#you can see that recently I am more just figuring out along the way hah

[zelkams-art]

I got very behind with the sketch vs final thing to post, so here we go!

Original posts: [1] - [2] - [3] - [4]

[thebeautyoffanfics]

Hey there Savi.. could i request a kou,mitsuba and tsukasa x reader where their s/o gets bullied alot?? I've been struggling with it recently and now that school is going to start again im dreading it .. thank you in advance <3

kou minamoto x gn!reader, mitsuba sousuke x gn!reader, tsukasa yugi x gn!reader

a/n: of course!! I’m really sorry that you’ve had experiences like that, but I also genuinely hope that this year will be better! You’ve got this-!! And don’t be afraid to ask for help <3 you’re so so welcome, tho I’m sure schools probably started by now, therefore I’m super sorry for the time this took- and thank you so much for requesting <3

Waaaaaah i’m also sorry if it’s OOC, cos I know Tsukasa’s at least is;;; writer’s block is aaaaaaah-;; I’ve genuinely been writing this since September 19th,,,,

warnings: bullying

word count: 2,044

kou minamoto <3

You glanced at your phone screen, the date flashing up at you. It was depressing. Thoughts of previous years danced in your head, as you shut your phone back off. You currently stood outside of your school, “open house” finally over. School was starting back in just a few days. Your days of freedom could be counted on one hand… this was, by far, one of your least favorite times of the year.

“(Y/N)! Do you still want to walk to the park?” Kou questioned, running up beside you. You nodded, hoping that spending time with your boyfriend would get your mind off of school, and memories related to such. As the two of you began to walk, you could practically feel the question on the tip of Kou’s tongue. He always made himself rather obvious- his hands fidgeted a bit, his gaze lowering to the ground.

“Say, (Y/N)... you seem sad. Is it because school’s starting back?”

You thought for a moment, unsure of how to put it. He certainly wasn’t wrong…

“Yeah, that’s basically it… last year was just… not a good year, haha.”

“Oh? Well, I’m sure this one will be better!! If you want, we can make a list or something? All the bad things about last year can be something we change this year-!”

Despite bitterly knowing that it wasn’t exactly something within your realm of control, you laughed a bit. “That’s… insanely corny, Kou. I didn’t say a terrible idea- just… corny.”

When you glanced up at him, you noticed his red face, as he blurted out an excuse. A moment of fumbling over his words passed, before he gave up, glancing off to the side once more.

“Wh-whatever- I mean, just… like, tell me what’s wrong, if you want to. And I’ll try to help. Alright?”

“It’s really not something either of us can help, Kou.”

“So? I’m your boyfriend,” He seemed a bit embarrassed to say, most likely not used to pulling that sort of card, “If you don’t want to tell me, I can’t make you. But, if you’re alright with telling me, I want to know. Either way, I’m here for you...”

“Ah… I know it, Kou. Honestly, I just… dealt with some bullying last year, so I’m really not looking forward to this year. No matter how much I hear ‘oh, the bully does it to feel better about themself’, it’s just emotionally… hm, awful, you know?”

“Oh… I understand, (Y/N). I do remember some people picking on me, since I have a big brother like Teru- it’s not fun at all. Here!! I’ll stay with you, 24/7! Sit with me during classes, and I’ll hang out with you during free time!” “Thanks, Kou- but we probably won’t have every class together.”

“Then- just tell me if something happens during the class,” He spoke, crossing his arms rather seriously. “I’ll talk with the teacher! Easy peasy!!”

A moment passed, before Kou took your hand, looking at the ground, then back up with you. His eyebrows were furrowed just slightly, his eyes not as wide as they usually were. Kou was being serious- as serious as his sweet mind could let him be. He almost seemed to resemble his big brother even more- when the two were serious.

“If something happens, tell me, okay? I mean it. I don’t want this year to be bad for you- as your friend and boyfriend! Let me do what I can to help, alright?”

You blinked a bit. Kou’s words were so sincere, you felt your heart beat a bit quicker. “A-alright. Thank you, Kou. I really mean it.” You spoke, bringing the boy into a hug to hide whatever sort of expression you were making.

“Of course! You don’t need to thank me, (Y/N). I’m happy to try and help-!”

mitsuba sousuke <3

“(Y/N), if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I’ll give you something to complain about.”

Ah, Mitsuba… he spoke, his arms crossed as he sat next to you, silently noticing your slightly disheveled clothes. Judging by the slightly down look you wore, too many things were now adding up. Something was bothering you, and he was bound and determined to find out what it was.

“Mitsuba, it’s okay, really. Here! Let’s eat, I’m starving!” You opened up your bento box, sliding one his way, and sticking the chopsticks into your mouth. Though you hummed happily, Mitsuba was… in Detective Mode, to put it lightheartedly. Your every move was being analyzed, as he tried his best to figure out what was wrong. Your eyebrows furrowed, as you swallowed a bit harder than usual.

“What’s the point of lying to me, dummy? If you aren’t hungry, it’s probably because whatever is bothering you is ruining your appetite. Talk to me. I’m serious.”

You sighed, feeling as if the food was stuck in your throat. Or maybe your throat simply felt as though it had a lump in it…? Either way, you were painfully aware of the unpleasant feeling. Along with the creeping suspicion that Mitsuba wasn’t going to leave this alone. Was he good at reading people?? Were you just easy to read…? Or maybe, he was just far too accustomed to the way you reacted to things. Able to focus in on the little things, especially when he wanted to. Perhaps it was the talent of a photographer? Being able to read the entire picture??

Perhaps you were thinking too much into it, desperate for a way to get your mind off of the things going on around you.

“I’m just… dealing with some stuff.”

“Well, duh. What kind of stuff?”

You kept your gaze glued to the floor, fiddling absentmindedly with the chopsticks. You knew you could confide in Mitsuba… yet, something about it felt practically impossible. What would happen if you told him? Could he do anything? He was merely a ghost…

“Oi, I asked a question. Listen, and listen well, you idiot- I know I can’t solve all your problems, but I can at least listen- which is what you’d better be doing right now. You listen to me, though who wouldn’t want to is beyond me, so I can at least do the same. I’m not your therapist, but I am your boyfriend.”

Those words danced around in your mind for a bit, as you considered how to put it. For a moment, you simply nodded, letting Mitsuba know you heard- and were acknowledging- what he said. A few more moments passed before you began to speak.

“Lately, there have been some students… picking on me, I guess. It’s… discouraging, and makes school feel like a living nightmare. You’re the only good thing in my day at this hellhole.”

“Oh.”

You tightened your grip on the chopsticks, trying to read Mitsuba’s tone. Suddenly, it clicked- remembering Mitsuba mentioning being bullied for being “feminine” and “foul-mouthed”. He truly, genuinely, understood where you were coming from.

“I see, then… I’ll tell you what to do, (Y/N). Tell an adult, lame-o. I don’t give a flying flip about ‘oh, they won’t believe me’ or ‘what if the bullies blah blah.’ At least try it- it’s hard, but I don’t care about that either. Also, freaking ignore them. Obviously, you don’t want to pay them attention, so don’t.”

“Mitsuba, it’s not that easy-”

“I know. (Y/N), I’ve been in your shoes. Maybe it’s different- I dunno what kind of bullying they’re doing. Still, if you’re good enough for my standards, you know you’re at least worth something. So don’t let those low-lives get you down. I promise you, if I could, I’d give them a piece of my mind. But, since I can’t, just… do it yourself, or something. Don’t endure it, you rat.”

(“Mitsuba, all your insults lowkey feel like bullying-”

“Shut up, stupid-face, you can’t tell a teacher on a ghost. What’re you gonna say?? Waaaah, sensei, school mystery number 3 is calling me names!! Hah.”

“Tsuchigomori-sensei can see you, you know. And he teaches both Minamoto boys!”

“Lalalaaaa, I can’t hear you-”)

tsukasa yugi <3

Tsukasa… knows.

There was no other way to put it. You knew he knew, and you knew he was just waiting. A part of him wanted you to ask him for help- to confide in him, even if it took some pushing. He was… a bit different in that sense- I mean, how was he to know you didn’t enjoy being bullied? Was it the same way he felt when Amane looked at him with such hatred?

“(Y/N)!! What’s with such a sad look?? Did you get a bad test grade?” Tsukasa questioned, floating alongside you as you entered the broadcasting room. You simply shook your head, placing your bookbag on the floor, then standing back up.

“It’s just been a day, Tsu,” You added, taking a seat near Sakura. As you did, she pushed a cup of tea your way, her gaze as it usually was. She looked right through you, as if you were nothing but a ghost. Still, it was a much better look than the ones given by the bullies. Muttering a ‘thank you’, you lifted the cup, fiddling with it slightly.

“If there’s something bothering you, feel free to share it,” Sakura spoke, her gaze staying on you, then finally closing as she sipped from her cup.

“If there’s something bothering you, share it.” Tsukasa added, placing his head on your shoulder and staring at your eyes. His gaze drifted to your hands when you brought the cup to your lips, then over to your throat as you struggled to swallow.

“Runt, if you don’t back away from them, you’ll the the one bothering them,” Natsuhiko spoke, raising his eyebrows at Tsukasa, then offering you a slightly concerned look. His expression was enough for you to know he wanted to know if you were alright- to which you shrugged, reaching up and patting the side of Tsukasa’s face.

“Don’t worry, guys. I’ll be fine, really.”

Sakura pondered for a moment, before standing. “Mitsuba, would you like to walk with me? I should go grab something.”

Mitsuba, who had been sitting off to the side- glanced up, his usual puppy-like expression on his face. “Sure,” He replied, standing up, practically in sync with Natsuhiko.

“I’ll go as well, my lady!”

Oh. She’s doing that on purpose.

Your eyes followed the trio as they left the room, and you could feel Tsukasa’s eyes still stuck on you. The moment the door shut, he spoke. “(Y/N), tell me what’s wrong. You don’t seem to enjoy being miserable!”

“Am I supposed to?” “You’re miserable then? What’s wrong, c’mon!!”

“I didn’t say I was- just that I don’t think many people like it,” You spoke, taking another sip from the tea. The warmth of it made your throat feel hot, but it didn’t help the lump stuck in it.

“(Y/N). Just admit to me what’s wrong, and I’ll do what I can!”

You sighed, not wanting to grow frustrated. Tsukasa was… trying. He just didn’t understand everything- the boy who enjoyed seeing people wear normally unpleasant expressions, of course he wouldn’t personally understand. He wanted to help you, but how could a ghost help? Much less, the ghost of a boy such as him?

“(Y/N)-” “I’m just dealing with some bullies. It’s fine, Tsukasa- I’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll kill them <3”

“Tsu-”

Tsukasa stepped away from you, crossing his arms. “So, (Y/N), you don’t like it when people bully you? I’ll take care of it! Promise!” “Stop it right there, Mr. Only-grants-wishes-for-the-dead. Don’t ‘take care of them.’ I just need to get enough confidence to tell a teacher or something…”

Tsukasa paused, pouting his lips slightly, before nodding. Quickly, he floated back over to you, and trapped you in a hug. His arms wrapped around you securely, making you feel rather safe for being in the arms of such a destructive boy. “Fine. I’ll go with you, then, (Y/N)! I’ll even hold your hand!! And I definitely won’t let those bullies bother you any more~.”

“Tsukasa, please, don’t do anything drastic-” “Whatever you say, (Y/N). You know I can’t go against the wishes of my cute partner~!”

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers DARK FATE ー Shuu [VAMPIRE ENDING]

ー The scene starts in front of Karlheinz’ castle

Yui: ( His answer...? )

Shuu: Basically you’ll quietly let yourself get killed?

Karlheinz: ...No.

I will kill you.

Shuu: !?

Yui: Shuu-san!!

( Karlheinz-san’s hand is reaching towards Shuu-san...! Don’t tell me he’ll actuallyーー! )

Shuu: Kuh...!

Yui: ...!!

*STAB*

Shuu: ...

...You never change.

Yui: ...Shuu-san...?

Karlheinz: ...Hah...

Yui: ( ...!! There’s a knife stabbed inside Karlheinz-san’s chest...! )

Karlheinz: Kuh...

*Thud*

Shuu: Like you did just now...You see right through my plans, always making sure you’re one step ahead.

Expecting me to follow in your footsteps is unreasonable. I simply had no other choice but to give up.

Karlheinz: That is exactly.... how those standing at the very top must be. It is how, you will guide your people down the right path...

Next....I must guide you. 

Shuu...In what lies ahead of you, you will surely be thrown into a state of disarray.

However, that is your...destiny. One which you could never escape, from the second you were born as my son...Your dark fate. (1)

However...You have already decided you will no longer run away, no? For the sake of those you wish to protect.

Shuu: ...Yeah.

Karlheinz: ...Perfect.

You have fully awakened as Adam. I shall give you my answer as well.

Shuu...You did more than a fine job trying to reach my level. And right now, you have even surpassed me. 

You, who has learnt how to love and feel, should now possess powers much greater than my own.

Go ahead, my son. Take my head...

The head of none other than the King. I am sure it will be useful to you in many ways...

Shuu: ...Ugh...

...Yui, close your eyes. You don’t have to see this.

Yui: ...No, me tooーー

Shuu: It’s fine.

In return...Whenever I will recall this moment in the future, please quietly stand by my side.

Yui: ...

...Okay.

ー Yui closes her eyes

Karlheinz: I’m leaving everyone in your care...

*CHOP*

Yui: ...!?

( What is going on...!? This overwhelming forceーー... )

( I can’t...I can’t endure it... )

ー She collapses

*Thud*

Shuu: Yui!?

ー The scene shifts to the garden

Ayato: ーー Take a look at the sky...

Kanato: Is that enormous magical energy...Father...?

Laito: ...It’s Shuu.

Subaru: He actually killed him...?

Reiji: ...!

Laito: Isn’t this for the best? To us Vampires, death is a blessing.

I’m sure he yearned for it as well.

Ayato: So he finally took his final breath? Well...He lived for long enough.

Laito: You’re being awfully optimistic, Ayato-kun. The King of Vampires just died, you know? Furthermore, the Vibora are without a leader right now as well.

Kanato: I can only imagine chaos will break loose in the Demon World. I’m sure there will be many wars as well.

Subaru: You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me...As if this place isn’t enough of a hellhole already...

Reiji: ...

Ayato: Oi, Reiji. Whatcha gonna do?

Reiji: ...Let us go meet Shuu.

There are a hundred and one things...I want to ask him, and say to him.

Laito: Let’s go pay our dear older brother a visit then.

Subaru: Cut it out, you’re makin’ me gag!

Reiji: ...Father...

*TIMESKIP*

Shuu: ーー Oi, Yui.

Yui: ...

ー Yui wakes up near the castle

Yui: ...Shuu...san...?

Shuu: ...You’ve regained consciousness, huh?

Yui: I...

Shuu: You had fainted. I assume from the magic energy.

Yui: Magic energy...?

Shuu: ...When the Old Man died, his power was let loose. You witnessed that right before your eyes.

His magic energy was the strongest of anyone in the Demon World. I guess a human simply couldn’t endure it. ...Are you okay?

Yui: Yes...

...How about you, are you alright?

Shuu: ...

...To be honest, I’m not quite sure myself yet.

Part of me regrets killing him, but at the same time, I also feel somewhat relieved.

Yui: ...Do you believe you made the wrong choice?

Shuu: I don’t know that either.

I never thought of him in terms of ‘like’ or ‘hate’ but...

Right now, I understand very well that my Father has always been an impactful figure in my life.

All in all, I might have actually viewed him as my family. For some reason, I feel as if I’ve lost a part of me...

Yui: Shuu-san...

*Meoooow*

Yui: Ehーー...?

*Meoooow*

Yui: Ririe!?

*Meoooow*

Yui: Ririe...!

Shuu: ...He was alive?

I figured he had died because we gave him that name but...I guess you weren’t that weak after all.

...Come here.

*Meoooow*

Shuu: Even when something is lost...Life goes on. That might be the true meaning of a family.

Haah...My list of things to protect just keeps on growing.

Yui: ...Will you protect us? Both me and Ririe?

Shuu: You’re still asking that now? Isn’t that what it means to be a family?

...I’ve made up my resolve. I will take responsibility. I will go head-to-head with my own destiny.

Yui: Shuu-san...

Ayato: ーー Oi, there they are!

Yui: You guys...! Is everything okay now?

Ayato: In what world? My whole body hurts like hell!

Laito: But I’m glad to see you safe as well, Bitch-chan.

Kanato: That being said...Where did that cat come from?

*Meoooow*

Yui: Ah...Ririe, you can’t! Come here.

Subaru: Ririe...?

Shuu: ...Shut it, you guys.

Where’s Reiji?

Reiji: I am present, right here.

ー Reiji walks up to him

Reiji: ...Shuu. Do you remember what I told you?

Shuu: The part about not forgiving me if I were to kill the Old Man?

Reiji: ...So you did kill Father after all. 

Shuu: Yeah.

Reiji: Did he have...any final words?

Shuu: He asked me to take good care of all of you.

That isn’t what brought forth this decision but...I’ll be playing his role from here on out.

Reiji: ...!

Kanato: You’ll ascend the throne?

Ayato: A sloth like yourself? ...For real?

Reiji: Are you saying...You will become the Vampire King?

Shuu: That’s what it’ll boil down to. The late King has died.

From here on out, I will lead the Clan of Vampires as their new King.

Yui: ( Shuu-san... )

Shuu: The Demon World is in disarray ever since what happened to the Vibora. Once the news of the Vampire King’s death hits the masses, it’ll only get worse.

After losing their leader, the Vibora were swiftly conquered by the Founders and lost their clan’s pride.

I can’t let the Vampires go down that same path. I won’t allow for that to happen.

I can’t let those guys...run loose forever.

Even if my struggle is in vain, I will fight till the bitter end.

We haven’t seen the last of this yet...

Ayato: ...But can you pull that off though? Us Vampires are already running low in numbers after the recent attack. 

Shuu: Of course, I don’t believe I can fix this all by myself.

I’ll obviously rely on you guys’ help as well. I won’t take no as an answer. As members of this family, you’ll follow my lead.

Laito: Good grief...Seems like we got ourselves another tyrant on our hands.

Shuu: Reiji. You’ll be my right-hand man. Lend me your strength as the second son of the Sakamaki household. Understood?

Reiji: ...

...I did not fathom a day would come on which I get to hear such a clear order from you.

Very well. For the sake of our family, and our clan, I shall do everything within my ability.

Yui: ( Reiji-san... )

Shuu: First we must retroop our people. Then we can move on to uniting them.

Reiji: You make it sound so easy.

Shuu: Of course, I don’t believe it’ll be a breeze. Therefore, first upーー Yui.

Yui: Eh? Yes?

( I wonder what he’s going to say? He’s staring right into my eyes... )

Shuu: I’ll marry her.

Yui: ...Eh?

Ayato: Hah?

Kanato: ...What are you saying?

Shuu: That’ll increase my prestige, no?

Subaru: You’re marryin’ her over that reason!? Don’t you feel bad for her!?

Shuu: Haah...Ridiculous. You really think I would go through all the trouble just for that?

I’m obviously marrying her out of love.

Yui: ...Shuu-san!?

Laito: Haah...I didn’t think I would hear those words come from Shuu’s mouth one day.

Kanato: Seems like he won’t even bother listening to Yui-san’s reply.

Shuu: Because I don’t need to. ...Right, Yui?

Yui: ...No fair...

Shuu: You’ve been stuck in this destiny with me since forever. You can no longer escape.

So you should make up your resolve as well.

Reiji: Haah...You decide such an important thing on the spot. I fear for the future...

Well, I suppose it is fine. Right now, we have something to celebrate first.

The birth of a New King, and his spouseーー 

*TIMESKIP*

Yui: ...I didn’t think I would one day get married in the Demon World.

Shuu: Really? I anticipated this.

I told you, didn’t I? That I was aware this moment would come one day.

You were naturally there as part of that imagination as well.

Yui: I...How should I know without you telling me?

Shuu: I’m not the type of guy who expresses himself with words. I’m pretty sure I told you that before as well?

Yui: Gosh...

*Meooow*

Yui: Ririe. Did you wake up?

*Meooow*

Yui: Fufu, come here.

On certain CGs, little black roses will appear on the screen. If you click on them, you get an extra line of dialogue.

“What? You think I look lovely in these clothes because it’s so different from my usual attire? ...Haha. Dare I say you don’t look half bad either?”

“I’ve had let alone time with you ever since this little guy came along. ...However, from here on out, you’ll always be only mine.”

Shuu: ...Don’t you think you spoil him a little bit too much?

Yui: You think so? Not as much as with you though...

Shuu: What do you mean?

Yui: I think I spoil you much more than I do Ririe.

Shuu: ...Hah, you tell me.

*Rustle*

Shuu: In that case, make it a little more obvious.

You always claim you don’t understand me but...Your behavior is confusing as well.

Yui: I-Is it...?

( I always thought I was pretty straight-forward...I wonder if that didn’t quite convey to him...? )

Shuu: Don’t look so anxious. ...It properly got through to me.

Yui: Ah...

*Meooow*

Shuu: You’ve made it more than clear that you love me ...Nn...

Yui: Nn...

Shuu: Nn...Haah...

Shuu: Haha...Now you are one of us as well.

Yui: Am I?

