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totheseus · 6 months ago

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SIMULATION SWARM

A brief Tim oneshot, mostly fluff. He didn't fancy himself such a greedy man. Despite this, he couldn't help but find himself stuck onto a familiar face at the coffee shop just a few moments too long.

The rough callous of his palm pressed flat against the stinging cold metal of the café door, pushing his way in. He breathed out a small puff of a sigh as he was met with the warmth, a calming relief from the winter. It seemed that no matter how many times Tim reminded himself that he didn't need a coat, he always did. As if life taunted him, the shuddering in his ribcage a joke from the world.

It wouldn't have been the worst joke from the higher power, actually. To be frank, Tim's whole life had been nothing short of a shitshow from start to present. Whilst the other kids ran to the playground to play family and plotted to dig tunnels under the school fence gates that never did amount to anything, Tim's childhood was a blur of being milled about in cars, the hazy but drilling beeping of the hospital wards, the crunching of the forest floor beneath his feet. Pills, pills, pills. Have you taken your meds today? Why were you in the woods? You shouldn't say things like that, we'll have to pass it onto the higher-ups. Your parents will hear about this. Welcome to the newest ward! Pills, pills, pills-

Tim often wished he could play family now.

High school was his first taste of normalcy. He'd reached a homeostasis between sanity and his muted delusions, deemed fit enough to mix in with the rest. Sure, he arguably had a shittier time than more of the students he cared to admit, but quite frankly he didn't care about anything. Just a small dream, of a cosy life and a warm touch like he never felt before. He'd found himself a small group of friends, milling about to whatever club they fancied of him. It got easier over time, his act of mundanity. People believed it.

You wouldn't believe the feeling, of others repeating back to you the narrative that you're normal, that there's nothing wrong with you after having been deprived of it for your existence from birth.

Things were getting better. And then, Alex. Brian. Jay.

The brunette seemed to flinch, as if slapped by his own subconscious for even sparing a thought for his... former associates, like an owner berating a dog for chewing up the shoes. He similarly seemed to shrink into himself, tail between his legs as he shuffled through the café floor.

Fuck, it was so loud. He could recall the few jobs he'd managed to hold during that sweet spot in his life. A lot of noise, yelling, hot drinks spilt over his skin. At the very least, it had given him some sympathy for the poor workers bustling about at the counter.

And then, there was you. The closest grasp he'd come to with balance. Things seemed to be falling into place - he'd secured a job, secured himself a little apartment. It wasn't the peak of life, but fuck would he take it. Normalcy, the one thing he'd craved for so long and it was finally so close he could taste it. And you seemed to be a gateway for it all, the vehicle to deliver him to the regular life he'd dreamed of.

You weren't anything special, really. But that's what he wanted, what he craved. You had hobbies and interests, a select few you were passionate about. You studied in university and worked part-time to hopefully pay off some debt. You liked coffee and still scrunched your nose at the taste of alcohol despite friends egging you on.

And you knew. You knew how it was, to be like him.

After his chestnut eyes did a quick once-over, Tim shuffled into queue amongst the other coffee-hungry people. The sleep-deprived students had cleared out by now, leaving only people looking to wind down their evening with something hot. His hands twitched within his pockets, his restlessness making itself known despite the exhaustion that racked through his bones. Until, finally, he dragged himself forward to see your familiar face.

You looked better than the last time he'd seen you, the black bags under your eyes having lessened a little. It wasn't that he worried for your health, more so that-

"Hiya, what can I get for you?" Your friendly voice cut through his thoughts like a hot knife through butter. It must've melted some parts along the way too, because he found himself suddenly dumb-struck, lips parted as he struggled to formulate his order.

"...Uh- uh, my- t-the usual," He finally stammered out, awkwardly clearing his throat afterwards as if it would drive away the flush of embarrassment that crept to his face. It did not.

Not that you cared, as you began to mill about. Of course you didn't.

His hands emerged from his pockets, a crumpled 5-dollar bill in one whilst the other toyed with the zipper of his jacket idly. He blurted out before his brain had time to catch up, a sudden show of boldness.

"...U-Uh- h-how was your day?" He coughed out. Very brave.

"Ah, pretty good! A little busier than usual, with the winter season and all," You called back over your shoulder with a warm chuckle, "Everyone's looking to warm up."

Tim nodded. Did he nod too hard? "Y-yeah, noticed." Fuck, why'd he say that? What was he supposed to say now-

"Got any plans over the break? Any parties?" You had tilted your head back, warm gaze meeting his with an aura of politeness about this.

His brain scrambled in response. He, of course, did not have any plans, let alone parties. He practically had to bite his tongue from muttering to himself "people still go to parties...?" as he paused before grumbling out. "...Uh... yeah, jus'... family and things."

Of course, he didn't want to seem like a total loser. He was, but you didn't have to know that.

"Great to hear. I'm just looking to wind down for a bit, maybe get some studying done." Your responses were so smooth, as if you hadn't even stumbled twice over the thought. He found himself a tad envious. Just a tad.

