#very much neglecting to mention that (at this point in their timelines) there's only two ppl in the universe who know that.

[corallapis]

'oh, harry, please tell me you didn't.'

'a funny thing, friendship. i always thought it was about letting someone else into your life. letting them see the good and the bad.'

'it was you. it was you who knocked me out, wasn't it? and brought me here to the pier, if i'm not mistaken. your famous underwater escape. you're due to perform it here tomorrow, using this very crate, i suppose. why, harry?'

'you know all my secrets, doctor. you know all about my life and death. but how much have you ever shared with me in return?'

'you're angry with me because i won't show you inside the tardis? is that what this is about?'

'i met another old friend of yours. apparently you were at school together. he opened my eyes to you. i can see the truth now, doctor. you're just another fraud after all, surrounding himself with smoke and mirrors.'

'then i'd say we have a great deal in common,' rejoined the doctor.

'whatever it takes to keep your audience distracted, to keep them from ever seeing the real you behind the illusion. even your name — your true name — you hold close to your hearts.'

'and what about this chatty former friend of mine? i assume he has a name, hmm? or do you simply address him as master?'

houdini's eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. enough to tell the doctor he had deduced correctly.

'of course it's the master,' the doctor muttered through gritted teeth. 'it's always the master.'

[caligvlasaqvarivm]

ik you mentioned interest in writing out how you'd prefer homestuck ended (though obviously time and money makes that impossible lol), and you touched on it in your big eridan essay at the end, but would you ever consider maybe a more detailed outline? i really enjoy your thoughts on the characters and the abandoned plotlines, i'd love to get a little more of an in depth look at how you wish it went down.

Yeah sure!

For those who aren't sure what the hell I'm talking 'bout, please check out my blog and the various essays I've been writing.

Some of it is contingent on stuff I kind of still need to reread so I'm really sorry to the alpha kid likers but I'm still not totally 100% sure where I want to take them. I'm also going to include quite a few personal preference ships; I'm not interested in arguing what other people should ship or about arguing about the course of action for my dumb fanfic in general. I also tend to discover the plot I want while I'm writing it, which I don't have the luxury of here, so... some of it is going to be kind of sloppy. I'm also a big troll stan so unfortunately the kids are a little bit neglected (sorry!!!!). That said.

So the changes would take place directly after GAME OVER, which is personally the point at which I think the truncation/turning on the fanbase really starts - ships start to get turbo-sped at that point. I'm not even saying I dislike JohnRoxy or JohnRezi, but they just feel oddly rushed the way they're handled in the comic itself. IMO, anyway.

There's not too much I would rearrange during this interstitial segment; I think it's important for Jade to have the experience of loneliness, for Terezi to kick off the retcons by only feeling comfortable fixing her own mistakes. Moreover, there's no reason why other characters can't use her mind beacon abilities to ask John to rearrange the timeline, though their attempts, because they aren't backed by Seer of Mind abilities, are a lot sloppier and come with a lot more unforseen consequences.

But something I would change is that Roxy's deal with Nyx is not to just kind of... sit back and chill in non-space while John does all the work; instead, like Rose in Davesprite's timeline, Nyx puts her to sleep, and when the timeline ceases to be, GameOver!Roxy's memories get transferred to Past!Roxy via her dreamself (which wakes up early), fulfilling a "stealing from void for others" aspect of her abilities, and leads to some important interactions later on down the line.

Also, this timeline's ARquiussprite and Gamzee's corpse (heretofore referred to as (ARquiussprite) and (Gamzee)) need to come along for the ride somehow. Maybe they fall through the sky after LOLAR crashes into LOFAF.

This kicks off a series of retcons, as each troll that gets brought back successively asks for another troll/set of trolls to be brought back. This absolutely RIDDLES Act 5 with password pages, can't go two steps without running into a password page, there are password pages within password pages (which IMO is very funny and very Homestuck).

Meanwhile, a couple other plots are running concurrently - the GameOver!crew (heretofore referred to as (Name)) are now in the dream bubbles, completing their character arcs and preparing to defeat LE. Because time and space are weird in the Furthest Ring, every successive meteor trip that occurs as a result of John's retcons is the first time from the point of view of the meteor, but is a repeating event from the point of view of the people in the bubbles - eg those dead god tier Eridan and Feferi wind up healing the Mayor like seven times from their perspective.

(Aradia) is fluttering her ASS off to make sure everyone is in the right "place" at the right "time" for this, lmfao.

Roxy gaining future memories also means that the Alpha kids get to complete their arcs in a way they weren't able to prior to Game Over. Because what John's retcons are doing are functionally whiting out and redrawing the past, the Alpha kids are also only seeing a single linear timeline.

One last arc, which is running concurrent to the retconned!trolls and their new meteor trips, is that bringing back each successive character allows them ALL to grow a little more. So it is NOT like they bring back Vriska, and now everyone's problem are fixed and everything is fine; Vriska's still kind of awful, but she gets better after Tavros gets brought back and they have to character develop alongside each other, and same when Aradia and Sollux get brought back, so on and so on. Because it's about BEING FRIENDS and BEING A TEAM. They're all still having interpersonal problems right up until ALL of them get brought back.

But as a side effect of this and the questing done by the GameOver!crew, the Dancestors get more fully utilized as foils, and get their problems addressed. As the retcon!team goes through their character development, they start to tear the Dancestors apart, because the Dancestors represent shitty parents who force their kids to clean up after their messes, and refuting them works both literally and symbolically as rejecting their irresponsible way of being in lieu of responsibility, accountability, empathy, and compassion.

So here's the series of retcons, and the absolute bullshit that accompanies each decision:

Terezi asks John to save Vriska, and prevent herself from getting too spades with Gamzee, as these are her two greatest regrets.

Pretty much just what her canon iteration asked for; I don't see any problems with the actions she asks John to do for her.

HOWEVER, we'd get more than just a montage of Vriska's time on the meteor, because in this version of events, we're taking our time and letting plot points breathe. Neither does she magically fix everything just by being around when she's very much herself still going thru it by the time the Meteor trip pops off. In any case, she brings with her some new complications:

Karkat still winds up having to play moirail and keep Gamzee calm. This still ends up breaking down by the halfway point of the comic, because they're kind of just not good for each other, but Karkat's personal shitty relationships are going to become A Theme, so it's important to make note of it here.

Vriska and Terezi don't fully make up on this iteration of the trip, since from Terezi's point of view, she was still actively about to kill Vriska before John intervened; however, we get more hints, now that they have to spend three years together, that not only does Vriska really miss Terezi (which is pretty well-established, given how she can't seem to leave Terezi alone), but Terezi actually misses Vriska, too - she's just really bad at separating her own feelings and desires from her instinctive grasp of karma and justice, a very Mind player-type problem to have.

At least with Vriska around, Terezi's able to nip her Gamzee habit in the bud, but this kind of leads to Gamzee feeling worse and more alone.

Something Really Messy happens between Vriska, Rose, and Kanaya when Rose starts her drinking habit, and it's pretty toxic for all involved, and Karkat is kind of stuck playing auspice. Vriska already expresses not liking Rose much and develops some flushed feelings for Kanaya after being watching her murder Eridan, so "It's Really Messy" is kind of all I can say on the matter. The girls are fightiiinnnnggggg

Dave and Terezi get close again, but given the weirdo vibes he notices between her and Vriska, and the fact that he's really not down with quadrants (YET.), means they still end up not getting together.

Sorry DaveKat likers but I am not one. They do not ever get together, so if you are hoping for that, I am sorry and you don't have to keep reading if you don't want to, it's OK.

On a note about Vriska and Terezi - personally, I do think their moirallegiance is endgame; Vriska clearly misses her terribly, constantly trying to bug her into making the Scourge Sisters a Thing again, and she even expresses feeling really bad about the Team Charge Debacle to Terezi explicitly, before directly foreshadowing how awful Terezi will feel after killing Vriska:

AG: Cause even though you got all these highfalutin morals and fancy reserv8tions, you know as well as me that a killer is a killer is a killer! AG: There 8n't no ch8nging your ways for good, and one d8y you're going to flail that silly l8ttle cane of yours and not find n8thin to 8ump into, and fall f8ce first into the shit ag8in. AG: And you're going to do something t8rri8le to some8ody and wish you could t8ke it 8ack 8ut you c8n't!!!!!!!! AG: And then you'll work hard to win 8ack their trust, and you'll try and try and tr8, and you'll see how hard it is! AG: You'll seeeeeeee!

We know that she starts using 8's where they don't make sense phonetically when she gets really agitated, so it's pretty safe to say that she's displaying genuine emotional distress here. When combined with the way she tells John about feeling absolutely horri8le about killing Tavros, it's pretty clear she's genuine about feeling really bad about the Team Charge debacle, and sincere about wanting to somehow make amends and get back into Terezi's good graces, at times trying rivalry, at times trying to prove that she's trying to fix her mistakes.

Terezi also vehemently denies them having a kismesistude and directly mirrors Vriska's hesitance about all the murder:

GC: W3 4R3 SUPPOS3D TO R3V3L 1N BLOODSH3D 4S W3 GROW UP GC: 4ND SH3 S33MS TO B3 3MBR4C1NG H3R R1T3 OF P4SS4G3 W1TH R3CKL3SS 4B4NDON, 4S 1 WOULD 3XP3CT GC: GR4BB1NG TH3 BULL BY TH3 HORNS, SO TO SP34K GC: 1TS 4 L1TTL3 1NT1M1D4T1NG GC: B3C4US3 1M NOT SUR3 1F 1M R34DY FOR TH4T

AG: On my world, I would 8e completely vindic8ed for killing him! He is far lower on the hemospectrum than me. He managed to disrespect me time and time again, 8ut I kept letting him live! In fact, the amount of slack I cut him would 8e considered scandalous 8y those in my class. AG: I had every reason to kill him. And yet... AG: I feel 8ad a8out it like a lame weak fudge8lood, just like he was. AG: And the fact that I feel 8ad is why I'm sort of freaking out right now!

They're basically two toxic girls who CANNOT be honest with their real feelings, and wind up hurting each other. They need therapy badly, but given the fact that they also mirror each other positively - Terezi feels grateful to Vriska for blinding her, and Vriska mentions she ought to thank Terezi for killing her, which set her up on a date with the dead John Terezi also killed - I think they have a lot of potential to be genuinely kind to each other once they work through their individual issues.

Anyway. We're keeping the Roxy stuff under wraps for now - last we saw of her, she went to go see her denizen, and her planet exploded, and John was really bummed about it. HOWEVER, we are going to check in with our GameOver!crew, although only lightly for now:

Meenah and (Vriska) have fully disappeared, and (Tavros), (Nepeta), and (Feferi) are looking for them because they've got the FUCKING TREASURE???

Everyone else from the Game Over timeline has landed in the afterlife, to varying degrees.

Shortly after entering the afterlife, (Eridan) fucked off somewhere to be alone. Last anyone heard from him was (ghost!Sollux) and him being Erisolsprite, but neither (ghost!Sollux) nor (alive!Sollux) have seen him since Erisolsprite died in Game Over.

(Karkat) is also brooding off on his own, feeling really shitty and sorry for himself. He's always felt personally responsible for everything going wrong for his team, and now that his team is basically entirely dead, he feels extra shitty.

Mostly just setting up that these guys are still relevant to the story, despite now being (irrelevant).

That brings us to the second retcon. Vriska obviously had great regrets about killing Tavros, both pre- and post-retcon, so she asks for his death to be prevented.

Tavros is back.

Vriska's requested fix is a very simple one - after all, Karkat makes mention about how Vriska's always had a competitive streak with Terezi, admiring/being jealous of her ability to manipul8 people; I think an ultimate culmination of that is her insisting that insisting to John that he do a retcon to stop her from killing Tavros - which, as covered above, she regrets greatly - but to do a much sloppier job of it, simply having John pop into [S] Wake and knock Tavros the fuck out.

Vriska herself doesn't believe this will have any unintended side effects, because her opinion of Tavros is still really low despite her genuine desire to make amends, and she's wrong.

Tavros's stay on the meteor has a major effect on Gamzee. I'm not entirely sure how it would pan out exactly, but I think Gamzee would step in between Dave and Tavros, into a situation none of them are happy with. This starts Tavros on a path of realizing that his inability to stand up for himself not only hurts him, but people he cares about (Gamzee, whom he ghosted).

Vriska is mostly uninterested in Tavros now, as the moment has kind of passed, and Terezi keeps getting on her ass about going after him (which brings the two of them closer).

Previous Messy romantic situations are still active. Karkat is going thru it.

Dave feels bad about tormenting Tavros but he kind of can't help himself, especially because Tavros keeps going up to him for some reason. The fact that he gets trapped in an auspice with Tavros and Gamzee kind of reinforces that he does NOT vibe with troll quadrants. Dave becomes MORE xenophobic.

On a note regarding Gamzee and Tavros: while I generally try to avoid relying on Hussie's commentary too much, as he likes to play his cards close to his chest, his note about Gamzee in the Act 5 book is actually significant enough to me to include:

The best explanation for why Gamzee says he's scared of Vriska, in my opinion, is this: he's flat-out lying. It's a good way for him to maintain his cover as 'Soft Gamzee.' It also provides some ammunition for those who, against all sense of good taste and judgment, want to continue to believe and assert that Gamzee is a decent guy with sensitive emotions and vulnerabilities before he undergoes his Muderstuck awakening. He was none of those things, ever.

Hussie likes to play coy, and you can't really trust anything he says after Act 6 because he's fed up with the fandom, but I think this comment comes early enough, and is made assertively enough, that it can be taken at face value. I know that "Soft Gamzee" is actually extremely popular in the fandom, so this may be controversial, but I do think there's more evidence for him being kind of nasty and manipulative than not, and having that always be a part of him brings more cohesiveness to his character. For example, he seems to have a pale crush on Karkat, trying to assert that Karkat is his best friend and changing the topic when Sollux gets brought up and he recognizes Karkat is closer to Sollux than him, and if you read his first log with Terezi as if he's hiding being nasty under a soft veneer, then his comments do read as pretty passive-aggressive.

TC: yOu KnOw HoW iT iS wItH fAmIlY. GC: NO, NOT R34LLY! GC: 4DURRRR DURR DURP TC: Oh YeAh... ... TC: I sPaCeD oUt, DiD yOu KnOw HoW bEaTuFuL tHe SoUnD oF tHe OcEaN iS? TC: hAvE yOu EvEr EvEn SeEn ThE oCeAn? TC: oR i MeAn SmElLeD iT... TC: SoRrY. GC: >:[

Maybe most damningly, his narration calls dealing with Eridan's genuine emotional distress "indulge emotional theatrics," an implication of his true feelings. Karkat and Eridan are heavily foreshadowed to be moirails, and Gamzee seems to have a pale crush on Karkat. What does Gamzee do in this conversation? He chases Eridan away from comforting Karkat - using the same excuse as he uses to avoid dealing with Vriska.

CA: put kar on TC: UuUuH, i cAn't rEaLlY ThInK AbOuT InTeRvEnInG, tHe bLaCk fRoWnInG MoThErFuCkEr kInDa sCaReS Me

Moreover, he does NOT seem to like Jack comforting Karkat instead, either.

THIS IS NOT TO SAY I DON'T THINK GAMZEE ALSO DESERVES A SHOT AT KINDNESS AND REDEMPTION. Gamzee is clearly a very troubled youth, between his absentee lusus, his indoctrination into a fundie doomsday cult, and his sopor usage. The fact that having his faith shattered by Dave makes him snap implies that, one, he was already unstable and teetering on the edge, and having his faith fucked with was the last straw, and two, that until he lost that last shred of hope, he was still pretending to be nicer than he was for a reason, and given that his LE worship doesn't start up until after the snappage, I think it can be extrapolated that that reason is that he genuinely wants to get along with his friends.

