astrophobica

[astrophobica]

"You said you wanted to stay with me forever, didn't you?" Yugi seizes Atem's wrist before he can turn away, and it stops him in place. He knows Atem would never refuse him, but that's just the issue.

"What I want isn't..."

"Atem," he interrupts. "Do you want to stay or not? I won't force you, but I need to know before you go through with this. Please. Please just tell me."

Atem isn't looking at him, but the shuddery breath that rocks through him is evident. "Yugi, I can't-"

"You can't? Or you won't let yourself?" he demands. Atem closes his eyes, so Yugi plows forward: "Atem, listen to me. The world is saved. There's nothing left for you to do, it's over. What do you want from here?"

"I want- I want to stay with you, I do. More than anything, aibou." His voice cracks at the admission, and his other hand comes up to cover his mouth.

"So then why can't you?"

"Ishizu said-"

"To hell with that! How do you know she's right?! You saw Kaiba overwrite her prediction just as well as I did back in Battle City." Atem's shoulders are shaking, and Yugi pulls him closer to wrap his arms around his back. Atem's forehead meets Yugi's shoulder as he trembles. "Why can't we do the same?"

"It's not the same, aibou," he says miserably. "I have responsibilities to my people, to my time- I've spent so long away from them. It's my duty as their king."

"You're just you, nothing more. When do you finally get to choose your fate for yourself?" He strokes his fingers through Atem's hair, feeling the fabric of his shoulder grow wet with tears. "Atem, if I asked you to stay, what would you say?"

"Of course," he replies instantly.

"I'll ask you again, then. What do you want?"

A long moment passes.

And finally Atem nods, curling his fingers into Yugi's shirt. "Aibou," he whispers, over and over like a prayer as he trembles and shakes. "I'll stay. I'll stay, I'll stay, I'll stay. I want to. I want to be with you. Is that okay?"

"More than just okay," Yugi tells him. "And I'll duel any Egyptian god who comes through from the afterlife trying to get you. They can't have you. I won't let them."

Atem nods, laughing wetly, and behind him the glowing gate to the afterlife begins to close.

[astrophobica]

Jou's been having a blast with the festival games. Yugi had opted to stay home, citing a migraine, but he practically shoved Kaiba out the door along with the rest of them, so he gingerly follows Jou around. He's been a surprisingly good sport about the whole affair, competing against Jou in the multiplayer games and even some of the singleplayer ones, and Jou finds that he doesn't actually mind spending time with Kaiba like this.

Kaiba lands another throw at one of the rigged booths, and he lights up like a little kid. Jou can't help it- he's staring a little bit, but how could he not? It's not often that Kaiba's not being an asshole for no reason. "Bet I could make that shot with my eyes closed," he taunts.

"In your dreams," Kaiba says back, but he's smiling with that competitive spirit in his eyes and Jou feels his face turn hot. He quickly drags his eyes toward the game before he can get carried away and sets about chucking the weighted balls at the targets, missing plenty of them in his rush. Kaiba snorts, then covers his mouth and turns away as the game host declares a loss. "What was that about a bet?"

"Joke's on you, I didn't bet nothing!"

"Double negative. I want something."

"Huh?" Jou pats his pockets, coming up empty. "I mean, I could give you a kiss," he jokes.

"Alright," Kaiba says unflinchingly.

"Wha- huh-" Jou doesn't get a chance to dwell on that as he hears Mokuba shouting from nearby. Kaiba turns his head to look as well, his relaxed demeanor slipping back into his usual rigid self.

[astrophobica]

Happy birthday! 🎉💜🎂

THANK YOUUU i got this notif yesterday and then fully lost track of it but I FOUND IT YAYYY <3

[astrophobica]

yugioh swap au where atem is a normal student who assembles the millennium puzzle and receives a ghost who deals with social situations for him (yugi)

[astrophobica]

new chapter dropped, they're playing card game in this one

vote pompshipping here !!!!!

The wind on the rooftop is chilly; spring brings cherry blossom petals cascading across the grass. Miho only has eyes for the boy in front of her, though. Her prince in shining armor stands with his arms crossed, that charming glint in his eyes as he stares back at her. Lovingly, she tells herself. Obviously. How could anyone not like her? She has all the boys at this school wrapped around her finger. Anyone would kill to be in his place. “I really like you!” she exclaims, heart pounding. Surely he’d recognize how blessed he was to be on the receiving end of such a heartfelt confession from a girl as cute as she is. A goddess, really.

“Pass,” says Seto Kaiba.

