for inspiration🫶 I think his own parents put a lot of care naming him and his brother, so he's just as careful when naming newborn babies (or a swagged-up homunculus fhjshd)

Apologies for this rambling ask btw😩 I just saw that other post and was struck with old Greed/Scar feelings🙏🏻

Whoa hey, anon, what's this about nsfw Greed/Scar? 👀👀👀 Only group/artist I know who does nsfw Greed/Scar doujins is Huujin (Shoshinsha Man), and from there I've only managed to find only one of their Greed/Scar-specific comics uploaded anywhere. They've definitely got waaaay more than the one tho, from the covers of their non-uploaded works I've seen. So if you've got the hookup to more art or doujins, I'd love the links pls <3

All that being said: Greed/Scar, it's a good ship! Underrated as hell, as most anything to do with Scar is, unfortunately.

[The AU in reference, this ask came about soon after this ask was first answered. I just took 100 years to properly respond.]

[The rest of the reply after the jump]:

I often think about what each version of Scar had to go through upon recovering from their injuries and the fresh trauma they had suffered too. Going into hiding would be unfortunately necessary given the animosity of both Amestrians and the surrounding nations against Ishvalans. In the chaos of Amestris' bombardment, with Ishvalan survivors scattering to whatever (highly relative) safety they can find, Scar may not have had much luck encountering other Ishvalans. He must have been utterly alone that entire time. Let alone how long the recovery could take, given the lack of supplies refugees are forced to contend without, and the injuries almost everyone has suffered. Besides, given the horror of his brother's arm and the evidence of alchemy writ across its flesh, I doubt Scar would want to stick around with any Ishvalan camps he may have managed to encounter on his journey westward. And self-ostracization is a lousy salve for so many wounds. Factor in the concussion from the explosion, and he would be out of commission for awhile.

Hiding as a derelict in Amestris' back alleys in that time, before he decides to (and can) take action against the murderers who live cushy lives in the country he's been forced to roam; he's a vagabond, travelling between towns, districts, and regions within Amestris, surviving but with great difficulty. It's all a haze, seeing as nowhere is safe. Everything is alien, and somatic pain governs his more base decisions. Scar could easily have ended up in or around Dublith; Greed or any one of his people could have stumbled upon this displaced recluse. (Unless you're seeing it more like Greed finding Scar while away from Dublith.)

So I agree, it's a ripe scenario for those two to meet. Since Scar hasn't had any violent run-ins with other homunculi, he may feel less fight or flight upon first encounter. Given that Greed is witnessing someone grievously wounded and otherwise despondent, I doubt he would react with any kind of animosity. He has a soft spot for society's rejects.

Any opportunity to access shelter, food, clean water, and other basic amenities while in recovery would be extremely useful for Scar. Even if the company that comes with it might chafe against his acute philosophies. I can see Greed almost being pushy about the arrangement: perhaps he's being unwittingly generous, or he may be jumping on the opportunity to add yet another member to the Devil's Nest. His grandstanding about his own Sin-as-Self motto and all that he desires would clash so nicely with Scar's former dedication to living within a tight moral framework. But how does that discordance affect the active erosion his religious fortitude? Having survived a genocide would be more than enough to follow through on the blasphemy he will enact in retribution for his murdered loved ones. But what potential effect would being around Greed have in all of this?

Oough, this is just *chef's kiss*! The ingredients here can make a dish so tasty. But the coup de grace you have here? The sharing of Scar's original name before shedding it, feeling just safe enough with this bizarre, grandiose man with teeth too sharp and ambitions too preposterous, who offered him care when he was at his lowest? And Scar feeling that Greed's name is inadequate for the more endearing qualities this man (this homunculus) possesses, so he mulls over a new name for him? And gives it to him? And Greed's reaction to all of this, how maybe he initially finds the whole thing odd and unnecessary. "Don't you know what I am? I'm Avarice embodied!" But Scar won't entertain this chicanery. He offers the new name to him as thanks and with the assurance that he cannot reduce someone who had shown him so much hospitality as a walking sin. Not when Scar has experienced Amestris' greatest acts of extreme violence. Greed, the individual, is some of the good that survives in this land.

Would Scar still honour the homunculus this way, if he had known that Greed's very existence stems from the central point of this imperial machine? Greed of course knows this, he knows the truth, but this former monk is so certain of him, of some value Greed never bothered to assess himself (or didn't want to, or couldn't, not when he's one persona amongst 6 other malevolences)- Scar talks about the significance of a name, how it can be cherished, that it need not be given freely if he doesn't wish it. Whatever he chooses to do with this gift, it's his if he should find need or solace in it. And maybe Greed does. And maybe bearing the death of this wounded man's birth name, uttered one last time before being buried, the burial itself a symbol of nascent Sin. An exchange: one briefly absolved of their Sin, the other newly embodying Sin. And, and an,d- 🥺

You just had to hit me with the description of Scar's previous priestly duty regarding names and how he refers to a variety of literature and holy texts! So many people would grow up with these thoughtful names he had helped select! Some who had survived the massacres continue to hold those identities dear, his labour of care for Ishval's young extending far beyond Amestris' grasp. While those who remain carry the memories of those Scar may have once christened who had been lost to the slaughter- My heart 😭

(Homunculi who are GOATed with the sauce, on par with newborn babies lmfaoooooo)

I am digesting all of this and metabolizing it into my neurons. Anon! This is so good! Thank you for these "rambling" asks as always. 😌

[warrenwilkinson]

Texts: Erik & Warren

@erikdragon

Erik: there's someone like you in my town

Erik: I feel it

Erik: please don't tell me it's a fucking family reunion

Erik: I have a wedding to plan man, no time to deal with the apocalypse now

Warren: He's not like me

Warren: It wasn't my idea ok? And it's not a reunion per se... my older sibling decided they had enough one our younger brother and sent him my way

Warren: You can blame Death for it, he gave him my address

Warren: There won't be an apocalypse. I'll make sure of it. Your angel can help. He has an angelical blade right? that would be enough for Freddie to stay put

Erik: I'm not letting Seth get involved in your family mess, man, it's his wedding too

Erik: I don't follow your family tree, you know

Erik: who even is that? Pestilence?

Erik: damn you want Seth to kill your brother????

Erik: you guys should go to therapy

Erik: I've heard family therapy does wonders

Warren: I promise nothing will interfere with your wedding

Warren: It's literally common knowledge

Warren: Pestilence is the eldest, I'm the second Eldest, Famine is younger and believe it or not, Death is the baby

Warren: Freddie is Famine

Warren: I can't kill him myself so it would be much appreciated 😄

Warren: We're too fucked up for therapy

Erik: you forget dragons are not really well seen in church, bud, I'm not religious

Erik: Famine???? What the fun does he want here????

Erik: I'm a harvest and abundance dragon, he CAN'T be working here

Warren: still. You don't have to be religious to know about us

Warren: apparently he wants to learn to live among humans and other beings

Warren: I warned him about it. No causing shortages in town. He said he'd behave. I'll take care of him if he tries something

Erik: you're not THAT famous, you know?

Erik: at least not enough for me to know the order of the kids, like you're a Kardashian or something

Erik: you all seem to have that in common huh

Erik: good

Erik: I do have an angelic blade you know

Warren: are we gonna have this argument again?

Warren: something like that but prettier and with more power

Warren: well this is new for him. He never showed interest in this until now

Warren: feel free to. I can't say in super fond of him

Warren: tho he's the calmer of us all and he's not violent at all. He never attacks first and believe it or not he's not fond of suffering

Warren: He just does what he was created for. I used to be like that too a very long time ago

Erik: you're stupidly handsome but you're no Kardashian, man

Erik: he's your brother, why don't you get along?

Erik: wait, how come he's not fond of suffering when he's LITERALLY FAMINE??

Warren: I'm richer than the Kardashians, Erik. Probably  richer than you. And prettier too 😘

Warren: because he's an annoying little shit. He's the only one who takes being a horsemen seriously and he has a very intense sense of duty

Warren: his power doesn't really consist on making people starve to death. He makes them hungry enough to start wars. That's where I come in. Pestilence makes them sick. Famine destroys the crops and then Gilmore comes pick up the pieces. That's exactly how we all should work together

Warren: we haven't done that in a very very long time

Erik: not prettier

Erik: besides, I doubt Maia would call you pretty 😉

Erik: oh so you hate your bro bc he makes you do your actual work?

Erik: so lazyyyy lol

Erik: or you mean like

Erik: summon you?

Warren: I am pretty in a very manly way. She'd agree

Warren: Do you really want us all to keep on doing our job?

Warren: not quite like the big summon we were created for but yeah something like that

Erik: I'm gonna ask you to read that sentence you just typed TO HER.