Given that Gamzee's issues largely stem from his neglectful lusus, it's not a stretch to say that Gamzee does not take well to abandonment and isolation. So here's kind of where Tavros comes in:

Gamzee mentions that he feels "So aT ChIlL WiTh yOu" while talking to Tavros, and Tavros reciprocates the friendship and also - interestingly - acknowledges Gamzee's religion, calling it beautiful even if he doesn't necessarily believe in it. I call it interesting because Karkat's inability to do so is explicitly one of the reasons their moirallegiance broke down. Moreover, in their first conversation together, Gamzee explicitly praises Tavros for his "gumption" for stealing his clown nose, when Tavros's avoidance of his problems is one of his biggest personal issues. So yeah, personally, I'm all for moirallegiance.

But Tavros started ghosting him after Gamzee offered to make out a little, another symptom of his avoidance issues. I'm sure that, even in this meteor trip, the fact that Gamzee killed Equius and Nepeta really scares him. In his conversation with Terezi, Terezi outright says "NO WOND3R V4NT4S C4NT ST4ND YOU"; Equius is constantly yelling at him; lots of people on their team seem to genuinely just sort of dislike him.

CG: MIRACLES ARE LIKE POOP STAINS ON GOD'S UNDERWEAR. TA: eheheh makiing fun of people2 reliigiion2 i2 the be2t thiing two do.

So having one of the few people he does really like also ghost him probably did... bad things to his mental health. Especially so when said person wound up dead. But now that he isn't dead, I think they have a shot - they just need to address their personal problems. Tavros with his avoidance, and Gamzee with his resentment toward the world, and reliance on substances and religion to take the edge off. In this meteor iteration, that doesn't quite happen - their toxic auspicetism succeeds in letting them air out their dirty laundry to the audience, but doesn't bring full reconciliation.

In any case, this meteor trip is fairly short, and uneventful from the dream bubbles side, although I do think Tavros should get a talking-to from (Tavros) about real self-esteem and self-worth.

Still, being back in contact with Tavros again, even if in kind of a messed-up way, does make Gamzee start to reconsider some of his past actions. This brings us to:

Gamzee Asks for Equius and Nepeta back.

Gamzee's not as nice as he lets on, but he does genuinely care about his teammates, and for the people he really cares about, like Karkat or Tavros, I think he's willing to stick his neck out. Bringing back Nepeta and Equius is more for Tavros than himself, really, because Tavros is scared of him for doing that, and he motherfuckin' misses Tavros, okay? John mostly agrees because he's kind of scared of Gamzee.

Some really fun stuff starts happening this go around.

The Gamzee-Tavros situation becomes resolved because this time, Equius steps in as an auspice between Tavros and Dave, and this auspicetism is COMPLETELY HEALTHY (with the bonus of being extremely funny, and what is the point of a Homestuck ship if it is not deeply funny).

Gamzee and Tavros are able to enter into a totally healthy moirallegiance once the auspicetism builds up Tavros's self-confidence, much to Karkat's relief.

Being stuck in the auspicetism makes Dave go crawling back to Terezi on his hands and knees. I'm sorry, Terezi. I'll do anything if you take me back. Just don't let me die as the guy stuck in a threesome with the two worst trolls. Dave has overcome his xenophobia.

Dave and Terezi becoming official does make Karkat sad, however, so when Nepeta finally works up the courage to confess to him, he accepts the offer to date her, thus fulfilling Jaspersprite's musing that she might only be able to date him after she dies.

They also break up. We're keeping up this trend of Karkat and his disastrous relationships. He's still involved in the Rose/Kanaya/Vriska drama, too.

With GamTav and Dave/Tavros/Equius cinched, Tavros and Vriska reach a sort of truce with each other. Not really friends, since they kind of still dislike each other, but Vriska would genuinely be glad to see Tavros getting more actually confident, and muster up the energy to genuinely apologize for almost killing him, so there's a sort of mutual respect there now. Vriska and Terezi are even closer because of this, but still not fully over their problems.

On the topic of the Dave/Tavros/Equius auspicetism: Dave still can't stop bothering Tavros, but the lewdness of it sets Equius off, so he feels like he has to intervene. Dave also can't stop himself from bothering Equius, which ALWAYS BACKFIRES, and since Tavros has a weird fondness/rivalry with Dave, he'd find it within himself to ask Equius to back off (which would work, because of Equius's... Equius). And every time Equius gets too overbearing toward Tavros, Dave feels COMPELLED to intervene, because he's like, my fucking god, you are the two worst trolls, why must weirdos fight. Dave desperately wants out, but he can't stop staring at these two.

And weirdly enough, it's beneficial for all of them. With two people to yell at him for being weird, Equius becomes less weird. With a rival in Dave and more contact with Equius, Tavros becomes more confident. And Dave has two people to rap against and feel good about his art with, something he more or less had to deal with alone during previous trips.

On the topic of Karkat and Nepeta, there are quite a few implications that they wouldn't necessarily work out. For citations, let me just link my Nepeta essay, where I go over what the comic says about their relationship from a storytelling perspective; here, I'll talk about their relationship from a more interpersonal perspective.

Karkat's signals are mixed as fuuuuuuck. While I don't necessarily think this will be an issue for Nepeta, as - as a Heart player - she's preternatually gifted at understanding motivations, the thing is... I think Nepeta can do better, and deserves better, a sentiment echoed by Jasprosesprite^2. She certainly deserves better than being second to Terezi, at the very least, even if she states she likes his outbursts.

And the thing is, Karkat is pretty explicit about saying that he doesn't return her feelings; in a world where they date, there's always going to be a sense that she's his second choice. And, just... my girl deserves better, okay? Moreover, while he respects her personhood, he's also pretty nasty to her when he DOES talk to her, implying he doesn't necessarily respect her choices. And also, she's actually really bad at shipping, so there will be this extremely weird tension of like... a hobbyist vs. a professional. I don't think Karkat would be able to stop himself from mocking some of her shipping choices if she ever opened up to him about that.

But I think them getting together is important for Nepeta, developmentally - I talk about this in my essay for her, but shipping is something I think she does need to outgrow, since it's kind of a replacement she's using for her loneliness. Moreover, I say in that essay that the issues she has in her moirallegiance with Equius warrant relationship counselling - and that's what Karkat is uniquely qualified to dispense, as the team's Blood player. Although they end up not working out, Nepeta would take several valuable lessons from this relationship - that she's kind of bad at shipping, that Equius is being kind of a shithead to her, and that she needs to start making friends with other people.

Now then. We're finally getting into some drama in the bubbles.

Please imagine for me Equius and Horuss talking, and Equius being aghast at the way Horuss is so derisive towards his matesprit and moirail. Now imagine him pulling a mic out of nowhere and rapping at him about how his problem is that he does not respect his partners. Now imagine Tavros and Dave joining in, also out of nowhere, with Tavros adding bars about how the hemospectrum is, not a good thing, he thinks. And Dave adding bars about how he does not have a fucking dog in this race. He's not even a troll. He doesn't understand their hemospectrum. Let him out of here. The fine fucking art of Alternian slam poetry. I think Horuss would start crying. So would I if three people including my grandkid started rapping at me.

Nepeta's uncanny emotional acumen leads to her wanting to befriend Damara, but being unable to speak her language.

GameOver!crew is up to something, IDK, probably showing (Tavros) inspiring people and rebuilding the ghost army, to tell a parallel story to Tavros becoming more genuinely self-confident.

We check in with the Alpha kids, too, who have some group therapy sessions led by Roxy.

Vriska and Tavros confront Rufioh together, a final culmination of their no-longer-enemiesship, and together, they steal Rufioh's ones. Like, Tavros starts speak1ng w1th ones, something he always had in him, and they also roast Rufioh so badly that he stops speaking in ones. But the way it's presented to the audience, Vriska outright just says that Tavros should steal his ones. And Tavros does. This carries over to successive retcons, as it's implied that Tavros just kind of starts naturally being more confident as healthy relationships are established sooner and sooner.

Anyway, a final note about Equius - his problems are mostly due to being sheltered. Although he is probably the most casteist highblood, he's not really that casteist, as what's really going on is just that he's got a BDSM kink. But because he's sheltered, he does not realize that it's a kink. And a fetishist who does not realize that they're a fetishist has more power than God.

His protectiveness of Nepeta does come from a good place; preventing her from playing FLARP was actually in her best interest, given what happens to people who play FLARP. But he's very much going overboard with it, likely an extension of his own lack of understanding of how much sheltering is good and how much becomes detrimental. What he really needs is for someone to point it out to him, which I think he gets via Nepeta or via Karkat, and then have a reaaaaally long think about it. He's genuinely a polite and helpful soul, who doesn't WANT to make people uncomfortable. The auspicetism is very good for him in this regard, as is his moirallegiance once Karkat talks him and Nepeta through their issues.

The point is, once he's forced to reckon with the fact that the degeneracy is coming from inside the house, I think he'd have a LOT of regrets about the way he treated Aradia. Which leads us to:

Whoops That Robot Thing Was Really Inappropriate Huh

Equius approaches John to ask him to make Past!Equius reconsider the Aradiabot Thing. John's getting kind of impatient with all these trolls who keep asking him to go back through time, but given that everyone seems a little happier each time, he can't help but agree.

So he goes back to the past, before Equius can give Aradia her robot body with the love chip in it, and something really fun gets to happen here: first of all, Equius's Void status makes him really hard to place, so John winds up missing by a bit, time-wise, so Aradia's already in the body. This is the first time that retconning!John and Aradia have been in the same place together, and when she meets him and finds out that he can time travel without causing paradoxes, she demands (with her Aradiabot deathmurderkill intensity) to be taken back in time to before she died.

John's retcon powers explicitly ignore the usual rules of paradox space - he describes it as a "fresh start". Given that Breath is associated with choices and freedom, his retcon powers are kind of the ultimate culmination of his abilities as a breath player. Although doomed timelines can and will still result from paradoxes caused by players when John isn't there, anything he directly interferes with is totally a-okay.

So all Aradiabot asks him for is passage back in time, in order to sanction her interference in the past. After she dismisses him, she still more or less has to adhere to events in the original timeline, for two reasons - the first being that she doesn't want to risk a new doomed timeline, and the second so she can keep the timeline predictable.

So even though she's basically asked for passage to the time period before SGRUB, it's basically outright stated that the progression of events has to be more or less the same, up until the point where John's other retcons take place. So here are the cascading effects of Aradiabot preventing her own death:

Aradiabot takes Aradia's place in the Team Charge debacle, being blown up/"killed" (as a sprite) by Sollux's eye beams, so that she can take Aradia's place as Doc Scratch/the Handmaiden's servant and "carry out" their orders.

Meanwhile, Aradia seeks refuge with Equius, whose void powers keep her hidden from Doc Scratch's omnipotence.

Because Sollux never actually killed Aradia, and Aradia communicates with him via Equius's account, Sollux is less depressed and self-loathing. He no longer predicts a future where all of them die and he has to be blinded. It's left deliberately vague whether this future comes to pass because he's less pessimistic, so his Mage powers are calling a happier future into being, or if his future changed, so his Mage powers are prophesying something new.

Nepeta starts regaining memories of alternate timelines and past retcons, as an extension of her Rogue of Heart powers. This includes the relationship counselling she received from Karkat.

Between Nepeta and Aradia yelling at him, Equius's character development starts sooner, so he's squared away for future events, and ends up not making the creepy Aradiabot, making a non-creepy one instead.

Aradia and Equius do not strike up a relationship, and become uneasy enemies/friends.

Aradia secretly god tiers well in advance of Jack's arrival, and meets him at Derse rather than awakening on her crypt there.

Aradia and Sollux continue a loving matespritship, leading to Sollux settling into a moirallegiance with Feferi. He's devastated when she dies, which still happens along with the rest of Eridan's freakout; Aradiabot doesn't intervene because she's needed for:

Aradiabot winds up being the one to sacrifice herself piloting the meteor, allowing Sollux to stay with the rest of the team when he meets up with Aradia, (Aradia), and (Sollux) at the Green Sun. Aradiabot winds up with the GameOver!crew.

With the 1337 hackers back in commission, Sollux and Roxy are able to establish a server connection with each other, allowing them to communicate during the 3-year meteor trip.

Aradia involves herself in the Rose/Kanaya/Vriska Mess, and I kind of can't decide what I like better - a vascillatory pitch/flush threeway between Rose, Kanaya, and Vriska, now that Vriska's near the end of her character development, with Aradia serving as a stabilizing force as Kanaya's on-again off-again moirail, or Aradia stepping in as an auspice. Either way, it's out of Karkat's hands.

This has a knock-on effect of finally giving Vriska the chance to fully make amends with Aradia, which winds up cinching the Vriska/Terezi moirallegiance. The scourge sisters are back baybee. And between a healthy moirallegiance for Terezi and a healthy moirallegiance for Gamzee, I think pitch Terezi/Gamzee could work as a healthy ship this time around. I'm not married to it, but they did always seem to hate each other well before SGRUB.

Nepeta has LEARNED HER LESSON regarding dating Karkat, so that does not happen.

Karkat now has no quadrants. He winds up desperately throwing himself at Sadstuck Sollux to try and help him get over his breakup. It's not a good look. Sadkat. He also takes up talking to the alpha kids for emotional support, which puts them off, too. Still gives really good relationship advice. He's clearly one of the more unstable members of the retcon!crew at this point.

We're light on the dream bubble drama this time around because of how MUCH is happening for the retcon!crew, but there's going to be a reference in there of Nepeta learning East Beforan.

SO. NOTES TIME.

Aradia expresses outright that she hated the feeling that she was set up and that she wishes someone would have stopped her from being so reckless. And although she seems to find some satisfaction in being the stewardess of the afterlife, there's clearly some resentment there that she's been forced into that role, as she expresses that what she's really looking forward to is watching it all break apart. There's also kind of an orphaned plot thread where Aradia is spending a lot of time in the afterlife putting knowledge together, which never really directly pays off except to the audience, and I think a really good way to bring that back in would be for her to be communing with (Aradia) in the dream bubbles in order to make sure the timeline flows as smoothly as possible.

As for Aradia/Kanaya - they're actually really good friends, and Aradia expresses that she's flattered that Kanaya wants to talk to her so much. There is a tone here that matches the way Vriska thinks about Kanaya when Kanaya is still ostensibly Vriska's moirail, and Kanaya herself admits to being attracted to people who are reckless. In fact...

AA: i just wish AA: back when i was behaving recklessly AA: i had s0me0ne t0 tell me t0 st0p listening AA: even if i ended up ign0ring their advice AA: it w0uld have been nice

GA: It Must Be A Certain Madness Im Afflicted By GA: To Orbit Those More Reckless And Dangerous Than I And More Daring For It GA: I Guess I Want To Help Them But They Never Can Be Helped It Seems

So I'm just kind of saying... Aradia and Kanaya moirallegiance... is not entirely unfounded. And a moirail stabilizes a troll's other relationships; if we have a moirail for Kanaya and a moirail for Vriska, then the Mess that is whatever's going on with Kanaya, Vriska, and Rose would probably resolve itself, I think. Either way, Rose is surrounded by SUCH a girl's night of emotional support to help her with sobriety now.

As for whatever's going on between her and Equius, I tend to believe the comic when it tells me relationships don't work out, and Aradia expresses regret for kissing him during the Ministrife. I think they could be good vitriolic frenemies, though.

Okay, onto Sollux.

In the same panel where Eridan and Karkat are implied to be "hatched for each other" pale-wise, Feferi and Sollux are foreshadowed in the same way:

They also spend a LOT OF TIME curled up in a pile together talking about their feelings, which we don't see with matesprits, but we DO see with moirails. Nepeta and Equius do the same thing, and they are kind of THE moirails. So I think Sollux and Feferi were always meant to be pale, but because Aradia died, Sollux wound up taking Feferi on as a matesprit instead. Between EriFef, SolFef, and GamTav, people getting flushed and pale feelings entangled is like, a Running Thing, so it's not really surprising to me.