“Huh? Wh- what?!” This is all wrong. Kaiba was supposed to be dazzled by her! Miho is the cutest girl at their school- everyone says so. “But- Kaiba, I said I-“

“I heard you the first time. Is that it?”

“That’s- that’s-!! How cruel!” she cries. “No way! Miho really likes you! How can you say something like that to me Kaiba!”

Of course, she’s had her eyes on him since the day he stepped foot into their class. Seto Kaiba is young, successful, handsome, and rich to boot! Any girl in her right mind would love to be with him. Luckily for him, she doesn’t give up easily. “Miho’s pretending you didn’t say that,” she huffs, graciously giving him a second chance. “Miho likes you, so go out with- HEY!!”

Kaiba has already turned, walking away with his briefcase at his side. “Kaiba-kun is so awful!” she exclaims tearily. “All you care about is stupid card games and Yugi-kun! Stupid Kaiba! Stupid, stupid, stupid-“

Kaiba halts dead in his tracks. He pivots sharply. “You’re friends with Yugi, aren’t you, Miho?”

“Huh?” She blinks, taken aback by his sudden shift.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go out with you, provided you comply with my-“

“You mean it?!” Miho squeals, darting forward to throw herself at him and loop her arms around his. Kaiba full-body flinches away, but she remains glued to his side. “Oh Kaiba-kun, Miho knew you’d come around!!”

“Provided,” he grits out, “you comply with my requests.”

“Requests? What requests?” She’s gotten what she wanted, Miho supposes it’s only fair to hear him out.

“Firstly, you need to stop that this instant,” he says, yanking his arm out of her grip.

“But- but you’re Miho’s boyfriend now,” she wails. “Miho wants to hold your hand like a real couple!”

“That’s another thing. We’re not a real couple, understand me?” His eyes are steely. “This is a relationship of mutual benefit. I assume you just want access to my funds. Fine then. But in return, you have to let me in with your little group of pals.”

Not a real couple? No, this wasn’t what Miho pictured at all! “No, no, no!” she says heatedly, grabbing his hand again. “This is about Yugi-kun, again, isn’t it! You just care about that silly card game!”

“Duel Monsters,” Kaiba says testily. “And those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

“Miho has terms too!” She pokes her finger in his chest. “Miho will let you hang out with us, but Kaiba-kun has to spend time with Miho like a real boyfriend sometimes!”

They glare at each other for a long moment, neither willing to back down. Then Kaiba sighs through his nose and turns his head to the side. “One hour a week. I’m busy running a company too.”

“One day,” she retorts.

“One and a half,” he counters.

“Half a day.”

“Two.”

“The evening?”

“I’ll give you three hours. Final offer.”

“Deal!” She beams, attaching herself back to his arm. “Come on, Kaiba-kun, Yugi-kun and everyone else are just about to go to lunch! You can come and eat with us, okay?” She drags him off toward the door to the roof, Kaiba in tow.

[astrophobica]

chapter 3 \o/

vote pompshipping here !!!!!

The wind on the rooftop is chilly; spring brings cherry blossom petals cascading across the grass. Miho only has eyes for the boy in front of her, though. Her prince in shining armor stands with his arms crossed, that charming glint in his eyes as he stares back at her. Lovingly, she tells herself. Obviously. How could anyone not like her? She has all the boys at this school wrapped around her finger. Anyone would kill to be in his place. “I really like you!” she exclaims, heart pounding. Surely he’d recognize how blessed he was to be on the receiving end of such a heartfelt confession from a girl as cute as she is. A goddess, really.

“Pass,” says Seto Kaiba.

“Huh? Wh- what?!” This is all wrong. Kaiba was supposed to be dazzled by her! Miho is the cutest girl at their school- everyone says so. “But- Kaiba, I said I-“

“I heard you the first time. Is that it?”

“That’s- that’s-!! How cruel!” she cries. “No way! Miho really likes you! How can you say something like that to me Kaiba!”

Of course, she’s had her eyes on him since the day he stepped foot into their class. Seto Kaiba is young, successful, handsome, and rich to boot! Any girl in her right mind would love to be with him. Luckily for him, she doesn’t give up easily. “Miho’s pretending you didn’t say that,” she huffs, graciously giving him a second chance. “Miho likes you, so go out with- HEY!!”

Kaiba has already turned, walking away with his briefcase at his side. “Kaiba-kun is so awful!” she exclaims tearily. “All you care about is stupid card games and Yugi-kun! Stupid Kaiba! Stupid, stupid, stupid-“

Kaiba halts dead in his tracks. He pivots sharply. “You’re friends with Yugi, aren’t you, Miho?”