Shuu: Even if your body is human, you’ll marry the Vampire King, so I’m sure that will happen.

The King’s spouse is a human, huh? Well, I don’t think that’s such a bad thing?

...Yui.

Yui: Yes?

Shuu: Chaos still washes over the Demon World to this day. I can only imagine the war will get intense.

Yui: ...Yes. 

Shuu: As long as you stand by my side like this, you will surely get involved with this dark fate as well.

That must be rough as a woman, and a human on top of that. I can understand why you would rather turn a blind eye to it.

Yui: ...I’m prepared.

I’ve always stuck by your side, well aware that this would happen.

Shuu: Heh...I guess I worried for nothing.

Well, not that I was going to let you go either way.

Father was right. I...lose all meaning in life when you’re not with me.

Stay with me until death. I’ll protect you till that day.

Become my new family, and live by my side.

Yui: ...Yes.

Shuu: Then kiss me.

Yui: ...Where did that come from!?

Shuu: Just words aren’t enough. Promise it with your body as well. Come on...

Yui: Nn...

*Smooch*

Shuu: Hah...I really like this way much better than just mere words.

*Meooow*

Shuu: ...Don’t interfere. She belongs to me.

Yui: Oh come on, don’t compete with a cat.

Shuu: I guess every time we welcome a new member to our family, I’ll have to reconfirm that you’re mine.

Haah...I fear for the future. Having a family really is a drag after all.

Well, I guess I can live with it if they’re directly descended from you. 

Yui: ( Does he mean...? )

Shuu: From here on out, I’ll protect both you and my family with my own two hands.

To live alongside my precious family, and the woman I love...

Yui: ...Yes.

Shuu: ...We still haven’t said it, huh?

Yui: What exactly?

Shuu: The oath to become a family.

Komori Yui. I...love you.

ーー THE END ーー

Translation notes

(1) Karlheinz drops this term in the general prologue as well. He says 闇の運命 or ‘yami no sadame’ which means ‘the law of the dark’. However, ‘sadame’ is written with the characters for ‘unmei’, which means ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’ instead of 定め.  

Within the DL franchise, ‘the dark’ is often used as a synonym for demons/those who live in the Demon World. For example, in HDB, the boys will often call themselves ‘yami no juumin’ or ‘residents of the dark’. Personally, I believe he implies that all Demons are born with a set path in life already drawn out for them and in Shuu’s case, it was his destiny to one day become Adam, kill his Father to inherit his powers and become the next Demon King.

[bittydragon]

Old Friends (Minicraft)

Notes: Look! It’s actually the first part of the main story for Minicraft! I can promise that this is actually the first part. (I’m so sorry, I had to with last time-) There are a few references to the one-shots, but those don’t have to be read to completely understand this story, but they might help. I’m excited to finally have this first part written up, I hope you guys enjoy this too!

“But whyyyyyy?” 

Bad sighed as he sent a glare at Skeppy who was sitting on the table, swinging his legs off of the edge.

“I already told you, my friend is coming over for a little while to hang out. We haven’t had proper time to see one another for a while, I’d like some time to hang out with him.”

Skeppy huffed at Bad and swung his arms into the air. “But you have me! We can just hang out instead! Fuck your other friend.” “LANGUAGE! I can’t believe you! I’m hanging out with Sapnap today and that’s final. You will survive a few hours without me, muffinhead.”

Bad watched fondly as Skeppy crossed his arms and looked down at the ground pouting. He reached out towards the borrower and carefully scooped him up and brought him into a hug. Bad smiled when Skeppy leaned into him.

“Fine, but I won’t be happy about it. And we better make muffins tonight.”

Bad smiled and rubbed Skeppy’s back with his thumb. “Of course! And they’ll be chocolate chip, just for you.” Bad smiled harder at Skeppy’s small cheer. “Thank you, Skeppy.”

“No problem, Bad.”

They stayed in their hug for a little while longer until they were interrupted by knocking at the front door. Bad frantically pulled Skeppy away from himself and set the borrower on the kitchen counter near where he knew one of Skeppy’s entrances into the wall was.

“Coming!” He shot Skeppy one last smile and a wave before he rushed to the front door.

Bad quickly walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Sapnap, holding a small box in his hands and smiling brightly. “Bad! Good to see you man!” Sapnap dove forwards to hug Bad, who gladly returned the hug. They pulled apart and Bad stepped to the side and wove Sapnap in. “It’s wonderful to see you too! Come on in, Sap!” Bad closed the door behind Sapnap as he took off his shoes. Sapnap turned to Bad and lifted up the box a bit so that Bad could see it. “What should I do with this?” Sapnap grinned as Bad examined the box with confusion. Sapnap thought it was hilarious how confused his friend could get.

“What is that? I mean, I guess you could set it on the kitchen table, but I have no clue what that is.” Sapnap smiled at his friend’s words and held the box towards Bad. He didn’t miss the way Bad’s eyes lit up in excitement when he realized that the box was for him. Bad carefully took the box from Sapnap and looked at him as if silently asking for permission. At Sapnap’s nod, Bad took the lid off of the box and gasped.

“Sapnap! You didn’t have to!” Bad reached in and grabbed out a small bracelet with a red and black charm and a small fire charm on it. Sapnap only smiled and lifted up his wrist to reveal a similar bracelet, just with an orange bracelet as opposed to Bad’s black one.

Bad set the box down and quickly slipped the bracelet on his wrist before diving in to give Sapnap another hug, which the man returned with a laugh.

An hour later after some idle conversation, the two men found themselves sitting on the couch in the living room, both with a hot cup of tea just chatting about how things have been since they’ve last seen one another.

Sapnap took a sip of tea as he listened to Bad recounting another story of something he recently did with a new friend of his. Sapnap was beyond overjoyed that Bad made another friend, plus, the guy seemed awesome too. Bad told him about all of the pranks that his new friend has pulled on him and how annoying he got sometimes, Sapnap knew he would get along amazingly with this new friend of his.

As Bad was talking about him and his friend making muffins the other day, Sapnap thought he saw some movement out of the corner of his eye. He glanced over and saw a small flash of blue disappear behind the television.

“Sapnap? You alright?” Sapnap turned to Bad who was looking at him concerned. He sent Bad a small smile.

“Ah, sorry Bad. I zoned out there for a minute, thought I saw something.” Sapnap didn’t miss the way Bad instantly seemed nervous and began glancing towards the television. He decided not to say anything though, Bad wasn’t one who could keep a secret very well so if he was hiding something then Sapnap would figure it out very quickly.

“You muffin! I was just telling you about Skeppy and I-” Bad cut himself off and his cheeks reddened a touch in embarrassment. He turned to Sapnap in a panic. “Wait-”

“You said his name! Hah! Now I just got to find out who this Skeppy person is and then I’ll help hook you two up, alright?” Sapnap grinned as Bad reddened even further as he began to sputter about how he didn’t like him like that and other nonsensical words to Sapnap. “Bad, buddy, you cannot tell me you don’t like him. All you have been talking about is him and how amazing of a friend he is. There is absolutely no way there isn’t anything between you two, I just don’t believe it.”

“Sapnap! No! I promise, we are just friends! I’m not even sure how that would work.” Bad mumbled the last part to himself. Sapnap is pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to hear that part either, it only confused him. What was that supposed to mean, ‘I’m not sure how it would work?’ Sapnap was starting to question if he should keep pressing this or not.

“Alright, alright, you can chill. I won’t push you on that. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Bad.” Now Sapnap just felt bad, his friend was actually looking a bit panicked and Sapnap just continued to push it. “If it matters though, this Skeppy guy sounds awesome, I’d love to meet him some day.” Bad sent Sapnap a small smile that he was certain was a sign of forgiveness. He cheered internally at his success.

“I’m sure you two would get along, Sap.” 

After that, they continued talking about different stories over what they’ve been up to. Sapnap brought up how he was stopped from adding a flamethrower to his costume last Halloween, earning him a laugh from Bad. Apparently Bad agreed that a werewolf wouldn’t have a flamethrower. Sapnap still stands by his opinion that they should have flamethrowers.

Once the sun began to set, Sapnap bid his farewells and left to go back to his home. Bad waved until he couldn’t see Sapnap anymore and closed the door. As soon as he shut the door he sighed. That was way too close, that could’ve gone a lot better.

“Skeppy? Sapnap is gone, you can come out now,” Bad called out to the borrower to let him know he was in the clear. Though, Bad wouldn’t be surprised if the borrower refused to come out. Bad had accidentally revealed his name. Sure, Sapnap doesn’t know he’s a borrower, but Bad still screwed up.

Bad walked into the kitchen, slightly upset by the silence he was receiving but completely understanding. Still, he couldn’t help but lean on the counter and glance towards Skeppy’s small entrance, hoping to see the borrower walk out to come talk with Bad.

Bad sighed in disappointment and pushed himself off of the counter. He was just going to go to bed, it was a long day and he was tired. 

However, he froze when he heard the telltale sound of tiny footsteps. He turned around and was happy to see Skeppy peek out of the hole in the wall and glance over at him. Bad quietly walked over to Skeppy and set his hand onto the counter.

Skeppy scrambled onto his hand and Bad lifted him up to be more eye level.

“I am so sorry, Skeppy. It was an accident I promise. I really didn’t mean to-” Bad was cut off as Skeppy reached out and gingerly set a hand on his nose. Bad went cross-eyed to look at the borrower, who chuckled at the reaction.

“I know you didn’t mean it Bad. It was an accident, you are all good. Besides, I’m too good of a borrower to be caught! He won’t find me anyways!” Bad snorted.

“I met you because you fell into a bucket, Skeppy.”

“You got lucky.”

“You would’ve died if I hadn’t found you.”

“I refuse to believe that I can die.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Bad couldn’t help but smile. This only proved why Skeppy was his best friend. They would stick together and make it through every obstacle in their path. He smiled at Skeppy who grinned right back at him.

“Now let’s make those muffins!”

---

Dream was making his way through the walls when he heard the front door open and Sapnap announcing that he was back. He grinned and made his way towards George’s room where they were planning on having a movie night.

It was always strange when only one of the humans was home. Sure, he and George got to spend a lot of time together with just the two of them. Dream had made sure to annoy George as much as he could, much to the annoyance of the human.

But it wasn’t the same without Sapnap. They were a trio and nothing could change that.

But now Sapnap was home from visiting his friend and they could all hang out and watch a movie tonight. Dream pushed the small piece of wood away from the exit in the wall and walked out into George’s room. He looked up to see George and Sapnap already sitting on the bed, discussing how Sapnap’s day was with his friend Bad.

Dream only half paid attention to the conversation and scaled up the side of the bed. Both humans had noticed him but made no move to grab him. Dream was extremely grateful that both of them respected his boundaries and want for independence.

Once Dream was up on the bed, he quickly scrambled over to Sapnap, wanting to cuddle in his hands tonight. He had enough time with George today, it was time to get Sapnap cuddles. 

Sapnap was quick to scoop him up and hold Dream by his chest as he continued to talk about his day. He leaned back onto Sapnap’s chest and closed his eyes, very content with the rumbling of his chest as he spoke. But then he heard Sapnap say a name that sounded vaguely familiar.

“Can you repeat that last part, Sap?” Dream needed to know if he heard him correctly. There was just no way that he said the name he thought he heard. Sapnap glanced down at Dream confused.

“I just said that I’m pretty sure Bad has either a crush or a secret boyfriend who goes by the name Skeppy. And I wanted to see if George knew them.”

Dream couldn’t believe it. This was either the biggest coincidence or Sapnap’s friend was actually talking about the borrower who saved his life a few years back.

“Is-is that a common name? Because I met another borrower a few years back with that same name. It’s a strange name, so I thought it was just a unique borrower name.” Dream looked up to see that George had paused the tv and both humans had focused their gazes on the borrower.

“Neither of us have heard a name like that before… do you think Bad was actually talking about a borrower then?”

Dream was starting to feel conflicted. He honestly wouldn’t be too surprised if Skeppy had managed to get himself caught, he was the most reckless borrower Dream had ever met, and that was impressive coming from Dream. But he did not deserve to be caught, Dream didn’t want to imagine the fire he saw inside of Skeppy die out because he managed to get caught.

“It actually seems very possible, Bad was a bit nervous and I do think I saw something run into the walls now that I think about it.” Sapnap’s answer only seemed to further worry Dream as he began thinking about the possibilities of Skeppy’s fate.

“Would Bad hurt him? If so, I propose we try and rescue him.” 

“I’d hate for a borrower to be hurt or caught by anyone, I’d be down for a rescue mission.” George looked down at Dream, a determined smile on his face. Dream was thankful for a friend like George. They both turned their gazes to Sapnap, hoping he would be on board with their idea.

Sapnap just looked unsure about that idea. “I don’t know about this. Bad isn’t a bad person, even if he did catch your friend I don’t think he would ever hurt them.”

“Even the friendliest human will turn on a smaller creature. I’ve watched it happen before.” Sapnap looked sadly at Dream. He knew how bad life was for borrowers, Dream had told them all about it. But, Bad wasn’t a bad person. He was the nicest person Sapnap knew, he could never imagine Bad being horrible to any creature.

But Sapnap knew he would really struggle in convincing his friends that this was a bad idea. Especially with this being an old friend of Dream’s. He sighed as he made up his mind. He couldn’t believe he was going to agree to this.

“Fine, I’ll join you two. But I’m still unsure if this is a good idea or not.” George and Dream cheered at his response. Sapnap hesitantly smiled at them. He’d do anything to help his friends, but he was anxious to see where this was going to go. 

Guess he’ll find out if he regrets this later then.

[umbralsound-xiv]

Whoever thought that the things i heard in such troubled moments would have been any help?

I have to keep going.

I have to live.

...It was enough to pull me out of the bedsheets at least. I still felt absolutely terrible, but at least...

...At least i was concious enough to feel it.

For now.

Eir Fellfrost staggers uneasily to his feet; wincing at the sound of the door. He wavers a little, holding onto the table. "...Sayuri?"

Sayuri Aoki carefully shut the door behind her, despite knowing they'd most likely go through it soon. ".. Yeah, just me." She offers a faint smile along her words, her voice surprisingly steady compared to how it had been the past few suns. She steps up onto the stage, making her way over to Eir's location.

Eir Fellfrost: "Hah... Not -just- you." He smiles weakly, before his expression falls. He'd long since stopped trying to stop the blood flow; his shirt sodden from suns of intermittent nosebleeds. "...I... Had almost thought you had gone without me." He half teases, through what little humour he can muster. It's unsure if he was being serious or not.

...Not that i thought she would have. But i would have followed right after her, regardless. It is strange... Waking without anyone in my immediate vicinity.

...Better to get used to it now.

Before...

...

Sayuri Aoki furrows her brows a little, offering a weak smile. "Go to our horrible little cruise without you? I could never." Her smile grows a touch pained, a faint exhale leaving her. "No, I was in the Sanctum - talking with Bexy."

Eir Fellfrost: "...Hm? Am... I allowed to know what of?" He asks. He continues to stay standing, moving a hand as though he was to remove his shirt, to change, and opting to decide against it. Every so often, he seems to frown, brows knit; as though hearing something he could not blot out.

Sayuri Aoki: ".. A conversation had made me doubt the decision of going back to the ship. The reason I've been visiting the Sanctum is.. because I've wanted to figure it out. Bexy was there so we talked about it.. and I've now settled on that it's needed."

Eir Fellfrost hangs his head quietly. The thought clearly set him at worry, as he exhales a shaky breath, accompanying it with a frown. "...I will not deny i had my doubts. But i..." His eyes close, even if he could not see. "...I am ready. Whilst there is still life left in me."

Sayuri Aoki: ".. Before we can manage to change our minds again, hm?" She offers a pained smile, and a faint sigh. ".. If we go out.. lets go out with a fight."

The thought of fighting stuck fast in my chest. I hated it. Hated the very idea of violence.

Hated growing up in Golmore, sworn to pledge violence to every unfamiliar face i would meet.

Hated the violence i would enact for the Garleans.

And i hated this, too.

But sometimes there are... Things worth fighting for. Even if i would much rather not have to draw my weapons in the first place.

Eir Fellfrost: "...I do not intend to go quietly." Eir reaches up and... Hesitantly, removes his earrings. He holds them in his grasp for a long moment. "..."

Sayuri Aoki cants her head a touch, observing Eir for a moment. ".. Leaving them behind may be for the best. Then.. at least you will know where they are."

Eir Fellfrost: "...They cannot take them from me if i do not have them on my person. I will leave my weapons, too. I think it unlikely they will let me keep them."

Sayuri Aoki: "I.. am leaving my hairpin here.. And they can't exactly disarm me unless they remove my aether wholly.. In which case I will serve no use to them."

Eir Fellfrost nods quietly, settling the earrings on the desk. He slowly ascends the stairs, still keeping a hand on the side of the partition. He looked... Perhaps, not his best. Unkempt hair from suns of sleep and unease; blood caked his face and cheeks, spattering down his chin and chest to soak through his shirt, unterrupted only where tears had washed it away. The last set; seemingly more recent. He takes a breath, as though he was going to say something, and... Doesn't.

I...

...

When had time grown so sparse?

A few weeks had become mere moments. Is it like this for everyone, i wonder? Or just we Viera?

We were running out of time.

Sayuri Aoki slowly reached her hand over to Eir's, seeking to gently coil her fingers around his. She offers no comment on his current appearance, merely offering him comfort in the form of touch. ".. Shall we..?"

Eir Fellfrost: "W-we..." His hand soon finds her own, and squeezes it gently, running his thumb over her knuckles as had become his habit. His head turns towards her, staring through sightless eyes. "...Shall. B-but first... I..." He hesitates, dropping his head a little.

Sayuri Aoki: ".. First?" She cants her head, returning a gentle squeeze of her hand.

How was i supposed say what i wanted to?

We would leave in moments. Less than a bell.

Less than half of one.

No... No. No no no.

Eir Fellfrost: "I... W-wanted to..." His breath wavers, turning his head away from her, hair obscuring his face; even if the ends clung with blood. "...We should... Eat something before we go, n-no? A persimmon? Or... or half? We... Do not know when we will... Next have the opportunity."

Sayuri Aoki: ".. Ah, yeah.. We-.. probably should.."

Eir Fellfrost smiles faintly, walking with her to the sofa. He hesitantly manages to find his footing, to descend to sitting on the sofa, and reaches for one of the fruits. He keeps his quiet, as he digs his fingers into the flesh of the fruit, pulling it in half. "..."

It is for the best. You told yourself this.

Even without everything happening.

It is for the best.

It is for the best.

Sayuri Aoki sank down on the sofa next to Eir, releasing his hand in order to let him use it to tear the persimmon in half. She exhales a faint breath, reaching her right hand up to press against her forehead.

Eir Fellfrost gently offers half a persimmon in her direction. A frown, as he hears her move. "...Sayuri?" He asks, words full of concern. "A-are you...?" He trails, quietly, and shakes his head. "...I hope it fades soon. I am sorry."

Sayuri Aoki offers a weak smile, lowering her hand and reaching it over to accept the persimmon half. ".. I'm okay, Eir. Just my headache reminding me it still exists.. No bleeding, for the time being."

Eir Fellfrost nods quietly, and brings the persimmon up to take a bite from. He swallows it a little bitterly; he didn't seem hungry, despite his words. "...I will..." Eir hesitates, brow knit. "...Miss this. Our... Time. Spent together."

We were going to go back.

Back to the Locket. Back to that nightmare.

...Would we...

Was this the last time...?

Sayuri Aoki: ".. We can continue it, when we get back." Sayuri offered a weak smile, taking a small bite out of her persimmon before leaning her head over to gently bump it against Eir's shoulder. ".. I will miss it too, though.. On the ship."

Eir Fellfrost gently settles his head against hers for some quiet comfort. He takes another bite, contemplating his words. "...It is something to look forward to." He whispers, quietly. "...Something to fight for."

Sayuri Aoki smiles softly, gently nudging her head against him. ".. It is. Although, I.. will apologise in advance.." She pauses, her ears drooping a little. "..I.. will most likely not be compliant to them."

Eir Fellfrost: "...I know." He murmurs. A final bite of the fruit, before he sets the remainder on the edge of the table. "...I have... Steeled myself for that outcome." A quiet pause, as he inclines his head briefly. "...I will fight, too."

I hope that this time, i am... Strong enough.

Fast enough.

Just... Enough.

Please.

Sayuri Aoki exhales a faint breath, taking another bite of her persimmon. ".. I.. am in a way, happy to hear that.. But I am also sorry, that is has to come to that."

Eir Fellfrost: "...There are worse reasons to fight." He lowers his head again, brow knit in thought... Or pain. Or both. "Do not comply. Not for my sake. They would punish us anyway."

...I cannot tell her.

It will make things worse.

Everything will be worse.

It will be... Easier. If she does not know.

It is better this way.

I will not condemn her to that.

Sayuri Aoki: ".. True enough.." She mumbles. Her right ear twitches faintly, brows furrowing before she raises her left hand up to her nose, lightly wiping her sleeve beneath it as the smell of blood assaults her nostrils. "...Ass." She mutters, pressing her sleeve more tightly against it. ".. There are many things I would do for your sake, Eir.. But there is truth to your words.. They will harm us no matter what, and I do not intend to lie down and take it."

