#you do not need to reply unless you want to

[milktiicup]

are you afraid of me?

what the hell type of name is "mr. crawling" if he can fucking walk?

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍒 ⋅ ˚✮ based on the hc that mr crawling doesn't stand so he doesn't scare mc.

warnings. just fluff/comfort, some spoilers for end04 and end17

Mr. Crawling is kind.

Mr. Crawling is sweet.

Mr. Crawling is a complete mystery to you.

Other than his complete and instant devotion to you, you know almost nothing about him. Not that you’re complaining; since escaping the other world with him in tow, he’s been a pretty decent roommate.

He doesn’t have many hobbies, unless staring at you from across the room counts. The only mess he leaves is long, black hairs that snake along the shower walls and more often than not clog the drain. He doesn’t even eat your food—something you discovered after a week of trial and error, setting out everything from leftovers to raw steak in the hopes of figuring out what a creature like him might like. As it turns out, he isn’t much of an eater, and he refuses to wear anything but the clothes he crossed over in, so at least you didn’t need to buy him new clothes. He’s low-maintenance in those areas, thankfully, and your paycheck doesn’t take a huge hit. 

Still, as close as you are, and as much as you’ve grown fond of him, you know nothing about who or what he truly is. Can he stand? Does he even have eyeballs? You know he can see, somehow, but how? Does he have teeth? You’re not even sure there’s a word for teeth in his language… Would he need a dentist? As most of your Mr. Crawling mouth knowledge went, you knew he had a tongue. 

The days pass, you fall into routines, and so do your questions.

“Crawling,” you had said one night, settled up on the sofa after a long day at work.  “Why can’t you stand?”

Mr. Crawling looks up from the screen, his wide smile faltering as he absorbs your question. His hair falls across his face, hiding whatever might be behind those red blotches he has for eyes.

“Me… not able to stand,” he replies, waving abnormally long limbs. “Arms good!” He seems proud, at least. 

You purse your lips out in thought- sure, he had those spindly legs, but it wasn’t like he couldn’t use them. You witnessed first hand the way he kicks his legs about under the blanket, unsettling cracks of his joints. Or when he sits up on his knees to fetch something on the counter top that he couldn’t reach from the floor. 

“You want me stand?”

“No, Crawling, I like you like this.” And you finished the conversation with a few pats on his head, and he nuzzled into your knee as if he was a pet. 

“You like me?”

You nod.

“Me like you!”

Low maintenance in the roommate department, high maintenance in the boyfriend? department.

You settle into bed that night after serving Mr Crawling his completely normal human soup that you definitely obtained by very legal and moral ways. Although, he didn’t seem very hungry that night, and you decided to just keep it for later. You debated on leaving it out in case he got hungry during the night when you were asleep, but seeing as to what the contents were, you weren’t up for it to stink out your kitchen. Back in the fridge it went!

“Rest?” he asks from the doorway of your bedroom, eyeless staring as you settle on the mattress. 

“I rest. You rest?” You pat the spot beside you. 

“Me watch you.”

Whatta guy… You wait for him to join you before you pull the blanket to your chin. And just like every other night, Mr. Crawling wraps his long arms around you, joints cracking as he stretches his legs out on the blanket- his feet hang off the bed. His hair tickles every exposed inch of your skin, but you don’t mind. You’ve gotten used to it at this point- maybe you should teach him to brush his own hair though?

His touch is cool, like air from a drafty window, and you relax under his delicate, careful pats on your head. It’s not long before you drift off.

It’s rare that you wake up in the dead of night. It’s rarer when you wake up to him not in the same position you fell asleep in. Groggy, you reach an arm out to the other side of the bed and hit the space where Mr. Crawling should have been. It’s still warm, however, and you sit up and rub your eyes. He’s not here.

What the hell? That wasn’t like him.

You slip into your slippers and shuffle toward the kitchen. The house is dark and still, except for a faint rustling. When your vision adjusts, you stop in your tracks. You were pretty sure your heart stopped for a second, too. 

He hadn’t noticed you yet, which is unlike him. 

“C-Crawling?” you stammer. 

Mr. Crawling is there, long arms in your fridge, but he isn’t small and folded like usual. He’s… standing. You blink, barely processing the sight. He has to be at least eight feet tall, maybe more, his head brushing the ceiling. His towering shadow spills over the walls, unsettling even to someone like you.

He freezes, letting out a startled squeak you’ve never heard before. His head whips toward you, and his hair falls in a curtain over his face. He drops to his knees instantly, scrambling across the floor to you with long, frantic arms. He tackles you into an overzealous hug, the kind you usually get only when you come home from work.

“You awake!”

You blink down at him. “I thought you said you couldn’t stand?” you murmur, still dazed. He lied? Why would he lie? Is there even a word for lie in his language?

His hair fans at your face, elbows propping himself up on top of you. Mr. Crawling tilts his head at you, and you wrack your brain in this stupid monster language that you just can’t perfectly adjust to yet.

“Uhm… You stand good?” you manage to fumble the words out. You stand good. That just sounds ridiculous. “Legs work?”

Mr. Crawling lets you sit up, grey hands cupping your face. He seems… off. Sad? Worried? You’ve only seen him not smiling a few times- and that was when you first met him- when he scared the absolute daylights off of you, when that man in red with the umbrella appeared… There was also that time you collapsed, and that creepy, eyeless nurse showed up.

“You scared me?” he asks, his tone soft.

Are you scared of me? 

“You don’t stand because you think you’ll scare me?” you mumble, hands holding onto his wrists. “Erm… Not stand… me scared?” 

“Me scary… You not like me.” His head hangs and Mr. Crawling’s hair touches the floor and licks at your legs.. His gentle hold of your face loosens.

He doesn’t stand at his full height because he’s afraid he’ll scare you? God. How can a ghost be such a sweetheart?

“Hey,” you whisper, pulling his hands off your face. You wrap your arms around his neck, tilting your head so you can see where his eyes should be. “You’re cute. Very big, yes—I was just surprised.”

“You… not scared?” His voice is uncertain.

You giggle, squeezing him tighter. “No. Just surprised.” He doesn’t understand you- and you need to wrack every shelf in your brain to get the words out. “Me surprised… you very cute.”

There’s a beat of silence as he absorbs your words. “Me cute?” he repeats, as if it’s the greatest revelation in the world.

“Very cute,” you confirm, unable to help laughing as he tackles you once again to the floor, hair scattering everywhere as he nuzzles into your chest, murmuring, “Me cute, me cute,” in a gleeful mantra. You pat his head, and he flops onto the floor beside you with a giggle.

You stare at him, illuminated by the extremely romantic light of the fridge. “Hungry?” you ask, and push some of his hair away from his face- he grabs your wrist before you get any closer to his eyes, though.

“Want eat… you rest.”

You shake your head, stifling a yawn. “I’ll wait for you. I… erm… rest with you?” You cringe, knowing you said it wrong. You’re at least seventy percent sure you said it wrong. Maybe it’s time to teach him your language.

Mr. Crawling lets out his normal unsettling giggles, a sound that cuts through the silence of the house.

You don’t bother getting his tomato soup out of the fridge like you usually do, and take a seat at the table. He looks lost for a split second, and giggles once more as he rises to his feet. You let out a few appreciative oohs and ahhs he reaches his full height. You’re still a bit shocked at how his head almost touches the ceiling.

He settles into his usual seat across from you, knees folded as best as they can be under the table, his feet brushing against your legs.

It’s like a lightbulb appears above your head.

What the hell type of name is “Mr. Crawling” if he can fucking walk? 

[lisbeth-kk]

Sherlock fandom.

I was determined to write the fluffiest flash fiction ever after the devastating events of late, but my muse decided that you'll need tissues instead. Apologies, but I think it'll have a cathartic effect.

Let Me Comfort You

John’s ascending steps speak volumes to Sherlock. They are heavier than normal. Something must have happened at work. His watch tells him that John is ninety-five minutes early. He never leaves before his shift is over, unless Sherlock texts or shows up with a case.

The moment John appears in the doorway, Sherlock knows. A patient has died, and not an old one. Melissa, six years old, leukaemia. They had hoped she would make it through the year. 

One last Christmas.

He’s in front of John before he collapses in Sherlock’s arms. John sobs like his heart is breaking, and Sherlock guesses that it literally is. The girl had been so brave, according to John. He had encountered her when her parents took her to A&E before they knew about her condition. A broken wrist and a cut over her eyebrow, which John mended easily. 

Melissa had asked for him when she came back for her treatment. John represented safety, and he was allowed to visit her by the haematologist-oncologist.

“I’m sorry, John,” Sherlock murmurs and kisses his temple. “It went faster than expected?”

“Yeah,” John says, his voice is rough. “Infection.”

Sherlock tightens his grip and strokes John’s back. 

“What can I do?” he asks, hoping there is something that can ease John’s despair.

“You’re doing it, Sherlock,” John replies and buries his face in the crook of Sherlock’s neck.

It’s a bit uncomfortable, since John’s face is damp with flowing tears, but Sherlock couldn’t care less. He’s determined to endure whatever John needs him to. His throat thickens and he has to clench his jaw to keep from crying too. He needs to be strong, just as John has been for Sherlock so many times. It is his turn now. 

“Bath?” he suggests.

“Christ, that would be wonderful,” John sighs.

Relieved, Sherlock steers John to sit in his chair, while he sorts out the bath.

***

Sherlock fills the tub, adds vetiver-scented soap, and finds four jar candles. He places two of them at the far end of the tub and the other two on the sink. The flames flicker a bit when he whirls around to gather soft towels, their pyjamas bottoms, t-shirts, and clean pants. Before he returns to the sitting room, he turns off the light, so that the candles are the only light source in the bathroom.

John is resting his head on the back of his chair, his eyes closed, but he isn’t sleeping. Sherlock strokes his hair and beckons him to come with him. John walks like a zombie, and even lets Sherlock undress him. Sherlock’s heart clenches. John’s clearly out of sorts when he’s this pliant. 

John makes no effort to get into the tub, and Sherlock strips quickly, seats himself and reaches for John to help him in. The deep sigh John releases when he’s enveloped in Sherlock’s arms, makes Sherlock almost euphoric with relief.

“This is just what I needed, Sherlock,” John murmurs after a few minutes of tranquil silence. “You’re lovely.”

Sherlock feels his cheeks flush, and not from the hot water. John’s praise always does that.

He starts humming and isn’t paying much mind to what tune exactly. 

“Bach’s Lullaby,” John murmurs. “Are you going to sing me to sleep, love?”

“I wasn’t aware actually,” Sherlock responds quietly. “Would you want me to sing to you?”

“Always,” John assures him.

He turns his head and kisses Sherlock’s cheek.

“I love you,” Sherlock says softly and bends down to catch John’s lips.

“Me too, sweetheart. So much,” John whispers.

He starts to tremble and hides his face in Sherlock’s neck again.

“Shh, my heart. I’ve got you,” Sherlock soothes.

He rarely uses endearments, John’s name is enough, but this occasion clearly calls for it. John holds on to him for dear life, and Sherlock starts humming again. This relaxes John considerably, and Sherlock asks if John has any song requests.

“You don’t have to,” he mumbles.

“Let me comfort you, John. Please.”

When John stays silent, Sherlock starts to sing. He knows it’s one of John’s favourites. One that’s soothed him on more than one occasion.

When you're weary Feeling small When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all

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

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[vixsims]

i will say as someone who does have separate blogs for cc / reblogs (tho i'm using this one more lately for reblogs), is that some ppl do just want to have one blog solely for their gameplay pics (and that often ends up being their "main" sims blog). people may do this for various reasons, but usually i think it's just to keep a cohesive uncluttered / uninterrupted archive of their gameplay and so it's easier for people to follow their gameplay storylines and such. some people even have separate blogs for EACH save. i don't think this is necessarily bad or a problem. everyone uses this site differently and everyone's blog is their own space to use as they wish. i also don't think it's bad to have separate reblog blogs because....you are still reblogging! you are still sharing other people's creations and stories! the issue here is lack of engagement so, reblog blogs are still engagement. i think we could all do better with leaving nice comments in the replies, reaching out via asks / dms, etc. interacting in general. that's how you make others feel included. and yes, reblogging, too, be that on your main simblr or elsewhere.

i also think there's kind of a mentality in simblr that's different from other fandoms where, you don't really reblog people's gameplay pics as often. because they're usually part of an ongoing narrative and many just don't make sense as standalone posts to reblog? unless it's like, pretty scenery, build pics, or a contained scene that doesn't need much additional context. i don't know. that's just the perspective i've gotten and the unspoken simblr norms from over ten years of being on here.

every fandom is different and has a different so-called "culture." in other fandoms it doesn't make sense to have a blog of just your original posts and another for reblogs / cc, but in this one i think it does make sense when you want to keep a space for just your stories / gameplay. anyways, regardless of having multiple blogs, there are many ways we can work to make others feel more included here. and personally i have always felt the sims 2 fandom in particular is a very welcoming and inclusive space, especially to new simblrs!

