grieselightning

[grieselightning]

THIS IS HOW BURNING GLASS AU HAPPEN /J/J/J

THIS IS ALL A JOKE AND REFERENCE TO THIS COMIC I JUST THOUGHT ITLL BE REALLY FUNNY TO DRAW THISL2K3NTIO23T

[grieselightning]

Hiii Devil!!! [emerges from the ground all dirty and half-dead] You know very well how normal I've been over your latest Skeptunist fic, I've been yapping about it nonstop-

Anyways, I will scream and explode if you write a part 2 to that fic where Skeptic apologizes to Oppy for the argument and all the awful things he said to him. I would cry at this scene from Oppy POV, but Skeptic POV will definitely make me scream too skfkskf

Anyways! I go back into the ground now, thank you again for writing my previous request [I have been thinking about it a concerning amount /lh], and thank you for everything you do!! <3

(How did you get in the ground in the first place?!/silly. Anyway, YES- I've been dying to write a conclusion to this because it breaks my heart to break my ship's hearts. So I'm so excited to write this part, and thank you for everything you do as well, because you make me just as feral about Skeptunist. Enjoy!)

Part One

'You're useless when it comes to thinking about anything other than yourself!'

'You're useless-'

Useless. Useless.

That's all Opportunist was.

It was a truth that had been in the back of Opportunist's mind forever, but having it shoved so plainly in his face now, it was hard to deny it any longer.

Opportunist really was a selfish monster.

It felt as if his mind was torturing him, not letting him move on from that incident. He woke up and saw his face, he tried to do something and he heard his voice- Opportunist tried to do literally anything and he was just reminded of that day.

'You're useless when it comes to thinking about anything other than yourself!'

He felt his heart break into tinier pieces. Oh, Skeptic.

It's been two weeks since that day, and the more time that passes, the more time that Opportunist had to reexamine his own actions, and there was a clear conclusion to come to.

Opportunist hadn't changed.

He was still just a heartless, manipulative backstabber, who was more than willing to lie to his own flock.

If Skeptic, the sharpest of them all, the person that claimed to know the real Opportunist, thought that, then how could it not be the truth?

The worst part though, was that Opportunist didn't even know he had been manipulating Skeptic.

Opportunist had been guarded at the start, of course, but it felt like Skeptic had approached him differently, not with caution, but with an open mind, as if he didn't care if Opportunist would betray him or not.

Opportunist actually thought that Skeptic saw something good in him, saw something worth giving his love for, and all those happy moments that they shared afterwards.

Opportunist said that he loved Skeptic.

Too bad it was all a lie.

He should've known that nobody would like what was behind the mask. He should've known that everyone thinks about themselves, even subconsciously.

He should've known that he wasn't worthy of love.

Opportunist has always been afraid- a secret that he will take to his grave. He was always afraid that there was something more powerful, more stronger, more sinister than him, and that they would attack Opportunist when he least expects it, so it was simply better to play both sides until he knew which side was the winning one.

But with their newfound freedom and no cabin to endure, there suddenly wasn't a side to pick- just birds that knew Opportunist would betray them at the drop of a hat.

That put him in a difficult position, one where Opportunist was just terrified all the time, that his efforts of pleasing and playing nice to the others would all be in vain and he would be alone forever.

But then Skeptic came along and changed everything Opportunist thought about himself- or so he thought.

Opportunist thought he was in love with Skeptic, that he cared about him and wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. Turns out, Opportunist just clung to the first and only person that gave him a chance.

Opportunist took advantage of Skeptic's kind and inquisitive nature, and sunk his claws into him, to the point that he made Skeptic fall in love with a mask of himself. He made Skeptic believe that he was loving and funny and caring- but what he really was, was a coward, who couldn't stand to be alone.

So he tricked Skeptic into loving him, and now Skeptic knows the truth.

Opportunist thought he cared about Skeptic's wellbeing. He thought he wanted Skeptic to relax for the good of his health. But it was all so that he wouldn't leave Opportunist, but Opportunist pushed him too far.

He really was fucking useless.

He couldn't even keep a partner from overworking himself, and now Opportunist was more aware than ever that he was so willing to deceive people, that it was practically second nature to him.

So Opportunist decided not to feed into that nature anymore. He holed up in his room, thinking about Skeptic over and over again.

His heart had never been more shattered, and he's never been more afraid of his own mind.

He didn't leave his room. He tried not to talk to others, but Hero and Hunted always checked in on him at least once, to make sure that he ate something. Opportunist would've ignored them, but he knew that they would make a scene about it otherwise, so he pulled together a shoddy mask and accepted the food, only taking a bite or two. He didn't deserve their kindness.