Eir Fellfrost: "...They will have a shock when we return. Or... Perhaps they will not. I cannot imagine we will be the first to be so unruly, but... At least i will be at peace with my decision." He lingers a little longer, turning his head towards her... Before pulling away. "...We should not linger overlong. Whilst... I am still concious. Do... You have enough aether to take us to where we are supposed to be?"

Sayuri Aoki: ".. Maybe with you, I was unruly from the start." She forces a smile, which quickly fades. ".. I.. have mostly replenished, so I will be able to relocate us without too much trouble.."

Eir Fellfrost gives a whisper of a laugh, looking away at the sound of it, as the sensation of dread rises anew to sit on his shoulders. "..." Eir pauses, and his hand moves to find hers anew. "...Are you ready, Sayuri?"

Sayuri Aoki extends her hand to his, seeking to coil her fingers around his gently. ".. No. Not really.. But we have to, so it is best to do so before we are unable to move."

Eir Fellfrost: "...Nor am i." He moves to stand, his hand firmly in her own. "...But you are right. We must. Whilst we still... Have time..." He trails, brow furrowing.

I do not think i will ever be ready.

Not until it is too late.

The curse of a life long lived.

I always think i have far more time than i possess.

Sayuri Aoki stands up alongside him, letting her grip of his hand tighten slightly as she exhales an anxious breath. She lowers her other hand from her nose, now having a smear of blood upon her sleeve and her face. She pauses in a moment of hesitation, shaking her head to herself and following it up with swiftly drawing upon her aether - intending to not give herself too much time to reconsider as she seeks to drape the both of them in her cold and promptly relocate them to where they need to go.

Everything was a blur.

Only the feeling of her hand in mine.

The scent of the sea air.

...And that feeling that gripped my chest so tightly.

We never have enough time.

Eir Fellfrost grasps Sayuri's hand tightly. They had made it though Aleport without too many strange glances, considering their condition. And the ferryman did not ask too many questions, as they boarded the boat. Eir looked as though he was going to run at any moment, clearly terrified for his feet being under a substance that never seemed to hold glad tidings any longer. "....How... How long do... You think we will wait...?" He asks, a little nervously. He stands a little closer to her, out of comfort.

Sayuri Aoki's grasp of Eir's hand tightened, having wandered with a surprising amount of determination to get them to their location - something that had waned somewhat the closer they got. ".. I don't know." She leans herself towards Eir slightly, letting her head dip down as a weary breath left her.

With a gust of wind, the air stirs in such a way that it had not previously. Feathers begin to gather... Before a small, Lalafellin woman seems to blink into existence in front of them with a flurry of feathers. "Oh! You're back! ....Though, we -did- say to come alone..."

Eir Fellfrost: "...I cannot see. It would be dangerous for me to make the trip alone. I... Am not familiar with these lands..."

We had no time.

No time left.

I... I---

I could not...

Sayuri Aoki frowns a touch, bowing her head down as Bird appears before them. She does not add to Eir's words, but her grasp of him does tighten.

Little Bird: "Well... Suppose you do have a point. And, there's no one else here but you, and you're both going back to the Locket, huh? I'll let this one slide... I suppose..." She responds, in an almost jovial fashion. "So! Ready?"

Eir Fellfrost: "...As i will ever be." Eir responds. His hand shakes in her grasp. "..."

Sayuri Aoki: "... Yes." Sayuri's tone was surprisingly sharp, her reply rather curt. It seems she truly doesn't want to give herself too much time to think on it.

Little Bird: "Okay!" Little Bird responds. "Hold on tight -- Won't take long, i promise!" She responds. A flurry of feathers, and what feels like being swept up in a tornado is felt, before the familiar feeling of metal underfoot becomes apparent. Not a mote of light can be seen, but the familiar thrum of an aetheric engine can be felt.

We had no time. No time left to us. Only the feeling of her in my arms, and her hand in mine.

The deafening bellow of the engine that she herself had unwillingly fed with her own aether.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to...

...

But i could not.

Eir Fellfrost remains still as stone, as a panicked whimper is given through his lips. He holds Sayuri a little tighter...

Sayuri Aoki's ears flatten, a sense of utter dread washing over her as they stand within the dark room. Her grip of Eir's hand tightens significantly, but she remains quiet.

Little Bird is nowhere to be seen, or heard.

Eir Fellfrost catches his breath. The gentle hum of the machinery. Footsteps, from the other side of the room; not within their own. And... The telltale rattle of pipes.

I had no time!

This could be the last moment given to us, and i---!

I--!

...

Eir Fellfrost: "No! NO! Not yet!" Eir screams; any confidence had already fled him. He drags Sayuri into his arms, terrified.

Sayuri Aoki's breath catches in her throat with a choked noise. She moves her free arm to wrap it around Eir's waist tightly, hugging herself into him. She has tensed up to the point she feels incredibly still, her voice ringing out incredibly quietly. ".. I will be okay, Eir. I will be okay." She did her utmost to sound confident, but it was evident that her confidence was fading.

Again.

I let it happen again.

Just like Juhni’a.

Eir Fellfrost: "Sayuri, I... I---" Eir manages, burying his face into her hair. A shaky breath. He steels himself, even as conciousness begins to leave him. "...I am... s-sorry." He whispers... Before he goes silent.

I am sorry, Sayuri.

So, so sorry.

Sorry i could not tell you when i needed to.

There was never enough time.

Sayuri Aoki buries her own face into Eir's chest, breathing out sharply, and in a little too much. "It-.. it's.. okay.." Sayuri's deeper inhale forcefully tears at her consciousness as the gas surrounds them, her body growing limp in Eir's arms.

...I cannot imagine i will survive this. Perhaps this time, it will be me who runs into those doors and does not return.

It is better that way.

Even if i do not believe it.

It is better this way.

...At least this time, i need not live so long with my regrets.

[reddrobins]

robins spirit [d.wayne]

Older! Damian Wayne x Super! Reader

Request: I love your recent damian fanfic! 🥺 could you pls do another one with “I’d hurt anyone who ever left a scar on you.” with a reader who’s a vigilante that often spars/fights with him. They show up at the wayne manor with a bruise on their face after fighting with Robin over a stupid argument and Damian’s concerned. But then they figure out what happened and he feels rly bad. Thank you :) + *knocks on your door* so I just thought of something... What if a Kent/Super! Reader x Damian? Oki bye *closes door*

Authors note:  This is so terrible I’m so sorry, I was really stressed today and I apologize for the shit writing

Summary: A new vigilante emerges in Gotham, one that's super. Batman and Robin find out and Bruce sends his son to confront this new suspected metahuman. After a rough night, Damian leaves ‘Spirit’ badly wounded, so when (Y/N) Kent comes over the next day with the same scratches, Damian gets suspicious.

You were tired of living under your father and brothers' spotlights. Hell, you were even under your mother's spotlight in civilian life. So,  at the ripe age of seventeen, you decided to take matters into your own hand and became the vigilante known as Spirit.

The first few nights on the streets of Metropolis went horribly. Not only did you run into your father, who at the time didn’t know it was you, a multitude of times, but everyone seemed to think the ‘S’ on your uniform stood for supergirl. 

You were enraged, could you just, for one night, not be a Kent or a Super? You needed a change of scenery, so you did your research.

As you searched away on your laptop, looking up distances between cities, you came to realise that the only far enough place for you to make a name for yourself was in Gotham.

So here you were, perched atop the Gotham National Bank building, on the prowl for any villain that deemed tonight a good night for trouble. 

“Come here often?” You spoke out as you felt a certain presence behind you. You had to admit sometimes super hearing comes in handy. 

The figure, that seemed to be walking towards you, stopped its movements. 

“Listen pal, I know you’re there, why don't you make this easier for you and just turn yourself in.”

“Tt.” The figure gave.

You stood up from your crouching position and began to walk towards whoever this mystery person was. “If you want to do it the hard way…” 

You swung your arm at the masked figure only for it to be caught. Damn, you thought. This isn't just any robber. The person caught a supers punch. I mean hey you were only half Kryptonian, but still.

“Impressive.” You quip as you go in for another hit. This time the assailant moves forward and you catch a glimpse of them in the light, “Robin?” You pause, what the hell was Damian doing here?, leading Robin's hit to go unblocked.

It hits your cheek and you scrunched up your face, fuck, he has a good punch. Once again, only half-super, so the sting was still there.

Robin grunts, going back on the attack when you put your hands up in a surrender, “Hey! D-Robin, we’re on the same team, calm it down!”

The masked teen doesn't listen and dives for another hit, “How do I know you are not lying.” He asks, landing another punch to your side.

You groan, not in pain but frustration, why did Damian have to be this stubborn, “I’m a vigilante, just like you. I’m trying to help out the town.”

Robin rolls his eyes, though you can’t see it from behind the domino mask. “Prove it.”

You blankly stare at him, “How?”

He finally resists from landing another hit on you, “Why are you at the bank, unless you plan to rob it?”

It's now your turn to roll your eyes, “I could ask the same of you short stack.” You hated to admit it, but Damian was in fact taller. 

If there’s one thing you got from your mother, it's your attitude.

This seems to catch the young hero off guard as he sputters, looking for an answer. “I’ll have you know I am the same height as you, If not taller.” Then he grits, pointing his now unsheathed weapon at you, “Answer the question.”

You gently tap the katana away with your fingertips. “Fine. I’m not from Gotham, but I know about your high crime rate and I just wanted to help out, okay?” You lie. Metropolis’ crime rates weren’t peachy either but at least in Gotham you had a name for yourself. 

“Batman and I have it covered.” He said lowly.

“Listen if you don't want me here, I’ll back off, but I just wanted to help those in need.” 

Robin squinted at you, unable to figure out your m.o., were you really who you claimed to be?

“Gotham isn’t looking for more amateur heros, so go back to wherever you came from.” With that, he grappled off of the roof and off into the night. 

“Father. We have an issue.”

Bruce didn’t bother to look away from the batcomputer, this wasn’t the first time Damian had barged in with that sentiment. “What is it Damian?”

The teen took his cape off, as well as his kevlar chest plate, “There’s a new vigilante. I’m not sure what she calls herself but she has immense strength, I believe she may be a super or maybe a metahuman as her punch was difficult to block.”

The older man nodded at his son, of course he already knew this, Bruce was aware of every person that came into Gotham, even those unannounced. 

“I’m aware. She calls herself ‘Spirit’. I’ve deduced she’s no older than you, Damian. I’d like you to get to know her. Or at least what she stands for.” 

“Should I take her down?” Damian asked. 

Bruce spun the chair around, a stoic look on this face, “No. just purely find out who she really is. No violence.”

The next day soon became night and here you were, back in Gotham. Damian really thinks he can just ban me from a city? You thought to yourself, hah, good luck with that bird brain. 

You looked around your area, scoping out to see if the coast was clear. After a thorough check, you did a super jump and landed atop a building. 

“Nice jump there, Spirit. I thought I told you not to come back.”

You spun around, Robin? Was Damian seriously following you now?

“Going to have to try a lot harder if you want me to stop fighting the good fight.” You crossed your arms, “Listen, I don’t know your problem with me. I’m just trying to help out, just like you. Just like Batman.”

Damian clenched his fists and stomped toward you, “you are nothing like me, I’m welcomed in this city. You are not.”

You frowned. Oh if only Damian knew who he was actually speaking to - “Seriously, why do you hate me? Afraid I’ll steal your thunder or something?” You pushed his chest trying to get him to back up. 

Apparently, you also forgot you were half-kryptonian as when you pushed him, he stumbled back, hard. 

“Tt, watch it you freak. I don’t want to fight you, but I will if I have to.”

Your heart hurt at the name but you brushed it off, Damian didn’t know who you were. 

You rolled your eyes once more and sat down into the ledge - just like the night of the bank. “I’m sure you would. Listen Robin, I’m just trying to help those in need. Can you really hate a girl for trying?”

The teen vigilante paused,  she did seem sincere, he thought, maybe he could trust her. 

“Fine. But if I find out you’re only in my town to cause trouble, I will end you.” He glared at her and she smirked back. 

“I'd like to see you try. But fair enough. Consider this a partnership.”

Sticking out your hand, you eyed him to shake it. 

Damian refused and simply took out his grappling gun, once again disappearing into the night. 

You poked your cheek in the mirror. It was times like these you wish you had all of your dads powers as this bruise was very ugly to look at. 

He fights very well. You thought as you pinched the sore skin. Even though it had been a day since the incident, the bruise forming was still as purple as ever. You didn't know how you were going to make it through today. Tim and Conner had a planned hangout and after your mom said you needed a little more ‘Conner time’, you had to tag along. What would Damian think of the bruise?

“(Y/N)! It’s time to go, we’re going to be late!” Your brother yelled from the living room. 

“I’m coming, Conner, just hold on!” 

You tried to put some concealer on the bruise but it just wouldn’t mask the ugly discolored skin. 

“(Y/N)!” Conner yelled again. 

“Alright, alright, hold your fucking horses.” You whispered to yourself. 

Bursting into the living room, you kept your head down so as to not alert any of the Kent household of your new shiner. 

“Holy shit! (Y/N) what happened to your face!?” Exclaimed Jon as he flew past you. 

You looked up, annoyed at your twin brother's antics. 

“Jonathan Kent, No flying in the house.” Your mother yelled from the kitchen. She then turned to you, “(Y/N), where in the world did that come from?” Reaching out to brush your cheek, you swiftly pulled away, avoiding her eyes at all costs. If there was one thing you didn’t need your family to find out about, it was your late night trips to Gotham City.

“Nothing mom. I just fell in my room is all. Promise, it’s not a big deal.” Looking up to your older brother you signaled to the door, “Time to leave?”

He gave you a toothy grin and nodded, “Yeah c’mon. Tim’s waiting for me.”

-

Conner ran up the steps to the Manor and pounded on the door, far too excited to see his best friend. Meanwhile, you slowly made your way up, really not wanting to have to hang out with the two. 

You still didn’t get why you had to come. She claimed that you and Jon hung out too much and that you needed to get closer to Conner. You rolled your eyes at the memory, you were 17 not 7. Plus, now you had to face Damian.

The two large doors swung open revealing an ecstatic Tim Drake, “Conner! My man! So glad you could come.” He then leaned in, “Did you have to bring your little sister though?” 

Thanks to super hearing, you knew exactly what Tim had said and you grumbled in response. Of course Conner didn’t tell him I was coming. 

Conner laughed and gave Tim a hug, “Don’t worry dude. Just make her hang out with Damian or something.” He whispered.

You blushed at those words, mentally cursing Conner. That fucker knew you had a crush on the youngest Wayne. Why would he do this to you? Especially when you looked like this.

“Alright alright, come on in guys. Bedrooms upstairs to the right but you already knew that.” Tim winked. You followed Conner when he stopped you, placing a hand on your shoulder. 

“Um not you though. Sorry (N/N) today’s bros only day. I’m sure you can stay down here and find a book to read.” He smirked at you knowing full well what Tim would say next. 

“Actually,” Tim said, “Damians in the library painting if you’d like to join him. I’m sure the devil child wouldn’t mind a buddy.”

You glared at the two of them but then sighed, walking towards the large house library. 

Knocking on the door, you called out to see if anyone was in there. 

Unluckily enough, Damian came to open it. You kept your head down as to avoid attention from your killer battle wound. You did not want Damian to find out about your nightly activities, he would never stop nagging you then.

“Kent.” He greeted, “To what do I owe the pleasure.” Damian said mockingly. 

You rolled your eyes and pushed past him, finding a seat on the sofa. 

“My lovely brother decided to ditch me for yours so here I am.” 

Damian chuckled, walking back to his paints. “How poetic.” He remarked. Then asked, “How’s Jon?”

You shrugged still looking at the floor, “He’s good. You know just being the same goofy asshole he’s been since he was 10.”  The young Wayne teen laughed at that in agreement. 

“And you? How have you been Damian?” You asked. 

“Annoyed. There’s a new vigilante in town. Claims to be the ‘Spirit’. She’s been challenging me while on patrol.  I’ve been having small spats with her here and there, but they’re driving me insane. She's almost as bad as Todd.”

You couldn’t help but look up, smirking, after all, it's not everyday you got the oneup of Damian.“Awe does little ol’ Damian have a crush?” You teased. Hope glimmered in your eyes. 

Damian was about to roll his eyes when he caught sight of your face. His focus latched on to the large black and blue mark on your cheek. His heart stopped, he knew where that came from. 

Because he was the one that did it. Then the dots clicked. 

“You! You’re Spirit? What the hell Kent? Do you know how dangerous Gotham is?”

Damian marches over to you in annoyance, “Do you know how difficult you have made my life? Not only do I think about you daily as (Y/N) Kent, but now nightly as Spirit!?” He blurted out. 

You froze. Damian thought about you? Does that mean…

“Damian, does that mean you like me?”

His cheeks flared a pretty red color as he looked at his shoes, “If I were to say yes, would you be in agreeance or make a fool of me?” 

You chuckled as you stood up from the couch and placed your hand in his. “Damian I’ve liked you for such a long time it’s unbelievable, I just can’t believe you like me-“ 

He interrupted you, “Beloved, you are the sun in my life, and I pray that I can make you mine.” 

You blushed furiously, “Of course.”

Smiling, Damian leaned in and captured your lips. He kissed you desperately, like he’d been needing this for years. 

He went to further the kiss and put his hand on your cheek, causing a hiss of pain to erupt out of you. 

You pulled back, holding your bruised cheek. You laugh, “You pack quite the punch.”

Damian scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. “I truly apologize beloved, if I had known it was you, I would’ve gone lighter, I’d hurt anyone who ever left a scar on you or a bruise for that matter.”

You rolled your eyes, though flattered by Damians words, you could handle yourself. I mean you were half-kryptonian after all. 

“I appreciate the sentiment Dami, but I can handle myself. Really, you saw how good I fought firsthand.” You squeezed his hand lightly. 

“I know. I would never question your strength. I love that about you.”

You pecked his lips “Good. Just remember who kicked your ass last night.”

Damian wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you close, “I don’t think I could ever forget that. It was quite humbling.”

You scrunched your nose at his sarcastic tone, “You’re a jerk.”

He smirked and then leaned close, forehead pressed into yours. “But I’m your jerk. And that’s all that matters right now.”

[my-fanfic-library]

Something Different {BBC Dracula x Reader} [20]

Masterlist

A/N: I write this as I sit in bed, knowing full well that I should be on the bus right now on my way to my lecture, but that doesn’t matter. Thank you all for your help last night, it truly did help me calm down a lot. Also I’d like to apologise for clearly being over dramatic (but God has punished me because I am actually a little ill now Oof). Anywho, enjoy the chapter and enjoy the gif of Claes which may or may not suggest acts that you shall do to Dracula which most definitley would not be in line with the current traffic laws

Oh, also a warning - there’s quite a few sexual references in this one and also an almost handjob.

~^*^~

Now, while Dracula was the most sophisticated, high maintenance, gentlemanly gentleman that you had ever had the pleasure of meeting, he definitely had some weird quirks. For one, he truly enjoyed showers and baths. He didn’t need them, considering his body didn’t sweat and nor did he reek of death (only to the human nose, apparently - dogs could smell him from miles off). He said that he simply liked the convenience of it. One of humanities greatest inventions, he had proclaimed.

Currently, you were indulging in his most recent quirk. Back pressed against the door of the bathroom, you could hear the shower running and another sound. Music. What you originally would have expected to be beautiful classics like Gymnopedie No. 1, maybe Clair De Lune or something along those lines, was actually...

Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road.

You were in hysterics. Your stomach had knotted with the force of your (almost) silent laughter, tears were threatening the corner of your eyes and your jaw ached. You didn’t have any idea just how Dracula had found it, or why he liked it so very much as to put it on repeat, but listening to him hum along the tune was spiralling you down into painful bouts of laughter every second that you heard it and continued to think about the bizarreness of the entire ordeal.

Maybe you should have laughed a little further away, since a certain male had heard the laughter that you had genuinely tried to conceal. He wanted to catch you off guard for being so inconsiderate to both his wishes to bathe and his music choices.

Back still pressed firmly against the door, you had to lean further into it just to support yourself and when whoosh. Down you went as steam billowed out and onto your back you went. It was Dracula’s turn to laugh now. You scowled, laugh immediately disappearing from your features as you pushed yourself up to look at him. Regret hit you. In just a towel, secured to his waist by his hand, he loomed over you as he continued to chuckle. His other arm extended over your head, holding the door open and holy shit, you didn’t realise the expanse of the muscle he had. Beads of water rolled down his skin, a thin layer of heat steaming off of him, as if to physically scream ‘look at how how I am!’ And you chocked on air. His hair all wet and falling into his face, his chest puffed out as his laughter continued. Dear heavens above, you should have stayed in the bedroom and far, far away from him when he looked like this.

Which one of you was the cannibal again? You couldn’t remember.

“Do you no longer find my taste in music amusing, or is there something suddenly bothering you?” He teased, eyes looking over your form. All that you wore was one of his much too oversized shirts. You had told him that you enjoyed to sleep in it because it was comfortably, but the truth was that it swallowed you with his scent and you loved it. You hadn’t even realised that the music was no longer playing.

“I-“ you were lost for words, gawking at him.

“Oh, you see something you like?”

“No- I- you know what, I think I’m gonna just got for a quick jog to, uh, I don’t know- Scotland. Yes, Scotland.”