I've been seeing alot of people felling discouraged from simblr and feeling like they don't belong

Especially when there is alot of posts going around telling you not to focus on popularity etc

But im here to tell you ITS NOT YOU

You did nothing worng you do infact belong here its not your fault people in this community are not interactive (and yes its jsut his community im in two other fandom spaces and they work just fine people here are the outlier)

And my proof that its not your fault?

I have 3200 follower (all reall people i removed the bots myself)

So you would think i would get alot of notes and feel included right?

WRONG

3k+ followers and this year the most nots i got on any non cc post i made was 15 and on cc posts it was 56

The only post that got alot of notes all year was my simblreen treats post and you would think with 3k people watching it would be 1000 notes or something but no last time i checked it was barely over 100

There are like 3 people that occasionally talk to me sometimes on my posts lol (very thankful i know no one owes me anything)

And i have had this blog for 6+ years

My point is

You belong just fine and i personally am happy you are here

Its not your fault people are being stubborn and refusing to reblog on the reblog website

(imma be real with you if i owened this website im removing the like option this is the reblog website you don't need to only like stuff but i dont own it so 🤷‍♂️)

[madlyney]

A Reason to See You.

Kento Nanami x bakergn!reader Tw: none! wc: 512 Mad’s Notes: aaaaa idk if I like this or not😭😭 based on this btwww

Nanami has the same routine everyday. Wake up, go to work, clock out at six, go home, and the cycle continues. But there’s something he always looks forward to on his daily routine. Entering your bakery. 

You opened a bakery to fulfill your hobby of baking. You enjoyed baking pastries and watching people enter through the glass doors, admiring the hard work and efforts you put in each of your well made pastries. You had your regulars, and of course one of them was Nanami, who happened to be your favourite. Everyday he’d stop by your shop on the way to or from his workplace, and he never missed a chance to have a small chat with you as you ring up his items—mostly just plain bread or a chicken sandwich.

You’d think he just enjoyed your pastries, that’s why he enters your shop everyday. Well, that is one reason. Another is that he just wants to have a reason to see you.

“Nice to see you again, Nanami,” you said with that lovely smile you always had on your face, but it always seemed different whenever you talked to Nanami. 

He grunts in response. “Nice seeing you too, l/n. I take it that the bakery’s doing well again today?” He asks, pulling out his leather wallet to pay for his items. 

You nodded, the smile on your face not fading away. “By the way, do you like croissants?” 

Your sudden question intrigued nanami’s interest. He raised an eyebrow as he handed you the exact money he owed. “I don’t particularly mind them. Why do you ask?”

Your small smile widened slightly as you reached for a small package on the counter behind you. “I tried baking some today for the first time. I haven’t sold any, but I wanted to know what your thoughts on them are.”

Nanami’s face softened slightly—so slightly that it’s almost unnoticeable, unless you squinted a little. “Thank you. I know they’ll be as great as your other pastries,” He said, accepting the bag from your hand, his fingers accidentally brushing over yours slightly. 

You chuckled and waved your hand dismissively in front of your face, hoping that it would hide the small blush forming on your face. “You flatter me. It just tastes ordinary to me. I just wanted a regular’s opinion before I start selling these.”

“Nonsense, your pastries always tasted amazing, l/n.” He pulled out his wallet once again. “How much do I owe you for the croissant?”

You shook your head. “Consider it on the house, or a taste sample,” you said with a smile. 

His eyebrows yet again raised, he sighed. “Please, let me. Consider it as a tip for all your hard work.”

“I insist, Nanami. There’s really no need.” 

He let out a small sigh and pocketed his wallet. “Then how about dinner, hm?”

You blinked, trying your best to hide the blush that’s formed more obviously on your cheeks. With a nod, you replied, “dinner would be amazing.”

Relieved, the smile on Nanami’s lips widened. “Great. So… this Saturday at seven?”

[toxicanonymity]

Hey Boo,

I've been seeing Joelkemons making the rounds being the best kind of dude to have around when you're crying.

Is Stepdad is having very strong feelings about all of this too? I imagine of Raider (LOML) and NW are being so soft with us, something in stepdad might respond to our hopelessly impotent rage.

I'd love to see how he reacts.

Boy howdy, tho, if I could slip into the brothel and have a big ol' Joel-pile, that shit would fix me all the way.

Thank you so much for everything you do and are.

I hope you're taking care of yourself too.

-- Cupquake <3

black tuesday

JOEL x f!READER | 1000 words

WARNINGS: 18+. Election Night. ANGST. Tears. Fears. This is intended to be a cathartic fic with some comfort but please don't read if it could be traumatic. Allusions to reproductive rights, etc. Reader is angry, esp. at men, takes it out on joel a little. Joel is supportive. Reader dacryphilia, brief smut. STEPDAD AU but you don't need to know it, and the stepcest doesn't come up.

NOTES: Sweet Cupquake, you're welcome and thank you for always being so supportive. Poor stepdad, he's normally the one needing comforting, isn't he? Yes, he has strong feelings about all this. This doesn't fit neatly in the AU timeline just roll with it. My brief post on the election is here. This will most likely be my only fic that overtly acknowledges the u.s. election. DO NOT INTERACT: TRUMP VOTERS, ANTI-CHOICE PEOPLE, MINORS.

You’re sitting on the floor of your apartment watching the news while Joel makes dinner and a huge mess in the kitchen. When the early votes are counted, we’ll see a lot more blue, they said. No, actually. Not really. You turn the volume way down so you can barely hear it. 

“Pasta’s ready,” Joel announces in a weak, sing-song voice. 

You remain on the floor. Your breathing is shallow, and it doesn’t feel real. 

Joel comes into the living room but doesn’t sit down. He stands with his arms crossed. His neck veins are bulging, his biceps are tense, his jaw clenches as he watches the screen. He’s pissed, he’s so angry watching this happen. He’s embarrassed to be a Texan. He thinks about all the women he knows. Embarrassed to be a man. 

He looks back and forth between the tv and you, and he sees your eyes are watery. He brings your glass of water from the kitchen, but you refuse it. He puts it down on the coffee table. Then, he picks up the remote control and turns off the tv. 

“Why’d you do that?” you snap. 

“It’s only makin’ ya sad,” Joel replies. “It’s still early, there’s time.” 

“Sad?? You think I’m sad?” Heat rises to your face. Your chest tightens.  

“Okay,” Joel acknowledges softly. “I can see you’re not just sad.” 

He sits down and tries to put his arm around you but you scoot over to face him. 

“All you men just go around blowing your loads everywhere and we’re the ones who have to deal with it, and you have the nerve to tell us how.” 

“I’d never tell you how to--you know that.”

“--I am so fucking tired of men talking.” 

“Sorry,” he mumbles, and sits quietly next to you for a minute. It’s hard knowing there’s nothing he can do or say, but he’s not going to leave you unless you tell him to. 

He clears his throat and asks softly, “Would anything make ya feel better?”

“Only waking up from this nightmare.”

“Yeah,” he acknowledges. 

“I don’t wanna feel better,” you begin to cry. “I want it to not happen….Like, is this real life?” 

None of it feels real. Months ago, people in stupid red hats were carrying around actual sperm cups. The highest-profile rapist in the country called himself the father of fertility, and crowds of people cheered. He said “mass deportation” and people cheered more. And then half the country voted for these sick, twisted buffoons. 

“You want some space?” Joel asks. 

“No,” you protest tearfully.

He hesitantly brushes the back of your neck with his thumb. This time, you let him put his arm around you. 

You whisper, “I can’t believe this is happening.” 

“Sweetheart, it ain’t over. We got time.” 

You shake your head no, ‘cause you can feel it in your gut. 

Joel sits in silence for a moment, and you can’t see it, but he’s tearing up because he can feel you burning and he’s powerless. 

He holds you and strokes your back while you bury your face in his chest. He discreetly checks his new york times app and tries not to react out loud- it’s only getting worse. 

After a few minutes of silence, he whispers your name, and you respond, “mm?”

“I’m sorry,” he chokes out. 

You look up to see his cheeks wet, his hair messy. Your heart swells with affection. Affection and… gratitude? God, the bar is in hell. But to be fair, you really love him. You’re grateful for the man he is, not the one he isn’t. 

Desire begins to stir in your chest.

Joel presses a kiss onto your forehead, then lifts your chin, and you look at each other. He brushes away a tear from your cheek. With his own cheeks still wet, he swallows, and the emotional bob of his Adam’s apple sends a rush of arousal to your core. You put your hand on the back of his neck and pull him toward you for a kiss. 

Affection and relief floods your body. It’s temporary, of course, but you let yourself have this. You let the nightmare fade into a spicy dream. 

You straddle him and he pulls you close and moans into your mouth. You kiss him desperately and feel him harden under you. He hesitates and mutters, “sorry,” trying to read the room. He pushes your thighs back, trying to put some distance between you and his hard-on. 

“Stop,” you reply, then latch onto his mouth again. He breaks away and says, “Just don’t want ya to feel like I–” 

“Shut up,” you tell him, then scoot yourself closer, your crotch firmly planted on the warm, stiffening shape in his sweatpants. You grind your hips into him. He kisses you back with increased fervor, and moans into your mouth. Kissing passionately, your loins throb warmly together and your hips move in rhythm. 

You reach between the two of you and slide your hand down his sweatpants. You palm his leaking manhood. Pressing it against his tummy, you gently move the skin on his shaft, and  He groans.

“Fuck,” he breathes, and thrusts against your hand. 

You stand up to urgently take off your pj pants. 

His man-guilt is still eating at him. Squeezing his aching hard shaft, he lets out a moan, then weakly offers, “Are you sure you wanna…”

In response, you straddle him, hot and dripping against his bare arousal.  You slide against him, throbbing and ready. Then, as you slide his tip to your entrance, you warn him, “Get it while it’s on the table.” You sink down on him and he shudders. Then he thrusts upward and moans as he bottoms out.  

“My legs’ll be closed for business soon,”  you explain. 

He closes his eyes and breathes deep as your body accommodates his.  “Fair enough,” he answers thoughtfully, then opens his eyes. “Wait. Even if my face is the customer?” 

------

------

-----

NOTES: I actually wrote three Stepdad things, and chronologically, this is no. 2 of 3. The others aren't posted yet. The first one is a standalone pregnancy scare, nothing about the election (would've been before it). And the second one is a post-election talk about contraception.

My brief post on the election is here.

Thank you for reading. Please remember to take care of yourselves <33

[do-androids-dream-ao3acc]

It hurts to feel, to think, to know I may be nothing

(a kind of fix-it for 8x06)

The knocking on his door is insistent, almost angry. 

Tommy looks at the alarm clock next to his bed. The glowing digits, the only and quite pale light in the room, show 2:45 am. Who would knock on his door at this hour? There's this little tiny heart stumble that gives him a name in response, which he immediately suppresses. Tommy, who is lying on his bed fully dressed and can't sleep anyway, just hopes it's not him. Not … Buck. He couldn't bear that, not now. No pleading from those Bambi eyes, no broken voice with a stutter worse than ever. He wouldn't be able to look at the man and think of him as detached as he had called him when he left, he wouldn't be able to see anything other than Evan, and that would be wrong. Tommy weighed this thought back and forth in his head, trying to make it somehow more correct. 

The knocking is still energetic, it just won't stop. Tommy sighs. He considers just lying there, playing dead and staring at the ceiling until whoever is at the door leaves. But if it's Evan, if it really is him, then he can be trusted to knock all night. Or to try to break down the door. Although... No, he wouldn't do that. Unless he was drunk. Tommy remembers the story of when the Bachelor party got out of hand and a door was kicked in. His thoughts go round in circles, and he sighs again. It sounds theatrical in his empty bedroom, but that's the way it is. He slowly gets up, swings his legs out of bed and shuffles to the door. 

This little stab in his heart, which is not relief but disappointment, is pathetic. It’s not Evan, of course not.

It’s Eddie.

Definitely, the first thing Evan would do is go to Eddie. Then, probably in the early morning, to Bobby. Or to his sister. Heck, he’ll see all his friends because he can; and that thought somehow hurts even more. Tommy isn't afraid that Evan will make him look like a bad guy. He has every right to grieve and seek comfort. It's just that he can. From whom does Tommy find comfort?

In any case, Eddie, who looks a little disheveled and a little drunk with his red cheeks, doesn't exactly appear like someone who wants to console him. 

“Have you checked the time?” Tommy asks gruffly. 

“I did, but have you checked your brain?”

Eddie taps him on the forehead with two fingers, then pushes past him without being asked, casually dropping onto the couch in the living room. 

“This isn't the best time, Eddie,” Tommy says wearily. Yes, he is tired, even if he can't sleep. 

“Might be. But that's what this is all about, isn't it?”

That hurts, and Tommy feels anger building behind his forehead, which will be a decent headache in a few hours. Unshed tears, that's how Abby used to call it. Abby, with whom everything began and somehow everything ended. All the shame and anger about himself make Tommy's muscles tense. 

“Don't think you’d understand.”