“Huh?” She blinks, taken aback by his sudden shift.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go out with you, provided you comply with my-“

“You mean it?!” Miho squeals, darting forward to throw herself at him and loop her arms around his. Kaiba full-body flinches away, but she remains glued to his side. “Oh Kaiba-kun, Miho knew you’d come around!!”

“Provided,” he grits out, “you comply with my requests.”

“Requests? What requests?” She’s gotten what she wanted, Miho supposes it’s only fair to hear him out.

“Firstly, you need to stop that this instant,” he says, yanking his arm out of her grip.

“But- but you’re Miho’s boyfriend now,” she wails. “Miho wants to hold your hand like a real couple!”

“That’s another thing. We’re not a real couple, understand me?” His eyes are steely. “This is a relationship of mutual benefit. I assume you just want access to my funds. Fine then. But in return, you have to let me in with your little group of pals.”

Not a real couple? No, this wasn’t what Miho pictured at all! “No, no, no!” she says heatedly, grabbing his hand again. “This is about Yugi-kun, again, isn’t it! You just care about that silly card game!”

“Duel Monsters,” Kaiba says testily. “And those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

“Miho has terms too!” She pokes her finger in his chest. “Miho will let you hang out with us, but Kaiba-kun has to spend time with Miho like a real boyfriend sometimes!”

They glare at each other for a long moment, neither willing to back down. Then Kaiba sighs through his nose and turns his head to the side. “One hour a week. I’m busy running a company too.”

“One day,” she retorts.

“One and a half,” he counters.

“Half a day.”

“Two.”

“The evening?”

“I’ll give you three hours. Final offer.”

“Deal!” She beams, attaching herself back to his arm. “Come on, Kaiba-kun, Yugi-kun and everyone else are just about to go to lunch! You can come and eat with us, okay?” She drags him off toward the door to the roof, Kaiba in tow.

[astrophobica]

puzzleshipping but theyre like garnet from steven universe

[astrophobica]

theres a chapter 2 now! date episode \o/

vote pompshipping here !!!!!

The wind on the rooftop is chilly; spring brings cherry blossom petals cascading across the grass. Miho only has eyes for the boy in front of her, though. Her prince in shining armor stands with his arms crossed, that charming glint in his eyes as he stares back at her. Lovingly, she tells herself. Obviously. How could anyone not like her? She has all the boys at this school wrapped around her finger. Anyone would kill to be in his place. “I really like you!” she exclaims, heart pounding. Surely he’d recognize how blessed he was to be on the receiving end of such a heartfelt confession from a girl as cute as she is. A goddess, really.

“Pass,” says Seto Kaiba.

“Huh? Wh- what?!” This is all wrong. Kaiba was supposed to be dazzled by her! Miho is the cutest girl at their school- everyone says so. “But- Kaiba, I said I-“

“I heard you the first time. Is that it?”

“That’s- that’s-!! How cruel!” she cries. “No way! Miho really likes you! How can you say something like that to me Kaiba!”

Of course, she’s had her eyes on him since the day he stepped foot into their class. Seto Kaiba is young, successful, handsome, and rich to boot! Any girl in her right mind would love to be with him. Luckily for him, she doesn’t give up easily. “Miho’s pretending you didn’t say that,” she huffs, graciously giving him a second chance. “Miho likes you, so go out with- HEY!!”

Kaiba has already turned, walking away with his briefcase at his side. “Kaiba-kun is so awful!” she exclaims tearily. “All you care about is stupid card games and Yugi-kun! Stupid Kaiba! Stupid, stupid, stupid-“

Kaiba halts dead in his tracks. He pivots sharply. “You’re friends with Yugi, aren’t you, Miho?”

“Huh?” She blinks, taken aback by his sudden shift.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go out with you, provided you comply with my-“

“You mean it?!” Miho squeals, darting forward to throw herself at him and loop her arms around his. Kaiba full-body flinches away, but she remains glued to his side. “Oh Kaiba-kun, Miho knew you’d come around!!”

“Provided,” he grits out, “you comply with my requests.”

“Requests? What requests?” She’s gotten what she wanted, Miho supposes it’s only fair to hear him out.

“Firstly, you need to stop that this instant,” he says, yanking his arm out of her grip.

“But- but you’re Miho’s boyfriend now,” she wails. “Miho wants to hold your hand like a real couple!”

“That’s another thing. We’re not a real couple, understand me?” His eyes are steely. “This is a relationship of mutual benefit. I assume you just want access to my funds. Fine then. But in return, you have to let me in with your little group of pals.”