Erik: nope

Erik: y'all should quit

Erik: that sucks man ._. being controlled like that is never fun

Warren: I already told her that. She says she agrees 😉

Warren: That's what I thought so you should actually feel calmer to know the bossy committed brother is on a sabbatical… here in town unfortunately

Warren: it's not but it is what it is

Erik: she's biased.

Erik: and you sound like you have a praise kink

Erik: which

Erik: you know

Erik: not judging :p

Erik: welp let's see if dear ol’ bro and his eons of years on earth still remembers the old customs and comes pay tribute to the dragon of the land

Erik: back in the day we used to judge the dangerousness of a visitor by their fruit basket

Erik: ah simpler times

Warren: I know but still

Warren: Maybe I do but so do you

Warren: he probably won't but you should take his calmness as a tribute because he was very serious about behaving and even got himself a job in town

Warren: I'm not gonna lie and say he's not dangerous. But we all are. The thing is that he's trying not to be

Warren: simple times indeed but won't deny I'm happier now with everything as it is

Erik: it's not a praise kink it's called being a dragon bud

Erik: oh wow

Erik: please tell me he's working at subway

Erik: got it

Erik: air conditioner and internet  is nice and all, but I miss the fruit baskets

Erik: and the dragon festivals

Erik: they always had such good wine

Warren: same thing

Warren: close... the blood bar. He can use his little talent there to make vampires pay more

Warren: ha ha really  funny

Warren: I still don't understand why you're not planning festivals again

Warren: you can still find that awesome wine if you know where to look or how to pay for it

Erik: one is being called a good boy, the other is being worshiped as a god

Erik: oooh that's smart, was it your suggestion?

Erik: bc people don't really believe in dragons anymore ):

Erik: I used to have my own priestesses, man

Erik: you'd have loved them

Erik: oh really?

Warren: I know  I'm not a good boy

Warren: why are we going at this again? I'm a god. There are millions  of statues dedicated to me in different centuries and civilizations

Warren: not really. He's very smart so he probably  figured that out for himself

Warren: well but now you have a former angel of the lord worshiping you? What else do you want?

Warren: tell me which wine is you favorite and I'll make it your wedding present

Erik: because you're a god and a good boy for Maia :p

Erik: now -I- get to worship an angel of the lord, man (:

Erik: I guess I just want more noise around the house. it's too much space for two people and a cat, it was made to accommodate at least 15 priestesses, there's a whole wing we never use

Erik: awww you're such a softie :3 thanks man

Warren: I'm not gonna get into details here but the praises aren't for me in this household

Warren: true, that's true

Warren: have you ever thought about children? You And Seth would be good parents

Warren: if you tell anyone I'll kill you

Erik: oh so she's the

Erik: you know what

Erik: I don't wanna know

Erik: how's basically-married life treating you btw?

Erik: you think so?

Erik: I mean he's great with children, that's for sure

Erik: I'm afraid they're too breakable to be around me tbh

Erik: have you?

Warren: exactly, don't ask

Warren: fantastic. I never thought things could be this perfect

Warren: I think it's the next step so why not?

Warren: you have a cat and you're careful with it. They're breakable too so why a kid would be different?

Warren: I can't bear children and Maya is worried she's too fucked up for kids

Warren: they aren't in the cards for us but if she ever changes her mind I'm open to foster or adopt

Erik: I don't wanna say I told you so

Erik: but I did lol

Erik: I suppose so

Erik: I don't even know how to go about it

Erik: but do you want them?

Erik: that's the thing

Erik: me and Seth, I have no idea what kind of parents we'd be

Erik: I was HATCHED, he was made by God himself

Warren: and you were right, and this is the only time you'll hear this words from me so enjoy it

Warren: you could just ask him how he feels about kids maybe?

Warren: I've wanted kids since Barachiel. We even tried but that's when I learned I'm barren

Warren: both of you are kind and that says a lot about the good type of parents you'd be

Warren: I was created too but still. It doesn't matter where we come from

Erik: (:

Erik: sometimes it's hard to ask these kinds of things of Seth. I worry he'll think I'm starting my needs instead of asking his opinion and he'd give in to make me happy

Erik: he's already given up too much bc of us

Erik: oh

Erik: welp maybe it's just not supposed to work between you and angels? maybe witches are another thing

Erik: thanks man

Warren: He loves you so I'm sure he would do it for your happiness but for his own too. Do you really think he wouldn't want kids around?

Warren: do you think ids would be giving up on something?

Warren: yeah it's not working, you don't need to know but if I was able to give her children, we would have a football team so no, no biological kids for me

Warren: anytime

Erik: kids would be giving up on his freedom, he'd be stuck to people he'd never met

Erik: oh god

Erik: how's she even still BREATHING

Warren: if that's what you think about kids then maybe kids are not really what you want

Warren: and that's ok, kids aren't for everyone

Warren: you say it as if sex with me was so terrible 🙄

Erik: I want them

Erik: but I want him to want him, I don't want him to agree to it, you know?

Erik: Seth is too giving for his good, it needs to come from him

Erik: WE BROKE DOWN A BUILDING, WARREN

Erik: and I'm a fucking dragon

Erik: she's HUMAN

Warren: then just ask someone to ask him maybe?

Warren: the little wolf is his best friend right? He could help

Warren: yeah and I'm not a monster! I treat her delicately!

Erik: like a fucking middle schooler?

Erik: Chris is a) dead scared of me and b) a fucking excitable puppy. I talk about kids he'll go to Seth with fucking baby shoes in his pocket.

Erik: sorry, people don't usually think of DELICATE when they think about WAR behaving, you know

Erik: nor pretty

Erik: but what do I know

Erik: look at you being out of the box lol

Warren: well I'm sure he wouldn't lie to his friend, and he wouldn't feel pressured to say yes if he doesn't want to

Warren: Christopher is a lot more serious and mature than you think

Warren: well that's cause you never got to see this side of me, this side is reserved just for her

Warren: I'm surprising, I know

Erik: you call him Christopher? I didn't realize you both had met

Erik: SUCH A SOFTIE

Erik: look at you

Erik: :³

Warren: The wolf and the hunter are Maya's close friends, of course I know him

Warren: I'm gonna ignore you now

Erik: you only ignores me when I'm right, you know (;

Warren: or when you're stupidly annoying

Erik: which I get when I'm right~

Warren: Also when you're stupidly stubborn

Warren: lemme ask you something: What would you do if Seth says no to having kids with you?

Erik: not have kids with him

Erik: and then bury myself in a deep hole

Erik: for at least a couple of years

Erik: why?

Warren: this is exactly the reaction he might fear and why he would say yes even if he doesn't want to

Warren: which won't happen if someone else asks him about it

Warren: intermediaries aren't a bad thing

Erik: so you see how I can't just ask him about it right?

Erik: I'll think about talking with Chris

Warren: yes but I also know you want to know

Warren: and the idea won't vanish from that stubborn head of yours until you have your answer

Warren: good! It'll help

[15 min later]

Erik: he said yes

Warren: Who said yes?

Erik: Chris

Erik: what, did you think I just went over to ask Seth to have my babies? come on man get on with the program

Warren: I told you he was a good ally

Warren: you're unpredictable like that

Erik: he did send me an audio reply SQUEALING tho

Erik: heh I like to keep ya on your toes

Erik: are you ready to become uncle war?

Warren: A very Christopher like response

Warren: Are you gonna le me spoil that kid rotten?

Erik: good luck out-spoiling me, man

Warren: it's not a competition, we both can spoil them

[thursdayisbetterthanfriday]

Adaptation Decay(?) - A Story as old as Civilization

Have you ever watched something and wondered "where did this come from?" only to find out it's an adaptation of what many may consider (not always) a far better original story?

You might think this is limited to today's culture of TV and streaming services, adapting foreign shows, or novels. You would, however, be dead wrong.

Sometimes I think it's good to look at our past to see how adaptations have actually come about or developed and Oh boy is it a good time if you dig into it.

Why do they keep on adapting things? God how unoriginal:

Today I discovered this document in a museum.

It's the story of Christian Saints Barlaam and Josaphat. This text tells the tale of the Indian Prince Josaphat who is persecuted by his father as he is prophesied to become a Christian. In a twist that no one saw coming, hermit Saint Barlaam meets the prince and, what do you know, he converts to Christianity!

This was hot shit in the 10th century Middle Ages. It was included as part of a Christian saint anthology book (hagiographies) called The Golden Legend and part of it involved three caskets was even mentioned in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice several centuries later!

So what's this based on? Surely it can't top being a bit part of The Merchant of Venice? Surely it can't top being in the biography section of your favourite major monastery?

This is none other than an adaptation of the life of, your boy, Siddhartha Gautama, more commonly known as

☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸ THE BUDDHA ☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸

Josaphat The Christian Buddha™ & Why Adaptations are good actually? (Starring David Brent and Michael Scott):

This is the religious equivalent of watching The Office with Steve Carell, and finding out it's actually based on the critically acclaimed UK BBC series The Office, with Ricky Gervais. What started as a two season, critically acclaimed hit, in the UK gets adapted into a 8 season, critically acclaimed hit, in the US which charts its own course after the first couple of seasons.

