#breaking for length

[aresite]

II

The Lantern Man raised his sword in a striking motion, “Well, you know what they say- there’s no honor among thieves.”

The sword flickered in the lamplight as it was raised above their heads. Olli continued to struggle against the guards but his struggles seemed all in vain. Ares tried to pull himself free too, but the man behind them had the two boys firmly on his grasp. And, as the sword started to arch downwards, all Ares could do was tense up and stare in horror at the oncoming blade.

Before the blade could make contact though - the silent and familiar 'twang' of a bowstring letting loose reverberated from the forest and before Ares could register what was happening an Arrow whizzed past them and collided with the blade with enough force to shatter the arrow and wrench the blade from the unsuspecting Guard's hand. It flew aside and splashed uselessly into the mud nearby.

"What the-?" Another Guard gasped as he reached to draw his own sword - but the moment the sword left the scabbard it was also struck by another arrow and flew harmlessly aside.

There was then a sudden flurry of motion as the rest of the guards scrambled for their weapon. Another arrow let loose from the darkness and soared straight through the hood of a third Guard before embedding itself in the tree behind him - pinning the Guard to the same tree in the process.

The Guard that was still clenching onto Ares and Olli then let out a shout as something struck him from behind, causing the man to crumble like a sack of potatoes. Both boys were pulled to the ground by the impact but then managed to roll away as the man released his grip.

Ares was quickly back on his feet and leapt backwards away from the man before he could regain himself, but as Ares settled into a crouch nearby he realized that was unnecessary as a large Theivul stood on the man's chest. The Dark Type Pokemon had its head bowed and was snarling down close to the man's face. From where Ares crouched he could see the fear and disbelief plastered across the man's expression.

"Theivul!" Olli cheered out. Without thinking, he got up and started running towards the Pokemon, but Theivul was quick to knock the man out with a Sucker Punch, and jump down to stand next to Olli before Olli could reach them. Olli enthusiastically pet the soft fur on either side of the Pokemon's face.

"Man, are we glad to see you!" Ares laughed as he walked up towards Theivul as well. "Wait... but if yer here..." Oli started...

Both boys turned around and looked around them only to notice that the Guards were regrouping and surrounding them. Theivul arched down and let out a low warning growl - but before anyone could do anything two more arrows whizzed out of the darkness and struck the two Guards behind the boys. The men's shouts barely drowned out the sound of a whistle, and as if he was responding to the whistle, Thievul released a Night Slash out at the remaining Guards that blocked that escape route, and all three of them broke for the trees.

Ares felt his heart pound heavily in his chest as he saw a familiar form in the darkness behind the guards and picked up the pace. His vision disappeared in a flurry of forest green fabric as Jack pushed the two boys behind him as the Guard's regrouped.

"Jack!" Olli cried.

Jack didn't respond - his gaze was locked on the Guards. He cast his bow aside and drew his sword as he put himself directly between the enemy and the kids.

"Go." Jack growled, "But-" Olli started to argue, "Just go! Run! We'll talk about this later." Jack retorted.

Olli flinched, and for a second... he hesitated... but then he looked up at the oncoming Guards with their fancy armor and their drawn weapons and panic overtook the boy. With tears in his eyes he turned and bolted for the trees.

Ares however, hesitated longer, "What about you-" "I won't tell you again, Ares." There was a dead seriousness in Jack's tone that hit Ares at his core.

He took a step back... but suddenly a terrible feeling washed over him. It felt sort of like deja vue, and everything seemed to slow down. Suddenly he felt like this would be the last time he would ever see Jack again... and that thought terrified him.

Defiantly, he reached of Jack's discarded bow, "I'm going to fight too!"

Before Jack could argue though, they heard Olli shout from behind them. Jack whirled around with a look of panic, but then Ares saw what little colour that remained on Jack's face disappear. He whirled around as well just in time to see a flurry of Rapidash erupt through the trees. With the sky just starting to lighten behind them they almost looked mystical as they appeared through the mist.

The Rapidash surrounded both the Rovers and the Guards in a wide circle. Olli scampered to his feet and ran back to Jack and wrapped his arms around the older Rover with a look of pure terror. Jack put one hand on Olli's shoulder, and dropped his sword to put his other hand on Ares as they were completely surrounded.

Then, just as the sun began to peak over the horizon in the distance a figure appeared before them. She was small, only a child compared to the Soldiers around her - but she sat tall and straight on her steed. She wore a white, downy cloak that filtered the rising sun around her to the point that she almost looked like she was 'glowing', and for a second Ares thought that maybe he was looking at an Angel or something. All he could do was stand there in utter shock and stare as the Guards who had just been attacking them stopped and dropped down onto one knee before her, and he was surprised when even Jack bowed his head to her.