Tommy stands there with his arms crossed, defensive, as he has been all his life, but Eddie is not impressed. Of course not, why would he. Eddie has told him stories of Afghanistan and the dirt he's been through. One man’s defensive attitude hardly impresses him. 

“Why not?”

“Because you've never been in that situation, quite simply.”

“Oh, so you want to use my non-existent queer experience against me, do you? Shallow.”

Tommy lets out a long breath and growls, “What exactly do you want, Eddie?”

“I want to know why.”

A simple sentence, a simple statement, but Tommy feels like he's been deflated. He searches for words, but they are hard to find.

“Listen,” he finally says, ”I know you're here as E… as Buck’s friend. That’s sweet, but…”

“That's true,” Eddie replies surprisingly soberly, ”but I'm also here as your friend. Sometimes we need our people to tell us we're being silly.”

Of course, he speaks from experience. That's kind of the point, and now it's bursting out of Tommy. 

“I managed well on my own for years,” he says, the words tumbling out of his mouth. “I've been through it all, the self-denial, the shame, the half-hearted relationships. Evan will never have to experience that, and I'm grateful for that. But still... this guy just stumbled into my life, no, rather rolled through it like a steamroller.”

"He broke your barriers," Eddie interrupts him. 

Tommy gives him a look. Eddie actually understands. Why is he so surprised? Tommy doesn't give away his friendship lightly, and Eddie is more profound than he pretends to be. Or even than his friends sometimes think. Which, by the way, is also true of Evan, which is where he starts chasing his own tail, right?

“He did. And he comes with a lot of luggage.”

“Oh yes,” Eddie laughs. Then, he narrows his eyes, watching Tommy intently. “Wait, you don’t  mean his past and all?”

Tommy drops into the armchair opposite the sofa and shakes his head. 

“We... actually didn't really talk much about the past. It was more like...”

“The heat of the moment?”

Tommy doesn’t have to ponder about that, because it’s true. Every new relationship is like this, everything is exciting and full of icing. You don't use the time you have with questions. They didn't have much time, that's the curse of shift work and a life as a first responder. 

“Suddenly, half a year has passed,” he says with wonder. “And then he says he wants to move in with me.”

“Were you afraid of the next step?”

The way Eddie phrases this question tells him that Evan hasn't fully understood what happened. He's sorry for that, but he's sorry for so much, it's just more grief on top of a big pile of sorrow. 

“I'm just afraid of losing my heart,” Tommy returns, and strangely enough, Eddie laughs again.

“Do you think that's funny?”

Eddie raises his hands defensively, “What I actually find funny is that you lost your heart a long time ago, Tommy. You left the man standing outside the restaurant and gave him a second chance anyway. You’re the first contact in his phone. You're the one with the ice packs, the one who buried his stupid curse with him.”

“You would have done all that too.”

“Sure, except for the part about the funeral maybe, but only because Buck and I are on terms where you can tell your friend that he's being stupid. You, on the other hand... you have heart eyes when you see him. You stroke his hand in passing, you hold back on the kisses when anybody is around only to protect him.”

“You noticed that?”

“I noticed a few things,” says Eddie. “Especially that Buck feels the same way about you. There comes a point in every relationship when you take off your rose-tinted glasses. The only mistake you've made is convincing yourself that this will end anyway.”

“But it will,” Tommy replies dispassionately. 

“Because you're his first? That's stupid, Tommy.”

“What would you know about it?” Tommy replies heatedly.

Eddie tilts his head, “Didn't you listen when I told you about Shannon? I married my first love. I know what you're thinking, of course, it didn't end well, yada yada. But it wasn't because we didn't love each other, Tommy. We were very young and very stupid, and it hurts me to see two grown men like you, who also love each other very much, behaving so stupidly.”

Tommy sinks down in his chair.

“He acts impulsively,” he interjects. “He doesn't know what he's getting himself into, and in the end, when he understands that he needs more, he'll leave. And that will hurt a lot more.”

“Maybe,” Eddie says and stands up. As unasked as he came in, he steps up to Tommy's fridge and rummages through it for a can of beer. Then he points it at Tommy and says, “But not having loved will hurt more. Being too much of a coward hurts.”

“I'm not a coward.”

“Yes, you are, because you're running away from your own feelings. And not even giving Buck the chance to prove to you that he's worth brightening up your lonely life.”

“Now you sound like a guy in a soap opera,” Tommy says sourly.

“Nah, I sound like someone who has screwed up so much in his life that he should be the last person to give advice to others. But this is Buck we're talking about, and he's just a whining misery sleeping on my couch. And it’s about you, a friend I’m fond of.”

He takes a deep sip and grimaces.

“I think you've had enough for today,” says Tommy. 

“Guess you're right.”

Eddie gets up, and to his credit, it has to be noted that he doesn't sway. Or just a little bit. 

“Let me summarize the whole mess like this: you fucked up, Buck doesn't understand why, and honestly I don't quite get it either. But what I do understand is that you should work it out together. Tomorrow morning… no wait, in a couple of hours. Sleep, then come over, and bring breakfast.”

“I don't know if that's such a good idea.”

The worst part is that there is a certain hopefulness in Tommy's voice, it almost cracks. Evan hasn't done anything wrong, and it's probably only right that he at least tells him that. Even if it hurts. Because Eddie is actually right - it will hurt no matter what, and it's better to love than to grieve over a love that could never evolve. 

“But I do.”

There is so much confidence in Eddie's voice. Something has happened to him, and one day Tommy will ask him about it. Now he holds on to his own door and nods weakly.

“Let me sleep on it,” he says. 

Eddie winks at him as he leaves.

[olderthannetfic]

General social media complaint of the moment, for me: the internet right now really likes diagnosing people based on, like, one line of information.

You say "I don't like crowds," and you get 'peer reviewed' as autistic. You say, "oops, I lost my keys," and you suddenly have ADHD according to 3 different people. Oh, you're flexible? Well they don't know that you spent ten years doing artistic gymnastics — so maybe there's something wrong with you! How exciting for them! Have you been checked for EDS? Oh, you're tired a lot? Well! Have you been assessed for chronic fatigue? Fibromyalgia? Anaemia? There are so many ways total strangers can cram you into a neat little box to explain how you're sick!

Presumably it just doesn't occur to people that saying "I just read 12 words about you — have you been assessed by a medical doctor for this thing I have decided is wrong with you?" is incredibly invasive and rude. I'm sure that many of them are also just projecting their own experiences with the under-diagnosed problem of the day onto others instead of talking about themselves like they want to. But while that makes their feelings and motives more sympathetic, it has zero effect on how rude they are being!

Like, unless someone is saying "I just don't know why I'm so tired all the time. Does anyone know what it could be?" or unless they are already a very good friend (and not a beloved mutual you've replied to 3–10 times!) maybe it's just not very good manners to tell people there must be some mystery thing wrong with them that they need to address? Maybe?

--

Ah, the internet.

I'm totally going to continue to armchair diagnose all of you in my inbox though. ;)

[taigarrryen]

-> The Paper Art Post <-

Let's make some Wild Life ep.3 snails together!

First of all, I make a sketch (usually it's already the size I want the final thing to be, because I'm a very lazy person).

At the point where everything is apparent enough to have a clear vision in mind, I go to my paper scrap drawer and think of what colors and textures I want to use (although sometimes I initially start from the color palette).

Here they are! But don't get too attached, we're gonna destroy them later >:)

And while we're on it, let's talk a bit about textures!

Textures are like candy for our eyes. They are an easy way to trick your brain into thinking that something is more detailed than it actually is, hence it adds interest and makes the whole piece fun to look at.

However, this is also why it's important not to overuse them — it's easy to get lost in the details and accidentally make your piece difficult to perceive as a whole.

You can make textured paper yourself using literally anything you can come up with: paint a sheet of paper with gouache or tempera, make swirls and gradients with watercolor or inc, scribble with colored pencils, make prints with various objects (I enjoy making prints of crumpled paper tissues soaked in ink), etc etc. Packaging film or candy wrapping also can be cool.

My only advice is be careful if you use gouache: some colors can make your fingers messy even after completely drying, so that has to be kept in mind to avoid accidentally leaving a dirty fingerprint somewhere you didn't plan for it to be.

For the tools I recommend using not only scissors, but a modeling knife/scalpel and an awl as well. Modeling knife makes cutting small things much easier, and awl comes in handy when you want to transfer a detail on paper but don't want to use pencil.

For gluing stuff I use gluestick, rubber glue and double-sided tape.

Now the fun part!

You can add details with colored pencils and markers ↑

As you can see, the process is pretty simple: I cut the piece I need from the sketch and transfer it to colored paper.

When it comes to assembling pieces, you can carefully cut them so that everything fits together like a puzzle, or simply glue them on top of eachother.

Keep the scraps (unless they're objectively tiny, of course)! You never know when you'll want just that amount of just that color or texture. It's also much more practical to cut new details from the side of the sheet from which you have already cut, rather than start from different edge every time you need a piece of that color.

Don't rush to glue things down! Along the way you might want to move something a bit or put one piece under another, and with quickly gluing everything it won't be possible. I like to work in big parts, making every object or character in the picture first and then, after putting them on their places and fumbling around, gradually assemble everything like lego.

Here are two parts of the picture (Bdubs' snail + Tango&Etho's snails) and a piece of red film I want to put on the background in some places. All that's left is to assemble everything by carefully gluing it on to my sketchbook page :)

You also can elevate certain parts of your artwork to create depth and areas of interest, using puffy tape or п-shaped / [-shaped piece of paper and glue. It looks really cool, but I usually don't do that because it's inconvenient for me to store & I like to keep everything in the sketchbooks.

TA-DAAA, we're done! The best thing about this technique is that you don't have to be good at actually drawing to make something that looks interesting!

Hope this post was useful and you've got inspired to try paper art for yourself! (And if you did — send me your art in ask box or replies, I'll be very glad to see it :] )

[dancingintherainwithchifuyu]

Ichiji Vinsmoke x Fem Reader.

Chapter 1

In a kingdom where marriage is power, a princess finds herself at the center of a political scheme. When the ambitious Vinsmoke family arrives, intent on winning her hand to secure an alliance, each of the brothers vies for her favor. But it’s the stoic Ichiji who catches her attention—despite his cold demeanor and sense of duty.

Warnings: Political Manipulation, Schemes,Arranged/Forced Marriage,Mild Violence Conflict,Emotional Manipulation,Slow-Burn Romance,Toxic Family Dynamics,Class and Social Hierarchy.

Tags: @omi-replies , @fic-dumpster , @firstdivisiongirl , @livid-basket , @alexa-fika

Part 2

The air in the Germa Kingdom’s main strategy chamber was thick with an uncomfortable silence. Judge Vinsmoke sat at the head of the long table, his imposing figure casting a shadow over his four children seated before him. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table as he eyed each of them, his gaze resting a moment longer on Ichiji, his eldest.

“Listen carefully,” Judge began, his voice commanding their full attention. “We are about to enter a kingdom with powerful resources—resources that could secure Germa’s place as an unstoppable force. I have reason to believe that the king is considering marriage alliances for his daughter. He knows it’s time for her to marry.”

“A royal alliance has presented itself,” Judge announced, his tone heavy with expectation. “An opportunity to expand Germa’s influence beyond the North Blue.”

Ichiji’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew his father didn’t indulge them in such serious discussions unless he believed there was something of significant value at stake.

A brief, tense silence settled around the table as each of the Vinsmokes absorbed this revelation. Niji let out a scoff, rolling his eyes. “Marriage? Don’t tell me you actually want one of us to play house with some pampered princess. Who needs that kind of baggage?”

“Careful, Niji,” Judge’s voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument. “This isn’t just any princess. She’s the daughter of a kingdom that controls a significant stretch of strategic territory. If we establish ties through marriage, Germa will have access to their resources, their ports… Their people.”

“Father, you talk as if she’s a prize to be won,” Reiju remarked quietly, though she wore a small, knowing smile. “You do realize she’s a person?”

Judge’s gaze flicked to his only daughter, his voice hardening. “That’s precisely what makes her valuable. She’s the means to an end, and Germa needs that end.” His eyes swept over them again, calculating. “The girl’s family holds immense sway over trade routes. Once she’s married into our family, that influence belongs to us.”

“That’s where you come in,” he continued, his gaze shifting from one son to the next. “I want each of you to compete for the princess’s favor. Show her what Germa’s finest can offer. This is your opportunity to prove yourselves.”

Yonji laughed under his breath. “Sounds easy enough. If all we have to do is charm some doe-eyed princess, then let me handle it.”

“I doubt charm will get you far, Yonji,” Reiju cut in, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “From what I hear, she’s supposed to be quite... particular.”

Niji leaned forward, an arrogant gleam in his eyes. “Particular, huh? She sounds soft”.Ichiji hadn’t spoken yet, instead choosing to assess his father’s expression with a quiet intensity. He knew exactly what Judge expected of him—the ideal son, the one molded from childhood to carry Germa’s ambitions forward without question.

“Spare us the theatrics,” Ichiji finally spoke, his tone level. “This is clearly a strategy, nothing more. I’ll play the role if it’s required. But let’s not pretend it’s anything other than manipulation.”