He spent his days curled up in his bed. The first few days, Opportunist cried his heart out, harder than he's ever cried before. Then, his brain went wild with thinking of ways to beg for Skeptic's forgiveness, because Skeptic was always right, and Opportunist wanted to prove that he did still love him, that he wouldn't push Skeptic again.

But now he's just sitting here, withering away. Maybe if he waits long enough, the wickedness within him would die off, and then Skeptic will have a chance to love the real him.

Opportunist wasn't sure how much time had passed- his head was too busy replaying that day and remembering every kiss and embrace they shared up until the fight, questioning if any of it was real or salvageable.

He was useless.

He deceived his partner without even realising it.

Did he even deserve love-

Knock knock!

Opportunist sighed, wishing Hunted wouldn't pester him so much about eating. "Go away, Hunted. I'm busy," he mumbled, turning his back to the door, his fingers fiddling with a familiar feather, a shade of black so dark that it shone almost navy blue in the light, but then he heard another knock.

Opportunist wrapped his wings around himself, hugging himself tightly. "I'm not hungry, Hunted."

Knock!

Opportunist sighed in defeat, forcing himself to sit up, glaring at the door, mustering up all the energy he could for a mask that showed that Opportunist was fine and definitely not heartbroken.

Opportunist wrapped his hand around the doorknob. "Hunted, I promise you, if I'm hungry, I will let you-"

He opened the door, but it wasn't Hunted standing before him.

"-know," was all Opportunist could think to say, as he stared up at the disheveled and grieving face of Skeptic.

Opportunist looked up into those eyes, and he felt his breath being taken away.

Skeptic blinked, before a pained look crossed his face, and he whispered, "Oppy."

"Skeptic," Opportunist whispered back, gripping the doorknob tight.

Opportunist knew how to act around everyone. Everyone except Skeptic, so he had no idea what to do now.

"Can I come in, Oppy?" Skeptic softly asked, and he figured it wouldn't do Opportunist any good to deny him right now, so he silently walked away, letting Skeptic make himself at home.

He heard Skeptic let a sigh of relief out, coming in and closing the door behind him.

Then they stood there, staring at each other with such a heaviness in their eyes, and the memories of a fight that destroyed them.

'You're useless when it comes to thinking about anything other than yourself!'

That was what was between Skeptic and Opportunist now.

Opportunist didn't dare make the first move, not when Skeptic had been so angry at him before. It was safer to let Skeptic lead right now.

Skeptic took a deep breath in, nervously fidgeting with the feathers on his arms, something that Opportunist has never seen him do before.

"Forgive me for not speaking to you sooner, Oppy," Skeptic began. "I wanted to talk to you as soon as I could, but I wanted to give you some space."

Skeptic then lowered his head awkwardly with a cough and added, "It was also hard to get past Hunted. He guarded your door very well."

Despite the anguish in his heart, Opportunist's lips twitched, as if wanting to smile but afraid to.

"But then I heard that nobody's seen you around lately, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I knew I needed to make things right with you."

"Make things right?" Opportunist echoed with a weak chuckle, waving a hand carelessly through the air. "My friend, you've done nothing wrong."

Opportunist tried not to focus on how his voice cracked at the word 'friend', but he couldn't ignore the way it stabbed his heart.

Opportunist smiled at him, but he saw the way Skeptic's eyes darkened at him, and it felt like Skeptic was piercing through his mask and into his very soul. But Skeptic had never known the real him, so how could he make Opportunist feel this vulnerable?

"I have, Oppy," Skeptic firmly said, "and I understand why you're doing what you're doing. I don't blame you, because I'd hate me too after what I said to you."

"Hate?" Opportunist said. "I don't hate you. How can I hate you when you were just telling the truth?"

Skeptic's eyes widened, and then there was a heavy pause that lasted a second too long, that made Opportunist feel how suffocating the tension between them was.

Opportunist couldn't take it, so he smiled until his face hurt. "You were just pointing out the facts, just like you always do! What's to hate about the truth?"

Opportunist forced himself to take a step forward, pushing his shaking to the side. He put a hand on his chest and said in a sincere tone, "If anything, I should be apologising to you. I shouldn't of gotten involved with your work."

"You were worried about me."

"I kept annoying you when you tried to focus."

"You wanted me to relax and I wouldn't listen to you."

"I overstepped and I-"

"No, I overstepped and I pushed you away-"

"You were right!"

"No I wasn't!"

