#<- does this count as web weaving . whatever

[kagehiner]

Takeda's speech x Hinata's journey

[dreadfuldevotee]

Bang the Doldrums, Fall out Boy/ The Doctor x Yasmin Khan, Doctor Who

"This is a love song in my own way"

[mcytblraufest]

MCYTBLR AU Fest: General Rules and FAQ

TIMELINE: 

May 4: Discord opens at 0:00, Artist creation starts. May 30-31: Artists with a finished piece of Art can sign up, submitting their work for claims. May 31: Artist creation period ends at midnight. June 2-4: Writers can claim art and be assigned to Teams. June 6-7: Writers who wish to be assigned a Beta Reader can sign up (this is optional) June 9-10: Beta Writers can claim writers/art and be assigned to Teams June 29-30: Check-in #1 July 13-14: Check-in #2 July 26: Writer creation period ends at midnight. Unless you have an extension, you must be fully ready to post at this point. July 27: Posting period begins at 0:00 August 2: Extension period ends. Unless you are a pinch hitter, you must be fully ready to post at this point. August 9: Posting Period ends. All work must be completely posted by midnight.

ABOUT:

MCYTBLR AU Fest is a mini reverse-big-bang event where artists and writers work together in teams to make stories and art inspired by MCYT and set in an Alternate Universe.

EXPECTATION: 

Artists must make a completed Art piece. Writers must deliver a story of at least 5k words, inspired by the art they signed up for. Dark or triggering topics or themes must be tagged for.

RULES:

You must be a member of the discord, for team matching.

Because of Tumblr, Ao3 and Discord TOS, you must be 13 to participate.

Respect your fellow participants, even when you disagree on fandom matters

You agree to work together with your teammate(s) to make a piece of art and a fic together, and link to each other's works.

All works must be MCYT-centric and set in an AU— no canon-compliance. 

No AI-Generated content.

LINKS:

Discord: Here Ao3 Collection: Here

FAQ:

What is MCYTBLR AU Fest? MCYTBLR AU Fest is a reverse minibang-type event where writers and artists come together to create fanworks centred on MCYT and set in an alternate universe from canon.

How does it work? Artists will have a month to complete an art piece. After a month, once the art is complete, they will submit the art, with information about server, characters, relationships, and any warnings they are opting into, which will be posted anonymously for writers to view and claim, first-come-first-serve. Teams are assigned by mods, and then writers will have two months of creation time to make a pice inspired by the work (minimum 5k words).

What type of MCYT is included? We welcome creations based on any SMP, whether or not they have a canon tag on Ao3. Mianite, DSMP, QSMP, Hermitcraft, 3rd Life, Lifesteal, Witchcraft SMP— it’s all welcome. 

Can I join if my Art is a Game/Web Weave? We welcome all types of art— web weave, game, traditional art, original songs, videos, etc. While the list is not exhaustive, we have outlined some of the baseline expectations for an art piece below.

What are the requirements for art? It is difficult to define precise expectations for art pieces, especially given the broad realm of things that could count as art. We are primarily looking for art that is complete to a level that you would normally post as "finished", ready to inspire a fic piece of 5k or more, containing an audio or visual component beyond the confines of the written word, that does not take more than an hour to consume. While you will have the opportunity to include your understanding of the world in things such as if the relationships depicted are romantic or not, the art piece must stand alone without explanatory text or extra worldbuilding.

The defined requirements for different forms of art are:

Digital or Traditional art: one piece, completed to whatever you would normally post as "finished", ready to inspire a fanfic.

Web Weaves: a web weave of at least ten elements, original or properly credited.

Video/animatic: a video at least 30 seconds long.

Other Art Form: other art forms such as fan games or original songs would fall under this category. If you wanted to sign up with an Other art form, you need to contact the mod team and work out what minimum expectations would be for your art.

Is shipping allowed? Yes. Because there is no broad fandom-wide consensus about how Creator boundaries are to be enforced in specific cases (whether it's okay to write beeduo as /r or /p is an obvious one, or whether it’s permitted to ship Joel Smallishbeans) or between specific fandoms (Lifesteal approach to shipping and boundaries is different from HBG is different from DSMP), the mods will not be policing any specific understanding of boundaries across the event. The event's motivating ethos is Don't Like Don't Read, in that artists will be able to specify for themselves if a given relationship is to be interpreted as romantic or platonic, and writers will choose to opt into that, and NSFW will have to be specifically opted into on both sides.

Is NSFW allowed? Yes. NSFW works are allowed, but must be opted into, both in terms of viewing art and in terms of creating fic. No one under 18 is permitted to opt into NSFW and attempts to do so will be grounds for a ban from this event and anywhere else the mod team touches. For the comfort of the greatest number of participants, and to conform with Tumblr TOS, anything with the tags Underage or Incest will not be permitted to be part of the event. 

Are major archive warnings (noncon/graphic depictions of violence/MCD) allowed? Aside from the content rules governing NSFW (no underage or incest, for the comfort of the greatest number of participants), major archive warnings are allowed. Depictions of real life horrors such as genocide and slavery are not-uncommon motifs in MCYT fics, and the mod team is not interested in legislating which types of horrors, griefs or abuses are inherently worse than others and are therefore off-limits. Because holding writing to a quality standard or saying only survivors can write atrocities is unworkable from a moderation standpoint, the three mentioned major archive warnings (MCD, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Noncon), are permitted to be included.

However, Major Archive Warnings must be explicitly opted into by the artist, and writers are free to not include Major Archive Warnings that their artist has permitted. Delivering un-asked for major archive warnings is grounds for a ban from this event. The mod team reserves the right to warn other mod teams on both the MCYT and Multi-fandom side about your bad behaviour.

What kind of an information will I provide as an Artist? How long or detailed? Artists will be able to specify

the server their art takes place on

the characters in the work

whether the relationships in the work are romantic, platonic, or could be interpreted either way

if they are okay with NSFW work

what age group of people they are okay working with

the type of AU it is

any content warnings present in the work already (i.e. gore, eyestrain, child death)

if the work is nsfw

any major archive warnings they are okay with happening in the story

common fandom themes and/or triggering content that they are okay with happening in the story.

A DNW

What sort of fandom themes will I specify? While this will not be an exhaustive list of every possible triggering concept, the mods want artists to be able to specify if they are okay with dynamics that circulate in the fandom that may be triggering or people simply may have strong opinions on, and for writers to be able to sort by that. Some of the themes include domestic abuse, alcoholism, family dynamics, pregnancy, dubcon, torture, body horror, dehumanization, child death, non-consensual touching, drugging, etc.

What is a DNW?

Artists will have the opportunity to fill out a DNW, which stands for Do Not Want. This is anything that has the potential to ruin a fic for you, and is where you opt out of content that would trigger, squick, or just render the gift unreadable for you. DNWs must be phrased politely, (so no "No foster aus because they suck and you suck if you like them"), and they must be reasonable, (so no "no blood/injury" if the art depicted shows injury, and no attempting to box someone into a specific gift beyond what is depicted in the art, so no "dnw anything that isn't a modern au where scar is a theatre teacher and grian is a biology teacher and they live in a city named hermitopia and grian has a situationship with mumbo and scarian has a rivalry at a coffee shop for the half-price muffins and jellie has psychic powers she's manipulating the muffin market with" if that is not clear from the art), and they must be specific and clear, (so no “no triggering content"), but they can be as petty (disliking 1st person) or as broad-reaching (no modern aus, no specific ships not depicted, no crossovers with specific servers or fics) as you like. Deliberately breaking someone's DNW is grounds for a ban from the exchange. 

Is Dark/Violent content allowed? As long as it is something that the artist has not opted out of, yes. For many of us, the source material that originally drew us to the fandom includes major character death, torture, murder-for-hire, death games, public executions, child death and more. The fanfiction that arose from the source material follows in that trend. We will allow dark content to be part of the event, but it must be tagged for. 

We also ask that participants use best judgement in delivering commonly triggering topics un-asked for. We reserve the right to ban people at mod's discretion for delivering unrequested triggering content, under the "do not be an asshole" rule.

Moreover, if your fic is rated E for any reason, (including violence or gore) your entire team must be 18+.

How can I get involved? You can participate in this event as a:

Author

Artist

Pinch Hitter

Beta Reader

You can even sign up for multiple roles, as long as you’re very sure you can make your deadlines!

What is a Pinch Hitter? A pinch hitter is a person who saves the day and steps in when the original creator is unable to deliver their work for whatever reason, making a new work on an accelerated timeline. You must reach the minimum word count of 5k. . 

When do I have to join the discord? You have the option to join the dicord and hang out as soon as creation starts on May 4, and if you are an artist, you must join before sign-ups close on May 31. If you are a writer, you must join the discord before claims begin on June 1st. If you are a Beta Reader, we'd ask that you join before claims begin on June 9th.

How does team assignment/claims work? We will release a document with all the art pieces linked in it, and 24 hours afterwards we will release a sign-up form. Writers will be expected to list out out a top-five of artists they want to work with, and mods will match writers with art on a first-come-first-served basis.

How does Beta Reader assignment work? Shortly after writer sign-ups end, writers who wish to sign up for Beta Readers will be able to do so. In a similar way to how writers claimed art, beta readers will be given a list of summaries and then, 24 hours later, will be able to submit a short list of fics they want to help work on. Beta readers will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

What happens if there are more artists than authors, or more authors than artists? If there are more writers, some artists will be assigned multiple writers. If there are more artists, we will put in place a question where writers can specify that they’d be willing to make multiple pieces, and a (hopefully small) number of writers would be assigned multiple teams. 

What if all the artists I list have already been assigned? If every artist you wish to opt into has already been assigned, mods will contact you and ask if you wish to be matched to people who have not yet been claimed. You will then be able to choose if you wish to claim other teams, or wait and hope that there will be more writers than artists, and multiple writers on a team will be opened up. If that happens, you can re-submit your list and be assigned as a writer to one of your original artists.

I’m in [insert time zone here]. What if I’m not awake when claims open? There will be a spot to input your time zone in the discord. Mods will try to open the claims at a time that works for as many writers as possible. The art pieces will also be available for 24 hours before claims so that everyone can view them and pick out the ones that are the most interesting to them. We will aim for claims to open between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. for as many writers as possible across all time zones. If claims fall outside that zone for you, you’ll be able to contact a mod and we’ll work out an alternative method for claims for you. 

I don’t know what time zone I’m in? Go to timeanddate.com and enter the nearest major city, and it will tell you your current time zone.

What’s a check-in and how do they work? Check-ins are there to make sure everyone is on track to finish their piece in time, and to communicate any issues with the mods! If you know that you won’t be able to check in on a specific date (lack of internet, etc), please contact the mods in advance.

How long should my fic be? The minimum word count is 5,000 words! There is no maximum word count, but we ask you to be mindful of how much you can actually create in these two months. 

If I wrote a multi-chapter work, do I have to have it all posted by the end of Posting Period? You must post your work in its entirety by the end of the two-week posting period.

What does AU mean in this context? AU stands for Alternate Universe and in this case means anything that would make the work not able to be tagged as canon compliant. Alternate endings, role reversals, complete setting or plot swaps, and crossovers all count. As this is a fest specifically to celebrate AUs, we ask that the AU be a significant and celebrated part of the work, not something that could be skipped if you aren’t paying attention. 

Can I create two fics for my artist? Absolutely! There is no maximum for number of fics you want to create, but again, be mindful of not biting off more than you can chew two months of creation time.  Can I post just the first chapter of a longer fic/Can I use AI to help me with my piece? All fics must be complete (no missing chapters or truncated scenes) and created specifically for this event, inspired by the art claimed at the beginning of the creation period. Writers and Artists must create their work themself. Works may not be wholly or partially created by generative text or art programs (so-called "AI") such as chatGPT or OpenArt.ai. Works may not be wholly or partially duplicated from other works, and may not contain substantial repeated material included in an effort to boost word count (such as paragraphs or comics panels that are copied with minor variations).