Not a real couple? No, this wasn’t what Miho pictured at all! “No, no, no!” she says heatedly, grabbing his hand again. “This is about Yugi-kun, again, isn’t it! You just care about that silly card game!”

“Duel Monsters,” Kaiba says testily. “And those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

“Miho has terms too!” She pokes her finger in his chest. “Miho will let you hang out with us, but Kaiba-kun has to spend time with Miho like a real girlfriend sometimes!”

They glare at each other for a long moment, neither willing to back down. Then Kaiba sighs through his nose and turns his head to the side. “One hour a week. I’m busy running a company too.”

“One day,” she retorts.

“One and a half,” he counters.

“Half a day.”

“Two.”

“The evening?”

“I’ll give you three hours. Final offer.”

“Deal!” She beams, attaching herself back to his arm. “Come on, Kaiba-kun, Yugi-kun and everyone else are just about to go to lunch! You can come and eat with us, okay?” She drags him off toward the door to the roof, Kaiba in tow.

[astrophobica]

vote pompshipping here !!!!!

The wind on the rooftop is chilly; spring brings cherry blossom petals cascading across the grass. Miho only has eyes for the boy in front of her, though. Her prince in shining armor stands with his arms crossed, that charming glint in his eyes as he stares back at her. Lovingly, she tells herself. Obviously. How could anyone not like her? She has all the boys at this school wrapped around her finger. Anyone would kill to be in his place. “I really like you!” she exclaims, heart pounding. Surely he’d recognize how blessed he was to be on the receiving end of such a heartfelt confession from a girl as cute as she is. A goddess, really.

“Pass,” says Seto Kaiba.

“Huh? Wh- what?!” This is all wrong. Kaiba was supposed to be dazzled by her! Miho is the cutest girl at their school- everyone says so. “But- Kaiba, I said I-“

“I heard you the first time. Is that it?”

“That’s- that’s-!! How cruel!” she cries. “No way! Miho really likes you! How can you say something like that to me Kaiba!”

Of course, she’s had her eyes on him since the day he stepped foot into their class. Seto Kaiba is young, successful, handsome, and rich to boot! Any girl in her right mind would love to be with him. Luckily for him, she doesn’t give up easily. “Miho’s pretending you didn’t say that,” she huffs, graciously giving him a second chance. “Miho likes you, so go out with- HEY!!”

Kaiba has already turned, walking away with his briefcase at his side. “Kaiba-kun is so awful!” she exclaims tearily. “All you care about is stupid card games and Yugi-kun! Stupid Kaiba! Stupid, stupid, stupid-“

Kaiba halts dead in his tracks. He pivots sharply. “You’re friends with Yugi, aren’t you, Miho?”

“Huh?” She blinks, taken aback by his sudden shift.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go out with you, provided you comply with my-“

“You mean it?!” Miho squeals, darting forward to throw herself at him and loop her arms around his. Kaiba full-body flinches away, but she remains glued to his side. “Oh Kaiba-kun, Miho knew you’d come around!!”

“Provided,” he grits out, “you comply with my requests.”

“Requests? What requests?” She’s gotten what she wanted, Miho supposes it’s only fair to hear him out.

“Firstly, you need to stop that this instant,” he says, yanking his arm out of her grip.

“But- but you’re Miho’s boyfriend now,” she wails. “Miho wants to hold your hand like a real couple!”

“That’s another thing. We’re not a real couple, understand me?” His eyes are steely. “This is a relationship of mutual benefit. I assume you just want access to my funds. Fine then. But in return, you have to let me in with your little group of pals.”

Not a real couple? No, this wasn’t what Miho pictured at all! “No, no, no!” she says heatedly, grabbing his hand again. “This is about Yugi-kun, again, isn’t it! You just care about that silly card game!”

“Duel Monsters,” Kaiba says testily. “And those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

“Miho has terms too!” She pokes her finger in his chest. “Miho will let you hang out with us, but Kaiba-kun has to spend time with Miho like a real girlfriend sometimes!”

They glare at each other for a long moment, neither willing to back down. Then Kaiba sighs through his nose and turns his head to the side. “One hour a week. I’m busy running a company too.”

“One day,” she retorts.

“One and a half,” he counters.

“Half a day.”

“Two.”

“The evening?”

“I’ll give you three hours. Final offer.”

“Deal!” She beams, attaching herself back to his arm. “Come on, Kaiba-kun, Yugi-kun and everyone else are just about to go to lunch! You can come and eat with us, okay?” She drags him off toward the door to the roof, Kaiba in tow.