The forest around them grew deadly quiet, save for the sounds of hooves in the mud... and Ares was suddenly deadly aware that he had no idea if they were now safe, or if they were now introduced to something even worse.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

At your side [End of Season 2]

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[washichan]

Just now think about the relationship of Nero and Dante in DMC4 and DMC5. The possible other reason of why Dante pushed Nero away out of his life and go silent for years could be because of the implication that, Dante won't touch anything that of Vergil. As we have seen Dante trying to take Vergil's poem book from him in VoV. Ever since the fire that Dante likely blamed himself as the cause, he could have this mentality of not taking any that of Vergil, which also explain there is nothing of his twins that he owns. And it stretches to Nero, because Nero is Vergil's legacy. And Dante won't claim him, even though how much the young man meant to him, as the only surviving member of his family. Dante really love his nephew yet he doesn't want another tragedy happen due the things that has happened.

[givehimthemedicine]

time for my big lumax rantpost. I used to be way more of a shipper but upon reexamining some of my GA-era assumptions, I'm here to tell you why it sucks, and why I don't look forward to lumax endgame if it's the same lumax we've been getting.

lumax has fantastic potential, but needs lots of work to actually become the ship most of the fandom thinks it is.

I get the sense most on here consider lumax ST's darling perfect ship which is sullied by weak and/or racist writing. while I wouldn't argue at all that the writing does right by Lucas, I do think it's important to recognize lumax as an intentionally-written badly flawed relationship, NOT a poorly-written perfect relationship. (the writing for 5 has a lot to prove so we'll see)

lumax is obviously happening. no ending to Lucas's story makes sense other than him getting the girl. however, I don't like that from either character's standpoint.

from hers - Max is not a prize. and from his - Max is no prize.

Max is a pretty shitty girlfriend.

we've never seen her show Lucas any interest in learning anything about him. I can't remember a time she's complimented him, said anything nice about him, or done anything purely for his benefit. virtually all of their serious conversations have been about her, and the scant few that are sort of about him are inevitably just a lead-in to him offering support to her.

Lucas and Max's relationship - pre, during, and post dating - is 100% about what he can do for her. he's the one making 100% of the effort.

it seems like most of their interactions are him walking on eggshells trying to placate, reassure, or convince her, all for the reward of.... what. being allowed to continue existing near her? like yeah, she's a cool girl, but. that can't be it.

what good is getting the girl if the girl doesn't really offer anything?

. . .

through the seasons, semiquickly:

season 2

Lucas and Dustin both like Max, so they invite her trick or treating, offering to protect her from bullies and show her where the good candy is. in other words, the first Max / Lucas interaction is him offering something to benefit her. Max returns no appreciation or even response to the invite, yet still shows up to reap the benefits.

that pretty much sets the tone.

Max wants to be included, but that's a sensitive subject, so she puts on aloof airs to protect herself. it's an act, but nonetheless it's all Lucas receives.

the facade slips on multiple occasions though; Lucas is permitted to see her vulnerability, and we can see she's actually more desperate to make the connection than he is.

Dustin seeks Steve's manipulation tactics to use on Max, but Lucas wins her over by treating her like an equal and offering her genuine friendship.

he risks both his place in the party and his safety/life to include her, gives his undivided attention when she talks to him, asks questions that show his interest and concern, he reassures, uplifts and compliments her, and physically protects her.

in return, Max. uhh. well she does apologize for being a jerk, although she doesn't exactly stop, lmao. this is one of only two moments I can think of when Max reveals any regard for what Lucas thinks of her.

lumax is off-balance before it even starts, although s2 is when I think that dynamic is most permissible. since Max is a newcomer, Lucas has the advantage in many respects, and it makes sense for him to be the one extending a hand to her.

when Billy attacks Lucas for hanging out with Max, he could be gravely hurt if not for Steve taking the beating instead. Max joins in the momentary group hug but never says a word about this. (I suspect the writers mean for Max's bus apology to have proactively served as a veiled "sorry my stepbro is racist" but more felt needed in that moment.)

then they go to the dance and she kisses him and it's cute and everything is happy for ten whole seconds.

between 2 and 3

even though the summer of '85 is "the good days," this relationship is already careening downhill.

we learn that Max has dumped Lucas five times - such a regular occurrence that he takes it in stride and is well practiced at winning her back as a result.

unfortunately it's Lucas taking to heart the "happy wife happy life" policy from his dad that's set up lumax as something that seems to serve only Max. her awareness of the policy means she holds all the cards.

season 3

Max has secured her place in the party and the relationship, and now it's time for her to bring something to the table, but I honestly can't name one thing. it's still Lucas bending over backwards and Max sometimes being a bit of a jerk. (another act. we'll come back to this)

from the start of 3 we see an excessively secure Max and an obsequious Lucas. she doesn't show him any of the vulnerability that made her endearing in 2. they share fun moments, but we can infer that she doesn't treat him very well in ways that matter.