Purists often complain about adaptations, effectively calling them diluted versions of the original. In many cases, this can often be true (**COUGH COUGH**, THE US VERSION OF LIFE ON MARS). This kind of adaptation decay is, unfortunately, all too common in today's Hollywood world.

But this isn't the full story...

The fun part of adaptations is this: While in today's money markets, it can be easy to use adaptations as a cash grab to ride off of a good original story, adaptations can actually be as good as, if not better, than the original for specific audiences.

The Office US is the perfect example. What starts off as a similar straight adaptation from the UK series takes a life of its own, and makes it's own path based on the characters, and cultural norms of the creatives making the show.

The story of Josephat and Barlaam does this cleverly to a fair extent. It uses the original story and builds its own rationale with Josephat, for example, abandoning his princely life (which the original Buddha also does) after meeting a leper, a blind man, and a corpse in a direct allegory to previous Christian canon.

Steve Carrell's Michael Scott isn't the same as Ricky Gervais David Brent portrayal in the UK version, but that's part of what makes it work so well. Much like Josaphat is The Christian Buddha™, Michael Scott is the American Boss™. Both characters are adapted to their audiences, to their setting and to their time.

Saint Barlaam himself is an effective amalgamation of the wise men, brahmins and knowledgeable individuals Buddha met in his travels, and instead becomes a singular mentor for Josephat.

The US Office flips this - taking the original UK cast and expanding on them, adding new characters such as Kevin, Angela, and Creed while also expanding on some of the UK equivalent characters such as Dwight and Pam, who get far more attention.

While the UK Office is great in its own right, it has a very British style of humour and its in-world setting is very specific to the UK - something American audiences won't necessarily understand if they don't do the research.

The MEMES Jack! ~ E X Q U I S I T E ~:

Christianity took the, let's be honest, very compelling story of the Buddha's life and made it into their own original HBO series adaptation and they struck gold: The creation of a cultural relic that has lasted more than a millennia.

In the terminology of natural selection, adaptation refers to mutations or behaviours which allow organisms to survive and thrive.

In this frame of refence, The Buddha is a remarkably resilient organism that lives on in the cultural life of the Eastern, and in part the Western, world. So too does Josephat The Christian Buddha™ live on in the cultural life of the West. To a lesser extent, perhaps, but its influence is still felt across the millennia and into pieces of culture that live on today.

Josephat The Christian Buddha™ is an organism that has carved itself into the very fabric of material reality through ink, paper, stone and wood, allowing itself to be transmitted to new minds.

It may not hold as much of a candle as the original adaptation but, to those it speaks to, it lives on through them as much as it now lives through you.

And now I can finally say the line

[writingreadingdaydreaming]

i am very curious about the religious/cultural implications of omegaverse

This is an absolutely incredible question that unfortunately I can only give half an answer to as I can only really answer for my own upbringing and current religion (Christianity, Catholicism specifically). However, I am very curious about what other people would think of this, and I know it’s a lot to ask but this seems like a question that would need the input of many people, so if there’s anyone here of different religions/cultures, please go into my inbox and tell me your thoughts on omegaverse relative to your religion or culture!

Bit of a random start but in church they sometimes refer to Jesus as ‘alpha and omega’, so now Im thinking in many holy texts, deities like God and Jesus would be described as having no dynamic as a way to emphasise their holiness - they don’t have a dynamic or they are of multiple dynamics, as everyone is created in the image of the Lord.

As for people’s relationships with religion in omegaverse… it would definitely be complicated. In football, I feel like Kaka would get a lot more religious stick than someone like Neymar would, despite the fact that they are both by definition ‘Catholics’ and Kaka is actually more devoted and follows more of the Bible’s scriptures than Neymar does. Literally, one of Kaka’s famous quotes when talking about why he doesn’t search for a partner is “all I need is my Lord and my children”, but he’d be analysed and scrutinised like a rat in a lab. Every photoshoot and interaction with his alpha teammates would bring comments about how he’s ‘not devoting himself to God’ and how he’s ‘not a good modest omega like God intended’, even though Neymar is out there cheating and gambling but no one says anything to him about how he’s not devoting himself to God (which I also feel about the real life Neymar, a man who saw the moral bar on the floor and decided to grab a shovel and dig under it).

I know this is a bit of a shitty answer and I’m sorry :/

[meanwhileinstasiville]

Always the same sequence. Latinos/gangs come up with an antagonism, and when it looks like it has an effect, the religious zealots take over.

There's one team (shinra) with everybody on it.

I have to guess what the intention is, or the desired effect.

Coat stalker on terminal 2 (the room is FULL of gang presence) says "crackpot greybeard"; I'm not a color, I'm not a gang member, I'm certainly not a number. (To name something is to have power over it, an ancient belief; a Goucher girl said I was "like A. Dial" as opposed to C. Dial, or N. Dial; so the "a's" as I call them, are fast becoming everywhere)

Ashland library front epp-248 or whatever sits on terminal 9 says "she's the police", and based on her earlier antics and habits; I don't think so. Says "latin king flavor text" to a gang infested situation.

Stalker cars and yellow says gang flagging until it looks like it has an effect (like everything else), and then the religious zealots take over.

People standing in judgement of me, implore me to "pass on judgement" or not be judgemental; of the "do what you gotta do" sort, where it's unfortunate and not at all their fault that they have choices.

White is something Mexicans desperately want, and I can't figure out who sold people to who; coopers says "that's a white Mexicans can have" Poland stuff "that's a white Mexicans can have" and on the heels of "Americans like their latinas to look Italian" (they don't, they don't like latinas at all, baring them from cultural integration to present day)

Drug pussy for someone I was staying with on arnos says Mexicans can't get credit (cards), so this arrangement of identity stuff will continue until I somehow award experian credit ratings to Mexicans as a whole

A charger costing a lot for someone who sleeps outside is being software moderated to some end, and both the flavor text and the dprk green stalker woman from mountain park path (and the only person I encountered) all say "phil lee". But that's a matter of chaddock convenience; they kill for less.

Bottom line is, this all seems to be leading up to the kind of life I should have been leading since childhood. Which is regrettable.

Why chastity? People don't have choices and being dead is "the other thing".

Why mass shootings? Either American stresses are so great that people are melting down violently at a rate of more than two a day or so, OR, the government wants Americans to "volunteer" their weapons in order to make America safe again. (And it has to be one of those)

There's even a substation down on "Nevada street" not that that ever amounted to anything. After a mountain and a golf course and swimming pools etc served as less than the power plant they were looking for; to wit, I think this is cop city based on Reinhold and Oharas insurance down from "Ashland's finest" jewelry pawn shop on the plaza. Because Eric is el chapo and they're still looking for him. And he's still here. Call him ganon or browser or smithy or even booster in booster tower, but here he remains. Ashland's municipal power plant of eating it's own tail.

Grandpa Dunn's sense of humor has East Main where the freeway was supposed to be before his dad washed it out. How do I know? Instant death is held off by a tiny "yield sign" in an island marked with paint, all on what appears to be a straight road. Don't think of giving Ashland a second chance on the way out of town? You're going to get into a head on collision and die. And the Hamilton house is along the way, there.

East main "dead ends" as everything at the small minded (back then) plaza worried of a freeway around it. So a gas station sits next to the "left turn of doom" visible from esther's teen section window tables. You get out going "one way" but not wanting to go back down east main and the light is there so you (the tourist) get to think about how tempting it is to turn left at a red, in front of oncoming traffic which does not stop. And people do. That's the temptation. Was supposed to be a housing development there; down from was windmill inn along that whole hillside. There's even a remnant unpaved road that became a driveway around the hotel corner down to east main. Again, where the freeway was supposed to go. Look at it from the air and notice it would've been a straight shot from sixty six all the way to talent with no curves in it. Where the city was supposed to be above the freeway whereas all the commerical industrial was supposed to be below the freeway.

Notice also, that that refined bridge entering town, beckons without signs like it's supposed to have; because they thought those platforms were for fancy light posts not for interstate signage. Ask how the sign indicating where you're going is able to be seen soon enough for an out of town driver to act on. It doesn't seem like much, but you can't read it in passing. This is real. This is how it is.

A bone being thrown to the latinos that they can't actually have though they can't summary execute me because greed; 20k for a reward for a murder solved and they can't figure out how to get the money.

[scoups4lyfe]

Bipolar Essay PART 5

Ian's short movie (part one) open with a voice over and then the first song that plays, aka the introductory song, is SERAPH.

For me, "It's his last conversation with his God as he sets his wings on fire. In those moments when my world starts splitting, it's a question from me as to why it always has to be like this."

This line really **HIT**.

