#we get not 1 not 2 but 3 smiles from edwin

[sweetlullabyebye]

Second hug scene dearly beloved

[demonic0angel]

Inmate Dan part 2 where he meets the other orange jumpsuit "friends" in Arkham Asylum?

Part 1, part 3

"Ooh, Wraith!" Harley called, pointing to Jonathan. "That's Scarecrow! We call 'em Johnny!"

"No, you don't," he spat. "What're you doing here, Harley?"

"That's Dr. Quinzel to you, Dr. Crane!" Harley said faux-pompously, sticking out her tongue.

Wraith paused and his eyes lit up. "Wait, Dr. Quinzel? Youngest psychiatrist in the tri-state area? And Dr. Crane? Professor at Gotham University?"

Ivy leaned closer to Wraith and hissed a warning, "Stay away from him. He once drove two inmates to suicide only by speaking. He's dangerous."

Wraith grinned and his teeth flashed with fangs as he stared at Jonathan with interest. "Hello, Doctor," Wraith said, his deep voice almost a purr, "Could I get an autograph, please?”

Jonathan stared at him cooly and then he nodded once, although he looked slightly confused.

Wraith slipped a hand inside of himself, making everyone around him pause in shock as he then pulled out a textbook and a pen. He handed it to Jonathan, who stared at the textbook with a strange look before signing it. As Wraith placed it back inside of himself, he pulled out another book and let Harley sign it.

Delightedly, she realized that it was a book that she published.

“You’re a meta,” Jonathan said. “You seem powerful, so why didn’t you escape? How come you were captured?”

Wraith shrugged with a light smile. “My sister told me to relax and enjoy myself here. She also told me to explore what I want. I heard that there was a particularly hated criminal in here, so I wanted to see what the fuss was all about, so I let myself be captured.” He sighed a little. “My little birdie also personally handcuffed me, so I couldn’t get out.”

Harley tilted her head, catching onto a piece of information. “Who was it that you were interested in?”

“Someone named Clown? Jester? No, it was….”

“Joker,” everyone besides Wraith muttered disdainfully. They were all criminals who did violent things, but no one was as vile as the Joker.

Wraith hummed and nodded. “Yes, him. I wanted to see what he looked like. Thank you for signing the book, Dr. Quinzel, Dr. Crane. My sister is a huge fan and she’s studying psychiatry right now.”

Both Jonathan and Harley smiled. “That’s good!” Harley squealed. “Tell her that I’m rooting for her!”

Wraith nodded with a small, genuine smile, and Harley then dragged him around to introduce him to the other inmates, Ivy following behind as a silent guard.

He was surprisingly civil. Wraith treated Waylon with no fear or disgust despite his appearance, chatted calmly about law with Harvey (since his sister also studied law. She seemed to be a sort of genius), exchanged riddles and puzzles with Edwin, and was generally pleasant and even friendly to the other inmates.

However, he couldn’t hide his true nature to Harley. Wraith didn't allow anyone to touch him unless he initiated it. Although he seemed calm and collected, he was unable to hide his disgust and hatred of the general population. It seemed as though in general, he hated everyone around him. He had no fear of the guards and even seemed amused by the more frightening prisoners of Arkham Asylum. Although he was polite, it was clear that he hated them all, even Harley and Ivy.

Harley was utterly fascinated.

Eventually, after exploring the yard where the many inmates were lingering around, Wraith asked, “Where’s the Joker?”

Ivy answered, “He’s in solitude. He’s too dangerous to be around.”

Wraith frowned. “Where’s that?”

Harley giggled and said, “You wanna see him that badly? Maybe I’ll show you!” She wanted to see more of Wraith’s reactions, to study him like a bug. She also wanted to see what it would take to make Wraith enjoy her and Ivy’s presences.

“Harley!” Ivy scolded. “I don’t want you around him anymore! He’s a hazard to your safety and health!”

“It’s fineeee,” Harley said, dancing around her playfully, “I can take it! I just wanna show Wraith what he looks like! I promise not to fall for Mr. J anymore! Pleaseee, Ivy?”

In the end, Ivy relented and they snuck to the area of the asylum where the Joker stayed.

They dodged past the lazy guards and eventually, they were in front of the Joker’s cell. Harley stepped in front of his cage, suppressing a shiver as she looked inside.

There he was, her worst nightmare, wrapped up in a straitjacket and already watching her with a cold, cold gaze and a wide smile.

Why had she done this again?

The Joker laughed when she saw her. “Harley!” He crooned. “Here to release me? I knew you’d come around.”

This time, Harley couldn’t suppress the full shudder. “No thanks!” She snapped. “I’m not your lil doll anymore! You can’t order me around!”

The Joker’s friendly expression immediately twisted into a glare as he snarled. “I made you! And I can break you. You’re nothing but a harlequin, a toy for me to do what I want with! You’re nothing without me!”

Ivy bristled and she moved to pull back Harley, who was almost in tears, when Wraith moved first. He phased through the metal doors and with one casual click of bones breaking, the Joker laid slumped into his cell, quieted forever.

Wraith stepped back out and both Ivy and Harley scrambled to look back inside, recognizing the sound of a neck snapping, but unable to comprehend how easily it took.

Harley sputtered, “W-W-What?!”

Wraith shrugged.

“He was annoying. And I hate clowns.”

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @star-rie , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 The tag list is increasing! I'm crying 🤧. Again thank you so much for all the love. I've been sick in bed, all depressed cause I couldn't speak or sing (I'm a musical theater student) and reading your comments cheer me up ^^.

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 (You're here) , PART 15

In "Remedy to Cure All Ills"

Arthur pacing around in his chambers after Morgana fell sick and he encountered Edwin.

Arthur: (thinking, trying to convince himself) She's evil, she's going to become evil, it's okay if she dies. She's evil, she's going to become evil, she must die. She's evil, she's going to- (Shouts and throws a lamp againts a wall, furious with himself)¡AAARRGH!(sinks in a couch an covers his face, thinking miserably) Why can't I let her die? I watched her take her last breath before my eyes before, damn it! This shouldn't hurt this much.

Merlin: (enters) Arthur?

Arthur: (sighs and takes his hands out of his face, exhausted) Don't you know how to knock?

Merlin: (with a comforting smile) You know I never do that. (gets close and puts himself infront of Arthur, bending down to be at his height) She's going to be alright, Arthur. She's strong. You'll see.

Arthur: (smiles back, but it doesn't reach his eyes) A man came to the castle this morning. He claims he can cure her. (thinking) Of course he can, he was the one who did this to her.

Merlin: (thinking, wary) Edwin... (says) How could he? Not even Gaius knows what's wrong with her.

Arthur: He says he has a remedy to cure all ills.

Merlin: That doesn't exist. It's impossible.

Arthur: I know that! But what other option do we have? Morgana is dying and we are farther from close to find a cure! We don't lose anything by trying (thinking) And we gain everything by doing it. Once he cures her I can kill him.

Merlin: (puts a comforting hand on his shoulder, hesitantly, but relaxes when Arthur doesn't reject the touch) You really love her a lot, don't you?

Arthur: (with unshed tears) We grow up together. She's like a sister to me. I can't let her die. (Thinking) Even when she doesn't share the same sentiment. I just can't.

Merlin: Wait till tomorrow. If she doesn't get better, you can fetch the man.

Arthur: I'm the prince, Merlin. You can't tell me what to do.

Merlin: But?

Arthur: It's too late the fetch the man now. I'll wait till tomorrow.

Merlin: (smiles) Wise as always, my lord.

Arthur: (caresses the hand on his shoulder, lovinly) Thank you, Merlin.

Merlin: (blushes, nervous) 😳 I... I didn't do anything.

Arthur: You did. (Looks at Merlin's eyes intendly) Thank you. (They stare a each other, faces inches from the other).

Merlin: (snaps out of it and moves away) I-I need to go 😅 (smiles nervously and walks backwards) Eh... Physician apprentice things to do- (collides whit the table and some things fall and he picks them up quickly) Sorry!

Arthur: (laughs softly) Don't stay awake late. Rest.

Merlin: Right... you too. I'll be back to dress you in a minute, so don't sleep until I get back! 😅 (Leaves, thinking) 'Don't sleep until I get back'? Really? 😳😖🤦‍♂️

Arthur: (Sighs, thinking) Sleep. If only I could.

It's rare the times Arthur has a good night of sleep. Nightmares or rather memories of the time Merlin was a tree always assault his mind. Specially the time Merlin was turned before his eyes and he couldn't do anything about it, too weak from his wound, too useless. It's better now that Merlin sleeps in the antechambers. He just has to open the door and watch him sleep there peacefully, human and alive, and his heart is at easy again. Now with Morgana at death's door there's no way he's going to catch any sleep at all.

Arthur: (whispers to himself) I still have time. Tomorrow. Just wait until tomorrow.

Time skip. For everyone's surprise, Morgana wakes in the morning all cured, like she has never been ill in the first place.

Uther: (happy and relieved) Morgana! (Goes to her) This is truly a miracle. I thought... I really thought...

Morgana: (smiles) Oh, you won't get rid of me that easily.

Arthur: We certainly won't. (Just as realived and happy, puts hand on her shoulder, unconsciously) I'm glad you're alright, Gana.

Morgana: (surprised he's showing affection to her again, but touched) Gana... You haven't called me like that since we were kids.

Arthur: (realising he put a hand on her shoulder and puts it away) Right. Sorry, I know you don't like it.

Morgana: (messing with him) Oh, you can call me like that if you want. If you let me call you... Art? Arthie?

Arthur: Don't you dare! (He threatens but then they both laugh and look at each other fondly)

Gaius: I still need to make a few tests to see if she is really out of danger, but for what I can see, she'll be fully recovered in no time, sire.

Uther: Of course. Thank you, Gaius.

Gaius: I don't consider this was exactly my doing (looks at Merlin significantly and Merlin makes himself small in his place). But I'm glad to be of service as always, your majesty. I'll prepare some concoctions to prevent any outbrake just in case. (Makes a bow and it's about to leave, but then turns to Merlin sternly) Merlin?

Merlin: (sighs) Coming (bows quickly and leaves with him)

Uther: (frowns, thinking) Is it my idea or did he vow in the direction of Arthur alone?

Arthur: (who saw all the exchange between mentor and ward) I'll go to inform everyone the good news. Morgana, father (smiles politely makes a bow to both of them and leaves too)

Morgana: (sighs, a little sad, thinking) And cold Arthur is back.

Time skip. In Gaius Tower. Gaius scolding Merlin.

Gaius: You used magic on the king's ward?! What were you thinking?!

Merlin: I was thinking that I didn't want her to die! She's my friend and she's very dear to Arthur-

Gaius: Arthur, Arthur. Is what all this is about isn't it? I know he's the prince and you care for him. But let me remind you, he's still the prince of a kingdom that bans magic. Do you have any idea of what would have happened to you if someone discovered you? if someone have seen you?

Merlin: (explodes) Yes I know! Of course I know! Every time a wake up, every time I breathe, I know I could be killed at any moment. I watch every pyre that is made fearing maybe I could be next. I watch every friendly face, knowing that if they knew, if they only knew, they'll see me like a monster. I have to look at Uther, the man that would have me executed, the murderer of all my kind, and I have to serve him and smile at him trying to no throw up every day. So yes I perfectly fucking know, Gaius!

Gaius: ...

Merlin: (with teary eyes and his voice breaks) But I can't stop doing it, I can't separate myself from it. And I tried, believe me I tried, but I can't. Magic is part of me, is who I am. So I'll use it however I see fit, whenever I can, because no one knows the risks of using magic in a kingdom that forbids my very existence better than I do!

Silence...

Gaius: You're right. I don't understand it. I will never understand it. Magic was never to me what it is to you. I'm sorry I didn't see it before.

Merlin: It's alright. I know you only worry about me.

Gaius: It's more than that. (puts both of his hands on Merlin's shoulders) Merlin, in this short time I've known you, you've become like a son to me. I can't bare to lose you.

Merlin: (smiles) You won't lose me. I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you.

Gaius: Then for the sake of this old man, stop doing these things behind my back.

Merlin: Only of you promise to help me rather than forbid me of doing things. I still need guidance, I still need you.

Gaius: Alright (he hugs him close and then pulls away). Lets start with how you cured Lady Morgana. I don't recall giving you any healing magic classes.

Merlin: I didn't have to, I just had to call this little one out of her ear. (pulls out a beetle from his pocket) I think it was what was making her sick. Do you know what it is?

Gaius: (alarmed) Don't touch it! (picks a jar and opens it) Put it here. Now! (Merlin does it and Gaius closes the jar) It's an Elanthia Beetle. They can be enchanted to enter the brain, feed on it until they devour the person's very soul. Thank the gods you managed to pull it out.

Merlin: (who already knew all this, but still has to play ignorant) So Morgana was echanted? By who?

Gaius: There are many sorcerers who wish to cause harm to the crown, my boy. But, whoever it is, once they find out their plan failed, they are going to try again.

Time skip. Merlin leaves Gaius tower with Morgana's concoctions and almost jumps out of his skin, when he sees Arthur is there at the door.

Merlin: (scared, but trying to disimulate, closing the door behind him) Arthur! How long have you been there?

Arthur: (who heard the whole conversation, very affected) I... I just arrived.

Merlin: (relieved, but concerned for Arthur's state) Arthur, are you alright? What is it? (with growing panic) Are you ill? Did something happen to Lady Morgana? Arthur, answer me!

Arthur: (hugs Merlin suddenly)

Merlin: (too stuned to say anything) ...

Arthur: (Pulls Merlin closer to him, thinking) 10 years. You suffered my father's reign and then I made you still live in fear for 10 years.

Merlin: (red and still very concerned) Not that I'm not enjoying this gesture, sire. But, please, say something. I'm going to freak out.

Arthur: (pulls away gently) Nothing's wrong, Merlin. It just... seemed like you needed it.