at one point she even plays mad just to watch him panic. you get the feeling this boy can never feel secure in his relationship. yeah she's just teasing, but do you think Lucas is allowed to tease too?

when El comes to Max for advice, she tells her that "boyfriends lie all the time" and this is before we see Lucas lie to her.

when Mike comes to Lucas for advice, he confidently schools him on how to get back in El's good graces by buying her a present - making clear he's been following his dad's advice all summer long and it's been working:

L: Dad? When Mom's mad at you, how do you make her not mad? C: First, I apologize. Then, I get your mother whatever she wants. L: Even when she's wrong? C: She's never wrong, son.

the mall confrontation is the first time we see Lucas really lie to Max, but even then, the girls don't actually have proof Nana isn't sick.

it's telling, actually, that Lucas's loyalty goes to Mike instead of Max in this moment. in s2 it was the other way around (Lucas pissed off the whole party by including her in the group and telling her the truth - a technically banishable offense). but now he's back to his s1 bros before hoes policy, and not only backs up but expands on Mike's lie. after dating almost a year, his loyalty to Max should be even stronger, but here we see the opposite. if Max had been at least as good a friend to him as Mike, I'm inclined to think he would at least have tried to be noncommittal here.

Max is so confident Lucas will have nothing on his mind but winning her back, as always - meanwhile who we actually see Lucas apologizing to is Will.

she may have had Lucas wrapped around her little finger all summer, but we're seeing that start to uncoil. if Lucas apologizes, it's offscreen.

when Billy tries to break out of the sauna to kill Max, Lucas slingshots him and body shields Max during the fight. next thing you know, Max is back to being cliquey with El in the bathroom (making fun of Mike even though he was the only one who did anything to save El's life?? girl you're being shitty to boyfriends that aren't even yours)

they seem to be a couple again by the end of 3, but the relationship is weakened...

between 3 and 4

..which sets the scene for how the two apparently drift when Max ends it once again. she's not playing this time - she uses the term "break up" instead of "dump" and Lucas has accepted that it's over.

depression makes it hard for Max to connect with him, but the way she treated him in 3 has likely also eaten away at his insistence on prioritizing her. if you push someone away over and over you can't be too surprised if they stay further away each time.

so Max withdraws socially and Lucas apparently doesn't go to his usual lengths to pursue her.

he's still making effort though! the "stalking" comment makes it clear he's been trying to approach her. we know he's been inviting her to his basketball games. him already knowing her favorite song as of 4x4 is more evidence of him taking an interest in her between seasons.

he clearly still cares a lot about Max, but good for him for pursuing his own hobbies and friendships as well.

season 4

Lucas finally asks Max to do something to support him for once (come to his game), but she shuts it down hard.

we know Max still cares about him, but that's just it - WE know. he doesn't. to his face, it's bristling rejection even while he literally begs for the chance to support her.

saving Max's life is a group effort, but Lucas knowing her favorite song is the key that saves her life, and it's only after that that she's friendly towards him again.

the only time I can recall Max expressing any concern for Lucas's wellbeing is when she asks if he's okay in 4x6 - and he only gets a few sentences to process Patrick's death before it's time for him to turn it into an apology to her. sigh.

Lucas is the only one of Max's friends to voice any objection to her suicide mission of a Vecna plan, and pitches for them to gamble a stranger's life instead. he once again risks his life to hang out in the Creel house with Max, personally taking on the huge responsibility of making sure she doesn't die.

Vol 2 Max finally shows Lucas some long-awaited appreciation ("you might have been there" and "I'm glad you're here") which is very nice to see.

I'm conflicted about the movie invite scene, but we'll talk about that later. textually: he asks her out, she accepts, it's totes adorbs.

unfortunately, Max being tranced out by the time Jason walks in means it's time for Lucas once again to get attacked by an older, stronger guy who's wrongly convinced he's a danger to her. (again not her fault, but kinda because of her)

everything goes sideways, Max gets Vecna'd, and Lucas holds her while she dies. we end on a bruised Lucas sitting loyally at Max's bedside, reading to her just in case she can hear it inside her coma.

Lucas hasn't been perfect but he has spent yet another season physically protecting and emotionally supporting Max at great personal expense, and with little appreciation and no support in return.

. . .

the movie doodle didn't fix lumax

Max has had an epiphany, but a change of behavior has scarcely begun. being nice isn't the same as making amends. they've resolved zero of the old issues, plus 4 (even if the plan had worked) has heaped a ton of new shit on both of them.

she's still a grieving, neglected, depressed and passively suicidal child of a triply-broken home. dating doesn't fix that. they already broke up once under the same conditions.

plus Max has new catastrophic emotional traumas, some of which which explicitly exacerbate those very issues. she has catastrophic injuries and disability to cope with (and this is a girl who withdraws under stress normally). with a shred of realism, she's waking up in less a mood for dating than ever.