I have literally (in my online journal entries) written, "[God] Why have you forsaken me?" During one of my more debilitating episodes.

Because, ey yo? WHY does it always have to be like this?

Literally feels like we're a shattered teacup tossed to the floor, and now we can't be put back together ever again and we just have to constantly live with that knowledge that our own glass shards are what's killing us.

And yet...."So hold me this one last time" is the last words Ian chooses to end the conversation he has with his God on, and that KILLS me even MORE.

Because, same.

(Lmao. If y'all aren't religious in any sense of the word, you might just be reading this like 'PSHsht' but bare with me.)

God to me is all that is beautiful in the world. He is

hope.

And so what do you think it feels like to be abandoned by hope itself?

:/

Icarus is a very apt metaphor for someone with BD.

Not a lot of people discuss the Hypersexuality aspect of Bipolar disorder.

To the point that even I -- someone WITH bipolar disorder -- had misconceptions about it.

One thing that I never knew was that the excessive sexual behavior, thoughts (and what not) were compulsive and unwanted. "Seemingly uncontrollable."

I learned this about hypersexuality in a podcast, actually -- where the host (who has BD), and a psychiatrist, discuss bipolar things -- hypersexuality being one of the things they discussed.

The host even stated that he once called / texted his family that he was sick instead of going to a get together because he was so horny that he spent that entire day m@$terbAiTing. Like 20 times in the span of a few hours.

(Which isn't healthy, and def. something the psychiatrist said she would hear and go, "yeah. That's not normal.")

The host stated that sometimes he wasn't even turned on at all. But he still felt the compulsion to follow through on the act. (Y'kno, because its a compulsion.)

I don't think these aspects of hypersexuality get discussed enough. I was fr sitting there listening to that podcast like:

Not that anyone needed or wanted to know this, but I am basically aroace (more ace, less aro, LOL) through and through.

Unfortunately for me, I would suddenly have bouts of hypersexuality during hypomanic and manic episodes which caused me a lot of confusion and self-loathing.

Going from absolutely no sexual thoughts, interests, or desires, to suddenly a plethora of all of those things combined with a compulsion to complete such an act ---made me think of myself as someone disgusting and morally wrong on every account.

It was painful too because it's not like I **wanted** to do any compulsive behavior, or to think, or act on any of that nonsense, because I wasn't INTERESTED in those things. I never was! !!!!

Literally the only way to distract myself from that nonsense was hyperfixating on a tv show, book, music, youtube --anything to distract me.

Now -- you see why, "Hypersexuality" is so much more than, "wants to have a lot of sex" or "being overly promiscuous" 🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫 🦆

I feel like the statement "Entering an episode isn't easy" is rather redundant, LOL.

But well and truly.

It isn't easy.

What gets me the most is the uncertainty.

I don't know when a new mood cycle is going to hit. For me -- I'm a rapid cycler. Mood switching happens more frequently than I'd like.

My mood journaling makes this fear and uncertainty obvious. I never know if I'll go to sleep and wake up normal, or more "able", or if I'll wake up zapped from all of my humanity.

When I'm hypomanic I can feel on top of the world -- like I've finally fixed my life and from now on I'll do everything right. I'll work out and eat right, and sleep when I'm supposed to, and read regularly, and engage socially --- blah blah blah blah bLAH.

(You get the point.)

Because that energy never stays. I'll "dip" and soon all I'll be able to think about is the agonizing question of how anyone can stay awake longer than 2 hours without needing a nap.

Literally me after 2 hours of being awake:

When I'm in a depressive episode, I go from being someone like "SENKUU" from Dr.Stone, to straight up being Sleepy Ash/Kuro from Servamp. (My friends have also compared me to Shikamaru.) ....Not that this is anything important 🤪.

For this one, let me expand on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

OCD can be defined as:

"a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions). To get rid of the thoughts, they feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing/cleaning, checking on things, and mental acts like (counting) or other activities, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions."

Source: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

I bring this up because intrusive thoughts come hand-in-hand with OCD. For Bipolar you can have auditory hallucinations -- like hearing voices, and / or you can have intrusive thought trains that are debilitating.

For me I have mental compulsions.

Often my intrusive thoughts will either be (1) Unwanted sexual thoughts that are disturbing or (2) Blasphemy aka a spiral of intrusive thoughts cursing out God as if its in my own voice

--> These force me to spend hours of my time constantly saying "Shut up" and "Stop" in my head. Doing my best to disrupt or distract myself away from the thoughts. As you can imagine -- that kind of makes it hard to focus on things in everyday life.

I stated this before but sometimes I have to imagine myself fighting my own intrusive thoughts. Though like 0.2 seconds later they start back up and the cycle continues.

This one shouldn't be all that surprising.

Depression can / is one of the constant fears of someone with BP. As it always looms ominously on the horizon like some sh*tty tax collector.

Like tbh -- I'm on antidepressants and mood stabilizers and blah blah blah--- I don't care if the antidepressants are making me hypomanic. I prefer that insanity compared to the depression.

Do you know how much it fvcking SUCKS to have absolutely ZERO energy? To constantly have to nap, but it never makes a difference because like 15 minutes later you'll be just as tired as you were before, if not more?

FR I'm legitimately afraid of who I'll become or what will happen if I get off my antidepressants. Like....when I say "I don't think I could live" (like that) I mean it. And that terrifies me.

Closing up on this part of the PPT, here's (of course) the link to the short movie that these slides reference:

[Prev] [Next]

PPT Essay: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] , [8], [9]

PPT Essay Extras: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5)

Visuals of a Depressive Episode: (1), (2)

Journal Entries: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

[greenandhazy]

So the premises of the "honest way of life" you're talking about are

1. at the expense of career

2. within an extremely limited range

3. based on ambiguous reasons such as "the way the characters are written"

right? Why do you think it can only be achieved in Hollywood?

oh congratulations, man, this is some of the most successful moving of the goalposts I've ever seen. I especially love the last one -- "Why do you think it can only be achieved in Hollywood," as if I were the one going around telling people their ship was indefensible rather than the reverse. I literally said I was willing to believe that Thomas could achieve happiness in Yorkshire in my last response but ok.

(1) The expense of what career? Thomas will have a job when he goes. It will be roughly in line with the career he already has, and there are opportunities for something else to grow out of it when he gets to Hollywood if he wants. Or are you suggesting that because Billy Haines had to get a new career, Thomas will, too? Because that just... doesn't track.

(2) Within an extremely limited range... genuinely not sure what this means, but my assumption is you mean either geographically, or in terms of the number of people he can be out to. I put it to you that, having previously been out to "the residents and staff of Downton Abbey" in the geographic range of "Downton Abbey," with the possible extension of whatever gay community can be sustained by a nearby city of 100,000 people, Thomas will actually enjoy being out to a significant number of people in the film industry employed at multiple studios in the heart of Hollywood, extended to a gay community sustained by a city of 1.2 million people, especially given that said city has been known to be unusually accepting of LGBTQ people compared to cities of similar size. I'm going to include a quote here from William J. Mann's biography of Billy Haines:

Certain things weren't acknowledged in public, of course, but in a world that both denied and decried their existence, those who lived on the social edge found Hollywood offered authenticity that would have been difficult to achieve anywhere else.

(3) All right, fine, I'll be specific, even though neither of your messages have done the courtesy of the same. Ramon Novarro was murdered because he regularly hired sex workers to come to his home, and two men used this as a ruse to beat and rob him. This was not his fault in any way, shape, or form. It was a tragedy and an act of cruelty that can't be mitigated. Anyone could theoretically be burgled and killed in a similar manner; inasmuch as Novarro's death could attributed to being gay (which your first message seemed to imply with "other gay stars," although I know you didn't give Novarro's name), it's due to the fact that his hiring of sex workers allowed his murderers to access his home. I personally don't think Guy Dexter seems likely to have similar habits. If he does, I don't see any reason to think he would face the same fate as Novarro, given that it's just so statistically unlikely.

Rudolph Valentino, while probably gay, seems to have lived a much more closeted life and struggled with his sexual orientation. He was Catholic and religious, and struggled with alcoholism. Nothing I have seen suggests that Guy Dexter in the text seems likely to be religious or alcoholic or deeply conflicted about his sexual orientation. And yeah, that is necessarily going to be an ambiguous reason because unfortunately the character never takes the opportunity to say "I'm not going to become an alcoholic or be murdered, by the way" onscreen. Sorry.

And again, I don't think Thomas living in Hollywood is the only happy ending for him. I think it's a plausible happy ending, and I'm willing to accept it as canon. Which it is.

If you want to rebut this or move the goal posts again or if you have some more negatives you'd like me to disprove, you can go ahead and reblog this and we'll talk. Maybe. I'm not putting effort into responding to anonymous messages anymore.

[imagines-mha]

◇ Haikyuu on Tinder ◇

Daichi: so BORING. His pictures are all from the same awkward selfie angle and no matter what you ask him he gives you dull answers. “What are you up to?” “just sitting here : ) what about you?”