Merlin: (confused) ... right. (Thinking) He must still be sensitive about Morgana. (coughs, trying to hide his red face) I have to... ehm... give Morgana her concoctions so...

Arthur: (playfully) Are you blushing?

Merlin: No.

Arthur: Your ears are red.

Merlin: They are not!😡

Arthur: Yes, they are. It's hard not to notice. They're as big as your face.

Merlin: Not as big as your fat ass!

Arthur: Have you been staring? 😏

Merlin: (even more red) I...😳 stop wasting my time, get out of my way!😡

Arthur: That's no way to talk to your prince, Merlin.

Merlin: Fine (with exaggerated courtesy). Your highness, my lord, sire, would you make me the enormous honor to remove your royal, pompous, supercilious presence out of my way?

Arthur: (laughs, but steps aside)

Merlin: Thank you, my lord. I'll be forever in debt with you. (Bows in mockery and leaves)

Arthur: (thinking, as he watches him leave) You chose to save Morgana with your magic this time. You shouldn't have risk it. But thank you. You won't have to suffer for so long this time. I'll create I world where you feel safe, you won't have to hide and be scared anymore. I promise.

[genevievefangirl]

DBDA Comment Festival - Week 1 GenFangirl's Comments

When I first saw this event announcement I knew I wanted to get involved and participate because I love comments and it is also a way to push me out of my usual Payneland comfort zone and try a wider variety of fics!

So here is what I read and commented on for Week 1!

Level 1 - Comment on a completed work! This one was pretty simple, so I decided to stick to my Payneland hurt/comfort wheelhouse but I went looking for a fic I hadn't read before and found:

I won't let death part us again. By: TheSoullessDragon Rating: T Word Count: 2,364 Tags: Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Hurt Edwin Payne, Alive Edwin Payne, Alive Charles Rowland, Hurt/Comfort, Whump (and a few more) Summary: Edwin and Charles are brought back to life, they aren't entirely sure if its a curse or a gift. But they have to now actually live with it. And all the drawbacks that comes to being alive and seen by everyone. And they need to deal with the fact that being alive, means that death is possible in so many different ways.

I really enjoyed the back and forth style the author chose. Parts of the story would be told from a more present pov while others were told with a more all knowing narrator pov. And I always love me some whump and hurt/comfort!

Level 2 - Comment on a work with the Night Nurse character tag! I've been meaning to check out some NightFish (NN/Kashi) fics for a while and this was the perfect opportunity! During my search I found this:

Use the Sleeves of My Sweater (Let's Have an Adventure) By: thegirlofthorns @edwin-paynes-bowtie Rating: T Word Count: 6,050 Tags: Kashi/Night Nurse, First Dates, Canon-Compliant, Post-Canon, Fluff, Adventure & Romance Summary: “I understand,” Kashi nodded. “You want to be 100% serious, 100% of the time.” “I am glad that my wishes are sensible to you,” Charlotte said, satisfaction settling in her chest. “I had feared that you would want to try the silly thing-” “I do,” Kashi said, smiling impishly. “I very much like antics and tomfoolery, especially of the romantic variety! They lend well to memorable adventures, which as you know I’m always seeking out.” Charlotte rolled her eyes. If Kashi were anyone else, she would stand up and walk away. But, since Kashi was at least more interesting than anyone else she knew, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and shot him a superior look of great judgment. Instead of being offended, Kashi laughed. “How about we make a bet? Just for fun, yes?” “What sort of bet?” “If I can get you to be a little bit silly tonight, do something a little bit adventurous, I’ll…” Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “You’ll what?” “I do not know,” Kashi shrugged. “What do you want me to do?” - Or, Kashi gently pushes Charlotte to be a bit more adventurous while on their first date.

This was incredibly cute. Like so adorable I was smiling the whole time! The author really nails the voice of Kashi and the Night Nurse and their banter could have come straight from the show itself.

Level 3 - Comment on a work with the Jenny Green & Edwin Payne relationship tag! I really didn't know what to expect from this tag, but while perusing I did find the triple bonus fic that actually fulfilled levels 1 and 2 as well and the summary grabbed my attention, so I decided to give it a full read!

Teenagers Scare the Living Shit Outta Me By: Sabulana @sabulana Rating: T Word Count: 10,247 Tags: Jenny Green & The Night Nurse, Jenny Green & Crystal Palace, Jenny Green & Edwin Payne, Jenny Green & Charles Rowland, Referenced Child Abuse, Alcohol Summary: I wanted to write about Jenny and the Night Nurse comiserating over how their lives are turned upside down by a bunch of reckless teenagers. Then my brain wanted context for how they got there. ---- Things settled into a new kind of normal that was also really fucking weird and Jenny was slowly becoming okay with it. She had to admit, having help in the store wasn't bad. If she got sick of dealing with people, she would put Crystal up front to do the talking bits while she chopped and sliced and cut away at meat in the back. Charles and Edwin learned to knock on the cupboard door when they came through the mirror so there were no heart attacks or thrown knives. Crystal sometimes had to disappear for a case, but Jenny was used to running a store by herself anyway. Slowly, she gained a few regular customers that weren't all that bad. There was one woman she suspected of being a witch but as long as she wasn't looking to harm the dead boys and/or blow up the shop, Jenny was content to sell her the weird off-cuts, blood and offal she asked for without question. And then that red-haired woman showed up in a burst of fucking fire.

The absolutely highlight of this fic is towards the end when Jenny and the Night Nurse have a chat over some wine. I wasn't really a Night Butcher shipper before reading this fic, but I might have been converted. Jenny's interactions with her caravan of adopted teens were a joy to read as well. Also, Jenny has some wonderful moments with ghost children before they move on that warmed my soul. This was a very fun (and sweet) ride.

Bonus Prompt! Comment on a fic from April Foolish Pairing Fest! I actually participated in this event and the wild combinations are such fun to see! I decided to pick this fic with the Night Nurse/Dagfinn (apparently I couldn't get enough of Night Nurse this week!):

The View from Point No Point By: ChekhovsBBea Rating: G Word Count: 1,119 Tags: Night Nurse/Dagfinn, Pre-Relationship, Canon Compliant Summary: Dagfinn dislikes company. The Night Nurse dislikes delays. They might not completely dislike one another.

This fic explores what could have happened to the Night Nurse as she crawled out of the sea and I cannot deny that the idea that she ran into Dagfinn is incredibly amusing to me. The author did a great job with their interactions. Dagfinn is still abrasive, but he also has this kind other side that is nice to see.

And that's it for week 1! Thanks for running this event @dbdaweeklycomments! See you next week! ❤

[lesbicosmos]

day 1 of @palasakiweek !!!

day 1 prompt: hurt/comfort / sickfic

summary: crystal's on her period and suffering with it. niko helps with movies, noodles and cuddles.

notes: wrote this for my girlfriend :3 ( @giolovesyousm ilysm <33 )

also on ao3!!

found the place to rest my head (never let me go)

Niko awoke to the loud repetitive beeping of her alarm. She reached over to turn it off, but stayed lying down for a few minutes, just looking around her room. It was strange seeing all her things organised so differently – she may not have been living in Port Townsend for very long in the grand scheme of things, but she’d gotten used to where everything was there; everything had its place in the one huge room that was her apartment. Now, it was all different. The bedroom itself was smaller, so her bookshelves had all been pushed together and there was less wall space for her many posters. It was a welcome change, but a month after moving in, she was still getting used to it. Although, anything was worth it when there were other things mixed in with hers. She wasn’t alone anymore - she had Crystal. Crystal’s clothes were hung amongst hers in the surprisingly large wardrobe in their room, Crystal’s music posters joined her anime ones on the wall, Crystal’s long purple jacket hung right next to her thick green one on the back of the bedroom door. Having a roommate was brilliant, but even better that she was her girlfriend.

Niko rolled over, intending to gently wake the girl in question up – she always managed to sleep through the alarm somehow – only to find the other side of the bed completely bare, the space where Crystal should have been lying so cold, as though not having been slept on in hours.

Worried, she got out of bed, slid on her bright pink dressing gown and left the room. It really wasn’t like Crystal to go anywhere without telling Niko first, especially this early in the morning on a day they were supposed to be meeting Charles and Edwin at the office.

“Crystal?” she asked into the quiet of the apartment.

“’M’in the kitchen,” came a quiet response.

Niko entered the kitchen to find Crystal sitting at their small two-seater table with a cup of coffee in her hands. Her hair was strewn everywhere and she had bags under her eyes as she smiled weakly.

“You’re up early,” Niko said, walking over and dropping a kiss to the top of her girlfriend’s head on her way to the fridge.

“Does it count as being up early if you didn’t sleep in the first place?” Crystal replied as Niko poured herself a glass of orange juice.

“Oh. You okay?”

“Y’know how I started my period yesterday?”

Niko nodded.

“Yeah well, cramps decided to hit just as I was trying to get to sleep last night,” Crystal groaned, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Oh no. They’re bad?” Niko put her glass down on the table across from Crystal, instead running her hand through her girlfriend’s hair. Crystal relaxed slightly. “Day 2 always hits you hard, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. Took painkillers at like 6, they’re barely doing anything. What time is it now?”

“Just after 8."

Crystal’s eye’s widened in panic.

“Shit. We said we’d be at the office for 9.”

She made to move but Niko gently pushed her back into her chair, shaking her head.

“Nuh uh. You need to rest,” she insisted.

“But we’ve got new clients coming in, Charles and Edwin-”

“Charles and Edwin have been doing this a long time, I think they can manage this one without us.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, apparently unhappy with the idea; but Niko knew Crystal too well by now, could tell she was secretly relieved at not having to leave the flat. “Wait, without us? You don’t have to stay, you know. I’ll be fine.”

“But I want to.” Niko leaned down again, this time pressing a kiss to her forehead. Crystal’s eyes closed and she smiled. “I’ll go tell the boys.”

Niko headed into the living room and picked something up from the coffee table. At first glance, the object looked like a simple rock, like something a child would bring home from a day at the beach. However, it was actually one of two communication devices they had received as payment for a recent case. They were similar to the Spirit Finder stones the boys already had, only these ones were connected to each other, and worked like an audio texting device between any two locations. There was a phone in the office, but Edwin had insisted they use these stones – the phone was for clients only.

She tapped the rock three times, waiting for it to glow white to indicate the connection. She thought it was wild how easily her mind had adapted to the existence of such magical objects. But, she supposed, a lot of things become much more believable after you have two troublesome sprites try to rip you open from the inside, and then get killed by an evil witch’s spell but survive because of a magical bear stone and live in an alternate dimension for a few months until you find a way out. Yeah, that makes a lot of things easier to take in.

“Hey guys!” she spoke into the rock. She didn’t feel the need to check they were there; they always were, especially when the girls were due to go over. “Really sorry but me and Crystal aren’t gonna be there today! Crystal barely slept last night, she’s on her period and she’s not feeling too great so we’re gonna stay home and chill. Hope everything goes well with the new clients!”

She tapped the rock once again to end the message, and waited for a few seconds. Sure enough, the white glow returned and Charles’s voice sounded from the device. None of them had any idea how the sound came from the stone – there were no speakers – but who were they to question magic?

“Hey Niko! That’s fine, we’ll manage without you guys. Hope Crystal’s feeling better soon and we’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

Three taps.

“Yeah, hopefully!”

Niko went to return to the kitchen, but suddenly remembered something, and turned back into the living room, making a beeline for the bookshelf. She pulled a handmade square of quilted fabric off a large mason jar, and was met with groans of disapproval from its residents.

“Too fucking bright!”

“Seriously, are you trying to blind us?”

Kingham and Litty had also returned to the plane of the living when Niko did, and the others continued trying to convince her to get rid of them. Niko had refused. They had, after all, helped her come back, so it was the least she could do to not, you know, drown them or anything. She’d mentioned wanting to free them but changed her mind when she was met with looks of horror from Edwin and Charles.

“We really don’t need a dandelion epidemic in the middle of London, Niko.”

“Yeah I think keeping them in the jar is for the best.”

They’d complained, but didn’t seem too upset with the outcome when they’d been bought a bigger jar. And in the end, Crystal agreed to living in the same apartment as them, as long as they weren’t in their bedroom. So, the bookshelf it was.

“Look, I’m sorry for waking you but I need to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“Seriously what’s so important you need to wake us up at the fucking ass-crack of dawn.”

“First, it’s like 8am! That’s a normal time to wake up. Second, you guys really need to be less you today.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Crystal’s on her period,” Niko explained. “She’s not feeling great and I really don’t want her having to deal with your…you-ness.”

“Oh boo-hoo!”

“Hey! She’s in pain! Wait- do sprites get periods?”

“Why do you care?” Litty asked, seemingly offended.

“She does,” Kingham nodded, and Litty groaned.

Niko really wanted to ask what exactly a sprite period consisted of given they were trapped in a jar, but she couldn’t get a word in because within thirty seconds, they were yelling at one another.

“Guys! This is exactly what we don’t want. Can you just like…be quiet for one day please?”

“Ugh, fine!”

“Can you at least put the cover back on? If we can’t talk I at least wanna get some fucking sleep.”

“Gladly,” Niko replied. “Now be good.”

With that, Niko placed the quilt back over the jar, blocking out most of the light. She took a deep breath before returning to the kitchen. She’d grown attached to the sprites, especially since they spent so long together in that weird inter-dimensional igloo, but god they could be assholes sometimes.

“Were you just talking to the sprites?” Crystal asked as she walked in.

Niko didn’t know if she’d heard them or if she could tell based on her tense expression. Probably both.

“Yep. They’ve promised they’ll be quiet today,” Niko picked up her glass of orange juice and took a sip, stepping over to stand right next to Crystal.

“Really? You sure they didn’t have their bitchy little fingers crossed behind their backs?” Crystal looked up at her, raising her eyebrows knowingly.

“Okay they probably did. But don’t worry, they won’t disturb us.”