Now, here's the thing. We already know that Sollux likes to cope with a rebound, since he went flushed with Feferi after Aradiabot exploded and was presumed dead. And Karkat cares very fucking much about Sollux, to the point where Gamzee speculates that he's actually Karkat's best friend, and Karkat even calls him that (although Karkat also kind of just calls anyone his best friend, lol).

CG: GAMZEE WAS MY VERY GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS THIS GOOFY LOVEABLE BULLSHIT CLOWN UNTIL HE WENT PSYCHO AND KILLED SOME PEOPLE. I LIKED HIM A LOT. CG: I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS MY BEST FRIEND IS REALLY JUST THE GUY WHO I HAPPEN TO BE FEELING MOST SENTIMENTAL TO AT THE MOMENT, IS THAT A FUCKING CRIME.

This crab's got so much love in him. In any case, I mostly just want to keep sticking Karkat in these extremely unhealthy relationships for a while. It makes it sweeter when he finally winds up with Eridan LIKE HE WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO... but yeah.

Cross-session communication is also entirely possible, as Sollux set up chat clients between the trolls and the kids in the first place, and even without that, Kanaya found Rose's old GameFAQs on a server in the Furthest Ring. With both Sollux and Roxy on the case, there's no way they can't somehow establish communications way sooner.

Regarding Nepeta regaining her memories, let me once more point you towards the Nepeta essay. She's on track to become the one who attains Ultimate Selfhood, and comforts people like Jade and John about not really knowing their friends or being lonely.

But yeah, obviously Sollux asks for Feferi to be brought back.

F-EF-ERI!!!! 38D

Mostly Sollux just asks to be prevented from provoking Eridan so harshly. Eridan still winds up blowing up the matriorb, and thus, still getting killed by Kanaya in retribution, but this means that Eridan is now the only member of the team left dead.

PITCH FEFNEP. PITCH FEFNEP. PITCH FEFNEP

Pitch FefNep leads to Feferi letting slip something casteist where Sollux can hear; he doesn't personally care because he's heard much worse, but puts them on a break while she sorts herself out. They get back together after that.

Karkat alone :'( he's mostly just talking to the alpha kids at this point, trying to hide from all the happy fucking relationships happening all around him.

If the last retcon was really heavy on the retcon!crew, then this one is much more about what's happening in the bubbles. We get most of our dancestor development this go around. Do not read if you like the dancestors! I go very in-depth about how most of them are horrible people on purpose here, so their arcs are mostly about them being pulled up on their abject awfulness.

Nepeta, who has learned East Beforan, is able to talk to Damara and have an earnest heart-to-heart with her about how awfully she was treated. They hug and cry. Damara, finally validated, gives everyone a big middle finger.

Feferi heals Mituna's brain injury, because literally why the FUCK has nobody else done that. Now once more in control of his faculties, he breaks up with Latula, pissed off that she took advantage of him all those eons to boost her own ego. He also gives everyone a big middle finger. Damara steals her skateboard and high fives Mituna.

Porrim's basically the only dancestor who grew as a person so I think she mostly escapes unscathed.

Latula gets chased around by Sollux and Aradia, who basically just bully her for being bad at games. This is a date to them.

Gamzee completely refutes Kurloz, with his newfound clarity about the real miracle being friendship and the real dark carnival being the world he and his friends will build, not that LE noise.

In a double team between Terezi and Rose, Meulin gets eviscerated for the way her own Issues have made her ships deliberately awful, that she could have simply Not, and she has a bit of a breakdown.

As Feferi is grappling with her privilege and internalized casteism, Cronus wanders up to try and hit on her, and she goes "oh my god... when people look at me, are you what they see? A friendless loser that nobody likes? A total waste of seawater who's only pretending to be cool with the lower castes? A totally fake poser? 38(" Cronus just goes "..." and starts crying and Feferi ends the convo oblivious to that, just going "wow... thanks for talking with me! really gave me a lot to think about" imagine how funny it would be -

Karkat finds and talks to (Eridan), where he fully admits to missing the guy. His mopiness is so extreme that (Eridan) takes issue with it and punches him, before basically yelling at him to get his shit together. Karkat then yells at HIM for him to get HIS shit together, and they both leave, intent on getting their shit together.

We also get an update on Vriska and Meenah at this point, where Meenah is starting to seem more into how they totally ditched their responsibilities than Vriska is.

So the thing with this update is that most of the trolls have sorted their shit out; even Karkat has had a lot of introspection about how he really just fucking loves his friends and should have been more honest about it, not worried so much about appearing weak or lame. With the double Aradias in play to kind of handwave that the timeline will be stable because they're ensuring all loops get completed and all necessary conversations happen, and with everyone's successful relationships on display, we can kind of truncate the next leg of the journey:

Karkat Fixes Everything

Karkat is the Friendship Troll. Karkat is the Romance Troll. Karkat is the Bonds troll. He is their team's Blood player, and as the Blood player, he's been shown to deeply love all of his fucking friends - yes, even the assholes. Maybe even especially them.

As such, it's vitally important for the last push - last leg of the journey - to belong to Karkat. Where would our Blood player be without his bonds? Well, we actually have the answer to that. It's knocked out and prevented from joining in any of the important boss battles. LAME!

So in the last retcon, Karkat hears from Nepeta about the retcons that have been happening, and he really starts digging through his own past. If every retcon so far has been each troll only feeling comfortable undoing their own personal mistakes, then what of the guy who feels personally responsible for everything, all the time, forever?

Look, I'm not saying that a shipping chart saves Homestuck, but... by the time this last retcon is through, every Alternian troll is alive and god tiered. And he is dating Eridan.

If you have any questions about him dating Eridan, please refer to the link above. That essay is nearly as long as this one. There's SO MUCH FUCKING FORESHADOWING.

I don't think the god tiering needs to be explained, because if we hear that Karkat basically made his past self a shipping chart, and we've seen everybody's character development as they've gone through this journey, and we have Aradias on timeline duty and Nepeta with memories of past retcons and her alternate selves, I think we can more or less gloss over exactly how they go about earning their wings while maintaining timeline integrity. The important thing is that Karkat is dating Eridan now.

Because that leads to the last few bits of dream bubble stuff, but before we get into that...

Miscellaneous Plot Things That Need To Happen But I Don't Know Where To Put Them

Yeah there's just some ideas that I have floating around that need to be placed somewhere but IDK exactly where, or exactly how they shake out.

Hal becomes a real boy. And by that I mean as part of their character development, Jake makes Hal "real" a la brain ghost Dirk, and then the rest of them have to scramble against the clock (Jake's ability to maintain Hal's realness) to god tier him and make his existence permanent. He's a Sylph of Mind, which allows him to negate Condy's mind control. And maybe a GCATboy?

(Tavros) becomes the new leader of the ghost army.

Davesprite winds up dead at some point in the bubbles and doesn't explain how he died, but he and (Dave) get to fight each other and hash out their Realness and Relevance issues, before facing their final boss fight as bros once more.

Jade and Nepeta get to talk, and Nepeta gives Jade the reassuring speech about Ultimate Selfhood and how she won't be lonely forever. Maybe it's flushed. Might leave it ambiguous.

Somebody needs to auspicetize Dirk and Jake holy shit. Dunno who. Maybe Karkat, but I kind of like him pitch with Dirk, so IDK really.

Dad needs to die. Sorry Dad. If I can find a way to kill off all of the sprites besides ARquiusprite, I will. It's explicitly stated that sprites are drawn to the battlefield during the Reckoning, presumably to die, as part of the coming-of-age themes - losing one's guardians. It's sad but it's gotta happen.

All the Godtier!Calliope stuff basically happens as-is.

Can you tell I need to do more research on the alpha kids...

Ok Back To Karkat And Eridan

I think I'm going to leave their moirallegiance fairly ambiguous, but when Eridan is brought back, he and Karkat are basically together all the time. Karkat's signals are mixed even on the best of days, so I don't know how easy it'll be to tell that these two assholes slinging death threats at each other are pale, but *I* will know, and that's what matters.

This leads to the last two dancestor takedowns:

Karkat and Eridan (mostly Eridan) round on Kankri. Eridan calls him SO MANY SLURS. The fact that Karkat not only condones this, but is DATING ERIDAN, kind of makes Kankri lose it a bit.

(Karkat) and (Eridan), who have reconciled in the bubbles, finally find (Vriska) and Meenah. (Karkat) gives the two of them the speech that retcon!Vriska gave (Vriska) in the comic's original ending, but this time around, (Vriska) actually agrees with him. This serves as a conclusion to (Karkat) and Meenah's arc, and causes Meenah to feel so bad that she walks back to the other dancestors in shame, as (Vriska) leaves with him with the treasure to finally fight LE.

When Meenah returns to the dancestors, the first one she finds is Aranea, who's really sad about her own little escapade, blaming herself for the way Game Over went. This prompts Meenah to go, no, it was probably my fault, shouldn't have let you run off like that. And this would, from all the sobbing dancestors, prompt a string of "no, I'm the reason we failed"s, eventually culminating in Meenah rallying them together to do one last good thing before everyone gets sucked into the black hole and go join the fight against LE. Everyone agrees.

(Gamzee) is revived by the life players and cursed with immortality, so he can go on to become LE and complete that time loop. He is immediately locked in the fridge. This is also why he can't fucking die no matter what you do to him.

This also leads us into the final boss fights.

VS. CONDY

The twelve trolls. The Condesce represents tyranny, the worst aspects of the trolls' old society, and as such, is most thematically taken down by them. While she did fuck up the alpha kids' lives, too, I just personally think it's so much more thematic and satisfying to watch her be beaten down by the trolls.

VS. THE THREE JACKS

The eight kids plus Hal plus Davesprite. With Bec Noir specifically, it's fucking PERSONAL, as this guy killed their parents. This is where Dave fulfils his destiny of killing an iteration of English with his sword, when he decapitates Jack English; the person in the middle of that sandwich is Davesprite, which is how he dies and winds up in the bubbles. The iteration of Jack that survives to date Ms. Paint is Spades Slick, as he's the most sympathetic out of all of them and didn't kill anybody's parents.

At some point during this fight, I like the idea that they get zapped away by Jack English, John zaps them to the Godtier!Caliborn fight where he gets sealed in the juju, and then we cut back to the fight with Jack English, where, inexplicably, they all zap right back in.

VS. THE FELT

The spares - ARquiussprite, (Gamzee) in the fridge (who has since been revived by the life players and blessed/cursed with eternal life so he can go on to fulfill his role in the timelines and become part of LE), Dad, and the other sprites (if any of them are left alive).

VS. LORD ENGLISH

The GameOver!crew, the ghost army, the dancestors (they have a Big Damn Heroes moment right near the end, buying Jake time to deploy the Weapon), Aradiabot, and Davesprite.

Jake fulfills his destiny to defeat the Lord of all Angels by being the one to deploy the weapon, which deposits the beta kids, who knock LE in to the black hole. They then zap out of there, collecting the alpha kids from after the Caliborn fight, and zap back to the fight with the Jacks.

This specific configuration of boss battles winds up leaving Lord English entirely up to dead characters, who are then implied to all eventually get sucked into the black hole - their memories to live on through the living characters via Ultimate Selfhood, which only Nepeta achieves on screen, but implies that they will all achieve eventually.

It's important to me that the GameOver!crew is the one leading the fight against Lord English, as they're the ones who were the most screwed over by LE and his machinations - manipulated into killing each other, used as servants of his will, dying ignobly in a doomed timeline filled with special stardust. Meanwhile, the retcon!kids and trolls prove what they've learned - about compassion, kindness, equality, and forgiveness - by beating the shit out of the Condesce, who represents the horrors of Alternia, and the Jacks, especially Bec Noir and Jack English - the latter of which is a shadow of what Lord English represents - immaturity, cruelty, hatred - and the former of which is a culmination of all the failures they committed to get to this point, a symptom of their universal cancer.

I wrote a little snippet of Aradia once, and I think I'll use that to end this essay:

(ARADIA): ok now that we are all done being stupid (ARADIA): im sure enough people here remember the plan that i dont need to explain it again (ARADIA): so instead i just wanted to say (ARADIA): leave your backs to us and face forward without fear (ARADIA): the dead and irrelevant will slay the demon of double death while you unmake the threats of the living (ARADIA): and personally i think it's very fitting that he will perish here as nothing more than a bad dream (ARADIA): this will be the last time we see each other (ARADIA): so on behalf of everyone that you are going to be leaving behind (ARADIA): live (ARADIA): and be happy!

[andromythical]

im dangerously obsessed with frank zhang rn so here's a "little" thing about him bc people don't realize how complex his character is. Buckle in cause this is a long one.

Frank arrived at camp (correct me if I'm wrong) about two weeks after his mother died. The night of the funeral was the night he found out he could die at any moment if a wooden stick caught fire. (Again, please feel free to correct me about the timeline and stuff.) Frank travelled from Vancouver, Canada to California. A 415 HOUR WALK. As far as we know, he did it illegally too. All while still dealing with the fact that his mother had recently passed and his (low-key kinda neglectful) grandmother was now his legal guardian.

We see how in the first few chapters, just how much Frank is drawn to archery, his grandmother even chastising him about his obsession. He wishes to be claimed by Apollo. Yet, after he wins the war games for his cohort, he is claimed by Mars. Mars, the god of war. The god of violence. The god of what killed his mother. Frank couldn't be less like him, or so we think. Of course, Frank doesn't want to be violent, but it's shown on multiple occasions how his first instinct is to fight.

When he sets off on his quest, there was no way for him to know what would lay ahead. There was no way to know that he would meet Iris, who would show him his gift. Speaking of Iris, however, this where something very interesting happens. Iris claims he is connected to the stick because he 'had too many gifts'. This confused me on my first read, because how could he have too many gifts? He could shapeshift, sure, but it's not like he had any other major powers or anything. That's where I was wrong. It was confirmed in a book, I can't remember which one, that children of Mars and Ares have control over the dead, as long as they were on the losing side of a battle. So no, he doesn't only have one power. He certainly has skills, too. He is gifted in war strategy and tactics, as well. Making him an absolute unit in combat.

Of course, how could I talk about SoN with our bringing up the whole Zhang mansion chaos? It begins with Frank, Hazel and Percy in desperation. They resort to going to his 'grandmother's house' as he calls it. Not his house, his grandmother's. (This has absolutely no significance I just wanted to point it out). His grandmother is quite literally on her death bed when they arrive, Mars at her side. When Frank and his father have a one on one, Mars mentions how he is 'Junos secret weapon'. While talking about Gaia, he mentions that - in a direct quote - " I think you worry her more than Percy or Jason or any of the seven." This ties back to Iris' comment. He is too powerful.

Grandmother Zhang seems very shitty, and for the most part is. She has told Frank that "Men do not cry, especially not Zhang men" which we can see ties into a quote further on in the book, after the mansion catches fire and they're on the plane back. Percy mentions that "Frank kept his head down, as if he was ashamed to have been crying."

What people don't mention about Frank as much, is that he lost his only family about a month or so apart. A month.

People don't like Frank because of his conflict with Leo, but what people choose to ignore is the fact that the arguments started after Frank started hearing Mars and Ares in his head. And as we see in HoH, Mars and Ares are very pushy. Some of his behaviour could be contributed to his anger at Mars, who he now hears encouraging him to fight the Greeks at every opportunity, and some could also be contributed to Leo himself, who caused the Mars and Ares fiasco, and who also teases him at every chance he gets.

it's getting very long now and I'm getting very unmotivated so I'm gonna leave it here and if I think of anything else I'll edit it :3

The moment we've all been waiting for... the Venice incident, when Frank killed between 200-300 monsters. He was blessed by Mars afterwards, and is described to have been more confident. Even Leo had stopped teasing him.

And THIS, dear readers, is why Frank is the physical embodiment of "I'm not a violent dog, I don't know why I bite."