"I am selfish!" Opportunist yelled, then was immediately appalled at his outburst, but he kept going, in the hopes of making Skeptic understand. He clutched at his chest feathers as he exclaimed, "You were right- all I do is think about myself! I tried to insert myself into your work and I made you angry! You were right, just like always. All I do is think about my own personal gain and nobody else's, so I am deeply sorry, Skeptic."

Skeptic took a deep breath in, then took a step forward, holding his hands out to Opportunist.

His voice was calm, but with a hint of fear in it, as he said, "Oppy, what happened was completely my fault. You don't have to make excuses for me. I was the one in the wrong, and you were the one that was only trying to help me, and I ended up lashing out at you, which wasn't fair."

"You weren't selfish for worrying about me," Skeptic continued, his voice becoming more weak and desperate as he spoke. "You cared about me and brought me food and checked up on me. How is that selfish? The only person who was selfish was me, because I cared more about my stupid work than what my amazing partner was doing for me."

Opportunist's heart ached at 'amazing partner' but he forced himself to forget it. It wasn't real. Those feelings weren't real. It was all a ploy to keep Skeptic close to him.

He shook his head, pushing back tears as hard as he could. "No, it's okay, Skeptic. Y-You don't have to lie about making me feel better."

"I'm not lying!" Skeptic pleaded. He took a step closer to Opportunist, who hugged himself and looked away, but couldn't block out the sadness and guilt in Skeptic's voice as he pleaded, "Oppy, please! I'm so sorry for how I treated you, but I won't stand here and let you convince yourself that you were in the wrong! I was the one who treated you like shit!"

Skeptic reached out, and gently took his hands into his own, and Opportunist hated how nice it felt to hold those hands again.

This close, Opportunist could see Skeptic's eyes shining with tears, as he whispered, "Oppy, I'm so sorry for hurting you. You didn't deserve any of it, and you definitely don't deserve to be blaming yourself for my mistakes. You're not selfish, Oppy-"

"Yes, I am," he mumbled in protest, but Skeptic just continued talking, "-and you care so much about me and the flock-"

"No I don't-"

"- and I should've appreciated you more and told you how much I loved you-"

That's when Opportunist snapped.

Loved him?

Opportunist can't love anything else, and nothing can love him.

"No!" he yelled, ripping his hands out of Skeptic's grasp, leaving him floundering, and Opportunist couldn't stop the tears from flowing, sobbing his heart out as he yelled, "You said it yourself! I'm useless! All I care about is myself and my own gain and I made you love me! I manipulated you into falling in love with me just to satisfy my own pathetic loneliness!"

Opportunist broke down then, hugging himself and sobbing loudly. His head was so confused, so torn between wanting to throw himself in Skeptic's arms, and keep far away from him so that Opportunist couldn't hurt him anymore.

But one thing he couldn't do was look away from him, so when he opened his eyes, he was shocked to find the other with tears silently streaming down his face. But the surprising thing was the fact that Skeptic had a steely, determined look in his eyes now, and when they made eye contact, Skeptic's voice was low and firm as he asked, "Is that what you believe? Is that what you think happened between us?"

Opportunist nodded.

Skeptic took a sharp breath in, then said, "Wait here," before marching out of the room.

Opportunist just stood there, having no clue what was happening, other than the fact that his heart yearned for Skeptic's presence again.

Thankfully, it wasn't long that he had to wait, as Skeptic quickly marched back inside, head bowed as he held his- his diary?

Skeptic had kept and written in a diary every day since they became their own people, to help understand his thoughts and the situation around them.

"Skeptic, what are you-" Opportunist tried to speak, but then he gasped as Skeptic fell to his knees, opening his diary up to a certain page and read aloud, "Day forty- Opportunist invited himself to come on a walk with me. Not sure why, but I didn't mind. Talks a lot, but somehow still manages to say absolutely nothing- why is that? Clearly likes talking but isn't saying anything meaningful. Does he just like his own voice? Requires further investigation."

Opportunist had no idea what was going on, and he just stared as Skeptic flipped a few pages over and continued, "Day Fifty- We've all tried to come to terms with this new arrangement and settle within ourselves, but Opportunist is the most interesting case. He keeps complimenting people, offering himself up to be useful, but the others don't trust him. I see the sadness and the fear in his eyes when he thinks no one's looking. Everyone else says he's a good for nothing backstabber, but I don't think so. Will try to get closer to him."

"Skeptic, what is this?" Opportunist quietly asked, but Skeptic's focus was solely on the diary, his voice getting louder and more passionate as he spoke.