Can I sign up with two pieces of art? You are welcome to sign up as part of the fest with multiple art pieces. However, if you do so, we will ask that you prioritize which art piece you want to be matched on first, and you will only receive a match to your secondary art piece after everyone else has an writer. We’re going to proritize every particpant getting a team before we prioritize every art piece getting a team.

Can I sign up with a multi-piece art piece? If you want to sign up with a web weave that features multiple panels, a long video, a long comic, a series of connected art pieces, a song cycle, or any other more complex/more ornate work, you are welcome to. We just ask that you make sure you can complete your art piece during the month of artist creation time, and keep in mind that if your piece is sufficiently complex, that might restrict the writers who are able to sign up for your piece. But if you think you can pull it off, then go for it.

Can I sign up with a writing buddy— as part of a collab team? You are welcome to sign up as a collaborative team, either an art team or a writing team! We ask that you make sure you work together well, and when you sign up for an team, you must declare that you’re a duo, so people know that they’ll be getting multiple team members and not one. 

Can I submit an art piece that is part of a larger AU? All art pieces must stand alone, so you can't have it that your writer has to consider other art pieces to make a work. The art must also be made specifically for the event. We ask that you not submit an art piece that was made prior to the event, or one that is part of an au you've posted about so often that it will effectively de-anon you. Brainstorming or sketching early is fine.

Once my art piece is done, when can I post it? Art and fic should be posted together, during the Posting Period at the beginning of August. Once you have your art done, you'll have to hold onto it for another two months, while your writer is working.

What if I need to drop out? It is your responsibility to communicate with us if you need to drop out of the event for any reason, and we do need that communication. We know that life is no respecter of fic and art deadlines, so no hard feelings if something happens. However, we would hate for any artist to end up having no fic for their art, so please think about this if you are thinking of dropping out close to reveals. Dropping out after the last check-in without informing the mods will result in not being permitted to take part in further events run by this mod team.

I have a question not answered here? Send us an ask on tumblr, contact @antimony-medusa on tumblr or discord!

[smplive-bingo]

SMPLive 5th Anniversary Bingo ❤️

This is an event for fanartists of all forms (visual, writing, etc) to celebrate SMPLive's fifth anniversary!

The event will run from March 1-31, 2024. The goal is to complete at least one bingo, but you are not required to finish - just do whatever you feel you can and have fun, and you can also do more if you want!

The tag is #smplive5thbingo! There's also a collection on AO3 that you can post your works to here. The event doesn't have a dedicated Discord, but you can join the SMPLive Watch Party server and we have a channel for the event there!

How to play:

All forms of creative fannish content count as a work submission - whether that be fanfiction, fanart, moodboards, playlists, reclists, web weavings, meta, poetry, podfic, crafts, or whatever else.

Sign-ups are not needed, you can simply pick up and play at any time during March!

For fics, a work submission must meet a minimum of 300 words.

A bingo may be achieved horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or by filling all four corners and the free space.

The free space is not required to be filled. It does still require a submission to be filled, but the submission can be about anything so long as it abides by the content rules.

For the more general prompts, you can interpret your prompt as literally or figuratively as you'd like!

Each submission should be posted as a separate work - this is more applicable to posting on AO3 than on Tumblr.

You are not required to make a masterpost, so long as you post your works in the tag or tag the blog in them!

All submissions must be new - past works cannot be used for the challenge.

Content rules:

Submitted works must be SFW, specifically meaning no sexually explicit content.

RPF is not permitted - works must be based in the SMPLive server or its spinoffs.

The following members cannot be featured beyond passing mentions: CallMeCarson, Arlus Finch, Twomad, SkyDoesMinecraft, VoiceOverPete

Shipping content is allowed, with no real restrictions beyond "don't involve people who were kids during SMPLive".

Violence is allowed, extreme gore is prohibited.

If you have any other questions, shoot an ask to the blog!

[anonymously-a-whore-blog]

When Worlds Collides

Chapter 6 - Hunger

Previous 🤞🏻

Next 🤞🏻

WWC Masterlist 🤞🏻

Word count 1.9k

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

The campus feels eerily empty, but turning back isn't an option. It's like some sick joke the isekai gods are playing on you. No matter how much you try to force your body to stop, the invisible string yanks you forward, hungry, relentless.

Everything feels too sharp. Your senses are on high alert, hyper-aware of every creak in the floorboards, every echo bouncing off the walls. Even Itadori's heavy breaths as he dashes through the halls feel deafening.

Whatever this is, you can't control it.

"I can feel something," you hiss, reaching out and grabbing Itadori's arm, pulling him slightly toward you. You peek your head around the corner. The sight is disgusting. The creature's body writhes with several limbs, twisting and turning with repulsive squelching sounds. Its eyes dart around wildly, searching, hunting.

All you can think about is that Itadori needs to get to Fushiguro as fast as possible.

"Go on ahead," you whisper, though your voice wavers more than you'd like. "I'll distract that thing so you can get to Sasaki and Iguchi."

"No, I won't leave you," he says firmly, grabbing your wrist. Your cheeks flush, and heat creeps up your neck. 

God, pull yourself together.

"I'll be fine," you insist, forcing confidence into your voice. "The longer we stand here, more chance of them dying!" A reckless surge of bravery pushes you forward. "I'll just get its attention, then run and hide. I promise." You glance at Itadori and manage a weak smile.

He hesitates before finally nodding. "Please be careful... Y/N." Your breath catches. He said your name first. 

Goddamn it, why would he say that now? 

Before you can even respond, he's already sprinting toward the Occult Club room, leaving you alone with the monster.

Your breath shakes as you face the curse spirit. The cold night air presses against your skin, but it's nothing compared to the oppressive presence before you. Your body steps into the moonlight, casting a long, trembling shadow across the pavement. The curse spirit's hollow eyes snap toward you, its jagged mouth bubbling with an unnatural gargle. A thick, black substance drips from its lips, steaming as it splatters against the ground.

Then, it charges.

Move. Move. Move!

Your mind screams, but your body refuses to listen. Your limbs are like lead and your heart a pounds frantically that's trapped in a cage of frozen ribs. "Please," you whimper, the word slipping past your lips like a dying breath.

Nothing. No reply.

Then a split second later a sudden warmth, alien yet familiar, rises. A sensation unfurls across your body, weaving through your nerves like a second pulse. Knots of thread slither against your skin, delicate yet firm, wrapping around your limbs as if stitching you back together. It hushes your fear, its soft whispers curling into your ears, its presence undeniable.

Just like the first time you encountered a curse spirit, the recognizable sensation unfolds within you. It's as if a string of yarn stretches outward, catching the curse in an invisible web. The spirit shrieks in agony as the unseen thread tightens around it. Its deformed body thrashes, but the grip does not waver.

Hesitantly, you step forward, engulfed by the strange, electric feeling your body is crafting. A whisper escapes your lips.

"Is this... my curse energy?"

You squint, your breath hitching. And in that brief moment, you see it, the delicate yet unyielding strands of yarn wrapped around the spirit's writhing form. They shimmer faintly in the moonlight, waiting patiently. Waiting for your command.

Without knowing why, you murmur a single word.

"Knot."

No hesitation.

The thread obeys, moving effortlessly through the air, weaving itself into an intricate pattern. Loops twist and coil, binding the spirit tighter and tighter. It yells in agony, struggling against the inevitable.

The knot is perfect.

Greedily, your body presses forward toward the curse. Your senses drool at the sight of its power. Its raw, unfiltered energy. You lunge your fingers, diving into its bound, writhing form, rummaging through its insides. Your mind has no idea what it's searching for as your hand moves on instinct, desperate, needy.

Your fingers brush against something smooth. Round. Cold as death. That's what you want.

A thrill runs through you, and your yarn sings in delight, shivering with an unnatural joy. Without hesitation, you yank it free. The curse spirit convulses, its screech stretching into the void as its body evaporates, leaving nothing behind, nothing but the orb now in your grasp.

A strange calm washes over you as your thread slithers back, embedding itself into your veins like it was never separated from you at all.

You turn the sphere over in your palm, and the sight of it mesmerizes you. Colours pulse and swirl beneath its surface, shades of deep blue, violet, and flickering orange, shifting. The hues stretch and coil like living threads, warping with every twitch of your fingers.

What even is this?

It's nothing you've ever seen in the anime. It's similar to Geto's technique, but also completely different. It glitches. The colours stutter, spasming between frames like a corrupted file. It flickers, struggling to exist. Like a broken piece of reality refusing to settle into form. No thought in mind, you bring the orb closer to your face, trying to decipher it. But it jitters in your hand, moving on its own, almost as if it's alive. Its energy sinks into your skin, a cold, electric pulse spreading across your face.

You jump, startled by the sensation, your heart racing. Desperately, you wipe your face, as if trying to shake off a bug that just landed on you, its foreign presence crawling under your skin. Your hands swipe furiously, but the feeling lingers, clinging to you like an unwanted touch.

Something inside you shifts, like a piece of fabric has been stitched onto your soul. The change is subtle, but undeniable, threading itself into the core of who you are.

You shake your head.

There's no time to figure out what the hell just happened. You leave a mental note to come back to it later. Right now, you need to get to Yuji, and fast.

Your legs move automatically, driven by a force you can't name. Your senses take over, guiding you, pulling you in the direction you need to go. The world blurs around you as you focus solely on the path ahead. You hear them up ahead and come to a sudden halt as you see Yuji, holding Sasaki in his arms.

"Yuji!" You sigh, relief flooding through you. Thank god everything is unfolding as it should.

He turns his head, a bright smile spreading across his face. The warmth of it hits you immediately, the smile of someone relieved, not just because you're safe, but because you've said his first name.

"Y/N! Thank god you're okay!" Yuji also sighs. You glance at Sasaki in his arms and rush forward, your heart pounding.

"Is she okay?" You press your fingers against her neck, feeling a pulse. 

Thank god he came just in time. 

Yuji nods, his expression tight with worry, and holds up Sukuna's finger.

"So, this is it?" He mutters, examining it, but the moment your eyes land on the cursed object, your breath hitches. The same overwhelming sense of dread and ache comes crashing back again.

"Yeah. The cursed object. Ryoumen Sukuna's finger. It's a miracle that thing didn't swallow it," Fushiguro chimes in, extending a hand for Yuji to pass the finger to him.

"Why would anything eat this? Is it good?" Yuji raises an eyebrow, genuinely confused. You snort to yourself, knowing he's the one who's going to end up eating it. Unfortunately, your thread starts to go erratic. It senses the pure power radiating off the cursed finger—needs it.

You take a cautious step back, the dread bubbling inside you, and it causes Fushiguro to glance your way, his sharp gaze shifting to you with curiosity.

"Don't be dense," Fushiguro replies to Yuji, but his gaze flickers toward you, his eyes never fully leaving your figure. "You'd eat it to gain stronger cursed energy. Now, hand it over—it's dangerous." He takes a step forward, closing the distance between himself and Yuji.

"Fine. Here." Yuji shrugs his shoulders, but before he can pass the finger to Fushiguro, you feel a sharp sense of danger creeping in.

"Watch out!" you shout, just as a curse spirit plummets from the ceiling. Fushiguro reacts instantly, shoving Yuji out of the way. Yuji is sent flying towards you, and you crash to the floor with a painful groan. Dust and debris fill the air, choking the space around you and making it hard to see or breathe.

"Y/N? You okay?" Yuji calls out, his voice concerned. You cough, reaching around you, trying to orient yourself in the haze.

"Yeah, I'm okay," you reply, struggling to push yourself up. As the dust begins to settle, Yuji untangles himself from you and helps you to your feet.