Judge’s eyes gleamed, the faintest hint of pride in his eldest son’s calculated mindset. “Precisely,” he affirmed. “This girl has likely been raised to be a pawn her entire life, groomed to follow the wishes of her family. You need only exploit that training. She will trust Germa if she believes she’s marrying someone worthy, someone loyal”

The Germa 66 fleet sailed smoothly over the calm sea, their dark, sleek ships forming an imposing line against the horizon. Judge stood on the deck of the lead ship, his gaze fixed forward, unyielding and cold. Behind him, his children assembled, each in their characteristic stance—Niji and Yonji leaning against the rails with their usual smirks, Reiju standing calmly with her arms crossed, and Ichiji, silent and focused, his eyes narrowed as he observed the approaching island.

The distant outline of the kingdom's lush forests and majestic palace came into view. The port city bustled with ships coming and going, but none compared to the intimidating, uniform might of the Germa fleet. Even from a distance, they could see the kingdom's guards hurrying to clear the docks, each with expressions of tense anticipation.

"Quite the welcome they’re giving us," Yonji snickered, watching as the guards lined up in a formation, clearly put on edge by the sight of Germa’s arrival.

Judge’s gaze remained forward. “Of course, they’re intimidated. They know what it means for Germa to visit. We’re a force to be reckoned with.” 

The ship lurched slightly as it neared the dock, the water rippling against the massive hull. Reiju watched the kingdom’s coastline, her gaze lingering on the distant palace towers. “I hope they’re prepared for what’s coming,” she murmured. “It doesn’t seem like the kind of place accustomed to Germa’s… approach.”

Niji chuckled. “All the better for us. The softer they are, the easier they’ll be to control. This should be a walk in the park.”

Ichiji gave him a sidelong glance, his voice cold. “You’d do well to control your arrogance, Niji. They may be soft, but underestimating them will only complicate matters.”

“Relax, Ichiji,” Niji shot back, smirking. “We’re here to charm them, aren’t we? Father didn’t bring us along to just stand there and look pretty.” He straightened his coat, the gleam in his eye betraying the enjoyment he took from the chance to play a role in the family scheme.

Judge’s gaze settled on each of them in turn, ensuring his children understood their roles. “Remember, this marriage is our chance to expand Germa’s reach. Each of you has a part to play in securing this alliance. Reiju, you will earn the princess’s trust. Niji, Yonji—support Ichiji’s efforts, but do not overstep. This is a delicate situation, and I will not tolerate failure.”

Reiju nodded thoughtfully, her mind already working through the best way to approach this task. She understood her father’s methods all too well, and she knew this wasn’t about romance or family. This was about gaining control.

Judge continued, his tone a blend of impatience and expectation. “Each of you has something to offer. Show her why Germa is her best option, and make sure she feels that. I’ll be watching closely.”

Niji leaned over to Yonji, grinning. “Guess the best man wins, huh?” He gave his older brother a nudge, his grin widening. “Good luck, Ichiji.”

Yonji chuckled, looking Ichiji over with a smug smirk. “You going to try charming her, Ichiji? Or just stand there looking all stoic and intimidating?”

Ichiji shot them both a steely look but said nothing. It was pointless to argue; he would do what he must, even if the idea of vying for someone’s favor left him with a bitter taste.

“Save your boasting for the banquet,” Judge warned, his voice cold. “Remember, this alliance is essential. Failure is not an option.”

With that, he turned his back on them, effectively dismissing them. Reiju gave Ichiji a brief, sympathetic glance as she turned to leave. She understood better than the others what he felt—how difficult it was to be the figure their father molded for his own purposes.

As they left the room, Niji and Yonji exchanged competitive glances, clearly eager to outdo one another. They already had their sights set on impressing the princess, and neither seemed to care how obvious their rivalry was.

As the Vinsmokes prepared to disembark at the kingdom’s port, they were met by an escort of palace guards who would lead them to the palace for that night’s banquet. Each sibling took in the sights with different degrees of interest, their minds already on the tasks Judge had set before them.

Niji elbowed Yonji as they walked, a grin spreading across his face. “What do you think? The princess will be wrapped around my finger in no time.”

Yonji smirked, unfazed. “You? Not a chance. I’ll have her attention before you can even blink.”

Ichiji ignored them, his gaze fixed on the palace looming ahead. He could already envision the evening: the charade, the flattery, the act of interest he’d have to feign. It was his duty, nothing more. A distraction he’d put up with if it meant securing his father’s ambitions.

Reiju, meanwhile, was mentally preparing herself for the night. Befriending the princess would require tact, patience, and a delicate hand. But she was well-versed in her father’s games. She knew how to maneuver through them gracefully, keeping her own feelings in check.

As the Vinsmokes prepared to disembark at the kingdom’s port, they were met by an escort of palace guards who would lead them to the palace for that night’s banquet. Each sibling took in the sights with different degrees of interest, their minds already on the tasks Judge had set before them.

Niji elbowed Yonji as they walked, a grin spreading across his face. “What do you think? The princess will be wrapped around my finger in no time.” Yonji smirked, unfazed. “You? Not a chance. I’ll have her attention before you can even blink.”

Ichiji ignored them, his gaze fixed on the palace looming ahead. He could already envision the evening: the charade, the flattery, the act of interest he’d have to feign. It was his duty, nothing more. A distraction he’d put up with if it meant securing his father’s ambitions.

Reiju, meanwhile, was mentally preparing herself for the night. Befriending the princess would require tact, patience, and a delicate hand. But she was well-versed in her father’s games. She knew how to maneuver through them gracefully, keeping her own feelings in check.

The grand ballroom was filled with music and laughter, noble guests drifting between conversations and dancing under the glow of crystal chandeliers. The princess, standing near the edge of the gathering, felt herself sinking deeper into discomfort. A persistent nobleman, clearly emboldened by wine, had been hovering around her for the past few minutes, his attention increasingly unwelcome.

“I was saying, Your Highness,” the nobleman continued, leaning too close, “you would be wise to consider my family’s standing. We have much to offer, after all,” he said, flashing a grin she found all too smug.

The princess forced a polite smile, subtly shifting away from him. “I’m sure your family is very… esteemed,” she replied, her voice wavering slightly.

The nobleman’s hand reached out, just enough to lightly touch her arm, making her tense. “Please, Your Highness, a dance?” He bowed dramatically, blocking her from slipping away.

She looked around, eyes searching for a familiar face, her discomfort rising as she struggled to find a way out of the situation.

Then, just as her anxiety was about to bubble over, a calm, confident voice cut through the tension.

“Excuse me, Your Highness,” Reiju interjected, stepping between the princess and the nobleman with perfect poise. “I couldn’t help but notice how lovely you look this evening. You must tell me who styled your hair—it’s simply enchanting.”

The princess blinked, caught off guard but relieved, and let out a small sigh. Reiju’s warm smile was both friendly and reassuring, the perfect lifeline.

“Oh, thank you, Lady Reiju,” she replied, her voice soft but grateful.

Reiju’s eyes flicked toward the nobleman, who was looking between them with a frown, clearly unimpressed by the interruption. She held her gaze steady, an undercurrent of steel flashing in her blue eyes as she addressed him with cool politeness.

“I’m sorry, but the princess and I have a prior engagement,” Reiju said smoothly. “We wouldn’t want to keep her waiting, would we?”

The nobleman’s eyes narrowed, his pride clearly stung. “I wasn’t aware the princess was… so occupied,” he said, voice dripping with irritation. But under Reiju’s unflinching stare, he gave a curt bow and stalked off, muttering under his breath.

Reiju watched him go, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. Once he was out of earshot, she turned back to the princess, her expression softening.

“Apologies for the interruption, Your Highness,” she said with a gentle smile. “It’s just that these banquets seem to attract a… particular type of guest.”

The princess let out a small, relieved laugh, her shoulders visibly relaxing. “Thank you, Lady Reiju. I… wasn’t sure what to say to him.”

Reiju nodded knowingly. “I can imagine. Men like that don’t always take hints easily.” She tilted her head thoughtfully, lowering her voice. “Truthfully, I could never stand that type myself. Far too forward.”

The princess’s eyes lit up in surprise, a smile breaking through her initial shyness. “I feel the same way,” she confessed. “Sometimes, I just… wish I could tell them no without being polite about it.

Reiju chuckled, leaning in conspiratorially. “Believe me, Your Highness, every woman wishes that at some point.” She glanced around the ballroom with a sly smile. “Shall we escape to the balcony? It’s much quieter there.”

The princess nodded eagerly. “Yes, please. I could use a bit of fresh air.”

The two slipped away, weaving through the crowd until they reached the balcony overlooking the garden, where the soft night air provided a welcome respite. The princess took a deep breath, her face relaxing as she gazed over the quiet scene.

“Thank you again, Lady Reiju,” she murmured. “I don’t know how to repay your kindness.”

Reiju shook her head, her expression turning unexpectedly soft. “Think nothing of it, Your Highness. Sometimes, we all need a little help. And you can call me Reiju,” she added with a wink, her usual formality melting away.

The princess smiled shyly. “Reiju, then.” She looked down, gathering her thoughts before adding, “I don’t have many… friends in court, I suppose. This was… really kind of you.”

Reiju placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Well, you have one now,” she said with genuine warmth. “And if you ever need me to help fend off another admirer, you know where to find me.”

The princess laughed softly, feeling more at ease in Reiju’s presence. For the first time, she felt she had an ally—someone who wasn’t interested in power or politics but simply understood her. The pressures of court life felt lighter, if only for a moment.

And though Reiju’s family might have their own motives, she found herself unexpectedly protective of the princess, hoping that their friendship might bring her a taste of normalcy amid the endless scheming.

The night was peaceful as Reiju and the princess strolled along the garden path. The banquet music was a faint hum in the background, giving them a sense of privacy in the open air. The princess’s face was relaxed, her earlier tension forgotten as she glanced curiously at Reiju.

“Lady Reiju,” the princess began, then corrected herself with a shy smile. “I mean, Reiju… you mentioned earlier that you’ve traveled far and wide with your family. I’ve never had the chance to travel beyond our islands. What’s it like?”

Reiju paused, a gentle smile crossing her lips as she glanced up at the night sky, gathering her thoughts. “It’s… exhilarating,” she replied. “One moment, you’re in the middle of a bustling port city, full of people and noise and life. And the next, you’re in a quiet, forgotten village where time seems to stand still. There’s always something new to see, something unexpected waiting around the corner.”

The princess listened intently, her eyes shining with fascination. “It sounds so… freeing,” she said softly. “I can’t imagine going wherever you please. Which place was your favorite?”

Reiju smiled, though there was a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. “There was a city in the North Blue,” she said, her voice tinged with warmth. “It was surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and the air was always crisp and cold. The people there were so hardy, living in harsh conditions, but they were kind too. They had this annual festival where they’d hang lanterns all around the town. At night, the whole place would glow—it was breathtaking.”

The princess sighed, lost in the mental picture Reiju had painted. “That sounds so beautiful,” she murmured. “I’ve always loved festivals and celebrations. I think… it reminds people to be joyful, even if only for a little while.”

Reiju nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at the princess. “You have a way of seeing things that many don’t. Even when times are hard, you find something good to hold onto.”

The princess blushed, glancing down shyly. “Thank you, Reiju. I suppose it’s just how I was raised. I’ve always been taught that kindness and understanding can make a difference, even in small ways.” She paused, looking up with curiosity. “Do you ever feel that way?”

Reiju hesitated, not used to sharing personal thoughts but sensing the princess’s sincerity. “Sometimes,” she said finally. “I think… there’s strength in kindness, though not everyone realizes it. It takes a certain bravery to be gentle in a world that can be… harsh.”

The princess nodded thoughtfully, a small smile spreading across her face. “I like to think so too. Perhaps that’s why I’m so fascinated by the idea of traveling. Meeting people from different places, seeing their lives—maybe there’s more kindness in the world than we realize.”

Reiju glanced over, feeling an unexpected admiration for the princess’s innocent outlook. “You’d make a wonderful traveler,” she said. “And you know, if you ever do get the chance, I’d love to be the one to show you around.”

The princess’s face lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, that would be a dream! To travel with someone like you—who’s seen so much already.”

Reiju chuckled, trying to keep her tone light. “We’d make a fine pair, I think,” she said. “I’d handle the logistics, and you could remind me to see the beauty in each place we visit.”

As they walked further into the garden, Reiju continued to share stories, carefully selecting memories that highlighted the wonders of the world without betraying the harsher truths of her family’s conquests. She described vibrant markets filled with exotic spices, coastal towns with waves crashing against rocky shores, and sprawling forests with trees older than memory. All the while, the princess listened, occasionally asking questions with wide-eyed curiosity, immersing herself in each tale.

Eventually, they reached a secluded bench near a bed of fragrant night-blooming flowers. The princess sat down, pulling her knees up slightly as she gazed up at Reiju with wonder.