"Day Ninety- Opportunist claimed to know a place for peace and quiet, but we quickly got lost in the woods. Opportunist told me that he had everything under control, but this was clearly a lie. He seems to present himself as a very capable person, as if terrified of not being useful."

Skeptic paused to take a deep breath, and his voice wavered as he continued, "But as we kept walking, I kept asking questions, and I realised that Oppy was not who I thought he was at all. He lies because he's scared, but when he's not, he can be-really pleasant to be around. He approaches things differently to me, and I actually quite enjoyed our discussions. I hope to talk to him again soon."

"W-What are you doing?" Opportunist asked. "What are you trying to prove?"

Skeptic wiped a cheek with his palm as he kept reading. "Day one hundred and fifty- I'm not sure what this nervousness in my chest is about, but it only shows up whenever Oppy is around. Oppy is my friend, and the more I learn about him, the more I'm fascinated with him. His ideas, his actions, his smile- there's just something about Oppy that pulls me in and never wants to leave his side. I know he's a scared individual, I know that's why he betrays people. He thinks he's so confident, that he needs to be evil to survive- but I've never met someone with a warmer soul. I-I know what this feeling is now."

Opportunist weeped, shaking his head. "No-No, this isn't true-"

"Day four hundred," Skeptic said, his voice devoid of warmth and passion, sounding empty now. "I've made the greatest mistake of my life."

That was when Opportunist realised what day Skeptic was referring to- the day of the fight.

"I thought if I figured everything out, knew about anything that could hurt him, he'd be safe. But the only thing that ended up hurting him was me."

That was why Skeptic had been working so hard? He had been that worried about something happening to Opportunist?

Looking back on it now, it did seem like Skeptic was looking into all possible threats that could happen to them. At the time, Opportunist thought he was just digging too deep, falling back into bad habits- but Skeptic kept talking about keeping the flock safe, which would include Opportunist as well.

"Why did I say that to him?" Skeptic continued, his bottom lip trembling as he read. "I love him so much. Why would I push him away like that? I should've listened to him, should've spent time with him- it would've been so lovely. But instead I hurt him, and I fear I can't undo the damage I've caused. I only hope I can make sure that he still finds happiness after me."

Finally, Skeptic looked up at Opportunist, and then he broke down crying.

"Oppy, I'm so sorry!" he cried, clutching his diary to his chest, and Opportunist felt himself weep with Skeptic, his whole body shaking with grief.

"Oppy, I'm so sorry for saying that to you! You're not useless! You're not selfish! You're the most caring and kindest person I know! You were always there to try and help me, when leaving me alone would've been so much better for you! You wouldn't stop caring about me!"

Skeptic lowered his head in shame, and then dared to inch closer to Opportunist, and all he wanted was to never let Skeptic go.

"Oppy, my love, you are not a monster. You did not trick me into falling in love with you. I knew who you were from the start, the real you, and that's who I fell in love with."

Opportunist cried, and he saw how much it hurt Skeptic to see him in pain. "How do I know?" Opportunist whispered. "How can I be sure-"

"Take this," Skeptic said, and then thrust his diary towards Opportunist. "You can keep it."

"What? Skeptic, I can't." Skeptic never let anybody touch his diary, and he was just giving it to Opportunist?

"Take it," Skeptic said, pushing the diary into his hands. "All of my thoughts are yours to read. I want you to see how I fell for you, how I still see the real you. If I can't have you as my love again, then I at least want you to not think such horrible things about yourself, not when I deserve them."

Numbly, Opportunist lifted the diary up, unsure of how to feel about all of this, but he found himself cautiously opening the diary to a random page, and he gasped at how many times he caught the words 'Oppy' and 'love' in the same sentences.

Opportunist fell to his knees in front of Skeptic, as the realisation hit him.

Opportunist hadn't deceived Skeptic.

Skeptic knew what he was from the very beginning.

He took a deep breath in, and lifted his head to look at Skeptic, and it felt as if the clouds in his mind were finally starting to evaporate.

He gently put the diary down, and whispered, "I need to do one thing to be sure of something."

"Anything," Skeptic whispered back, so Opportunist gently cupped his face, and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.

Immediately, Skeptic sighed into the kiss, but didn't dare touch Opportunist without permission yet, but Opportunist didn't care. All he could focus on was the way his heart was pounding, at how right this felt.

He loved Skeptic. He genuinely fell in love with Skeptic, and Opportunist could never trick his own heart like that.

He pulled back, and looked Skeptic in his regretful, beautiful eyes, and whispered, "I forgive you."

It was as if all the weight escaped from Skeptic then as he sighed in relief, putting his hands on Opportunist's hips. "You do? You really forgive me?"