Suga: only goes on tinder when he needs validation cus he knows hes hot but in NO WAY is he ready to commit yet and he understands noone on tinder ever really is so he never feels guilty for it

Noya: uses the picture of him with the fish 🤢. Flirts like his life depends on it, but that doesnt mean hes good. “Woah you’re real???”. if you give him a chance his true personality rlly does come thru

Tanaka: makes parties his only personality trait. Always “on it” as he says, but like,,, what does tht mean get a hobby. Also hits you with the “holy shit you’re gorgeous , how come ive never seen you before? ;))” good for validation

Ennoshita: HES SO BAD AT FLIRTING. He’ll hit you up like “hi : )” and then proceed to have the dryest convo youve ever had in your life. Tells you nothing about himself and doesnt even try to save it when it falls flat

Tsukishima: definitely puts smth like “dont text me if you cant handle my complex mind and sarcastic humour” and definitely gaslights you.

Yamaguchi: he gets WAY TOO SHY and makes noya and tanaka do it all for him. Never really uses it unless he’s having a breakdown about his love life

Yachi: she uses it for validation like suga only refuses to admit that she does. Super popular on it cus of how cute she dresses but shes too nervous to text anyone back

Kuroo: spends all his time talking to milfs and loses every inch of his dignity when someone asks to see his tinder profile

Kenma: nekoma tried to pay him to make tinder once and he refused, saying he would never sink that low. he actually downloaded it once and deleted it 15 minutes after incase anyone he knew found it

Lev: asks you if you have snapchat immediately. It’s a trap. He’ll definitely spam you every single day with “how are you today” “what are you doing rn”. Its sweet at first but when you wake up one morning with 54 unread messages from a tinder dude, you know its time to block

Oikawa: gets it when his girlfriend breaks up with him solely to prove to himself he’s loveable but nothing works out because he NEVER messages back.

Iwa- gets it when hes bored and he’s GORGEOUS but talks about the gym way too muh in his bio like we get it you work out find another personality trait. Also can’t flirt

Makki: his bios been “taking a year off to live my life to the fullest and figure out my next big move” for 5 years straight

Kunimi- mattsun and makki set up a tinder for him as a joke and tried to make it as dark and emo as possible. “Welcome to my twisted mine” Hes surprisingly more popular on it than both of them combined

Futakuchi: hes so BEAUTIFUL and everyone swipes for him. Unfortunately he knows he’s so beautiful and swipes for literally noone because he doesnt believe anyones good enough for him

Bokuto: yeah hes a sweetiepie the second you message him. Seems so pure and honest and HE ISSS. “heyheyhey how are you doing wanna see a picture of a cat i saw today???” SO MUCH ENERGY IN HIS TEXTS and hes so funny too. mwah!!! ✨✨

Akaashi: his bio is “my friends made me make this” but all his pictures point to the evidence that actually, he himself made it, because noone puts that much effort into a bio they didnt want sorry babie

Konoha: pretends he’s a judge on americas next top model and everyone on tinder are the candidates. Never actually talks to people

Ushijima: he has one tinder picture and its just a zoomed up picture half of his face. His bio just says “hello” because he doesnt know wtf hes doing. shiratorizawa’s favourite inside joke

Tendou: definitely has it ironically. All of his pictures are so cryptically edited to the point of no return. “Looking for a queen to send all my memes to”

Semi: he KNOWS how to work tinder. Pictures of his guitar, vinyls, aesthetic pics of him taken at night, the smoothest bio in the game. Only uses it to spread his music. Definitely a pretentious musician but one that EVERYONE wants to hear

Goshiki: “text me first im shy” um what x

Kita: he’s so normal and honestly way too good for tinder. A horrible flirt, really, but its endearing how much he tries. Texts only one person at a time and has trust in everyone so immediately assumes they arent texting anyone else either

Atsumu: “MSBY black jackals 🤩 Wasting no time on anything but the grind 💪🏻 dont swipe if you cant keep up 😤” probably banned for life

Osamu: sends “you up?” texts ALL THE DAMN TIME LIKE OSAMU ITS 6PM OFC IM UP

Suna- hes CLEARLY here to fuck- no more no less. It aint no dating app to him and if you misinterpret all his mixed signals hes definitely gonna make you feel like a desperate idiot and ghost you. Will ruin ur self esteem.

Terushima: the tinder fuckboy. You just KNOW he has tinder and uses it religiously, and honestly- youve probably hooked up before cus he knows how to flirt good

[akillysheel]

The Demon you (Don’t) Know. ❜

Summary:  Ricky reflects on his relationship with both religion and Laz, his best friend.  Little does he know that Laz embodies the very horrors he’s seeking.

Characters:  Lazlo, Ricky.

Warnings:  Fictional religion and discussions regarding losing faith, child-abuse and cult behaviours implied.  Nothing is in great detail, and Ricky remains very unreliable in that he’s been indoctrinated since he was a young child  ----  which may be a warning in itself, too.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve followed the Phixen faith.

After my dad lost my mom, he turned to Raku to feel better.  He was never really religious before, but I guess I can’t blame him.  I never knew her, but he always tells me how great a person she was.  That she was kind and caring and would have been the best mother anybody could have hoped to have.  

He also tells me that it’s my fault she’s gone, but that Raku’s teachings have given him the strength to forgive me.  I guess it all works out in the end.  My dad has found the fortitude to move on after her passing, and he’s also found it in his heart to be a good father too.  I’m so lucky to be the son of such a generous person.

I’ve been to every service since I was old enough to walk.  Every Wednesday, I head into a small, sweaty confession booth to talk to Raku.  I tell Him everything I’ve done that week.  All the temptations I’ve resisted.  How hard I’ve been working.  How good a son I’ve been pushing myself to be after my terrible sin.  Some weeks are better than others.  Sometimes, I achieve more at school, and I help more of my neighbours, and I get into less fights with my dad.  But the fact is that I always try to be good.  I hope Raku knows that.  He should, if He supposedly knows everything.

'Supposedly’.

I shouldn’t talk like that.  A lot of the fights I get into with my dad nowadays revolve around faith, and what’s okay to do and what isn’t.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve become more curious.  My interests have expanded.  I suddenly have questions that I didn’t before.  My dad says that I’m straying, but I think I’m just growing up, and I think he hates that.  I think there’s still a part of him that hates me for what I did, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop it.

Which only makes me feel even more distant, because if Raku’s teachings have really healed him, then why is he still punishing me?  By the word of God Himself, he should feel drawn towards the light.  “Vindication should not traverse the pure of heart” is what Raku tells his prophet Aldierno in 10:2.  I think my dad still feels vindictive.  I think he still hates me.  He just won’t admit it.  Which is a sin too, by definition, but whenever I raise this argument he holds my hand under hot water for a full minute, and that’s the end of that.

Maybe I am straying.  Maybe I am being slowly consumed by darkness.  Maybe I don’t have what it takes to be a truly good person.

That would explain why I’ve been ditching sermons to go urban exploring instead.

I know it’s wrong.  Though ghosts are undoubtedly real ( or so the text says ), huros aren’t supposed to meddle with them.  To attempt to bridge the gap between our world and the spirit realm is one of the greatest sins in the entire scripture  ----  but according to my dad, I’m already a murderer, so technically speaking, I don’t have many ways to get worse.

I can’t explain what intrigues me about the spirit realm.  I only know that when I lay awake at night and think about the presence of creatures that exist on a parallel plane, I feel scared out of my skin, but I also feel alive.  Like I want to know more.  Though me and my dad butt horns about it often, there’s nothing in the scripture that discourages the pursuit of knowledge.  In fact, Raku Himself says that to know is to love, because knowing means that we understand more. It’s just unfortunate that the thing I want to know more about could potentially land me in serious trouble with the Church, and my commune.

I don’t think any of them know what I’m doing.  Not yet.  I still look devout.  I still take care to show up to events and services whenever I’m being watched.  I still go to church with my dad.  I even still attend The Great Burn, even if it hurts me to watch.  It’s not as if I hate religion now or anything.  I just think there are things out there that I want to know, and maybe my beliefs don’t line up with what I truly think any more.

I don’t even really know what I think.  I’ve never had to think for myself that much, and now that I’m on the cusp of adulthood, I feel stunted in a way that I shouldn’t.  I think that’s what this is, this new-found interest in ghosts and all that weird stuff:  I think it’s that I want to challenge myself.  I’m constantly stuck between wanting to see something and never wanting the supernatural to show itself, because if it’s real and I see it then there’s no going back.  I may be questioning my faith, but it’s also a safety net.  An easy way to live my life.  If I see something I can’t unsee, if I breach the veil between the living and the dead, where will I go from there?  What will I think?  And how can I continue to live with my dad being the way that he is when I know in my heart that it’s wrong?  I think that’s what scares me the most:  the idea that my dad isn’t actually as good a person as he seems.