"Run!" Fushiguro shouts, his voice urgent as he tries to draw the curse's attention away from you two. The spirit howls in fury, raising its hand and strikes Fushiguro with a devastating blow, sending him crashing through the building's wall and flying out of sight.

Yuji quickly places Sasaki down beside you and jumps into the fray, racing after Fushiguro.

"Yuji!" you scream, panic rising in your chest. Without thinking, you leap after him, bursting through the broken wall and landing heavily on the roof. The impact sends a jolt through your body as you slam into the ground, wind knocked out of you.

You look up to see both of them battling the curse. 

Shit. How did I end up in a situation like this? 

Tears sting your eyes, and your lips tremble. All you want is to be home with your mum, not here.

 Fushiguro is sent flying backwards again, his body scraping across the concrete. You stagger toward him, hissing through the pain. "You okay?" you ask, breathlessly helping him up. He meets your gaze with his usual stoic expression, but in his eyes, you see a flicker of gratitude. He brushes the dust off his uniform and nods sharply. Yuji is still throwing punches at the curse, but you know it's pointless, he can't defeat it without cursed energy.

"Only a curse can beat a curse! You can't defeat this!" Fushiguro shouts to him.

"Is that your idea of a pep talk?! At this rate, we're all gonna die!" Yuji hurls another punch at the curse spirit, his movements quick and agile. You watch, amazed at how fluidly he moves. "If I quit now, I'll be stuck in this nightmare for weeks! Ugh... Besides..." He leaps backward, narrowly dodging a strike from the curse. "I know what I have to do."

The curse catches him, throwing his body into the air, which causes both  you and Fushiguro to tense. Fushiguro notices Sukuna's finger slipping from Yuji's hand.

"You idiot! Throw it to me or you'll both get eaten!" Fushiguro shouts, his voice sharp. Yuji's eyes shift as he remembers Fushiguro's earlier words - 'You'd eat it to gain stronger cursed energy.'

Your heart races as you watch Yuji's expression change to one of determination. You hold your breath, preparing for what's about to happen.

"There's a way I can save everyone! I just need my own cursed energy, right?!" he says, grabbing the finger mid-air. Before Fushiguro can protest, he swallows it.

"NO!" Fushiguro yells. His hand shoots out, grabbing your waist and pulling you behind him. Your face burns up, the heat rushing to your cheeks as you mentally scream, 

Oh my God, oh my God, he just grabbed me!

Snapping out of your dazed dream state, a low, menacing laugh vibrates through the air. You swallow hard, instantly recognizing the source of the sound. Without thinking, your hand grips the seam of Fushiguro's blazer, holding on tightly.

"Heh... Hehehe... Hahahahaha! Ah! Hahahaha! I knew it! The light feels best in the flesh"

Sukuna has just been manifested. 

[bokettochild]

if you want to pair wind with someone in "you weren't supposed to get hurt" how about complete the war trio pairings and give him and time some bonding. you have one of wars and time and wind and wars bonding so why not complete the trio?

Consider it done! No, like, actually consider it done, because I finally did do it T-T

Since you asked for me to complete the War Trio, it is Mask and not Time, but minor details, yeah? It's the same person in the long run.

Rating: General

Wordcount: 4,905

Summary: Tired of the new intruder, Mask turns to desperate measures to reclaim his personal space from the other so called hero that Link's become so taken with. Things do not go as planned. Or...well, sort of?

-

  He didn’t ask for this. 

  No, seriously, Mask had never asked for this situation to ever come about. He's sort of given up asking anyone for anything at this point. The goddesses didn’t answer when he wanted to go back, to live the life he had finally begun to grow into, to see the kingdom he had saved and all the friends he had made and the world that was familiar even if it was damaged. No one listened to his wishes when he wanted to go home, only to find that the forest will no longer welcome even his child form. He’s tried; he can’t find the grove, or his siblings, or anything of his old life. Navi didn’t listen when he asked her to come back, and whatever powers existed in Termina didn’t listen when he begged for just one day to rest, or a bit of help, or really any bit of aid that didn’t cost him something. 

  Help doesn’t come for the asking. People only do things for you if they can get something out of it. Life is transactional, and for that reason alone at least, he finds he can respect the strange bunny merchant who’s joined their camp. At least Ravio makes no secret of what he wants, and unlike people who dance around the subject or expect him to know, Ravio states his terms point blank. 

  Link does not.  

  The captain is hard to read, hard to understand. He’s the hero, so maybe he can give without getting and maybe he can serve without reward, but that only counts when it’s for the kingdom. No one asked him to reach out to the displaced figures transported through time, to try and befriend them and make them feel at home. There’s no advantage to him doing so, no payout, and it just doesn’t track. Still, Captain Link tries, and he’s succeeding too. Even despite all attempts to keep the man out, he’s somehow made it past Mask’s defenses with that warm smile and the twisting of his own mother tongue.  

  Maybe it’s the spark of familiarity in those blue eyes. They glitter and gleam like Navi did, and the fae-speak that this mortal hylian man can somehow understand and respond in, scolding and commanding, but also assuring and offering warmth, makes him feel almost at home. Maybe it’s the magic though. He doesn’t think Captain Link knows, but he can feel the tendrils of warmth and strength, a protective magic that weaves over camp as the captain walks and inspects; not unlike a spider spinning a web. It’s different from the Deku Tree’s magic, but similar too. The signature of the setter is the only real change, and the warmth and security of at last being able to bask in that web of safety maybe is the reason he lowers his guard.  

  That’s how the man got in, lulling him into safety and familiarity, a whisper of those lost in that perfect smile, and then Mask was trapped. 

  Love is a dangerous thing, but somehow this man has managed to get ahold of his heart anyways, and he’s holding onto it with such warmth and kindness, protecting it so carefully, that there’s really nothing the once-again-child hero can do, only surrender and accept his defeat. 

  He didn’t ask for Captain Link to adopt him, but he never opposed it either. 

  Maybe he would have, but the man had sat him down and explained that the reason wasn’t because they found him incapable, and that it was still very much his own choice, but that without an assigned guardian who would take charge of keeping an eye on them, all children displaced across time would be sent to the countryside to stay on farms, out of the way of the danger, at least until the war was over. If he wanted to stay, he had to agree to let an adult become his guardian, and Link had offered his own services for his consideration. 

  Saying ‘no’ wasn’t really an option. If he wanted to help, he needed to say ‘yes’. Besides, maybe having some tangible proof that someone wanted him around, was tied to him in some way, was nice. It wasn't a Claim like fairy’s laid, but in the way of Hylians, it was really somewhat similar. He became Link’s son, and while the captain never pressured him to see it that way, there’s a small part of him that finds pride in that. 

  Now if only Link hadn’t done the same thing for the blasted sailor. 

  Link has a soft spot for kids, and that much is clear. He’s accepted that Mask is older in mind than body, but it’s clear that the child-like appearance does get the better of the man and make him forget at times, and it shows. Also, busy as he is, Link always makes time for all their youngest members of camp, making sure they are handling the events around them well. He’s had help, of course, since Marin and Ravio both make an effort to check in on everyone for him at times, and the island girl in particular is very good at handling them all, including him. Mask blames that weakness on the fact that she looks a little like Malon did when they were adults. 

  Even with all his duties though, it’s clear the captain finds solace in the presence of children, and privately, Mask does think that, maybe once the war is over, Link should settle down and start a family. For now, he doesn’t mind that the man who adopted him likes to be around the actual kids in the camp, letting Agatha talk his ears off about insects and entertaining Skull-kid's games and tricks.  No, in a way, he finds it cute how much Link cares about them. 

  The problem is the sailors. Tetra isn’t so bad; she’s fun and clever and good at what she does. Impa’s taken charge of keeping an eye on her, for reasons that she won’t explain, so there’s no worry about Link trying to take her in. Her hero companion is a different story though. 

  Because Link is the one everyone calls when there’s a newly dropped outsider discovered, he’d been there when they’d found the sailor folk. Because the captain has a bleeding heart, he’d immediately offered a place to stay in his own tent for the younger hero, which is all well and good to start with, because Link is nothing if not hospitable. No, the problem isn’t that Link had invited Tune, it’s that Tune doesn’t go away. 

  What, for a short time, had been his and Link’s space, suddenly has another person in it. Where Link is content to sit quietly and work at their respective tasks, Tune chatters. Where Link will, at the least, humor him about being an adult, Tune flat out doesn’t believe him. Everything he’s just begun to get used to is suddenly changing! He can’t lower his guard anymore, and if he wants to cuddle up to the man who’s legally his father, he can’t without someone seeing and taking it as proof that he’s a child, or that he’s soft or weak or some other offensive presumption.  Worse than that though, is that Link treats Tune with the same warmth and kindness that he does Mask, and try as he might to deny it, it’s become increasingly clear that he can’t stand that. 

  So yeah, Mask is jealous. 

  He doesn’t like to admit it, but he is, and he doesn’t like that Tune tromps all over everything he was just making for himself and pushes himself into the space that had finally started to feel like home. His relationship with Link is a treasure, and Tune is trying to be part of it, and Link is just letting him! Link took him in, took guardianship over him and now he says that that makes the two of them brothers. 

  Mask has had brothers before. He doesn’t want new ones. He’s still getting over not ever getting to see the ones he used to have ever again, still getting used to the idea that maybe in their own way, they’d actually felt something for him, despite all the bullying and mockery. He doesn’t want another older brother, one who doesn’t believe him about anything he says and who, worse yet, Link looks at with respect. 

  There's no shortage of warmth and fondness in Link’s eyes when they turn on him, but when turned on Tune, there’s suddenly some sense of equality, of respect. Tune offers advice and Link takes it, Tune offers help and Link accepts, Tune tells Link to put his things down and rest for a bit and Link does. Mask doesn't have advice or suggestions or really any concept of how to help the man who’s taken him in besides killing monsters. He can’t do anything or give anything back to the person who’s giving him everything, and here Tune shows up and shows him up! Giving and giving and giving and making Mask look like some pathetic mooch! Well, no more! He doesn’t want to have the other around, so maybe it’s time to let that on! 

  The insults and fighting just stress Link out and saying point blank that he doesn’t want the other boy in their tent just makes the captain sigh and sit them down and explain things and beg them to just try and co-exist. The number of times he’s said that he ‘isn’t asking them to be friends, but just to please get along, or just ignore each other’, is getting ridiculous. Yet, every time, Tune nods and smiles and, like the goody two shoes he is, promises to do his best, apologizing for stressing Link out. 

  He’s such a suck up, honestly! Mask can’t stand it! 

  So, instead of involving Link, instead of letting the hylians handle things their way, Mask is going to take the fairy approach to getting this kid out of his space.  

  It’s not hard to figure out. Skullkid, like always, is down for a bit of mischief, and the fairies he presents with his situation agree to be of aid in any way they can. It won’t affect anybody else. He’d had to steal something out Tune’s bag so that the fairies could get a handle on his magical signature, but that’d been easy enough, and the fairies were well willing to help once he’d bribed them with sugar that he’d snitched from the mess tent.  

  Now though, he can walk back to the tent knowing that no matter what Tune does, he’ll get lost trying to find it. It’s the same magic from the woods, less strong, since it’s not done by the Deku Tree, but it’s only supposed to work on one person anyways, so it doesn’t need to be that strong, just strong enough to make sure Tune can’t get back in. Except, much to his disappointment, the only result is that the older boy just follows Link around instead! So, when it’s late, he only has to keep an eye on the captain, and thus is still there, every night, humming and talking as dinner is made and eaten, and even afterwards sometimes. Gone is the silence they used to share, filled instead with the voice of the ‘brother’ he never asked for. 

  So, he tries again. He asks the fairies, he asks Midna, he even tries talking to Ravio to ask him if maybe, somehow, there’s something in the merchant’s wares that could fend off unwanted persons from someone’s space. 