"I do, love," Opportunist said, tracing his fingers along Skeptic's jawline. "But-But you still hurt me, so you have to earn me back."

"I will," Skeptic said earnest, while nodding his head adorably. "I'll win you back all over again. Everytime."

"I know you will," Opportunist murmured with a smile, then leaned in for another kiss.

They were going to be okay.

[grieselightning]

I'd be Home with You PT.2 (STP Human AU)

Part One

There were a lot of things that terrified Oscar, but he never allowed those fears to be seen. The few times where Oscar allowed his fear to show- was the first time he lied and got away with it, the first time he and Winnie were awful to each other, and tonight.

Oscar doesn't think the sight of a drugged Hudson, being dragged away in a bar will leave his mind for a good few years.

They brought him up to their apartment, where they immediately checked to see if he was okay.

Hudson's skin was sickly pale and clammy, and he would stir awake every now and then, his eyes cracking open a sliver for only a second, mumbling incoherent nonsense and looking very confused and disoriented, before falling back to sleep.

It didn't look like Hudson was in any critical danger, so all they could do was have a glass of water waiting for him and be there in case he vomited.

Well, he said they, but it was actually just Oscar taking care of Shéamus. Once they laid Hudson down on the couch, Oscar instructed Shéamus to go into a different room until the coast was clear.

"He is going to wake up, and we will start screaming at each other," Oscar explained. "I'd rather you not get caught in the middle of that. I'll yell if I need you."

Shéamus had understood, pulling Oscar closer to give him a slow, loving kiss, and Oscar let himself sink into the warm and steady embrace of his partner.

He knew this was a kiss of encouragement from his boyfriend, and when they pulled apart, Shéamus gave him a reassuring squeeze and whispered, "Remember to be honest, darling. He needs to know how much you missed him."

Oscar nodded, not trusting his words at the moment, and soon enough he was left alone in the living room with the brother he hadn't seen in three years, and Coffee.

Oscar decided that Lady Coffee could hang around. Hudson had always been an animal lover, and Oscar hoped that if he used his daughter as a weapon, then this reunion would go so much smoother.

God, Hudson.

Oscar had too many conflicting thoughts and questions, to try and make sense of what was happening right now in his life. Hudson was here, under not-so-great circumstances, but he was here nonetheless, when Oscar had been fully prepared to never see his smile again.

But then again, life sure liked to prove Oscar wrong.

Oscar was sitting in the armchair opposite the couch, just staring at Hudson, who had Coffee trying to groom his ponytail- when Hudson started to stir.

Oscar leaped to his feet, grabbing the small bucket he had brought incase of vomiting, and a glass of water in the other hand, rushing over in front of Hudson.

His little brother's face was scrunched up, and his body started to wriggle and squirm on the spot. Oscar saw the moment Hudson's fingers twitched, and he took a step back.

Just as he predicted, Hudson shot up with a strangled yell, immediately having to cling to the back of the couch as he groaned in pain, disoriented and weak.

Oscar wanted to speak, but instead he swallowed his words and silently handed Hudson the glass of water. Hudson took it without complaint, his head hung low as he attempted to take even breaths in, and he lifted the glass to his mouth- before he froze.

Oscar felt his hands shaking, as Hudson looked down at the glass suspiciously, before he lifted lifted his head and-

-Oscar forgot how bright Hudson's eyes.

Oscar could do nothing but stare, as they met each other's eyes. Hudson always had a wide-eyed, almost alert expression on his face, and today was no different. He blinked, as if trying to make sure that Oscar was real, before his face fell into soft, wary confusion, gripping the couch tighter.

It was so bizarre to Oscar to be staring at a part of himself again, to see parts of his childhood in Hudson. He could vividly remember the way Hudson used to smile- all shy and sheepish, as if he wasn't even sure why he was smiling- or the way he laughed, which could always be a small snort or burst of giggling.

It all came back to Oscar.

But this wasn't their childhood anymore.

They had been staring at each other for who knows how long, and Oscar gulped nervously, before he gestured to the glass, and the first words to his baby brother in three years was, "You should drink that."

Hudson's brows furrowed, but he silently obliged, taking a hesitant sip- before immediately gulping the water down the next second.

Oscar released a breath he hadn't known he was holding, setting the bucket down in front of him, watching Hudson with a worried eye.

He seemed fine right now, just weak and disoriented, which was good. Whatever the stuff that knocked him out was, it wasn't too bad.