[crumbleclub]

Assorted Afton Family Headcanons

All three kids have dimples, which they got from William. They all have cheek dimples when they smile , and Michael has one on his chin, too. Elizabeth has one on her chin that only becomes apparent when she's older.

Elizabeth generally gives of an extremely confident, even arrogant energy. She's copying William.

Michael and Evan both call Elizabeth Libby, but her parents use her full name.

The Bite happens when Evan is turning seven, and Michael is almost fourteen. Elizabeth would have been nine.

Elizabeth disappeared when she was eight. William was actually nearby when it happened. He was still very protective at this point in his life, and he just took her eyes off of her for a moment when someone stopped to talk with him about the grand opening of Circus Baby's.

After that, he changed from being simply the controlling, overly strict type of Not Great parent to alternating between a worse version of that and being neglectful, disappearing for days, etc. He would essentially give up on parenting, panic and change his mind later, and then go overboard to the other extreme, not like the result, repeat.

William also had almost no temper; he wasn't attached enough to most things for that. He could be a very violent person, but it was usually premeditated and with an intended purpose (research, controlling someone's behavior, etc). This changed a bit later on; stressors in his life (mostly caused by himself) built up, moving his baseline from hard to piss off to already close to pissed off all the time.

He can be pissed off about what he IS invested in, which is largely his science and anything to do with Henry.

Telemarketers are an honorable mention. He would throttle them if he could. He is not a patient person.

William and Michael are both very tall due to Marfan Syndrome. In most timelines, they aren't aware they even have it, but I can see them having cardiac complications leading to a diagnosis. I'm not sure whether I think the other two would inherit this or not.

There are a few differences to Mike and William's appearances that aren't due to age. William's hair is wavy, Mike's is curly. William's hair is lighter, and he's one of those people who had blond hair as a kid that darkened to brown as they grew up. Other than that, they're near identical.

On that note, Evan has the curliest hair of them all, and Elizabeth's is very straight. Also everyone who draws her with blonde hair can fight me she is a REDHEAD

In any timeline where William raises the kids, they're all coming out of it with hella trauma disorders. It's pretty much unavoidable.

Michael having BPD is my bread and butter. I'm not sure exactly about the other two since they die quite young in the main storyline, but Elizabeth probably ends up somewhere in the formerly called cluster B range as well.

They present pretty differently in adulthood: Michael internalizes (he acted out as a kid, but flipped the other way after the Bite) and Elizabeth is very Loud about her feelings. Internally, they're pretty similar: rejection sensitive, very intense and volatile emotions, strong desire to be cared for but struggling with a tendency to self-sabotage.

Evan strikes me as more anxiousness predisposed. Mike has a lot of anxiety that presents as anger, and Elizabeth is actually angry.

The crying frequently thing was actually a new development for Evan after Witnessing The Horrors (re:Elizabeth getting yoinked by roboclown). It was a trauma response.

All three of them are extremely lonely.

William himself is probably too hard to categorize and would get labelled Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

I have no idea what I think William's past before having kids was like but the concept is wildly intriguing to me

Like I think he went to college and stuff, probably for business or even accounting (minored in engineering) but like. He was presumably a baby at some point, wtf is that about

Also William is scared of spiders. Just like, the standard amount. I just find it hilarious for him to commit atrocities and then go home to be like "MICHAEL! COME GET THIS SPIDER IMMEDIATELY"

The most technologically inclined is actually Evan. He would be a much more talented engineer than William if he went that direction

Michael is all arts, but he's learned mechanical things out of necessity. He *has* inherited the Afton Business Sense, but he a. doesn't realize it, b. doesn't like to rip people off, and c. doesn't feel strongly about the field. It's just sort of something he has the ability to do easily but never thinks about

Elizabeth has wit and charisma combined with just enough capacity to be cutthroat that she could be very successful in like. Law, politics, business, any of the sharks in suits professions. She could use it for good obv but she is BRUTAL

Also Evan can juggle. This is very important to me. Nobody knows how he learned but he's really good at it

Also, all of the Afton kids definitely showed super concerning behavior at school and nobody ever did anything about it.

Evan probably asked nice teachers to adopt him. Elizabeth would probably cry if she got an A- on a test. Michael definitely acted like a little shit for attention, + I can also see him being pretty vulnerable to dangerous situations bc of a strong risk taking tendency, and I truly believe the entire town of Hurricane stood by and watched kids act like this without doing anything.

Tbh I have so much of this in my brain feel free to ask questions if u want lmao

[gloriousmonsters]

@whittertwitter the key to happy relationships is to find two people roughly as morally bankrupt and mentally ill as you (and, most importantly, as hot as you) and enable/check each other's issues to the extent where you all function remarkably well, considering how all your other relationships went! Agreed on the rough timeline thing, her dying in the 00s sounds right for sure (assuming that the show starts around where the pilot was released, that gives her a bit of time in Hell but still makes her obnoxiously new on the scene compared to other Overlords).

That said, a summation of Vox and Val's daddy issues (cw for abuse, suicide mentioned)

Vox:

I still need to flesh out details/timeline of Vox's childhood, but I know that his dad was distant to the point of seeming to forget about his existence, sarcastic and emotionally cruel--primarily to Vox's mother, but the kid would occasionally come in for some--when he did remember he lived with other people, and was overall just an. intensely negative person, like sucks-all-the-energy-out-of-a-room vibes. (vox's mom was also emotionally neglectful and uncaring, but not ''''abusive-abusive''', if you get my point). He then proceeded to have an 'accident while cleaning a gun' when Vox was a young teenager, which Vox overheard his mother talking about the truth of--that it was suicide--with a friend. probably with a side helping of 'i can't believe he would be so weak/do something that shameful'.

I think his mother probably remarried very quickly, and Vox developed some auxiliary issues around not being able to become Man of the House when he was like, fourteen (although he would have hated it, he and his mom just did not like each other lol). But his relationship with the new guy was more just teeth-gritted tolerance, helping Vox build up his fake-ass geniality--his dad left him with some of the deep shit. Always be on guard, always control what you can. Power is cruel--and it might make people hate you, so hide it behind a smile, but even so it's better to be hated than weak. Being ignored is starvation, being judged and found wanting is a gut wound.

this mainly manifests in the intense desire to be needed and appreciated and affirmed in image whilst having behavioral patterns that mean only people who don't know you will like you

also there's just like, the bigotry and sexism he soaked up, but that's on his surrounding environment as much as his dad

Valentino (his mom is also heavily involved in Issues, so this is partly about her)

extremely physically and verbally abusive father, solely focused on his mother when Val was very young, but turning to include Val the moment he got old enough you could look at him and go 'something vaguely queer about this kid' + he could be judged as not being sufficiently cowed and respectful, which only got worse over time bc Val could not avoid making him angry and so usually gave up on even trying

his mother only managed to get away when Val was around 13, partly spurred to desperation by his father injuring him badly enough she was terrified Val might actually get killed if she stayed any longer (said event caused a concussion that left Val with vision/memory problems and headaches his entire life)

due to things getting that bad and the health issues that were clearly left over from it, his mom was intensely guilty for not being able to protect him/get out sooner, and compensated by investing herself completely in him; babying him physically and emotionally, never setting proper boundaries, taking his side in literally everything, etc etc. this lasted until she finally hit a limit and tried to point out he had anger issues (Kind Of Like Someone We Knew) when he was in his mid-20s

output: mother is cruel? mother is unyielding? i must leave for California i can no longer thrive in this environment

but seriously, anger issues + downplaying of said issues because he's not like his dad, he gets angry for legitimate reasons, and he can be so nice! all he wants is unconditional love, loyalty and commitment that doesn't waver or END like SOME PEOPLE who are apparently just waiting to ABANDON YOU

[ashcoveredtraveler]

A ship that I have drawn about but haven't really gone into depth in this AU is Mallow, Markoth, and Hollow Knight/Pure Vessel(thanks to @sumtoinfinity for giving me that ship name, it is absolutely adorable).

I have written their interactions in my other project, Could We Have Peace? but I barely touched on their relationships for this AU. I have only made drawings and mentioned they were a couple in Bugs That Warm Up Five Cold Days, which was a short fic I made for the AU.

But first, let me go over some parts of the AU as there aren't many scenarios in which these characters would even meet.

(Also sorry, but this is longer then I intended it to be)

So the infection happens, not so great. The Pale King enacts the vessel plan, also not so great.

He enacted this plan before the infection became worrisome. This way the vessel can grow to prime form just in time to seal the infection. He knew that void could seal the radiance, however, he didn't know the powers that she had. So over after the Vessel was more than halfway grown, he requested the assistance of the moth tribe. The appointed Seer and her son end up going to the Palace as they are the two most knowledgeable bugs that know what the Radience is capable of.

So one of the things that I questioned was the timeline and how much of an age difference there was between the two. I don't think Markoth is actually that old, he just acts a lot older.

For some age references for the AU, the Nail Master(Oro, Mato, and Sheo ) were barely in their tweens when the Pure Vessel ascended out of the abyss, and Markoth was just a young child. Markoth is younger than the Nail Masters. I don't think how we count time is the same way they were, but if I were to give an age ratio I would say that PV would be 21 and Markoth would be 25 around the time PV is revealed to be impure. Now I made a fic called Almost Like a Statue which isn't part of the AU but kinda of gives an outline of the timeline and the only difference between the AU and the story is the very last scene.

Anyways the vessel is revealed to be impure and a new plan needs to be made. Both Markoth and his mother end up getting invited to the Palace to discuss the Radiance even more. Eventually, after a month after the vessel is revealed to be impure, he finally sees them again, looking just upset as their hands are doing controlled motions.

Markoth approaches them and they are immediately taken aback as ever since their reveal nobody even looked in their direction as they don't have a purpose anymore. He tried to talk to them commented on their hand motion and realized it kinda looks like sign language. At that point, the vessel signed hello to Markoth and tried to start a conversation in poor sign language. Even though they were poorly signing, Markoth understood what they were trying to say and responded back, also signing to them.

Eventually, they had to get paper as the Pure Vessel only knew basic sign language and they only started learning sign language. They explained how they are trying to learn but everyone simply wants them to write what they want to say instead of everyone learning sign language to just speak with one bug. The drawing of this interaction here,

Now every time Markoth visits the Palace, he talks to the vessel and practice sign language with them. They started interacting more and slowly started to become good friends. Earlier on in their friendship, there were already bugs restricting their interaction, and it was the White Lady.

In the post I made about the WL and PK, I explained how WL wished she could have a do-over with a younger kid so she could mold them to her liking. She however is still trying to do this with the Pure Vessel, trying to pick a name for them, making them attend tea time with other nobles so they can be cultured. Of course, she didn't want this commoner to hang out with her child whom she practically neglected. PK was a bit off-put as moths are more likely to get infected and PK is also sealing away the moth's old god. He only made a comment that they should attend the city party and ball to find more suitable friends while WL tried to fill up their schedule with pointless parties with fake friends.

Eventually, the Vessel named themselves Howl, and their and Markoth's relationship grew. He eventually started gifting them stuff like chocolate and small trinkets from the outside world while Howl was able to get him books as that was one the few things that Howl could sneakily get.

Howl's self-image and mental health improved and eventually, The Great Knights started interacting with them. The five always looked after them from afar after their reveal, trying to make WL and PK act like real parents. However, the reason why they started interacting with Howl is because of Xero.

I mentioned this in The Knight's backstory along with The Great Knights' backstories, but Xero ended up getting recruited and trained as a Great Knight after stopping traffickers. He had heard about Howl from Markoth and decided to start talking to them. The Great Knight saw how interactions positively affected the vessel, and soon started interacting with them.

Howl and Markoth continued to hang out and started to get attached to each other. Markoth liked the wonder, curiosity, and kindness that Howl seemed to embody. While Howl liked the adventurous, patient, and understanding nature he had.

Both started catching feelings for each other. Markoth however pushed these feelings aside as he still held guilt for being a willing accomplice to seal them away. He knew what would have happened to their body, he buried enough infected corpses. Besides, why would Howl even like him?

Howl wasn't quite aware of what feelings they held for Markoth, but others around them could tell how much Markoth meant to them. Some of the knights became worried that if Wl or PK found out, then they might just try and shut off Howl from the rest of the world and try and continue to mold them to their liking.

At some point despite the infection, a festival was happening in Dirtmouth. Markoth decided to invite them and the two of them went to the festival with no issue. PK did give his permission and the knights convinced him to let them go as the infection lessened for a bit, and Howl could defend themselves.

The two went out and just had a joyful time. There was no stress and it was the most fun they had in a while. Fireworks were happening later in the night and the two of them went to a semi-secluded section to watch the fireworks.

While alone, both parties made comments that were more friendly than normal, more romantic comments. The area they was very dark, so both of them couldn't see each other. So when Howl moved their shell to Markoth, they accidentally placed their mouth on his.

They were both in shock. Embarrassment corsed through their body and what was even more embarrassing was that they weren't pulling away. They were both still until Markoth pressed lips a bit more, and soon enough they both reciprocated the affection.

Once they stopped Markoth immediately apologized, saying he shouldn't have done that. However, Howl stopped him, realizing what their feelings were.

They both agreed to give out this relationship a secret as if it gets out, it will be bad for both of them. The bugs who knew they were in a relationship was The Seer, because she supported the relationship and would have found out one way or another, and the two of the Great Knights, Ze'mer and Hegemol since they know how to hide a relationship as they both date political figures.

To most of the bugs, they were still friends, while to a few others they were testing out their relationship, while to both of them just fell harder for each other.

They dated for a few months, secretly writing each other notes and going on secret dates with the help of the two knights who made sure that WL or PK wouldn't try to look for them when they were out.

However, one of these letters was misplaced and somehow was placed on PK's desk. Thinking it was from some of the retainers, WL and PK opened up and they were immediately angry and requested to 'speak' with Howl.

PK and WL's lecture ended up being the both of them berating Howl for courting Markoth. PK is angry since Markoth is a moth and directly related to the Radience while WL classism starts showing up and tries to get them a suitable bug for them. The Knights came in and calmed the situation.

PK ended up banning Markoth from the Palace for a short time before realizing that he is still needed to give information on the Radience. But his time at the Palace was severely limited, only being there to give information and get out.

But something happened that caused PK and WL's demeanor to change as it was revealed that The Seer ended up adopting a child, unknowingly adopting a vessel instead.

I already mentioned Ghost's backstory earlier, and the general summary is that Xero saved them and got adopted by the Moth family. Pk, desperately trying to get any sort of vessel living in his house is trying to get Ghost to live in the Palace, with none of the parties budging.

Howls and Markoth's relationship slightly changes as he almost sees Ghost as a little sibling that was frozen as a child till now and he has been dating their twin. However, Ghost didn't mind their relationship as they saw how happy it made both of them.

So this is how the first part of their relationship went. PK and WL were not big fans at all while some others saw how beneficial the two are for each other.

[tag-that-oc]

I have gotten permission to talk about my OCverses so take some Starwood Forest ramblings to start!!

I've classified the universe into three 'stages', each representing when the tone of the OCs changed.

The first is the the beginning stage! This one was created during when I was about 12 (I'm 15 now) because I needed a way to express emotions and what better way to do it then animals! This early stage took a lot of inspiration from series like Warrior Cats and Wings Of Fire, which is very noticeable in the first wave of OCs.

Many of these OCs were shallow figures without much thought behind them, and many have since been forgotten about. This stage has gotten slightly revamped overtime, fleshing out certain characters.

Overall this stage was the calmest, one made to pass the time without much thought to how it worked. There were some darker elements, but most of it was suitable to middle schoolers.

(I should also mention the first OCs in this wave Fallen, Goldie, Jay ad Rusty, were based off FNaF OCs. No plot relevance but something that I feel is vaguely important.)

The second stage (The Seas and Skies stage)

This stage was when I started experimenting with darker topics, such as child abandonment, child abuse, homelessness, death of a loved one, and trying to find out your place in life.