[astrophobica]

the one where virgil finds roman post-quest

warning: description of graphic injury, mild gore, unlicensed medical treatment

something was wrong. something was very, very wrong.

virgil didn't know what, but he could feel it in every fiber of his being. it rattled through him like how a lawnmower rattles windows in the early morning, like how a motorcycle hums and growls right before it takes off. he had barely woken up, still laying in bed. still, he couldn't shake the feeling.

he pushed himself up and out of bed, grabbing a once-worn shirt from the floor. slinging it on haphazardly over his pj pants, virgil padded out into the hallway, frowning as he paused outside the bathroom. the light shone through the crack at the bottom of the door. when he tried the handle, it was locked. from an outside perspective it was entirely innocuous; however virgil knew for a fact that it was 7am at that moment and he was always the last one asleep and first one awake. he raised his hand to knock.

"hey, what's the deal?" he called, low enough so as not to disturb the others in the house. "everyone knows i get first dibs."

there was no response. he knocked again. "hello? sleepyhead?" still, nothing. "you get a count of three until I'm busting in there, and if it turns out there's nobody in there i'm going to kick remus' ass. ready?"

"one," virgil jiggled the doorknob in warning. "two, three-" he paused, waiting for any kind of last minute response. "alright, i'm coming in," virgil warned, summoning a bobby pin and deftly popping the lock open. all his alarm bells went off at once upon pushed the door open.

the bathroom was covered in blood. more specifically, roman's blood. the prince was sitting passed out against the wall with a sizable stab wound in his gut, which still looked relatively fresh. the medicine cabinet was open, and various ointments and bandages were scattered on the floor next to him.

"holy shit," virgil breathed. "fuck, fuck princey, okay- okay hold on-" he dropped to his knees beside roman, breathing ragged as he pressed shaking fingers to roman's wrist. luckily his pulse was still beating weakly, and the bit of movement caused him to stir, eyelashes fluttering.

"virge?" he mumbled, dazed green eyes floating up to just left of virgil's face. "wh..."

"shut up- shut up about that and tell me how to fix you," virgil whispered fiercely, brushing roman's hair out of his eyes.

"shirt off," he said. virgil picked at the fabric around the wound, peeling it away and wincing at the blood. why was there so much blood? were people supposed to have this much blood? "peroxide," roman instructed next, and virgil fumbled with the bottle cap, dropping it with a clatter that made the prince wince.

"sorry," virgil muttered, then spotted the hand towel. he snatched it down, pushing it against roman's lips. "bite," he said, and waited until roman did so before dipping a ball of cotton into the alcohol and pressing it against the wound. roman's jaw flexed on the fabric as virgil cleaned the injured area with the sharp precision that came with adrenaline.

he finished quickly, looking back up at roman for instruction. roman's eyes looked more alert than before, and virgil wasn't sure if he was grateful for it or guilty. "stitches," he said, and virgil felt his stomach drop. sure, he had stitched on the patches to his jacket, but that was fabric! fabric was easy. fabric didn't move under his fingers or bleed or die-

"virgil," roman said, more urgently, and virgil winced.

"yeah, hold your horses, princey," he said, scanning the floor and snatching up the medical thread with shaking fingers. it took him several tries to thread the needle, and then several more deep breaths until he felt grounded enough to start the stitches. ladder stitch, simple enough- if he let his vision swim enough it almost looked like purple plaid.

he bit off the end of the thread and pulled it through, tying it off with quite a few more knots than he probably needed for it to be secure. "okay," virgil said, voice rough. "okay, princey, where are we going?"

roman's eyes had drifted shut. virgil flicked his cheek, harder than strictly necessary. "my room," he mumbled, lashes fluttering as he raised his arm to hook around virgil's shoulder. virgil nodded, taking his time to heave them both upright.

the pair stumbled down the hall, and virgil had to stop to flick roman awake more than a few times. he shouldered the door to roman's room open, helping him inside. virgil noticed he had a prominent limp, and couldn't help but wonder what the hell got him into this state.

roman sank into his plush duvet with a sigh. his breathing rattled out unsteadily, and virgil immediately started helping him lay in a more comfortable position. finally roman looked at ease- or rather, in less pain than before, so virgil seized his opportunity.

"what the hell happened, huh, princey?" he demanded. "how'd you get hurt this bad?"

"quest," roman mumbled, already dozing off. virgil flicked roman's cheek again.

"hey. no sleeping until i get answers. the hell kind of quest did this?"

"fought a..." his face scrunched up as he tried to remember. "a giant...beetle. had big metal spikes."

[astrophobica]

the one where patton and remus get married and nobody’s happy about it (logince)

warnings: emotional turmoil

Logan's hand stopped millimeters from pushing the venue bathroom door open. Why would he do something like that? Because on the other side he could hear someone crying.