“Thanks.” Crystal leaned into Niko. “What did the boys say by the way?”

“Charles says he hopes you’re feeling better soon.”

“That’s sweet. They’re sure they’ll be fine without us? I feel bad.”

“Crystal, they’ll be fine. They were fine for thirty years before us, right?”

“Debatable,” Crystal snorted.

She had a point.

“Still. You need to rest.”

“Fine.”

“Come on, wanna cuddle on the couch?” Niko stepped back, offering her hand to Crystal.

“God, yes,” Crystal replied, taking it.

“You go get comfy, I’ll be there in a minute.”

Niko pressed a quick kiss to Crystal’s lips before Crystal headed into the living room.

Nothing felt comfortable. Crystal tried to find a position on the sofa that didn’t feel like something was trying to claw its way out of her abdomen chestburster-style, but to no avail. She groaned, having given up trying after five minutes, when Niko walked in. She had two blankets over one arm and was holding a hot water bottle in the other.

“I didn’t know which blanket you’d want so I got the fluffy one and the thin one. I don’t want you getting too hot.”

“Thanks Niko,” Crystal smiled at how sweet her girlfriend was. “I think I’ll be alright with the thin one, especially with the hot water bottle as well.”

“Okay.”

Niko handed her the hot water bottle and the thinner blanket, folding the fluffy one up and placing it on the floor in front of the sofa just in case.

“And…” Niko started, reaching into the pocket of her dressing gown and pulling out a chocolate bar.

“It’s like 8am,” Crystal laughed, taking it from her and putting it on the side table next to the sofa.

“So? You’re allowed chocolate at 8am when you’re on your period. It’s like…the law or something.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry that it’s just what we had in the cupboard, I can get dressed and go out and get you your favourite if you want-”

“Niko,” Crystal stopped her. “It’s great. You’re already doing more than enough for me, now come and sit down I need you.”

“Oh? What do you need?”

Niko sat down beside her on the sofa. Crystal immediately snuggled up next to her, her head on Niko’s chest and the hand not holding the hot water bottle resting on Niko’s knee.

“Just this,” she sighed.

“Ah. I can do this,” Niko replied, wrapping one arm around her and placing the other hand on top of Crystal’s, intertwining their fingers. “You comfy?”

“Yeah.”

It was nice, just sitting there in silence wrapped up in one another. It was quite the change to their usual day-to-day activities of running around London chasing after spirits and demons. Niko loved moments like these with Crystal, where she was calm and relaxed rather than her usual fiery, snarky, occasionally short-tempered self. Of course, Niko loved that Crystal too. She loved all of her, even the parts she was still trying to accept. Because no matter how mean she’d been in the past, no matter how often she lost her temper or started an argument with Edwin, she was still the person who offered her life for Niko’s after barely knowing her for two days, the person who became her friend when it felt like she was entirely alone, the person who tried her best to help her deal with her grief from her dad and convince her to get back into contact with her mom, the person who held her and cried for her as she died and was the first to pull her into a hug when she returned. She was gorgeous and messy and imperfect, and Niko loved her. She held her closer on the sofa, her hand running through her dark curls.

“I’m kinda glad we’re not working,” Crystal said after a few minutes. “I don’t know if I could handle Edwin’s…Edwin-ness today.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“I know, I know. He’s my friend and I love him like a brother at this point but…God, he can be frustrating at times. I feel like I’d just end up yelling at him when I’m this tired and like…hormonal.”

“It’s not your fault,” Niko comforted.

“I know that too, it’s just, since I got my memories back…like, I was so mean before. I really don’t wanna be that person anymore.”

“Hey.” Niko squeezed the hand she was still holding and kissed Crystal’s head. “You’re not. Who you were in the past…I know she’s technically still part of you but you’re not that girl anymore. You’re kind, and compassionate, and beautiful and sure, sometimes you and Edwin end up at each other’s throats a little but that doesn’t make you a bad person. Like you said, you’re like siblings. Most people are like that with their siblings, I think.”

Crystal looked up at her. In their position, it was difficult but neither really wanted to move.

“Thanks Niko, that really…it means a lot.”

“Well, it’s true.”

Niko leaned down the few centimetres necessary to press a kiss to the tip of Crystal’s nose, making her giggle softly.

“Wanna watch a movie?” Niko asked.

“Sure."

“What do you wanna watch?”

“I dunno,” Crystal shrugged. “You pick.”

“You sure?”

Crystal nodded as Niko reached for the remote.

♡ ⚢ ♡

Four hours went by in a comfortable domestic quiet, the two of them cuddled up together on the sofa watching the movies Niko picked, until the credits began rolling at the end of Princess Mononoke and Niko heard Crystal’s stomach rumble.

“You hungry?” she asked.

“Yeah, I didn’t exactly eat breakfast this morning. The only thing I’ve eaten is that chocolate we shared halfway through the first movie.”

“I’ll go and make lunch, what do you want?”

“I dunno,” Crystal shrugged again.

“You’re really not up for making decisions today, huh?” Niko giggled.

“No,” she laughed.

“Wanna try some of my noodles? They’re always good when I’ve got cramps.”

“Sure, what kind are they?”

“Well, my favourite ones are the chilli ones but you might not want those. Spicy and cramps don’t tend to mix. I think we’ve got some chicken ones in the cabinet too, they’re the ones I usually find helps with the pain.”

“Sure.”

“I mean they’re nowhere near as good as the chicken udon my mom used to make, but they’re still good.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Crystal chuckled.

“I’ll go make them, you choose the next movie while I’m gone,” Niko said, untangling her limbs from where they had become indistinguishable from Crystal’s and standing up. “This is supposed to be your day and so far, we’ve watched two Studio Ghibli movies.”

“Hey, I like Ghibli too!” Crystal argued.

“I know but I was the one who chose them so it’s your turn.”

Niko leaned down to press yet another kiss to the top of Crystal’s head before heading into the kitchen. Crystal smiled to herself – that was the fourth head kiss today and it was barely the afternoon. It had become their thing over the last couple months, and had begun when they’d only just got together, back when they were living out of the rarely used spare room of Charles and Edwin’s office. (After the girls finally got a place of their own, with funds from both Crystal’s parents and the Agency’s steady stream of clients helping to pay their rent, the boys redecorated the bedroom for themselves. Crystal didn’t ask why two people who physically couldn’t sleep needed a bedroom. She didn’t want to know.) Whenever Niko left a room, or entered it, or whenever she liked, really, she would kiss the top of Crystal’s head. At first, it was Niko playing on their height difference, the fact her lips were at Crystal’s head-height unless Crystal was wearing her platform boots, but it had become such a routine for them there were no signs of it stopping. Even Edwin found it sweet, though he seemed to feel that way about almost everything Niko did. That was one of the many things the two of them had in common: their overwhelming love for one Niko Sasaki.

♡ ⚢ ♡

Niko returned several minutes later, a pot of noodles in each hand. She handed one to Crystal.

“Hope you like them. Oh, and don’t forget to take some more meds, you could’ve had some like two hours ago.”

“Shit, yeah,” Crystal swore, moving to get up.

Before she could, Niko pulled the box of tablets out of her pocket.

“Thank you,” Crystal sighed.

Soon, the two of them were resettled on the sofa to start the next movie, both with a pot of noodles in their hands, still leaning as far into each other’s space as they could without causing a food-related accident.

“Jeez, I can smell the spice from here,” Crystal laughed.

“Yup,” Niko replied.

“Can I try some?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

Niko twisted some of the noodles around the fork, as Crystal leaned forwards to eat them off it. She swallowed, then immediately started coughing.

“Holy shit!”

“You okay?” Niko asked, worried and reaching for the glasses of juice she’d poured them while the noodles were cooking.

“Yep. Just…wasn’t expecting them to be that spicy.”

“Too hot?”

“No, they were good. I like them, I just… yeah I don’t think they’d pair well with the current state of feeling as though my uterus is trying to claw its way out of my body.”

“Oh no…”

“The noodles are helping, though. Thank you.” Crystal smiled, returning her attention to her own non-spicy pot.

“You like them then?”

“Yeah, they’re so good.”

“Good. Did you pick a movie?”

“Yep.”

Crystal picked up the remote, and pressed play. Niko recognised the film immediately.

“Scooby Doo: The Movie? I said pick something you like.”

“Hey I do like this! I was obsessed with this movie when I was like 9. It kickstarted my obsession with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Then I made my dad buy all the Buffy DVDs when I was 12, then that was my favourite show for like two years,” Crystal said proudly.

“Woah."

“Yeah, imagine the shock on my face when I found out demons and supernatural beings and shit were real, and I was kind of one of them.”

“You’re my favourite supernatural being,” Niko said proudly and leaned across to kiss Crystal’s cheek.

“Shut up.”

“Nope,” Niko grinned.

♡ ⚢ ♡

“Hey,” Niko said quietly, around 20 minutes into the movie. “Do you wanna pause the movie a sec? I’ll go put the pots in the trash.”

“Sure.”

Niko stood up and went back into the kitchen, and when she returned less than a minute later, Crystal looked at her and laughed.

“What?” Niko asked.

“I just noticed, your lips are like, bright red.”

“That’ll be the noodles,” Niko giggled.

“You look somehow even more kissable than normal.” Crystal’s head was tilted to the side slightly in the way it always was when she flirted.

“Oh. Really?”

“Mhm.”

Niko barely had chance to sit back down on the sofa before Crystal pulled her in, quickly connecting their lips. Niko kissed back gently at first, not wanting to cause Crystal any more pain than she was already in, but Crystal’s eagerness spurred her on and soon she was pulling her as close as physically possible, both of them seemingly attempting to devour each other’s mouths. Niko tried her hardest to bite back the sounds threatening to escape her throat as Crystal took her bottom lip into her mouth and sucked.

Eventually, they broke apart, for no reason other than the need to breathe.

“Feeling better then?” Niko whispered.

“A little. Still feels like there’s some kind of rave happening in my uterus, but it’s not as bad as it was earlier.”

“Yay, the meds are helping.”

“I think it’s mostly you to be honest. And the noodles. But mostly you. Thank you for this.”

“Of course.”

As much as she wanted to pull Crystal’s lips back to hers, she knew they had all the time in the world for that. So, with one more kiss to the forehead, Niko gently pulled Crystal back into their cuddling on the sofa and pressed play on the movie once again.

♡ ⚢ ♡

“You up for another?” Niko asked after the end credits of Scooby Doo 2 finished rolling a few hours later. “We could watch the 2009 movie, too. You might have had a thing for Sarah Michelle Gellar but I was obsessed with Hayley Kiyoko. Her as Velma was an awakening.”

“Hmm…” Crystal hummed into Niko’s shoulder.

“Are you falling asleep?” Niko giggled.

“No.”

Liar.

“Yes, you are.”

“S’not my fault you’re comfy.”

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Niko shifted to move but Crystal held her still.

“It’s like 5pm. You’re not tired.”

“I don’t care. You need to sleep in a proper bed.”

Crystal gave in, allowing Niko to lead her into the bedroom and under the covers. Niko left the room, only to come back a few minutes later.

“I refilled your hot water bottle and brought you more meds,” she said, placing them down on the bed.

“Thanks babe,” Crystal muttered, yawning.

After Crystal had taken more painkillers, Niko climbed into bed next to her. Crystal immediately resumed their cuddling from the sofa. Niko never would have expected Crystal to be the clingy type, but she is not complaining.

“You know, I’m genuinely shocked the sprites were actually quiet.”

“Well…when I made them their little quilt I may have asked Edwin to put a silencing charm on it. They were probably yelling at one another all day.”

“Genius,” Crystal laughed, burying her head into Niko’s chest.

She seemed to have made a home on Niko’s chest over the last few months. Even before they got together, they would cuddle up together on the sofa in the office while the boys were out, or in the spare room while they were there, and Crystal would lay her head on her chest, listening intently to her heartbeat as though making sure she was still there. Every time Niko would hum softly, ensuring Crystal felt the vibrations of the sound. It was her wordless way of replying, of reassuring her she was really there, she was back, and she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

“Thank you for today,” she said, her voice more of a mumble against Niko’s pyjamas.

“You don’t need to thank me, it’s what I’m here for.”

“It’s not though, you’re my girlfriend.”

“Well as your girlfriend, it’s my job to be here for you when your period’s kicking your ass.”

“I really don’t deserve you.”

“Hey,” Niko gently took Crystal’s jaw and tipped her head up to look at her. “Yes you do. We both deserve this. Well, you don’t deserve to be in pain, but us lying here together, just…in each other’s space…we deserve this.”

Crystal still didn’t fully believe her. Niko absolutely deserved it, but she still had doubts about herself. She still carried so much guilt for the horrible person she was before she met David, the even worse person she was once he’d really gotten to her. But, she supposed, if someone as intrinsically good yet painfully damaged as Charles could want to be her best friend; if someone as hurt and austere as Edwin could value her friendship and want her around despite their bickering; if someone as sweet and kind and loving as Niko could want her like this, could feel comfortable and safe with her in her arms and want to do everything to help her when she was feeling down, well…maybe she could believe it a little. Maybe she could accept that after everything, despite what she had done in her past, she did deserve something as good as the life she had now, wrapped in the arms of the girl she loved, who loved her so much in return.

“I love you,” she said, squeezing her arms around Niko’s waist even tighter.

“I love you too.”

With one final kiss dropped into her curls, Crystal finally drifted into sleep.

-----

It was around 8pm when Charles picked up the communication stone that sat on one of the many shelves in the office and tapped it three times.

“Hey guys,” he said into the rock. “Just letting you know today went great! It was just a run-of-the-mill haunting in the end, so it’s all sorted now, hope you two are doing okay!”

A minute passes with no reply.

“Guys?” he says again.

Still no reply. Charles put the rock back in its place and walked over to the mirror.

“Charles, you know they said we could only use their bedroom mirror in absolute emergencies,” Edwin said from the desk.