Lucas has also taken on new traumas, between the basketball team stuff, getting beaten up and almost shot/strangled, and watching Max get Vecna'd and die. he already has a history of guilt about not being there for her enough, so he's going to have a lot more about failing her in that moment (definitely not his fault but he'll still feel bad) and will likely be even more focused on her.

to me, this all sounds like a recipe for the same old dynamic except worse than ever. if they get sleeping beauty'd directly back into lumax, it'll be a disservice to both characters.

. . .

now let's talk about why Max treats Lucas the way she does 🔬

she's not a conniving bitch, she's just a scared kid from a toxic home. that doesn't excuse her behavior but it does make it understandable.

Max CAN be a great friend. she's just not to Lucas.

Max absolutely showers El with the good qualities she'll barely show Lucas. in fact I could loosely say Max is to El what Lucas is to Max.

Max is suspicious and disparaging towards Lucas, even while trusting that he can be counted upon to grovel. meanwhile El never apologizes for intentionally hurting Max both physically and emotionally, yet the moment El acknowledges her (only because she wants help), Max is instantly forgiving, kind, gentle, caring, generous and supportive towards her.

she throws her loyalty behind a friend of 1 afternoon over her boyfriend of a year who's been the only person in Hawkins to show her any true kindness and emotional connection.

if Max was half the friend to Lucas that she is to El, she'd be a decent girlfriend. why isn't she?

we can name a few reasons why Max IS so nice to El, but why she ISN'T to Lucas is a separate question. kindness isn't zero-sum.

she told us why. boyfriends lie.

and it's ANY boyfriend, not just hers. Nana's sick? more like Mike's a lying piece of shit! Suzie from camp? fake! Dustin's obviously lying! the only one of the boys Max has never accused of lying is Will - the only one who's been single the whole time.

just. the state of being a boyfriend (or even just liking a girl is close enough), makes any boy automatically a liar.

Max believes "friend" and "boyfriend" are mutually exclusive

"Friends don't lie!" "Yeah, well, boyfriends lie all the time." <- it's all right there.

back in 2 when Lucas was her friend, she was more open and trusting. she gave him the benefit of the doubt that monsters were real and he knew a girl with magic powers. starting to date flipped the switch, and now she doesn't trust him about mundane stuff.

now they're not friends, they're boyfriend/girlfriend, and she expects to be treated in a whole different way, including all the baggage that comes with romantic relationships in her mind.

what baggage?

Max's childhood is full of examples of awful, manipulative men and abusive, broken relationships.

her dad: I'd only be speculating about why her parents' marriage failed, but in 2 Max misses California because her dad is still there, then by 4 acts like it's doubtful he can even be tracked down for delivery of what's basically her suicide letter. it's clear she desired a relationship with her dad but was abandoned. Neil: abusive asshole who rules the household with an iron fist. I'd be shocked if he hasn't abused Susan, and see little reason he wouldn't do it in front of Max (after all, we see him verbally and physically abuse his first wife in front of his son, in a bad fight over suspected lies/infidelity). in his grief over Billy, Neil and Susan have "bad fights" and he leaves the family. he's not missed, but it's still a second abandonment by a father figure. Billy: Max's peer example of guys in relationships: a sleazy, two-faced asshole who treats girls like trash and completely changes his persona to manipulate them for sex or whatever else he wants (Max appears to be all too aware of his sex life and is disgusted). abandonment issues with him too: a good relationship with a big brother would've meant the world to her, but he rejected and probably abused her for years; her letter at his grave reads "ever since you left" - same word she used for Neil.

Max desperately hopes Lucas is an exception to the rule, but these are the behaviors she would naturally fear from any guy she dates.

Max is especially terrified of being abandoned (and that she deserves it)

to be abandoned over and over can naturally leave a kid wondering if it's their fault, if this is the treatment they deserve.

Lucas is overall quite honest, and there's not an abusive bone in his body. the most realistic one of Max's fears to apply to him is that someday he'll leave her, too.

and that's the worst fear Vecna chooses to voice in Lucas's form: realizing he's been wrong about her, that she's fundamentally bad and he's glad she's going to be killed. a gutting abandonment from the guy she most wants to trust.