“I never thought I’d find a friend like you, Reiju,” she said softly. “Thank you… for sharing all this with me.”

Reiju took a seat beside her, a small smile playing at her lips. “The pleasure is mine, Your Highness. It’s nice to speak with someone who understands the world beyond titles and power.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. For Reiju, it was a rare feeling of peace, a brief respite from the expectations that usually weighed upon her. And for the princess, it was a moment of connection—a reminder that even in a world shaped by duty and formality, true friendship could be found.

[marifilue]

Part 3: A Glimpse Of The Past

Pairing: Logan Howlett x F!Mutant!Reader - Slow burn, no use of y/n, you have regenerative healing ability, skilled with guns and rifles, reader in her 50s but because of her ability looked like in her mid 20s. Logan is from the first X-Men movie era.

Warnings: Explicit Language, slight PTSD Mentioned.

WC: 5,570

<- Part 2

Two weeks had passed, and nothing much had changed between you and Logan. You’d shared a handful of interactions, each one short and tense, just enough to remind you how much he got on your nerves. He was stubborn, quick-tempered, too much like you in all the wrong ways and it was infuriating.

Logan was settling into his new role, slipping into the position of history professor with a certain ease that only came from experience, a literal, first-hand experience. His lectures were magnetic, filled with anecdotes that felt too vivid, too personal. The students were enamored, hanging onto every word, captivated by the way he made history feel alive.

Still, you could feel the invisible wall he’d built around himself, his guard firmly in place. It made sense, you'd do the same in a new environment. Though it irked you at times. You still doesn't know much about him, not that he'd be interested to talk when the whole team held out a dinner occasionally and share some fun fact about his life for the past century. Everytime the table chats comes up with questions get asked, he'd quickly dismissed them. You remember one time Ororo was joking and teased Logan about his love life which he just shortly respond "Nothin much, it's boring." As far as you acknowledge, he's just old as fuck.

On a quiet Saturday morning, autumn breeze outside with the mansion still cloaked in early light, you found some refuge in the garage, preparing your gear and checking over your rifle before zipping it into your dark green bag as you planned a solo hunt. The stillness was just beginning to sink in when the faint sound of footsteps snapped you out of it. Glancing up, you saw Logan leaning casually against the doorframe, watching you with that same half-amused smirk.

“You goin’ somewhere?” he asked, his voice breaking the silence like a rock tossed into still water. You barely looked up, focusing on adjusting your scope. “Going hunting,” you replied tersely. Logan raised an eyebrow, his interest obviously piqued. “Hunting?” he repeated, amusement thick in his tone. “Out here?” Your patience was already wearing thin. “Yeah, out in the woods. It’s a quiet spot, about an hour away.”

He crossed his arms, clearly not dissuaded. “That so? Sounds like a perfect way to kill some time. I’ll come.” You stiffened, giving him a hard look. “Look, it’s a solo trip. Don’t need any company.”

A spark of defiance flickered in his eyes, and that irritating smirk just deepened. “Didn’t ask if you needed it. Just saying I’m bored. Got nothing better to do, so I’ll come along. Unless you’re afraid I’ll out-hunt you.” You clenched your jaw, the challenge hanging between you like a dare. He had no idea what he was getting into, but if dragging him along was the only way to shut him up, fine. You rolled your eyes. “Fine, whatever. But you’re bringing your own bike.”

A slight chuckle escaped him as he pushed himself off the doorframe, clearly pleased with his victory. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

With engines roaring, you hit the open road. The wind was cool against your face as the trees blurred by, and with every mile, you felt the tension of the mansion fading. Logan’s bike kept steady behind yours, the low rumble matching your own, and by the time you reached the forest clearing, you’d almost forgotten you had a company behind.

••••••

The spot was perfect: a quiet, open stretch beneath towering pines, with a lake gleaming in the early morning light just a few yards away. You slid off your bike and shrugged your rifle strap over your shoulder, taking in the familiar scent of pine and fresh earth. Logan dismounted, his eyes scanning the area with a skeptical look, as though it weren’t quite wild enough for him.

Reaching into your pack, you pulled out a second rifle and handed it to him. “Here. Pre-charged pneumatic rifle. Same as mine.”

Logan took the rifle in his hands, looking it over like it was a toy. He raised an eyebrow, chuckling as he examined it. “An air rifle? What, are we going after rabbits?” He scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You sure you don’t want to give me a slingshot while you’re at it?”

You felt the heat rise in your chest, your grip tightening around your own rifle. “It’s called PCP, Logan,” you shot back, voice edged with irritation. “These aren’t toys, and they’re not some cheap replacement for a ‘real’ weapon. Just because it’s not your style doesn’t mean it’s useless.”

Logan chuckled, clearly unimpressed. “Right. Just don’t expect me to take down anything serious with this thing.” You squared your shoulders, meeting his gaze with a defiant glint in your eyes. “You’d be surprised what I can take down with this thing. But hey, if you’d rather just watch, go ahead.”

For a moment, he just looked at you, something sparking in his eyes as if he was finally beginning to understand that this wasn’t a joke to you. Without another word, you turned and started toward the trees, steps purposeful, daring him to follow if he thought he could keep up.

The morning wore on, and Logan followed you through the dense trees, rifle in your hand but with no real intention of using it. Logan moved with the instinctive grace of a predator, completely at ease, his senses sharp, picking up on every rustle and movement around him. It wasn’t long before he spotted a squirrel perched high in the branches, his eyes narrowing as he took aim. A split second later, his rifle went off, and the small animal dropped to the forest floor. Logan glanced back at you, a smug satisfaction evident in his expression.

“See? Not bad for a ‘toy,’” he muttered, half-teasing. You managed a tight smile, adjusting the rifle in your hands, though it felt heavier than usual. As he scoped out his next target, you followed, keeping your expression neutral. Another squirrel appeared on a nearby branch, and Logan gestured for you to take the shot. You lifted your rifle, sighting down the barrel, but at the last moment, you let the bullet go wide, the squirrel darting up the tree and vanishing.

Logan gave a low chuckle, and his eyes gleamed with that knowing look. “Missed, huh?” he said, a trace of sarcasm in his voice. “Didn’t seem like your usual aim.”

You kept your gaze on the ground, shrugging slightly. “Guess I’m a little rusty.” But Logan’s scrutiny didn’t ease up, and he’d clearly seen through you.

Logan’s eyes were sharp as he watched you line up another shot, this time at a squirrel nestled on a higher branch. You steadied your aim, but when you squeezed the trigger, it was with just enough force to send the shot wide, the squirrel scurrying off into the trees. Logan’s low chuckle made you glance over, and you saw that familiar, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Didn’t miss that one by accident, did you?” he remarked, amusement glinting in his eyes. "I told you I'm just a bit rusty." You said again.

“You didn't squeeze the trigger, you flick em with your finger way too harsh. Tryna scare it off, maybe?” Logan teased which caught you off guard, you raised an eyebrow, studying his expression. “You sound just like my old man.” You told him, recollecting lost memories since you haven't heard those words in ages. Stop pulling the trigger, you need to squeeze it. Your father used to scream those combination of words every. Single. Time. A rifle is in your hand. Stop pulling it, just squeeze. "You two used to hunt together?" Logan voice a bit softer, suddenly brings you back from the pit and let the lost memories to float away once again.

You ignored his rhetorical question as your curiosity mingling with surprise. “Most people wouldn’t notice something so small about a trigger pull.” Logan shrugged, glancing down at his own rifle. “Been around long enough to pick up a thing or two,” he said. “One of my many lives, I was in the military, then special forces. Spent a lot of time with weapons—and people who didn’t always want to shoot straight.”

You nodded, absorbing the new bit of information, of course he'd been in the military at some point, though part of you wondered just how many “lives” he’d actually lived. Logan turned back to the forest, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible softness in his gaze now, as if he understood more than he was letting on.

“So, why come out hunting if you don’t actually want to kill anythin'?” he asked, watching you intently. The question hung in the cool morning air, and you felt a knot tighten in your chest. With a deep breath, you straightened, memories uncoiling in your mind.

“My father used to take me hunting when I was a kid,” you started slowly, eyes tracing the bark of a nearby tree. “Every weekend, he’d drag me out there, make me practice my aim. I hated it, the thought of killing something that didn’t even know I was there.” You paused, voice tightening, but pushed through. “Eventually, he stopped caring if I didn’t shot anything. I’d just aim for the fruit stems, watching them drop." You scoffs recalling another details "I'd bring home a bag full of persimmons, my mum loved them.” You smile sheepishly, remembering the sweet memories you used to have with your family. Even if it's for a really short time.

Logan’s expression softened just a bit, as if he were picking up on the edges of something deeper. When you fell quiet, his gaze never left you, and he waited in that steady, quiet way of his.

“It was… before he sold me to the military,” you added in a clipped tone, almost an afterthought. The words surprised even you, slipping out with a bitterness that had dulled over the years but still lingered. After your words hung in the air, Logan's face shifted, his usual hard expression momentarily cracking. He blinked, caught off guard, brows pulling together as he absorbed what you'd said. His mouth opened as if to speak, but for a beat, he just looked at you, his eyes carrying an unexpected softness.

Finally, his voice came low and careful, the rough edge softened. “I’m… sorry,” he murmured, like he almost couldn’t believe he was saying it.

You gave a short, almost dismissive shrug, lips quirking into a half-smile. “I’m not,” you replied, the words wry but surprisingly honest. Logan’s gaze lingered, his respect for you deepening as he caught the steel beneath your half-joking tone. Without another word, he nodded, the forest around you both settling into a silence that felt almost like understanding.

“You’re a strange one,” he finally said, his voice gruff but softer than usual. He glanced down at the rifle in his hand. “But I get it.”

You didn’t say anything, but you felt a small, unexpected weight lift from your shoulders. Logan turned, heading further into the trees, but he didn’t ask you to take another shot. Instead, he led the way, rifle lowered, the two of you moving together walked in silence for a while, curiosity gnawed at you until you finally asked, “So… how long did you serve?”

Logan glanced at you, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He gave a short laugh, looking off as if doing the math in his head. “Since the Civil War,” he replied simply.

You stopped in your tracks, caught off guard, blinking as you took in his words. “The Civil War?” You’d guessed he might have been in World War I, but this was something else entirely.

Logan chuckled at your reaction, his lips quirking as he kept walking, and you scrambled to catch up. “What about after that?” you pressed, genuinely curious. “I mean… until when?”

He raised an eyebrow, thoughtful, and then shrugged. “After Vietnam around the 80s,” he answered. “Finally called it quits after a while.” Your mind raced as you did the math. “So that’s….. like more than a hundred and twenty years in the military?” You shook your head, a little awe mixed with something close to disbelief.

Logan just grunted, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but then he looked back at you. “What about ya? How long?”

“Twenty,” you replied with a half-smile. “Not even a quarter of your time.” The two of you shared a look, something unspoken but deeply felt passing between you, an understanding of battles fought, the weight of service, and the scars it left behind. Logan’s gaze softened a bit more, his voice quiet but steady. “Guess we both know a thing or two about how it changes you.”

You nodded, feeling a connection that went beyond words. As you walked further into the woods together, a quiet understanding settled between you, each of you carrying the weight of those years but somehow feeling just a little lighter with someone who understood.

As you and Logan trekked further into the woods, a flash of orange against the dense green foliage caught your eye. You stopped in your tracks, looking up at a tall persimmon tree, the branches laden with ripe fruit, a few of them dangling low within sight but just out of reach. It was like a piece of your past had somehow woven itself into this moment, in the middle of the quiet forest with Logan by your side.

Without explaining, you turned to Logan. “Hold still for a second,” you murmured, unslinging your rifle. He raised an eyebrow but complied, watching curiously as you stepped up behind him. Hoisting the rifle up, you positioned it on his shoulder, trying to steady the barrel.

Logan tensed as he felt the weight of your rifle settle. “So, twenty years in the military, and this is what they teach you on rifle safety procedure, huh?” he muttered, his usual sarcasm laced with a flicker of amusement.

You smirked, squinting down the scope as you zeroed in on a particularly plump persimmon. “Cry me a river, Logan. It’s not like if I accidentally blow off an ear, it wouldn’t grow back.”

Logan huffed, shaking his head slightly but careful not to disrupt your aim. “Real professional,” he grumbled. “I didn’t live over a century just to become someone’s human bipod.”

You stifled a laugh, your gaze still fixed on the fruit, the tiniest stem all that kept it hanging. “Do me a favor and shut up. Hold your damn breath my rifle's trembling." You said firmly with slight irritation in your voice.

Logan’s muttered complaints quieted, though his annoyance was clear as he held his breath, his whole frame going rigid beneath the weight of your rifle. “Unbelievable,” he managed to whisper, voice muffled as he exhaled in controlled bursts.

With a steady hand and laser focus, you squeezed the trigger just as your father had taught you. The shot rang out, clean and precise, and with a satisfying snap, the persimmon detached and fell gracefully into the forest floor. Stepping back with a triumphant grin, you patted Logan on the shoulder as if he’d actually contributed.