“They’re not replying! This could be an emergency, mate, what if some poltergeist or something got into their flat?”

Without thinking for a second, Charles reached out and tapped the mirror. Ripples appeared centred on the point he touched, and the image changed from a reflection of the office to the view of Crystal and Niko’s bedroom from their dresser. Charles couldn’t help but smile at the sight before him.

“They’re probably just asleep, Niko did mention Crystal barely slept last night.”

Edwin was right. The girls were both lying there, only their heads and shoulders visible poking out of the duvet, Crystal’s head on Niko’s shoulder as they slept soundly.

“Yeah, they are. They’re fine.”

“Good. Now, are you going to help me finish up this case file?”

“’Course love.”

Charles took one last glance through the mirror at the two of them – curled up in each other’s space, holding one another close, the very image of domestic bliss – before tapping the mirror once again, leaving the two of them to their peace.

[fabuladorah]

My top 5 fave DBDA charachters

1. Crystal Palace

2. Charles Rowland

3. Night Nurse

4. Niko Sasaki

5. Jenny The Butcher

Honorable mention: Tragick Mick and Edwin Payne.

WARNING LONG RAMBLING!!

1 - Lemme be superficial first, her looks are simply iconic, i worship her hair and witch-core clothes and the way her powers are potrayed (those white globes, the three eyes, quick flashed) just make me go brwwww. And then there is hee character arc... which is *chef kiss* so, so good: she doesnt know who she is, she thinks people didnt really like her, she is sure her parents are looking for her, her first instict is to be mean, but then for what is she being mean for anyway, so she stops. She drags the boys from Big ol' London all the way to an small town in America just to save a little girl, because she is alone and scared. Her abusive demon ex, even after exorcised, is still haunting her. She offers her life to save an stranger she had just met (an stranger who had been kind, an stranger who had understood her, an stranger who had a place while she didn't). Her abusive demon ex shows that maybe she wasnt a good person after all. She misses her mom. She give away her powers (her strenght, her core) to be free from her abuser. She gets her power back, she buries her abusive demon ex alive in her mind (the place where he had her prisoner) with the help of her FAMILY (she didn't know who she was, she didn't know were she was from now she knows) she wrestles a thousand-year olds witch seconds after gaining her mind power back because she CAN AND SHE WINS. She has her memory back, she was an horrible person, her parents weren't looking for her (she missed her mother) and now she needs to go back home and she needs to make things right. Seriously what's there not love about her? Crystal Palace, please understand, you'll always be famous.

2 - Wait one second *close the door* *inhumans sounds* *open the door* okay now lets start. He is not the brain, he is the brawn, he is the protector. He couldn't protect himself. He died defending a boy he didn't even know, he died because he hated senseless violence, he died by the senseless violence. He fears being a bad person — he think he is a bad person, his father's son. He is terrified, so he'll lie, he'll smile. He was just a boy, he died young, he wanted to grow old, he hates to be dead, but he loves Edwin. He chose Edwin over Heaven — this boy, alone, died young and had been his light during the darkest, final, moment of Charles' life. It was an easy choice. I just really, really love Charles, because of all that, but also because he is charismatic af (all Jayden's hard work) and funny and he foes around with a fucking cricket bar, I should've started with that... he has a cricket bar, your Honour, I rest my case. And and I just love charachters with this """savior complex""", this responsibility of being alright to take care of others, of smile and lighting the mood because no one else will do that.

3 - she's an overworked work and that's my kinda shit. The whole point of her job is to protect and care for the lost children, and being honest to god I know she would shoot a kid right in the head if it meant finish her job and thats so fucked up and hyprocte of her and i just absolutely worship her. Also, her whole life views being changed because of a funny man she met inside of a whale is just--- I think she is underrated, and people are missing her angst potential, but I will not be the one to tell you how to write her because dude my english is going to shit as we speak.

4 - I know this is kinda dissapointing, but my whole reason is that she is Niko. That's it.

5 - She is a dyke running a butch shop, thats actually so cool I could die. On her first appearence I thought she would kill Crystal and the boys (again) and thats how I like my women. Also its really refreshing to seen that there is an adult who cares about these kids... the talks she had with Crystal and Niko, yk, she is so mature and smart and wants to help and she is like so cleary trying not to get attached and failinh tremendously, cmon she saw Crystal going to meet her abusive ex and was like "Nuh uh u aint going alone and I AM TAKING THIS MF CLEVER WITH ME" based af. Local lesbian accidentaly addopts four kids (two of which are dead)

Bonus: okay I feel like I gotta justify myself: I DO NOT HATE EDWIN, okay? I love him, he just didnt make the cut. And about Tragick Mick, cmon he is a goddammned (LITERALLY) seal and runs a funny little shop and saved Niko's life. We love him. We adore him. Tragick Mick may not have the sea, but he has the people!!

[freezerbnuuy]

Act 6:8- The Curse is Come Upon Me - Part 1 (Page 3)

LORE | CHARACTERS | ABOUT / WARNINGS | CHAPTERS

← PREVIOUS | BEGINNING | NEXT →

CONTENT WARNING: I am warning for the whole 2 parter chapter here: kidnapping, violence, threat, fire, death. Things are going to get more violent and dark from here on out, so this is your warning.

SPOILER WARNING: Massive spoilers this chapter. If you are planning to eventually read the story block the #divided sims 4 story spoilers

Daniel

"…and if we find him, I swear to the Watcher that I'll chop his bollocks off with my sword and shove them down his throat!"

"Are you finished? Wait- what do you mean your sword? I thought you handed it in to Mother Clementia?"

"Eh. I had a change of heart. A dead witchfinder didn't need it, so I took it. Me without a sword is like you without a fishing rod, if you think about it." 

After some discussion, we decided that visiting Mother Clementia is the best course of action. I'd wondered if I was being paranoid, or if I didn't have enough information to be concerned, but I trusted Maddie's judgment. It was better to share concerns of the safety of a girl who turned out to be fine, than it was to assume she was okay and she be in danger.

I don't want to worry Eli over this, not when we don't have any outright proof. Róisín's mother and father are in Glimmerbrook, and the people there aren't going to trust nor welcome a complete stranger with no familial ties to their people, nor ties to two ex-witchfinders. Mother Clementia had a close enough tie to Róisín to listen, and was level-headed enough that she wouldn't panic about it.

It makes me sick just thinking about it - that witchfinders would benefit from the one thing they seek to wipe out. The way that Róisín's compassion for the patient convinced her that he was genuine and of no harm to her - then again, even if he was, what choice would she have? Josiah doesn't get to choose who gets treatment and who doesn't. He's a stronger person than me. It's all such a mess. Whether it's Edwin or Róisín or anyone else, no-one their age should be caught up in all this mess.

The doors swing open, and we catch Mother Clementia not delivering a sermon, but practicing with her sword, with no-one else in the room with her. Where are all the regular Peterans? 

Clem raises an eyebrow at me in curiosity, and one at Maddie in distrust.

"Don't smile too hard, Mother Clementia. Your lips might fall off."

"Don't mind her, Mother Clementia. We have some concerns about your niece-"

"To put a longer story short, she's just revealed her magic to the nastiest piece of work in Henford - a witchfinder by the name of James Tanner. Forties. Moustache. Blond fellow. Purple jacket. Glasses. Single, to the surprise of nobody. She healed his wounds at the mansion working for Lydia and he pretended he cared for the plight of witches."

Maddie's explanation leaves Mother Clementia giving her the most doubtful look I've seen on any human being.  

"And how would you know this?"

"Because I was the one who wounded him that way. I thought I'd left the bastard for dead."

"I thought you gave me your sword?"

"Oh, come on!" she whines. "Look, lady, sorry I'm not your shining star of redemption but I'm trying to warn you that your niece might possibly be in danger. You know - the girl that saved your life? The least you could do is return the favour to some extent."

Mother Clementia's eyes turn to me and she gives me a quick nod. 

"I believe Maddie is telling the truth," I tell her. "She has no reason to side with the witchfinders at this point. And if someone is so bad that even Maddie thinks they're dangerous, then that's cause for concern. We figured we'd come to you first, since her parents are in Glimmerbrook."

"Her father is here in Finchwick. He lives with me, but believe me when I say he's in no mood to discuss anything like this, not in his current state. That's why I'm here and not there. Her grandfather isn't any better in that regard. Trust me - make sure they hear nothing of this just yet."

Eli didn't speak often of Róisín's magic, but he did mention it giving her terrible outbursts on full moon days. I remember that Reynold had helped Eli manage and validate his own emotions, probably due to his own issues with intense feelings. If her father reacts to this news in an irrational or angry way, it could cause far too many problems. Not only that, but now we also have to try and see if we can find any useful information before the wolves start prowling tonight...They scare the life out of me with their huge claws and piercing eyes.

"I can't leave the monastery unattended," she says. "The Jacobans have been finding any excuse to try and come for this place, and I can't endanger the witch refugees like that nor the regular Peterans. I'll fight off as many of them as I have to, but I can't leave them for dead. If you genuinely believe she is in danger, I will try and spread the word about this witchfinder. My numbers dwindle lately, but the Peteran regulars will be here soon enough and they'll help me spread the word.

I ask that you please keep an eye out for her. The last time I saw her was a few days to a week ago, when she visited my home."

Maddie tries to relax herself before she speaks to Mother Clementia. 

"Don't worry, Clemen - I mean - Mother. Mother Clementine."

"Clementia-"

"We'll keep an eye out for the girl and for James. If I see the girl I'll let you know. If I see James, I'll use his entrails as Winterfest decorations."

Maddie gives an awkward look to the Jacoban cathedral as she walks past it. 

"...And once I'm done hanging them up in the drawing room, I'm going to use his skin as a rug and his bones for...Hmm, what should I use his bones for? I suppose they would make a fun decoration for the garden and-" 

"Sweet Watcher's arsehole! Is that a gryphon?!"

Sometimes, I see shadows and I hear calls and screeches - but I've never seen it clearly. It's massive!

"I bet we could feed the whole of Henford off of that thing. I wonder what gryphon chicken would taste like-"

It calls out in our direction, and Maddie freezes. 

"That's enough heroism for one day. I'm going home-"

"Don't you dare. Come on. Let's just be calm and relaxed and non-threatening."

Maddie and I gently walk forwards, keeping ourselves firm yet calm, as to not alert the gryphon - 

It charges at us, screaming and rearing up on its back paws. It's practically the height of our house! It spreads its wings wide, and its claws are as big as my hands! 

There's a burning sensation in my mind all of a sudden, and a loud, low woman's voice. 

[seiya-starsniper]

Six Degrees of Separation - Ch 3 (Sandman x Dead Boy Detectives)

Relationships: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Crystal Palace/Charles Rowland (DCU), Johanna Constantine/Jenny Green Rating: Teen & Up | Status: Incomplete | Chapters 3/5 | Words: 3.5K

Tags: POV Multiple, Hob Gadling gives live advice to a bunch of teenagers, while helping them solve cases, that's it that's the fic, also he maybe plays matchmaker for his hot mess bestie

Summary:

The Dead Boy Detectives run into a familiar pub while out on a case, and Crystal has to contend with an unfortunate event from her past. Hob Gadling wasn't planning on adopting three teenagers and a full grown woman, but stranger things have happened in his long centuries of life.

Tumblr Posts: Chapter 1 || Chapter 2

Read Chapter 3 below, or at the above link on AO3

-------------------

Crystal thinks she's being clever by hiding in a corner of the pub away from where most of the staff can see, but somehow, Hob finds her anyway and places a steaming hot mug of tea down on the table in front of her. 

“On the house,” he tells her, and Crystal frowns.

“I can pay,” Crystal tries to insist, reaching for her bag to pull out her wallet. Hob shakes his head and shoos away the attempt, and Crystal doesn’t have it in her to fight too hard. Not today anyways. 

“Next time then,” he tells her with an easy smile. “If I’m being honest, you look like you could use a pick-me-up right now anyways.”

She really could. Crystal imagines she looks like shit. Her eyes are bloodshot from crying, and her nose feels stuffy from all the times she’s blown it in the past hour. She hasn’t even bothered trying to hide the pile of used napkins on the table.

“You did say Tuesdays were slow,” Crystal manages to croak out, trying to keep her voice even as she takes the tea in front of her into shaking hands. 

“I did,” Hob agrees, and then he sits down in the chair opposite her and starts taking out what looks like a pile of homework from his canvas bag. “I actually have some papers to grade, if you want some company. I’m happy to listen if you want to talk about it. Or we can just sit here in silence, if you’d like.”

She does want to talk about it, but the problem is, Crystal doesn’t know where to start. Doesn’t know how to tell Hob, who is both a complete stranger and not a stranger at the same time, that her life is both the best and worst it’s ever been in a very long time. She doesn’t know how to tell him that it’s Niko’s birthday today, and that the giant shopping bag next to her on top of the table is full of dozens of manga volumes she’ll never read, but felt the need to buy because, well because .

But, true to his word, Hob doesn't press her for more conversation, instead focusing immediately on the pile of paperwork he'd stacked. Crystal watches him smile when a student gets the answer right, and frown when they get an answer wrong. Every once in a while, his face takes on a bewildered expression, and Crystal wonders just how terribly bad the answer he’s looking at is.

Crystal wonders if Niko would have been in school now if she hadn't died. She seemed happy to simply solve cases with Crystal and the boys once they’d gotten the parasite out of her, but how long would that have lasted? Did Niko want to go to university? Would she have come to London if Crystal asked her to?

“I walked by a bookshop the other day,” Crystal finally offers, unable to keep the raging storm of emotion to herself any longer. Hob looks up from his paper and puts his pen down. She has his full attention now.

“They had a new volume of a manga out on display,” Crystal continues, glancing over at the shopping bag from that exact same store. “I thought, ‘Oh I should tell Niko, she'll be so excited there’s a new volume out!’ But then I remembered Niko’s not here. Niko's not here because she died trying to save me.”