Vecna-Susan also tells Max that she deserves what's going to happen to her, that she's "broken everything" and that her letters can't make things right. because he's in full Vecna mode when he says it, I just took those as very general condemnations at first. but they hurt even worse when I remember they're still coming from "Susan" - revealing that Max feels she has broken her family.

she wanted Billy to die, and she figures Neil left because Billy died, so that's two of the abandonments being "her fault". if that's true, Max would also feel responsible for destroying her mom's life - having cost her her marriage, home, and financial security.

in her addictions Susans has, in an emotional sense, abandoned Max just like all her other family members - and Max fears she deserves it. how desperate she was for this hug... :(

anyway, back to lumax: let's reexamine those s3 dumpings

what exactly did Lucas even do? we never find out.

on first watch, I took "boyfriends lie" at face value and assumed Lucas got caught fibbing. but that doesn't fit so well.

he's maybe the party member most invested in "friends don't lie". honesty to his friends is a pillar of his character. again, he caused friction in 2 because he so strongly prioritized honesty to Max. to assume based on one line from an unreliable narrator that he randomly became a huge liar over the summer is unfair.

via their counseling of Mike and El, Lucas and Max tell us what's been going on with lumax

Max tells El:

He'll come crawling back to you in no time, begging for forgiveness. I guarantee him and Lucas are totally wallowing in self-pity and misery right now like "ohh, I hope they take us back!"

I think we all clocked that one: Max thinks that because El followed her technique, Mike will come crawling back - because Lucas has come crawling back to her several times now.

but I haven't seen much discussion about how the spying scene (which "he'll come crawling back" is paired with) shows Lucas assuring Mike that he's been dumped for an unfair and illogical reason because that's what Max has done to him several times now.

M: I just don't understand what I did to deserve this. L: Nothing. Nothing. That's my whole point. You are the victim here. Stop asking rational questions. M: I know, I know, you're right. Because women act on emotion and not logic. L: Precisely. It's a totally different species.

Max is pissed. but has she been irrational, acting on emotion and not logic, and dumping him for no apparent reason all summer? signs point to yes.

and I understand Lucas saying this. it's not pure misogyny out of nowhere; he's been told that his mother expects gifts and apologies even when wrong, Max acts that way too, and now so apparently does El. all of his examples concur that this is just how women in relationships are. (Charles Sinclair how many relationships will your advice destroy lmao)

both Max and Lucas are bringing preconceptions from home.

Max acts this way on purpose

I don't think she's dumped him over truly nothing (although that's how it looks to him). I'm thinking she blows real, minor missteps out of proportion.

any time Lucas does something slightly insensitive, it looks like the first red flag to her, and instead of communicating in a constructive way, she just throws up this "boys aint shit" force field and dumps him. of course she doesn't truly want to be rid of him, she's just sorta snapping the leash.

I think Max knows what she's doing. I think she wants to keep Lucas always on his back foot, because the relationship isn't as scary if she feels like she holds all the power.

she's always trying to cover up fear/sorrow with anger, because anger gives an illusion of control. and she's been conscious of that anger, and the fact that it's unfair to Lucas, since the beginning - that's what she apologized for on the bus. "I guess I'm angry too, and I'm sorry."

she was mature enough at 13 to see the error in her behavior, but still not mature enough by 15 to fix it. every season has just been a slightly different flavor of "leave before you get left".

so, that's my take on Max's relationship behavior. but again, explanations aren't excuses. Lucas deserves to be treated well, and that's not happening.

what needs to happen?

simply maturing more will help them both a lot. being 15 is a terrible condition in of itself.

I don't see Lucas dumping Max's ass, but she should take her own advice before the relationship continues: explain herself and fix the garbage parts of her behavior.

before Max can be the girlfriend Lucas deserves, she needs a substantial period of physical and emotional healing.

she needs renewed connections with her friends and family, and a lot of general growth in the area of communication and processing her feelings.

in regards to Lucas, she needs to work on her trust issues, and learn to extend him the treatment warranted by his behavior, not the behavior she fears from others. she needs to learn that "friend" and "girlfriend" aren't mutually exclusive, that real friendship is the key to their relationship, and is a two-way street.

any Billy racism/assault acknowledgement would be better years late than never, especially if grieving Billy continues to be a focus in front of Lucas.

Lucas could also use a little work

the relentless positivity doesn't serve Max well. often it turns out to be empty reassurances which make her feel let down (so, a soft version of the lies she fears). she let him know in 4x4 that this hurts her, but he kept doing it for the rest of the season.

but the big one is that "happy wife happy life" doesn't serve him well, and rewarding unfair treatment perpetuates the problem. yes, the ability to compromise, swallow pride, and be the bigger person are healthy parts of a relationship, as well as the willingness to extend grace to your partner/friend when they're struggling. but it always being on one designated person is a recipe for dissatisfaction and resentment.

Lucas should voice to Max that he, too, has struggles and needs support. I'd like to see him pursue outside interests unapologetically.

no, this isn't an exhaustive list, and I don't expect to see everything fixed at once, or explicitly processed onscreen. but I sure hope we get some evidence of change, and that this has all been part of an arc.

for instance, I'd love for the final lumax reconciliation to be Max asking Lucas to take her back.