Not normal crying, either. They were heartwrenching, bitter sobs that sounded like they were trying to be muffled, though the attempt wasn't working too well by Logan's determination. He hesitated a moment longer, then made up his mind and pushed inside.

Roman Prince, brother to the groom and best man to his now-husband stood hunched over one of the pristine sinks with a tearstained face that betrayed him even as he scrambled to hide it from Logan and look casual. "Oh- hey."

"If you don't mind me asking," Logan said slowly, not moving from where he blocked the exit. "Are you alright?"

Roman snorted, though the effect was lost on his blotchy complexion. "Take a wild guess, Sherlock."

"I'll take that as a no." Logan stiffly started to raise an arm as a halfhearted offer for a hug, but lowered it gratefully as Roman just stared at him. "Would you like to talk about it to a stranger?"

The other scrubbed at his face with the heel of his palm before replying, "And why should you care?"

"There's a kind of simple grace achieved through letting problems go to people who aren't affected by it," he replied. "It seems you could use someone to tell it to."

Roman studied him for a few seconds, then sighed and looked back at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. "...I was in love with Patton," he admitted, in a voice so soft that Logan had to strain to hear it. "Oh, who am I kidding- I still am."

Oh, Logan thought.

"I imagined this as my wedding, my big day with the love of my life and a happily ever after," he said, fingers curling on the edge of the porcelain sink. "What kind of a fool was I?"

"The worst kind," Logan whispered, throat closing as he thought of sleepless nights spent on frivolous DIY science kits, of yelling facts over documentaries playing on cable, of stolen jam and pineapple anchovy pizza and blue hair dye that came out looking sickly green. "The kind of fool that loves with all his heart, loves to the point of watching them go with a smile on his face and an ache in his chest." Roman blinked, looking back over at Logan with a curious expression.

"...You wouldn't happen to be speaking from experience, would you?"

"I am." He didn't meet Roman's gaze. "Quite coincidentally, it was one of the grooms from today as well."

"Patton does have a way of making people fall for him, doesn't he?"

"Not Patton." Logan left him to connect the dots.

"...My brother?" Much to Logan's chagrin Roman started snickering, and while it was an improvement over crying he found he didn't much care for it. "You fell for Remus?"

"Stop it," Logan snapped. "I should've known better than to try and help-"

"No- wait, I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry," Roman hastily amended, reaching after him as Logan turned to leave. "I just- I thought it was funny- we're two sides of the same coin, aren't we?"

He hesitated. "I...suppose we are."

Roman looked at him for another moment, then pulled out a pen from his breast pocket and snatched a paper towel from the dispenser. He scribbled something on it, then handed it to Logan. "My number," he elaborated, looking sheepish. "If you wanted to talk after the whole...yeah."

Logan folded the brown paper into a neat square and tucked it into his pocket with a tiny smile. "Duly noted. I'd suggest washing up a bit before going back out to deal with the wolves," he added, motioning at his cheeks.

Roman flushed in embarassment, turning back to the sink to splash water onto his face. "...Thank you."

[astrophobica]

the one where roman creates you as a construct in the imagination

warnings: descriptions of graphic injury, nontraditional self-harm, examination of mental health decline

He was like a flame when you met him. He was bright and bold and beautiful. You remember blinking open your eyes and seeing him offering you a hand.

"Hello," he had said, pulling you to your feet. "Can you understand me?" You nodded, and he smiled so brightly and you felt love blossom in your heart for this boy, this child who created you from nothing. He didn't tell you how you were made, but you knew. So you did as you were supposed to, and served your purpose and played among the flowers with him, wasting away the daylight running about the grasses and playing games. Things were simpler, then.

He grew up. You stayed the same. Your form had been permanently embedded since the day you were conceived as a flitting thought. But he grew, from young and carefree to lean and reckless. You were supposed to be a master of swordplay and combat, so you taught him everything you knew. He was timid with his blade at first. He held it gingerly, like one might caress a newborn fawn. You corrected him, covering his hands on the hilt and adjusted his fingers to hold it just so. He was a quick learner. Within a few weeks he was able to slice a dummy to shreds, and within a few years he could best even your most dastardly blows. And still he grew, past that until he was stronger than either of you could've imagined in your early years.

---

He comes by to see you less and less these days. You would never admit it, but you do miss him. The village is quiet without him, with common folk simply milling about their preassigned routines. They are merely constructs. They aren't like you, they don't know or even particularly care where the saviour of the kingdom goes when he disappears for months. You care.