There was a brief brushing of skin as he shoved the creased bill and received his drink. An americano, no milk no sugar. The bitter taste on his tongue was a comfort in its crassness, like the hot cigarette smoke filtering into his lungs like an embrace from the inside. He muttered out a quick thanks as someone quickly brushed him aside to take his place, beginning to order something that sounded elaborate. He hesitated; legs stuck in place like cement as his eyes lingered on you. He knew he was about as wanted as the stench of a drug, clinging to the wool of a teenager's sweater before they staggered home, yet he couldn't help but indulge himself a little.

You looked at him in such a way. As if you didn't want him gone like the miasma of death. Like he wasn't an infection biting at your skin. Like there was something more to life than a hollow existence that he wallowed in, and you wouldn't mind helping him out.

That was... a little excessive, he knew. His mind slapped himself briefly, scolding him for getting caught up in his thoughts once more. But, he couldn't help but indulge just a tad.

Maybe, sometime soon. For now, he thought he'd just enjoy his coffee.

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totheseus · 8 months ago

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NEINHAGEN AU

This is a small masterpost for anything related to my Slenderverse / Creepypasta AU. This is VERY loosely based off of canon, so the characters may differ greatly! Content is subject to change.

Trigger warnings for discussion of death, suicide and sickness.

WHAT IS IT?

The Neinhagen AU is a partial WW2, partial infection AU and partial folklore AU. Set in the Gespensterwald Woods, most to all characters suffer from sickness that develops into delusions as a result of sigma radiation, emitted by the Nachzehrer Slenderman.

If you don't understand any entity terms, see lower! Terms will be defined.

Whilst Slenderman is the key supernatural source of this sickness, other entities exist in these woods. The woods were generally put off from entering until the war considered it as grounds for invasion, thus starting back the movement of people through it.

CHARACTERS

TOBY

Toby plays the archetype of the character "Faust." Due to suffering health problems and delusions from sigma radiation, Toby attempts to take his own life. He fails, and is met with Slenderman who makes a deal - Toby offers Slenderman his soul in return for temporary bliss and worldly goods. Jack is assigned to aid Toby in this.

JACK

Jack plays the archetype of the demon "Mephistopheles" or "Mephisto". He is a demon who serves under Slenderman, though he has his own free will. See above for more.

JEFF

Though he was supposed to be drafted to fight in the war, Jeff was excluded due to suffering delusions caused by sigma radiation. Instead, he was sent to a monastery in hopes that he could be exorcised of his demons. He served under a mentorship of Jane, until one day spotting a spirit outside and mistaking it for Slenderman, the subject of his delusions. Whilst chasing it out, he became violent and erratic due to disorientation and ran further into the woods, losing contact with the church.

JANE

A nun at the church Jeff attended. Though she initially intended to aid Jeff, his radiation spread to her which caused her to slowly fall ill.

When chasing Jeff out into the woods to stop him, she quickly fled after he became violent. She later bumped into Natalie who took her in.

NATALIE

A hunter who resided in Gespensterwald Woods. For unknown reasons, she is completely immune to sigma radiation and has existed without issue. Though, she tends to be unwelcoming to visitors due to the amount that die almost immediately.

She took Jane in after discovering her fleeing in the woods.

SALLY

Born to an unwanting mother, Sally was killed during childhood due to her mother fearing the conditions of the war wouldn't prove fitting anyway. Sally was cursed to become a Mylinger, eventually put to ease by Liu.

KATE

One of the researchers in the Woods investigating the deaths. She is the first to become contaminated and go insane.

LIU

One of the researchers alongside Kate. He makes a breakthrough in the radiation and discovers Sally, but is soon killed by a feral Kate.

TIM

Conscripted to the war, Tim was sent to Germany as a soldier. His group were quickly killed, from sickness, warfare or unknown causes. Whilst fleeing, he bumped into Brian, another soldier in a similar predicament. The two decide to commit treason and flee South, hoping the escape the warfare. During this time, they accidentally run into Gespensterwald Woods.

BRIAN

See above.

ENTITIES

NACHZEHRER - A spirit believed to drag the living into dead along with it, often through malice. They are thought to drain their victim's life force remotely. They were associated with epidemic sickness, though this is not a necessity for their existence.

MYLINGER - A spiritual incarnation of the souls of children that had been forced to roam the earth until they could persuade someone to bury them properly. They are often the result of a child killed be an unwanting mother.

MEPHISTO - A demon from literature who acts as the devil's agent for Faust.

FAUST - A character from literature. He was a scholar, displeased with life so he attempts to bargain with the devil for worldly goods and knowledge in return of his soul.

OTHER

SIGMA RADIATION refers to a common concept in most Slender Mythos. Sigma radiation is the non-contact force that Slenderman emits to make his victims ill, delusional or disoriented, hence why so many of the characters are constantly ill or confused.

All of the German spirits mentioned are in fact German Mythology! They are slightly adapted to fit the story, though all do have their own Wikipedia pages.

TRIVIA

Will be added.

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