I kind of hope not to see them officially together until the very end. in fact I'd so much rather see ST end on a good Max / Lucas friendship with an implied romantic future than jump back to the status quo.

l don't want to see lumax until it's a new lumax, based on real, reciprocal friendship.

[goomyloid]

Thoughts on the theory that ch4 has the soul implanting a bit of itself in Noelle with the ThornRing? Afaik the theory is supported by the animation (spiderwebbing out through Noelle’s body) and when Susie questions Kris later about what the two were talking about, the empty dialogue box is from Noelle’s perspective (no/muted rain because she is in her house, no response because she didn’t hear the question) and the soul is trying to balance two (one and a half?) vessels

(DELTARUNE CHAPTER 4 WEIRD ROUTE SPOILERS !!!!!!!)

i hope people dont throw tomatoes at me for this one but i think it's really far fetched for us to Literally be implanting part of our soul into her, finger, in the scene where all that's actually happening is we're forcing the thorn into her finger/hand/whatever and all the Red Stuff that shows up afterwards is like, purely symbolic or even just blood at most. in my opinion

even though its a complicated-ish theory i almost think it would be .... too easy???? to simplify it down to that? to say we're like Literally making her our vessel the way we've been controlling kris as one. idk i think keeping it more psychological would be most interesting ultimately. tapping into noelle's innermost desires -- wanting to stand up for herself, wanting the power to grasp what it is she truly craves, wanting to be close to kris again because she misses how things used to be -- all this being twisted and sullied and bent to our OWN desires to the point where originalnoelle is almost unrecognizable, all while we're not actually controlling her as a Fantastical Vessel... is far more interesting i think. we're forcibly digging deep into her psyche to pull out things she doesn't even realize about herself, since she's been drifting through life in a trance just trying to pretend everything's ok and she's happy. it might look like she has it all, but...

anyway. Dont kill me but i dont like the theory all that much lol. I just. Dont think souls can do that. or SHOULD do that even. although the bit later with susie is honestly really spooky and interesting but in the end i dont think it actually has anything to do with noelle herself. the screen turning reddish and the rain completely stopping (iirc) honestly feels like, if anything the soul is just???? growing more powerful or something(idk)?????? or its all just purely visual like with the palette shift in the couch scene. it could represent kris's and the player's growing conflict of interest -> all of the choices being completely blank because kris is just Not having it from us anymore

if this theory somehow is true and it did happen i think it would be really fucking funny for just 1 pixel to be missing from the soul for the entire rest of the game though LMAO

[the-eb]

outing myself as cringe but machina mori made me emotional

[lambilegs]

LAMBILEGS' 1K CELEBRATION!

HIIII baes! so, that's right, we've hit 1K followers :") thank you so much to everyone who's followed me and shown me support in any facet, whether it be likes, asks, comments, etc. like, it truly means so much to me that you guys enjoy my writing, as well as trust me to execute your ideas into a reality. so, yeah, thank you so, so much. I'm so grateful for every bit of support, and I am so happy I made the decision to start this account. sure, sometimes it's a bit rocky, and I'm currently trying to figure out how to form a healthier bond to it, but nonetheless, I'm incredibly grateful.

so, I wanted to do something a bit special and out of the ordinary to celebrate with you guys! rules are below <3

STORY REQUEST: ✰ OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 28TH (REMINDER: I am still on a break + not accepting requests for anything other than the ones for this celebration-thing) choose any three terms/phrases you like from the following lists: list #1, list #2 and list #3. they don't have to be from the same list. the words you choose will essentially frame the request you're sending in to me. (this idea about requests based on aesthetic words came from another writer in the tlou fandom, but I cannot find their original post, so if anyone has any idea who they are, please let me know so I can credit them!) along with this, add if your requested story will be lee x reader or sevika x reader, and if you'd prefer your work to be sfw or are if you're open to nsfw content. + if you'd like, you can also make specifications about: what world or scenario you'd like this story to fit into (such as: knight!lee au, or college!au with sevi), if there are any specific themes you'd like for it to follow (ex. coming-of-age, religion, first love, etc.), and/or any specifications about yourself to make your reading experience more comfortable (for example, if you're a butch or a femme, if you're plus-size, etc.). again, though, adding any of these to your request is optional and you can add all, some of none or the specifications included this paragraph. send in your request to my inbox anytime between now and the 28th, and boom! there you go <3

please be kind in your request! I'm just one person, and because of that, I'll warn rn: it might take me a long ass time to get to these (especially since I'm already quite drained + still on hiatus, so I won't be writing these anytime soon). and if I get too overwhelmed in the future, I may not get to every request. I'm sorry if that feels negligent or unfair, but again, writing is hard work sometimes and therefore, I cannot make promises that I will complete every request, let alone at a fast pace.