“Ah,” Hob sighs sympathetically. “You're feeling guilty you're alive and she's not.”

It shouldn’t hurt so much to hear it spoken out loud, but Crystal's tears begin anew. She drops her gaze down to the steaming mug of hot tea and blinks them away as best she can, knowing that the hitch in her breathing gives her away anyways. 

“Survivor's guilt is a bitch,” Crystal says, and just like that, the dam of emotions she’d been holding back finally breaks. “I didn't even get to say goodbye ,” she practically wails into her mug. “We get to say goodbye to all these other strangers, to watch them go into their afterlife and I didn't even get to say goodbye to Niko. I hate it.”

It feels good, to finally get it out there in the open. To put words to her heartache, to the giant, endless maw of raw emotion and guilt. Crystal had tried to vocalize how she’d felt to Charles and Edwin, but they were too used to death, to people moving on. It wasn’t that they didn’t care, but they didn’t know what felt like to be left behind, not really. Not when it was all but guaranteed that they’d always have each other. 

“Life's unfair like that, sometimes,” Hob tells her, and the tone of his voice tells Crystal that the immortal is full of unsaid goodbyes himself. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance, truly.”

“You would've liked her,” Crystal replies, wanting to move away from the subject before she has another breakdown. The staff at the bookshop had definitely thought she’d gone through a bad breakup when she was paying for everything. Crystal looks back up at Hob and gives him a wry smile. “Probably way more than you liked me. She wouldn't have tried to burn the place down.”

Hob snorts. “I like you just fine as you are now, kid,” he says, returning her smile with one of his own. “Just no more arson attempts and we're good, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Crystal agrees. “Can’t guarantee a different ghost won’t try though.”

“They’re welcome to try,” Hob says, then gestures around the room. “But you’ve seen my wards. Been building them up here for almost twenty years now, not much is getting in or out of here without my permission.”

“How did you end up owning this place anyways?” Crystal asks, curiosity now burning a hole in her. “Charles and Edwin said the other night that when they first met you and were a traveling merchant or something.”

“Ah,” Hob replies, and his expression turns soft and fond. “I have this…friend, and we used to meet once a century at the old White Horse tavern down the road. For drinks. When they shut the place down, I bought this place, so we could still have someone where to go.”

Crystal narrows her eyes at the way Hob says friend and drinks .

“Is that a euphemism?” Crystal asks, and Hob chokes on his tea. “You know it’s 2024 right?” she continues. “Being gay isn’t ille—oh god, ” she cuts herself off, realization dawning upon her. “Are you in a centuries-long situationship? ” 

Hob goes into a full-on coughing fit now, but still manages to vigorously shake his head at the accusation.

“No I—cough—we’re just—cough—friends!” he insists, but Crystal isn’t convinced. 

“What do you even talk about?” she presses. “And who the hell only meets once a century for just drinks? ” she adds, putting the words in air quotes. 

“It’s complicated,” Hob replies, seeming to finally get his breathing under control. “Mostly just this and that,” the man adds, waving his hands around to emphasize the vagueness of their meetings. “You know, current events.”

“Current. Events.” Crystal repeats incredulously. Right. Yeah. Definitely a situationship. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

“You know what, next time he comes in, I’ll introduce you,” Hob huffs indignantly. His face is bright red too, and Crystal just knows that isn’t all from the loss of air to his windpipe just moments ago. “And then you can see we are just friends .”

He looks so serious, so intent on proving Crystal wrong, while still so desperately pining , that she can’t help but burst into laughter. It feels like a cord unwinds in her chest when she does, loosening a pressure she’d forgotten was there. 

“Yeah okay, sure, I’d love to meet you ‘friend’,” she replies, putting the word friend in air quotes. “But for like, actual drinks, and not ‘drinks’”, she adds with an exaggerated wink. Hob grumbles something about ‘kids these days’ which makes her laugh even more. 

----------------------------------

When Crystal leaves The New Inn hours later, her heart and belly both full, she curls up with her gigantic pile of manga and reads while waiting for Edwin and Charles to get back from their latest case. Since their investigation took them to a condemned building that was quite literally falling apart and structurally unsound, Crystal had been ordered to stay home, and wait for Charles and Edwin to bring the evidence back to her. 

When they do eventually make their way back, it’s with Jenny in tow, and she’s holding a giant cake box in her arms. Crystal smiles through the mist in her eyes, when she opens the box and sees ‘Happy Birthday Niko’ in bright red letters. 

“You remembered too, huh?” Crystal hiccups.

“Stop it, I don’t want to cry too,” Jenny replies, her voice also wavering. Her hands are shaking when she places the cake box down on the table. It’s way too much cake for two people to eat, since Edwin and Charles don’t partake, and Crystal thinks she’s going to be eating leftover cake for the next week at least. Jenny handles the cutting of the cake, and when the two of them each have a slice in hand, Edwin clears his throat, directing their attention to him.

“Right then. A celebration of Niko is not complete without Scooby-Doo,” he declares, and though his tone is light and teasing, Crystal can hear the emotional weight behind it too. 

“Right,” Crystal agrees, and when Charles wraps his arm around her, she gives up all pretense of not wanting to cry, and sobs openly into his shoulder. “I’ll get the TV set up. Just—give me a minute.”

Crystal falls asleep to the sound of cartoon feet running away from the latest villain of the week, and in the moments just before her mind is claimed by the Dreaming, she swears she catches the scent of poppies and dandelions.

[simonappreciation]

Appreciation Week Prompts:

Day 1 - St. Hilarion’s / 1916

Day 2 - Intentions / “The Same”

Day 3 - Lead-up / “I was nervous”

Day 4 - His Brother’s Book / Inner Demons

Day 5 - Hell / Heaven

Day 6 - Blue Cap / S + E

Day 7 - Redemption / “Come with me?”

Day 1 St. Hilarion's / 1916

Along with Edwin, Simon was a student at St. Hilarion's School for Boys. What was school life like for Simon? What was life in general like for Simon in 1916?

Day 2 Intentions / "The same"

In Hell, Simon told Edwin:

“I got so embarrassed thinking that we- we were the same.”

What did Simon mean by this?

What were Simon’s intentions with his interactions with Edwin?

Day 3 Lead-up / "I was nervous"

“Simon. I… I was nervous around you. I— I didn’t realize.”

In Episode 1, we see Simon standing in front of Edwin’s desk, smiling. We are led to believe initially that this is showing Simon’s cruelty, as Edwin doesn’t look at him and flees the classroom. Later, though, understanding that Simon had feelings for Edwin, the smile could be interpreted differently. What was Simon thinking then?

Day 4 His Brother’s Book / Inner Demons

Simon mentions during the sacrificial ceremony that he’d gotten the ritual book from his brother. Where did his brother get it? What was Simon’s family life like?

What was Simon thinking when he decided to lead the ceremony?

Day 5 Hell / Heaven

Simon was in Hell for a century before seeing Heaven’s blue light.

In Hell, he was being watched by Despair. Why was he worth watching?

What was Hell like for Simon? Was he already in it, even before death? What would his heaven be like?

Day 6 Blue Cap / S + E

Simon stole Edwin’s blue cap straight from atop his head. Simon wrote S+E in the pages of his book.

Simon liked Edwin.

So what did Simon like about him? What did he see in Edwin? What could have happened between them?

Day 7 Redemption / “Come with me?”

In the end, something shifted in the dynamic between the two of them, enough that Edwin asks, not once but twice, for Simon to escape Hell with him.

“I’m going to get out of here again. You should come with me.”

For our final day, the focus is on Simon’s redemption and subsquent (after) life.

[desire-turns-to-ashes]

Hi, look at me here again!😁 Oh my gosh, I was so nervous waiting for your reply. I thought I might have annoyed you or that you didn’t want to answer because I’m being persistent. I’m so sorry for my anxiety; I didn’t mean to be insistent. I just wanted to know more about your fic and, if you didn’t mind, to talk to you. Oh gosh, how embarrassing!!!😖 Sorry again! Being antisocial is so hard, and shyness doesn’t help either, but here I am! Talking to the author of the best fic about my favorite couple!☺️

So, do you mind if I ask? Can I ask more questions? If so, I’m going to!

Was Desire a good father? Or was he the typical rich dad who leaves the kids with lots of nannies and lets them do whatever they want? Because your answer made it seem like he didn’t give much affection or attention to Thomas as a father. Sorry if I misunderstood!

Will we get to meet Thomas’s sister? Is she as beautiful as her brother?

Would Niko become friends with Thomas? Like one of those gossip-loving friends?

What does Thomas think about Edwin’s friends?

Is Thomas the duke of that region, or is he from another region?

Does Thomas live in a modern mansion or one with Gothic architecture vibes?

And the last question: Since Thomas is completely in love with Edwin, would he hate Edwin’s father for everything he did?

These are my questions, and please don’t get mad at me! I’d LOVE to talk about your fic with you—it’s what I want most! If you really don’t mind. Have an amazing weekend, and I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next chapter! Hugs to you!❤️❤️

Honestly it’s fine! Like I said, I love talking about my fic 😂😂

To answer your questions 😂😂 I know I’m going to write a lot again so am putting this under read more 😂😂

1. Desire 100% does not care for their kids at ALL (and there’s probably way more than Thomas and his sister)!! I think anything taking attention away from Desire, like children would for example, really irritates them!! For the sake of image they will look like a happy family on the surface, or smile for a family photo but as soon as the moments over their smile drops and they just do not care what their kids do. But if someone like Thomas starts acting out or getting a bad reputation that brings down the family name then Desire will get involved!! Our boy’s never been able to make their father happy but he’s always been able to disappoint them

2. Again, no plans to bring his other family into the story sorry :/ if they do appear it’ll probably be a backstory sequence or something. I’m mostly just building family lore, also had to research this in the beginning but Miranda is Unity Kinkaid’s daughter so you bet your ass Unity was Desire’s FIRST wife in this! Obviously was a terrible marriage! And then Thomas’ mum came along… another bad marriage…. Desire’s probably on their fifth marriage by now in the fic, or about to have it 😂😂 (the exes aren’t just wives as well! 100% had some husbands as well!!) also Miranda probably is gorgeous, since the whole family are, not thought all that much into what she would look like tbh

3. Niko would try her best to be friends with Thomas, she wants all the details on what life is like as a member of the royal family!! Also she wants ALL the romance details between him and Edwin! Thomas would probably humour her after a while, but I do like to think their relationship would be having spa days, like wearing face masks in the flat or something 🥰🥰

4. I don’t think he’s had all that much chance to think about Edwin’s friends yet, although I do mention his feelings towards them in the latest chapter 🥰🥰 he’ll get used to them…… it’ll take him longer to get used to Charles though 😂😂 since Charles obviously does NOT like him

5. Omg I have literally not even thought about where he would be the Duke of 😂😂 he’s probably another region tbh, he just hangs around London, shirking his duties a lot, especially now that he’s found Edwin!! 💛💛

6. Thomas absolutely has a couple of properties!! He probably has a stately home somewhere in the country that he NEVER visits!! He mostly stays in his London penthouse suite though, VERY modern, not homey or cosy at all, it looks like one of those showrooms that are absolutely not lived in!! Oh and… can’t forget his cats!! 😸

7. Oh you KNOW he’s going to hate Edwin’s dad!! When he eventually does find out about everything that has happened to his boy he’s going to FLIP!!! Thomas will want to do something about it but Edwin will want to forget about it and have nothing to do with his past ever again!! Thomas wants justice for Edwin but he also doesn’t want to make him do anything he doesn’t want, or do anything that could put him in danger 🥺

I hope I’ve managed to answer your questions 🥰🥰 and I hope you like the new chapter 💛💛 thank you for your sweet words again!! It means a lot knowing other people love my story as much as I do 🥰🥰

[awesomeart-83]

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic State of Play Trailer Analysis

Welp. That was a surprise. In the middle of making a analysis about the Mimic’s origins

Strap yourselves in and get a snack, because this is going to be a long one.

The first shot of the trailer is the Steel Wool Studios logo before the sheep’s eyes turn orange, symbolizing the Mimic. Nice detail there.

The first ACTUAL shot is a van (the one from Help Wanted 2 December update) going into a parking lot near the entrance of Edwin’s mansion. The van is revealed to belong to Fazbear Entertainment.

Now, when we first saw the van in the update, we thought it was Gregory and Vanessa or Cassie’s dad delivering MXES to the Pizzaplex to keep the Mimic out.

Obviously, those people were wrong. When I saw the van, I immediately thought of the van that hit David. Thanks to Fazfriends, we were able to see inside the van and it is shown to have a 70s style dashboard

During this shot, we see an odd stain where the car drives through. Many people on Reddit thought it was a pothole. But, @gregorysarmy believes that this is actually (I swear this is actually what they think) David’s blood from the car accident all dried up.

What confused me is that where David was hit was a four lane highway and this doesn’t seem like

Also, we see at the upper left a dead bush with a tree branch.

Yeah, this is something we’ll talk about later.

We cut to a look inside the factory. I think it’s where players go through during the PAX demo

The player is then shown an office.

We are shown 3 of the mascot costumes. The first one is a dog with a slash villian-like smile (will talk about her later). The second one is a the

Now, what I am really curious about is if each costume will have a gimmick or a boss fight. I know it sounds dumb, but it

Like for the dog, we have to break hiding spots to lure them out

Finally, the moment everyone guess would happen. TIGER ROCK. Or rather the version that came before it. It’s just standing there before the light cuts out.

We have a scene of an elephant in a hallway

While 3 of them are posters were already seen (they were in Security Breach and at PAX), the first one is quite different.

It’s a poster for a salon run by a dog. We can’t see anymore

We haven’t seen this character yet, but for those who participated in the demo they have.

So yeah, we have Spark the dog, Fetch from the books, and now Sarpae. I’m seeing a trend now.