“Darling, you would never make it out of this room. I wouldn’t let you.”

“Drac,” you huffed, “please stop doing things that make me feel a burning need to mock you because I don’t like your cockiness when you get me back.”

“Well, how is it fair that you get to have your way with me, but I can’t?”

“Dracula you had your way with me before you,” for the last word of your sentence, you brought up your fingers to use as air quotes, “died.”

“And I hadn’t even started.” He smirked, “now, is there something that you wanted?”

“No, you can return to your shower. Maybe try a different song, though, Old Town Road gets old fast.”

“I think I have an even better idea.” His hand that held the door fell and hooked around your waist, pulling you into the room. You gently yelped in surprise as he pulled your chest flush to his. You could feel the water soaking the shirt immediately and you tried to wiggle your way out of his grasp. The door shut behind you, “stop moving or I’ll drop the towel.” You froze.

“Oh, c‘ mon Drac, Barefoot Contessa was about to start.” You pouted.

“You were very clearly more interested in me than in the television. Now, as you can see, I’ve left the water running.”

“Good for you. Your water bill will be high this month.” You retorted.

“Care to join me?”

“Hah, no.”

He dipped his head down to your mark, which had scarred over nicely. Pushing the hair away from that side of your neck, he pressed a kiss. You shuddered, balling your hands into fists. He wasn’t about to win. You couldn’t afford to let him win again. He pressed a second kiss against it, and when you still showed signs of resilience, his tongue flicked out. Sweet Jesus. A blissful and intense tingle spread through your shoulders and down your back. Your knees buckled and you pressed your hands to his firm chest to keep yourself upright.

“Much better.” He hummed, “have I persuaded you, yet?”

“No.” You breathed.

His mouth began to work against your neck, kisses here and there, his tongue occasionally trailing a quick stripe across your skin. If just his kisses like this drove you haywire, what the fuck would you do in much more intimate circumstances? It became apparent quickly that you wouldn’t be able to stand much more of this abuse and-

“Okay fine! But no funny business. We are meant to be going out today.”

“I won’t promise to keep my hands to myself, but I’ll definitely obey your command, my darling.”

You watched him as he used his fingers to bind the towel to his body. The room was filling with steam once more and you were choking on the humidity. Mostly. His eyes glossed over you, a sheen of something over them. His fingers trailed from your waist, down your hips and to the hem of his your shirt.

“How about we dispose of this for the time being?” His tongue flicked out to wet his lips. Your heart thundered in your chest. This man. He’d certainly be the death of you - figuratively or quite literally, you weren’t sure.

“Alright.” You whispered. Your eyes locked with his and with a slow, yet swift movement, he pulled the material up and over your head. It landed somewhere but he was otherwise occupied now, looking your body over once more.

“You didn’t even wear underwear to bed?” He raised his eyebrow, “my goodness. You minx.”

“What can I say?” You shrugged, “it’s much more freeing.”

He chuckled deeply. A pink tint adorned your face and he knew that you were a little embarrassed to be so bare before him. He hadn’t realised up until this moment when his eyes scanned you that he’d accidentally left a pink blossom on your neck which was beginning to bloom purple. A wicked and smug smile crossed his lips.

“Go and get in,” he whispered the command and you did so, not without trailing your fingers against his torso as you moved past him. He turned, enchanted, taking in the back angles of your body. You truly were a goddess. There was no other explanation that was feasible.

His eyes became greedy, watching the way the glass began to steam once more as hot beads of water began to cascade over you. You sighed at the feeling. Ducking your head under the jet of water, your hair became wet immediately. When you threw your head back with a gasp, Dracula very almost lost all control. The way your hair stuck to you perfectly, strands accentuating the curves of your upper body, water streaming from the ends and washing over every single curve of you.

Your cheeks were now red from the heat of the water and you were tugged backwards suddenly by his hands. Your back became flush with his chest and his lips came down to attack your shoulders. His hands ran against your skin, careful not to touch anywhere he’d know you’d like a little too much. How had he ended up this lucky?

“I didn’t even need a shower today. I had one last night.” You grumbled, but you were savouring his touch.

“You’re keeping me company.” He hummed against your skin.

You turned in his arms, wrapping your own firmly around his neck so that you could stand on your toes with support. You were a little closer his height now. His hands trailed along your back, feeling every inch of skin yet he remained adamant to not touch you where you were beginning to crave it most.

“Maybe I didn’t want to.” You began to press kisses to his collarbones.

“Maybe I didn’t want you to, either, yet here we are.”

He drove you backwards and your back hit the wall, behind where the water was coming from the shower head. The wall was freezing and eased your body where the heat was making it uncomfortably hot. You lowly groaned at the sensation and Dracula began his kisses on your neck, your shoulders, and the first few inches of your chest. Your fingers knitted into his hair, your lips parted slightly and shit, a familiar warmth spread to your gut.

“Drac,” you gasped and he stopped, pressing his body into yours. What kind of game was he playing?

“Yes, [First]?”

“You know, we could totally just...” you trailed off, hoping he’d be able to finish your sentence himself. You bit your lip, anticipating his response.

“Well, we aren’t.” He chuckled lightly, “wasn’t it you that just said no funny business? Look at you now, practically begging for me.”

“You’re the one who started this.” You pouted.

“Actually, you are. Had you not been outside of the bathroom at all, I never would have felt the desire to have you join me. But if you’re going to get greedy and expect more than I’m willing to offer, then I suggest that you go and get yourself ready for our outing.”

“Alright.” You almost pushed past him, stomping out of the shower and plucking up the shirt at you neared the door. If he was going to play games with you, you would finish it. Even if that meant by yourself.

“Oh, and [First],” he called and you snapped your head around to look at him sharply, he was grinning, “don’t do anything that you would prefer me to do. I will know, and there will be consequences.”

~^*^~

An hour later and you were finally ready to leave. You had eaten, and gotten yourself dried and dressed. Due to the intense August heat, you had opted for a sundress that showed off the bottom halves of your legs and exposed your arms and your chest and your back. Dracula liked it very much, but he had put up a fight about you wearing it outside where other men could so freely look at you.

One thing that had genuinely shocked you was Dracula’s newest addition to his résumé - driving. He had surprised you approximately a week ago by picking you up from the gym in a shiny, brand new Jag. Apparently he had felt the need to learn this skill to fit in a little more and to make his way to you when he found out you had gone northward without the papers reporting on a large black beastly hound walking the length of the M1.

He couldn’t have looked more bougie if he tried. His suit, a little more causally worn than usual with the first two buttons undone and exposing his chest just a little, the suit jacket right over the top and open to show no waitcoat like usual. He had opted for some glasses today and had your mouth been open, you’d be drooling all over the centre console.

“Stop looking at me like that, I’m finding it hard to concentrate.” He stated lowly.

“Don’t look so fucking good them.” You crossed your arms and looked ahead instead at the streets of London rushing by.

“I can’t help it. It’s my thing.” You scoffed at his words.

“It is not your thing, you do it on purpose.” You huffed at him.

“I’ve been caught.”

“... why don’t we just pull over for like ten minutes?”

“[First], I am not pulling over.” He told you, “get a grip of yourself, woman.”

He laughed. He was not getting away with toying with you all morning. He had made it his mission when you had woken up to ignite every inch of your skin with his touch, he had hovered his lips over yours, he had done everything in his power to make you feel weak in the knees and you had finally had enough.

Reaching over, your hand came to rest right between his legs and his laughter faded with a soft “ah,” and he couldn’t help the smallest moan that left his lips. His head automatically threw back and he had to will himself to keep his eyes on the road. He spoke your name dangerously. It was a warning to stop. He’d had his fun, it was your turn. You began to slowly and tantalisingly move your hand along his length. He drew in a breath. It had been a very long time since this had occurred and the sudden recollection of the feeling drove him so quickly to the edge of insanity that he thought he would crash the car. A shaky breath left his lips, his eyes fluttered shut and he sucked in his bottom lip between his teeth.

Your smirked proudly. Who knew vampires still worked anatomically? And could still feel the pleasure?

Well, you learnt something new everyday. This was your TIL.

A fire began to burn in the pit of his stomach and he couldn’t concentrate on anything except for the feeling of your hand. He genuinely wanted to cry. Eyes flickering to the rear view mirror, he made sure that there wasn’t a car behind him and slammed on the breaks. Your body became restrained against the seat belt and you knew to take your hand away.

“Do you have a death wish?” He growled, turning to face you. Fuck, how did anger make him even more attractive than to begin with?

“Well, my boyfriend once told me that his dick would kill me, so yes, yes I do.” His face softened. You had never called each other official names yet. It just hadn’t been discussed.

“Your boyfriend?”

“Yeah, I know. He’s a right catch. The only problem with him is that he’s spent all morning riling me up and I’ve had nothing to show for it.” You dramatically sighed.

“He sounds like an arsehole.” Dracula mused, playing along.

“He really is. I still love him, though.”

Before Dracula could lean over and crash his lips to yours like he wanted to, a car behind him honked and he was forced to simply smile and gloat over the fact that you had finally confessed that you loved him, too.

~^*^~

The first half of your outing went swimmingly well. Dracula was all smitten, insistent on holding your hand as you wandered around the shops just looking at everything. You were pulling him around like an excitable puppy, into every store to show off some of the greatest things humanity had created since the 1800s.

When it came to around lunchtime, Dracula inquired into your current hunger status, and you had denied his offer to eat. You hadn’t been shopping in so long and you always found it fun to just see what things were on sale.

It was, however, in the midst of the lunchtime slump as most people made their way to the food court that the worst was destined to happen. His voice had called out to you, as Dracula had his back turned towards you. It didn’t look as though you were together considering the space and the fact that you were looking away from each other. Your head snapped over.

“Hey, what’s a pretty thing like you being out alone? Wouldn’t you prefer some company?” You clutched your bag and you heard the click of Dracula’s shoes as he turned to look at the commotion behind him.

“Actually, I’m uh, I’m-“

“Here, I’ll treat you.” His hand came out and grasped your wrist.

“No, really-“

Dracula’s hand suddenly planted over his and you looked over to see a deadly look on his face. If looks could kill. The eyes of the gentleman currently trying to steal you away from him flashed with fear.

“She isn’t interested.” Dracula spoke very clearly, very slowly and made sure to make himself look as tall as possible. You shrunk down a little.

“Come on, man, don’t get involved.” Clearly whoever this man was, was an idiot.

“Don’t get involved?” Dracula scoffed, “some filthy vermin has its hand on something that belongs to me. So I suggest that you remove it.” With some force, he squeezed and you felt the pressure in your arm. It released as Dracula pulled the man’s hand off of you.

“Fuck this.” He grumbled and slumped away as quickly as he could.

Well, that was the trip ruined. Dracula’s mood had soured. Just as you needed his good mood to help you with your shopping, it had very quickly wilted. It wasn’t going to stop you, however, as you tugged him into the first of many clothing stores. Within minutes, he had almost become your personal shopping cart, carrying all of the things that you wanted to try on. His face was gloomy and blue and you must’ve looked a right sight. A tall and handsome man with the hump and a grumpy face, wrapped around the finger of a cheerful and upbeat girl as he carried all of her goods and let her do as she pleased. Quite the sight, indeed.

In the changing rooms, he became the epitome of boyfriend as he perched on the leather chair that he had picked, waiting for you to do whatever you had to do. Every few minutes or so, you’d pull back the curtains to reveal the clothes you had in and he’d grunt in response or make a blunt remark. His sour mood became old quick and you knew that you were going to have to further piss him off just to make him happier again.

So you bought the clothes that you liked and moved on to the next store, deciding to pick a few more revealing items, more form fitting and lower cut. Every time you moved on to a new store, the amount of ridiculous items began to outnumber the clothes that you’d actually wear. It wasn’t until you drew back the curtain and was standing there in a dress made of fishnet that Dracula snapped. He couldn’t believe you’d stand there in public, your body on display with just your underwear protecting your most intimate features. It accentuated your curves so well and he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else seeing you so revealed. Especially not some lowlife like the man from earlier.

He almost tore your arm off, storming past the cash register as he threw the money down, and then he ripped off his jacket, placing it around you and warning you to do the buttons up. He didn’t speak a word to you in the car.

Holy shit, you were in trouble.

~^taglist^~

@vampiregirl1797 @avalanet @bunnyreese12 @nerdonpluto @teamceleries @grifffins @hitbythunder @winterseoul @mymagicsuitcase @angeli-fucking-cat @benedictethegoddess @bloodhon3yx @nifflersravenclaw @writteninthestars288 @labelladrama @frankcastlesgrunts @angelicdestieldemon @quakerlasss @aliisa-jones @wolverinexmenn @clairedragonessbaker @cryiner @mitsukatsu @piratewhore @your-pixels-are-showing @tardisnesss @ladydovahkiin180 @catwomom @god-of-dramatic-death-scenes @th3rah @viper-queen @mephdcosplay @greghouse7 @faeprinces @kokoro-no-yami @trishaferdream @therealmoni @crazytxgradstudent @sansthelonelypunster @crowley-needs-a-hug @girlonfireice @wasntpriscilla @ivanna6026

[rue-king]

Family Found, Family Taken

(AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32892439)

Previous Part, Next Part

Summary: Gavin jumps right into the case that drives his brain in circles. He ignores and pushes RK900 to the side, determined to pretend he doesn't exist, but RK900 has had enough and makes a move.

Warnings: descriptions of a crime scene, cursing, kidnapping

Chapter Two:

“For someone whose handwriting is so messy you are quite organized” RK900 starts coming out of his interface trying to make conversation.

Reed rolls his eyes, choosing to ignore his attempt. Of course I’m organized, I am a fuckin good detective.

“You know partners need to actually work together” He continues on.

“You know I don’t actually give a fuck right” Reed snaps back lazily.

“Captain Fowler instructed that you cooperate”

“No he told me to accept it, not that I have to hold your fuckin hand”

“Aw you guys talking about holding hands already” Tina Chen jibes as she walks up from the direction of the break room.

“Real cute Chen”

“Haha, oh come on Gav. Anyway, move I wanna meet my new best friend. Hi I’m Tina Chen! Nice to meet you!” She says enthusiastically, putting her hand out for RK to shake.

“Hello, I am RK900.” He says, not accepting the handshake. It doesn’t seem like his ignorance is done in disdain but rather not really feeling quite comfortable enough to do that. Awkward.

Reed laughs quietly under his breath, Tina shoots him a dirty look taking back her hand.

“So new guy, you just go by RK900?”

“That is correct, I have no formal name given to me by cyberlife”

Stiff. Is he even deviant?

“Oh okay! Well it was nice seeing you!” She turns to the side to be dramatic “don't worry about this kid he’s like that to everyone.”

“I am not sure that’s a good thing” He says in a flat tone.

Gavins jaw drops a fraction, “alright, alright get out of here Chen.”

She blows a kiss and walks away with flourish. There is a moment of silence and Gavin starts to go back to work.

“There are multiple cases that are assigned to you and are marked as open.”

Gavin nods his head sarcastically, waiting for the RK unit to get to the point.

“Was that it?” Gavin asks coldly. “4 out of 5 of those cases are already closed, but our computers were down last week so paperwork is slow. I am currently assigned the string of double homicide cases.”

“We” RK corrects.

“The fuck did you say to me?”

“We- you mean, we are assigned to”

“Hah, you fuckin wish. I am assigned to the case, you are here to make the station look pretty.” Gavin bites back.

“Really? Well it seems to me that you are struggling with this case. Perhaps you need my assistance, Detective”

“I don’t need to ask you for shit”

“Well-”

“No fuck this, I’m leaving.” Gavin grabs his jacket, his luke-warm coffee and storms off.

Gavin hops in his car and starts it quickly, taking a deep breath, he pulls out of his spot and toward the latest crime scene.

As he drove he thought about the case's details. His knuckles curl around the steering wheel, stinging as he reopens the slight scabs and cuts that linger there.

Husband and wife, Christina and Mike, found dead in their home at 11:30 AM on September 21st 2039.

They are suspected to have died about 10 to 11 hours prior to their bodies being discovered.

Christina is suspected to have been killed first by strangulation and then Mike by blunt force trauma to the head. (Officers on scene noted that it may have been the corner of the coffee table).

Murder - suicide?

…...No, that's not probable men statistically are more likely to go with a quicker method.

…...Also, Christina showed no signs of defensive wounds and Mike would have shown some sign that she fought back. Regardless of relationship, when your life's on the line people normally try.

….the murderer is significantly stronger than both?

… enough for the main threat to be taken out last?

…..was the female victim used as leverage ?

There was no suspicious activity or persons around the scene reported by neighbors.

The two have a history of loud fighting, but have recently been reported as “doing well.”

The bodies were discovered by Mike’s sister, Cathy, who was supposed to come over for breakfast on the 21st.

Gavin growls under his breath and frustration creeps back up his spine. This case is relatively new but the bodies have already been moved to the morgue for a more conclusive autopsy. The CSI guys on site are shit and nothing they do is quite up to Reed’s standards, so he normally tries to get a look at the crime scene himself.

“Those fukin CSI guys and no name beat cops have probably contaminated my crime scene” Reed grumbles as pulls into the neighborhood.

The crime scene is still pretty fresh as it's a day old. Cops control the area as the press covers the story.

Reed grabs his ancient dark brown leather jacket and slings it over his worn body. He likes autumn, but he's much too grumpy right now to acknowledge it.

He’s too angry and bitter to look at the warm colored leaves that saturate his peripherals and breathe in the crisp air. He would enjoy it too, what a bummer.

Guarding the main entrance to the home is some random beat cop that Gavin has seen around the office. He passes him quickly and brushes off the press’ questions with a stern, cold shoulder.

As he enters the house the first thing he notices is the cold draft of air. The house itself is decorated in a very homey manner. With each piece of furniture and decoration being slightly mismatched, everything is brought together in a sense of warm belonging.

The cold draft makes it feel like he’s gazing into the past. Gross.

He walks further into the house, breaching the archway that separates the foyer and the living room. There he sees the blood. It spatters across the floor, centering around what would have been the back of Mike’s head. It leaks out toward the rug and stains that homey blue color into an ugly dark red.

Gavin takes a deep breath, ready to find whatever the reports left out.

He looks up and calls over to the nearest officer, “are you the only one in here?”

“No, it's me and my partner, who's out back.”

“Oh, well get out I don’t need you guys walking all over my evidence” Gavin states bluntly.

The officer is taken back. He recognises Gavin, the department asshole. He scoffs a bit and walks off to get his partner and leave anyway. Fighting with the DPD’s detectives is a losing game, everyone knows that.

It's as if a switch goes off in Gavin’s brain. He begins to analyze his crime scene.

Blood splatter on the wall and furniture suggests that Mike went down facing the inside of the house.

….he was pushed. There is no way to throw yourself backward with enough force. Murder-suicide.

....there had to been enough force for him to go down fast enough at that exact trajectory to cause a deadly blow

...Mike has a violent(-ish) history, he would have fought back.

….no defensive wounds? (Note: check autopsy reports, maybe go down to morgue?)

At this point, Christina is already dead by strangulation. Her body was found facing away from the front of the house slumped toward the coffee table.

….looking in. What were they looking at? She is used as leverage and her husband is next, why does she die looking away from him? It takes about 4 minutes for a person to die of strangulation (unless the assailant was exceptionally strong).

…. If it took so long, why did Mike not try to fight as his wife choked?

...Something is not adding up. There's a missing piece somewhere.

Reed walks around the living room languidly. He wanders over to the innermost corner of the room, from this position he can see both “bodies” perfectly, along with a view of the front window.

The two victims are facing this corner, this is where the murderer stood. That's where they were when they strangulated Christina and where they pushed Mike. Gavin hums to himself, his brain works in quick and efficient cogs. Moving from thought to thought and connecting each tidbit with a string of concentration.

Mike’s wound should have taken another 5 minutes to become critical enough for him to bleed to death. But he is still looking right here. At this corner.

...what is he looking at? What am I missing?

Reed spins around wildly, looking at the piece of the room behind him. All that lies behind him is a single arm chair and a small circular picture frame that hangs above it. This corner of the room takes up no space and is a V-shape that connects the living room entrance to the kitchen entryway.

He stares hard at the little chair. Little chair.

A door opens in his head, but he can’t quite pin it down.

A sparkle catches his eye. He bends down to get a closer look, reaching his hand under the little chair. He pulls out a dusty untied bow with a few colorful sequences hanging off.

Little chair. Bowtie.

...Child. They are staring at a child.

He breathes out a hard puff of air. He hates cases with children.

They aren’t reported to have any kids.

He walks into the kitchen with a little more energy. He spots the tall white fridge that's adorned with colorful magnets. Magnets at child height with nothing attached to them and one higher up holding an empty, unmarked envelope.

That's so fake. Rigged. Staged.

He pulls open random drawers in search of the junk drawer. He knows there is always at least one in every household.

When he finally finds it he pulls out a slightly bent piece of printer paper. It's a drawing, a child’s drawing. A tall figure drawn in light blue holds the hand of a smaller green figure in a dress who is linked to a taller purple dress clad figure.

A little cloud to the left and a big tree to the right. It’s their family.

They were hiding evidence of a child, their child. Why? They were killed unexpectedly, it wasn’t to hide from the murderer. Who then?