Laz says that he’s projecting his insecurities onto me.  I don’t know whether my dad’s actually unsure about anything, given his attitude, but Laz is certain.  He says he feels lost and alone in the world, and that he’s using faith as a crutch because dealing with grief is hard.  I used to tell him to stop being so cruel about him, but the more I think about it, the more I think that he hasn’t really dealt with my mom’s death at all.  Maybe Laz is right, and maybe I know that, and that’s why I’m sticking with him whenever I can.

Laz is a bit of a weirdo.  I met him when skipping one of my sermons.  He was standing in the shade at the back of the church, still as the dead.  It was as if he knew I was coming.  His eyes never left me.  When I asked what he was looking at, he said that he too was ditching, and asked if I wanted to hang out with him.  I was scared of how easily he saw through me, and I guess that made me say yes.  I didn’t want other people to see through me too  ----  and I didn’t want him to tell anyone that he’d seen me out of the service just to spite me either.

I’m ultimately glad I hung out with him though.  He’s probably the only person in my life right now that I actually trust.  My dad’s kept me pretty closed off throughout my life.  I’ve been so focused on my practises that I haven’t had much time to make friends, and I’m only really allowed to associate with members of the church.  People my dad approves of.  He would absolutely not approve of Laz.  In fact, I get the feeling that he could probably kill me for hanging out with someone like him.  He isn’t a bad person, but he isn’t a believer either, and my dad thinks the two are mutually exclusive.  I know better though.  I think Laz is good.  He listens to me, and even though he’s a pretty lazy guy, he gives solid advice and speaks from the heart.  He’s honest.  And he’s entertaining my stupid ghost-hunting adventures despite being a sceptic.  You can’t ask for a better sidekick than one who’ll follow you into the dark just for the hell of it.

He’s the entire reason I’m brave enough to be doing what I’m doing now:  sitting awake writing in my journal while we’re bunked in The Crow Yard.  It’s such a creepy place, and even in Raku’s stories it’s a place of great evil.  It’s where really bad people are put to rest.  Like, really bad people.  The people of the district come together to make a scarecrow that embodies something they feared when they were alive, so that their spirits are too afraid to leave the grave and wander.  It’s an old tradition, but as you can probably imagine, there’s a lot of folklore and myth surrounding this place.  People are scared of it.  They think it’s haunted.  I do, too.  I think if there’s any place that something evil could live, it’s here, and while it may not be brave enough to come out, that doesn’t mean it isn’t here.  I’m scared out of my mind, much too scared to sleep, but I feel…  excited.  Like I’m actually doing something I want to do, even if part of me is telling me to run away.  

Laz is snoring beside me.  He looks so goofy tucked in a sleeping bag.  He’s stupid tall, and so finding something for him to sleep in was next to impossible.  Though he assured me he didn’t need anything, I still brought an old futon for him.  His legs are poking out of the bottom.  His pillow’s on the dirt.  He sleeps as if he’s shacked up in his bedroom while I’m sitting here shaking like a leaf.  I kinda wish I was as brave as him, but maybe it’s less about being brave and more about being stupid.

The sun will rise soon.  I haven’t seen anything, but I feel it.  In the air.  Like electricity.  Like something’s gonna jump out at me.  Laz would laugh himself to death, even if it really was a ghost that attacked me.  He’s just a jerk like that.  But at least he’s here, which is more than can be said for my dad.

[spnae]

Chapter 18 Ohhh Baby

The two of them broke into a run on their way out of the Edinburgh Underground back the way they came. As they neared the tunnels branching off as they went through Musselburgh they heard voices. Spike shot out an arm stopping Buffy. They inched forward against the wall of the tunnel until they could see what they were dealing with.

There were two demons with deep bluish skin. They were both wearing ornate black robes with glittering silver accents. One was distinctly female. She was short and thin, with long dark hair arranged in elegant braids and decorated with beads and charms. The other demon was only slightly taller than her but much more muscular. The female was talking quickly and started to wail, she was clearly in distress. The male held her firmly as she nearly collapsed in his arms. He held her up supporting her as they slowly headed back down the tunnel away from the spot Buffy and Spike hid.

“What was that?” Buffy asked quietly.

Spike rubbed his face, “I think I just figured out what happened with Wendy’s crew. Shit…” he murmured, casting a glance around the tunnels.

“What?”

“We have to get back to the castle. Text the girls and get them out of the tunnels. Make sure they aren’t followed. I promise, I’ll explain on the way,” he said, pulling her along. He let go as she jogged next to him with her phone out.

As they continued on Buffy tugged on Spike’s arm, “Any time with the explanie.”

“They’re Minch,” he said distractedly as they hurried on.

“What?”

“Long story short: these guys are a sort of religious sect. Pretty self sufficient, never knew they were down this far. Sort of like the Amish, but you know, not. They usually stick to the highlands, normally near the water, or so I thought. What are they doing down here? Bugger!”

“What’s that have to do with the girls?”

“From the sound of it I think they just interrupted their version of a christening and became kidnappers. That was the mother back there. She was crying over losing her baby.”

“What? Oh God…” Buffy gasped.

“Haven’t dealt with these guys for a long while. Didn’t exactly end on good terms the last time round. The language barrier is a real bitch. This could be really bad, Slayer. If they don’t get that kid back they’re libel to declare war on all Slayers.”

“So we take the baby back.”

“I told you, the language thing is a problem for me. They are really set in their ways. You’d have to broker a deal and It’s not as simple as just handing the kid over and saying ‘sorry for the misunderstanding’. You have to have someone who can speak the language and knows the culture. It’s tricky stuff and I’m definitely not the qualified party, Pet.”

“Don’t suppose you know who is?”

Spike slowed down as they neared the tunnel to Dalkeith, all was quiet and Buffy hopped, the girls listened and got out of the tunnels. They picked up their pace again as Spike answered her, “Yeah, unfortunately we both do. Your ex-honey.”

“Great, Angel is coming to town. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have you both at the same time,” she said sarcastically.

Spike stopped dead, gaping at her, “Come again?”

“What? I— oh God—- That came out wrong. I meant under the same roof not— I didn’t mean— not in a sex way! I just meant—“

Spike waved a hand and shook his head, “Just stop there, Love. We need to get back and call Peaches.”

“Perks of having a magically enhanced phone plan,” she pulled her phone out again, “I’ll text him.”

“And say what exactly?”

Buffy pulled out her phone and started texting,

911 Need you. Edinburgh, Scotland ASAP

“Need you?”

“It’s a text message, what do you want from me?”

“I’m just wondering what he’s going to think he’s going to get.”

“He knows better than that.”

“Does he know about us?”

“I haven’t talked to him in over a year. Not since just a little after Sunnydale, and that was pretty much a business call. I thought he might have given you that necklace on purpose… I blamed him for your death until he reminded me he had planned on wearing it himself. It wasn’t a great conversation,” she paused for a few minutes as they walked on before breaking the silence, “He knew you were coming to see me, didn't he?”

“That’s all he knows.”

“So he’ll find out we’re a couple before the wedding,” she shrugged and continued on at a faster pace.

“Wedding?”

“You were the one who started it— According to the hospital staff, we are Mr. and Mrs. Summers.”

“Besides, this whole magical-mystical-psychic-bond thing we have going on is about as binding as you could get.”

“Yup, we might as well just skip the wedding and just get the rings already.”

“Buffy, I—“

“Spike, relax, I’m totally joking. If it weren’t for the fact that we were back together before we faced the love-demon, I might be worried that, that was the only reason we were together.”

“Thank the powers for serious talk, heartfelt confessions, and a couple of great shags before we killed the wanker then,” he teased. His face sobered, “Right well I suppose you do have a point. We. It’s probably best if he heard it from us first.”

“Exactly.”

They were nearly back to the house when Buffy received another text message:

Be there ASAP

She read it out loud and groaned, “There goes our weekend trip.”

“Should have stayed with the kids after all,” Spike said with an exasperated sigh.

“They’re bound to make mistakes. I just hope we can correct this one…”

They had just closed up the tunnel and gone upstairs into the kitchen when Buffy got another text from Angel:

Is Spike with you?

She responded to the text:

Yes, we need your help

“Well, at least he can’t say he wasn’t warned” she said blankly as she turned to Spike.

“Am I going to have anything to worry about here, Love?”

“You’re seriously asking that question? Besides still being pretty pissed at him for not telling me you were back. There’s a lot of things he should have told me that I found out from other people.”

“Suppose you mean Conner?”

“He told you?”

“Not me, Faith. You?”

“Nope, Willow. Hence the pissed.”

“Alright then, one more thing we have in common.”