It's been nearly a year since he last visited when he finally comes back. Time travels differently here, he tells you when you ask him again. He's explained it before, something about how a whole week passes in the time it takes for him to sleep a proper 8 hours in the Outside. His face looks haggard. You beckon over a lady and she offers fresh bread and cheese, which he gratefully accepts. His shoulders are hunched by his ears, and his back curves like it carries the weight of the sky.

You cannot help him, and it tears you apart. You offer him wine instead.

---

The sky is grey today. It smells like static and the air makes your clothes stick to your skin with sweat. You cannot find him, and this worries you. The sky does not thunder without him here.

Hours of searching find you at the bank of a mirror lake. He stands at the waters edge, fingers clasped over the hilt of his sword with the tip buried in the dirt. He does not look back at you as you approach.

"Do you think," he asks. "I am good?"

You say yes. He is your creator. He must be good to have created life.

A bolt of lightning rips through the clouds and strikes the mirror lake. The water shudders and so does he.

"Am I a hero?" he asks.

You say yes. He has slain a thousand dragons. He has protected kingdoms from ruin, cities from apocalypse, worlds from destruction.

"Then why," he asks, voice almost too quiet to be heard. "Why do I always ruin everything?" You don't have an answer for him.

Thunder rolls and rain begins to pour.

---

You find him again, in the meadow where you were created. It has barely been a week since you last saw him. It has only been a day for him, you think, straining to recall his explanation. He is clad in armor, which stands out starkly against the bright petals of the flowers dancing against your thighs.

You call out to him. He flinches, then turns his head to look at you. "Old friend," he greets. "How you always find me, I'll never know."

You simply smile. His face seems heavier and his eyes don't crinkle when he smiles back. You ask about the Outside, about the center that he has told you stories about. His face falls. You have made a mistake.

"No, don't look at me like that," he pleads. "I'm not angry, I promise. It's natural you're curious. Things have just been..." He trails off.

You wait patiently for him to decide on a word. "Changing," he says.

The wind picks up, whipping through your hair and sending a chill down your spine despite the noon sun. You ask him if it was a good change.

"Perhaps," he says.

His armor clanks as he walks alongside you back to the village. "I think I'll be staying a while," he explains. "I need to defeat some villains. Do you still have my old designs?" You nod, pushing the door to your cottage open. Pulling open a drawer filled to the brim with scrolls, you select a few tied with gold threads and pass them over to him.

He unfurls one, spreading it out on the table. "Perfect," he says, eyes darting over the anatomy chart of a unicorn gryphon.

---

He disappears to the mountains later that day. You don't think much of it. He takes quests often, after all, especially during creative slumps.

It is only later, when you are out at the back of your cottage tending to your garden, that you hear someone call your name from the woods behind it. You drop your shovel and bolt toward the sound.

And there he was, staggering toward you with a hole in his torso that no ordinary human could have survived. Your breath catches in your lungs and you feel like you're going to be sick, but you dart over to his side to help him limp the rest of the way to your house.

You lay him down on your bed. His gaze never moves from your face as he looks at you with the smallest smile.

"You always have been needlessly worried about me," he mutters as you dab healing elixir around his wound with a cloth. You scowl and open your mouth to admonish him, but he raises his hand to stop you. "I know- I should have been more careful." He lets out a hiss as you add more elixir.

"Damn thing got me with its horn," he explains. You grumble, muttering under your breath about the training you gave him for fighting horned creatures. "I'm just a little rusty. I'll do better next time." His eyes drop to the bedcovers, and you cannot help but to reassure him that it's alright.

---

Despite his promises to be careful, he kept returning to you with larger and more worrying wounds day after day. And every morning after he had recovered, he asked you for another quest scroll, each more dangerous than then last.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he says one day, sitting on a stool while you carefully clean a nasty gash across his back. Your eyes flick up toward the mirror, where he is watching you work.

You worry for him. You are scared that one day he might not have the strength to return. He huffs with a smile. "You might be the only one who does." Seeing your frown, he adds: "But if it soothes you, I'll always return here. No matter what may happen to me, I swear I will."

[astrophobica]

i just realized i still have a bunch of tss writing in my drafts that i never posted, does anyone even still go here

[astrophobica]

little bug.

376 words.

tw canon compliant violence and death, spoilers for tommyinnit's 3/1 stream. 💖 stay safe yall.

"Dream stop it, stop it stop it stop i-" Dream's fist made contact with Tommy's cheek and his head was knocked to the side. His head connected with the obsidian with a sickening thump, and all at once he crumpled to the floor. Dream stared down at him, half-expecting the boy to get up again.