works will most likely range anywhere from 200 to 800 words (though, I may go higher if needed LOL), so expect something short and sweet. 😛

have an amazing day/night!! you all have a piece of my heart, and I cherish each of you.

dividers by: @/notaorbital and @/cafekitsune

[seiwas]

HI MY BELOVED ANGEL!!! i am sending u mattsun + campfire as well as kisses n hugs <33

SAINTTT hello 🥺 thank you for sending a prompty!! 🥹 idt i've ever written mattsun fully before so this is something new!

help me get back into the writing groove! send me a character + any word and i'll write a short blurb about it!

contains: exes, stranded-y situation, feelings are complicated, some expletives

mattsun + campfire

"i told you we should've brought the spare—"

"yeah, let me go back in time for a sec and do just that."

"asshole."

lesson #1: nothing good ever happens when you're stuck in a car with your ex on the way to somewhere remote.

you blame iwaizumi for this one. who the fuck chooses to spend their birthday weekend in the fucking wilderness?

(okay, you don't actually think it's so bad. to be fair, he did plan this a year ago. and it did sound like a good idea. then. at the time. anywhere with the boys was always guaranteed fun―at least, until you and matsukawa broke up.)

"can you pass me the flashlight?" he points at the backpack behind you. when you hand it over, your fingers brush over his as he takes it away from you.

and you hate it, because―

lesson #2: you should never be alone with your ex when you still have feelings for them.

you'd agreed to take two cars to the camping spot: iwaizumi's with oikawa and hanamaki and matsukawa's with you. there was no way you'd fit in one, and hanamaki ultimately decided to ride with iwaizumi because, "you and mattsun have shit to sort out," he'd said.

with night setting and the two-hour headstart they managed to get ahead of you, the best thing you and matsukawa can do is to set up camp temporarily and wait for them to come back for you come sunrise.

you sigh.

leaves crack underneath your feet as you maneuver around your camping space. the light from matsukawa's flashlight tells you where he is, just a bit deeper in the forestry as he looks for wood to help set up the fire.

you unload the car in the meantime, bringing out some snacks and sleeping bags while waiting.

matsukawa eventually comes back with arms full of wood, and you help in whatever way you can, clearing the space and fetching more twigs when needed.

the entire car ride here had been quiet, so it's not surprising that this entire process has been equally as silent. until―

"did you already pull out your tent?" he asks, half of his body disappearing into the trunk of the car.

"huh?" you go closer, "i only brought out the sleeping bags."

then he sighs, ducking out from the trunk with a hand on his hip, "we only have one tent."

"what?"

"makki must have gotten yours with his when he decided to move cars."

his hand runs through his hair, a habit you know well. it lights up all sorts of weird feelings in your tummy

you don't know how to feel―

"i can sleep in the car."

―but you know that you definitely don't want him to do that. all things considered, you were friends first. and you've both been trying to be friends again since the breakup. you wouldn't want to cause him discomfort like that.

so, with a deep breath, you say, "it's okay, we can just share."

"are you sure?" he stares at you.

you nod.

after setting up the tent, you eat a few energy bars and clean up from the day's events. the campfire provides ample enough heat, but with how fast the flames are burning, you're doubtful it'll last the two of you the entire night.

it’s much later on, past midnight, that your doubts are proven right when you and matsukawa are cramped together in a tent made for one. it started to get cold a few minutes ago, and you've found yourself inching closer and closer to the warmth you’ve gotten used to laying against for the past two years.

he's only pretending to be asleep, you know that much, too. the rise and fall of his chest is hardly there; you can see it, how he's holding his breath being this close to you.

"issei," you whisper.

he opens his eyes, eyelids lifting lazily as he meets your stare. the vibration of his hum reverberates to you.

"it's cold."

for a moment, your stomach drops at the thought that he could ignore you; how it would make perfect sense for him to. you broke up with him after all, and he doesn't owe you anything, much less favors as intimate as this one.

but he closes the already dwindling gap between you, wrapping an arm around your waist as he pulls you closer. it's near, far too near for exes to be―noses touching and all.

"warmer?" his voice comes out hoarser through the whisper.

you nod, your head shifting up and down—which, truly, is where you ultimately fuck up. you feel it, a little chapped but still pliant against your lips.

in your carelessness, you accidentally brush your lips against his, the sensation alone surprising you enough to inch your head back as you mutter your apologies.

"sorry? really?" he asks, eyes half-lidded still as he chuckles.

his question settles into the small space you're in.

your vision trails from his eyes, down to the slope of his nose, until it lands on his lips again. a little split like you've always known, but still your favorite. still the only lips you want against yours.

when you lean in again, you know you're fucked, because―

lesson #3: the number one rule is that exes shouldn't kiss each other anymore.