Some notable OCs from this time: Ocean, the pirate cat! They were the one I struck with some heavier topics, but mostly left alone. They are the captain of a pirate ship, and just in general a badass. May be non binary. Same case as Seahorse, listed below. Seahorse. Who I explicitly stated to have been abused as a child. First OC to have confirmation of this in front of my parents. Well. I also may have accidently wrote her to be trans coded? Like I didn't mean it but it also fits with her story. So yeah. mtf first mate. she's got a partner. Winter the ghost fox! I love him. I love him so much. He's just a funny ghost fox who lives with a circus. He died from falling off a cliff btw.

This stage was named due to the focus of the oceans and the circus, which included many winged animals, hence the name. There was a lot of escapism stuff, which looking back on it was me trying to find a happy place to escape too when my siblings came after me.

I have gone through and revamped many elements of this stage to comply with the main timeline, as well as adding more queer characters!

One thing I should mention before moving to stage three, is two OCs that belong somewhere between stages one and two. They were created during the first stage, but didn't get fleshed out until the second. Their names are Peppermint and Thistle and they are lesbians and that has always been their relationship since I made them. They basically adopt the kids in the circus that Raven can't take in, so they have a lot of children that stop by!

It was also at this point in time that I started drawing the characters more humanoid, when they had been fully animal before hand.

On to stage three (the King, the Lab, and the Child Soldiers)

This stage is so fucking dark! What was 13 year old me thinking! We've got experimentation, more child abuse and neglect, death, suicide, child soldiers, child death, fighting arenas, corrupt people in power, and quite a bit more on top of everything talked about in stage two! Take this as your fucking trigger warning!

This stage was developed based on a creepypasta OC I had made, and then turned into something so much bigger! We've got a kingdom being ruled over by a queen who is making prisoners who were experimented on fight each other to the death, most of whom were children. We've got Finn, the ball of trauma who ends up ruling the kingdom but only after he kills himself! We've got a hoard of dead kids, one of which can time travel, a bunch of ones that were street kids who were brutally murdered, and group that was fucking child soldiers?????? What the fuck was 13 year old me doing. What the fuck was I doing.

Anyways, this stage is where I ended up putting this OCverse out of main activity and started moving onto the CrossOCverse and the Minecraft OCverse, all of which were just as dark btw. If not more. Remember that the Starwoods forest was something I created with my parents knowledge. Admittlly they didn't know a bunch of details (like anything related to the queer characters because homophobic parents suck) but still.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed these rambles and hopefully I will be back with another ramble about either specific characters or another OCverse. Good bye and good night I am so tired and I apoigize for spelling mistakes.

oh wow this was all really interesting to read! personally i think it's cool and interesting to experiment with darker topics

the characters all sound interesting too!

[rosettastarlight]

I really like your Stranger Things AU with Vance! I'd like to learn more. Do you have any headcanons on how Vance adjusts to Hawkins and what his relationship would be like with the Party?

First off, I am so sorry taking so long to respond, I’ve had finals and been trying to catch up on missing work before the end of the semester. 

And second, oh, I very much do, but it depends mainly on timeline because like I said Vance moving to Hawkins would be after escaping the Grabber, and while I have thought to myself that the move taking place between 1983 and 1984 would be easiest as the chaos of season 1 might be a little too much for Vance who would just be recovering from his own disappearance and kidnapping (although I also think he’d be part of the reason Jim would start to take the Will Byers case seriously since everyone also probably thought Vance was just skipping school or causing trouble before realizing he’d been gone too long, except no one really cared beyond the first few weeks that Vance was gone because he was a constant trouble-maker), and it might be better to place him in a calmer where the worst has more or less blown over, but the timeline is also pretty important.

I mostly, in my head, place him in Hawkins around season 2 in 1984 both because of the former reason and because I just think it’d be hilarious to see the utter confusion of being dropped smack in the aftermath while knowing nothing of what went on before. Like, Jim trying to explain El away when Vance can see straight through his bs because he knows damn well this strange girl did not pop up out of nowhere, and since when was his dad the type of guy to move to a cabin in the middle of the woods. Where there’s no one or anything in sight for at least a good, long walk. And if he’d adopted El, why are there no records anywhere in the cabin, why does she have the vocabulary and knowledge of a child half her age, since when did he have the time or mindset in between being a recovering alcoholic and a cop who was too busy and gone half the day to pay attention to his only other child? Why can’t she go outside but Vance can as long as he’s back before curfew, why can’t she be seen by anyone to the point that the blinds need to always be closed?

Still, let’s drop him in season 1 for the hell of it, which would mean him moving to Hawkins within 1983 just before the events of Stranger Things, making him kidnapped in 1982. He might have been found maybe a month or two prior at most, spent a while in the hospital (he was down in the basement for months and judging from the conditions we see in the movie, he was probably malnourished, dehydrated, not to mention all the injuries he might have gotten from the beatings and if any of them got infected), and I’ll try my best to organize my thoughts

For context, after Sarah’s death, we know Diane and Jim divorced a year later, after which Hopper moved back to Hawkins, Diane moved with Vance to Denver from New York, and it's known Hopper did not take his family breaking apart well.

Speaking from personal experience, when a parent is grieving the loss of one child, they can be so lost in their own downspiraling mental health, they can start neglecting their remaining one, and losing custody and the now physical distance between them didn't help matters since back then, all they had to communicate long distance was phone and letters.

There was also a bit of guilt there since Hopper had thought himself responsible in a way for Sarah's death and thought he might mess up with Vance too, so he distanced himself emotionally as well.

So for a long while, Jim was kind of an absent father and hasn't seen Vance in person since he was ten. He was starting to come back into his life three years later, around the same time Vance went missing.

That was essentially Jim's wake up call rather than the Byers case, to realize he could have just lost his son, too, not knowing what happened to him until he was found a year later having been kept captive the entire time.

When Hopper found out, he dropped everything to get to the hospital Vance was staying, but Vance himself had pretty complicated feelings, because on one hand, his dad being there as a familiar face in the wake of a very traumatizing event and the unfamiliar people of the hospital where everyone is touching (and he does not want them touching him), poking and prodding him, but on the other, it took him nearly dying for his dad to actually come see him, so....pros and cons.

Hopper and Diane did talk about him wanting to be back in Vance’s life, trying to get sober, and wanting a chance to be there for him, and that maybe getting away from the place of trauma might help Vance out mentally, make him feel more safe to not be reminded of the events everywhere when people were still talking about it and his face is in all the papers, and Hawkins was quiet and isolated where everyone knows everyone and nothing ever happens.

Vance was not happy once he got out the hospital. He did not want to leave Denver, he did not want to leave the familiarity of his home after just coming back, he did not want to leave his friends who were the only ones he felt could understand what he went through since they went through the same thing, he did not want or like anymore abrupt changes in his life.

Part of the only reason he even agreed to move in with his dad was because both his parents insisted on it and he didn’t want to argue with his mom.

The other part was because he started to feel like she just didn’t want him around, much like before he even got kidnapped, especially seeing her with her new family, his stepsister and stepfather, and that he always felt like she didn’t try all that much to find him while he was gone.

That was not exactly the case, Diane was doing the best with what she had, but parents aren’t perfect and as much as they loved each other, their relationship did become strained with him distancing himself from her as he got older and her being busy taking care of a new baby.

Jim had bought Vance a Walkman he'd planned to give him on his 14th birthday (it was supposed to be the first birthday they spent together since the divorce, so it was supposed to make up for all the ones he missed), but instead gave him in the hospital after the police found him. He still remembers how loud music usually calmed Vance as a kid and figured it might help now.

Despite not being all that receptive towards Jim, he takes good care of it and takes it everywhere he could for when he was feeling stressed.

Also, the mental image I have of Vance staring Jim dead in the eye as he puts on his headphones mid-lecture to show just how done he is with their conversations when he doesn't feel like fighting.

Jim genuinely did think that Hawkins would help because it’s a small, sleepy town where nothing ever happens and no one’s going to really know him beyond the chief’s son which is better than being gawked at for escaping a serial child kidnapper everywhere you go, and while that can get boring, maybe after what happened, “boring” might be best since at least in “boring,” it’s safe because nothing ever happens.

Point at the irony and laugh.

I said in my last post of this au that Vance does not like new stuff, and this is no exception, he does not like having to get used to the cabin, the  smells and new textures and having to ask where everything is, he does not like looking outside and just seeing trees upon trees upon trees, needing rides to town, not knowing where to go when he’s in town (just overall having to rely on Jim for everything in an unfamiliar place, he hates it)

Considering the last time he talked to a stranger, he got grabbed, and as much as he’d never admit it to anyone (he doesn’t really have to since Hopper can see it in how Vance asks him to drive him places at first with how Vance wants nothing to do with him if he can help it--so if he’s willing to put up with being in a car with him for some sense of security, that means something), he doesn’t feel safe anymore walking alone where there’s not many people, which does lead to him being more aggressive and off-putting with strangers as a way to feel so.

He was canonical held back, but it was in elementary school, so he'd be in the eighth grade rather than the high school, which actually would give a good opportunity to meet the Party even if he's still a grade above them.

He mostly keeps to himself, and he spends most of his time outside of school (and sometimes skipping class), at the arcade after Jim showed him where it was, for the closest thing he can find to his pinball machine back home.

He’s both not as violent and yet worse at the same time, like he won’t fuck with you if you don’t fuck with him, but if you fuck with him in even the slightest way (touch him on bad days, mess with his music, mess with his game, accidentally or otherwise when he doesn’t know you), he will try to end you.

It ends him in jail a lot, Jim has to bail him out every time if he's not the one himself escorting him to the station (he just drops him off at home), sometimes vouch for him to his coworkers that "he's going through a tough time" and if you see him running from the cops, he's not running from the law, he's running from getting grounded.

Calls and writes his friends back home every chance he gets, mostly about updates and t complain how much Hawkins sucks.

Small detail but Vance can't drink soda anymore, he never liked the fizz and would usually wait for it to go flat, but after returning, all soda now reminds him of Sprite and Sprite reminds him of the Basement.

He also mostly cooks for himself and Jim because while he always was a picky eater, after what happened, he won't accept food from other people unless he can watch it being made, and he refuses to go anywhere where the door can be locked from the outside.

Altogether, this does give him a bit of a reputation for being a violent asshole who gets away with everything because his dad's the police chief.

Hopper did threaten once to call his mom in a fight, Vance retaliated by threatening to tell her about the anti-anxiety pills he found in Hopper’s room while exploring.

Oh, the fights, have you ever tried to raise a young version of yourself that's just as a stubborn, angry, and prone to violence as you once were but twice as bad? That's what Hopper’s going through, and while he is trying to be patient because he knows Vance isn't in the best place and he kinda does deserve some of his ire, Jim has considered putting the boy's head through a wall more than once.

Now, onto the actual Disappearance of Will Byers and relationship with the Party

The Party initially thought he was just another bully and steered clear of him up until Will disappeared.

A lot of people think Vance is older than he is, like sixteen, seventeen, but in reality, he just had a growth spurt when he was, like, twelve.

I like to headcanon because of how good he is at pinball and Sarah's fascination with space when she was alive, Vance is actually pretty good at math and science if it's put into a way he understands, and while he is a grade above them, I like to think the Party's teacher would be someone who could do that even with Vance's unease around adults. Like, he just seems like a fun, laid back teacher who cares about his students.

Hopper is trying to kick his worse habits in season 1 this time since he's trying to gain Vance's trust and prove to both his ex-wife and himself that he can be a competent parent, so s1 Jim Hopper might be a bit more serious in this au.

Like his personal storyline in this au in between searching for Will wouldn't just be being reminded of his grief but also reconnecting with his estranged son, like he and Vance would both get flashbacks throughout the season of their respective traumas.

I can't remember what happened to the Byers' dog, but I'm going to use it as a way to insert Vance into the plot since I mentioned in one of my last posts, Vance loves animals.

The night Will went missing, the dog ran away once the Demogorgon disappeared. Vance found it the next morning on his way to school and skipped class to take it to the cabin for a bit, so he didn't know anyone was searching for Will until later that day when the dog led him to where the police found Will's bike.

That's how Vance officially met the Byers, when he went to return the dog, and he mostly kept coming back to see or offer to walk him. Joyce does try to talk to him sometimes since she doesn't want to be rude and she somewhat remembers him since Vance would have been 2 when the Hoppers moved out of Hawkins.

While Vance probably would try to avoid stuff about the Will Byers case because of the memories it dredges up, I do like to think of him trying to comfort Joyce once when he could see her struggling. He's not good at it but it's thought that counts.

With the stuff with the phone, maybe he overhears it or sees it one time while he's over, he remembers the phone in the Basement. How it kept ringing all those times before Finney got there, and all he and the other boys would hear was static when they picked it up, but Finn claimed to hear voices of the Grabber's past victims.

It'd have some bad implications on Vance's end and maybe he might bring it up to Hopper that maybe Joyce wasn't going crazy, but since he's still in his denial phase, Hopper would probably just tell Vance that they were going through a stressful time and made up whatever it took to cope.

That's all I've got for right now, but I'll try to get back later after rewatching some stuff.

[encantadiafan12]

Draco Malfoy x Nezuko Kamado’s twin-sister! Slytherin! Muggle-born! Reader (feat. Muzan Kibutsuji x Nezuko Kamado’s twin-sister! Slytherin! Muggle-born! Reader; Good ending)

Angel of Darkness Au part 2: A witch's anger 🔥

Warnings: Mentions of Death, neglect, torture, use of protego diobolica and attempted murder

(A/N: Crossover with the current timeline and Muzan of the alternative timeline feelings towards Y/n is only one-sided.)

The Slytherin lady and the chosen one were lock in a ferocious duel however being trained by her father at a young age she easily overpowered Harry. She later apperated back to where her pathetic excuse of a brother was. It continues as they were trying to kill the man she saw earlier, but oddly strange he is not easy to kill.

Y/n then sees someone she hasn't seen in a very long time. Her duel against Harry was almost an hour. She recognize her sister who is about to turn back into a human approaching for their brother. The Slytherin lady then flies to her into a black mist. Through those moments Nezuko was turning back into a human from her gaining the memories when she was a demon. Her memories when she was human. The night Muzan Kibutsuji killed her mother and her other siblings while Tanjiro is away. She later regain back her identity. When this happened, Y/n appears in front of her while her twin looks in shock. “Y/n??” she asks as the Slytherin lady smirks. “Hello, Nezuko...” she says in a monotone.

While this is going on. Tanjiro, the Hashira, and Tamayo then continue to fought against Muzan. The Demon King was far too strong. With Y/n and Nezuko with the Slytherin girl then pointing her wand at her. “Tanjiro can say goodbye to his precious favorite sister....” she then says as she was about to cast a spell. That is until she hears a the sound of a biwa as diverts her attention towards where her pathetic excuse of a brother was. Shoji doors were at the bottom of him and everyone. They some them open making each slayer fall and of course Muzan and Tamayo. Nezuko scream calling out to their brother while the Slytherin lady smirks before turning into black mist following them. This is going to be interesting however what she didn't know Draco and Harry witnessed everything unfolded as they were surprise as they decide to ask help from someone but not somebody back in their home dimension but rather those from a different timeline. They then made their way to the gate way leading to the alternative timeline.

5 minutes later....

They found themselves on America?! The Wizarding World in this country is more strict back on England. They found themselves at a mansion. Harry and Draco say two figures the first being similar to their Y/n except she seems calm and the other similar to the man they saw from before except he has white hair. The two then notice them as the Slytherin lady's look alike look at her in surprise. “Potter, Draco I didn't expect you would come around here.” she says as the man beside her glares daggers at the blonde Slytherin as if he wants to kill him. Y/n then notice this as she narrows her eyes at him. “Dear, no....” she says in a warning tone.