But he didn't. Blood ran down the side of his head, dying his blonde hair red. Dream blinked, and he was suddenly aware of the stickiness on his hands.

"Tommy, get up." But Tommy did not get up. Tommy did not move at all, for that matter, because he had hit his head quite hard, and there was blood everywhere, and he was quite surely very dead. "Tommy, I said get up. This isn't a funny game, you're dumb."

He did not get up. He did not get up and he was dead and it was because Dream had killed him, oh finally, finally he had killed him. Like a pest. Like a little fly buzzing around his head, he had killed him and now there was no more buzzing. No more Tommy ranting on and on about stupid stupid things, doing nothing but defying him and calling him insults and expecting Dream to roll over just because he was trapped in a few layers of obsidian. No more Tommy.

Dream nudged him with his shoe. "Tommy. Get up or I'll pick you up and throw you into the lava." But he did not get up. Tommy did not get up, Tommy the bug was going to lay there and make him put him outside. But of course, he had already tried putting him outside in exile. He just came back in. So now Dream had clapped his hands and killed him and Tommy's body laid there on the floor bleeding out for him to pick up with a napkin and toss into the bin.

"Tommy." This was dumb. This was unfair. Tommy was meant to listen to him. He was meant to be broken and helpless and weak in the presence of Dream, of his god, of the ruler of this world. This was unfair. Tommy didn't get to just die. Dream wasn't finished with him yet.

"Tommy, get up."

[astrophobica]

this is my propaganda for why Ranboo is half-ghast, please read it this is the first thing i’ve completed writing in years

[astrophobica]

"Logan- Logan Logan Logan," Roman exclaimed, sprinting into the commons room and nearly clipping his shoulder on the corner of the wall as he skidded to a halt. "Guess what I learned today! Guess, guess!"

Logan half-glanced up at him from the novel he was currently midway through, then made a resigned noise and he reached for his bookmark. "I suppose that's rhetorical-"

"I learned," Roman barreled on. "That I can summon dictionaries! Turns out that's not just a nerd thing! So I spent all day yesterday reading, and-"

"You read a dictionary?"

"Yes- anyway I learned many new words and now we'll be able to hold more refined conversation- well, as refined as it can get with you, anyway." He stopped for breath, looking at Logan with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

Logan had a rather odd expression on his face. "You... read it? Cover to cover?" he repeated.

"Yes, Lo-bot, please try to keep up."

"So that we could communicate more effectively? You read it for me?" His voice had gone soft.

Roman blinked. He hadn't anticipated for this kind of reaction. "I- well, I... should I not have?"

"No, I just..." He let out a breathy laugh, reaching up behind his glasses to touch the corners of his eyes. "Ugh, emotions. You fill me with basorexia, sometimes, Roman. It's... confusing, to say the least."

Roman paused. He had looked up that word specifically during his reading session, due to Logan continually using it against him.

No, not against him, he realized.

For him.

So Roman did what any self-respecting royalty would do, and he knelt down in front of Logan on a single knee. Clasping his hand between both his own, Roman whispered, "Do you mean it?" Logan's eyes widened, heat rushing to his face as their eyes connected, Roman's stare locking him in place.

"Did you mean that," Roman repeated, fiercer this time. "Because if you didn't then I will let you go and never mention it again, on my honor."

"I did," Logan breathed, almost faint enough for the prince to miss. "I've always meant it, Roman. I wear a necktie."

Roman laughed, let go of Logan's hand to cup his face, said something along the lines of "Shut up, nerd," and then-

And then they were kissing, and Logan could swear he was flying, even if he knew he was still seated on the couch. And it was everything he had ever imagined it would be, and of course it was, because it was Roman, and Roman was cradling his cheek just so like he was afraid Logan would disappear.

Basorexia was going to become a serious affliction of his, but for now that could stay a future Logan's problem.

Basorexia means the overwhelming desire to kiss, sooo Logan telling a side they fill him with basorexia, much to said side's bamboozlement.

[astrophobica]

roman faces away as janus stands by the door of romans room. "can I come in?" janus asks. roman huffs out a laugh that could be mistaken for a sob.

"depends. can you spell your name?"

"...yes? j-a-n-u-s," he replies slowly, confused.

"wrong," roman whispers, and he turns his head to look at janus from over his shoulder. his cheeks are red and blotchy from crying. "it's spelled j-a-n-i-c-e. get out of my room."

janus opens his mouth to protest but roman stands suddenly. "get out," he says again, voice cracking, and janus takes a step back out the door. that's all it takes for it to slam shut in his face. he stares at the door, palm coming to rest on the wood.

take him away. he's a fake.