…”Mike’s sister, Cathy, who was supposed to come over for breakfast on the 21st.”

...hiding evidence of a daughter from the sister? Why?

Gavin’s head hurts, he doesn’t even notice he's clenching his jaw in anger. Cases with kids make him angry. He is on a roll now, he can’t stop his momentum.

He pries open the fridge.

Mostly empty. One carton of eggs, one jug of milk, and various vegetables in the drawer. Don’t kids have like snacks or something. This is the fridge of a bachelor.

He moves on, going upstairs. He figures that they can try to hide little photos, but a kid in a house of this size would have her own room.

The parents room check out, nothing special. It’s just as homey as the rest, left as if they were just out running errands.

He moves on to the door at the end of the hallway to the left, facing the street. Jack pot, it's the kids room. Though at first glance it looks like a normal neutral guest bedroom.

He takes a peak under the bed, small toys like dolls and stuffed animals are tucked in the farthest corner. The sheets are new and the bed is freshly made. (As fresh as a day old can be anyway). He walks over to the window and peaks out.

He can make out the big tree that blocks some of the view. From the drawing.

Reed can also make out the image of his freshly dubbed partner stepping out of an automated taxi. RK900’s stark white uniform shining under the overcast weather outside.

Fuckin perfect. Gavin huffs, even more determined to finish quickly. He doesn’t need some pristine plastic to walk in and ruin all his work. He can do it on his own. He doesn’t need help.

He goes to the closet and opens it up. Hangers are crooked and a few pieces of child’s clothing are sprawled on the floor.

Taken in a hurry. Fuck.

That solidifies it. Cristina and Mike had a child, or at least one living with them at the time of the murder. There is no other victim, so it is safe to assume that this double homicide has upgraded into a kidnapping.

“Fuck. FUCK”

Gavin pulls out his phone and dials Captain Fowler's number as he leaves to meet with the officers outside.

As the phone hits the second ring he is met with the face of his brand new partner.

“I will be assisting you on this case De-”

“Shut the fuck up tin can. Get out of the way” Reed rushes out. RK resists getting out of his way, determined to spit his own insults at the rude detective.

The captain doesn’t pick up. Reed moves past RK anyway.

Gavin reaches the officers outside. “Hey you, come here” he calls over the officer he sassed earlier in the house. “How many officers are on scene, right now?”

“Four. My partner and I, and Ortis and his partner as well.”

“Okay, listen up. I need you to stay here and keep the press under control and in the area, get the other three to comb through the neighborhood and alert me if they find anything. Our murderer may have kidnapped a little girl and we don’t have any other information.” Gavin commands in a low tone.

The officer's eyes widened, opening his mouth to say something.

“No, shut up. We can’t let the press know, so you stay here, stay quiet and make sure your buddies do their job. Got it?” He nods, and Reed shoos him off.

“How did you come to that conclusion, Detective?”

RK900, right, perfect.

“None of your business, RK900” he overprounances the unit’s name to be condescending, but his partner stares at him with cold, uncaring eyes. So naturally Reed continues on.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a competent detective or something? Figure it out yourself.”

“Oh I did, I just wanted to know how you got to that conclusion.”

Flames heat up Reed’s body. He is quick to anger.

“You piece of shi-”

“Oh and while you were off being an ass I already contacted Fowler about the situation and the search for the young girl continues on at the office.”

Gavin clenches his jaw again, his tongue flicking over his teeth in quiet rage. RK900 stands there with an unfeeling look on his face, peering down at Gavin.

Reed would swear that there is a hint of a smirk teetering at the corner of that bastard's mouth. The shadow RK’s high brow creates on his eyes makes the distance between them seem daunting, widening the gap between them. Further smushing Gavin’s fragile ego into the bits and pieces between the dirt.

Dramatic, he knows.

Gavin from a couple months back would have ripped forward and swung on RK900, but this Gavin is tired. Resigned from the fight against his inferiority. He takes a breath, though it does nothing to relieve him of his anger, and walks off with nothing but a dirty look.

He has to solve this case, he has to. It is his last chance.

[lilhemmo]

Hiii! I just found your blog recently and some of the vegeta x reader and as much as I love vegeta, could you do one with Goku & reader? That big dork is my favorite! I’d not very creative with requests so honestly anything that is just cute and dorky would be amazing. I dunno if it’s weird to ask because Goku is married but 🥺

a/n: never feel weird to ask for goku because, let’s be real, vegeta is married and none of us feel bad for reading about him when we know bulma would come for us if she knew!! i hope this does your thoughts justice!! please feel free to request more goku x reader if you like this one! my goku is nowhere near perfect, not like @thegodbucky goku but.. i’ll try! bless this himbo! 

also, this gif dOES THINGS TO MY SOUL 

“Hah hah! I got ya’, Vegeta!” Goku falls back from where he’s hovering in the air, sweat and blood sticking to his body. 

Vegeta snarls, “Oh shut up, Kakarot! I only let you win so we could eat.”

You’re watching from the balcony, lounged out with Bulma to your left and Whis to your right. There is a small platter of food on either side of you that you’re sharing with the two of them, along with a couple of drinks to choose from.

“As if Vegeta would let Goku get a hit in just over a slab of meat,” Bulma chuckles, closing her lips around a pork skewer.

The two Saiyans are in front of you now, and the sight of Goku with bruises and blood and sweat makes your knees weak, so you’re thankful that you’re sitting down. Vegeta scoffs, “Hush, woman! Where’s lunch?”

Bulma points to the table off to the side filled to the brim with platters of grilled meats and rice bowls. Vegeta and Goku surge the table, barely sat down before they’re stuffing their faces. You watch the Saiyan in the bright orange gi, taking in his physique - the contours and dips of his muscles are easy to see even through his fighting gear. Your mind wanders into a land where his body is yours to touch and to roam, but you’re broken out of it when Bulma nudges you in the ribs.

“I know that look,” she winks, “you like him.”

Your face goes beet red instantly as you try to talk your way out of it. However, your anxiety gets the better of you and you find you’re only making a fool of yourself, so you tuck your head into your palms and try to ride out the embarrassment instead.

“He is available, you know.” Bulma crosses her legs at the ankle, nonchalantly tossing a glance towards the table, “if you were interested.”

Whis and Bulma share a giggle at your expense, their hands over their mouths as they try to stifle the laughter so the others don’t hear.

“What’s so funny?” Vegeta scowls. 

 Whis uses his staff to point in your direction, “This little one finds Goku attractive. She would like for him to use his mouth and hands to-ooh my.” 

The angel looks you in the eyes and raises his brows, “Oh wow, you do have quite the imagination, little earthling.” 

You swat at Whis, narrowing your eyes in an attempt to hush him. Vegeta smirks, crossing his arms over his chest, but Goku looks at clueless as ever. He looks down at his hands, examining them as if they might explain to him just exactly what Whis was talking about.

A low grumble parts your lips and you turn your hands to fists, “Well, whatever!” You’re storming off the balcony and towards the lake before anyone can make sense of what’s going on. Your face is bright pink at the fact that your secret was outed before you ever got the chance to come to terms with it yourself. You know that Chi Chi and Goku went their separate ways years ago, but the comparison games you play with her still run circles in your brain.

You’re ankle deep in the lake, your eyes tracking the ripples your feet make as you shift around. You wonder if you could just let this body of water swallow you whole so you never have to face Goku or Vegeta or Bulma or even Whis ever again.

You pluck a stone from the lakebed, tossing it across the top of the water, watching as it skips a few times before sinking back to where you found it.

“Uh, hey-”

You squeal and fall backwards into the water, your backside completely soaked now.Your face burns again with embarrassment when you recognize the person the voice belongs to.

“Oh Kami, I am so sorry!” Goku rushes to your side, kneeling in the lake despite still wearing his full fighting getup. You shrink away, hiding behind your hands even as he grabs for you to help you up. The fighter chuckles, running his hands over your biceps, “C’mon, let’s get you out of the water and dried off.”

You’re almost in tears from the mortification of the whole scene alone. You swear you must look like a child to him, all curled in on yourself and blushing, tears threatening your eyes with glassiness.

Goku walks you towards the small table and chairs that are situated near the lake, a few beach towels stored in a small box just under the table for situations like this. He removes a towel and pats your legs dry, but once he gets to your ass, he hesitates, “I-uh, I think I’ll let you do that part by yourself, aha!”

You take the towel from his hands and wrap it around your waist, plopping into one of the chairs so it’ll soak up most of the water on your behind. You hear a loud squishing sound and it only adds to your humiliation.

He waits another moment before squatting in front of you, balancing himself with his palms on your knees, “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah,” you manage through your bashfulness. “I’m sorry, I just got startled.”

Goku shakes his head, “No, I shouldn’t have scared you like that, that’s my bad.”

You reach out to cover his palms in your own, apologies tumbling from your lips at the same time he asks, “What was Whis talking about? He said you were thinking about me?”

The burning returns behind your eyes and on your cheeks and ears. You sigh, shaking your head as you bow so he cannot see the tears in your eyes. Goku tilts your chin with his thumb, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I-I think you’re cute, that’s what’s wrong! And now everyone knows it!” The first tear slips down your cheek at your admission and you hate that you’re crying over this. How stupid are you!? Surely, he thinks you’re an idiot. The little laugh that rumbles in his chest does nothing to satiate the desire to be accepted that blooms in your belly.

“See,” you roll your eyes and tear your eyes away from him, watching the sunset in the distance.

Goku shakes his head and presses his hand to your cheek, bringing your attention back to him, “No, you’re just adorable when you’re flustered.”

“A-Adorable?” You blink a few times to bring yourself back to reality, “Y-You think-”

“I think you’re cute too,” he speaks softly, eyeing you from where he’s crouched. His one hand is cupped behind your calf, the other falling to your neck so he can keep your gaze on him, “Is that what Whis was talking about?”

You smile, “Yes and no.”

“He said something about my hands and my mouth - is that what you’re so embarrassed about?” Goku’s thumb is brushing circles into the skin of your leg and you find it very distracting. He tilts his head, “D-Do you know what he was talking about?”

“I want you to kiss me,” you admit after a long pause. You sigh, “B-But I know that-oh!”

Goku’s mouth is on yours as he surges up from his kneeled position. He cups your cheeks and you find your hands curled around the fabric of his fighting clothes. Your lips are slotted against his perfectly, your teeth knock against one another as he sloppily kisses you.

He pulls away with a soft sound and you can’t force your eyelids open just yet, your mouth trying to follow his because you’re not ready for the kiss to end. Goku chuckles and his thumb presses to your bottom lip, running over the supple skin as your eyes glaze over at the sight of him.

“I asked Vegeta and he finally told me what kissing was!” Goku tugs you to your feet, “I never did it before, but I figured you might like it.”

“S-So does this mean-” You cut yourself off, unable to finish the question only because you’re scared of the answer.

Goku nods, “I like you, if that’s what you mean.”

Your jaw drops but you catch yourself, launching your body forward to topple him to the ground. He catches you with his hands holding you firmly by the waist so you don’t hurt yourself. Your mouth is latched to his, hands against his shoulders so you can grip him firmly.

Goku settles you against his waist, returning the affection as his lips maneuver with yours, the warmth flowing from your mouth to your belly. You allow one hand to slot into the hair at the base of his neck, the feel of his super form buzzing against your fingertips as his hair threatens to glow.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” you pant, pulling away from him to look him in the eyes. You smile, your inhibitions gone after he admitting to reciprocating your feelings, “I’m glad that you feel the same way.”

Goku tilts his head and it makes him look like a confused animal. You giggle at the motion and he asks you a question you’re not ready to answer: “S-So, what exactly am I supposed to do with my hands?”

You kiss him firmly on the lips, “We’ll talk about that later.”

“Aw, but I wanna know now!”

feel free to ask me more saiyan requests :) 

[border-spam]

Brother

Fun little Leech Lord Au dialogue scene snippet with Jak-Knife, owned by @godkingsanointed​

Mid COV era

“Ahh.. -fuck-" Sei snorts between her hands as she winces, cupping her nose. 

“...Oh.. It’s you."

She’d stepped out of Troy’s Sanctum ship’s mag-locked blast doors and directly into the solid flesh of his personal bodyguard, the perfect ending to her already rough night.

Jak-Knife says nothing, shifting slowly to the side politely to let her past.

"Why are you here anyway it’s.. it’s like 3am.” she groans, pinching her nose and wiggling the bridge a little. “Don’t you have, em..uhh” snapping her fingers in concentration as she groggily looks down at her feet. “Vanguard! Yeah, vanguard to do it? Thought you lead his protection”.

”…yeah, I do.“ JK replies, unsure if they should be speaking to the Mechanicum’s Saint without reason to do so, especially when she’s obviously a little drunk considering the way she’s wobbling in front of their heavily muscled frame.

They stand in silence for a moment, JK staring down through their Bandit mask’s UV lenses at the tiny woman eying them suspiciously, clearly not impressed with their answer.

"I’m awake.” they continue. “Vanguard’s not, he’s not.” they point a blunt finger at the reinforced titanium door behind her. “I watch out while he can’t. That’s what I’m for.”

She sniffs, glancing over her shoulder at the massive Skag skull looming above the entrance. “Pal... I don’t think protecting this door is necessary. I figure you could guard him just as well from inside. C'mon.” she offers, pressing her wrist against the DNA scanner by the door and watching as it reads her pulse and signature.

“.. I owe you for the necklace anyway.” The smirk she aims at them is joined by a wink, and she gestures for them to enter as the door hisses open.

JK pauses a second, flexing and relaxing a heavy paw by their hip, then steps forward and passes by her with a nod. “That was repayment” they gruff. She snorts a husky chuckle and steps through after them into the dark of Troy’s quarters, jogging past to kick the God King’s discarded boots out of their way as she guides them toward the kitchen.

“Nah, I tinkered with a broken shield. YOU. You made something for me. Big difference. Biiiig, biiiiig difference.” waggling a finger over her shoulder at them chidingly.

“Take it you’ve seen his “Holy Chambers” before?” she piqued, waving her arm grandly around the mood-lit quarters before placing her finger over her lips and pointing in the direction of the wheezing, quiet snores emanating from Troy’s silhouette in the darkness, a heap of limbs and furs splayed across the curved couch recessed into the rec area in the center of his ship.

JK’s voice drops to a cracking whisper as they pad after her, wary of waking the God King. “Yeah. Plenty of times. Bring him back here if he’s not too good, help him with projects when he needs the extra hand and won’t admit it. Been here lots.”

“No need to be quiet.” Sei calls back louder than they expected, pulling out a chair for them by the glossy black kitchen’s small table. “You’re not gonna wake him. He’s floating through another reality right now, hah” she laughs, pulling open the fridge and reaching in to grab a couple of beers.

“No idea what he took. Only had a couple and he got weird, said he needed to sleep, something about knees tryin’ to eat him or some shit.” Jk nodded knowingly, graciously taking the bottle she offered before she slid into the seat facing them, rubbing at the dusting of mascara under her eye.

“Eh, don’t usually like people seeing me this messed up, Jak-Knife” Sei sighed, slumping a little further in her seat as she popped the lid off her bottle with the shaped edge of an angular bangle around her wrist. “You don’t seem the sort to gossip though, am I right?”

JK grunted a laugh, twisting the top off their own brew with a bare hand. “No. Waste of breath. You look like you, anyway. Just less paint.” They lift their mask to take a swig from the bottle, just enough to slide it to their lips.

“Appreciate it then, keep my lack of paint between us.” Sei smirked, leaning forward to prop her cheek in her hand as she rested an elbow on the table, eying them coyly. “You’re.. you’re loyal, but you’re not a believer, are you.” She offered, narrowing her eyes a little as she gestures at their bare chest.

“The vanguard are covered in tattoos and scars, seen one with his snakes carved into their stomach, like they want to be him” she grimaces, taking another drink. “You got nothin, so your loyalty’s from somewhere else then, right? They don’t make Saints out of blind followers..”

JK nodded. “Nothin on the outside, no. Don’t need it, grip he has on me is on the inside. Stronger, ready to rip my spine out if it needs. Would happily let it for a brother.”

Seifa nods slowly, understanding. “Family.”

“Family.” they echo. “Watched one burn. Pandora’s like that. Either burn alongside them or get walking. Pick yourself up or wait for the rakks” - they point at the ceiling, Seifa watching quietly as they continue.

“Walked and kept goin, didn’t look ahead, feet know what they’re doin by now. Sand can call you in this place. Walked into the COV. Walked to him ”- they nod towards the shadows to their right, and the recessed couch, the soft breathing trailing from it.

“It felt like family again, or the seeds of it. Same blood and bruises, he just keeps his hidden under steel. I don’t need steel. I can be the strong one so he doesn’t have to pretend.”

She’s nodding, looking at her hands as she tilts the bottle thoughtfully, JK appreciates that she’s clearly listening and not interrupting them.

“You though..” they lift the bottle towards her. “I don’t get you. Nothing against you lady, but there’s something off. This place, this planet, this isn’t your bones, is it. Why are you here?”

She breathes out a sigh, leaning back and resting her head on the edge of the chair, flittering her eyes between the dim spotlights in the kitchen area’s ceiling. “Same reason. Exact same reason.”

“I figure we might have a bit more in common than I would have thought the first time I saw you prowling behind him. You’d think I’d know by now to stop assuming based on appearances, huh. God..” She shifts forward again, tired eyes peering into the lenses of their mask, searching for the glint of their own.

“I’m just a bit shook up…” her voice cracks as she mutters. “He said some stupid shit tonight, bout how everyone leaves him and he knows it’s..” she sighs, letting her head drop to face the table with a weak shrug.

“Stupid as in.. it got to me. He ever say anything to you that’s just.. you know it’s off? I sometimes think it’s me..”

JK waited patiently, wanting to reach out and rest a hand on her shoulder but not quite knowing if that would overstep their tentative friendship as it formed.

“…that I’m going crazy and feeling things that aren’t real, overreacting…” she pauses, swiping her auburn hair back from her forehead, thumbing at her temple as she lets her eyes stare unfocused at the wall behind their shoulder.

JK grunts thoughtfully, then shakes their head a little, their mask tilting downwards as they rumble out a huff of air. “He’s… talking a lot more recently, yeah, bout things no one asked.” 

They empty the bottle in a deep dreg, and lower it carefully to the table in front of them, spinning it slowly on its edge. “Like he’s replyin’ to a question that was never said, and he’s pissed about it. Gets snappy at nothin’. Gets angry at nothin’. I don’t say things, I just listen. He likes when you just listen, I think you know that too.”

She nods, watery eyes looking up at them through her thick eyelashes.

“It’s just, the thing’s he’s saying now, this last year?” JK glances to their side again, towards where Troy sleeps.

They turn back to Seifa and reach out then, touching a finger against her forearm as it rests against the table, happy to see she doesn’t flinch away even though she’s hurt too. Proud that though she’s struggling to hold back tears that swell along her lash-line, she’s still listening to them. Really listening, like what JK thinks matters.

“It’s the same kind of things axe-hands I knew in the clan would start to say before they’d go wrong. Harsh things to themselves, about themselves, about how others were seeing ‘em. I don’t like that kind of talk much either, I’ve seen where it goes. People start doing that and they aren’t themselves for much longer. Become the same thing they were worryin’ everyone already saw them as.”

They turn the bottle to its side, idly twirling it with their index finger, only the hollow grind of the glass on the table filling the silence. 

“I’ve seen him goin’ the same way. Same way they did, and I don’t know how to stop it, I’m not good with..” they gesture at the bone white mask still marked with that crumbling splash of old rust-red blood, pausing to collect their thoughts. “..Not good with talking the way it would help. Saw him hurt acolytes the last few months. He used to just grab, threaten...”.

Their leg bounces beneath the table, nerves firing haphazardly as they swallow down the frustration lodged between their teeth. “Now he grinds. Cracks their bones in that metal fist. Not enjoyin’ it, not laughin’, but doin’ it anyway. He smells like bitter antiseptic sometimes, and I think he’s takin’ things out on himself where he figures we won’t know, under the steel.”

“I don’t think he is well. Inside him. None of us are here, lady. We’re all broken a little, but we learn how to live with it. It’s that or die. He doesn’t know how to do it. We gotta...”

“... we gotta watch out for our brother”.

Asks are Open!

[bladekindeyewear]

HS^2 bloggin’ mainline 2020-05-19

Figured an upd8 was coming, it’s felt like enough time has passed for one.

Huh, looking at my last post I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to play through Pesterquest sometime... work is busy and stressing me out a bit, I’m not sure when I’ll have the energy on the side to do that.  (Maybe I’ll livetweet it like I did Undertale a while ago, but this time not looking at my twitter replies so I don’t get spoiled by One Guy™?)

Also, including bonus commentary on A Threat Sensed.

Okay, going in completely blind.  I’d guessed from context that we’re hopping over to Meat side to get a chapter there before we can come back to actually see Yiffy?

Yep.  Okay, what is this about exactly?

(Agh, dammit, I’ve been copying and pasting so much at work remoting into Windows lately that now I’m automatically trying to hit control-C instead of command-C to copy.)

> CHAPTER 9. How Goes The Eulogizing, Dear?

CONTENT NOTE: This chapter contains Child Abuse.

Which one???

Wait

JANE: (Where is he?) JANE: (It's a question I've found myself asking many times in recent days.)