Logan exhaled, glancing between you and the fallen persimmon. “You really went through all that trouble for one fruit?” You shrugged, retrieving the persimmon and wiping it clean on your sleeve. “Not just any fruit,” you replied, studying it with a small, nostalgic smile before taking a bite. “It’s a piece of home.”

Logan watched you for a beat, his usual snark softened, something like understanding flickering in his gaze. But of course, he wasn’t going to give you the satisfaction without one last jab.

“Next time, maybe just ask for a ladder,” he muttered, though the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind,” you replied, biting back a grin as you stashed the persimmon for later.

Logan’s gaze settled on another branch of ripe persimmons hanging just out of reach, and you saw the challenge spark in his eyes. Without a word, he raised his rifle and took aim at the slim stem of a fruit, clearly bent on proving himself.

“Careful,” you warned, munching on your own persimmon. “It’s not that easy without something to steady your aim.” But he only smirked, cocky as ever. “Shut up"

You raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, I’d give you three chances with that,” you shot back, a teasing glint in your eyes.

Logan rolled his eyes, muttering "I don't need three bullets." something under his breath as he braced the rifle, using only his left arm for support. He took his first shot, and the bullet whizzed by the stem, barely brushing it. A slight frown replaced his smirk as he reloaded, now more focused.

“Still sure you don’t need three?” you taunted, crossing your arms as you watched. He grunted in response, taking aim again. The second shot missed by a hair, and he huffed in frustration, your expression already broadcasting an I told you so.

“Huh. Not exactly fair,” he muttered, a faint grumble in his tone. “You had my shoulder as a bipod, and it’s not like I can use yours.” His eyes flicked to your height as if to emphasize the point, a slight smirk tugging at his mouth.

Raising an eyebrow, you smirked back. “Have you ever thought about just asking for help?” Before you could second-guess the impulse, you stepped in front of him, lifting your right arm and offering it up. “Here, use this.”

Logan’s smirk faltered as he looked down at you, clearly caught off guard but game enough to try. He gave a short nod, settling his rifle on your palm with arm raised above your head, though he quickly realized it wasn’t quite steady. Without a word, he reached out, his calloused fingers wrapping around your wrist to gently adjust the height. The touch was firm, grounding, but the warmth of his hand sent a jolt through you, making your heart skip a beat. You hadn't fully thought this through, and now, standing this close to him, you became acutely aware of every detail. The roughness of his hand against your skin, and the subtle brush of his fingers as he guided your arm into position.

He adjusted your arm a little higher, bringing it closer to his shoulder, his focus entirely on the rifle. But for you, every second of contact felt charged. The way his hand lingered, steadying you, almost made you forget why you’d offered in the first place.

“Hold it there,” he murmured, his voice low, almost a growl. You nodded, words catching in your throat, as he finally let go, his hand slipping from your wrist, leaving your skin tingling where his fingers had been.

For a moment, you were hyper-aware of the closeness between you, his face inches from yours. Your heart picked up its pace as you took in every detail—the rugged lines, the odd yet charming mutton chops, and the hint of green that softened his hazel eyes. How could a man this old look so… timeless?

With steady focus, Logan finally pulled the trigger. The shot rang out, sharp and clean, hitting the branch dead-on. You turned your head just in time to see the cluster of persimmons break loose, tumbling to the ground with satisfying thuds.

Before you could react, Logan lowered the rifle from your raised arm, his smirk unmistakably triumphant. He looked at you, eyes twinkling with that signature cocky satisfaction, and held your gaze a moment longer than expected. The intensity in his eyes made you catch your breath, an almost silent exchange passing between you, his smirk softening just slightly as if savoring the moment.

But before he could notice the warmth spreading across your face, you quickly turned away, breaking the spell. Without missing a beat, you strode toward the fallen persimmons, dropping to your knees and reaching for them, your heart still pounding.

“See?” you said, grinning as you picked up the fruit, keeping your focus on them. “I don’t make the rules. Everybody needs a bipod.” Logan gave a low chuckle behind you, clearly amused, but you kept gathering the persimmons, not quite ready to face him again. The weight of that brief look stayed with you, lingering just like the warmth of his hand on your wrist.

As you pocketed the last of the fallen persimmons, you began walking deeper into the woods, Logan by your side. The familiar path led you to a small, serene lake you’d often visited. You knew these woods by heart, every hidden trail and shaded grove. The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the still water, and without a word, you both sat down on the soft grass by the lake’s edge.

The peaceful quiet settled around you as you leaned back, savoring one of the persimmons Logan had shot down. You glanced at him thoughtfully. “So, why did they call you Wolverine?” you asked, breaking the silence.

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Someone invented that name for me,” he replied shortly, brushing it off. "Why do they call you Hollow?” he asked, his voice low, almost as if he were reluctant to break the peace of the early hour.

You looked down at the half-eaten persimmon in your hands, a slight smile tugging at your lips. “I invented that name myself. Better than what they used to call me. Fire and Flesh,” you replied, your tone casual, though the weight of those words still lingered. His eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. “Who called you that?”

“Jarheads,” you replied, using the old slang for Marines, which Logan seemed to understand. His face softened, a flash of recognition in his expression. “Semper fi,” he murmured, the famous Latin phrase among Marines meaning always faithful, familiar in his voice.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes a bit, though with a soft smile. “Oorah,” you replied weakly, echoing the battle cry you’d once shouted alongside fellow Marines. It had been years since anyone had greeted you with Semper fi and it stirred something within you, a sense of camaraderie, a reminder of a time long past.

But as you sat there, looking out over the lake, you felt an unexpected calm wash over you. The overwhelming weight you’d carried for so long felt lighter in this quiet moment. Sitting by the lake, eating persimmons with your new friend from work, far removed from the chaos of life, gave you a sense of peace you hadn’t known you needed.

As you pocketed the last of the fallen persimmons, you rose and dusted off your hands. The quiet of the lake had been soothing, but the early morning sun was beginning to creep higher, casting golden beams through the trees. “We should probably head back,” you said, glancing up at the sky. “It’s almost nine.” Logan gave a nod, and together, you began the walk back through the woods.

After a few minutes of silence, you broke it with a question that had been lingering. “Does it hurt…when your claws come out?” Logan’s eyes flicked toward you, then back to the trail. “Every time.”

There was something in his tone—a resigned acceptance that pulled at you. Logan then returned the question, his gaze shifting to you thoughtfully. “How did they…manage to push your mutations?”

You took a breath, the memories flooding back with an uncomfortable vividness. As you walked, you found yourself speaking, the words coming out slowly, almost reluctantly. “I was human. For 27 years, I think. Feels like a lifetime ago.” You paused, watching the path ahead. “They injected me with something. Then left me in an incubator for days, where the oxygen pressure would drop so low I’d pass out. Over and over again.”

Logan’s face hardened, but he didn’t say anything. Somehow, an apology felt empty, too small for what you’d endured. Instead, he shared his own story, his voice low. “My, uh…claws. They were bones naturally.” The admission caught you off guard, and you looked at him, silently urging him to continue.

“They coated them in metal,” he explained, his tone blunt. “Adamantium. Through injections.” You winced at the thought. “That’s…sick.” There was a beat of silence, so you added lightly, hoping to soften the mood, “Do you like them better now, though? You know, because they’re metal and unbreakable? I can’t even picture you with bone claws. Kinda gross, actually.” Logan shot you a sidelong glance, half-amused. “You’re a terrible person, you know that?”

“Maybe,” you replied with a smirk. “But, come on, do you?” He shook his head, chuckling softly. “Yeah, it’s better with adamantium.” You couldn’t help but grin, triumphant. “Knew it.”

The two of you kept walking, your conversation mingling with the crunch of leaves underfoot, the forest around you somehow feeling a little less heavy. The bond between you, shaped by shared scars and dark humor, felt surprisingly natural, like the start of a new kind of camaraderie.

As you both finally made it back to where your bikes were parked, the morning's warmth faded into a colder silence. You knelt, carefully unzipping your bag and placing your rifle down, adjusting everything with meticulous care, you're always taught PCP rifle is so fragile, the stock is carved with polished woods and not some metal. Just as you were reaching back, Logan called out casually, “Hey, here you go,” and tossed the rifle he had borrowed straight in your direction.

In that split second, you hadn’t been looking, and before you could react, the rifle fell to the ground with a harsh thud.

A bolt of panic and fury surged through you as you stared at it, horrified. You reached down, fingers trembling as you inspected the rifle. This wasn’t just any rifle. It was a gift from your late mentor Mr Santiago who had taught you everything about shooting since you're fourteen years old, who had trusted you with his prized possession. The wood of the stock had cracked upon impact, a delicate fracture spider-webbing across the finish.

“You dumbfuck,” you said, your voice icy and trembling with anger. “Couldn’t you just handed me the rifle like a normal person!?” Logan looked taken aback, his brow furrowing. “Whoa, relax,” he muttered, straddling his bike. “The rifle’s fine.”

You knelt by the rifle, running a finger over the crack. It was irreparable, and your hands tightened with suppressed rage. “You cracked the fucking stock,” you spat, not even looking at him. He shrugged, still unconcerned. “Alright, sorry, that’s on me. Look, I can get it fixed or just replace it.”

“Replace it?” You turned on him, anger boiling over. “Unlike you, Logan, I actually take care of things. People trusted me and this rifle was a gift. My mentor gave this to me before he died. I’ve kept it safe for years, not a single scratch. Here you go holding it for one fucking hour and you manage to crack it. You're unbelievable, I can't believe I trusted you with it.” Your voice trembled with the weight of disappointment and resentment.

Logan went quiet, his face darkening, but he didn’t say anything. For a moment, he looked like he was going to respond, but the words died in his throat as he looked away, feeling the sting of what he’d done. Without another word, you packed your bag, zipped it tightly, and got on your bike.

Without looking back, you started up the engine and took off, the roar of the bike carrying your frustration as you sped down the trail, the tires kicking up dust behind you. You left Logan behind in the dust, his figure shrinking in the rearview mirror, a mix of guilt and regret plain on his face. He sat in silence, the gravity of his small but thoughtless mistake settling over him.

••••••

As you arrived back at the X-Mansion, the grand building loomed before you, a familiar yet comforting sight amidst the turmoil of your thoughts. You parked your bike and headed toward the mansion's entrance, not even glancing behind to check if Logan had caught up. He was still somewhere on the trail, and that suited you just fine.

Entering the mansion, you were greeted by Ororo’s calm voice as she crossed the hall. “Good morning. Professor Xavier needs to see the team after breakfast,” she informed you, her usual serene expression in place, though her keen eyes picked up on your tension. You nodded, offering a faint smile, and continued upstairs without another word.

Once in your room, you carefully laid the damaged rifle on your bed, the fracture in the stock glaring up at you. Sitting down beside it, you ran your fingers along the crack, feeling a pang of frustration and sadness twist in your chest. Mr. Santiago’s face came to mind, and the disappointment in yourself for letting this happen stung. Fixing it wouldn’t be easy—it might not even be possible—and the thought weighed on you.

But you needed to gather yourself; there was a team meeting, and breakfast first. With a sigh, you stood, tearing your gaze away from the broken rifle, and exited your room, leaving the door cracked open. You resolved to focus on one thing at a time: breakfast, the meeting, and then dealing with this mess.

As you made your way downstairs, the usual chatter in the dining area barely registered as you sat down, grabbing a cup of coffee and some toast, lost in your thoughts.

•••••••

Gathered around in Professor Xavier’s office, the team waited, exchanging curious glances. Scott, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, tapped his foot impatiently. “Where’s Logan?” he muttered.

Ororo stood near the window, arms folded. “He’ll be here,” she said, though a hint of curiosity flickered in her gaze. Jean, seated beside the professor’s desk, looked thoughtful, sensing the tension in the room.

Just as Scott opened his mouth to comment again, Logan entered, his gaze immediately locking with yours. You quickly averted your eyes, refocusing on Professor Xavier, who was already watching you both with a knowing look. Logan took his place, leaning against the wall, his expression unreadable but quietly remorseful.

Charles cleared his throat, signaling the start of the meeting. A hologram flickered to life above the table, displaying an image of a stern-looking man with a white lab coat and cold, calculating eyes. “This is Dr. Emrys Killebrew,” Charles began. “A former geneticist known for his experimentation on mutants and humans alike, pushing the limits of ethical science. Over the decades, his work has created…unintended consequences. He has targeted individuals he believed showed potential to develop powers, experimenting on them without regard for their lives.”

Your heart sank, a feeling of dread creeping over you. Professor’s gaze softened as he addressed you specifically, “Hollow, I believe you’re already aware of some of his projects, though you may not know the extent.”

You nodded, but then froze as Charles continued, “He’s the one responsible for the injections that changed you. Dr. Killebrew obtained Wolverine's genetic material in the late '70s…and used it in his experiments on you... when you were still human.”