[aresite]

QFG:R: The Slumbering Wheld

The strange mist hung heavy in the air. It clung damply to Ares' clothes and hair and there was an uncomfortable 'feel' about it that Ares could not place. He felt like there was something out there - hidden in that strange mist and watching them.

Olli walked in front of him. The mist was so thick that all he could really see was the vague outline of the other boy. Erya walked beside him and held tightly onto his hand. She hovered by his side but she said nothing - if she was afraid, she kept it to herself.

He immediately regretted not bringing a lantern or anything that gave off light as they trudged through the dark path. Luckily though, the path looked like it had been freshly cleared. Despite Olli leading the way, the path was wide enough for all three of them - and even Ba'ul - to walk side-by-side if they wanted too. The ground beneath them felt both muddy and hard at the same time - like it had been recently packed down before the damp mist rolled in.

Ares felt like he could feel the hair on the back of his neck standing up, despite the fact that the damp air had slicked his hair down to the point his bangs were clinging to his forehead. That feeling of being 'watched' only grew more intensely the further they went in. He tried to look between Olli and Erya, but between the darkness and the mist, he couldn't make out any features on their faces, nevertheless an expression.

As if to answer his unspoken question though, Erya pipped up - her voice barely above a whisper, "M-maybe we should turn back?" Olli didn't even slow, "And what? Miss out on meeting Maid Marian? If yer scared, go back yerself and Ares and I will find Jack!" "I'm not scared!" Erya shot back, "But we can't see a thing! And the Elders always told us never to wander off the path in the Wheld!" "That's just an ol' wives tale to scare kids into not getting lost!" Olli scoffed.

He suddenly stopped suddenly in his tracks and looked around, "Did ya guys here that?" "If you're trying to scare us, that's not funny!" Erya snapped. "No really-" Olli slowly spun around and looked out at the trees.

Ares strained his ears but he didn't hear a thing, "Dude! Knock it off, it ain't funny!" Olli furrowed his brow, "I ain't bein' funny! I heard something howl! You guys didn't hear it? It sounded like a howl?"

Ares wanted to hit Olli, but before he could really react, Erya suddenly groaned and threw her arms up in the air, "That's it! I'm going back! You guys have fun getting yourselves lost or killed!" She put her hand on Ba'ul's back and turned back the way they had came.

"Fine! Be a Wimpod then!" Olli countered. He turned to look at Ares, "Are you gunna be a Wimpod too, or are you coming with me to find Jack?" "I'm not a Wimpod!" Ares shot back. Olli turned back around and started walking again, "Then lets go already!"

Ares groaned and turned to look at Erya, "I'm gunna make sure he doesn't get himself killed. Ba'ul, can you take Erya home?" Ba'ul grumbled, but turned back around to follow Erya.

Ares then turned and ran up to walk next to Olli. Walking beside him, he could see how tense Olli was, despite the boy trying to hide it so well. They didn't get too much further before Olli hesitated again. He turned to look at Ares, but in the darkness and the mist, Ares could not make out his expression.

"Did'ya hear that?" He asked. "Hear what?" Ares asked. "Nothin'." Olli muttered.

He then pushed past Ares and picked up the pace. Ares frowned and sped up to match him, and as he did he heard Olli mutter something about hearing another howl...

Ares tried to hear it as well... but he heard nothing. There was not even the sound of Bug Pokemon chirping in the woods... everything was deafly quiet.

They only walked a bit further before they finally saw something in the mist - a light. It was far off in the distance and hard to make out, but Ares was certain it was some sort of lamp - and it looked like there was more than one.

Olli immediately perked up, "That's Postwick! It's gotta be!"

Without waiting or stopping to think, he suddenly broke out into a run towards the lights.

"Hey wait!" Ares gasped, before he ran after the other boy.

[dreamersscape]

Hitting 10K in a single chapter: Niiiiice!

At 12K: Wha- hey, whoa there buddy. Where do you think you're going?

14K: No, you- stop! STOP WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU GOTTA SLOW DOWN I'M NOT EQUIPPED FOR THIS--!

[halojalex]

it’s their world and we’re just living in it

[darryscrow]

for those two darry spider-man au fans I specifically remember, im finally planning the chapters and thinking about it again

[amethyst-marshmallow]

JSHUGDAUISAVDBUAS working on my shrimpo design fisdafu i wanted to make some slight tweaks

its mostly just a color change yeah

WAIT SPRING BREAK ENDS TOMORROW?????/ FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

[ackee]

walter done messed jesse's life up and its like episode 2. i think walt needs to die.

[abirddogmoment]

breaking news: Rory can howl on cue now 🥰

[millidew]

why do they look like little red riding hood and the big bad wolf here