Holy SHIT we get two Candy chapters in a row???  So we might see her right away??  No, it’s gotta just be another tiny glimpse.

(Has two Candy chapters in a row happened before?  Future Boots, scroll back up and put this here. FUTURE BOOTS: “I forgot to scroll back up and put that here.” EDIT: Also, not the first time with two in a row, but it IS the first time with THREE in a row, huh.)

So Jane has to be talking about either Tavros or Dave.  --Oh, if this was a Candy Side chapter title, I guess Rose or Jade is eulogizing Dave for John?

> (==>)

JANE: (Where now is our merry savior?) JANE: (Where is the horn that was honking?) JANE: (Where is the cape and the codpiece, and the...) JANE: (The...) JANE: (Oh, fiddlesticks.)

What?  Is she reading a childrens’ book?  --Oh.  She’s eulogizing Gamzee.  So that gives us a third option, where the rebellion crashes the funeral somehow, probably audiovisually rather than in person.  (Which would make sense, given Candy practically began with Gamzee crashing Dirk’s funeral.)

> (==>)

Ah never mind, she’s still writing it.

That sure is a single button drama-remote that’s going to be pressed at some point.  Oh, and who the fuck keeps a spork in a pen cup???  --No no, don’t say it’s one of those pens with a spork at the eraser end, either ready-made or rubber-banded to the side.  That would make sense.  You totally know it isn’t that and is just a spork.

JANE: (Okay, poetry is out.) JANE: (What else?) JANE: (Hrm...) JANE: (I've always been pretty good at crying on cue.) JANE: (Could I try staging an emotional breakdown?) JANE: (That could work; playing to people's humanity.)

Why were you crying in Jake’s arms about his death if you didn’t care that much?  Did you just want him to hold you and kinda make him feel in on things again?  Or did you just cry yourself out about him?

JANE: (Or whatever is the more inclusive term.)

I bet the rest of Earth C figured out a more inclusive term millenia ago FUCK I accidentally added millennia to my dictionary misspelled instead of correcting it hold on--

...There, killed the entry for it.  ...Huh.  Take a look at my Chrome dictionary’s custom-added words over the years, apparently:

Caliborn Eridan Kanaya Matriorb Meenah Tavros alchemiter dichotomic nephilim reblogged uncaptchalogues uncaptchaloguing

That’s fun.

Okay back to reading. Millennia.  Phew!  Where was I.

JANE: (One really good and calculated weep could do it, I think.) JANE: (But then there's the danger that I might get carried away and do it for real.) JANE: (And I can't risk that.)

So still feeling something, just too used to calculating over the past years.

JANE: (What can I say about him that will stir up their emotions?) JANE: (Do I mention the stuff about the milk?) JANE: (Think Crocker, think.)

WHY would you-- how much did Gamzee normalize adult breastfeeding?!

JAKE: Ahoy over there!

Not the best time.

(The thing with the divorce papers from the Epilogue and John implying he was planning with Jake to execute something that sounds like a divorce... is that going to be sprung here?  Did her lawyers send the divorce papers way back when she was in a fit of pique, and he just had them available to sign now at the tactical moment? Or... let me pull the exact text...)

JOHN: now, harry anderson, i know that you and tavros haven't always gotten along. JOHN: but i am going to have to ask you to try and look out for him for the time being. JOHN: your uncle jake and i... well, i'll explain later. JOHN: let's just say that gamzee isn't the only family member jane is losing today.

(So is John going to submit the papers? Or did they already go through a while ago and default custody to John or something who’s going to adopt him too or some nonsense?  And did he plan this out with Jake NOW, or a while ago, and if only a while ago, is Jake going to KNOW whatever John’s about to pull in that respect is about to happen??)

> (==>)

Butte

Janepalme

> (==>)

JAKE: Er... how goes the eulogizing, dear?

Gah.  I completely forgot again that capitalized-first-letter chapter names don’t mean KANAYA is saying them.  That probably makes a lot more sense out of my wondering about the chapter title earlier to those of you who didn’t realize I was making that mistake.

JANE: It turns out that it's mighty difficult to find touching things to say about a person, the relationship with whom was predicated on deep-seated mutual loathing.

Hah!

--A loathing you regarded as largely more important to you than Jake ever was, by the way.  You asshole.

JANE: I imagine this is one of the reasons no funerary tradition was ever established on Alternia, besides the barbarism of their culture. DIRK: Jesus christ. JANE: Not only did a significant proportion of their interpersonality depend on romance in the form of hatred, but it was a society based on cruelty and violence. JANE: What reason could they have had to provide for the dead? JANE: What kind of last rites could they have even imagined?

I wondered for a moment why (bg!)Dirk of all people would react to a single line of her starting to bring up prejudices, but then I realized that (1) Brain Ghost Dirk is a little more Jakey, and (2) Dirk knew that more ranting would follow the first line.

JANE: I can't think of anything good to write about him because deep down, I hated his guts. JANE: But he was and is beloved of the multitude, so I have to think of something regardless. JAKE: Im not sure i understand. JANE: Don't worry your pretty little head about it. JANE: This is politics, Jakey. JANE: Lying through your two front teeth about people you hate is about as good a definition as it's possible to get. JANE: But, by gum, is it tiring work.

Mm.  It’s a position Jane put herself in, but it’s still a legitimate position once you’re there.

JANE: The funeral is tomorrow, after all.

Got it.

DIRK: Dude, the bowl. JAKE: Hm? JAKE: Oh, right. JANE: What is it now, Jake. JAKE: I brought something for our guest as well. JANE: You mean the prisoner. JAKE: Y...es.

Wait, bowl?

Oh god damnit which of you had the idea to feed her with a DOG BOWL.  Either of you could have thought of it, and either of you would be horrible for it.

> (==>)

Huh, that outfit on Yiffy looks familiar, like a reference to something.  And a black tail?  This definitely isn’t quite the look I was expecting from Jade Plus Rose, but I suppose the snazzy tie is a Roseish vibe.  Also reminiscent of Jade’s old Dead Shuffle dress.  Formal wear and soccer cleats??

JANE: She's over in the corner. JANE: Don't worry, she won't bite. JANE: I've seen to that already.

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN.  I don’t see anything over her mouth!  Did she stick something in it, or drug her?  File her fucking teeth???

I mean I did forget the Child Abuse trigger warning to be fair.  Hoping whatever would be on her mouth is just not shown in-panel yet for stylistic reasons.

> (==>)

JAKE: Its only mac and cheese, sorry. JAKE: Its all I know how to make, haha. JAKE: ... JAKE: I um... hope you can safely partake of cheese? JAKE: ... JAKE: Well, JAKE: Bon appetit.

How the fuck did Jake eat on his island then?  --Oh right, preserved food cans that Grandma Jade stored up, I think I remember.  Why would cheese not be a thing for them, if it’s fine for Jade?  I know he’s probably not just worried about lactose intolerance.

Either way, if she’s drugged here, that’ll mean we won’t get a good idea of her for a while, so which is it...

> (==>)

DIRK: Bon appetit. DIRK: Seriously dude? JAKE: (What? Did i pronounce it wrong?) DIRK: Jake. DIRK: You put the food in a fucking dog bowl. JAKE: (It was all there was, ok???) JAKE: (I feel awful enough as it is without you getting on my case about it.)

Ah, missed the bone pun.  AND, yeah, Jake, you’re a fucking idiot, you could have put it in a cup or something.

JAKE: (So far ive yet to see anything come of that brilliant plan of yours.) JAKE: (Are you sure sending that message to the others was enough?)

Okay, so he IS coordinating this slightly.

> (==>)

Horrifying image to contemplate, eh Jane?

Or anger-inducing?

> (==>)

Seems about right!

> (==>)

Oh that’s a GREAT exasperated Jane face.

JANE: I hope you're not expecting dessert, young lady.

I like how Jane didn’t notice, comment on, or care about the bowl.  How can you hate a kid so much??

> (==>)

Oh I know why I felt like I recognized the outfit style, it’s because it’s ANIME AS FUCK.  Feels like some Persona 4 Arena nonsense, and I say that not having played any of those games or even remembering what they looked like.  Also, white hair, black fur’d dog parts?  Nice change of pace.

YIFFY: GRRRRRRRRR... JANE: Oh no you don't.

Red text?  What color exactly... “#D00009”?  Huh.  That’s nowhere near Alt-Callie’s #FF0000, and darker than Dave’s #E00707.  In fact, let me go back and check those spilled color pins the commentary pointed out from an update or two ago...  no, the red pin is #E63225, closer to Dave’s color.  (Also, is Yiffy blocking the doorway out?  That’s a pretty slack chain then.)

Did Jane see to it that she wouldn’t bite with like, a water spray bottle?

(EDIT: Oh my FUCKING GOD, THAT's why it's #D00009...)

> (==>)

FUCK I didn’t notice the shock collar in the Yiffy image!  FUCK YOU, Jane.

> (==>)

Keeping someone in line with collars, especially ones that punish whenever one strays out of line, has always been a decent way for her to mix in some Doomy control of others to show how she’s “grown” to balance her main role and her Tiara-controlled-like inverse for more power.  Doom in part represents boundaries that you can’t cross without getting hurt or punished.

> (==>)

FUCK, those little buck teeth!?  D’:

JANE: That's more like it.

She HAS to have more of a reason for hating her than hating her parents, right?  Like, more than that and general racism applying to partdogfolk?

> (==>)

Hey fuck off with that!

> (==>)

This is a pretty cool ima-- are those piercings on her dog ear?  I didn’t notice that in the first shot, neat.

JANE: You've been a thorn in my side ever since I agreed to enroll you at the academy, little madam. JANE: Back then, I was doing a favor for two old friends who made a disgusting mistake. JANE: I'm no longer going to play nice with you just because of your parents, however. JANE: That truce is over. JANE: Do I make myself understood?

What the fuck?  WHY would you do that?  Why does Jane run "Ms. Paint’s Home for Inconvenient Girls”?  What did Yiffy do to piss her off so much there, how much trouble could she have caused?

I don’t know if she’s referring to the behind-Kanaya’s-back part as disgusting or she’s just being MORE racist.

> (==>)

JANE: We don't want you passing out during the ceremony, do we?

Oh, just showing the hostage off during the clown funeral, huh?  Classy much?

> (==>)

JANE: Now, be a good hostage and get some rest, Yiffany dear. JANE: We've got a big day tomorrow.

For a politician, Jane’s not good at looking at herself in a mirror.

> (==>)

JANE: Night night. JANE: Hoo hoo.

> (Yiffy: Lights out.)

Huh, dream stuff is gonna be relevant out in Candy then? *click*

Okay, dark background all of a sudden.  Properly dramatic?  You even have to highlight the non-link “>” part of the Next link to see it.

> (==>)

-- thespiansGlamor [TG] began pestering adamantGriftress [AG] --

Well, I don’t know WHY it’s happening, but the white-backed pesterlog suddenly on the dark site framing is certainly evocative.  Of like, a mood, or something.

TG: i thought he was pretty quiet down there. TG: we'll make a rebel of him yet! AG: Lol. AG: I think it's more that he can't sleep. AG: I know how he feels. TG: yeah. TG: today was a lot. AG: ... TG: do you wanna talk about it? AG: Ugh, not you as well.

It’s really jarring to transition between Homestuck’s “kids jarringly mentally resistant to freaking out about the end of the world” to HS^2′s more realistic “kids traumatized by their first firefight even though it was an overwhelming victory-escape”.

TG: but seriously, do you? AG: Not really. TG: not even about... you know? TG: her? AG: No. TG: ... are you sure? AG: A8solutely. AG: What are you, my moirail? AG: Just leave it, Harry. TG: ok.

Are they about to have an “I wonder what Yiffy’s like” talk?

> (==>)

Very similar Tav/Vrissy convo to the previous one.

GG: I havent ever shared a bedroom before,,, GG: Not even for a slumber party,,, AG: Tavvy, you are just a8out the saddest person I've ever met.

Well, we have an even better idea how horrible Jane can be with kids, now.  From Nanna to THIS is quite jarring.  I wonder how the double Nannasprites that must still be around here somewhere feel?

> (==>)

TG: nothing about my dad is cute. TG: what are you even saying. AG: Lmao. TG: seriously! TG: i think he has something against that word, even. he gets super weird about it. AG: He's a strange and funny m8n. TG: yeah. TG: ... TG: i think something bad must have happened.

...um.  What?  Why would John have some sort of trauma about the word cute or being called it?

Did John dress up as a hint of his buried June ambitions as a kid and Dad lavish him with “SO CUTE” praise in an epic supportiveness backfire that caused him to shelve the idea of wearing non-masc clothes and being happier on the flipside of gender ever again???  Because if that’s how June gets canonized as promised, it’s a little harsher than the back of my mind was hoping.  I guess it kind of had to be though from the premise of how it was read into his childhood for the original idea, though.  Fuck, I hope this Cute business is about something different from that (like a Terezi reference or such) just to get less John Sads.  (But still June.  Definitely still want to get June.)

> (==>)

Oh, and now Vrissy is doing nothing but talking about what she said she didn’t want to talk about, of course.  (Also I like how JANE’s now being called the Batterwitch.)

AG: And the worst part was they didn't even fight a8out it! AG: That made me madder than 8nything else. AG: It felt like I was the only person who even W8S mad! GG: I dont think thats true,,, AG: What would you know a8out it?! GG: Maybe nothing,,, GG: Sorry,,, GG: Its just,,, GG: To me,,, all the way through the conversation,,, aunt kanaya looked even angrier than you,,, AG: ... AG: Adults are so fucking weird.

Guh, I don’t want to be reminded how hurt a good chunk of the fanbase is by Kanaya getting hurt this badly.

Original Tavros was always SLIGHTLY perceptive of others sometimes, but maybe perceptiveness is being hinted at as a Tavros specialty?  We still don’t know his classpect/hero-title or have any firm guesses based on purely him evidence.  (Also, frightened kids of abusive households tend to learn to get perceptive pretty fucking quickly I hear.)

> (==>)

TG: dad was sitting in the cafeteria with aunt jade and your moms. TG: it looked like they were discussing something important... they were whispering and stuff.

[etc etc] Alright, the what-happened-to-Dave bit.  And I imagine they’re kind of helping John grieve there, since Rose and Jade have talked that out already.

TG: aunt kanaya's was the only face i could see. TG: she was standing next to them, but she wasn't looking at what was going on. TG: almost like she couldn't bear to. AG: I doubt it. Kanaya's got a8out as much Emotivity as a very reclusive stone. TG: ok, i think that is bullshit but whatever. TG: she saw me standing there, but didn't say anything. she just shook her head slightly, and pointed back out into the hallway i came down.

Yep, giving them some space to grieve.  Also-- gosh, shouldn’t Vrissy have the same emotive senses that Aranea implied Vriska shared with her?  Kanaya isn’t that EXPRESSIVE but she’s certainly full of emotion.  Also, I hope part of her not bearing to watch wasn’t lingering anger toward Jade and Rose mixing with that, but there probably was a bit of that too, though Dave being gone is so much harsher than that. --I just realized they might not have broken the news to Karkat yet, either.

AG: I guesadxcxzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz TG: vrissy?

Put to sleep by someone slumping down on your phone keypad, or surprised by something about the other conversation?

Oh shit, “other conversation” reminded me I didn’t look at Tavros’s chumhandle:

glutinousGymnast [GG]

HHHHHhhhhuh.  Hm... huh? hhhh.  huh?  what, but.  Why would.  ?????

I really don’t understand what that chumhandle or any of its entendres should signify in this context.

Also, this means for our new four kids we have TG, GG, AG, and ??.

> (==>)

GG: I think she might have succumbed to sleep quite suddenly,,, GG: It would explain the,,,,,, interesting messages I've been getting for a while,,, TG: hehe. TG: i guess that tracks. TG: she does that from time to time.

That’s... strange.  Homestuck’s taught us to be suspicious of that.

TG: ... TG: tav? GG: Yes,,, harry anderson,,,? TG: what does it feel like to know someone who's died?

Who is Harry referring to? (EDIT: Yes I know Gamzee for Tavros, but I meant Harry talks like he's worried he'll have to feel that way soon?)  Is he just kind of inferring that something bad might have happened to Uncle Dave?  Got that perceptive “parents are about to tell me about a death in the family” vibe?  Or did he overhear more than he let on to Vrissy?

...alright, that’s the last page of this update.  Looks like this chapter is going to continue to have a good bunch of grieving, or talk around it.

---

Now for Bonus Commentary for A Threat, Sensed.  For some reason I have a dim memory of like... reading this myself without commenting on it?  Or skimming it?  But I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that.  Weird.  Must have imagined doing it.

Ah, I think I saw the opening paragraph scrolling Patreon, and my mind kinda filled in the blanks, this is still looking new to me.

Okay, mostly banter and japes in the commentary here.  About Dirk “throwing a huge tantrum in his philosophy cave”.

We’ve had quite a bit of speculation on whether this is “really” Andrew. To that, I think we’d say that it doesn’t “really” matter.

Really?  That was speculated about?  :/

Here we discover that Dirk has not, as some people have speculated, been directly intervening into the Candy timeline, or influencing it in any way. In fact, he has a very hard time seeing anything going on there at all.

Mhmm, and that was a pretty important thing to learn.

A couple of years ago I might have agreed with the take that everything happening in Candy is simply too outlandish to ever happen naturally, without direct, villainous interference, but that was before literally every fucking batshit insane thing that has happened on Real Life Earth started going down, and now I will believe literally anything. 

This is a nice bit of distraction from the idea that at least the opening parts of the Candy story were written/narrated by Original, Alive Calliope over on meat side.  To refresh your memory of what was pointed out to me:

ROXY: back when jade first got all effed up callie saw somethin and it made them freak out ROXY: it took me weeks to convince them that it was safe to come home ROXY: but now we got the opposite problem and they arent leavin the house at all ROXY: they stay home all day with the blinds drawn paintin some weird ass shit on the walls TEREZI: WH4T? ROXY: its not as bad as it sounds i promise ROXY: some of it is like ROXY: weird and violent?? ROXY: like lotsa nasty purple blood and um ROXY: nudity???? TEREZI: >:? ROXY: yeah yikes ROXY: but MOST of it is cute stuff like... various combos of all of us being happy and gettin married and shit ROXY: anyway thats kept callie kinda busy

Which tracks with the initial out-of-character-seemingness of almost everyone at the start of Candy, and how they kind of tried to railroad things back onto the “Happy??” track after Dirk derailed it with his weird self-accumulation suicide, along with some of the flowery-idyllic descriptions of characters seeing each other bathed in a halo of light and such.

Of course, they’re not going to out-and-out STATE that Calliope was at fault for that narration, helping the Candy story not necessarily fall out the way it did “naturally”, until we finally get a glimpse of her on the heroes’ ship in Meat probably still painting the continuing Candy events, inspiring them into the void of the singularity with her latent powers.  Til then, it’s a bit of misdirection whenever the topic is to be brought up.  Along with a mix of Roxy’s late-Candy point to John of more or less “why COULDN’T we have done this naturally? you don’t know”.

He might even think that he has more direct power over the narrative than Hussie does himself. Surprise, motherfucker, you are a fictional character. 

:p

I’ll quote this next part in full:

There’s been talk of whether or not this bonus was written in the two days between its release and the Yiffy reveal chapter. The answer is--no. It was written over a month ago. But I think the things it addresses were not difficult to suss out. Obviously, Dirk is highlighting the issues that the readership are having with Yiffy, in his typical Dirk fashion. If it seems a little defensive, well...I suppose it is. Yiffy is one of the two hard lines drawn in the sand, and all of us love her, and we’re hoping that everyone else will love her too. But more than that, it focuses on the fact that update culture has a rhythm to it--shock, revulsion, acceptance (or not), and then excitement (or not). Will it follow that pattern this time? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out. 

Yeah, given what was going to be dropped on us I expected they would have had exactly this lined up, especially because Andrew specifically mandated Yiffy.  --I wonder why they aren’t mentioning that somewhere in the commentary and only on one of their Twitters?

Also quoting this:

There’s something both incredibly “cringe” and self-indulgent, as well as philosophically intriguing, about the author arguing with his villain, especially since he’s writing both halves of the conversation himself. You are, for all intents and purposes, trying to solve a problem that you have created for yourself. You are looking an aspect of your personality in the eye and asking, hey, what the fuck, man?

But in the end, isn’t that what every story is? Trying to untie knots that you put in the rope yourself?

Since it’s part of the central struggle of this story, and kind of the question Andrew’s tried to imply with every Homestuck work about what right we have to keep these characters trapped in a story, and if they’d be better off escaping it.

I’m really trying to avoid quoting so much of this, since the commentary is paid...  but I think we can make an exception here?  I’ll have only quoted about half of it; just, the really plot-important half.  Plus, I left out a LOOOT of japes.

Dirk has a certain idea of how stories are supposed to go. That’s pretty much what the Epilogues is about. The audience also has a certain expectation of how a story is supposed to go. In a way, the Epilogues were also about that. They were taking a story that had reached the traditionally “acceptable” happily ever after, and saying, wait, no. What happens next? Thinking past happily ever after in any story is a terrifying prospect. Once Cinderella marries the prince, what then? Sure, she got what she wanted, but who knows that it will be everything she dreamt it would? What if she changes her mind, if not today, what about ten years from now? What if the prince dies of malaria? 