The next scene has Jackie

Then, we have an odd shot. It’s of a mushroom

Now, for people who ACTUALLY read the books,

Then, the trailer shows us one of the most horrifying animatronics I ever seen. This…… lady.

I MEAN LOOK AT HER THOSE EYES THAT BODY THAT WEIRD CURLS EVERYTHING IS TELLING ME TO RUN!

Jokes and fear aside, the nurse animatronic is the most interesting thing to me since it’s the first time we seen a human like animatronic that isn’t Jackie (or at least has a full body.) She also has a weird pack on her back which has wires tied to her arms

When I first noticed the wires, I immediately thought of Dittophobia, which has some type of nightmare gas. I mean, we don’t know if it’s was there at Edwin’s factory.

The next to last is of the player running through a crumbling pathway, with Jackie on top and hot on our trail, breaking a pipe along the way. This is I think supposed to be the chase sequence from the PAX demo.

The final shot is one that nobody saw coming. We are running down a hallway and suddenly the roof burst open, revealing……..

IT’S MUSIC MAAAAAANNN!

The old-fashioned Music Man jumpscares us by swallowing us before cutting to the title and the release date: June 13th 2025.

Now, there’s a final shot that is hidden in 1:16. I won’t show it but it’s on Reddit and if you type 1:16, you’ll find it.

It’s a scene of the Tiger costume somewhere unknown with somebody’s hand on it. The hand is wearing a watch. That’s it. That’s what we find.

I’ve so many theories about this now. But one I’ll throw out that is inside the tiger costume is David or rather his spirit, have been stuffed by Edwin in his grief because he couldn’t bear the thought of burying his son. Yes, I know the story says he remembers burying David, but he didn’t remember what happened the last 2 weeks since David’s death. The hand around Tiger is Edwin’s, trying to make his son not kill people and comfort him for leaving him.

Now, how do I feel about this new trailer? I liked it a lot. It gave away a lot of information but not too much to make the plot obvious and certain details plain as day.

My main concern is how the game will play out. One of the little nitpicks I have with Steel Wool FNAF is it doesn’t have the titular five nights. Oh sure, Into the Pit has 5 nights but that’s a spin-off title from an other studio. Also, some people said it doesn’t feel like FNAF, which I think that’s the point

Reblogs > Likes.

Videos used and mentioned:

[bluejayadler]

Reblogging to respond to some tags! Cause they are good tags.

I have noticed I've seen the same - lots of focus on how Port Townsend represents huge change for Edwin but far less about the same being true for Charles. I do have a theory on that which comes down to 3 points. 1. Charles is not vocally against change and does appear to handle non-foundational changes okay. Charles talks about getting out of the office, change of scenery, likes meeting new people and making friends. He even keeps up more on modern times than Edwin. Charles also doesn't decry change. Edwin vocally struggles with change and new things or disruption in their established patterns. But the changes that Charles appears okay with are surface changes. As he says to Crystal - "All I need is my best mate and a case" (maybe the order is swapped. Not gonna check cause then I'll just start rewatching the whole episode again). Edwin hiding things from him is not a surface change but a foundational one. It indicates a shift in their relationship - and Charles wouldn't know what to do with that. Especially considering Edwin is not one to change himself - he still wears his old school uniform. So Edwin changing would be a huge shift. Also given what we know of Charles's self-image, he probably would assume any change in his relationship with Edwin would be bad - Edwin finally realizing he wasn't good enough. After all, Charles's father was probably nice to him once before he brought out the belt. And Charles's friends were kind to him too before they decided to throw the first stone. 2. Charles does not undergo permanent big change as a result like Edwin does. Edwin's arc involves a huge piece of character development in his exploration and, more importantly, acceptance of his sexuality. We even have 2 huge scenes to show the culmination of that arc - his scene with Simon and his "if you punish yourself, everywhere becomes Hell" line AND his confession to Charles on the stairs. There are huge scenes in the scope of show (in the way that the show's huge scenes are never about flash and flare but about connection and humanity - which is a thing I love about the show). We do see Charles deal with some change, and he does have an arc with dealing with his anger and his emotions and self-image. We get the color change of his shirt, we get the breakdown on the cliff in ep 4 and the the "I don't want to be a bad guy" scene in ep 5. And these scenes ARE HUGE for Charles, but they aren't the culmination of change. Charles hasn't actually had his character development arc. Sure, he shared, but he more reached his breaking point. His change is only just starting as he is only starting to open up. And he ends the show how he started - a smile, his best mate, and a case. 3. The scenes I read as showing Charles struggling with a shift/change at a foundational level are most commonly viewed as examples of him being jealous of Edwin receiving romantic attention. Which, I get. Okay, I don't get. But I acknowledge that I am someone who is very ace and very aro. And my particular brand of ace/aro combined with my brand of neurodivergent means I almost never read a scene or interaction as having romantic undertones or meaning, unless explicitly stated. The scenes I mention in my analysis include Charles being upset about Edwin hiding things about the Cat King and being upset about Edwin picking to hang out with Monty over him. When I see these scenes referenced, its almost always in a "look at Charles being jealous" way. Which could be a totally valid analysis of the scene. I just also think that since the majority of Edwin + Charles scenes get read through a romantic light a lot of the time, that it can lead to other complex readings to get missing or ignored. I basically read nothing between them as romantic until Edwin explicitly states attraction. This is how my brain works.

I think change is a huge theme of the show, and each of the characters undergoes change in some way, some just bigger than others.

DBDa NGL - Charles deflects

Ooo...Yes! And no! (Look, never gonna be a straight answer from me)

I think, yes, this is definitely Charles deflecting. That's his natural state of being when it comes to anyone prodding at any of his emotions that isn't just "happy". Its like its automatic script. "Someone getting to close to an emotion! Divert! Divert!" A smile, a cheery reply, an offer of help - especially as he does have HUGE people pleaser tendencies. Given all that, I think it is definitely deflection. A LOT had just happened and he doesn't want to think. The very next thing he does is jump into the huge distraction that is making out with Crystal (they both wanted the distraction). Charles has spent his life AND afterlife hiding his feelings, his scars, and his pain. He just broke down in front of everyone. He's the brawn, the protector, meant to be the strong one, and he broke down. And, at the same time, he revealed his secret, his shame - not being enough. He opened up, albeit accidentally cause it was kinda like he set himself off like one of his "provisions". But, he said more that night than he probably did all of his afterlife AND his life! Charles views his status as "not good enough" as fact and as his great shame - it led to him being hurt in life, it played a hand in his death, and he probably believes that once the others know it and see it as true, that it will lead to him being abandoned or hurt again. Charles has already physically rejected Edwin's offer of comfort - when he shakes off Edwin's hand at the lighthouse. Charles is still riding that wave of vulnerability, and to him, vulnerability is bad. It makes him weak. It means he'll be hurt. He has to be the happy one, the strong one, the positive one. He can't let the mask slip. But he did! It slipped and he's desperately trying to hold it back in place before the other show drops. So, yes, Charles is deflecting.  BUT I don't think that's all he's doing. I don't even know how much he is consciously deflecting versus that's just his instinctive response.

Because the other thing he is doing is placing Edwin's emotions above his own and also trying to feel like he's enough and to get back to some semblance of solid ground that he's lost. To the first point, Charles is a people pleaser, and its implied heavily that he values Edwin more than himself. And something has clearly been bothering Edwin beyond what Edwin has shared with him. He would view Edwin's crisis and emotional needs as more important than his own and want to give Edwin priority processing time. 

To the second point (being not enough), consider what Charles said at the Lighthouse - his entire rant about not being good enough, which included "not good enough to fix whatever is going on with Edwin." There's two things here to unpack. First, that Charles DOESN'T KNOW what is going on with Edwin. Edwin has withheld information about his interactions with the Cat King, and that has set off all the alarm bells for Charles. Because why wouldn't Edwin tell him. Why would Edwin hide things unless he didn't trust Charles, unless Charles failed somehow? Second, Charles assumes part of it is him not being "enough". Part of Charles is waiting for Edwin to finally open up - because while Charles keeps his trauma a secret, I don't think he believes Edwin keeps secrets from him. Considering how Charles has reacted to Edwin simply not giving details about the Cat King encounters, Charles isn't used to Edwin hiding things from him. And if Edwin is hiding things, he has to have a reason. Given Charles's low view of himself, he's gonna assume it's a failure on his part. Charles needs Edwin to tell him the truth and not hide things from him, because that is their norm. I understand that a lot of fans view Charles's reactions to Edwin hiding facts about the Cat Kind encounters as Charles being jealous. I don't see it that way. To me, Charles is in a state of having his world suddenly become unstable. The Cat King is a threat - he has the power to whisk Edwin away for hours to a place Charles can't get to, he has the power to bind Edwin to this place AND the willingness to keep him bound even after knowing how dangerous it is, and SOMETHING ELSE! But Charles doesn't know what that something else is, just that there is SOMETHING and Edwin won't tell him. Charles cannot protect Edwin if he doesn't know what the threat is, and in his mind, the most likely reason that Edwin hasn't told him is that Edwin doesn't think Charles is enough to deal with it (which is probably reinforced by the fact that Charles can't actually deal with the threat he is aware of).

To the third point (shakey ground) Charles just lashed out at Edwin (kinda) after scaring Edwin and the girls. Charles is probably extremely upset with himself and seeing his father more in him in that moment than for a long time - makes sense given next episode when that all comes out. Charles probably feels like he hurt Edwin and is waiting for Edwin to lash out back or to agree with what Charles said on the cliff, that Charles isn't good enough. Part of him is also waiting for Edwin to prove him wrong, to deny Charles's own claims. And again, there's Edwin's caginess about the Cat King and withholding information from Charles. Then we consider the scene that happened in ep 3, with Monty, when they come back from the Devlin House. Again, many fans reason Charles's facial expression towards Monty after Monty rejects his handshake and goes to Edwin as jealousy. I don't. I view it as rejection. Not rejection from Monty, but a small rejection from Edwin. Because everyone SEES what Monty does. The girls pointedly give a look. Edwin would see to. And while Edwin is often out of the loop on modern day things, he knows the current etiquette for greeting and would've seen that for the snub it was. At least, he should've. But he said nothing. To Charles, that could be tacit approval of Monty's behavior, or at least, a failure to reject Monty's behavior. Also, Charles is very visibly off. He hides it, but part of him probably is hurt that Edwin chose to stay outside with Monty instead of coming in with him after such a hard case. The entire foundation of Charles's afterlife is being shaken up in Port Townsend, and he can't do anything about it. But Edwin can, if Edwin would just say something. Charles has handed all the power to Edwin because while he goes to Crystal for a distraction, its Edwin's words that he needs to return him back to solid ground. 

In the scene, Edwin says "you can talk to be about anything." There's a beat. A beat where the audience sees Charles's face, what Edwin sees - Charles's pauses, fixes his expression as best he can, and then says "you can talk to be about anything too mate". Then there's NO pause! The camera shifts to a wide shot of the two and Charles is already turning. And I think the saddest part is that while Edwin opens his mouth, Charles doesn't wait. Charles doesn't expect an answer then even though he desperately wants it. When he says it, his voice is tight. He turns and LOOKS DOWN! Dejected, hurt (gonna point out that Edwin is not in the wrong and has not actively hurt Charles here in my opinion. Neither are wrong. Neither owe the other all their truths. Its just that neither of them learned how to fucking communicate and process emotions!). This isn't Charles is full deflection mode. Full deflection more is up on the lighthouse saying "all I need is my best mate and a case". Full deflection mode is going to Niko and asking about whatever object she is holding she he doesn't have to focus on what just happened. This isn't that. There is no fake cheerfulness. There is not desperate attempt to change the subject entirely. There's just exhaustion and hurt and "not enough". Unstable ground and Charles is drowning again.

So yes, a bit deflection. And a bit everything else...humans are complicated.

[livuvur]

Favorite Edwin moment? Either 03 or BH?

Oh god that's a hard one... Considering I love every moment the two of them are on screen together but I will try, (also note I'm not including the most well-known, iconic moments aka gun scene/proposal, etc.) Just to keep the variety a little, I'm gonna focus more on moments that I believe have very high significance to their relationship but simply don't get talked about nearly enough. (Not in particular order)

1. This moment, especially in the manga makes me very very soft, in the page before this one we see ed being all miserable by himself, he goes to call winry (who is also being all miserable by herself) and I really do love the approach of this moment as it is not Ed trying to comfort Winry after Hughes' death nor bringing up the topic at all, since he himself doesn't know what else he could say about it, on top of the fact that he feels responsible for what happened to him, instead, he just tries to make sure winry doesn't go without eating because it would do her no good, and attempts to leave, but then she just takes his hand and leads him into her room and his face as she does so is just so utterly adorable... I love how soft that panel is, and how despite Ed not being one to comfort her she is still non-verbally asking him to stay, because she needs him by her side in those moments, and his presence alone is enough, and then, despite how he had just eaten he still accepts the apple pie Winry made because she put so much of her heart and her effort into it. And once he sees the tears gathering in her eyes he is simply physically incapable of saying no to her.

2. I think I've talked about these panels before on here, something very interesting to me is how the first panel shows ed admitting he always saw Winry as someone so upbeat and cheerful, to the point it is easy for him to forget how much pain she's actually been internalizing the whole time, and then scolding himself for not understanding her feelings at all. And then you have Winry seeing right through Ed, saying she knows he is just trying hard to be tough (and that he is an idiot, *cough*). The thing is, Winry has seen Ed at his worst, she was there taking care of both him and Al when they had lost everything and Ed was struggling under the weight of his guilt and pain, she saw him crying and sobbing everyday, she even mentions that at nights he just couldn't stop moaning from the pain and fever automail caused him. And on the other hand, Ed had been thinking quite the opposite about Winry, because she was always there being a rock for both him and Al even after having lost her family herself, she was there, always smiling for them and supporting his every step with such strenght he couldn't even imagine she was simultaneously grieving as well. Ed always saw Winry's strenght, but she always knew his weakness all too well.