He then huffs as he crosses his arms. The Slytherin lady sighs. “Sorry, about my husband. Draco, you shouldn't have come. You knew how much Muzan wants to kill you.” she then carefully says as the two look at them surprise. Wait? The man who stand right beside her was her husband in this timeline and not to mention he wants to kill Draco’s counterpart in this timeline. For what reason?

Harry then clears his throat. “Actually we are not the way you know. We are actually from another timeline and we need your help.” he says as this time Y/n and Muzan are surprise. The Slytherin lady then read their minds while the former Demon King then sniff them to see if they are telling the truth to which they are. The chosen one and the blonde Slytherin start to explain about the timeline they came from to which Y/n and Muzan frown. “A timeline where father died and I gotten crazy trying to kill everyone in mine and my husband's home dimension. Just to make them feel the pain I felt.” the Slytherin lady then says as her husband hums. “So in your timeline I was one of the people that my wife's counterpart wants to be killed. Well, that's strange and a bit upsetting.” he says as he refers to the last part that his counterpart didn't knew Y/n. “We only need your help, Y/n. In other to stop the version of yourself from our timeline on what she was doing.” Draco then says as he looks down. “We also need your father's help as well. I know he's the only one who can calm you both down when you're angry.” Harry adds as the two were surprise. “You need mine and my father's help?” The Slytherin lady then questions as the two then nod. Y/n sighs before they then took a portkey to England. Pretty much they appear at the forest when no one could see them. When they came to the location they arrived at Spinner's End.

The former Potions Master then notices them. “Y/n, Muzan...” He says a bit surprise to see his daughter and son-in-law. He later notice Harry and Draco. “You and Draco as well, Potter.” Severus then finishes as he crosses his arms. The Slytherin lady alongside with her husband looks at him. “Dad, we need your help.” she then says.

They then explain to the former Potions Master about what's going on. At that Severus cross his arms. “So in this alternative timeline. I died, Y/n’s counterpart wanting to kill the people in her and her husband’s home dimension. With my son-in-law’s counterpart not knowing my daughter and of course was one of the people she wants to kill.” he then says as slowly starts taking the information that he was given. “Figuring that my daughter's counterpart wouldn't be able to calm down if it was herself trying to understand. Well, she seems to calm down around me.” He then adds. The chosen one then looks at him. “Will you help us, sir? We can't risk of losing her.” he pleads.

The former Potions Master then thought for a moment before he then sighs. “Alright, I'll help you.” he then answers as that made the two males look relieved that Snape of this timeline is able to help them. Muzan then looks at his wife. “Are you sure you don't want me to come along?” he asks as he holds her hands. Y/n then gives him sad look. “I really want you to come but we couldn't risk about your other self to know that you were my soulmate and the part that were married. As we know our counterparts don't know each other.” she then says as Muzan sighs they have a choice. “Alright, but promise you'll come back safe.” he says. “I will. I promise.” the Slytherin lady then says.

Afterwards, they then open the gateway to the other timeline. The former Demon King hopes that his wife would be safe. To where Y/n’s counterpart was, they then end up in a place that has a lot rooms and shoji doors everywhere like a big maze. Harry was surprise to know that the Slytherin lady he knew would follow her brother here. As they then observe from a far to see Demon Slayers attacking Lower Moon Demons at easily cutting off each Demons head. From a far they also Y/n (Bad ending) torturing a Demon Slayer who dare stand in her way from making her brother suffer the pain she felt.

Y/n (Good ending) and Severus have invisibility cloaks around them to avoid anyone from knowing that they are around. Throughout each battle in the Infinity Fortress, the Slytherin Lady (Bad Ending) attempt to kill everyone but she was thwarted by unknown to her (her other self from another timeline). However, unknowingly the Demon King saw her every attempts but he wasn't mad. Quite the opposite he knew she wants to kill Tanjiro to make him regret for sacrificing her to save himself and his other siblings.

After each, Upper moon was killed but Nakime and Kaiguku are the last of them. However, Y/n (Bad Ending) continue her attempts to kill everyone but she was still thwarted. Her several attempts made Muzan feel something he hadn't felt before. He somehow found himself falling in love with the Kamado’s so-called black sheep. Not only those attempts to make everyone suffer her pain that she felt. The Demon King was later confront by Tanjiro and Giyū. “Persistent.” He then says not feeling any regret for killing a lot of innocent people. “You’re all seriously persistent. And it bores me.” He adds as the that stun the two Demon Slayers. “It sickens me from the bottom of my heart. Whenever you open your mouth, you only remember that one dumb motion about avenging your parents, kids, or siblings.” Muzan later admits as Tanjiro still looks stunned by what he's saying. “What are you saying?" He then asks at the Demon King look at him. “Look at it this way, being killed by me is the same as encountering a great calamity. You can't get revenge on natural disasters. No matter how many lives it takes away, rain, winds, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. You don't need to think hard about it.” He then says as the two Demon Slayers just remain silent. “You can't bring dead humans back to life. Why not stop fussing over this issue all the time and quietly live to earn your daily wages. Why can't you do that? Most humans live that life. The Demon Slayers are an assembly of deviants. There's only a reason and I'm tired of dealing with deviants. I'm the only one really wants to put an end to all this.” Muzan then says. There was a long period of silence. Before Tanjiro could says something the three of them were interrupted when someone cackle. Black mist then came around and stood in the other side of the room it later then morph to Y/n (Bad Ending) as she looks at the three of them with her eyes narrowed. The Slytherin lady (Bad Ending) then looks at the Demon King. “You have no shame. To me losing my father even though we aren't related by blood. He treated me decently and some people in the Wizarding World too. I no longer return to this world considering on how greedy, arrogant, and selfish they are towards me. Just taking things for granted.” She then rants before looking at her pathetic excuse of a brother. “Since the day I was sacrifice. I was really a fool to wait you, the rest of our so-called ‘family’, and everyone else to notice me but only paying attention Nezuko. That day change everything for me. Throughout the years I was living with my father, the hate I felt towards everyone here continue to grow. When Dad was still alive I have no intention to return here to get revenge on everyone. Even though, I've been familiar with the Unforgivable Curses and the Dark arts spells he taught me. I've only used them when necessary.” Y/n (Bad Ending) then says as the three look at surprise.

The Slytherin lady (Bad Ending) then narrows her eyes. “Vengeance is mine. You and Nezuko don't deserve to live a peaceful life...” she then says to Tanjiro.

Giyū then looks at the burgundy-haired boy. “Keep your guard up.” he then tells. Y/n (Bad Ending) was about to cast a spell before somebody disarm her wand like earlier. The daughter of Severus Snape (Bad Ending) then growls to see who did it. The person then remove the invisibility cloak. She and the other three were surprise. It was Y/n (Good ending), Draco then came around. “You really need to stop. I know what you're feeling right now. But, father's death really affected you to the point you want to get your revenge on everyone here.” The Slytherin lady (Good ending) then says as her other self then grit her teeth. “Nice try, Harry....” she then says. Y/n (Good ending) then sighs. “You really think this is someone under the guise of polyjuice potion but I am actually you from another timeline.” She then took a pause. “A timeline where father is alive....” The Slytherin lady (Good ending) says that made double then pick up her wand as she kept her head down. “A timeline.... Father is still alive, huh? Well, that's something is going to make me mad here.” she then says as she looks up. The blonde Slytherin then looks at her. “Y/n, you need to stop what you're doing. This isn't the way...” he then says. The Slytherin lady (Good ending) then stood next to him. “He’s right you need to stop. Revenge is not going to make you feel better. It's just going to make things worse.” she then says.

Tanjiro then slowly walk up but he maintain his distance from his other younger sister. “Y/n, please you have to stop this." He then says as the daughter of Severus Snape (Bad Ending) then glares at him. “Well, I would be with you right now if you were to treat me decently. But none of you never deserve my forgiveness and kindness.” she then says before then places her hand against the bottom of her left eye. “I got this scar because of you that day and of course the hatred started to grow there. So I have a hard time trusting anyone except some people.” Y/n (Bad Ending) then rants.

The Slytherin lady (Bad Ending) then continues to glare at her brother. “Ever since, father adopted me. I only felt resentment towards everyone here in this world. I take a lot after father but I never let everyone’s words ruin me but unlike you. I have friends and people who care about me for who I am. Severus Snape was my father and having the same filthy blood as you and Nezuko make me hate other Muggle-borns at school. I disregard the Kamado last name and embrace the surname Snape. Everyone in Slytherin like being around me despite my status as a Muggle-born as I'm different from the rest. Everyone (except Pansy Parkinson).” she then adds as her brother keeps his guard up but he was ridden with guilt on the inside.

The Demon Slayer stares at his sister. “Y/n” He calls out as he feels the guilt of ignoring his beloved sister. “I'm sorry” He says making his sister scoff. “Your pleadings are no use to me now.” She says bitterly.

Draco then narrows his eyes at Tanjiro. “No matter how many times you apologize to her. It's not going to work. You really don't know her as much as I did growing up with her.” he then says. He then the others later here huff as they look at her. “Do you know me, Draco? Well, you don't know much about me.” she then says as the blonde Slytherin looks at her worriedly. Y/n (Good ending) knew that the thought of losing her father horrifies her, but in her timeline she was able to save him on time. However in this one she didn't. That's the reason why her other self was desperate to take her revenge on everyone in the dimension she originally came from.

“It may escape the notice of all of you. But life is unfair.” The Slytherin lady (Bad Ending) then says as she looks at the Demon King. “Life is not the way as we see it as there are times things go out of our control. Life is cruel. Fate is cruel. It's not always we get what we want.” she then adds as it seem to anger Muzan but it didn't but he was rather stun instead of being angry which never happened before. “She really takes after her father.” The blonde Slytherin then mutters. Y/n (Good ending) then gives her other self a sympathetic look. “Father’s death really affected you....” She says in a sad tone as the Slytherin lady (Bad Ending then turn to look at her. “You have no idea.....” she then says. Giyū then looks at her. “You need to stop this stupid revenge as it wasn't worth it.” he says as that anger the daughter of Severus Snape (Bad ending). The Slytherin lady (Good ending) sighs as she narrows her eyes at the Water Hashira. “You are not helping. It only made it worse.” she then says as her other self seems angry. “Stupid? Stupid?! What's so stupid about to make everyone in this world to feel the pain I felt?!” she then snaps.

Draco knew he had stop her. “This has to stop now. What ever it is you're going through. We'll fix together, me and you. Just like we've always done.” he then sang as that made Y/n (Bad ending) look at him. “No! This has to stop now. This thing where you think that you've been my friend. And don't even hear how you condescend. The way you've always done.” She then sang not wanting to listen to her childhood friend. The burgundy hair has to do something. “Y/n, listen.” he then starts. “I’m listening.” She then answers when her brother does it. “I know it isn't true.” Tanjiro then sang. “Isn’t it?” She mockingly questions. “Just look into my eyes now.” he then sings as his sister avoids looking at him. “Well?” she then says. “I know you feel it too.” The burgundy-haired boy then sang. “Perhaps I do.” she then sings as she looks at him coldly. “Y/n, listen.” Tanjiro then sings. “I’m listening.” she then says as she crosses her arms while rolling her eyes. “I swear it's not too late.” He then sings while keeping his eyes on her. “So before another line gets crossed and everything we've had is lost. Just.... wait.” He sings as the word ‘Wait’ made her to immediately look at him in disbelief before she frowns. “No, I won't wait.” she mutters before Y/n (Bad ending) then proceeds walking in between her pathetic excuse of a brother, Water Hashira, and the Demon King. She then looks at Tanjiro and Giyū. “There’s a line between the winners,” she starts before looking at Muzan. “and the losers.” she finishes before turning to look at her other self and Draco. “There’s a line between the chosen and the rest.” she then sings as she looks to the side. “And I've done the best I could, but I always known where we stood.” she then sings before looking down at her shoes. “Me here with the luckless.” The Slytherin lady sings before she then looks at her brother and the Water Hashira. “You there with the blessed and line between the beggers and the choosers.” she then sings before she turn around to face the Demon King. “Is a line you've never let quite ignore.” she sings then looks up at the ceiling before reaching out with her hand. “How I've tried to jump that great divine but I've never got the chances you were given.” she sings before turning to look at Tanjiro once more. “You don't how much I've been denied. Well, I'm not being patient anymore.” she then sings before she raises her arm with her wand in her hand and casts the spell which is just as dangerous as Fiendfyre. The Protego Diobolica spell. “I’m crossing the line!" she then sings as her other self proceeds to fire a spell at her but she dodges it. “And I'm done holding back. So look out, clear the track. It's my turn!” she sings out loud. Before she creates a circle of blue flames before she proceeds to make them flow along with her movements. “I’m taking what's mine!” she sang before looking at her brother before firing a spell at him but he manages to dodge it. The Slytherin lady (Bad ending) then looks at the Demon King before firing a spell but he manages to dodge it. “Every drop, every smidge. If I'm burning a bridge let it burn!” she then sings before she flies up surprising the three (except her other self and Draco). “But I'm crossing the line!” She then sings as she turns to look at them. “And for us, if we're over. That's fine!” She then proceeds to leave. “I’m crossing the line.” she then sings as she looks at them before she then flies out of the room into black mist.

Y/n (Good ending) was surprise as she knew that she did master this spell but she rarely use it. The blonde Slytherin looks surprise before he then looks at her. “We have to get out of here.” he suggests as he could see that Muzan then proceeds to leave the room. To which made Tanjiro yell after him as he and Giyū go after him.

Timeskip hours later....

Kaigaku was killed along side with Nakime. The Infinity Fortress collapse as everyone immediately leave when Yushiro tried to turn it against the Demon King as the battle of between the Demon Slayers and Muzan Kibutsuji continues. Nakime was killed in the hands of her master. However, a certain someone knew she had to immediately kill everyone. Y/n then was about to cast the killing curse at her brother while he was fighting against Kibutsuji. Her other self, Harry, Draco, and Severus knew they had to stop her. The chosen one had been involve of thwarting most of his friend's attempts. Tamayo was killed when she sacrifice her life on letting Muzan absorb her to which he absorb the drugs to weaken him.

Severus then casts the patronus charm non-verbally as seeing his patronus would calm his daughter's counterpart. When he did the patronus came out in the form of doe. It immediately made it's way towards her but when it passes through the remaining alive Demon Slayers as they seem shock. When it whirl around the burgundy-haired boy and the Demon King which surprise them as they along with everyone else watch as it then made it way towards Y/n (Bad ending) as she then stop as she immediately put her wand down seeing her father's patronus.

The former Potions Master then took off the invisibility cloak as he came to approach his daughter's counterpart as Y/n (Good ending) watch as her father approach her other self as she watches the scene. When he finally did, the Slytherin lady (Bad ending) fell on her knees as she doesn't know whether or not is she seeing things. D-Dad?” she then questions in a quiet voice.

Severus then has a soft look on his face. “Revenge is not the answer, Y/n. It just will make the pain worse, sweetheart.” he tells her as he kneels down to hug her. When he did, she her arms around him to which she later breaks down crying. The former Potions Master was rubbing the back of his daughter's counterpart. “Even though the me you knew was dead but I have a feeling he forgotten to tell you something.” he says in a soft voice as Y/n (Bad ending) looks at him. “Even though, I'm gone. I'll always be with you no matter what. In your heart.” he says as the Slytherin lady (Bad ending) look at him. Everyone else watch as the moment unfold. Tanjiro was surprise this man was Severus Snape. The one who raised his sister after she disappear when she was 5 years old.

Harry and Draco were relieved that she finally stop. The blonde Slytherin then made his way towards the two. Severus then pull away before then wipes Y/n (Bad ending)'s tears with his hand. The former Potions Master then notice Draco was there so he stood up and move to join his daughter of his timeline while the Slytherin lady (Good ending) watch her other self and the blonde Slytherin. “Y/n, I was worried if you don't stop. I would ended up losing you.” he says as his childhood friend look at him in shock. “Dray, I....” she was interrupted when Draco hug her. “I like you, Y/n Snape. No love you, for a long time ever since when we we're kids.” he confesses as Y/n (Bad ending) looks at him surprise. “I.... I.... I love you, too, Draco malfoy.” she then confesses to him. At the confession between the two. Muzan can't help but feel jealous run through him while the burgundy-haired boy could smell the jealousy coming from him.