And I’m...

Yeah I don’t have anything else to add here, I’m kind of out of brain juice to think about this tonight.  BUSY day I had.  Y’all take care!

[unikornu]

Graceful Sin,

(shortie - words 2,223)

“After another argument between Lucy and Gage, the Overboss storms off to Parlor where she catches on a private moment with her pre-war boss, Harrison that recently made a come back to Nuka World. “

______________________

It was late and silent evening at Nuka Town with the exception of shouts coming from the Fizztop mountain which belonged to well known crocked couple, Gage and Lucy, arguing once again about Institute deals she forgot to mention and all confusion about newly arrived guest, Harrison, her pre-war shady employer. Lucy wasn’t the one to handle long arguments, especially against someone as stubborn and loud in complains like her fellow raider, no longer being able to stand the tension she turned around and just left, pushing the door behind her and going towards the elevator with a rapid steps, her blond braids swaying after her and hands clenched, moving to the sides.  

- Boss, shit, where the hell ya going again? Let’s just finish the talk, c’mon. Gage followed, almost ran after, grabbing her under the arm before she entered the elevator.

- We finished. The Institute deals are staying if you like it or not and so will our guest. She forced her arm out of his grip and looked at him, squinting her eyes in a threatening manner.

- A bit longer and they will settle up their own fucking lab right here with even bigger bunch of fucking synths. Even if Gage hoped for her to stay he just couldn’t let the complains go and it certainly didn’t help to calm down the atmosphere.

- He is not a regular synth but still a person Gage! And neither at Institute side, when will you fucking understand it and just let it go, jezz. Lucy snapped back at him and entered the elevator, pushing the button and refusing to listen anything Gage was still shouting through the closing in front of him door.

She leaned against the wall and sighted deeply, letting the nerves float away till elevator hit the bottom. Harrison arrival brought some good and bad news. Good for her that she managed to claim something back from her pre-war life, more than just a thing or souvenir but an actual same person she spend her last years with, before the world went to shit. Bad because even if Harrison was avoiding the Institute like a worst omen he failed to prevent from becoming bigger, Gage had a really hard time to see a remaining soul of an actual human he was and still is under the synth skeleton wearing his skin like a costume, not mentioning all the experiment that made him a supernatural entity, his soul possessing the body he still managed to recover from the pre-war lab. For Lucy it didn’t matter, since in the end they had each other and did care despite all the toxic work crime relations they went through.

Every time she was down Parlor always found a way to calm her mind, be it a theatrical rich environment of it, calm music and bottle of booze along with it, just chilling at the decorated by red silky cloth table with her legs rested on top of it, candle burning slowly in the background, letting her to light a cigarette. This time was no different with the only exception that it was empty, only a familiar tall figure leaning against a wall, Harrison himself, wearing his usual long gray shiny coat, smooth and clean, always looking like a gentleman that lost a feeling of time.

- Tough break, Feit? He nodded at her from under his round classic hat, sending her a shiny green glance.

- It’s that visible, is it? She asked in response, dropping heavily onto the chair and lighting up a cigarette.

- I know you too well so i see it instantly and sense too...in a way. Porter eh? Bitching again? He smirked with a corner of his lips already knowing the answer.

- Bitching? You seem to catch a local language quite fast, sir. She smirked back at him in a distance and puffed a smoke in the air, leaning back onto the chair.

- No choice but to try to fit in, helps to take away more of these curious eyes off me. If synth gossip cause such a stir around i would rather not let anyone find out what i am. He pushed himself off the wall and approached her, grabbing a chair on a way and taking a sit at the other side of the table.

- Institute still has no fucking clue about you and i will keep it that way. She crushed a smoke in the ashtray and placed her elbows onto the table, palms of her hands supporting her tired pale face, wearing a signs of stress from at least few days. Harrison noticed it.

- When did you....how to say it, chill out last time, Feit? You look like shit, no offense of course. He raised his thick black eyebrow at her.

- I don’t remember, it has been quite a busy time, cleaning after the bloody disciples and trying to set you up here, spread some believable information...i completely lost track of time. She brushed the inner corners of her eyes with fingers and looked back at him as he stood up and started turning his head around.

- What are you looking for? She asked, curiously.

- Something to help you relax, of course. His eyes stopped at the old pre-war   gramophone, still with a famous golden tube attached to it and a vinyl inside. He waved his hand, a bright green stroke of energy with smoke flew out of his palm as he wiggled his fingers towards it, putting a vinyl into a gentle spin as the needle slowly lowered to let the parlor room fill with the slow blues tunes.

- Nice trick. I think i remember this song. Lucy mind flew back to the times when there were still bars and dance pubs, filled with couples, talking, drinking and dancing after the work, including her but the only partner she remained with that time was the half empty bottle of booze.

- Me too. Harrison’s mind flew to the same pub she was sitting in that time but lacking a courage and clear reason to enter and just join her, especially hours ago his hands were all stained in her partner’s blood. He didn’t dare to even let the thought slip in his head but now that all reasoning and past got buried with nukes he took down his hat, placing it on table in front of her and leaned down, offering her a hand.

- You up for a short dance, to forget all that crap you seem to occupy yourself with now? The usual grumpiness of his face got replaced with an honest and soft smile, almost impossible to resist and say no.  

- Dance? I never thought you can dance, sir. Lucy couldn’t deny she loved to dance but in a raider world it was a very rare activity and with usual folks around it barely resembled a classic pre-war swinging. She hesitated for a moment but eventually placed a palm in his hand and let herself be pulled gently up.

- You still don’t know many things about me, Feit but yes, i can dance. My wife used to praise me before she kicked me out of our life. He looked down at her, realizing she might have a slightly harder time with their size difference.

- I feel like you gained a few centimeters since last time we met. She pointed out.

- Most probably...hmmm, maybe these will help. He looked towards a pair of high heel black sandals lying under one of the tables and used his powers once again to lift them up in the air and slowly bring into her hands.

- I think i left them there after last meeting with operators. She crouched down and swiftly changed her shoes, straightening up and arriving almost at Harrison’s chin.

- You already seem happier. So...shall we? He lifted his left hand up to the side, awaiting for her to grab it before he placed his other hand at her back.

- We shall. It’s been a while, indeed. She couldn’t hide her smile, swinging was always brightening her mood in no time, especially with a good company that knew how to properly lead.

- Sorry for shooting you...back then. Lucy apologized with a low, almost whispering voice, trying to fill a moments of silence between them.

- Well, i guess i deserved it in the end. He chuckled, his eyes brightening up in even lighter shade of green the longer they danced together. - Too bad the Institute made it alive in the end.

- At least they provide us some good weaponry we wouldn’t have otherwise. She shrugged, what has been done its done, she could only try to benefit from it.

- You got yourself quite a position here, being a what they call... Overboss, ordering people around and getting the job done, like you always did. He raised his arm and spun her around, pulling afterwards back and close to him, pausing for a moment, staring down at her.

- I never liked to be in charged so i’m glad you got back eventually. Even after two hundred freaking years you are still my boss, sir. She smiled at him, ignoring the sudden blush appearing lightly on her cheeks.

- Hah, you didn’t change one bit, i’m glad. He said with a lower voice, smiling back.

- Neither did you. 

He pushed off a strand of hair from her face, slowly leaning closer and closer to meet her amber gaze. She froze in place, not backing off but highly uncertain with the next move, her mind storming the thoughts as she couldn’t deny she enjoyed his company but image of Gage and their relations still made her turn away as their lips almost met.

- Shit, i..can’t. I mean... it feels awkward. Lucy admitted, dropping her troubled face to the floor.

- Uhm..no, its my fault, i enjoyed that little moment of ours a bit too much i guess, i apologize. He backed off, softening the grip on her hand, letting her to slip it away, turning his eyes to the side.

- Don’t worry, i still liked it, got my mind a bit off the usual shit. She brushed her shoulder and looked back at him, reassuring that this little accident didn’t ruin their view of each other.

- I think it’s better i get back to setting up myself at that disciple place. He walked towards a table, taking his hat and putting if back on his head, hiding the worry that his face was wearing till Lucy patted his shoulder as she approached him.

- Still thank you...for sticking around, i’m really glad to see you again...despite everything that happened. She said, with an honest soft voice that took away his sudden worry away.

He nodded back at her and left towards the exit, meeting Gage on his way out. They only looked at each other, almost saluting but not letting a single word out.

- Hey Boss...can we...? Gage paused, hearing the weird blues coming out of the gramophone, his face turning into a slight confusion.

- What’s up with that weird ass music? He asked, taking a slow steps towards her.

- What, you don’t like it? She asked, tapping the heel of her boost to the wooden floor in the rhythm of the sound.

- Can’t say, i’m just not used to it. He glanced down at her shoes and then slowly back up at her, crossing her arms, awaiting the continuation of his thoughts that brought him to Parlor.

- So...what else you have to say that you didn’t say yet. She tapped a finger against her crossed arms, looking at him at the same level this time, thanks to her heels.

- Right...fuck, maybe i went a bit too far with all that...talk we had before. Maybe it ain’t that bad. He brushed a back of his head with a palm.

- So, you are sorry. She couldn’t resist an evil smirk, sensing the apology in his voice.

- Yeeeeah, shit. Gage never liked to admit he was wrong or exaggerated in any way but ruining what they had would have been even worse in the end and he knew that.

- I can forget about it faster if you swing me properly around since i still have these on. She pointed down, sending him a seductive smile that he could hardly resist even if she was asking him for something he didn’t like as much as she was but in the end he was still agreeing for her good.

- Don’t worry, no one is looking right now. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him close, forcing his hands onto her back, right up her bottoms.

- You are asking for a lot here, Boss. He still grinned despite the soapy atmosphere surrounding them.

- You can always say no and turn away, Gage. She smiled and raised her eyebrow at him.

- I wouldn’t fucking dare. He took up on a challenge and pushed her even closer, bumping their foreheads and letting themselves be lost in their gaze as they swinged into the remaining track till the vinyl ran out of power, letting it end with a most tender kiss they both hungered for after every argument, let it be forgotten in a matter of seconds but her mind still drifted away for a split moment about Harrison’s move...  

[pangtasias-atelier]

I’d like to request a dabble of Hinata getting buff. Mainly in the arms and pecs. Hinata enjoys it at first, fighting and Hilton ladies. but he, Takumi, and mCorrin try to figure out how to stop it once he continues to grow, his growing giant pecs threatens to cover both Hoshido and Nohr under them. His clothes still intact while trying to be optimistic. Takumi and Corrin may grow as well if you’d like

The first of the last nine requests! It feels weird counting down from nine rather then ten lol. But oh well.

I’m really happy with how this one came out ajsjsdn The 2k words that this is went by decently fast despite me getting distracted for like a total of an hour on this. And I changed it a bit from the outline I posted to make it a more to what you asked for. And a bit less crack I feel? 

This size is so far the furthest I’m willing to write muscle growith. Aka, room sized. (That’s how I am with weight gain too though. *it’s equality .gif*)

Admittedly, I am sad that this is the request that came out super long. Not cause I didn’t enjoy it, I had fun writing this, but because I know the notes will be pretty low since it’s muscle growth...

But, regardless, I hope you enjoy it and thank you for your patience! 

____________________________

“Hey~” Inching his way closer, Hinata stands beside the unsuspecting retainer. 

Her intense gaze concentrating on the lithe spear master, her eyes roam and caress each jab he throws at his opponent. The spear fighter so intently focused, his thin shirt is lightly soaked in sweat, the fabric clinging to his collarbone. The current round the semifinals, his current opponent is a basara, his club missing each and every swing. 

A shadow looming over her, her eyes widen at the behemoth of a man standing beside her. 

“Hey, there,” Hinata flashes his traditional show-winning grin at her. “I couldn’t help but notice-”

“We have a winner!” The announcer shouts, the area filled with cheers and boos alike. “Our young Moro advances on to the finals, will he survive another round and claim victory in his first ever tournament, or will he…” 

Hinata ignores the rest of the announcer’s drawn out spheal, the flowery nonsense unimportant to him. His current prospective date continues staring out at the arena, both fights congratulating each other, her face furrowed, she faces away from Hinata. Her posture straight, she clasps her hands in front of her. 

Hinata clears his throat. His tournament uniform’s sleeve audibly tears from his bicep, Hinata hiding his grin. “As I was saying, I think-”

“Takumi,” Voice direct and commanding as ever, Hinata stands up straight. 

“Yes, Lord Takumi!” Having to crane his neck down, Hinata can barely see his lord over his own chest. 

“From one retainer to another, I don’t wish to interrupt a conversation with your lord, goodbye,” Bowing to Takumi, she scurries off in the direction of Moro. 

Hinata grumbles to himself. Frowning, he immediately wipes it off his face as he spots Takumi’s frown. 

“You’re enjoying yourself,” Placing a hand to his hip, Takumi rests his weight on his opposite foot. Tapping his foot, he looks up at Hinata. “I thought we were supposed to find a way to end this,” Gesturing towards Hinata, Takumi shakes his head. 

“I’m no good at that magic stuff,” Some of his fans passing by, Hinata gets down on one knee and brings both of his fists down together in a circle. Flexing, he grins and looks directly at them. Takumi scoffs as they giggle and rush off, clearly enamored but embarrassed at the bold displays of Hinata. “I thought you and Corrin were on the case,” 

“We are,” Takumi grits his teeth. “But-”

“Hinata!” His elder brother interrupting, Corrin tackles Hinata. Hinata at the ready, he easily catches Corrin. Embracing him in a crushing hug, he spins him around; Corrin’s hands and face cling to Hinata’s meaty pecs, each alone larger than Corrin’s head. Hinata lets him down after a couple spins, Corrin eagerly laughing. “We haven’t been able to find a cure,” Corrin crouches down, picking at Hinata’s cotton pants. His thighs caressed by the fabric, the pair had been made by Oboro a week ago. A hand smacking the back of his head, Corrin jumps up. “Yet. I’m still working on it,”

“Well, it has been a month since this growth started, but I’m counting on you two,” His response half-hearted, Hinata offers a thumbs up to the two royals. The growth spurt coming out of nowhere, the growth had been labeled a curse by the royal healers and mages, none finding a cure to reverse it. No cure, Takumi had taken up to finding a cure for his retainer, Takumi forcing Corrin along for the ride.

Takumi shakes his hand, glaring at Corrin. “Your head would be as hard as metal with how dense you are,” Takumi catches the announcer speaking up once more. The finals starting, Takumi pushes Hinata. “Enjoy this while it lasts, you better not lose and make me look bad,”

“I wouldn’t ever dream it, lord Takumi!” 

“Good luck! Not that you’ll need it,” Corrin cheers, jumping up and down. 

Takumi tosses Corrin a glance, briefly considering tripping him. Ryoma obviously going to lecture the two of them for such a display in public, Takumi grumbles, returning to his private seat, Corrin following him. 

The two seated, Corrin eagerly watches with baited breath, his hands digging into his knees as he leans out of his chair. Takumi sitting back in his chair, his legs are crossed. Takumi rests his head in his palm. 

Hinata towering over his opponent, his massive jugs for pecs light dig into his chin, his pecs a testament to his monstrous, powerful size. His biceps larger than any human’s head, the pack of muscles lining his beefy arms seem reminiscent of balls more than anything, so much muscle densely packed and condensed. His broad shoulders widened to accommodate such a high amount of mass, his wingspan is exaggerated, Hinata wide. His powerful backside carved and jagged like a mountain, his shoulder blades jut out. His torso half covered by his gigantic chest, the other half is lined with bulging abs, his sides filled with riblets as well. His thighs not spared as well, each one alone is wider than any axe wielder's chest. Each spectacularly wide, they exaggeratedly stick out, Hinata a caricature of an hourglass figure. So packed and caked with muscle, Corrin had even begun helping Hinata out with magic to help lessen the chafing of his thighs alongside helping the massive pendulous weight of his chest. His ass enjoying his recent spurt of growth as well, they spread his pants in the opposite ends, a perfectly spherical bubble butt jutting out. His ass and back plus his thighs and chest help contribute to Hinata’s S shape for a body with his muscular torso still nipped. 

Moro standing opposite of Hinata, his own trim form seems laughable to Hinata’s, the tournament a slaughter in the wake of Hinata. Moro simply readies his wooden naginata, pointing it towards Hinata as he readies his stance. 

Hinata’s wooden katana is nothing but a toy at his size, the sword comparable to that of a twig in his hands. The round starting, Hinata takes a swing. His bulging arm heavy, the powerful yet slow swing easily misses the quick Moro. Moro jabs his naginata in Hinata’s torso, the wood not felt by Hinata. Grinning Hinata stomps the floor. So much muscle packed in his frame, his staggering weight causes the ground to shake. Moro losing his footing, Hinata takes a swing at him. 

The wooden katana connecting, the single swing is all Hinata needs, his staggering strength knocking Moro to the edge of the arena, his back colliding against the wall. Taking a shaky breath, Moro curses under his breath before collapsing. 

“Hah! I win again!” Dropping his sword, Hinata faces the cheering crowd. Raising both arms, Hinata begins flexing, performing various poses. Hinata doesn’t notice both Takumi and Corrin, too busy basking in the attention of his sheer size. 

Corrin on the edge of his seat, he claps his hands as his eyes never once leave Hinata’s body. A hand digging into his collar, Corrin stands up as Takumi tugs at him. Following Takumi, Corrin continues to keep his eyes on Hinata until Takumi drags him into a wall, Corrin rubbing his face. 

“We’re going to search some more,” Takumi forcing Corrin in front, he glares at him. Offering a glance at Hinata, Takumi merely furrows his brow at Corrin. 

Takumi and Corrin sticking to their research, their extensive time spent ends up fruitless, neither of them discovering even an inkling of a trail as to what could be causing Hinata to grow. More days passing by, both of them continue with no lead, the rest of the palace staff puzzled.

Corrin in his room, he closes the spell book. The book the very reason for Hinata’s growth, Corrin places it in his nightstand. A secret compartment known only to him, the extra slot is perfect. Takumi searching Corrin’s room in his suspicions of his brother making his retainer grow had thankfully left Takumi empty handed and Corrin with an apology. The book also containing the spell to end Hinata’s spell and return him to his normal size, along with a multitude of other spells Corrin dreamed of trying on the other men, Hinata’s current issue could’ve been solved long ago. Humming to himself, Corrin bounces to Hinata’s room, hurriedly making his way. Hands behind his back, his fangs glisten with his smile. The route to Hinata’s room memorized, Corrin easily finds his way, entering without knocking. His grin widens as he spots Hinata. Hinata once taking his growth in stride, his ever increasing size had diminished some of his initial cheer. Powerful arms and chest soon became nothing more than a trophy. So much muscle densely packed in Hinata’s frame, even his growing height was unable to fully prevent Hinata’s size from becoming useless. Resting on his bed, the mattress serves no purpose, the mattress just for show. His back against the wall, Hinata’s head still surpasses Takumi’s and Corrin’s height, both of them standing to Hinata’s sitting. His chest absolutely massive, each single pec is larger than the average sized Hoshidan. So much weight on his back, Takumi had devised a pulley system for Hinata’s chest. Far too big for clothes, a pulley connected to the ceiling holds up Hinata’s chests, the monumental pecs otherwise digging into his thighs. Instead, they dig into Hinata’s chiseled chin, his face partially obstructed. His arms lay uselessly to the side of Hinata, both of them unable to move with so much muscle rubbing up against each other. His legs longer than the mattress, his legs rest partially on the floor, Hinata barely able to move them as well. Corrin making Hinata’s clothes grow as well, dressing the immoble muscle man was difficult but enjoyable work. His pants no longer baggy, they dig into his thighs and ass, Hinata’s thighs wider than his mattress. The once roomy purple fabric instead offers no space, Hinata’s chest even stretching the fabric just near the ripping point, perfect for Corrin’s pleasure. Hinata’s abs are hidden, Corrin often taking a peak and lifting Hinata’s clothes. Hinata’s biceps are as exposed as ever.

Takumi announcing Corrin’s presence, Hinata smiles. Instinctively raising his arm to wave, he grunts as he tries to lift it. Veins bulging, Hinata;s grunt remains just so, his arm not moving. “Hey Corrin,” Hinata greets, his eyes staring at his chest, unable to stare at anything else anymore. “Did you find a cure yet?” Chipper attitude maintained, even that facade is breaking, Hinata’s voice higher than usual.

Corrin shakes his head, feigning a sigh. “Not yet, I just wanted to check on you,” Carefully stepping past, Hinata’s legs, Corrin takes his usual spot on Hinata’s lap. Facing Hinata’s torso, Corrin rests his head against Hinata’s mounds for pecs. Arms lazing beside him, he lifts them up, feeling up Hinata’s pecs and biceps. Hinata immobile from so much muscle and with only Takumi and himself visiting him, Hinata is effectively his own huge muscular toy.

“Then you should be searching some more instead of doing whatever it is you’re doing,” Takumi seated at the desk, the lone piece of furniture in the room besides Hinata’s mattress, he scours his stack of books he brought from the palace’s library. Sighing, he closes his book, the last of his stack proving useless. 

“I’m sure we'll find a cure soon,” Hinata reasons, letting out little huffs of air as Corrin continues his rubbing. 