Stunned, you tore your gaze from Charles and glanced at Logan, whose expression had gone dark with a mixture of guilt and confusion. His eyes locked onto yours, intense and searching, as though he was processing the news for the first time himself. For a heartbeat, the two of you were frozen in a silent exchange before you turned your head back to Charles as the memories of those experiments came back vividly, the painful injections, the endless tests, the way they broke you down. The odds that Logan’s DNA had been a part of it all felt surreal.

A solemn silence settled in the room, broken by Ororo’s gentle voice. “Professor…is he still conducting these experiments?”

“Yes,” Charles replied gravely, flicking to another image of a heavily guarded facility. “We’ve located another of his labs. Intelligence suggests he’s holding a group of young mutants there—twelve in total. They’re being kept under heavy surveillance and sedation, and they are in immediate danger. I need you all to work together tonight to bring them home.”

Scott stepped forward, his tone resolute. “We’ll get them out, Professor. Whatever it takes.” His gaze traveled over the team, determination in his eyes. Jean nodded, her expression fierce. “If Killebrew’s behind this, we can’t let him keep experimenting on innocent kids. He’s not getting away this time.”

Hank, adjusting his glasses, looked thoughtful. “It will be essential to understand the facility’s layout and any possible security measures. If this location mirrors any of his previous labs, it’s likely rigged with traps for mutants specifically.”

Logan spoke up, his voice tense. “I’ll handle any of those traps. This guy’s work is…personal.” He looked toward you again, softer, a silent apology in his eyes. “More than most of you might realize.” Ororo placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. “Then we move quickly. Every second counts if those children are suffering.”

Charles nodded approvingly, his gaze sweeping over the group. “Thank you. Prepare to leave after sunset. Coordinate together to ensure the safest extraction possible. We bring them back to safety tonight.”

Part 4 ->

An: It gets even longer through every new chapters, the ideas is buzzing in my mind. Thank you guys for interacting, I'll see you next chapter<3

[nightwriter357]

It's fine to think a friend has nice lips

It's friday, whitch means it's time for another chapter of my Damien Haas x reader story. In this one they are joined by Shayne, Courtney and Angela for a game night. Hope you like it!!

You pushed the door open, the familiar creak announcing your arrival as you stepped into the cozy apartment. The smell of buttery popcorn filled the air, and you smiled, knowing Damien had probably already started on the snacks.

"Hey, I'm back!" you called out, holding up the bags from the store filled with snacks. You had made sure to grab everyone's favorites.

Damien looked up from the coffee table, a grin spreading across his face. "Finally! I was starting to think you got lost in the snack aisle. What do you have?"

You set the bags down and began pulling out the goodies. "Just the essentials for a proper game night. Chips, candy, popcorn—basically everything we need."

"Nice! You know the way to a gamer's heart," he joked, reaching for a bag of chips and offering you one with a mock flourish.

Shayne walked in from the kitchen, glancing at his watch. "Alright, I need to head out to pick up Courtney. You two hold down the fort while I'm gone."

You raised an eyebrow. "So, you're bringing an outsider to game night for the first time, Shayne. How do you feel about that?"

Shayne smirked, adjusting his hair dramatically. "What do you mean 'for the first time'? Angela is always here."

Damien jumped in with a laugh, "Yeah, but that doesn't count. I mean, she's basically the fourth roommate at this point. It's like she literally lives in our attic."

You giggled, imagining Angela popping up unexpectedly, like some friendly ghost haunting the apartment. "It's true! I think we should start charging her rent," you joked.

Shayne threw his hands up in mock defense. "Hey, She's just a another friend joining game night!"

Damien rolled his eyes. "Okay fine, go get her. Just remember to tell her the rules—no cheating unless you don't get caught."

You chimed in with a playful grin, "And no kissing! I'll be watching you both."

As Shayne headed for the door, you exchanged a quick glance with Damien, both of you smiling at the reminder of the kiss you shared last week. When the door closed behind Shayne, the atmosphere shifted slightly, leaving just you and Damien in the cozy living room. You plopped down on the couch, surrounded by bags of snacks, and Damien settled beside you, a casual grin on his face.

"So," he began, tilting his head slightly. "How have you been feeling since last week? I mean, after seeing your ex and everything."

You leaned back into the cushions, letting out a sigh. "I don't know... I guess I miss having someone around.. A relationship." The words hung in the air longer than you intended.

Damien tilted his head, his eyes soft and attentive. "What do you you miss most?"

You thought for a moment, looking down as you listed things off. "I guess I want someone who's supportive. Someone who'll be there for me when things get rough... like you were last week, honestly." You chuckled lightly, realizing he'd been there through more than a few tough spots.

"And someone who really listens.. I mean, I already have that with you." You felt a bit sheepish, glancing at him, but he only watched you with a warm smile, encouraging you to keep going.

"And I want to be able to laugh and have fun with someone. I want someone who I can talk with for hours, like tonight, or like... all our nights," you added, laughing a little at the thought.

Damien's smile grew. "Sounds like you've got a good friend who fits that bill."

"Yeah," you replied, smiling back. "I guess I do."

You hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "So I guess the only thing I'm really missing is... well, physical intimacy, I suppose." You bit your lip, feeling a bit flustered, the memory of your kiss from last week flashing in your mind. "Well, okay... we did have that kiss.. so maybe I'm not missing anything."

You both laughed, brushing it off lightly, but his gaze lingered a moment longer. There was a brief silence as you both shared a knowing glance, a mixture of amusement and something else lingering in the air.

"I guess that means I'm doing a pretty good job of fulfilling your needs, huh?" he teased, nudging your shoulder with his playfully, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah, maybe you are," you replied, your smile widening as you nudged him back.

As the moment lingered, Angela burst through the door, her energy practically radiating as she beamed at the two of you. "Hey, party people! Guess what I brought?" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet.

You and Damien exchanged a brief, amused glance, the playful tension from before still lingering in the air. Angela, however, was oblivious as she began rifling through her bags."Okay, I have the perfect game for us!" she announced, holding up a box that read Truth or Dare.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How do you even win at Truth or Dare?"

Angela shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, you can just feel it in the air, It's like a vibe."

You chuckled at her answer, imagining the chaos that would ensue. Just as you were about to comment, Shayne returned, bursting through the door with Courtney. "Here she comes, our extra special guest" he declared, gesturing dramatically to Courtney, who rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Shayne, it's just me," she laughed, stepping into the living room.

You and Damien exchanged amused looks as everyone settled into their spots, the snacks surrounding you like a delicious fortress.

Angela quickly took charge. "We're about ready to kick off game night!

Courtney nodded, crossing her arms playfully. "Alright, What's the first game?"

Angela leaned forward, her excitement contagious. "Okay guys, get ready for Truth or Dare, and it's just like it sounds! You either pick a truth and spill your secrets or a dare, and you have to do it and if you choose truth, we can ask you anything and if you pick dare, we can make you do anything!"

Courtney's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh, I'm ready for this! But how do you actually win truth or dare?."

Damien chimed in with a grin, "You can feel it in the air!"

You couldn't help but add, "It's like a vibe!"

Laughter filled the room, setting a light-hearted tone for the evening as you all prepared to dive into the game.

Angela clapped her hands, eyes sparkling. "Okay, Shayne, truth or dare?"

Shayne smirked, shrugging. "Dare, obviously."

Angela's grin grew devious. "I dare you to call Domino's and tell them they're your favorite pizza place—and you have to be sincere about it."

Everyone laughed as Shayne's eyes widened slightly. "Alright, challenge accepted." He pulled out his phone, dialing the number and putting it on speaker. The phone rang a few times before someone picked up.

"Hi, thanks for calling Domino's, how can I help you?" the employee answered.

Shayne took a deep breath, feigning deep emotion. "I just wanted to tell you... you're my favorite pizza place. I mean it. I don't think you guys hear this enough, but you're doing an amazing job."

The room erupted in laughter as the Domino's employee paused before saying, "Um, thanks?"

"No, seriously," Shayne continued, his voice overly dramatic. "Whenever I'm down or hungry, you're there for me. And I just needed you to know how much that means."

The employee mumbled a slightly awkward thank-you before quickly hanging up, and Shayne's performance earned him a round of applause.

As the laughter from Shayne's pizza call dare faded, Angela's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint, and she turned to Damien. "Alright, Damien, truth or dare?"

Damien shrugged, smirking. "Dare."

Angela didn't miss a beat. "Describe your imaginary vagina. What's it like?"

The group went silent for a moment, but then you saw a thoughtful expression cross Damien's face. He leaned back, as if seriously considering the question. "Alright. It would be... like an old, cozy tavern, buzzing with conversation and faded laughter. It'd have vines creeping up the walls, flowers blooming outside, and birds chirping around. A little enchanted, but welcoming."

The group burst out laughing at his poetic description, but before anyone could comment, Courtney jumped in, not missing a beat. "Oh, mine would be like an exclusive nightclub," she said, smiling with a sense of pride. "There's a velvet rope around gold pillars, and a doorman with sunglasses who doesn't say a word—just gives a nod, a smirk, and waves you in."

Angela laughed and swayed a little, catching herself with a grin. She blinked, looking at her empty cup in wonder. "Somehow, I made myself drunk," she announced, as if it were the most fascinating discovery.

Shayne snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, 'cause you drank a lot of alcohol?"

Angela laughed, nudging him. "Hey! shut up!"

Once the laughter died down, Courtney turned to you with a mischievous look. "Alright alright, truth or dare?"

You hesitated, glancing around before finally answering, "Truth."

She grinned, eyes alight with curiosity. "Who was the last person you kissed?"

There was a beat of silence, and you could feel everyone's eyes on you, anticipation thick in the air. Shayne broke it first, leaning forward with a smirk. "It's gotta be your stupid ex, right?"

You felt a flicker of nerves and shot a glance at Angela, silently pleading for backup, but she was already grinning, her expression full of excitement. "Oh no," she said, eyes sparkling. "It definitely wasn't."

Damien chuckled, shaking his head. “You know you have to take everything she says with a fist of salt.”

The group burst out in laughter again, Angela raising her cup proudly, as if that only added to her charm.

Your heart sped up as all attention turned back to you. You took a deep breath, feeling a mix of thrill and nerves, and finally let the truth slip out. "Um... It was Damien."

A hush fell over the group, everyone staring in shock—except for Angela, who was practically beaming, clearly savoring the revelation.

Courtney's eyes widened. "Wait, like... actually kissed him?"

Your gaze slid to Damien, who was giving you a small, amused smile, trying to keep things cool. "It was just... to stick it to my ex," you said, feeling your face warm as you tried to brush it off. "Totally a friendly, quick kiss. That's all."

Angela burst out laughing, unable to hold back any longer. "Yeah, 'quick' and 'friendly' are the last words I'd use!" she said, shaking her head as she watched you squirm.

You shot her a pleading look, but Angela was unstoppable. "It was long, it was intense, and there was nothing remotely friendly about it. I mean, I was waiting for the credits to roll!"

Courtney and Shayne exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly reveling in this revelation. Damien remained silent, simply scratching the back of his neck with a slight, knowing smile. He wasn't denying it, but he wasn't exactly confirming Angela's exaggerations, either.

Shayne crossed his arms, clearly enjoying every moment. "So, a 'totally casual' kiss... that just happened... to make your ex jealous?"

You laughed nervously, feeling your cheeks flush under everyone's gaze. "Look, it was just one of those moments, okay? It doesn't change anything."

Angela grinned, looking between you and Damien with a knowing look. "Sure, just a 'moment.' The kind of moment that lingers."

You could feel your cheeks still warm from the group's reaction, and despite trying to laugh it off, you couldn't shake the way your mind drifted back to that kiss. It wasn't like anything had changed between you and Damien. You were still completely comfortable with him, no weirdness, no awkward moments. Just... that memory, sneaking up on you when you least expected it.

Maybe it was just because he had nice lips? That seemed reasonable. It's fine to think a friend has nice lips—in a purely platonic, totally friendly way. Nothing unusual about that.

You were so caught up in the thought that you felt that you had to test the theory, glancing across the circle. "Hey, Shayne."

He looked over at you, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?"

You hesitated for a second, then blurted, "Nice... lips...dude."

There was a beat of silence before Shayne's face twisted in confusion. "What? No! Stop."

The entire group erupted into laughter, and you quickly waved your hands in a "forget I said that" motion. But when you glanced over, you caught Damien's gaze—and that small, amused smile he'd been wearing grew into a full-on grin, one eyebrow arched in playful curiosity.

Okay so thinking about a kiss with a friend this much might actually be wierd. I still don't get why im still thinking about it.

The evening wore on with an easygoing flow, everyone laughing and teasing each other as the game moved from Truth or Dare to a round of charades. You, Damien, and the rest of the group settled into a comfortable rhythm—jokes were thrown around, and playful arguments broke out over who was the better actor (which, of course, was always you). The laughter echoed through the living room, filling the space with warmth.

Angela had long since sprawled out on the couch, the soft cushion welcoming her as she began to drift. Despite the ongoing noise around her, her eyes fluttered closed, a slight smile on her lips as she dozed off in the midst of the fun.

The night slipped away, eventually winding down when Shayne announced it was time for him to take Courtney home. He stood up, stretching with a loud yawn. With the room quieter now, you and Damien exchanged a glance in the comfortable silence between you two.