  “Bees,” the merchant responds, sighing. “Wards and runes too, but those are tricky to lay if you’re not practiced, and unfortunately, I’m not. Mister Hero keeps bees though, and nothing and no one can get at his home without first having to get through them.” There’s a shiver that follows those words, a full body one that makes the rabbit ears of the hood bounce and sway. “Awful, horrid little devils they are!” 

  Were they in the woods, he’d start gathering hives and fostering bees all around the area, or at least try and learn how. They’re not in the woods though, and Captain Link likely won’t appreciate having a hive anywhere near his tent. Midna suggested getting a dog, but when he’d explained why he wanted it, she’d told him she couldn’t help any further. 

  “I don’t want any part in a sibling tiff,” she’d declared, and he hadn’t had time to explain that they weren’t siblings before she’d flickered off to another part of camp, most likely to pester Marin. 

  So, he tries again, and again, and tries everything he can think of, but even with all that he’s still left with an unwanted presence in their tent and evenings that are too loud and food too spicy. He wants Tune gone; not dead, that wouldn’t be right, but out of his hair and his space and away from himself and Link would be nice. Why, oh why couldn’t someone else have taken in the other supposed hero? But no, Link and his bleeding heart just had to take him, and now Mask suffers the consequences of it! 

  Well, no longer! Because Skullkid has a solution! 

  “A trap!”   

  “A trap?” He’s fond of the kid, very much so, but he’s not sure how smart the guy is. “Buddy, I’ve tried that.” 

  “You tried a magic trap,” Skullkid corrects, giggling, “but magic only works on magic. You’re working like a fairy against a hylian! You need to use hylian skills to stop a hylian!” 

  “Explain...” 

  “Hylians are bad at magic, very dumb sometimes.” The hat of the skullkid bobs with a knowing nod as he speaks, smile conspiratory. “He doesn’t know you’re trying to get rid of him. You need to leave no question about it! Trap him, then, after some time, come get him out! You can tell him he owes you for rescuing him, or that you set it, but you can trap him and make him realize he’s not so great!” 

  Technically, there are so many ways in which it wouldn’t work, but he’s already tried so much, so it’s worth a shot. Skullkid is willing to help with the rigging of it too, with just enough magic to stop the thing going off on anyone else, and employing the spell already on the tent. The older boy will end up at the back rather than the front, and when he does, he’ll fall into a rather deep hole that is spelled so no one will hear him until Mask or Skullkid come to see how he’s doing. It’s no harm done, just a quick scare and a moment to really drive home that staying in their tent is really not worth all the trouble he has to go through to do so. 

  For the first time in a long time that night, he manages to get Link to himself for a bit. Just quiet, dinner, no chatter, no spicy food, no blabbering and humming hero boy who doesn’t respect his space. 

  And then Link starts to worry. “Where’s Tune?” 

  He shrugs. “With Marin? They hang out a lot.” It’s not a lie. “Maybe he’s staying with her instead.” 

  Link shakes his head, face creasing up in a frown. “No, no, he would have told me.” With that, the man moves to stand, already grabbing for his sword and shield, things he never lets out of reach even when sleeping. “I’m going to go look for him. Stay here, in case he comes back on his own.” 

  Because Link is too tired to have realized the presence of the spell that keeps his other charge from being able to find the tent. He just thinks Tune follows him around, and he’s not all wrong either. Honestly, that’s probably one of the worst ways that plan had backfired, since it meant those two spent more time around each other. But no more!  

  The moment Link is out of the tent and out of sight, all smiles for his men even if his brow is tense, Mask is darting out and around the back, headed towards their trap. 

  Sure enough, Tune is inside. Dirty, tears on his face and cradling an arm that even past his green tunic, Mask can see is horrbly swollen. 

  “Shit.” 

  “Language,” the older answers, as if on reflex, before starting and staring up at him. “Wait, Mask?” 

  He wanted to smirk here, to crow a little at the stupidity it would take to get here, but Tune looks so pathetic, and pained. He’s not supposed to look pained. “Yeah...” 

  “Oh thank the seven!” Blue-green eyes dart skywards. “Someone set a trap by the captain’s tent! I’ve been calling for hours now, but no one’s come!” There’s a hardness in those eyes, a set to the jaw and brows that echoes the captain’s but a moment ago. “I’m glad Link wasn't the one to find it, but we need to tell him about this! If someone’s setting traps in camp, everyone is at risk!” 

  Something in his stomach curls and twists uncomfortably as he looks down at that determined face, streaked with tears and mud, yet still, the other boy is focused more on the men, the captain, and everything other than himself. He’s not even realized this was for him. Worse still- 

  “You’re hurt.” 

  A wince follows the words, although it tries desperately to be a smile. “Yeah. I think I broke my arm when I fell. Where’s Link?” 

  “Looking for you.”  

  He broke his arm. He got hurt. That wasn't part of the plan! He was supposed to get upset, but not...not... Mask’s not sure what he wants here, but this isn’t it. He got Tune hurt. Not just scared, not just lost, not just feeling stupid, but really actually hurt! 

  The sailor groans. “We have to tell him about this.” 

  “Do we?” 

  “Yes?” Like it’s a no brainer, like it’s obvious. “Someone set a trap in camp, Mask. One by his tent! That’s kind of a big deal!” 

  He knows that, but he doesn’t say it. He didn’t want Link involved though, and now Tune will pull him in and there will be a ruckus, because no one would guess that it was the sailor who was the target. Tune isn’t anyone worth targeting, not when Link is right there! 

  “But what if it wasn’t for him?” 

  “Who the-” and he cuts himself off, because Tune sees him like a child, treats him like a child, and refuses to swear in front of him, even though he knows perfectly well that the sailor’s got a mouth filthier than his own. Not for any lack of trying on his part, but Navi never let him stick around when people were using foul language, and he’d never gotten the chance to learn many words. Not in Hylian anyway. “Who would it be for then?” Because he knows too, he knows they aren’t good targets. Mask can’t tell him the truth though.  

  “Someone else?” It sounds desperate, een despite all effort to not. 

  “Who else-” and he sees something flicker, like lightning almost, in those sea storm eyes. “Did you do this?” 

  The accusation stings, but it’s also a sharp blade of truth, and it breaks the dam he didn’t even know was building up. “You weren’t supposed to get hurt!! I just...I- You- I don’t want you around!” 

  A slow blink, a heavy, deep, dangerous breath, like a dragon about to breath fire, but no flames, no words, emerge. Tune just stares, eyes stormy and cheeks red and shoulders stiff, and Mask feels himself beginning to cower just slightly as guilt mixes with the anger stirring up inside him. 

  He feels the need to explain himself, yet also the wish to shout and scream and rage at the intruder who disturbed the life that was finally beginning to settle. He’s not sure what exactly he’s feeling most, but it’s making his heart pound and hands sweat as he stands over the hold in the ground and the hero inside. It twists inside as he watches Tune watch him with dangerous eyes, all while cradling his broken arm. The words don’t come. The words won’t come, and he can’t decide whether he wants them too or not, just finds himself staring as Tune breathes, heavy and harsh for a while before finally mustering himself, forcibly calm, and turning sea-green eyes up towards him again. 

 “You set a trap.” 

  He doesn’t answer. 

  Tune doesn't wait for one. “For me. You tried to trap me, and leave me here for, what? An hour, a couple?” 

  He clenches his hands into fists, heart racing and face twisting up in the same way his stomach does; painful and confusing. 

  “Why?” The sailor blinks up at him. “What on earth did I do?” 

  You took from me, he wants to say. You took away my safe space, you made it yours. You broke what I found and made it what you wanted. You shoved yourself in where you didn’t belong and made me feel out of place. “You stole Link.” 

  For a moment, the other flounders, like a fish out of water, and then his voice explodes with a sharp “What?” 

  “You took Link!” He says it firmer this time. “We were fine, happy almost. I was happy! And then you came in and changed things and you- you-” he kicks at a clump of dirt on the edge of the pit, watches it roll away and crumble like he wishes the complicated feelings inside of him would do. “You took him away.” It’s softer the second time, just a whisper, a weak little thing that he hates. 

  “You’re jealous?” The anger is gone now, just...confusion in that face. “Are- are you seriously just... jealous?” 

  “No!” 

  And Tune stares, blinking up at him, bewildered. “You’re jealous. You, who Link thinks the world of and adores like his own son, are jealous.” 

  “I am his son!” Where in the world did that come from?!?!?! 

  A sigh and the shake of the head. “Okay, get me out. We’re going to talk.” Before he can resist, that stormy sea stare turns up to him again, warning. “If you don’t want me telling Link what you did, then we talk it out without him.” 

  “Gonna be hard to hide it,” he mumbles, even as, reluctantly, he offers a hand to help get the other out. It’s not that deep, the magic is really the only thing keeping Tune there, and now that he’s here, it dissipates quite easily, not halting the older boy’s climbing out at all. “Your arm’s going to give it away.” 

  “Help me set it,” is the easy answer. “I can down a potion and Link will be none the wiser.” 

  Mask stares. “You’re not going to tell him?” 

  Those deep eyes roll, a heavy puff of air escaping chaffed lips. “I mean, I can if you really want. I’ll tell him you got jealous and trapped me in the ground and that I broke my arm while falling down and-” 

  “Okay, okay! I get it! I’ll help.” 

  He does too. They both go back to the tent, and with a fair bit of struggle, they manage to set the broken arm just like Link’s shown them how, tying it to a splint made of a wooden spoon to hold it until the potion takes effect. The moment they’re done though, he’s stuck under that Stare again. It's not nearly as bad as Link’s, but it isn’t fun either.  

  “Alright, so, what made you think  trap was a good idea?” 

  And... and... he tells him. It all sort of bleeds out in a messy amount of word vomit; the frustration and anger and everything. How he’s not keen on having a brother, how he didn’t get a choice or a warning, how its not fair! And Tune just listens, digesting the words quietly as though they aren’t mean and spiteful, as though he doesn’t sound like Mido when he says them. If Saria could see him now she’d be shaking her head, sad and sorry, probably wondering how he turned out like such a rotten little thing even after how hard she tried to teach him to be good and kind. It’s only when he finishes that the sailor says anything, and even then, it’s not even angry. 

  “I get it.”  

  He wants to scream that no, no one does!  

But the sailor smiles, a crooked, sad thing. “Change sucks.”  

 The words hit home. Like they’re everything he was trying to say but couldn’t, and he just finds himself nodding in answer. 

  “I’m sorry I stress you out, but look at it from my perspective,” stormy eyes are clearing, gentling, like a cool and flat lake, “I don't have anywhere else to go either.” 

  “Someone else could take you!” 

  A shrug. “Yeah, they could. But no one else wants to. You’re not the only one who doesn’t want me taking up their space. Not that I blame them; if I was you I’d probably be pretty pissed too, but yeah. Anywhere else, I’m going to be treated like a child, like a kid, not like a hero who knows what he’s doing, who killed Ganon, who did stuff that they’ll never really get. Link doesn’t even get it yet, he’s not there, but he’s the closest I’ve got to someone who knows what it’s like to live our life.” 

  Mask pauses. “Our life?” 

  And there’s that blasted smile again. “Yeah. You? Me? We’re heroes. We beat Ganon, we won, and we went home afterwards. It changes you a lot, and I don’t think most people get that, which is good, because that means they never had to deal with the shit we have, but it does make it hard to find people who understand you. Honestly, I was really excited to hear there were other heroes here, because I hoped maybe we could...” and there’s a faint flush back to the sailor’s cheeks again. He’d already downed the potion, he’s not crying anymore, and there’s no pain or anything, but he’s steadily getting redder.  