3. Self-explanatory, I'm a sucker for edwin parallels: she thinks of him while she's dying, he thinks of her while he is fighting to stay alive. They are obsessed with each other, next one.

4. THIS MOMENT, GOD. “seeing it made me realize I couldn't go home”, “I want to be able to help you, so your road's not so hard” this whole scene is just so overlooked it hurts, cause it just goes to show Winry's love and dedication to Ed, and how his determination and resolve inspire her own, she is always looking to improve in any ways she can to help him, Ed literally is able to walk and to continue his journey because of her, (and he reminds it to her in one of her darkest moments) and I just think it's amazing how they're both always challenging each other under different circumstances, this is just one of them, with Winry declaring she is gonna push herself to be the fucking best she can so she can be there for him. (Also his sudden self-awareness and blush when he realizes he is staring at her smile... *blows them up with dynamite*)

5. Again, self-explanatory. Absolutely fucking love some good male rage when his boo is threatened, Bradley didn't even have to lay a finger on her and this guy was ready to strangle him right there. (Also Olivier's entire speech in BH saying Ed's eyes were “desperate” and of “a boy who would do anything to protect the things he loves” when he refused to tell her anything about the homunculi because Winry was a hostage, even tho he knew Olivier could have chopped him in little pieces just because of that. <3

6.

Damn apparently I can't add more images lmao but basically this whole thing they unspokenly have going on where they give each other an item that belongs to the other so they keep it as a reassurance/promise they will see each other again: Ed giving winry his red coat after the gun scene, Winry giving Ed her earrings and asking him to keep them safe for her, and even in their very last scene, Winry keeping Ed's white hoodie, the one he wore when he came back home to her. Just. They are so. Yeah.

Believe me I have many more I could go on for hours, I wanted to include some 03 moments too, but it's 1 am and I need sleep so yeah (also forgive any grammar/spelling mistakes on this I really do need to 💤)

thank you for the ask !

[just-call-me-angel]

Little Miss Loser

Chapter 2 - The Adventure Begins

Warnings: Grandpa Edwin being a general menace to society, brief mention of drugs, Dwayne has no bitches???

Author's Note: I fucking love writing Grandpa Edwin, hes so fucking hysterical. The entire time I was writing this scene i had the image of the grandpa saying "No Bitches?"

Summary: Grandpa Edwin offers some important advice

Ao3

Chapters: ||1||2||3||4||5||6||7

Your morning begins early and with a groan you pull yourself out of bed to get ready to head next door for the Hoover road trip. You change quickly, tugging on a pair of shorts and an old white shirt with Fredrick Neitchze printed on the front (You had borrowed it from Dwayne a few months back and he had yet to ask for it back). You shuffled around the room making sure you had everything you needed for the weekend, tossing a few things you had forgotten into the little brown duffel bag you had packed until finally you decided you were ready to leave. With a huff you picked the duffel bag up and left your room, closing the door behind you with a soft click before making your way through the rest of your house. It was the weekend so your parents were home though neither of them were awake yet. You left your bag at the front door sighing when you noticed your dad asleep on the couch. It wasn’t the first time you had found him asleep in the living room nor would it be the last, at least until the divorce was finalized and he moved out of course. Quietly you shuffled around the furniture, kneeling in front of the couch to poke your dads sleeping face, laughing a little when he jolted awake.

“Wha–” he looked around confused, eyes unfocused and still heavy with sleep.

“Dad it's me.” you laughed softly, placing a hand over his until he stilled and looked back at you, a small tired smile slowly spreading over his face. You smiled back as he reached out to ruffle your hair.

“What are you doing up so early kiddo?” he asked, words slurring together in a sleepy drawl.

“I’m going on a road trip with the Hoovers, remember.” you replied as you moved to grab his glasses off of the coffee table. He thanked you quietly and pushed the glasses onto his face, squinting for a moment until his eyes adjusted.

“Oh thas right. Forgot your mom told me about that when I got home last night.” he ran a hand through his dark hair, now speckled with gray. You nodded and tilted your head up at him with a frown.

“You and mom argue again?” you asked softly and watched the way his shoulders slumped and his brow furrowed.

“Nothing escapes your notice huh kiddo.” he said, attempting a laugh, “I hope we didn’t keep you up last night.”

“I was asleep before you got home. You just look like mom gave you shit last night.” You replied with a shake of your head.

He snorted and attempted to give you a stern look, “Your mother will give me more hell if she finds out I let you curse like that.”

You shrugged and laughed with him, glad to see the tension leave his shoulders even just for a moment, “I won’t tell her if you don’t.” you joked and he beamed at you, leaning over slowly to press a kiss to your forehead.

“Atta girl. I knew I taught you well.” he praised, “I suppose you gotta head out soon then?”

You nodded silently and he mirrored your actions, turning to glance over his shoulder at the closed door of the master bedroom where your mom was likely sleeping. “You should say goodbye to her before you leave.” he told you quietly.

“I know.” you huff, crossing your arms and biting at the inside of your cheek. He sighs and ruffles your hair again with a smile.

“Ya know what, you just head over to the Hoover’s I’ll deal with your mom alright, I’ll tell her you had to rush out the door,” he promises with a wink, smiling widely when you look up at him again.

“You don’t have to do that dad.” you whisper and he shakes his head stubbornly.

“Don’t worry about it kiddo, she’d only give you a hard time before you leave and I want you to have fun with the Hoovers.” he pauses then a sad smile playing on his lips, “Lord knows you need some normality in your life with the divorce going on right now.” You move to give his hand a gentle squeeze and give him a cheeky grin.

“The Hoovers are the least normal family out there dad.” you tease and he chuckles, squeezing your hand back.

“I suppose that’s true but that only means you’ll have tons of crazy stories to tell me when you get back.” he replies, pinching your cheeks softly before you can swat his hands away. He pulls you up off the floor with a grunt and brings you into his arms for a hug,

“I love you kiddo, I want you to have a good weekend alright, try not to worry about this shit at home alright.” he whispered, holding you tighter. You nodded against his shoulder and squeezed him back.

“I love you too dad…. I’ll try.” you mumbled into his old t-shirt, “I’ll uh bring you back a cool rock from the beach or something.” you promised softly, grinning when you felt his laugh rumble through his chest. Slowly he let you stand up, pressing another kiss to your forehead before he brushed your hair out of your face.

As you were preparing to grab your bag and leave he stood up and shuffled around. “Wait one minute.” you turned and watched as he searched for something until finally he spotted his wallet and picked it up tugging a couple dollars from it. He handed them to you with a smile, “Don’t spend it all in one place.” he teased and you shook your head, poking your tongue out at him.

“I’m gonna get so many drugs with this dad just you wait.” you joked, shoving the wad of cash into your pocket not worrying about how much or how little he had given you.

“Just don’t tell your mother.” he replied with a chuckle and you made a motion to zip your lips, lock them and throw away the key. He shook his head at your action and opened the door for you, watching as you quietly picked up your duffle bag.

“See you later kiddo.” he said finally as you stood on the front steps and smiled back at him with a nod.

“See ya Dad.” you mocked a salute and spun on your heel, dramatically marching across the front lawn over to the Hoover’s home next door, grinning to yourself when you heard your dads bark of laughter behind you.

You set your bag on the front steps in front of the Hoover home and knocked loudly on the front door until you heard shuffling around inside and finally the door opened to show Olive staring up at you with a big grin. She barely gave you a chance to enter the house before she was jumping to give you a hug, chanting excitedly about the Little MIss Sunshine Pageant. You laughed and hugged her tightly until Mrs Hoover entered the hall and beckoned Olive away.

“Olive, go tell your brother that Y/N is here and make sure you have all your stuff, your dad wants to get on the road soon.” Sheryl spoke softly, smiling at her daughter's excitement. Olive gave you one final hug before finally releasing you and barreling down the hall.

“DWAYNE YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS HERE!” she shouted as she ran past Dwayne’s room before diving into her own room with a giggle. Sheryl laughed and shook her head before giving you a quick hug.

“I'm glad you could come with us on this trip.” she said before letting you go. “You have your bag packed and everything I assume.”

You nodded and motioned towards your duffle bag that you had left at the front door and she nodded back, “Perfect, I made eggs if you wanted to have some before we left.” she tells you, motioning towards the kitchen table. She gives your shoulder a pat and moves back through the house, presumably to finish her own packing. You take a small plate of eggs and sit down quietly at the table to eat until Dwayne finally shuffles out of his room, a little smile forming when he sees you.

You smile and wave at him,” You ready for the adventure of a lifetime?” you tease and he rolls his eyes, tossing his own duffle bag next to yours before he sits next to you and swipes your fork out of your hand. You laugh as he steals a few bites of your breakfast, playfully shoving his arm when you realize he had finished what was left on the plate.

“Dick head” you tell him with a pout as he shrugs at you with a smirk tugging at his lips. You shove him again, laughing when he grunts at the feeling of your elbow pressing into his side. Frank enters the room quietly again wearing all white and sits across from you and Dwayne, smiling politely when you look up at him.

“What about you?” you repeat, turning to Frank with your question “Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?”

Frank snorts, “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

You laugh with Frank as he plates up his own small breakfast while Dwayne stares at you for a moment. Finally he pulls out his notepad and quickly writes something down before tapping you on the shoulder.

“Isn’t that my shirt?”

You grin almost instantly as you look down at your shirt and then back up at him, “what this old thing?” You ask feigning innocence. He gives you a pointed look and shakes his head at your antics.

“Oh come on, I’ve had it for months, I can basically claim legal ownership at this point.” Your reasoning only serves to make him roll his eyes and make Frank laugh across the table. You take a minute to look at the shirt Dwayne is wearing, grinning when you read the words Jesus Was Wrong and you quickly decide that its the next shirt you’re going to swipe from under his nose.

“You really are best friends huh?” he asks, earning a nod from both of you, “How does that work with him not talking?”

You grin cheekily and shug, “Oh its actually pretty easy, I like the sound of my own voice so it works pretty well that I do most of the talking.” Frank snorts, clearly amused by your response. It doesn’t take much longer for the rest of the family to enter the room, rushing to eat breakfast under Richard’s instruction so they could finally get out on the road. You caught Dwayne sneaking glances at you every few moments, his cheeks flushing red when his eyes would meet yours.

If daily life around the Hoover family was hectic then preparing for a roadtrip with them was in a whole other league. It was pure chaos as everyone scrambled to the car, shoving suitcases into the trunk and climbing over one another to get into the bus. After much arguing about seating arrangements you wound up sitting in the back with Dwayne next to you and his grandfather Edwin on the other side of him while Olive and Frank took the middle row of seats and Sheryl sat in the passenger seat and Richard drove. It wasn’t as cramped as you had expected but that didn’t seem to stop Dwayne from sitting as close as he could to you which you didn’t really mind if you were completely honest. In fact it gave you the opportunity to rest your head on his shoulder for most of the ride and he seemed content to rest his head on yours, watching as you doodled in his notebook, occasionally smiling a little when you proudly pointed at something particularly amusing that you had drawn.

Blessedly despite the chaos that had ensued while trying to board the bus, everyone seemed far too tired to fill the trip with idle chatter. Occasionally Olive would lean over her seat to tell you how excited she was and you would smile back acting as if it wasn’t the third time in the last hour that she had said those words to you. Edwin Hoover however did not seem as content as the rest of the family to maintain the silence in the car.

“Jesus Im tired” he huffs, “I am so fucking tired” You stifle a laugh watching as he taps Dwayne’s shoulder to get his attention. Dwayne doesn’t move away from you or really make any attempt to show he’s paying much attention to his grandfather.

“You know how tired I am?” he asks, barely waiting a second for Dwayne to reply before he continues, “ If some girl, came up to me… begged me to fuck her… I wouldn’t be able to do it. That's how tired I am.” this time you don’t bother to hide the quiet laughter that bubbles from your chest, especially when Richard coughed nervously in the front seat.

“Dad! Language… Please” he asked, staring back at his father in the rearview mirror. Edwin Hoover huffed and waved his hand in exasperation before gesturing to Olive, who sat in front of him listening to her music and blissfully unaware of her grandfather's cursing.

“She’s listening to music!” he shouts back to his son, “Hey Olive, I’ll give you a million bucks if you turn around!” Olive made no move to look back at her grandfather and continued listening to her music, dancing a little in her seat.

“Alright but… the rest of us.” Richard exhales.

Edwin rolls his eyes, “oh yea the rest of you.” he turns his attention back to Dwayne, tapping his shoulder again, this time a little harder, “ Can I give you some advice?” Dwayne turns to look at him, still leaning heavily against your side and shakes his head with a bored expression.

Edwin seems unphased by the lackluster response of his eldest grandchild and proceeds to talk “I’ll do it anyway. I don’t want you making the same mistakes I did when I was young.” Dwayne glances at you and you offer him an amused smile as Edwin gives his best impression of a wise old man imparting great wisdom upon a young traveler, “ Dwayne, this is the voice of experience talking. Are you listening?” Dwayne doesn’t even pretend to care and shrugs while you giggle next to him, clearly amused by the entire situation.

“Kid, fuck alot of women.” he pauses for dramatic effect and you already feel a bit dizzy as you hold your breath to keep from laughing, “ Fuck alot of women. Not just one woman. A lot of women–” Richard coughs again a little louder, clearly trying to get his father to stop talking. Dwayne maintains his bored expression and you can barely contain your laughter as you rest against his side. You can hear Frank in front of you stifling his own laughter as he glances back a few times. Edwin doesn’t even seem to notice or care about his sons attempt to silence him as he continues talking.

“Be honest with me kid? Are you getting any? You can tell.” Edwins words have you nearly bursting into tears with laughter while Dwayne looks a bit annoyed next to you. Frank turns fully now to watch the conversation continue.