“There’s more to it. He also did some kind of a memory whammy on Wil and apparently everyone else who knew about his kid and then it was undone. We found all this out way after the fact when Wes sent Willow a whole crap ton of files on Angel. I guess in case he didn’t make it… Faith didn’t say anything about it but it makes sense since she was in LA with Angel before Willow brought her back to Sunnydale.”

“Didn’t know about the memory thing. Now you mention it, something I overheard while I was at Wolfram and Hart is starting to make a whole lot more sense… Bloody hell,” he swore as they walked out to the entryway. Spike grabbed the blanket he had left on the bench just in case and they made their way outside. The blanket had been a good call as the sun was shining splendidly overhead, “I’m thinking, a covered walkway from the house to the castle.”

“We’ll see what our budget is like. Security blanket is a lot cheaper.”

“It’s on my wishlist. So where are we keeping Captain Forehead anyway?”

“Depending on how Giles is doing with his crutches we might be able to get him back into his bedroom. Even with the elevator fixed, it's on the wrong side of the castle for him so he can only take it so far. We’ll talk to Giles and see how he feels. Angel can either stay in his room or on the couch— or the couch in Giles's room. Really doesn’t matter to me where he sleeps.”

“As long as it’s not in our room. I don’t fancy having to call Willow to put Jack back in his box again.”

“Do you really think I’d do anything that could possibly release Angelus? I mean seriously, do you really think I could ever do that to you?” Buffy looked up towards the back of the castle and could just make out several of the girls in the orchard.

“I know we have this bond thing now, but it’s happened before.”

“Once. It happened once. And I was actually dating him at the time. It wasn’t when I was with you or anyone else for that matter.”

Spike looked dumbfounded, “Not then. That doesn’t count in my book and you know it. What does count is that last time you snogged the great poof. You and I were definitely something then. I don’t know what, but we were something. Had that little heart-to-heart in your kitchen and thought we had some sort of well… maybe not settled… but we were definitely something! Then next thing I know you’re there snogging him.”

“I might have kissed him but I slept with you that night. In case you don’t remember! That night with you changed everything for me. And everything we’ve been through since then… If you don’t get that, then maybe I should just leave you out here with your blanket!” she snapped. They had reached the castle door and Buffy stood there with her hand on the large handle.

”Of course I do, Love,” he said as he pushed as much of the emotion those words carried in her direction.

“Good,” she nodded, “Then you should also know that whatever is still between me and Angel is history.”

“That’s all I need to hear. I do trust you, Buffy. Course I do.”

“You better, I think you’re starting to smoke a little.”

Buffy opened the door and ushered him inside. The moment she did they were hit with a wave of excitement and motion. Wendy rushed up to them, “I’m so glad you’re back. We screwed up. I really screwed up. Mr. Giles just found this—“ she said holding up a book showing the Minch demons they had seen in the tunnels, “I swear we thought it was a human baby. It was all wrapped up and— they were doing a ritual and it looked like—-“

“Living room, now,” Buffy said firmly.

Wendy went back in and sat down roughly in one of the leather barrel chairs across from the couch Giles was in. The Minch baby was cooing away chewing on his own hand as he sat in Zari’s lap. Addison sat on the left side of Zari with Ursula on the arm of the couch next to her. Ursula sat relaxed with her arm resting around Addison’s shoulders.

“He’s actually pretty cute,” Buffy said as she took the baby from Zari looking him over, “It’s a he right?”

“Yeah, males have horns, females don’t,” Spike answered.

With the exception of the bluish skin and three very tiny nubs of horns protruding from the baby’s forehead above each eyebrow, he looked more or less human. The baby looked up at Buffy with wide dark eyes and began to laugh. Buffy moved him into a cradle hold and sat down next to Zari on the couch. Spike took the only empty seat in the second barrel chair by Wendy who sat with her head in her hands.

Wendy looked up, her face streaked with tears, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know… we thought they were doing some kind of a sacrifice… I thought it was a human baby, I didn’t know it was a ceremony for one of theirs… we were almost back to the castle before I realized it was a demon,” She wiped furiously at her face, “Mr. Giles says that they have a really complicated social system and if we just take the baby back we might actually make it worse— I—-“

“Spike and I are already on it. We saw the mother in the tunnels. Spike can understand enough of their language that he was able to figure out what happened.”

Giles adjusted himself on the couch, “Can you broker a deal then?”

“Oh no, you don’t want me doing that. I can understand Minch a lot better than I can speak it. That’s got me in trouble before and that had nothing to do with their offspring. They are very family oriented. You definitely don’t want me near this. Buffy and I already called in help.”

“Really? Who? Not Andrew, surly?”

Buffy turned towards Giles, “No, not Andrew. Angel.”

“Dear me.”

“Yeah, it looks like you’re getting a roommate, Rupert,” Spike said smugly.

The phone rang and Buffy answered it then took the phone into the kitchen in case it was Angel. But she needn’t have bothered.

“Oh hey B, holy shit, I don’t think you guys would be back so early,” Faith answered.

Buffy filled her in on the Minch situation and let her know Angel would be coming, “Can you handle Angel?”

“Course I can. Tell him to call me when he gets close.”

“Already did.”

“Oh damn, I bet Spike is thrilled with all this.”

“Well whether he is or isn’t he doesn’t really get to complain, considering it was his idea to call him in the first place. Did you need something?”

“I’m 5 x 5, I was actually just calling to check on Giles; make sure he didn’t need anything.”

“Nah we’re all back now.”

“If you want me there I can totally come home.”

“No, don't worry about it right now. If you two are having a good time just stay there. Just be back before Angel gets here. Other than that, can you pick up some blood on your way back?”

“How much?”

“As much as you can get without looking like you’re filming a horror movie. We’re just dealing. I gotta figure out what to feed this kid. I don't know if he’ll even take baby formula.”

“Yeah well you have fun with that. I think I’m going to skip that for as long as I can and just stay here in carnal bliss.”

“Thank you, Faith, for that mental picture.”

*************

Faith hung up the phone and turned to Callum who had just come back from the kitchen with a couple of beers. “What’s that look for, beautiful?”

“Remember all the crazy shit I was telling you we deal with on a regular basis?”

“Ah huhh,” he said as he resumed his spot on the bed next to Faith.

“Looks like you’re about to pop your supernatural cherry.”

“Thought we already did that,” he smirked, “Most magical thing I’ve ever experienced.”

“Pretty damn wasn’t it?” She smirked back, “But seriously, the girls screwed the pooch and brought a demon baby back to the castle.”

“You’re pulling my leg.”

“Oh just another day in the life. It’s all good.”

Callum looked at her a little puzzled, “Okay so not that I’m suggesting killing a baby but isn’t it your job to you know, kill demons?”

“Ahh yeah… there is a bit of a grey area. Believe it or not some demons are really just regular Joes with jobs and families and shit. Heck, some of them are even part-human. We normally just deal with the super baddies, you know the real evil killers like vampires. We normally catch them in the act or the intent to act.”

Callum sat back against the headboard and took a sip of beer, “I don’t envy your job.”

Faith smiled a little “I know right?”

“So they don’t need you back for a while huh?”

“Nope, I can stay here for a while longer. You can come back with me if you want to really get the full effect. The teaching schedule has been thrown out the window for a bit until we get this whole thing ironed out.”

“Exactly how are you going to iron this out if you’re here?”

Faith reached over to grab her beer off of him, “It’s not something I can do much about anyway. Buffy called Angel in on it because of some language barrier thing. He’s on his way. I can stay here until he comes into town.”

“Wait, that Angel bloke is coming here? The one who bit you?”

“Would you get off of that? It wasn’t really him. He lost his soul. I was there to help bring him back.”

Callum raised his eyebrows, “What the f—“

“You having a problem with something?”

“I— you say it like it’s a normal thing.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s normal… it’s just— if Angel loses his soul it releases Angelus. Angelus is the most evil SOB vamp on record. He’s a real sadistic bastard. He is the one who bit me. Not Angel. Angel saved my life, helped me when no one else would.”

“So what, he’s just walking around with this other bloke locked up in his melon?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Yikes.”

“Angel is a good guy, trust me.”

“I do, Lass. I’m just wrapping my head around all this.”

Faith shrugged, “It's just that you’re kinda stuck on that. Remember the fight with Buffy that landed me in a coma?”

“Yeah…”

“That’s where this scar is from,” she pointed to her stomach, “She stabbed me with my own blade. Self defense; I wasn’t pulling punches. We worked through it, for the most part. It’s just crazy history. No point losing sleep over it.”

“Alright, seriously complex history with pretty much everyone you know, noted,” he laughed.

“Yeah, you laugh but it’s true… anyway, I guess Buffy set me up as Angel’s contact so he’ll probably call at some point.”

“Faith, if you have things you need to take care of…” Callum trailed off as Faith leaned in close.

“Trust me. They got this. And for now, I got you,” she grinned seductively, “You can take me home later and maybe I’ll show you my room.”