  “Spit it out already.” He doesn’t mean it to come out harsh, but it does, huffing out as he keeps his arms folded tight in front of him. 

  Tune sighs. “I hoped maybe I’d find a friend. Someone who really understands.” 

  “Must suck, huh?” 

  Another shrug, a tip of the head. “Yeah. But I get it if you don’t want to. I did intrude on your space, and I am sorry for that. I wish you’d told me it was bothering you though, instead of trapping me like a wild pig.” He has no clue what that means, but he lets it pass, for now. “We could just have sat down and talked about it. You say you’re an adult, right? Well, adults talk about shit that makes them upset, so we can do that instead of...whatever that was.” 

  And it’s not perfect, not friendly and not warm and not a sweet sappy thing like maybe Tune would have wanted, but they do talk. There’s a lot of prodding and pushing, and a lot of yelling, but eventually, they work out something. No one agrees to leave, but lines are drawn. Tune agrees to keep his spices away from Mask and only share if Link asks (which he probably won’t, considering it’s Link). Mask agrees to keep his traps and tricks to himself. If one of them is in the tent, the other needs to make sure it’s okay to come in, unless it’s time to sleep or they’ll be out again quickly. There’s more to work out, and they’ll have to do this a few more times, Tune tells him, but it’s a start. 

  When Link comes back, he doesn’t suspect a thing. Or, if he does, he doesn’t ask. A question of if Tune is okay, a hair ruffle, and then one for Mask too, and then he’s urging them both to bed for the night. Being tucked in is childish, but they accept it. They accept it and they sit quietly while the older hero collapses on his own bedroll and goes out like a light, still fully dressed. 

  “He’s a great guy,” the sailor whispers once they’re sure the man won’t wake. 

  Mask nods. “Yeah.” 

  “We can do this, for him. Even if you don’t like me, and I don’t like you, we can at least make his life a bit easier by not trying to kill each other.” 

  “Deal. Now shut up.” 

  He thinks the other giggles to himself, but no more words are spoken between them. Well, not that night anyway. They have to talk again later, once there’s not the threat of Link walking in on them. It’s not perfect and there are hiccups; there are still yelling matches and squabbles and sometimes it gets a bit more physical, but for Link, they make it work. The least they can do is support their fellow hero as he prepares to face the same hell they know. Although, it really doesn’t feel that way with how intent he is on watching out for them, like he really is their dad or something. 

[hydropyro]

I’ve been seeing a lot about Gale lately so I have been thinking about how Gale and Abdirak may interact.

And I wrote this. I might do one for each of the companions. Maybe not.

Based in “Webs of Fate” story, but is a separate excerpt/ficlet

The wizard was forlorn after the older man had left. Despite everyone seeming cheary enough, something must have gone awry with their meeting. Abdirak had gone for a walk to forage for some mushrooms and alchemical herbs, which he now brought to Gale as an excuse to talk to him.

“Who was that — wizened fellow?” Abdirak asked. Of course he knew who Elminster was. Who didn’t? If anyone could see through his ignorant facade, it would be the wizard.

Gale was not amused, and he did see through Abdirak. He accepted the mushrooms, muttering thanks, though he was still broody.

“You look like you’ve received unfortunate tidings, child.” The Paingiver said, searching the tautness of the wizard’s expression. “Does it pertain to the orb in your chest?”

Gale gave a sigh and nodded, not looking at the Loviatan.

“I can lend an ear.”

The wizard had not been fond of the Paingiver in their journey, but he was a pleasant and cordial man all around so they weren’t at odds. Gale still did not trust Abdirak’s motivations — which hardly made sense because he’d been very open as to his reason for being there, and a ‘desire to help’ was not quite it.

“We believe the center of the Absolute Cult will be at Moonrise towers when we get there,” the wizard said. “Mystra wants me to destroy it when we find it.”

“By suicide?” That surprised the Loviatan. Gale had been a Chosen of the Goddess of Magic. Whatever his mistakes, he was no doubt valuable.

The wizard nodded, his expression grim. “Can I ask for your opinion?”

Two surprises in one day. Abdirak considered it probably prudent for them to rest for the remainder of the day, despite the sun still being high in the sky, lest that count become three. “You want to know what I would do?”

“Few in this group understand the relationship one has with their god. There’s Shadowheart of course but—”

“I would do it.” Abdirak said without thought. “But,” he added, holding up a finger, “that does not mean that I believe you should.

“Much of what I have heard regarding your — condition — has been second hand. Would you be comfortable telling me the tale?”

The wizard frowned. “If you would, why shouldn’t I?”

The Paingiver only hummed. “You make some tea and meet me at my tent.”

He started away before the wizard could respond, but heard the other man say, “I am not going to let you hit me.”

Abdirak only laughed.

•••

Despite his reservations, Gale appeared at the Paingiver’s tent a short time later, two mugs of tea in hand. He passed one to Abdirak, saying, “It’s mint. And some other things. Rosemary, etcetera.”

“Perfect.” Abdirak gestured for him to enter and indicated a cushion he had sitting on the far side of his small tent where the wizard should sit. He himself knelt on the ground, resting back on his heels. He waited for Gale to situate himself, sipping the steeped tea quietly.

“It’s very tidy in here,” the wizard said, making awkward conversation. The Loviatan knew that he meant nothing by the comment, but he had enjoyed the way the intelligent man could stumble over his own words.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

The wizard gulped hard on his tea and cleared his throat, shaking his head. “No, just an observation.”

Abdirak hummed. “Tell be about your condition, Gale.”

The Paingiver listened attentively while Gale explained how he had obtained the orb. Child prodigy who had caught the attention of the Goddess of Magic from a very young — prepubescent — age. Devout worshiper. As a young adult he had become the goddess’s lover and Chosen. He had begged for more from the goddess — not power, but access to the Weave — to experience, study, and further his devotion. When being denied, Gale sought to prove himself by returning a piece lost to the goddess. She scorned him and denounced him. Should he detonate the orb at the time of confronting whatever controlled the growing Absolute Cult, Mystra would forgive him for his greed.

Abdirak sat quietly and digested the wizard’s tale a long while after. “What is Mystra going to forgive you for?”

“For disobeying her. For trying to go around her.”

“Is that what you were doing?”

The wizard frowned. “Not exactly. I wanted to — please her. I wanted to show her that I was worthy by finding and delivering that part of her that she lost so long ago. She's been through so much.”

“It wasn’t a part of her, though.” Abdirak said.

“Well, I didn’t know that. By the time I realized it was already burrowing into my chest.”

The Paingiver nodded. “I can see it causes you a great deal of physical pain.”

“It does. It feels like it is gnawing away at me.”

“And so you were removed from being her Chosen. How do you serve her now?”

Gale shook his head. “I was removed entirely.”

“You aren’t a devout?”

“Well,” Gale paused. “I am — but she won’t have me.”

Abdirak nodded. “One would think she does not care for you. It must be difficult to have gone from her lover to — nothing. It seems she did not love you.”

“I understand pain is your — forte — but I would thank you not to prod that particular wound.” Gale said, making the Loviatan chuckle.

“Force of habit,” the Paingiver explained, taking another long drink of his tea. “But — avoiding a festering wound does not make it heal faster, nor alleviate its pain.”

“How do you know that Loviatar loves you?” The wizard asked defensively. “You said you would do what I’m being asked.”

“Oh, she doesn’t.”

The wizard balked. “You would kill yourself for someone who doesn’t even care about you?”

The Loviatan considered how best to explain it to the man. “The gods — they are not like us. They do not care for us in the way we may care for one another. Indeed, in the way we care for them.

“I suppose you could equate it to — a business partnership. Loviatar does not love me, Abdirak, the man. But she loves my utility as her Pain.” His hand fell to the scourge ever coiled at his hip. “When broken down to its parts, my love and devotion to her comes down to her utility to me, too.”

“You can indulge in pain without Loviatar,” the wizard argued.

��And you can use magic without Mystra. But it wouldn’t be quite as satisfying, would it?”

“You are useful, Gale Dekarios. You would not have been made Mystra’s Chosen and her lover had you not been.

“Yes, you are wayward, but even your mistakes were driven by your desire to serve her.

“While you may not ever be invited to — warm,” he frowned, “do gods have beds to warm?”

“I’d rather not discuss that with you,” Gale said quickly.

The Pain eyed him carefully, enjoying the wizard’s discomfort under his stare. “Another time, perhaps. I am so curious.”

“Aren’t you with Alakvyr?” The man tried to deflect the conversation.

The Pain laughed, “I wasn’t asking for a demonstration.”

The flustered wizard waved an agitated, dismissive hand. “Can we get back to the conversation? Why would you do it?”

“If my Goddess asked me to end my own life, I have every belief that it is because the benefits of doing so outweighed my utility to her.”

“And why can’t Mystra feel the same?”

“Because she has shown that you have no value. Your utility to her is nonexistent.

“I am not familiar with Mystra, Gale, and I do not seek to blaspheme your goddess.

“In asking this of you she is not asking the acclaimed Arch Wizard, Gale Dekarios.“ The wizard’s eyes flicked away but Abdirak continued. “Mystra is not asking for the life of a follower who gravely wronged her nor a hero who will save the world.

“She is asking a little boy who was told how special he was, a young man who she took into her arms — not because gods need it, but no doubt to control him further —until he didn’t do exactly as she liked.

“She’s offering you ‘forgiveness’ for your efforts to be a worthy follower — following the punishment you’ve already long suffered of stripping you of your power and title and leaving you in the cold with a painful condition that threatens to destroy you and anything near you.

“She believes that only you can stop the Absolute Cult, and yet offered no information as to what it is that you will face?

“She can send her who is considered the most powerful wizard in the realms to give you a message, but not aid you in this?” Abdirak snorted quietly. “Your life has value.”

Gale raised his eyes to Abdirak again, his eyebrows up as if he was surprised to hear it.

“There are many gods who would welcome your talents with open arms—” Abdirak held up a hand before the man could protest, “I am not proselytizing.

“There is no guarantee this course of action will save anyone. Truly, if the blast is as devastating as you suggest, it will undoubtedly harm many.

“So who all will benefit? Not you, you’ll be dead. Not anyone nearby who helped you get to that point. They will, also, be dead — all of your companions, because it’s not going to be easy to access whatever it is — you’ll have to fight your way in, no doubt.

“Only she does. Her wayward pet brought to heel and an artifact she fears destroyed.

“My advice is that you lean on those around you who see your worth and treat you accordingly.”

The men stared at one another for a long while, neither speaking. He could almost see the gears working in the intelligent man’s head.

“Besides,” Abdirak said, smiling at the man, “You can’t suffer the sweet agonies of life if you’re dead — what a waste that would be.”

“That was proselytizing,” The wizard said, though he had a small smile.

“Force of habit.”

Gale groaned as he started to pull himself to his feet. Others may have thought him older than he was by the way he moved, by the little sounds of discomfort he made throughout his day — but Abdirak knew pain. This was a young man living with an incredible pain and hiding it away.

“Thank you, Abdirak.” The wizard was upright now, so the Pain also stood. Gale held out a hand to accept Abdirak’s nearly empty mug. “You’re — a bit different—”

Abdirak laughed. It was not the first, nor would it be the last, time he’d heard that. Despite the tone, he knew it was not necessarily a compliment.

“But,” Gale was saying, “I appreciate you. And I’m glad you joined us.”

“It has been interesting.” Abdirak put a gentle hand on the wizard’s shoulder and lifted the tent flap so he could leave. “Should you ever wish to learn about the delicate intricacies of pain, I am always eager for a willing student.”

“I doubt I will take you up on that.” The wizard said, his tone pleasant nonetheless. He gave the Pain a quick nod in farewell, his hands full, before turning to go back to his own tent.