Severus who is watching then gives Draco a warning look. The blonde Slytherin then felt it before he sweat drop. If his godfather of his timeline is still alive he would have give him a warning as well. Y/n (Good ending) sighs at her father's behavior before giving her other self a proud smile. In the timeline, she never knew her husband. Speaking of him, Muzan’s counterpart then look at her. She just gives him a soft yet sad smile. The Demon King's face turn red at that. Y/n’s alternative self just smile at him as if she knew him.

The two then pull away as the blonde Slytherin then help the Slytherin lady (Bad ending) stand up. When he did, he pulls her into a kiss to everyone's shock which broke Muzan's heart. Y/n (Good ending) was happy for her other self as she saw the surprise and pale expression of her brother's counterpart. She narrows her eyes at him. “You really should know that she did have feelings for Draco. I did as well..... However, used to.” she then admits but she's not giving hints that Muzan of her timeline was the one she ended up with.

The new couple later pulls away from one another. Draco then smiles at her to which Y/n (Bad ending) smile back at him. She then looks at her brother before she narrows her eyes at him. The Demon Slayer then looks at her. “Y/n, I-” he stop when his sister raise her hand. “Well, getting my revenge on you and Nezuko is not worth it to me anymore. I'm going to continue to live for my father's sake and I would no longer return to this dimension to remain in the world where I belong.” she then says rather coldly at him as Tanjiro and everyone else (except Draco, Harry, her other self, and Severus) were surprised. “Y/n, please....” the Demon Slayer begs as his sister then continues to glare at him. “You did this to yourself and you realize it when it's too late. But as I said earlier, life is unfair. Fate is cruel. It's not always we get what we want. Life is not the way as we see it as there are times things go out of our control. I hate to tell you, but this has to be the way it has to be.” she then says. The Slytherin lady (Bad ending) then looks at her lover and of course Harry. Not before turning to look at her other self as she gives her a grateful smile before she then disapperate with Draco and the chosen one.

Y/n (Good ending) alongside with everyone else watch as they leave. At that moment Tanjiro realize he lost his sister. Forever. The Slytherin lady (Good ending) then open a passage way to her home timeline as her father later walk up to her as the remaining Demon Slayers, Muzan, and her brother's counterpart look at her but she just narrows her eyes at him. Before they both enter the portal afterwards it closes after they left.

[roseberryboo]

Team Enigma and the 3tp Situation: A Thread

I don’t like to get into drama and current events, especially since what’s been going on is outside of my region of upbringing, but there is something that’s been going on that I’d like to discuss.

Firstly, Team Enigma.

They like to market themselves as an ‘Exploration Team of Glitch City.’ To an uninformed outsider, this may as well be true: Glitch City is a secluded region by what I assume to be no fault of its own, given the nature of the land and the living beings within it. There are several things that, to a person living outside of Glitch City, are both terrifying and otherworldly- and I belong to both categories.

I will get back to that.

Within just minutes of scanning their blog, I have come across some major red flags, among them being ‘Hybridization’ and one other thing which I suspect relates to Glitch City.

Firstly, Hybridization. The Admin Grant describes this as, and I quote, ‘taking two existing Pokemon and merging their bodily forms and consciousness via a particular anomaly in the Pokemon Storage System.’

He reblogged the post later with the addition of ‘It is only their data that is merged. The pokemon suffer no bodily harm when hybridized and make no indication of having any adverse effects on the pokemon post procedure.’

He neglects to mention anything related to the quality of life- including that of molting, shedding, bone structure, organ placement- et cetera, et cetera. So, not only is this incredibly unethical, they are experimenting with a bug/glitch/anomaly in the system that they may or may not know the full capabilities or possibilities of.

Secondly- and this one is especially concerning- the second post on their timeline as of writing this post refers to somebody as ‘a person of interest’ and talk of ‘securing’ them- not only that, but their death. It seems they have deliberately taken action to kidnap someone, which either directly or indirectly resulted in their death.

Also in the post- the very last line, in fact- are the words ‘Know this changes nothing you wretched creature.’ The post is tagged with glitch pokemon- which very much DO relate to Glitch City- and this shall be my entryway into my next point- the very first post on their timeline.

Admin Grant is responding to an anonymous, who I assume has been signing over and over and over again, in a very uncharacteristically angry and vile manner to a comment about trainer tips, of all things. ‘Never leave town without a pokemon,’ they said, ‘Wild pokemon lurk in many places!’ Which, I have to say, is very sound advice.

He responds to this helpful comment with ‘Never before have I wished something be eradicated as deeply as I wish to see you SCRUBBED from this plane. I look forward to the day when anomalies like you no longer haunt this region.’

Again, the post is tagged with glitch pokemon.

You may ask me what I am trying to get at here, and to that I say: literal genocide. Admin Grant is wishing eradication upon Glitch City in its entirety: people, pokemon, culture, knowledge, ways of life- he’d called it all an anomaly.

To that I say, if it’s not manmade and it exists, then it’s Arceus’ wish for it to be, and to wish genocide upon an entire region goes against its wishes.

To all of you who may disagree with me, or try to paint me as a freak for advocating for its existence, then let me tell you something: you aren’t better than Team Enigma. In fact, if you are one of the people who kept sending ill will and death threats towards ?aver (apologies if I spelt that wrong) you are nothing more than a fascist freak. 

Yes, I may be afraid of Glitch City and what lies within it, but so were the people of Sinnoh, back when it was still known as Hisui and when they hadn’t known any better about the world around them. We don’t know their region as well as they do, and if the people of Glitch City are still thriving within it, happy as ever- who are we to step in and tell them they shouldn’t exist?

I want to add one more thing to this post: The 3tp Situation. 

To all of you unaware, a Glitch Pokemon was left in the middle of Kanto, and its trainer ID was traced back to ?aver of Glitch City.

I have reason to suspect this was their pokemon Lullaby, a pokemon that I do not have the knowledge nor capability to pronounce let alone type. Lullaby is listed in their pinned post as ‘missing.’

This was an elaborate attack on not only ?aver but on Glitch City as a whole, an event meant to bring hate and prejudice towards the region in its entirety. 

To everyone that sent threats to ?aver after the fact, ESPECIALLY if you have read their pinned post: shame on you. I hope you get to explain to your loved ones one day why you think it was acceptable to tell a grieving man that you hoped he never gets his pokemon back, that they never existed, et cetera. I hope you look them in the eyes and tell them the exact words you sent to his inbox.

That is all.

[aarcanegrimm]

12. The Dragon Valkyrie

Masterlist

Four years later and Ella is offically a Black Bull with Yami wrapped around her pinky (he will not admit to this) and this time she gets to see the Magic Knight Exam from behind her Captain... but how much did she change when she ran away instead of staying with the Silva's.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of bood, death and injury

Notes: Alder is bigger now... like Toothless bigger now and the squad is coming together even with a few changes.

Nozel sat staring at the board before him. Strings, images, papers, notes… everything pinned to that board.

He’d thrown himself into his work since Noelle’s funeral, had explained everything to the other Captains, to the Elves sat in that now claustrophobic meeting room- everything he knew about devils and curses even when he felt numb doing it. He had no regrets punching Patri and breaking his nose and had no plans to apologise to the man that dominoed his sisters death.

How he wished Cordelia was here, how his mother and Noelle could be beside him as he barrelled through cold case after cold case solving the impossible. He didn’t want a break he wanted his family to be whole again and it was his fault, his recklessness tore them to pieces all because he thought neglecting Noelle was the best course of action.

He let out a shaky breath, ignoring those thoughts, ignoring the swelling panic attack in his chest as he stared at the nine-year-old cold case he’d placed on the board of his office. The sliced-up body of a young woman found outside of the Witches Forest. The Jane Doe was missing part of her right ear, her left hand and she had been found with slash marks all across her body- she had been bled dry- and if the mark carved into her thigh meant anything it was that a cult had done it.

She had probably been very pretty when she was alive, a bob of black hair, bronze eyes, she probably had a healthy glow to her skin…

Then he noticed it. The sharp point of her remaining ear…………………………….

~~*~~*~~*~~

Nozel sat up with a start, his chest heaving, his hands clawing at his seemingly closing throat. That was the twelfth time this month he’d had this dream… this nightmare of him standing and staring at cold cases, at broken bodies and old reports. Sometimes Noelle was in them, an older Noelle who looked so much like their mother with a wound in her stomach that never stopped bleeding- his heart ached but never… never had he had a revelation in one of his dreams, he’d found something important… but what… what did he realise?

~~*~~*~~*~~

New Timeline - Four Years Later

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella found herself at the mercy of Vanessa and Charmy’s… who knows what this is.

Pots were bubbling, Lyra’s cauldron was practically spitting back at the two mages and Ella could only watch on in confusion as she waited for someone to tell her why she was dragged into the kitchen yet again. But she could be patient, she didn’t have to pretend to be a kid who was curious about anything and everything anymore- she had her grimoire and everything now.

With a sigh she lifted the small doll Gordon had given her precisely five seconds before she’d been forced into the kitchen (though at current she realised it looked a lot like a lab). Ella smiled, the doll was of her with Alder wrapped around her shoulders- it was so cute that she couldn’t help but smile because the Leviathan was no longer able to do that and was now large enough for her to ride though nowhere near the size of Oak.

“Okay!” Vanessa clapped startling both the halfling and the princess (she inwardly sighed, she hadn’t referred to herself as that in a long while). “Ever since you and Lyra told me you dye your hair Charmy and I have been working on a lolly that will produce a sort of glamour so that you don’t ruin your hair with all those icky potions!”

“A hair glamour lolly?” Ella spared a glance out the window to her Leviathan, Alder just tilted his head in confusion. “Because you don’t want me to damage my hair.”

“Yes laaa.” Charmy grinned. “It can always be improved but try one please!”

“Today is the magic knight exams and you want me to try an experiment.” The two mages nodded excitedly passing the now fifteen-year-old the coin sized lolly. “My hair is already brown from the recent dye? I don’t think we’ll be able to see the difference…”

“Ah we thought about that.” Vanessa chided. “Plus it isn’t like you are attending the exams as an examinee you are already a Black Bull.”

One glance Ella’s way and it was obvious, the black cape draped over her shoulders, hiding most of her blue tunic- matched with tawny coloured pants and boots, her sword and knives tucked to her sides.

“I still don’t really want to accidently have my real hair on display.” The teen tutted.

“No worries, you’ll need to keep a batch on you for now because we aren’t sure how long they last BUT!” Vanessa punctuated. “Just think of a hair colour, imbue it with a little bit of mana, eat it and BOOM new look.”

Ella, and Alder to be truthful, looked sceptical at the treat but rolled her eye and did as told.

Think copper, think copper.

A close colour to her current hair that it wouldn’t bother her too much. She raised a brow at the two masterminds who’s faces only split in two with the widest grins she had ever seen. Vanessa shoved forward a handheld mirror… her hair now had a slightly orange hue to it.

Holy shit it worked.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella had planned on doing the exam. Had planned on showing up and showing off whilst hunting down Asta and Yuno, maybe convince them both to join the Black Bulls… not that she had doubts about Asta still joining the squad but Yuno… something told her his decision would be different this time around- and gods did she hope he didn’t pick her broth- the Silver Eagles squad.

Yami stopped suddenly in the middle of the arena, someone… someone’s plural, had bumped into him.

Asta.

Yuno.

Her heart lurched upwards, they were here, that hadn’t changed. The only difference was… Yuno seemed meeker than she remembered and yet that was a four-leaf clover grimoire at his side and Asta’s own gritty and damaged looking one at his. She offered a sweet smile as they looked towards her Finral and Gordon in a panic- Yami’s glowering stopped bothering her a long time ago (granted it may be because she accidentally called him dad once which she was only saved from embarrassment by Luck and Magna following suit).

Yami muttered something, probably swearing up a storm as he continued on, the trio following behind but she leaned towards them, smiling as she said.

“Aim for the Black Bulls, we’re a lot more fun than the rest.”

Now standing behind Yami, between Finral and Leopold Vermillion she watched with keen eyes, ignoring the way her heart hammered in her chest, ignored the way Fuegoleon had looked twice as their eyes locked before offering her an awkward smile that didn’t reach his eyes. This was the first time she had seen him since her last life, having avoided all Captains since that one market trip on her birthday some years ago where she met Vangeance and saw Nozel… she had to double take when she saw him and Nebra this morning.

He looked dead tired, the bruising under his eyes so dark she though he’d actually been hit and Nebra didn’t look that much better yet at the same time she looked healthier.

Ella didn’t want to wonder why, didn’t want to know what happened after she ran away they weren’t her family anymore.

“Glad I made you a knight now Ella?” Yami snorted, interrupting her thoughts. “Too many fucking people down there.”

“It is very crowded yes.” And she has to admit although she had wanted to try and see if anyone would raise their hand for her, prove to herself that Nozel was wrong she isn’t entirely mad with Yami’s decision… that is a lot of people.

Ella didn’t care for Vangeance’s speech,( she still felt that chill up her spine when she saw him and granted she still felt it around Julius, Nacht and Lyra on occasion) she was too focused on Asta and Yuno. In part she was nervous for them, she could hear the jeering sent Asta’s way from here and with how Yuno trailed his brother her heart just ached for them both. She swears to whichever God thought her worthy of a second life that if they don’t get into a squad at all… she just grit her teeth, watching proudly as brooms appeared before all the candidates.

As expected Yuno had flown high above them all, gold eyes darting towards the Captains before he flew back down to Asta… who just the same as last time had not made it off the ground.

The next few tasks went no differently with the adoptive brothers hanging by one another even as Asta clearly urged Yuno to show off- the pained look on his face would make anyone with a soul crumble but he was supportive just as he always had been.

Asta had been a better brother to her than her own… how pathetic is that- that Ella considered this boy who no longer knew her to be all that much better than her own immediate family. All the Black Bulls were… and now don’t get the teen wrong she misses her cousins, misses braiding her hair with Mimosa and gossiping on moonlit nights as they slept over with one another but she couldn’t bear it, didn’t want to feel that pain in this life again and again and again.

No matter how many times those damned Gods plan to make her start over she won’t ever regret this new path.

“Your Ki is spiking brat.” Yami muttered, low enough that she heard and no one else (except Finral but he doesn’t usually poke her about shit until way later.”

Pezzottaite eyes dart to the back of her now Captain’s head and she shifts slightly. In her peripheral she sees Leopold turn her way before placing his attention forward again. Her heartrate flew skywards and suddenly she was in that ballroom again, that small party for Captains, Royalty and high Nobility alike when Solid poured water atop her… that day when Fuegoleon’s words branded themselves on her brain.

Being weak is nothing to be ashamed of… staying weak is.

Ella leant forward to Yami’s ear, him barely offering a hint that he knew she had- but Ella knew he was listening as she quietly made her request.

“Those two boys from earlier- please raise your hand for them both.” Yami didn’t react as she continued on. “I know I have never attempted to act on my gut reactions before… I know I have only told you of that one time on my eleventh birthday- when you had a meeting and brought me to the capital. I know you can tell when I don’t act on it…”

She dared a glance his way, the Captain now clearly watching the brothers.

“But I am now.” She said finally and she can swear she saw a ghost of a smile on his face.

She cringed away from Salim Hapshass even from way up here very well protected by her Captain who against his better judgement would in fact part mountains for her (and the rest of the squad but mostly Ella). The noble made her nose scrunch in ire as he tried and failed at egging Yuno on- eyes wide, almost innocent but most definitely fucking annoyed by the stuck-up prick. With gusts of wind and a small tornado he had won as expected- of course Yuno was perfect even during the exams tch. Ella absolutely delighted in the way the match ended immediately just as she remembers Asta telling her whenever he raved on about his tight knit family.