“When you put it like that—“ he said as he pulled her in for another long kiss. He set his beer down blindly, nearly spilling it in the process. He pulled her to him as she pushed him back against the headboard straddling his lap again.

*************

Buffy looked down the baby aisle at their local store and nearly felt like she might have a panic attack. The choices seemed endless. She had a limited idea of what a regular baby needed yet alone a demon baby.

“I sure hope you know what you’re doing,” she said to Zari, who had volunteered to drive Buffy to the store.

“I’m the oldest of nine, I got this.”

“Big family.”

“Yup, lots of babies. I’ve changed my share of diapers.”

“Lead the way.”

Zari stopped in front of the diapers and grabbed a big box, and some baby wipes. She also threw in a 3 pack of bottles, and a large container of formula. Buffy followed her as she headed towards the clothes and picked up a pack of plain white onesies.

She hesitated a moment, “How long do you think he’s going to be with us?”

“A couple of days at least. Why?”

“I’m just wondering if we’re going to need to get him a few more things. Clothes and baby wash and such.”

Buffy bit her lip a second, “You’re probably right.”

“Maybe. Alright, you go pick out some lightweight sleepers, socks and maybe some little outfits and I’ll get some baby wash and diaper cream just in case, maybe a baby-carrier… that might be too much… my mom always used one but I don’t know if we’ll need it.”

“Clothes I can do, let’s just stick with the basics.”

Zari frowned looking at the carrier in her hands and threw it in with the diapers anyway, “Might come in handy.”

***********

By the time they got back from the store, the girls had made up a makeshift bassinet using a laundry basket and some blankets. They had no more than made up a bottle and got the baby down for a nap when the doorbell rang.

Buffy turned to Giles, “Please tell me you ordered pizza.”

“Oh good Lord, it’s Zara.”

Buffy’s eyes widened. She turned to Wendy, “Take the baby and the rest of this stuff up to your room. We can't let her or anyone else know we have a demon baby here.”

Buffy went to let Zara in, “Hey Zara!”

Zara was dressed casually in a black skirt and a blue and purple tie dyed tank that revealed a record player with music notes tattooed on the back of her shoulder. The music notes wrapped around to the front of her shoulder. Her sleek black hair had been pulled into a French braid that really highlighted the bright streak of blue in her hair. She smiled brightly when she saw Buffy , “Oh! Hello there Buffy, I thought Giles said you wouldn’t be back for hours.” She sounded more than a little disappointed.

“We weren’t supposed to be. We ended up coming back early, unexpectedly. Giles is in the living room. He hasn’t even tried the elevator or the stairs yet.”

“Stubborn. Always has been.”

“You’ve known him a long time?” Buffy asked as they stepped into the living room where Giles and Spike were pretending to be watching a movie.

“Rupe? Oh yeah. We met at Uni when he was coming out of his rebel phase. He was one of my husband’s best friends so we saw a lot of each other. Didn’t always get along with him much back then. I like this version of Rupert much better. I’m digging the whole sexy librarian vibe. Especially when he comes by the shop and helps me catalog and put things away.”

“I should have known you only wanted me for my skills as a librarian,” Giles said as he turned towards her.

Zara went over to him, perching on the edge of the coffee table, “How on earth did you manage this one, Rupe?”

“A simple accident. Buffy and I were looking through her new house and I slipped on a pile of dust and debris on the floor.”

“It happened really fast,” Buffy said from her seat next to Spike.

“I’m glad you were with him. Could have been a lot worse. Where is your new house?”

Spike answered, “Just across the lawn really. We’re not going far.”

“This must be the boyfriend, I take it?” Zara asked, turning towards Giles again.

“Ah yes, this is Spike.”

“Spike is it? And what does your poor mother call you? Surely not that.”

“No, she died a long time ago. She called me William, ma’am.”

Zara nodded, “I’m sorry, William.”

“Ta. It’s alright, don’t talk about her much. She was a class act my mum. Much like Buffy’s if I’m honest,” he shot Buffy a glance, surprised by his own candour.

“I didn’t mean to—“ she shot Buffy and Giles a pained expression.

“No, it’s ok. We’re ok. Right, Giles?” Buffy said, turning to him.

“Yes. Yes, of course. You needn’t worry about that, Zara, dear.”

Zara relaxed, “I’ve done the widow bit.”

“Not a picnic, that. Bit easier when you got family though,” Spike said knowingly.

Zara eyed him, “Well said, William.”

Buffy and Giles both watched him expectantly. When he didn’t elaborate Buffy cut in, “Spike, Zara owns the record store in town, she helped me pick out your MP3 player.”

“How’s that working for you?” Zara asked.

“Not as good as vinyl but it works nice. Like that it’s small and I can take it round with me.”

“Nothing is as good as vinyl but I’m biased. I’m glad you like it,” there was an awkward pause before Zara continued, “We’ll Rupert, maybe we’ll get you up and moving a bit. You can show me how well you use these things,” she said, picking up his crutches and handing them to him, “Let these two get on with their day. I’m sure your students are around here somewhere.”

“Yes, I suppose you are right. What do you plan on doing with me?”

“Oh Rupert, you really should have known better than to call an ex-physical therapist,” she grinned.

Giles closed his eyes, kicking himself internally, “I had honestly forgotten,” he said as he carefully swung his legs down, sat up, and pulled himself up with his crutches.

“You know I wasn't always a shopkeeper. Shame on you Rupert.”

“I suppose you could help me navigate the stairs and I could show you my little sanctuary.”

Buffy cleared her throat, “Alright then, on that note… I think we are going to go check on the girls and get things ready for our house guest. Before my brain explodes.”

“I can’t stay long, my daughter is watching the shop for me. She has an appointment coming in at 5 o’clock so I have to be back at the shop by at least 4:30 so she can get back. I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a time crunch here,” Zara assured her.

Buffy stood up motioning for Spike to come with her, “Duty calls.”

As Giles and Zara headed towards the elevator, Spike and Buffy took the stairs up to the girls' rooms. Buffy really did want to check on how things were with the baby. They found Zari and Wendy alone in the bedroom on the fifth floor with the baby still fast asleep.

Wendy got up and went out into the hall quietly, “What’s up Buffy?”

“We just wanted to check on our little house guest.”

“He’s been pretty quiet. I’m just waiting for him to wake up wet and hungry.”

“I hear they do that. What do we know about this little guy?”

“I’ve had my girls digging through Mr. Giles’s books and the internet. He took the formula ok but I’m thinking we might need to get some goat's blood in him before long. Otherwise we haven’t really found anything on the babies. I’ve seen some of the other demons in those books and I’m just hoping he doesn’t pee acid or something.”

“I’m not an expert on these guys but I’m pretty sure they don’t pee acid,” Spike said dryly, “Sink ships or drown someone who seriously pisses ‘em off sure.”

“Good thing you don’t breathe?”

“Got that right.”

“What kind of blood do you have in the fridge?” she asked.

“Pig mostly. It’s the closest to human. Cow. Might have a little sheep left. I don’t normally get goat if I can help it, bit gamy for my taste.”

Buffy frowned, “It’s definitely goat he needs?”

“That’s all we’ve found so far. I think it’s more of a religious thing for them but still…I’m done screwing up.”

“No you’re not. This will be the first of many screw ups. You’ll learn from it and carry on.”

Wendy mulled that over for a moment and nodded, “Ok, I guess I’m still in the ‘Young and stupid’, stage of development.”

“Yeah well I’m nowhere near ‘Old and wise’, I’ve just been doing this longer and picked up a few things. Besides, you were following my orders. I never thought you’d come across something like that. I might have thought the same thing if I saw them performing a ritual with what you thought was a human baby. I get it. Next time you’ll know to look for some of the more subtle context clues.”

“Yeah… it would have been a whole lot easier if I understood the language.”

“Oh now that would just take all the fun out of it,” Buffy tried to reassure her. “Alright, I’m going to have Ursula make a blood run. Faith is going to bring some home too but if we need goat then we need goat. We’re going to need a lot more on hand anyway with another vampire coming to town. Can’t have anyone getting cranky.”

“With that dinky fridge there won’t be room for the milk.”

“We’ll make due. Are you planning on switching off anytime soon?”

“Probably after his nap. We’re nodding off as it is. Addison and Ursula are supposed to be taking over.”

“Ok, sounds good. Spike and I will take a shift after them.”

“We’ll do what now?” He asked with wide eyes.

“Take a turn with the baby, it only seems fair.”

“Right then. If that’s the case. Buffy, as long as it’s all quiet, I’m gonna go get some kip. I think you should too.”

“Good point. You go on, I’ll be there when I’m done.”

“Hold you to it, Slayer. I didn’t mind babysitting Nibblet, but a demon child is something entirely different. Not doing this thing solo.”

“Big bad Spike can’t handle a teeny tiny baby?”

“We’ll see who’s laughing tonight, Pet.”