[cryptids-of-spielzeit]

Spielzeit Bestiary #2: The Pink Lady

This cryptid is another cave dweller, but don't think one could escape so easily. If you thought the Blue Man was bad, the Pink Lady is, according to numerous reports, even worse.

Eyewitnesses describe a 12-20 foot tall woman, bug like in appearance, with incredibly thin limbs, long hair, and big, green eyes. Her name stems from how every inch of her is some shade of pink. One of the few cryptids claimed to be able to talk, they describe her voice as both that of a little girl and motherly figure.

About 3 disappearances have been linked to the Pink Lady, those being Charles Gunthrie, age 15, Tashia Monroe, age 12, and Manuel Montez, age 14. Because of these disappearances, a somewhat cruel urban legend has sprung up in town.

If you go into any cave near town after curfew and proclaim "Pink Lady, Pink Lady, can you hear me? I want to play a game, your choice", then there is a chance that the Pink Lady will answer. What games she chooses are up for debate, the only one chosen on record is "Hide and Seek", according to Hunter Keely, age 16, who said he managed to survive an encounter with the Pink Lady.

"I went into the cave, right? Did the plea that you have to do to summon her, and then all of a sudden, she's right there in front of me. She acted like my little sister, she was all happy and stuff. She said she wanted to play hide and seek. But she never closed her eyes. She just stared at me as she started counting down. Her body never moved, but her head was getting real close to me. I could hear the snapping of her neck, scared the hell out of me. I ran, man. I could've sworn I heard her say something, I don't know what it was though. Just lucky I'm here."

Ranger Angelo Floros had this to say about Keely's story.

"This is such a cruel joke. We have 3 missing kids and here you claim to survive whatever killed them? It couldn't have been some 'pink woman', that is a forest ripe with cougars, bears, the like. I hope he feels guilty for this, those families are grieving and all this kid does is weave a web of lies."

Strangely, there has been no indication that the three missing victims were ever killed.

Would you dare enter the caves near Spielzeit and play the Pink Lady's games? Or do you not believe?

[danggirlronpa]

After several months of forgetting, and then finally starting to get stuff together only to forget what day of the week it was: Merch Monday has officially become Merch Whatever-Day-I-Remember (Ideally Monday When Possible). But I AM finally back on it!

[Ko-fi to Support This Project]

And of the things that are overdue, the Chiaki Zine is having their leftovers sale, so it seems like about time for me to do a write up on it!

Firstly, the zine itself!

I love this zine. I don't consider myself a Chiaki stan, but this is one of my favorite zines I own. And while of course part of that is from a fantastic set of art and writing, a LOT of it is because of the theming. I had expected the video games to be a loose theme, but it was very tight - every single piece prominently featured a game, and the only repeats were in easter eggs like the Pokemon plushies in this Sims piece.

As someone who makes and loves video games, it was so cool paging through this and seeing all the references. They're all done with exceptional care. It takes a moment to figure out some of them just because of adjustments to match Chiaki's visuals (it took me a long time to figure out this was Sims because of the UI not being blue!) but most clock on sight.

There's a list of all the games referenced in the back so that you can check against yourself. The only thing I wished for was some sort of reference for which games were on which page, so that you could get the general sense of the ones you didn't recognize to investigate further. The theme makes this zine feel incredibly tight and well-crafted, in addition to the zine itself being high quality without any immediately noticeable defects.

This print is one of the things I was most excited for with merch! It has started to bend a bit now that it's been a few months, but not more than any other print I own. It's nice and smooth, texture-wise. And really cute!!

These stickers are very cute (for some reason I forget to get a picture of the larger Pokemon sticker sheet? Hopefully I'll remember to grab another one before this post is scheduled). The Smash Brothers are SO tiny!! That's not a bad thing, I just hadn't expected it. I picked up Sakura's Peach since she's my own Smash main (and namesake!) and Aoi's Daisy, and then my favorite fight girls. Part of me does want to order a couple more so I can get the super interesting concept of Mario Chiaki/Peach Sakura and my other main Isabel/Kaede. The stickers themselves are only 50 cents each, not counting whatever shipping!

And here is the keychain! (With Mario Chiaki and Peach Sonia this time! The tangled webs our Mario AUs weave.) This is actually one of the reasons it took so long to review the zine, as when I finally opened it up, it had a big crack across it. They got me a replacement more or less as soon as they switched shipping mods, and I had no trouble with the new one! I wasn't actually that excited about this keychain, but it's really growing on me.

I honestly didn't expect to love this zine as much as I do. It's so cute, and lots of love and care was obviously put into it. I have no significant complaints about it or its quality. I would definitely recommend grabbing it while you can!

[sergeifyodorov]

I’m very curious about why Leafs-Oilers SCF would be “Good Hockey”! What would make it Good, and what would make it Good-er than other potential combos?

few reasons

the hockey

stanley cup final is between a good western team and a good eastern team. kind of obvious but that means there are only so many possible combinations of hockey that you can make, and not all of them are interesting to neutral observers!

ok ignoring my obvious leafsguy bias. if i want to watch a stanley cup final i want the two teams facing off to be not only good at hockey but also engagingly good at hockey -- i want excitement! i want goals! i want it to be fairly evenly matched but in a way that brings UP both teams' strengths and potentially also provides highlight-reel Fuckery. some teams, let's be honest, are straight up not fun to watch if they're not Your Guys, or sometimes they will bring other teams down to their level and be less fun. i do not hate the wild but they're nicknamed the mild for a reason, you know?

there are a few teams that are Good but not Fun (carolina) and many many teams that are Fun but not Good (sens). Goodness is fairly easy to quantify, but Funness is a little more nebulous. here is my proposition for the first few Fun Qualities:

at least two stars (super-type, not dallas-type. in roope and robo's case they Are both though), or at least two guys who stand a step above the rest in terms of quality. homoerotic devotion optional but strongly preferred

quality more stemming from Hijinks than Systems. in Systems hockey everyone kind of does the same thing. in Hijinks hockey we get sillay with it

really good and sexy offense. defense optional but strongly preferred

i would like it if they didn't try and kill people on the regular

patrick kane is not there

examples of teams that are Good And Also Fun (imho)

devils (this pisses me off because of how well whatever the fuck they did worked)(that whatever the fuck is tanking, getting lucky, and signing for the underlyings)

stars

oilers (this pisses me off for reasons i can neither name nor describe)

leafs

even if you count on this list not being comprehensive (it isn't), this does not leave us with a lot of options. this is my campaign for leafsoilers though so we forge onward

2. the narrative

i am weaving a web i am webweaving. it is about connor mcdavid. it is about the curse. (you know the one). it is about the fact that the greatest player of our generation was born just outside toronto, a leafs fan born and raised. it is about the fact that on the year another generational legend was set to be picked into the league, that wayne gretzky's original team won the lottery.

the leafs won their own lottery, too, of course. one year later. they missed out on connor by a year and instead took auston matthews, the ovi to connor's sid. the goalscorer to the playmaker. the ferocious competitor to the good humble perfect canadian boy. as sid and ovi were rivals back then, so must mcdavid and matthews be. every cup run either of the older pair had, one of them defeated the other. as above, so below.

3. god damn it, patrick roy

no canadian team has won a cup since patrick roy's montreal canadiens did in 1993. he got humiliated at the forum, cursed out the habs, and ended seventy years of dominance. the league, supplied as it is in significant portion by canadian fans and players, is really pressed about telling this to us at every opportunity. they would goddamn shut up about it as soon as it was canadian on canadian violence in the scf please god.

[chaosandthe-deadblog]

do you understand

(Mitski - A loving feeling | Bears in Trees - Simply Won't Believe It | Mitski - First Love/Late Spring | dexter - Maybe The Problem Is Me | Ricky Montgomery - My Heart Is Buried In Venice | Orla Gartland - Codependency | Bears in Trees - Seaside | The Walters - I Love You So | Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again)

[ofallthingsnasty]

May I request yandere reo mikage manipulating his s/o making them think they need him. This causes Stockholm Syndrome and they later get married and have a child. Reo is praised in the public for being a billionaire, pro-soccer player, good husband and father.

tags: yandere, reo is 20+, emotional abuse, sfw but minors please dni, pregnancy discussion but no pronouns are used word count: 0.7k

Oh, Reo... deceptively sweet and caring Reo. Who needs Stockholm Syndrome when your boyfriend never gave you any weird feelings in the first place, when he showers you with gifts and affection? He is all you could ever ask for, attentive beyond belief and willing to do just about anything for you. He seems to be too good to be true, really: a pro-athlete, rich, only has eyes for you. Who wouldn't get swept up by that? And my, isn't he just like a lovesick little puppy with how he sends you flowers to your workplace, how he picks you up whenever he can - whisking you away for yet another expensive dinner, a new mini-vacation every other weekend. Sweet and handsome and above all, generous - you don't want to leave. It's easy to simply ignore what lurks beneath the surface of that bright smile and boyish enthusiasm: How much he needs you, how he doesn't let go of people he has picked - he's either extremely hot or cold with those few, chosen ones. We've seen how he treats Nagi when all is well, when he can put his faith in someone - but we've also seen how he gets when those feelings get trampled into the ground. He's definitely the type to always try to smooth the waves, who never wants to fight but also has a very peculiar way of communicating any issues he has with your behavior. He doesn't like it all that much when your attention strays from him, for whatever reason. He's extremely emotionally manipulative. Never the one to outright forbid you from going out or even keeping you - but he'll act so cold, will mope for days after you spent a night out, when you dive into one of your hobbies instead of spending time with him. Everything that doesn't suit him is some sort of betrayal to Reo, makes him turn frosty until you apologize for something you don't quite understand. It's subtle and very gradual but you'll soon try to phase out everything that upsets him. It's just so hard to weather his depressive moods, to be in the same house as him while he can't face you without a look of clear disappointment and hurt in his eyes. Not only does he wean you from all your silly little distractions, he rewards you for not giving any of your precious time to your friends and family - even more expensive gifts, the finest food and above all, so much love and praise that it makes you feel dizzy and desperate when he punishes you again after a perceived mishap. He has the art of manipulation down and no matter how much you try to fight against it - you love him. And seeing someone you love so dearly all vulnerable and hurting is bound to shape your behavior. You'll find yourself so entangled in the webs he weaves after just a few months of being together, so dependent on him that you question your ability to ever be single again.

He doesn't view having a child with you as a way to shackle you to him - he genuinely wants a baby, dreams of that picture-perfect little family, of raising a little human with you. A child is the ultimate union between the two of you, the purest declaration of love. That's why it hurts him all the more when you tell him you don't want one right now. Reo just doesn't understand - he has all the money to support you, you've been together for quite a while, had your fun - why not take that jump with him? It feels like you're rejecting him and his love. He won't force you into anything but he'll give you his coldest shoulder yet. He takes your gentle later, honey, just not now and twists it into you completely blindsiding him. He can't even look at you - leaves the house without saying goodbye, doesn't sleep in the same bed as you - hell, you'll even catch him crying once. Reo wears you down emotionally, makes you feel so ungrateful and selfish for denying him this simple thing that you'll fold just after a few days. Does it really matter if you wait another year before you start trying? Doesn't he have all the money in the world to hire a whole gaggle of nannies? What will really change? You only have things to gain. And if it keeps him happy, keeps his eyes shining and you in his good graces, why not start now?

[henrysglock]

does this count as web weaving or whatever it is the kids are calling it these days

[bubblywords]

My Monster 1

(A/N): My first reader insert on this blog! So excited!

Warnings: None?; Reader is rude to Alina; spoilers; Reader is on the Darklings side; idk if you would count this as angst; also SFW

Word Count: 734

Pairing: Darkling (Aleksander) x Reader

Summary: Reader lies in wait for Aleksander to finish his game with Alina. It doesn’t go according to plan.

Part 2

                                                (Gif isnt mine!)