She had envied that family bond for so long.

Finally it was Asta’s turn and she watched with bated breath as Sekke Bronzazza coaxed Asta forward, that annoying laugh bouncing throughout the arena in horrendous waves.

And then came the sword- Demon Slayer- and she swears her eyes sparkled. Her newer love for blades sparked some strangely deep discussion with people over the years- Hel even Nyx wasn’t spared in their letters to one another as she detailed every new fact she learnt. Demon Slayer was so interesting, the edges cut mana and the sides can deflect spells so who wouldn’t want an anti-magic mage to be in their squad- idiots obviously.

She frowned as Sekke surged forwards, his magic was certainly intriguing but his personality could use some work. Asta found his footing, sword cutting through that bronze shield like butter, oh was it glorious.

“Yes.” She found herself muttering in relief, even if she had known he’d win she wasn’t sure how much her running away had changed things besides the obvious ones.

But this was good. Hopefully- oh please help her hopefully- Yami will raise his hand for both.

Ella’s attention was snagged away after Asta and Yuno’s fights, back to the constant nagging of her mind that had only been getting worse since the nightmare stated again on her fifteenth birthday. She had less than a year before shit went sideways and.. oh they were calling numbers already shit.

Asta stepped forwards, a determined look on his face as his number was finally called, Yuno right behind him (weird he was definitely before Asta from what she had been told) offering an encouraging smile.

Her heart hammered in her chest again. Why wasn’t Yami raising his hand? Asta glared up at them, determined for someone to choose him… and then her Captain raised his arm.

She nearly sagged in relief at the bewildered look on the boys face, the emotions running across his face at speeds she thought impossible as he bowed low and deep towards the Black Bulls group and turned to his brother, scooping him into a tight hug before stepping away.

Yuno’s turn.

He’ll probably pick the Golden Dawn again, maybe Crimson Lions instead if her gut was right and he wasn’t going to pick Vangeance’s squad but of course Yami raised his hand again and Ella was content with that, with knowing no matter what they would be inseparable rival-brothers or not.

But his next words surprised her, made her double take physically as she snapped her head towards him.

“The Black Bulls.”

What. The. Fuck?

[sansloii]

META + family (Evan)

Oooof

so…Evan's whole "family" situation is a complicated matter. when his parents were alive, he never really had a good relationship with them… and, as an adult, he wishes they would've died sooner. At best, they acknowledged him in some way and made sure that he wasn't skipping school and getting trouble ( and on the off chance he was doing all that, they were very present for that ). At worst, they full-on neglected him and he was often left to his own devices. they were never physically abusive to him — never laid a hand on him. however, they were the type of parents that obviously did not wish to be parents. they didn't wish to be married either so… it's anyone's guess why they went through with having Evan and getting married afterwards.

Taking care of Evan — truly taking care of him — was near the bottom on the list of priorities that they had after he reached… 6 or 7 years old. and so, Evan was a lot more independent than others his age. He was still immature in many ways but he kinda… had to take care of himself or learn how to do that when he didn't know how.

going to the issues each parent had would take too long and I'm already planning a lengthy headcanon post about Evan's childhood that includes a more concrete timeline but i will say that Evan does have family that he does care for. I feel like a bit of a broken record in some regard with how much I mention or allude to Roderick and his now deceased wife being like… the positive influence in Evan's life. however, much of Evan's formative years were spent solely with his parents and he didn't properly meet Roderick and Magdelena until he was already 9 years old. Even then, Roderick and his older brother ( Evan's father ) began butting heads a little bit about how Evan was being raised, how he clearly was just left to do what he wanted when he wanted, and a bunch of other personal things that bubbled up as a result of those arguments. So Evan didn't see his Uncle as often as he would've liked ( and didn't get to stay over too often either, despite them living so close and in a better neighborhood comparatively ). Roderick also missed out on many crucial parts of Evan's life until he started pushing to be a more active part of it a couple years later.

what followed after this tug-of-war between the two brothers was his father's death… and then his mother's. He had a little high point being adopted by Roderick + Magdelena ( though this was already when he was 16-17 years old ) but it plunged into another low point when Magdalena succumbed to her illness. So it was just him and Roderick — who, to his credit, tried exceedingly hard to give Evan whatever support he could've asked for. However, at that point, Evan had spent so long being independent and just… doing his own thing, that he didn't really lean on Roderick too much emotionally. He was, and still is, very grateful for Roderick stepping up where his father didn't but… to this day, Evan doesn't see Roderick as a "father" in any light. That's what he is but Evan associates the word father with his physically present but deadbeat parent so strongly that he can't separate the two. He's perfectly content with Roderick remaining his Uncle because ascribing a "father" status to Roderick would kinda… group the man in with someone who didn't care about him, didn't care if he was safe, didn't care if he was truly healthy, and only cared about "school" so long as he didn't get calls about Evan skipping or causing trouble. the same could be said about his mom and Magdelena, in that she is his Aunt and not his mother for the same reasons.

He has a lot of love for his Aunt and Uncle but absolutely none for his Mother and Father. And that's how it'll always because he's glad the latter two are dead.

@lured-into-wonderland | send META + a word, name, or phrase for a headcanon

[a-tale-of-legends]

I took these screenshots from Bulbapedia, specifically the ones from Arven's page and Sada's( since I played scarlet first).

Here's the timeline of events from my understanding (note I could be very wrong on this interpretation)

Sada was apart of the area zero exposition before Arven was born. This was when the time machine was first created (?) and when she was pregnant with Arven.

After Arven was born, Sada's partner left, which (imo) definitely added to the desperation for the below.

Sada's goal was to bring paradise to those she loved, particularly Arven, but she became obsessed with it. Her partner leaving caused her to go deeper into her work, which resulted in her neglecting those she loves....like the son she was planning to do all of this for.

Going to Arven ends of things ,he grew up in Poco Lighthouse....by himself??? It's unclear who exactly took care of him. I mean, sure, Sada but from how the game talks about it, it seemed he was often left there alone. I am just remembering the pictures of Arven in the lab in area Zero so yeah, it was Sada. But again, just from how Arven talks about her, it seemed like she wasn't fully there, possibly more focused on her work. Very ironic given she was doing what she was doing for Arven.

Lets go back to the time machine part cause that's a point of confusion for me. In Sada's page it says that it was built before Arven was born, but in Arven's page, Sada brought Koraidon to the light house, which means that the time machine was built in between Arven's birth and the time Sada brought the first koraidon to the light house. I might look back on the notes in area zero to double check but for now I'm just going off Bulbapedia here.

After getting seen by some onlookers, Sada took Koraidon back to Area Zero, leaving Arven, again. This is the last time either of them have seen each other. We don't know how old Arven was, but my personal hc was that he was still very young, maybe 10-13? Again, just from how Arven talks about it.

More confusion from me tied to the next two points: 1) sometime between going back to Area Zero and the main game, Sada died, with her ai taking her place in the project she was working on (I forgot to mention the ai lol, my bad) and 2) at some point, Arven goes to meet his mother, only thing get attacked by the second koraidon....at least I think so? Tbh, I think he was referring to the paradox pokemon in general, but I'm not sure.

Okay, the confusion: when did Sada die. Cause from what the ai said, she died when defending the first koraidon from the second one. And we also know that our Koraidon fled area zero after losing a territorial spat with the second more aggressive one. So that begs the question: was Sada's death recent? Or was this territorial spat one of many before and one of those was when Sada kicked the bucket.

If Sada's death is recent, she purposely stayed there and focused on her passion project more than her actual son. If it wasn't recent, then it still doesn't excuse her shit. Never did. It's just much more tragic, since maybe, at that point, she realized how much she failed Arven as a mother,only for her to die. I'm sure that it would have been the same if her death was recent, but having it be in-between everything makes it more sad to me.

Oof, imagine Sada's death was when Arven went to go check on her with Mabosstiff. He didn't see the death, but that moment being when his mom died, while also being when Mabosstiff got hurt.....oof.

In general, there's some confusion, at least for me, on when the time machine was created and when the second koraidon came into play. Cause we know that our Koraidon existed when Arven was young, but no real specifics. Unless I miss something of course!! I'm just going off memory and Bulbapedia here!

And yeah, that's my understanding of it. If anyone has any more clear input, then feel free to share!

[5-7-9]

keeping track of the timeline of my deep dive. WARNING!!! Triggers include a fuck ton of homophobic stereotypes

Starting with the writer that hated Jason so much (Jim Starlin) that he made him more unlikable in his run in 1987 after being forced to write Jason on Neil’s behalf, first establishing the idea of Jason being an aggressive brat with anti-poverty concepts of an addicted mother and an abusive father. According to Denny O’ Neil’s perspective of fans, it worked. It was also right after the time of Frank Miller’s darker edgy version of Batman gained popularity. Jason was a symbol of that child audience, which Starlin did not want.

Starlin takes inspiration of Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns from 1986, using the plotline where Joker murders Jason and putting it into his story Death In The Family from 1988. Very unoriginal. So let’s see why Miller made Joker kill Jason.

Frank FUCKING Miller says “-Joker isn’t insane so much as satanic.” And then has the NERVE to say if he’d have casted anyone to play Joker in the Dark Knight Returns movie, he’d let it be DAVID FUCKING BOWIE?!?!? In his words, because he believes DAVID BOWIE is capable of great menace?!?!??!??!! David Bowie? The queer icon that came out in 1972? Oh hmmmm I wonder why he’d think DAVID BOWIE is a menace.

I’d like to remind people that Miller has explicitly stated Joker as “a homophobic nightmare.” Very intentional queer-coding that he has admitted to. Here’s the warning part under here

There’s also a rumor that Miller wanted Joker to explicitly admit Joker raped Jason but DC pulled it out. But Miller still implied it throughout his comic.

Wow how mysterious Joker is also implied to sexually assault Selina. It can be argued it’s not, but I wouldn’t put it past Miller’s sexist ass of all people to say so.

Judd Winink also wished to have Jason die of aids.

After the popular revival of Jason Todd, we are now forced to have a homophobic plot point be forever immortalized in canon. Now it will never go away. The edgy Frank Miller era is a stain to the current state of comics. I’d like to add that The Killing Joke was already confirmed to be a one shot, and although it has a sexist element to it, that’s on par for most comics. If anything, the story only served to make a philosophical point, like it was meant to, and dipped.

I’d also like to mention that the theory of Jason being a CSA survivor is probably a reference to Joker or the HIV PSA but i don’t like how it can be argued for both at the same time. Hence why I don’t care for the theory. The theory can go fuck itself.

Not sure how much more proof i need to bring up to prove Joker killing Jason is homophobic. But that’s all for now.

[vagabondfromkanto]

Ryuko's face twitches at the mention of Senketsu, but as her other self continues talking, it falls completely. The question of "Wait, how old are you?!" comes up and dies in her throat, because, what does it matter, really? Old enough. Enough to lose all the people Ryuko here merrily spends her time away from. Well, maybe not 'merrily'.

"...I get it." She leans back in the chair, losing the snark. "Well, not all of it. The Senketsu part. The rest of them..." She shrugs. "To tell you the truth, I think I travel so much because I'm scared of outliving them one day. Better not get too used to it, you know? Having people." That probably sounds selfish to someone who doesn't have that choice anymore. Well, that's what she is. "So I can... try to imagine, I guess."

The Nui part, though... Ryuko bites her lip in hesitation. Her father's death wasn't her only grudge with the Grand Couturier. Even now, merging with someone's body without consent sounds bad. It's hard to imagine forgiving her.

"Hypocrite," a voice in her head helpfully supplies. Back then, up there, in space, above the planet, she invited Ragyo back. Was ready to spare her in exchange for... what? Having a mother? Someone who gets it? It makes her nauseous to remember. But guess she gets that, too. On some level. A little bit. A very little one. "I'm the only one who understands you!", Nui said to her once. Right.

Well, the point is, no one is asking her to forgive Nui or make merry with her timeline's version, so. Whatever solace these two have in each other is not her business, really. As weird as seeing genuine concern on Nui's blank face is, it does look real. And seeing herself so sad is honestly more unnerving, so Ryuko gives her a toothy smile. Not a happy one, but a smile nevertheless.

"Yo, Matoi." Calling herself by name is weird, a surname will have to do. "She's right. Stop it. We've treated people like garbage for less. Besides, we both know what it's like to be under influence of our bitch of a mom. I don't exactly hold any grudges for what people did or said when I was in her claws." Her lips twist, neglecting to mention who exactly sewn Junketsu onto her skin. For the sake of the conversation, that was Ragyo's order, too. "Do you?" The question is unsubtly aimed at both of them, to illustrate a reason to stop beating oneself up over old grudges.

" Ahh... " Ryuko smiles staring at the head of Nui on the table while telling her story of how they became like this, how Ryuko have let Harime symbiotically fused with the old woman. " well, it was a long time ago you see after Senketsu is gone from my life I was alone. Sure I had Satsuki and mako but they didn't last longer than me, I was alone then. I lost them both that was until after I lost everything. Nui showed up she came out of my body... "

" At first I was angry and scared that Nui had somehow got into my body and just fused into me, screwing up with my fibers. It was bloody but then she showed me the truth. "

Ryuko closed her eyes tight placing her hand around half of her face trying to hold back tears. " She wasn't my father's killer after all. It was that bitch who made her do it, my mother. After all that I treated her like garbage. I-... "

Nui suddenly placed her hand over by her shoulder from her waist. The parasite knew letting her continue would broke her heart into tears, her face is a worrying blank face. " Ryuko. Stop. " she wasn't smiling or being playful she's genuinely concern she can feel the same emotion as her host. " please... "

[chaotictarlos]

••• With love, your soulmate | tarlos

Pairing: Tarlos | Rating: Mature | Warnings: Alternative Universe, Tarlos AU, Brooklyn Love Stories AU, Alternative Timelines, long distance relationship, fluff, soulmate au, pen pal au,  underage drug use, accidental overdose, parental neglect, mentions of fighting

Author's Note: Chapter two! I hope you guys are liking this story! I'm having a lot of fun writing it.

Thank you to @noxsoulmate for taking the time to beta this! They have helped so much and I am SO grateful for them!

Nobody has permission to save, translate, repost, upload, or do anything with my fics. My fics are only posted on AO3, if you see them on any other site such as wattpad please let me know.  This story was written for an adult audience and is intended for adult consumption. If you are under the age of 18, you should not be reading this story.

Chapter Two: TK

(warning: underage drug use, accidental overdose, parental neglect, mentions of fighting)

TK has never known a life of peace. 

From a young age on, he has to deal with his parents fighting when they think he’s asleep and being tormented by the kids he goes to school with. Every day feels like a never-ending battle that TK is barely winning. Well, he wouldn’t even say he’s winning – he’s more fighting to just survive each day.

At the age of seven, his parents get a divorce and tell him that it’s for the best. When it’s pointed out that they are soulmates, they shrug and say that soulmate stuff is a thing of nonsense and fairytales, that nobody really stays together just because some unknown force says so.

His parents aren’t the only soulmates he knows that split up, and without having much positive representation of a soulmate bond in his life, TK quickly gives up on the whole idea. The very few positive representations that he had aren’t enough to make him believe in it when his parents couldn’t even stay together. On the contrary - these few seem to be the exception, the fairytales; and TK never believes he deserves to have a fairytale happy ever after.

So while his friends keep talking about meeting their soulmates and what their lives would be like once they get together, TK always dreams about a life far away from New York. He struggles to get through life, but the very thin hope that one day, he would be able to leave and never look back keeps him hanging on. 

Just barely, though.

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tags: @strangefurychaos @ronensass @sapphire11 @malexsoulmates @angeltk @noxsoulmate @sivan325 @beautifulhigh @welcometololaland @rangergurlgleek1211 @detective-giggles @tarlos-spain (if you would like to be added to my tag list just let me know!)