“We better,” Takumi stands up from his seat. Making his way to Hinata, he rests against Hinata’s side, draping Hinata’s bulging arm around him. “At the very least, each spell has its limit,no magic is potent enough to go much longer. Soon, the effects will end and then we won’t have to worry about you getting bigger,” Takumi closes his eyes, sleep taking him.

Corrin hides his grin, Takumi unaware of just how potent his draconic magic is. And of just how far he’s willing to make Hinata grow.

[sacredslaycdd]

Hi, I have a lot of Dawn introspection tonight because I feel like a lot of people give her a hard time. I’ve seen a lot of comments about Dawn recently and we’re ABSOLUTELY all entitled to our own opinions so i’m going to post alot of the thoughts I have, I’m not saying it’s going to ELEQUENT because hey, when am I ever? Putting it under a read more because it’ll likely be long, I’ll try to put it into points so you can actually take a breath lol. 

Where shall we start? Her childhood.  - Buffy and Dawn have a fairly big age gap, which means, in a sense, while the love is CERTAINLY there, I’d bet things were always strained. Buffy was always older and so much cooler, naturally outshone her.  - And then the slayer thing kick in, Buffy’s always in trouble so she’s still the centre of attention.  - Her parents begin to argue more, and if I remember rightly, Buffy distinctly remembers holding Dawn one time (possibly when their father left?) because she was distraught. The fighting alone can be detramental, it’s not a fun enviroment and I imagine Dawn is still pretty young at the time.  - Her dad leaves and he’s pretty absentee after that.  - They move to sunnydale, because of Buffy, away from all of the friends she has and the school she’s familiar with. She has to fit in somewhere new and make new friends.  - Weird occurances are ALWAYS happening, pretty scary for a kid.  - Going to jump ahead to S5, excuse if this isn’t in chronological order.  - Her mom get’s sick, which is terrifying for both fo the summers girls  - Just as they think she’s going to be okay, she dies. It could be argued this was more traumatic for Buffy since she found her and yeah, I’ll give you that, and Buffy had to step up and become caretaker to Dawn. She was now sister and guardian.  - Their dad is still absentee. She’s grieving her mothers death and likely wants to grieve with her sister who’s saving the world all the time. Probably feels incredibly alone, feels like a burden on Buffy and the scoobies, and to be fair, she’s probably been made to feel like this a fair few times.  - and THEN she finds out she’s not real. Can you imagine how traumatic and difficult that is for a child to wrap their head around? Because yeah, 14 is still a frigging kid.  - so if anybody wants to argue about her reaction to that... i will fight you. (i’m kidding I swear xDDD)  - A god wants to kill her.  - BUFFY DIES TO SAVE HER LIFE.  - Her sister sacrifices herself for her, she’s lost the only family she had left but constantly has to see her sisters face around and hear her voice with buffy bot but it’s not HER. Still, her grief stares her in the face everyday. The scoobies step up and they are like family and she loves and appreciates them but it’s not the same.  - and HAH not like GILES sticks around to help. He’d have just sacrified her and I’m sorry but Giles was a monumental figure in BOTH of the summers girls. Granted, they were never going to be like Buffy and him, but still, he watched Dawn grow up and was the only male authority figure in her life, because you can bet Dawn saw ALOT of him. You’d think he’d care a little more. Not to mention he’s almost a direct link to Buffy, a little care from Giles would have gone a long way. Instead he left Willow and Tara and Xander who are barely adults themselves to take care of her and goes to England.  S6&7:  - again sketchy timeline wise  - Buffy comes back and Dawn DOES care, she does want to help her and be there for her and love her and Buffy doesn’t want / can’t deal with that, which is absolutely 1000% understanable but equally, as time goes on, Dawn is still living with that guilt and her sister is there but she’s not.  - She almost loses her sister again to the black hole she’s sunk into, or at-least that’s what it feels like.  - they deal with things differently. Buffy Internalises, Dawn externalises.  - Not only does she have survivors guilt, she thinks her sister resents her, resents the choice she made. She wants to be there, she wants to help, she loves her sister but she’s extremely conscious of this. Buffy sacrificed herself for Dawn and she worries her sister refrets that and perhaps even resents her for it, for having to make that decision.  - In a lot of ways, I promise you that’s exactly how Dawn feels about herself, because she got her sister killed? everyone around her dies.  - Willow goes all evil and almost gets her killed until Buffy saves her.  - Later, she walks in on Tara’s body. Tara was a surrogate mother and sister figure and Dawn adored her so much. That relationship was incredibly precious to Dawn.  - The feeling like buffy resents her? directly correlates with what the first says to her. Buffy won’t be there when she needs her. and she’s not entirely wrong about that feeling. Buffy says to Giles if she had to do it again, she’d sacrifice Dawn.  So yes, Dawn wants Buffy’s attention? Does she externalise how she feels sometimes into anger? and generally being upset which most people describe as her being a ‘brat’ - que eyeroll here - Dawn isn’t a brat, she’s reacting to circumstances that for the one thousandth time, are beyond her control. Even Xander acknowledges that it’s tough just being normal but acknowledges she’s extroardinary. Any kind of acknowledgement along such lines from Buffy, would have gone a long way to solving a lot of problems. Nobody can say Dawn didn’t communicate, and sure, it was over the top sometimes, but she’s learnt that if she isn’t, nobody cares.  She is constantly treated as a child and brushed off throughout the entire 3 seasons she’s in, you can’t then call her out on acting like it. - le shrug. -  Also, Dawn telling Buffy to leave in S7 is a joke and in my opinion, out of character for her. She threatened SPIKE, you really think she’s going to send her sister off to god knows where when she just got her back and there’s a big evil out there? PUH-LEASE. Dawn would have fought for Buffy and in my portrayal she does. 

ANYWAY, THANKS FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK. I am sorry in advance if this comes off ranty- this isn’t hate on anyone (WELL, maybe a little giles...), ESPECIALLY Buffy. I stan Buffy, none of this is her fault either, it’s all circumstances and dealing with things differently. 

[escapereality2002]

Challenge’s Accepted

A/N: The inspiration came from the JPN server event: SMASH SMASH SMASH! It’s when MANKAI Company did a sentai (superhero) themed play! There’s no Main’s or the event’s story spoiler, only Azami’s appearance if you haven’t read Act 6. Details of this idea is on different post~ 

“Blooming Sentai Mankai Rangers!”

Enthusiasm permeates the air through kids’ shouts and cheers. They rejoiced for Mankai Rangers’ victory over Evil Bear’s recent exploits. Parents who stood on the back gave pleased smiles and clapped along. It was another successful show for the Mankai Rangers. 

Among the parents standing were several MANKAI members on stand by as backstage crew. Kazunari was checking on the video camera and Yuki was muttering to himself about the costumes. Citron was talking animatedly with a person from the neighborhood association, and Sakyo was discussing the acting part of the show with Tsumugi and Izumi.

“Even with a small stage, they manage to make an impact on their entry. Azami’s landing and Tsuzuru’s slide did give a glimpse of their rangers personality.” Izumi commented.

“I agree with you, Director. Even in a short time, you can already imagine what type of ranger they are. They also manage to position themselves well, so the children can easily see all of them.” Tsumugi added.

“While Bon’s ranger has a smug in their personality, he still needs to slip one smile or two. It could show his smugness and satisfaction in defeating the villain. Good thing he smiled on the final pose.” Sakyo, arms crossed on his chest, pointed out.

The brown haired woman mused, “You really paid attention to Azami’s performance, huh, Sakyo-san?”

“He’s still low in stage experience, so we have to give input to him every time he stands on the stage.”

“Ahaha, that’s typical you, Sakyo-san. Still looking out for him on every chance that you have.”

“Ah? What are you saying, Tsukioka?”

“Hey hey! Let’s take a picture with everybody!” Kazunari, who has changed the video camera with Omi’s camera on the tripod, voiced his idea to the crowd.

“Okay! Let’s go everyone! Kazunari-kun, please arrange our positions!”

“Yeah, you got it, Director-chan~ OK, c’mon kids! Make two lines in front of the rangers! Hey! Yeah, you, Miss! Yeah you! It’s okay, you can be in the picture too! OK, let’s see...ah, you, boy with a blue shirt please...”

~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~

When the audience began to disperse, the MANKAI members gathered on the back stage.

“You did great, Tasuku! I already took some notes like you asked.”

“Thanks, Tsumugi. Let’s discuss it when we got home.”

Sakyo, of course, directly went to Azami’s side.

“Bon, your entry with Minagi was already good but your movement on the fighting scene needs to be toned down. We already went through that scene in practice and you still missed that on the actual play. Next, is blah blah blah…”

Azami, unsurprisingly, was not impressed. “Tch, I’m not even out of the costume and you already nags about everything.”

Sakyo didn’t seem to care about Azami's complaint,  “The sooner you listen, the better you’d remember. There’s a high chance that you will forget the details in your performance when we get back.”

“So you’re underestimating me?!”

“You lack experience on stage, so you better learn from all your performance. You won’t catch up to the rest of us if you don’t.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you! Hah! As if you got experience in sentai-theme play!”

“Unlike you, brat, I learn from various sentai-themed media to teach you that very same move you just pull on stage.”

“Hah, yeah to cover your lack of real experience on stage. I bet you can’t even do their catchphrase.”

“You’re challenging me, bon?” Sakyo stepped closer to Azami, leering to him behind his glasses.

Azami didn’t even flinch and meet his leer head on, “And if I am?”

“Now now, you two...keep it easy.” Omi, still in his Bear outfit, placed himself near Sakyo. Banri did the same with Azami, both ready to intervene if needed.  

After a while, Sakyo backed up. Azami smirked in triumph and Izumi thought it was over. 

Until Sakyo took a stance and...

“Akai hono wa seigi no akashi! Makka ni moeru inochi no taiyou! Ryusei REDDO! Morisawa Chiaki!”

Tsuzuru heard the catchphrase he had become accustomed these days and pitched in, “Aoi hono wa shinpi no akashi~ Aoi umi kara ya dekita~ Ryusei BURU, Shinkai Kanata! Kira!”

Both held their stance for a while before they dropped it. “And that’s...how you do a catchphrase as a hero in a sentai-themed play.” Sakyo stated in the end.

Their example of catchphrase left other MANKAI members stunned, before various responses erupted. 

“OHO! Very unuse of Tsuzuru and Sakyo to do mentai dance!”

“Unusual! And it’s Sentai!”

“That is right, Tsuzuru!”

“What the hell, Shithead Sakyo?! Don’t you remember your goddamn age?!”

“HAHAHAHAHA WHERE THE HECK DID YOU LEARN THAT?!”

Banri guwaffed behind a wide-eyed Azami. Omi and Tsumugi--they tried, definitely tried--to contain their laughter, to no avail.

“Frooch! Tsuzuroon! Do it again, I need to video that!”

“Hm! That movement inspired me to make my own move! Velvet rose, strike in--”

“Please don’t start…”

“Excuse you, Tasuku-kun!”

“Hack, don’t you even think of making one.”

“H-hey I didn’t want one anyway! I’m fine with the MANKAI Rangers one!”

“Honestly I don’t expect you guys to do that, but that’s great work, Sakyo-san and Tsuzuru-kun!”

“Ahahaha...thank you, Director. The catchphrase is kinda imprinted in my mind too...”

“I can do better than that as long as you watch me, Director.” 

Amidst the chatter, Sakyo was trying to calm his beating heart. Citron was right, it was unusual for him to do this. He just got reeled by Bon’s taunt, resulting him to do something to prove him wrong. He may not have got a role in this sentai-themed play but he rigorously learnt from many sources about it, to help other members with the play. A subtle way to help the director and Azami, coated in his ardent interest in all theater-related subjects.

“Hahaha! That’s one energetic catchphrase you did, Furuichi-san!”

“Excuse me…”

Sakyo turned and saw two figures standing a meter away from them. “Ah, it’s you two. Good afternoon.”

“Furuichi-san! Never thought you’d demonstrated my catchphrase!” The brown-haired young man stepped closer to Sakyo, taking the shorter woman along by the hand. 

Sakyo pushed his glasses further on his nose, “I was demonstrating on how to do a sentai-themed catchphrase to a member of our company. Again, I thank you for allowing us to ask about sentai-themed show back then.” 

“Ah, it’s fine! Well, you know how passionate Chiaki-senpai is about tokusatsu and sentai shows.” The short, chestnut haired young woman smiled. “We’re happy to help our fellow entertainer. Thank you for inviting us to watch the show too, Furuichi-san.”

Seeing the two conversing with Sakyo, Izumi walked up to them. “Hello! You two were watching the show, right? Thank you for your support!”

Both the young man and woman bowed in return, “Thank you for inviting us! We really enjoyed the show you guys put together. Ah, here’s my card...”

“Eh, ah right.” Izumi fiddled with her purse and pulled out her card, “here’s mine.”

“Thank you.”

Izumi read the name card, before meeting her eyes to the brown-eyed young woman, “So you’re...Anzu-san, a producer huh. I’m curious though, how did you know Sakyo-san?”

“Oh! He and Minagi-san went to one of our shows in the theme park. After our show, they approached me to ask about the sentai-theme play we did. Of course, a hero is always ready to help! So I answered their question and even taught them our catchphrase. You know, to get the whole sentai feeling! Hahaha!” Chiaki explained, putting his hands on his hips in the end as he laughed. 

Izumi chuckled, “Oh, the lengths you do for Azami-kun…”

“Shut up! He’s not the only one that I discussed about what I learnt!”

“You were more intense when you trained Azami-kun, though. I saw that~” the director teased.

“Tch!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~FIN~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A/N: Long story short, Jose Yuuichi (Sakyo’s Seiyuu) also voiced Morisawa Chiaki and Nishiyama Koutaro (Tsuzuru’s Seiyuu) also voiced Shinkai Kanata, both were idols from an idol group with sentai-theme, RYUSEITAI from the game Ensemble Stars. Seeing both similarities, I decided to make a fic out of it hehe~

[mandelene]

Drabble request: Scooby-Doo AU with Arthur, Francine, Alfred, and Maddie. Arthur is the leader and trap maker. Francine is the danger prone damsel in distress. Maddie is the genius who deciphers the clues. Alfred is a food obsessed coward and serves as bait for Arthur’s traps. Their group is known as Mystery Incorporated. They’re teenagers. They drive around in Alfred’s 1960’s panel van, The Mystery Machine, and solve mysteries and unmasking fake monsters. They’re world famous for that.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t watch Scooby-Doo as a kid. I never took an interest in it. I was a Powerpuff Girls and Pokemon child. So, I had to do some research to write this drabble, which is embarrassing to admit. Please don’t judge me. 🤣 I found a transcript of episode 6, season 1, and based this story off of that because I desperately needed a reference to write this (but as you'll see, I changed a lot lol). Also, writing an entire mystery/ghost-busting story in less than 1000 words was impossible. I’m sorry this is terrible lol. 

A Ghostly Encounter

Word Count: 1272

“We should be at the Beilschmidt estate any minute now,” Alfred says, making a sudden sharp right turn that jostles the entire Mystery Machine van. “It sure was nice of Ludwig to invite us up here, and man, I hope there’s food because I’m starving!”

Once Arthur has recovered from momentary whiplash, he scowls. “Can you stop thinking about food?!?”

“Sure. I can think about lots of other things, like all the cool stuff we’ll get to do up there like swimming and tennis and eating and more eating,” Alfred rambles as they’re pulling up to the gothic mansion.

It’s a striking structure — large and foreboding against the dark blue evening sky. Once Alfred brings the van to a stop, they crane their necks up at it for a better look. One of the lights in the west wing on the second story suddenly flickers, and an eerie gust of wind rocks the van. A shadowy figure can be seen lurking in the upstairs hallway.

“Yikes!” Alfred shouts. “Something’s not right with this place. It’s giving me the creeps. And who was that up there?”

Madeline climbs out first and adjusts her glasses. “Guess we’ll just have to find out.”

“Are you sure? We could still turn back. I’m not that hungry anymore,” Alfred mumbles, holding his stomach.

Francine gives him an encouraging pat on the back and says, “Oh, don’t be such a coward.”

Ludwig comes out to greet them in the courtyard. He appears a bit unsettled — the purple bags under his eyes suggest he hasn’t been sleeping well. “It’s good to see you all. Thank you for driving up here. I’m afraid you’ve caught the estate at a bad time though...”

“And why’s that?” Alfred asks, nervously shifting from foot to foot.

“Well, my staff and I have been hearing a lot of strange noises recently.”

Alfred grabs Arthur’s arm and squeezes it for safety. “Strange noises?”

“And to make matters worse, my older brother, Gilbert, is now missing.”

Francine frowns. “Gilbert? We saw someone walking around upstairs near the windows. Could that have been him?”

“It might’ve been. We should go check,” Ludwig suggests, and the gang follows him through the maze of doors and corridors leading to various wings of the estate. Alfred, of course, has to be dragged by Arthur the entire way.

When they reach the door to one of the many guestrooms on the second floor, Gilbert suddenly comes bolting out and screams, "GHOST, GHOST! THERE'S A GHOST IN THE MANSION."

Ludwig captures him by grabbing the back of his shirt and asks, "What are you talking about? What did you see?"

"T-There was a voice, and it was telling me to come closer to it and follow it but I said no, and then I ran!" Gilbert explains breathlessly, trying to get away.

Alfred turns completely white. "Okay, well, thanks for the tour, Ludwig. I appreciate your hospitality, but it looks like something's come up and I've gotta go!"

"Oh, no you don't," Arthur says, pulling him back roughly by his arm. "We're going to investigate and look for clues. You can stand here and be our watchdog."

"W-Watchdog?"

"Francine and Madeline, let's go."

They leave Alfred to stand there, quaking, and march through the door.

Alfred gulps. What if the ghost possesses him or one of the others? What if it follows them home from this mansion? What if it messes with his head and he forgets who he is and stops liking Doritos and bacon? That'd be lame. Life without Doritos and bacon is not worth living.

"AHHHH!"

He jumps. "What was that?!? Are you guys okay?"

"Francine, I told you not to go near that sarcophagus!" he hears Arthur yell.

A sarcophagus? What's that doing in a place like this? The Beilschmidts are kinda strange.

"I'm okay!" Francine shouts back, and Alfred breathes a sigh of relief.

Maybe he's safer out here. If the ghost is going to get anyone, it's probably going to be one of the others, which is unfortunate, but someone has to be the sacrificial lamb.

"I have a plan," Madeline says, but he doesn't hear all of the details because she lowers her voice.

Five minutes of relative silence pass, until Alfred finally hears Arthur say,

"I'll get to work. Alfred, come in here. Madeline and Francine -- you two should wait out in the hall."

Spoke too soon! Why does he have to go in now? That doesn't sound like a smart idea! Arthur's always trying to get him killed, isn't he?

Still, he's the leader, so what he says is what goes. Alfred rubs his growling stomach, takes a deep breath for courage, and enters past the door while Madeline and Francine replace his post.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" Alfred whines, pouting at Arthur.

"I need your help. You're going to take this flashlight, walk down to the end of that corridor, and anger the ghost so that it comes and follows you this way."

"WHAT? WHY ME?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. You do realize it's probably not a real ghost, right? Someone's playing tricks on us. Just trust me on this."

"Why am I always your bait?"

"Because you're good at it," Arthur says, trying to flatter him so that he'll continue going along with the scheme, and, as expected, his tactic works.

"A-A-All right. I'll do it. For the gang," Alfred whispers, taking the flashlight from Arthur with trembling hands.

Arthur gives him a nod of approval and squeezes his shoulder. "Don't worry, we've got your back. Now go out there and do what you do best -- be a brat."

With that, Arthur disappears behind the other side of the door again, leaving Alfred to fend for himself once more.

Alfred waves the flashlight from side to side and starts walking down the corridor Arthur directed him to. "Heeeey, Ghosty ghost...You out there?"

"Begone, stranger...!" an ominous voice hisses from the darkness.

"Eek...! Well, I'm really hungry, Mr. Ghost dude-sir. And I was wondering if you've got any Doritos."

"Nooooo. No Doritos here. Stupid human!"

"No Doritos? What kind of establishment is this? You call this a mansion? Lamest mansion I've ever seen."

"BEGOOOOONE!"

Alfred blows a raspberry. "Make me!"

There's a clanging sound, and then footsteps begin to draw closer, chasing him up the corridor. Alfred screams and makes a run for it, not daring to look back. As he's nearing the door leading back to where the others are, the sarcophagus from earlier tips over, except it's open. It falls to the ground with a loud bang and traps the ghost.

"Hah! It worked!" Arthur exclaims coming through the door along with Francine, Madeline, Gilbert, and Ludwig. "Good work, Alfred. We got them."

Ludwig and Gilbert lift the sarcophagus, and underneath it, there's no ghost at all. Instead, it's a young boy with black hair and caramel eyes -- one of the children who work in the kitchen.

"You're the one who's been causing trouble these past few days?" Ludwig asks sternly.

The boy sheepishly looks up at them and his shoulders droop. "It was just a joke. I...I thought if you all thought this part of the mansion was haunted, I could come here and play...and no one would come looking for me..."

"I guess that wraps up this ghost story," Madeline says, cleaning her glasses on the hem of her sweater.

Alfred looks at the boy, then at the rest of the gang, and glowers. "So, does this mean we get to have dinner now?"