You heard the door to the map room open and close. Finally. You think, sitting up in bed. It felt like forever, waiting. 

“I don’t recall this being apart of the schedule.” You hear the smile in Alina’s voice. You almost feel sorry for her, and in another life you would have. She was a sweet girl, too kind for the darkness she was wrapped up in.

Light filtered in the room, Aleksander must have lit a lamp. “It isn’t.” He croons, and you can’t help smiling at his voice. Gods, he was smooth. You felt your heart flutter, and you felt yourself falling for him all over again. Alina never stood a chance against his charms, that was for certain.

“Perhaps you would prefer to attend the dinner?” His voice moves from the fireplace, drawing closer. As he moves, you too move. Quiet as a church mouse, you hover behind one of the curtains of the doorway separating his room from the map room. 

“Marie can manage.”

“By herself?”

Suppressing the urge to sigh, your eyes roll. Small talk. It was all a part of the game, of the seduction. It was tedious, if anyone cared to ask you. You suppose this is why you lurk in the shadows as your love weaves his web around the light bringer. 

It had grown silent, before the heavy breathing and groans started. Ah, and so it begins. The first kiss. You tilt your head back, listening to their shuffling as best you can. A part of you feels possessive, jealous even. Someone else had their hands on your husband, and she was practically a child. Still, you heard your husband's words in your mind, softening and tempering your heart.

“I know this is hard.” Aleksander takes your hand and you can't help the cold laugh. “No, dealing with your mother is hard. This is impossible! Having to see that doe eyed brat make goo goo eyes at you- and seeing you return them!-” He swiftly cuts you off, “It means nothing to me.”

Still, you remain silent, stewing in your anger. You feel him approach, gently taking your arms, unfolding them from the hard cross you had them in over your chest. He pulls you in, his voice gentle. “She means nothing to me.” He crooks at your chin with a finger, lifting your gaze to his.

You can’t help but melt under his gaze. You nod at his words, and you believe him. Even still, a fire burns in you when you think of what he means to do. With Her. Your anger is swiftly extinguished as he pulls you into a kiss that burns the jealousy from you, and you both quickly grow warm from a different kind of heat.

A knock at the door breaks you from your memories, and interrupts whatever sinful dead Alina and Aleksander were prepared to commit. Still, as thankful as you were for the interruption, this wasn’t according to plan.

You strain to hear whoever is at the door, of course with no luck.

“Is something wrong?” Alina asks, tone naive and innocent as a blushing bride.

“It’s nothing.” Clearly it was something, you’d known your Alexander long enough to know when he was lying. “But I will leave my guards outside until I return.” This of course should have tipped Alina off that something was amiss.

“I’ll be waiting.” Again, you almost feel sorry for her, the foolish child. 

As Aleksander leaves, you can’t help but wonder about what had happened. Before you can slip out to investigate, you hear a click. Oh? Curiosity overtakes you, and you lean against the doorframe as you hear a door open.

“Come with me.” Oh?

“Baghra?” Oh! A cheshire grin splits your face. The old hag had finally played her hand. The game was afoot. Ohhh, she was going to be in so much trouble when Aleksander found out. 

“What are you-?”

“Stupid girl!” I agree “No time to doddle” Their footsteps click as Alina resists, sputtering in confusion. She, in the end, doddled. “You need to leave this place!” Baghra exclaimed. 

“What? No-! Why?” And they were gone. You could have stopped them, you suppose. You had ample reason to want to kick both of their asses. However, together against yourself, you knew you would be outmatched. Better to wait and report to Aleksander. After all, he did instruct you to wait in his chambers.

To be continued!

[sepublic]

           I love how by the end of The Third Temple, Sasha no doubt thinks she’s being super-clever and conniving, because Marcy mentions going to Newtopia first, so of COURSE Sasha agrees with this, takes advantage of it, she’s such an opportunist and the girls have no idea they’re playing right into her hands…

           Except! She’s actually being outwitted by MARCY, who’s the actual smart kid… And it’s MARCY who’s thinking that Sasha’s playing into her own hands, and it’s probably Marcy’s gambit that will win out in the end with Andrias and his master; But it’s so damn hilarious because like… They’re both manipulating and playing into each other’s hands, but neither knows the other is up to something! Sasha underestimates Marcy and doesn’t know enough about Andrias, and then Marcy’s just blindly trusting of Sasha, like she probably is of friends who also serve as authority figures in her life in general (case in point Maddie Flour).

           It’s legit hilarious, and the writing’s so clever; Because they both have their own agendas but underestimate the other, and they just so happen to align perfectly… And you can see one being dumb, but really they’re BOTH being simultaneously smart and duped, and amidst the tragedy and betrayal, it’s gonna be low-key funny when Sasha and Marcy’s plots collide into one another awkwardly, as they realize- Oh WHOOPS, we sort of had the same plan, but didn’t? I love it, I love seeing how these characters can have their hidden agendas and how they play into each other at the same time, clashing and conflicting, lowkey agreeing upon the one thing they both need to take down the other, and neither of them even realize it!

           It’s such a complex web of events and intent, and it’s even better that they’re utterly oblivious to the whole thing… Unless Marcy is actually more aware than she lets on, and/or Andrias suspected all of this and told her. Then meanwhile you have Anne caught in the crossfire and confusion and betrayal, and no doubt Sasha and Marcy will ask if SHE had any ulterior motives, and she doesn’t, and it’s so confusing and hard to keep track of… Though I can also see Marcy kind of suspecting it, again from Andrias, but because she also knows about what Sasha did at Toad Tower from Anne, whereas Marcy herself has had no betrayal precedent established.

           But yeah, it’s so damn funny that Sasha is probably thinking “GOTTEM” at poor dumb Marcy who she loves, but actually Marcy’s been four parallel universes ahead of her this whole time, freaking MARCY, and while Anne and Sasha duel it out… They’re totally missing out on the ACTUAL girl who’s playing them all for fools, and her con is likely aided by the fact that she legit doesn’t mean malice, nor does Marcy even think what she’s doing is wrong and manipulative! Again, it’s SUCH clever, twist-and-turns writing that overlaps and sews across, little plot threads coming across… Utterly brilliant, I love it!

          Now we’ll have to see who adapts to the chaos and the heat-of-the-moment better… Or at least, who’s able to get Anne on THEIR side, and that answer’s likely a lot more obvious. In addition to Sasha also having to deal with Andrias and HIS machinations, which are guiding Marcy’s… And the Toad Rebellion ain’t looking so good, if that one shot of Yunnan and a bunch of downed Toads is any indication. This is just taking Suspicion Island to a WHOLE new level, and Marcy’s the one that everybody missed and overlooked, they thought SHE was the fool, when in reality she was playing them all… Not maliciously nor super intentionally, but she’s operating on Andrias’ orders, so y’know.

          Even if Sasha could come toe-to-toe with Marcy, it’s a different issue if she doesn’t even anticipate the attack to begin with, doesn’t even realize Marcy’s a combatant and player in the ring herself; And THAT surprise is going to blindside her, before Sasha has the chance to adapt and make use of her own strength to win what should normally be a straight-forward conflict. Grime praised Sasha for playing Flip-Wart while the rest did Bog-Jump, but it seems it was MARCY who was actually doing this the entire time; Fitting, how she’s the only one we see who knows about the game and actually played it!

          Sasha could easily take on Marcy in a battle of strength, but that’s why Marcy has Anne to do this for her… Sasha, alas, for all of her seeming manipulations, is fundamentally more brute force than anything else; Which means she’s no match for Marcy’s wit, at least in conjunction with Andrias’ scheming! Marcy won’t meet Sasha on the battlefield, it’s Anne who’ll do that for her, leaving Sasha vulnerable on the tactical front… Hopefully Grime can help, but when there’s also the hidden ace-up-the-sleeve that is whatever Andrias is serving, and things don’t look too good for the Toad Rebellion!

          Just when we thought it was Marcy who was the mediator who’d turn the tides between Anne and Sasha… It seems it’s actually ANNE who’s the mediator, to turn the tides between Sasha and Marcy! It’s all up to, and all down to, Boonchuy… And alas, I don’t think Sasha can count on Anne for support at such a crucial moment junction, not when Anne can’t the same in return. It’s always the ones who seem silly and harmless that you gotta look out for… Well, them, and the giant Newt King who’s been alive longer than anyone else; Him, AND whatever’s in that basement…!

           I’ll say it again- But the way this all overlaps and fits perfectly into a place like a puzzle, all of it no doubt painstakingly planned out, so it all seems perfect and obvious to each person to do this... It’s SUCH fiendishly clever writing, and I admire it! I can almost see this as being additional karma for Sasha, who possibly low-key looked down on Marcy, or thought of her as dumb, given her apathy to Marcy’s own antics back home, and even mentioning that she’d get herself killed. Well, Sash, look who’s blindly following the path into danger, and will need to be saved by Anne, THIS time...! Guess you shouldn’t have underestimated Marcy and given her as much consideration and time of day, and respect, as Anne did... In general you need to take cues from Anne, actually. For all of Anne’s issues, she’s somehow the most well-rounded of the trio, and that is of course a CONCERNING relativity...

It’s just this total clash and train wreck of differing interests, circumstances and opportunities, accidents and twists that nobody could account for, and blind spots, all coming and crashing together into utter chaos, a mess nobody can predict, debris and shrapnel of characters and new plot points flying all over the place, and you can’t tear your eyes away from it as you watch in fascinated horror, utterly engrossed. I look FORWARD to this, the drama and weaving of threads makes me excited for the final picture and the completed puzzle...!

[maximoff-pan]

Just Faking It? | Peter Maximoff x Reader

Summary: When you and Peter enter a fake relationship, what does that do to your friendship? Can you keep yourself from breaking the one rule you set? Do not fall in love. Can he?

Character: Peter Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Fandom: X-Men

Word Count: 2.9k 

A/n: It’s been a hot minute since I posted, but online school has been Kicking. My, Ass. AnyWAy....I am back now! I’m really nervous to post this and I knowwww the ending is trash but it just kept getting worse so (please bear with me). Hopefully my writing will get better. Despite my shitty scribe, I hope you can enjoy this, and maybe, even possibly like it???

Comments and feedback are also very much appreciated! A girl needs inspiration to write (if ya know, ya know).... 

You’re minding your business (in your room mind you) when your door flies open, and in comes a flurry of grey. As quickly as the door is opened, it’s slammed shut. You know exactly who the culprit is, that part is particularly evident to you, but what puzzles you is the absence of a reason for his dramatic entrance. It’s like he thinks you can read his mind or something....(you can, but that’s besides the point). That’s not really what you’re supposed to be using your mutation for and Peter knows that.

“I really fucked up.” He eventually breathes. But it leaves you with more questions than answers.

You tilt your head towards him, squinting your eyes as if to challenge a response from him. So?” You ask.

“What the fuck do you mean?” Widening his eyes, he appears in a minor panic. “I come rushing in here, telling you that I fucked up, and your only response is: ‘so?’”

“Peter, if I had a dollar for every time you told me you fucked up, I’d certainly be the richest telepath in this mansion, and Charles owns this damn place.”

He cranes his neck in frustration, a sigh falling from his lips. “Well this time, I really fucking mean it.”

He’s fidgeting a lot more than usual, and when you glance at him, his eyes dart from yours. If you know anything about Peter, and you like to think you know almost everything about him, you know that based on the way he’s acting, that he didn’t just fuck something up for himself, he’s also fucked something up for you.

Disappointed, but not at all surprised, you ask, “What did you do? And how does it involve me?”

*****

Peter Maximoff has always had a way with words. No matter what he says...nor how fast he says he it, he can always manage to get you to do whatever he wants. Sure, to the average person Peter may be incessantly annoying, but to you, he is overly charming. He’s always just been so....perfect...for a lack of a better term.