Oscar gave Hudson a moment or two to get his bearings, watching as his eyes darted to take in the entirety of the apartment, no doubt looking for potential hazards and escape routes. That was always the first thing on Hudson's mind.

He waited until Hudson managed to sit up properly without too much difficulty, and then his eyes landed back on Oscar, and it felt like Oscar's entire world held its breath as they locked eyes again, and then Hudson let out a very quiet and soft, "Hi."

That one word. That one word coming from that voice was enough to make his knees tremble, at the fact that he was getting the chance to hear his brother again.

"Hey," Oscar softly said, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. "Are you okay?"

Hudson paused to assess himself, looking down, before nodding, and then Oscar asked, "Do you remember what happened?"

That was when Hudson's eyes darkened with shame, and he seemed to shrink into himself. Oscar hated the sight of seeing his brother look so small and upset- he should be running around with a lightness in his eyes that would rival the stars in the eye.

"I know I was in a bar, talking to people- they live in my neighbourhood, but hadn't spoken to them before."

Oscar dug his fingers into the sleeve of his jumper, and calmly said to Hudson, "You got spiked, Hudson. I watched as those two dickheads dragged you out of the bar, and thank God I was there to save you."

Hudson's brows furrowed in confusion, and Oscar assumed Hudson was surprised at Oscar coming to his rescue, but what came out of his mouth was, "I didn't get spiked."

Oscar paused, then chuckled humourlessly with a shake of his head. "You did get spiked. I had to watch as those men dragged you from your seat, when you could hardly lift your head up." Oscar tried to keep his voice calm and collected, but that was a battle he knew he was failing. "I thought you were more observant than that."

"I am," Hudson insisted, his voice growing stronger and more sure the more he woke up. "I don't drink, can't put myself at risk like that."

As frustrated as Oscar was with his brother, he believed that, at least.

Hudson then turned around to plant his feet on the floor and stand up, and Lady Coffee made a noise of offense at the sudden movement, moving away from Hudson with an annoyed flick of her tail.

Hudson's attention was immediately captured by Oscar's precious daughter, and when he saw Hudson's face soften up at the sight of his cat, Oscar figured now was a good time to ask.

"You said you'd never talked to these guys before. What made you go into a bar of all places with them?"

Hudson sighed as he looked back at him again. "They came up to me and started talking about how fast they knew I was and how good I was at defending myself." Oscar did not like the implication that Hudson lived in a shady neighbourhood where he had to fight back against creeps.

"They said that they'd love to learn some tricks from me and get to know me better, said that they felt safer with me around them." Hudson lowered his head to his lap, his voice getting quieter as he said, "I thought they wanted my help. I just wanted them to feel safe."

Oscar stood there, taking a few minutes to process what Hudson had just told him- before a bitter chuckle escaped from his mouth.

Hudson's head shot up, but Oscar couldn't stop his cruel giggling, at the absurdity that he just heard.

"Fucking of course they were lying to you," he hissed, unable to stop the look of disbelief he gave Hudson, who's eyes only grew darker at his tone.

"Did you not see those guys? They had more muscle than brains, which thankfully was how Shéamus and I won so easily." Oscar crossed his arms and paced up and down. "What the fuck did you think would happen?"

"I thought they were telling the truth," Hudson defended. "Then next thing I knew, they stabbed me with a syringe."

"Oh my God, are you a thick idiot?" Oscar snapped. "What do you mean that you believed two strangers and followed them into a bar? Where you let them drug you-"

"I didn't let then-"

"You actually thought that they wanted tips of defending themselves? Are you insane? Riddle me this, Hudson," Hudson rolled his eyes, which only further angered Oscar. How did Hudson not see all the warning signs in this situation that Oscar could clearly see?

"What would you have done if I hadn't spotted you? How would you have fought them off?" Hudson rolled his eyes, as if the thought of him not being able to defend himself was a stupid notion, but Hudson didn't see what Oscar saw. He didn't see his brother being dragged away by strange men.

Oscar walked until he was looming over Hudson now. "They said that they were gonna hurt you, but what were you gonna do if they decided to do something else to you-"

"I wouldn't of let them do that to me!"

Now it was Oscar's turn to roll his eyes, but with a bitter, condescending laugh, and he saw the way Hudson's eyes narrowed in that familiar way when he disagreed with what Oscar was doing.

But the fact that Hudson was yelling at him meant that Oscar was getting to him, so he refused to back down.

Hudson's nostrils flared, and his fingers kept twitching at his sides, and he glared up at him like a tsunami threatening to drown Oscar. "I know it was bad, but I just wanted to try and help people."