“Yea Dwayne….” you say between giggles, “You gettin any?” Dwayne glares at you immediately sending you into another fit of giggles before he finally turns to his grandfather and shakes his head, cheeks slightly pink with embarassment. You feel a bit bad teasing him like this but you can’t help it when he makes it so easy.

“Really? I thought for sure you two were screwing with how often she’s over.” Edwin says finally, clearly not bothered by the immediate awkward silence that fills the back seat as your face heats up. You can’t even bring yourself to look up at Dwayne but you can tell he isn’t enjoying the turn that this already awkward conversation has taken. He crosses his arms and moves slightly so he isn’t pressed so closely to you and you don’t move to stop him at first, far too embarrassed to try. Edwin and Richard argue back and forth for a moment while you shuffle nervously next to Dwayne.

Of course Edwin would make a joke like that, he had done it in the past and it had never really bothered you before. But things were different now and they had been for nearly a year. Dwayne was your best friend but more often than not these days you found yourself wondering if there was something more between the two of you. Above all else you found yourself wanting there to be something more between you. You were already so close so really all that would change would be the name you used to describe your relationship. You had no idea if Dwayne even liked you that way or if he even liked girls at all, neither of you talked about things like that. You know you should tell him but the idea of losing your best friend absolutely terrified you. What if it made him hate you? What if the idea of being with you in that way disgusted him? There was so much you could lose if you told him how much you cared for him and that was a thought that filled you with dread. Frank sent you a sideways glance and offered you a small smile as if he knew exactly what you were feeling.

After a minute or two of silently running yourself in circles in your head you tug on Dwayne's arm to pull him against your side again and he doesn’t try to fight it though you can see the slight flush to his cheeks as you rest your head back on his shoulder. He sighs as he rests his head against yours, gently tugging your arm to rest on his lap so he can trace little shapes on your forearm. This is fine , you tell yourself, more than fine. This is perfect. You don’t need anything more. Don't be selfish , you remind yourself, if this is all you can have with him then that should be more than enough. It is enough. It is.

“Dad, I swear I’ll pull over.” Richard threatens, bringing you back into focus.

“So pull over! You’re not gonna shut me up! Fuck you!” Edwin shouts back, “Jesus your as bad as those fuckers at Sunset Manor”

Frank perks up and you see the familiar glint of mischief in his eyes, you had seen it a hundred times in your own eyes, especially when you were around the Hoover family, “ What happened at Sunset Manor?” he asked innocently.

Sheryl sighed, “Frank don’t encourage him”

Frank gives her a smile and shrugs as Edwin replies, “I’ll tell you what happened. I paid my money. They took my money. I should be able to do what the fuck I want.” Edwin leans heavily into his seat with an exasperated huff. You grinned, you had heard this story a hundred times and somehow it never failed to be amusing.

“He started snorting Heroin.” Sheryl explains rolling her eyes while Richard looks absolutely horrified to be having this conversation while trapped in a car.

“You started snorting Heroin?” Frank asks, eyes widening as he looks at Edwin.

“I’m old!” Edwin says with a wave of his arms.

“That stuff will kill you.” Frank says, trying to hide the amused look on his face.

“What am i an idiot?” Edwin huffs, once again turning to tap Dwayne on the arm. Dwayne sighs and lazily looks at his grandfather, clearly ready for the conversation to just be over. “And don’t you two get any ideas about that stuff. When you’re young you’re crazy to do that shit.” he motions to you both this time, voice a little less amused and more stern. Dwayne nods and you offer a quick mock salute and a playful smile which Edwin returns.

“What about you?” Frank asks, giving you a sideways glance and a cheeky grin.

“When you get to my age you’re crazy not to do it.” Edwin replies, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back into his seat. After a bit longer, Olive turns to face her grandfather, lifting her headphones over her ears and tilting her head curiously.

“What are you guys talking about?” she asks.

Edwin looks at her for a minute and then casts a glance to Frank and then to you and Dwayne before looking back at Olive, “Politics” Olive’s nose scrunches up as she quickly turns back around, no longer interested in what the adults are talking about as she pulls her headphones back over her ears.

Edwin leans back in his seat with a long sigh, “Fuck alot of women kid. I’ve got no reason to lie to you. Not just one woman. A Lot of women.” he points then at you, “you be careful though, there are some real creeps out there.” you snort at his advice but still give him a nod of agreement. The car goes quiet again, except the low hum of the engine and the sound of cars rushing past. Everyone seems to have had their fill of small talk for the time being and for now you are content enough not to try and fill the silence like you normally would. Dwayne pulls his notebook off of your lap and carefully flips through it until he lands on a page he had already written on. He places the notebook back on your lap, tapping the paper to make sure you know he wants you to read it.

“Welcome to Hell” You smile at the note, laughing as you lean a bit more heavily against him. You can feel him laugh quietly as he goes back to tracing shapes on your arm. It doesn’t take long for your eyes to start to feel heavy as you start to fall asleep to the sound of the car engine and Dwayne’s steady heart beat. He wrapped an arm around you carefully shifting you to make sure you were comfortable before he too began to drift off with you curled up against his side.

[xoxopandapanda]

Edwin Week 2022: Day 1: Reunion

@503week

Characters: Edward Elric, Winry Rockbell, Baby boy, Granny

(Hi, I’m participating lololololololol)

Day 2   Day 3    Day 4   Day 5    Day 6

Fanfiction

AO3

It was a rainy day and the sloshing of feet in puddles was the only sound that Edward heard as he stepped out of the train station. It was drizzling, but it appeared to have been doing so for a while, so the mud on the pavement was a good indicator of what kind of walk he had coming for him. Letting out a sigh, he reached down and tucked his pants into his sock, in hopes of avoiding too much debris from getting into his automail leg.

Lord knows his wife wouldn’t be impressed with him mucking it up on the way home.

Lifting his jacked over his head, he began the trek out of town and into the country side. It had only been two weeks since he had left for Central, but to him it felt like a lifetime. Sure, he had off and on gone away to research since their wedding, but this was the first time he had left since Thomas was born.

Winry had assured him that with Thomas being so young, he wouldn’t even remember that Ed had left when he grew up, but a deep part of him still worried.

Would his son remember the sight of his back walking down the road?

His mind was thrashing with insecurities and concerns about his ability to be a good father. Before he knew it, he was standing at the steps of the old wooden house, faded yellow from the sun, and shutters open, letting the curtains dance in the breeze of the rainy day. He stepped up and set his suitcase down gingerly.

It was quiet and he didn’t want to disturb what could be a midday nap for his family. He shook off as much water from his coat before taking it off and draping it on the porch railing. Sitting on the porch swing, he took off his shoes and was pleased to see that there wasn’t any mud in his leg. It was wet to the touch, but not dirty.

So the sock trick had worked. Winry had told him to do it for a long time, but he had to become an old man to take it seriously (or maybe it was to remember it).

Lifting his shoes to carry them into the house and tuck them in the mud closet to dry, Edward slowly opened up the front door and stepped quickly inside, turning to shut the door behind him.

He had just softly latched the handle into place when he heard a soft, “Ah!”.

Whirling around on his heels, he shot his gaze down to see the source of the noise sitting on the floor and holding his arms up.

“Thomas! What are you doing here?” Edward crouched down and scooped up the baby. He winced feeling the weight gain of his boy. “Doing some growing up while I was gone?”

Thomas lurched forward and grabbed his bangs with his chubby hand. He giggled with glee as Ed bounced him up and down.

Ed’s heart ached seeing his boy again after two weeks. It was such a short time and yet so much development happened while he was gone. He racked his brain to remember if Thomas was sitting up on his own before he left.

He was thinking so, but he could be wrong. It was two weeks ago.

“Where’s Mama?” Ed asked Thomas as if he could answer. “Did she leave you out here all on your own?”

Winry’s voice fluttered in from the kitchen. “Yes, I thought he was a big boy now and could wait by himself.”

“Oh, is he now?” Ed watched as Winry came into view, holding a cup of water in her hand.

She nodded, her smile mimicking his. Walking towards him, she pulled her hair over her right shoulder before giving him a quick peck on the lips. Ed chuckled into the kiss as he saw Thomas in his peripheral lurch to grab his mother’s hair. Winry was always one step ahead of her boys.

Stepping back from them, Winry made her way to the couch and sat down, patting the spot next to her. “He has learned how to stand on his own. We were watching the rain in the kitchen when he saw you coming down the road and absolutely needed to be waiting for you by the door.”

Ed dropped down beside her, holding Thomas up to stand on his legs, balanced by his father’s hands under his arm. Wiggling and kicking his legs, Thomas gleefully squealed and continued to work and develop his leg muscles.

“Is that so?” Ed’s face softened as he watched his baby. “I’m sorry to hear I missed such a big milestone.”

Winry’s head dropped onto his shoulder, and he felt her shift to sit with her legs on the couch, leaning more fully on him. “It’s not like it was his first step, Ed. Don’t beat yourself for not seeing it. I didn’t. Granny did.”

That made Ed snort. Of course, Granny was seeing more of the baby’s firsts than his parents. She was taking on the role of retired grandma with much enthusiasm. Winry taking over the shop after she finished her apprenticeship was at first a tough transition for the elderly lady, but with the addition of a new baby to keep her busy, it was going rather well.

“Did she get a picture of it at least?”

“Not one in focus.” Winry sipped her water. “Or I’m going to need glasses soon. Either is a valid option.”

Ed leaned forward to blow kissed on to Thomas’ face while listening to Winry continue to tell him all about the last two weeks. He would regale her with tales of Central tonight, once Thomas was settled, and she would feign interest as she probably tinkered with something.

But right now, all he wanted was to learn everything he had missed in his family’s life, having been called to Central unexpectedly. He wanted to know the stories of the photos Granny would later drop off in his study, since she would not stay around long enough to tell him. Just give him lip about how ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’, before huffing off to be with Thomas again.

Edward had experienced hundreds of reunions in his life time – with fellow soldiers, commanders, his teacher, even with his arm.

But coming home to his wife and child was his favorite one of all.

[melefim]

So this is very incomplete, but these are all the spots I identified where each song was played so far:

As for reoccurring tunes/ themes there are a couple more that I identified. I’m sure there are more and I probably missed some instances- I was mostly listening for cursing for my swearing analysis posts on this watchthrough, and just jotted down a few notes on music as a secondary thing. So this is definitely incomplete! That said:

Little Girl Collector: Esther’s theme— bits of it played throughout: Esther meets Crystal (1), Yelling at Monty (1), Esther browsing Tragic Mick’s (2), Esther in the butcher shop (3), Esther sees Monty with Edwin (3), Esther & Monty in the kitchen (5&6), Esther walking down the street (8)

Want and Pleasure: Cat King theme- all or partially played during Edwin’s punishment discussion (2), Meeting by the lighthouse (4), Cat King in forest (6), Esther in the cannery (7)

Sadness Came Too/ Looking for Boys: 1:38 and on is the Night Nurse/ Lost & Found department theme. Sections are heard at end of episode 1, reviewing the boy’s files (2), the notary (3), interviewing the Devlin girls (3), Night nurse arrives in Port Townsend (4), upstairs with Jenny (4), that night on the cliff (4), appears to take the boys (6), opening the door to hell (7), and when she leaves at the end of 7.

Stuck in a jar: Dandelion Sprite theme- when they’re first in the jar & when Niko first sees them (2), the three scenes with them taunting Niko in Devlin house (3), Jenny sees them (8), very end of igloo & end credits (8)

Never Been Kissed/ Hell: from 4:26 to the end of the song is the episode recap music used in episodes 2-8

There’s also a bit I’ve been calling the ‘danger theme’- you hear it first during Death Becomes Him. The bit from 1:15-1:36- that tune plays a few other times when things get dicey. We hear it in episode 1 when we see the WW1 ghost for the first time, when Death arrives in the office, when Crystal realizes she’s lost her memories in the subway and during Edwin’s ‘witches are dangerous’ talk outside Esther’s house. It also plays when Crystal leaves the butcher shop to go find David in episode 7. (I’m sure there are more in other episodes, but like I said I haven’t done a full rewatch for the background music yet)

The section at 1:46-2:20 in So Many Questions for So Many Fools that plays when the cats escort Charles, Edwin, and Crystal to the Cat King in episode 2 also plays in episode 8 when Crystal and Niko approach the cannery.

The bit that plays during Charles’ “ you never know, my smile is pretty convincing” line at the end of 8 is verrry similar to what plays when he’s deciding to stay with Edwin in his death flashback in 7 same tune at the very least.

The Ghost Postman also has a tune that plays every time he shows up, I don’t think it’s on the soundtrack, though.

There are a few other ones that are case specific and only repeat in that one episode, but these are the big multi- episode ones I noticed!

(And also if anyone has identified any bits that I missed in my linked post or other instances of the above themes, please let me know! I’m working on a score post with episode timestamps, but it’s gonna take a minute, so every little bit helps!)

okay so since the dbda soundtrack is out now, i can finally be insufferable about the things i've noticed by putting names and timestamps to them rather than just shouting nonsensically about them. this is excellent :D

as i already saw someone else point out, there is a section of running from hell / i'm in love with you beginning at roughly the 3:40 mark that has also played two other times in the show...

first, very quietly, at the end of episode 6 when edwin tried to confess the first time, and...

again in episode 8, when charles and edwin hugged (it's included in esther's origin / a new deal on the soundtrack)

i am Looking At This with very big eyes rn. blake neely and murat selçuk i am in your walls what does this mean

BUT ALSO. there is another section. that drives me just about insane. the only place i can find it in the SOUNDTRACK is in accepting being dead at the 3:10 mark... and it plays over the scene of charles dying/becoming a ghost in charles' flashback to edwin saving him at the start of episode 7. but it actually plays one other time in the show...

over edwin comforting charles and them hugging for the first time at the end of episode 5.

what does it MEANNNNNNNNN