And it’s not like you haven’t tried to bury those feelings. You really really have. But every time you’re near each other, your heart beats a little bit faster and your eyes just fixate on him. He draws you in with his infectiously upbeat, care free - who gives a shit it’s the end of the world, let’s just have fun - kinda vibes. It’s intoxicating as fuck....and so, extremely bad for you. But it’s what you need. You actually need him.

So unfortunately (maybe fortunately...it really depends on the day), Peter Maximoff has you whipped like the fucking whiplash he’s always warning you about...and whether he knows that or not is the real question. You hope to God he doesn’t; you’ve tried so damn hard to hide it. It....Them...Your feelings....And this is the trickiest part. You’re not sure when you came to this realization, but: You’re in love with your best friend.....

And honestly....shit...what the fuck feelings??? That is not a good revelation to be having. That’s never a good revelation to be having. And that’s for many fucking reasons, including but not limited to:

He’s your best friend

He’s your best friend

He’s your best friend

Did you mention he’s your best friend? Did you?

To top it all off, your anxiety about what is justifiably a crapshoot of a situation (being in love with your best friend is no cake walk friends...don’t try this at home) has risen ten-fucking-fold. Because you’d do anything for him.

And that’s how you’ve gotten yourself into the inescapable shit storm you have now: fake dating Peter Maximoff....

Look, in all respects, it could be worse. You’re not really sure how, but that’s just what you’re telling yourself to make this whole thing feel a little better. Damn you and being a good friend...You should’ve just said no. But how could you have possibly said it without giving yourself away?

‘Sorry Peter, I’m too busy being in love with you to be your fake girlfriend. Maybe later.’

You just couldn’t do it to him. He needed your help, and there was just no way you could say no to him. He’s your biggest weakness yet your greatest joy in life. He’s your kryptonite.

*****

Peter feels like shit. He thought dating you would be the best thing in the entire fucking universe....and it is. Except for the fact that it’s not real.

When Scott and Jean had called bullshit on Peter for telling them he in fact, does have a girlfriend, (when he really, really doesn’t), he panicked. So he told them the name of the first person he thinks of, the first person he always thinks of: you.

If Peter’s being honest with himsef, the whole conversation was stupid to begin with, and he should’ve just kept his mouth shut. But Peter lives for laughter, particularly making his friends laugh, even sometimes at the expense of a couple of his other friends.

It started off as a slow bit of teasing, and Peter was getting laughs fromJubilee and Kurt, who were both quite enjoying his little comedy fest. Peter in his carefree manner, jabbed joke after joke about Scott being whipped by Jean, mocking their incessant pda and need to be around each other, when Scott threw it back at him.

“Have you ever even had a girlfriend Maximoff?”

And that’s when Peter fucked up.

That’s when he proceeded to say: “Fuck you Summers. If you must know, I have a girlfriend.”

I have a girlfriend...present tense. Which is nothing but a lie. A blatant, blatant lie. But it just slipped out of his mouth, and while Scott and Jean both called bullshit, he couldn’t back down at that point. It was far too late, and would be far too embarrassing to try and weave himself out of the web he had created. So he told them he was dating you, which...fair. You already act like you’re dating 99% of the time, and you are in love with each other (not that either of you knows the other’s feelings on the matter), so it would seem very believable....But the big problem with this blurting of words (as Peter had called it later), laid in the fact that Peter had to do this without your consent. You had no idea nor a choice in being brought into this, and that’s why Peter feels like he’s fucked up so much.

Because as much as he wants to date you, and as much as he loves dating you (even though it’s all pretend), he can’t help but fear that you resent him for bringing you into his problems. If you do resent it, you’re doing a pretty damn good job of hiding it. Every person that has passed by you, the news of your relationship spreading fast, has told you: it was only a matter of time. And then they’d smirk at you, seemingly proud that they had predicted this all along.

And yet, it’s all fake, and all your classmates and teachers, (except Charles...because he knows the both of you too well and honestly is too fed up with your shenanigans to intervene), are wrong. They’re being fooled...but Peter can’t help but wonder if he’s the one being fooled. Because it feels so real. Too real.

*****

He holds your hand in the halls, swinging your arm back and forth teasingly, telling himself that he’s only keeping up appearances, and yet his whole aura brightens. Peter’s not acting, and the fact that you are genuinely scares him. Because you’re so believable, and it hurts so much to have you, but to know it’s all a lie.

“I guess I owe it to you Maximoff.” Scott sneaks in between you two, breaking not only your hands apart, but popping the blissful bubble you had been in. “I’ve never seen two people so right for each other.”

The smile drops from Peter’s face, but like always, you’re there to save him. “I know.” You send Scott a sly grin. “You never should have doubted us.”

Us, Peter thinks. He knows you mean it, in the sense that you’re best friends, but it only hurts him more. The frown on his face tightens, as he attempts to avoid your gaze. He can feel you pulling him into your side, wrapping your arms around him. This action snaps an automatic response, and his lips pull into a soft smile, his face relaxing.

“Never will again.” Scott smiles fondly at the two of you, seemingly genuinely happy for you.

You place a kiss on Peter’s cheek, nearly grazing the corner of his mouth, and in that moment he wants you to kiss him, for real this time. It’s an urge he’s had before, but never as innate as this.

On instinct, he turns your body so that you’re facing him, and he kisses you. It’s instantaneous and it feels so so right. Your initial shock fades away and you lean into the kiss, your arms gracefully resting on Peter’s shoulders, slowly wrapping loosely around his neck. You raise onto the tips of your toes, desperately yearning for more. It feels like a tidal wave washing over you, soaking you in a plethora of feelings.

This has to be something, you think. What you have...it must mean something. Because you can feel his energy, his thoughts and desperations pouring into your mind. His exact thoughts are blurred, but you can feel the emotions that are flooding through.

“Jeez. Message sent.” Scott mumbles with a slight joking tone in his voice. “I’ll never make that mistake again.”

By the time you let each other go, Scott is retreating down the hallway, and you stare sheepishly at each other, both of you wondering: what the fuck was that?

*****

Nearly half an hour later, you’re once again sitting on your bed, when Peter comes barging through your door. A strong sense of déjà vu washes over you, your eyes quickly darting to his. To Peter, that half an hour feels like multiple. You should have remembered that his internal clock works a lot differently than yours.

The expression on his face is pained. “I’m sorry.” He blurts out. “I know I fucked up.”

“Peter-“ you try to interject, but it’s no use.

“I don’t know what I was thinking (Y/n). I just...I didn’t mean to. It was a mistake and I didn’t mean to drag you into my shit...”

It was a mistake. Your heart drops. You could have sworn that there was something between you, that it wasn’t as one sided as you had once thought.

“Do you regret it?” You’re trying to convey a front on neutrality, but it feels like it’s faltering.

“Of course.” He replies, and your heart shatters further.

“Oh.”

Your voice sounds so dejected that Peter has to rewind the tone of your ‘oh’ in his mind. Did you think it meant something? Did it mean to you as much as it means to him?

“(Y/n).” His eyebrows raise in conflict. “I didn’t mean-“

“It’s alright Pete...I understand.” You’re warm with him. You think he’s just turned you down, and you’re being so kind to him, trying to make it easier for him. Little do you know about the war he’s fighting in his mind. Just how much he wants to tell you how he feels. “It was silly of me to even entertain that it meant anything.”

But it did! But it does! He wants so badly to say, but the words won’t come out of his mouth. Blurting words before he could think of the repercussions was what had gotten him into this situation, and now that he needs to blurt what he’s thinking, his mouth can’t seem to move.

You can see the look on his face. He feels guilty. He doesn’t want to hurt you. It was foolish of you to say yes to him, to being his fake girlfriend, when you knew this would happen.

“Peter, I’m sorry.” You’re really trying to demonstrate to him how much you hope this hasn’t ruined your relationship. “It’s okay. I’m so okay, as long as we can still be friends.”

“No!” That’s the one fucking word that Peter is able to get out of his mouth? No?

Your eyes drop to the floor, and you avoid his gaze. Just a few days earlier Peter had been talking about just how much he’d fucked up, now you guess it’s you who’s the one that fucked up.

“Oh.”

And there’s that dejected ‘oh’ again that has Peter reeling. “That’s not what I meant!” He pushes the words out.

You’re becoming more and more flustered, embarrassed, and confused by the moment. “I don’t know what you want from me Pete! Just be fucking straight with me. That’s all I ask.”

Your frustration is understandable and Peter knows it...does he ever. He’s thinking, trying to get the words to come out when an idea comes to him, and he finally is able to calmly state: “Read my mind.”

Now this is a complicated statement for a number of reasons. The first reason is quite simple. When you became friends, you and Peter had made a set of rules, promising to always be open with each other, and to never use your powers on each other. And that was Peter’s biggest rule: never read my mind. Now he’s telling you to, pleading you to, because it’s the only way he can tell you how he feels. His thoughts could never lie to you, they could never hide from you if you didn’t want them to.

And second, breaking that rule would mean breaking that promise. It goes against the very foundation of your friendship, and so for Peter to ask this of you, it must mean that he has something very important to say. You’re just not sure you’re brave enough to hear it...

“Peter,” you question, tilting your head in absolute confusion, as if to say to him, are you sure?

“Read my mind.” He affirms. A look of panic crosses your features, and when he sees the distressed you are, he nods gently. “It’s okay. I promise. You can do it.”

You nod your head, signaling to him that you’re going to do it. “Okay.” You say timidly, entering the complex of his mind.

You’re flooded with memories of the two of you together, laughing and beaming with happiness. Pushing through the visuals, you reach his thoughts, allowing your mind to hear them clearly. After years of blocking them out instinctively, it feels so foreign to open that door.

‘I love you.’ It’s Peter’s voice in your mind. It’s unmistakable, yet so surreal that you almost miss what he says...almost. ‘I’m in love with you.’

Your eyes blink open in shock, pulling yourself so suddenly out of his mind, the door to his thoughts slamming shut once again. He’s watching you patiently, waiting for your response. But Peter’s never really been one for waiting.

“I never wanted it to be fake you know.” He breaks the silence for you. “If I had known just how hard it would be to fake our relationship, I never would have thought of saying your name in the first place.”

A chuckle of relief bubbles from your throat. “You better not be fucking with me...”

“I’d never do that.” He says.

“I beg to differ.” You joke, eyes staring softly into his. “The amount of times you’ve fucked with me on shit is insurmountable.”

“Hmm.” He grins menacingly. “And yet, I’ve never fucked you.” He raises one eyebrow in a mockingly seductive manner. Only Peter would make a sex joke to lessen the tension...or to ruin what would’ve been a perfectly romantic moment....you’re not really sure which.

You nearly choke on your own laugh. “Already jumping to third base Pete? Last time I checked, you were only on first.”

“That’s cause I’m so fucking fast baby.” His wink sends you into an internal conflict. and you don’t know if it’s really funny, or really hot. His eyes are pouring into yours, as if daring you to just kiss him...

...So you do. Your arms fly up to wrap around his neck as you pull Peter’s lips onto yours. He melts into your embrace almost instantly, a giggle bubbling in your mouth as he moves his hands up from your waist.

He pulls away with a dumbstruck smile on his face, his silver hair flopping in all directions. “I want to make this real.” He places a hand softly on your cheek.

“I do too.” You reply, hopefully.

His eyes soften at the sight of you. “Be my girlfriend? For real this time?”

“For real this time.” You nod, a grin stretching across your face.

And it’s truly the most at peace you’ve ever felt in your life. Which will probably last all of five seconds before Peter comes running back to you, telling you he’s fucked something up again, but that doesn’t matter to you, as long as you have each other.

“Maybe, for once in my life,” Peter’s voice is low and calm, “I didn’t fuck something up.”

Maybe for once in his life, Peter Maximoff had gotten something right...

*****

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