Oscar spread his arms wide in disbelief as he exclaimed, "How could you not see that they had no good intentions for you? I know you like to act like a wild animal all the time, but are you that fucking stupid?!"

That did it.

Hudson took a step closer, face red and eyes wide with a primal intensity, like a tiger ready to pounce. Oscar was only a couple of inches taller than Hudson, but he made those inches count by doing his best to stick up his nose at Hudson.

"You'd think that you'd have grown up now that you're twenty two, but you haven't changed a bit." It almost felt comforting, getting to sink back into familiar roles, even after all this time. Oscar could feel the rage and indignation that he had buried all those years ago rise back up, and they were suddenly right back to three years ago.

"Neither have you," Hudson growled. "Still thinking you're better than everyone else, that everyone else isn't worth your time."

Oscar gave Hudson a cold smile. "Whatever stops me from getting drugged in a bar, I guess."

Rage flashed in Hudson's eyes like a burning fire. "I told you- I thought they were good."

"Why the hell did you think that?"

"Because why wouldn't I? Why wouldn't I help teach people how to protect themselves?"

"Because it's every person for themselves out there! You should know that by now!" Oscar snapped, feeling his entire body and soul become tighter and tighter with rage, threatening to squeeze out all of Oscar's secrets and masks.

Hudson paused, as if taken aback by Oscar's statement, before he exploded upon Oscar and screamed, "You have never trusted other people before!"

"Well you have always found it easier to run away instead of taking power!"

Hudson clutched the front of his hoodie desperately. "I don't want to be the reason that other people are in pain!"

Oscar poked Hudson painfully in the chest. "That just means that you'll let any dickhead walk all over you!"

"No it-doesn't!" With a loud grunt, Hudson shoved Oscar away, creating some distance between them, and Oscar thankfully managed to keep his balance, and Coffee let out a surprised cry, making Hudson wince and Oscar give her a soothing look.

They locked eyes, blazing blue meeting crackling hazel, both seething and panting at one another, and it felt like they were both wild and bloodthirsty creatures, living in dark woods full of thorns and monsters that they had to learn to survive in. But despite growing up in the same jungle, they both survived differently.

Hudson took a deep breath, and tried to lower his voice as he said, "You always hated the world."

Oscar lowered his eyes, grimacing at the statement. It wasn't a completely true fact- he couldn't of hated the world if it had given him Hudson, despite their current fight- and even then, it had given him Shéamus and Lady Coffee and all their other friends who saw something good within Oscar.

"No, I just know how the world works. So do you," he added softly, noticing how Hudson's eyes flickered with dark shame. "We both know that the world is shit and unforgiving. We've both experienced its cruelty."

Flashes of comforting a crying Hudson after bullies chased him home, of Oscar struggling not to freak out as someone turned him down, of two brothers trying to fill their lives with love and happiness thar their parents never bothered to provide for them.

For a moment, they stood there in solemn silence, and then the next, Hudson's eyes were glaring at Oscar again.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean we have to contribute to it."

Oscar sighed sharply, thinking that he had gotten through to his naive brother, but he was still as stubborn as ever.

"Well that's the only way you're gonna survive in life!" Oscar exclaimed. "By doing whatever it takes to get you to the top! You never understood that about me! You always called me a rat about it!"

Hudson hugged himself tight as he yelled back, "That's because you kept calling me a wild animal! You kept saying how I was a coward!"

"Yeah, because all you did was run away from shit, acting like everything was out to get you and you just needed to avoid everything, and guess who had to actually clean up your messes? Me!"

Hudson sighed in frustration, guilt and fury shining in his bleary eyes, and he dragged his fingers through the end of his ponytail, sitting back down on the couch and allowing Coffee the chance to walk over and place herself on his lap, and Oscar couldn't help but be happy and the sight of Hudson smiling down at the cat.

Hudson gently rubbed his hand up and down her backside, and Oscar smiled at the content look on Coffee's face, laying her head down against Hudson's lap and closing her eyes peacefully, her purring filling up the tension in the room with something sweeter.

This was where their argument ended three years ago. Before Oscar left for college, he had tried to pass down some of his wisdom to Hudson to help him survive without him, but Hudson refused to listen to any of his tricks or tactics of deceit.

Oscar had just wanted to make sure that his little brother would be safe when he wasn't around, but then it suddenly felt like Hudson was spitting in the face of all that Oscar was made up of.

Oscar would lie to his parents about how Hudson got really dirty. He would be the one to forge sick notes for his brother, whenever he was having a bad day and didn't want to interact with humans. Oscar had no problems with tricking others, if it meant Hudson got to be happy and relaxed in life. Lying for himself was second nature, and he only wished to bring his brother up along in the world with him.