Damien looked over at you, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Should we cover her up? Don't want her catching a cold."

You nodded, stepping over to help. Damien grabbed a blanket that was folded up nearby, and the two of you gently draped it over Angela. She barely stirred, only shifting slightly before settling again, her face still relaxed in sleep.

"Perfect," Damien murmured, standing back and looking down at Angela. "You know we actually never figured out who won."

You smiled, glancing up at him. "She wont remember that."

Damien chuckled quietly. "True, it's our secret."

As you both stood there for a moment, the calmness of the night settling in around you, You turned to face him "I guess that's our only secret now"

He laughed lightly, feeling the warmth of the simple moment linger between you. "I still got some up my sleave."

You looked at him, "are you keeping secrets from me?"

He smiled back at you, "maybe"

You both walked toward your bedrooms, the soft click of the floorboards beneath your feet filling the quiet space. Just as you reached the door, you stopped and turned to face him.

"Damien?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking at you with a curious smile. "Yes?"

You hesitated for a second, then shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. "You have nice lips."

His grin widened, a hint of amusement and something more private in his eyes. "You do too."

So I guess It's fine to think a friend has nice lips after all. 

[localcanadiancreature62]

Writing Prompt 1 - "But i love you"

Bill and Ford are snuggling together on the couch while the genius rambles about his new anomaly discovery that he's now documenting in his Journal. He discovered that the anomaly is usually found in Scotland and now the researcher wonders about whenever he'll be able to study creatures outside the confines of Gravity Falls. Ford then decides to confront his triangular husband about this,although he wasn't expecting his reaction. "Bill,i'm just wondering.. can i travel outside of Oregon by myself one day?. I want to see other anomalies besides the ones i find in Gravity Falls similarly to the selkie i just told you about. I won't be gone for long though as i wouldn't be able to stand being away from you for a while,my dear muse-." Ford says but then the triangle chimes before he could finish.

"NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!." Bill exclaims as flames appear from his hands after he made it very clear that he won't let his genius abandon him. "B-But it will only be for a few weeks or months-." Ford splutters, getting a bit scared of his husband's change in behavior as he tries to reach his hands toward the isosceles in order to calm him down only for Bill to scald his wrist with his flaming palm before he could finish his sentence as he groaned in pain.

"Listen here,Fordsy. You,CANNOT leave my sight no matter what. I need you. I'll be lonely and sad without you. Please." Bill remarks as he tried to look as pathetic as possible with his pleading eye,pulling the guilt tripping card in order to get the genius to stay. Ford looks at him in disbelief over his feigned pitiful stare,not having any of the isosceles' attempts to keep him from pursuing his desires. He then roughly takes his hand away from Bill's flaming hand as he blows on the scorching wound before glaring at his husband.

"You can't keep me here forever,Bill. I have dreams,i have my own wants and desires. I'm not just some pet that will stay here and sit pretty for you. I'm a person. You can't control me. Heh. Honestly,i thought that since you're my husband,you'd support me. But you're just like everyone else,fake and HOLLOW!." Ford yells as he laughs bitterly from discovering that his dear husband is just as shallow as everyone else in the Perfect World,Bill feels his rage growing by the minute but then he realizes that getting angrier would just lead his genius further away from him.

So he decides to act calmer and try to appeal to the man's love for him instead. "But i love you,Fordsy. You can't leave,when i'm the only one who'll take care of you out there." Bill says as he feels himself become more peaceful after burying his anger,the fire from his hands dissipating as well while hiding his desperate desire to keep Ford to himself.

"You may claim to love me,but all you want is control. You don't really love me as your husband,you love me as a dumb PET." Ford replied bitterly as he then gets up from the couch and walks away as he turned his back on his triangular husband,taking his ring off as he doesn't view the isosceles as his husband anymore after seeing that said husband just thinks of him as a plaything with his desire to control him as well as the fact that he never lets him go out of state unless it's on HIS terms meaning that he won't ever be able to leave except for when Bill himself warrants it. Bill then starts panicking as he saw the man try to leave and walk away from him,not knowing what to do except for desperately plead for him to not go. "W-Wait!. Stop!. I-I'll go with you!. Don't leave me!." Bill exclaims as he started to tear up,big fat tears coming out of his eye as he saw his beloved leave. Then he had an idea,an awful wonderful idea. He just needed to erase his memory of the argument again like he did when he claimed the man as his husband before creating the Perfect World. The triangle then floats over to Ford as he attempts to touch his forehead,with the genius resisting his grip as he tried to move away from his former muse only for him to stop once Bill has gotten ahold of his mind. "Don't touch me!-." Ford shouts but then he gets put into a disoriented daze as he calms down from the triangle slowly erasing his memory of the argument as his furious expression changes into a tranquil bliss. "There you go.. That's it. Just let your dear husband take care of this." Bill remarks as he then grabs the memory of their argument from the man's mind which is in the form of a physical photographic representation of it,burning it in his hand as he completely erased the memory from Ford's mind. Ford then goes limp like a ragdoll after Bill lets go of him,as he feels quite relaxed and tired all of a sudden after his husband touched his head. "My dear muse.. i'm sleepy. I think i need some rest.." Ford says groggily as he then almost falls from how tired he is but the triangle catches him before he hurt himself. "Okay. Let's get you to bed,sweetheart." Bill replied as he grinned while carrying the man to the bedroom so he could get some rest,knowing that his plan to make his genius stay worked.

[blooddrinkingbartender]

"It's just something I try to remember," Leofric replied. He made a mental note to change the stock list for that later, seeing as he was going to use one part of what he had, "And that is true. Poisoning doesn't seem like something he'd do."

"Well, we're not going to find out unless we get out there and find him, and get it out of his mouth," Bill said, "Before he potentially does more damage. And no, he might not have done it directly. But he could have hypnotised some shmuck into doing it for him."

Leofric kept working to get the prepared ingredients mixed just right as he listened.

"I suppose it is," Leofric said, "But as Rook said, we just have to find out."

He then nodded in agreement when Veronica spoke.

"I'll watch out for you too," Bill said, "I won't let him lay a hand on you, whether it's his or one of mine."

Russell managed a small smile.

"I, I will," Russell said.

Antonio had finally come to an arrangement he was happy with. Two of the new plants he got sat in his living room window. The other two were in the kitchen window. The little succulent had gone on his coffee table.

A spoonful of the honey he bought had gone into the cup of tea he had made, and he had sat down with it as he got some papers that needed to be filled out. A library admin's work was hardly ever done after all.

He was unaware of the Audi TT RS pulling up outside. Bill eyed the house, and the lamp that was on. He sniffed. Yes, that cologne was certainly the cat's, and that blood that flowed in his veins was undoubtedly his.

"He's in there," Bill said, "How do you want to go about this? We jump him as a team, or are you going down the nicer route and trying to convince him to come quietly and if that fails, I play bad cop?"

"That's convenient." It was safe to say Rook was extremely glad they didn't forage ingredients that way.

Well, maybe her mother did. But at least she didn't drag her along to teach her that part of the healer craft.

"It sounds like it. It doesn't mean that's what happened, though." Rook said quietly, choosing to sit that conversation out and check her phone instead. There was no point in arguing now. They would find out if they were wrong soon enough.

Veronica used that moment to approach her. "Be careful, dear. I know you will do the right thing."

"Doesn't mean I'll like it." Rook huffed. She then shifted her attention back to Russell, "Stay with Lucien. Even if he can't talk, he knows deep down that you're here and he really needs you right now."

She gave Lucien's arm a gentle squeeze then went to retrieve her jacket, "And remind that dumbass that he still owes me a rematch in Mario Party. So he better not die like an idiot. Let's go, Bill."

[front-facing-pokemon]

[fala-alfredo-pasta]

One of the most weirdest things to me about the fandom is the idea that Nagito would be extra-warm towards Hajime upon waking up, due to Hajime retaining all of Kamukura's talents. To me I think it would be the total opposite. I think there'd actually be a lot of angst deriving from just how alienated Nagito feels around this Hajime, who's not quite the same person he fell in love with anymore. Taking into account what 2.5 implies about his true feelings about talent (that deep down he's always resented what talent has done to the world and his life), I think it could be especially aggravating if Hajime tried to act as if there's no power imbalance between the two.

"...Stop pretending like I'm still your equal. I'm a talentless freak with a brain that's falling to bits, and I'll be gone in a few years. You're the most talented ingenious human being on Earth, and you've probably got a life expectancy of like 250. You don't get to reap all the benefits of being the Ultimate Hope, and then act like you're still an average joe just because you had some profound revelation in a computer world about how okay it is being talentless."

Yeah I feel that. Though it's understandable fandom would run with the "Talent-sexual" Nagito joke given how much he fawns over those with talent and to then apply the logic to "the more talents = the more Nagito will like you". The moment in the anime when he's overwhelmed with adoration simply being in Izuru's presence for the first time also doesn't quite help in this regard, though pretty sure that was put in there more so for fanservice and comic relief.

Funnily enough, as you mentioned, the anime also brought into question how much sincerity Nagito's love for talent truly is. So then it makes you think--if Nagito actually resents talent, then applying the earlier logic: wouldn't the more talents = the more Nagito resents you? Both things are somewhat of a flawed logic, but it's interesting to explore that side of Nagito because it really paints a picture of how deeply entrenched his delusion with hope and talent are. How many layers of denial and repression do you have to be in order to act so sincerely and consistently with your fake ideal that talent=hope and the Ultimates are destined to bring forth that hope? To the point that you circled back around and gaslight yourself into believing it to be a fundamental truth?

At what point did that resentment arise? Did it grow alongside his admiration for talent? Every time he felt his resentment towards talent did he push it back down with positive thoughts of talent instead to try to "look on the brightside/find the silver lining"? Did it get to the point that his resentment was so incredible that he had to think talent positive thoughts 24/7 just to keep it at bay? Is he doing this because otherwise all he'll have left will be hatred, despair, and a bleak view of the world being cruel and unfair? And he'll constantly be wondering why some are blessed with advantage and prodigy while others are seemingly born to suffer and stay stagnant despite their best efforts? Why does the world continue to favor some and crush everyone else? What has everyone done to deserve the life they have?

Honestly, this just further proves that Nagito's obsession with hope and talent are his last ditch attempts at giving himself purpose in a world cursing his existence. Ironically, this unhealthy coping mechanism is the better of two mindsets he chose to follow. Really goes to show that Nagito, despite everything he says, has not given up on himself if he's trying THIS damn hard to keep up the facade and have a reason to keep going everyday. And this is the reason why that OVA is my favorite episode from all the anime as that one line adds so much more nuance to Nagito's already complicated ideology.

Sorry, I sorta derailed things to ramble about Nagito but what did you expect from a Nagito simp after all? He's been rotting my brain for over four years now. But to come back on topic, this post-game Nagito with his looser chokehold on hope and talent would most likely have to contend once again with that resentment, but now with a weaker shield. As such, I do think he'd have mixed feelings about Izuru/Hajime. Part of him would probably sympathize with Hajime's pain from the surgery and the fact that he'll never quite be only Hajime anymore. Izuru is and will always be there. Learning to live with the permanent changes to his body and mind is something Nagito knows intimately--way before he became a remnant. That being said, well....Hajime did get the best case scenario for his outcome. Even some of his emotions returned despite the physical improbability of it happening. And yeah--he gets to keep all those useful talents now too. He's also in better physical health than most of their other classmates and his real name isn't inherently associated with Ultimate Despair. He could go back into society looking the way he does with his legal name and no one would even know he was ever involved with Hope's Peak.

So yeah, that sympathy Nagito has would not be enough to squash down his resentment. I can't imagine him fawning over Hajime post-game given everything that's happened and especially after finding out how Izuru was created (as I talked about in a previous ask). There will definitely be an adjustment period where in Nagito may even be passively hostile towards Hajime. But I think a part of Nagito--the part that white knuckled that silver lining for talent---would try its best to look past that and accept Hajime as a sincere friend. It's just going to take a while for him to get there. But he'll try. Doesn't mean he won't be a snarky passive aggressive guy through out it though. I do think he'll be more blunt about his honest feelings towards others whether they like it or not. Talent be (slightly) damned.

[sky-poprocks]

Once I'm out of main school year hell, would any of ya'll be interested in me trying to make a video of some sort of honest review of Sky:cotl? as an older player, I may be missing a lot of issues newer players experienced or are currently experiencing so I may end up making some way to submit things anonymously possible.

My goals would be the following:

What is Sky:children of the light?

What is unique about Sky:cotl as a game?

General mechanics and how it affects social aspects (pre-covid vs vs

Issues within the game

"exploitation"

history of the game.

Lore (and how it's changed)

etc.

which wouldn't be entirely in order, but mattering on responses I may add more or. I am typing this all on my own, and I don't make promises that this actually WILL come out fully.

I probably will actually update if I do go through with it, and create maybe a forms. Don't expect shit, but I can attempt to create it (likely with the help of my friends to actually finish it)