Hudson, meanwhile, didn't really operate the same way some others did. When he got overwhelmed, he would go nonverbal and rush to find a quiet place outside with nothing but flowers and the chirping of birds to keep him company. Whenever someone was picking on him, Hudson's default reaction was to run away and hide where no one would find him. But when running wasn't an option, and Hudson was cornered like an animal, he attacked.

They were both scared, wild things- but Hudson was happy to flee like he was prey, whereas Oscar was determined to survive by using every dirty trick in the book to get what he wanted.

He thought Hudson understood that. He hadn't realised that his brother would hate what Oscar did.

Oscar was so heartbroken and offended that day that he screamed and shouted all sort of cruel insults and accusations at Hudson, only making his brother bare his own fangs in return. They both walked away that day believing that the other thought them a heartless backstabber and a feral animal respectively.

Oscar wasn't sure where to go from here.

'Remember to be honest, darling.'

Fine. If it stopped Hudson from walking away again, then Oscar was willing to try it- no matter how much he hated it.

Oscar watched as Hudson giggled at the way Lady Coffee's tail kept lightly tapping against his hand whenever he went to pet her.

Oscar crossed his arms as he sat in the armchair opposite Hudson, bouncing his leg up and down as he quietly said, "I never- minded having to clean up your messes. I know you never meant any harm."

Hudson ducked his head, becoming more interested in Coffee's fur than Oscar's face, but he didn't mind.

"I knew you better than anyone else," Oscar continued, "All I ever wanted was for you to feel safe to be who you were."

"I know," was Hudson's quiet, meek response. Then, he softly added, "You still know me better than anyone else."

Wow- Oscar was not expecting to tear up from that, but he suddenly found himself tilting his head up and blinking rapidly to stop anymore tears from forming.

He dug his fingers into his knitted jumper, feeling himself battling with the urge to be honest, or to just smile and say whatever will get Hudson to like him again.

But they might actually go hand in hand.

"I-", Oscar spoke up again, staring at a random spot on the floor- a smudged print where Oscar had stopped at when he had finally been able to let Hudson go when they arrived home, but found that he didn't want to.

"-I only ever wanted to protect you," Oscar quietly admitted, and a part of him wanted Hudson to interrupt and argue with him, but when he didn't, it just made everything else spill out of him.

"I was the only one who knew how special you were. I just wanted you to keep that spark, like how you would reach out and let any bug crawl onto your hand when the others kids were grossed out at it. You were just gentle. You were just this kind, sweet, gentle thing that had been born with all this fear, and you have the sharpest instincts that I've ever seen. I knew you were worth everything to me, from the moment you were born."

Oscar smiled down at the ground. "My little Sonny," he whispered to himself.

But then as quick as it arrived, his smile fell. "So when I was about to leave for college, I was terrified to leave you all alone without anyone to protect you. I was so scared that you would run away and bury yourself into a hole, avoiding life and just-hiding. I didn't want you to hide, I wanted you to run free and thrive, because I know you're the most gifted and kindhearted person on the planet, and you deserve the chance to be happy."

Oscar released a shaky breath, and he found that it was becoming harder to hold back tears, and he kept his head low, bringing his own ponytail over a shoulder and running his hands through it to try and calm himself down.

"I didn't really care about anybody else, so long as you were okay. I wouldn't have thought twice about lying or betraying someone, as long as it meant that you were good, because I wouldn't hesitate to do that for my own gain."

Oscar shrugged to himself. "But I should've guessed that you were a better person than me. You've never wanted to hurt anybody else, not unless they gave you a reason to. I got so angry when you wouldn't take my advice, because it felt like you didn't even care about what I was trying to do for you, that I was trying to support you the only way I knew how."

Oscar suddenly winced as he accidentally tugged his hair a little too hard, and he took a minute to smooth it out again, forcing himself to ignore the single tear that fell down his face as he did so.

"But mostly, I was just angry at myself- because you were right. You were right not to listen to me, because all I do is hurt people, and- and you deserved better than me, but I just didn't want to admit it to myself."

Oscar wasn't sure when the warm tears started flowing down his face, but he realised it when he felt Coffee jump up into his lap, concern in her big eyes, and Oscar sniffled and hugged her to his chest.

"But t-then I said all those awful things to you," Oscar sobbed, his vision blurring together from the tears, "and I just proved you right."

Oscar took a shuddering breath in, hating how he must look a mess in this moment. "I proved that I really was a bad person, that all I do is look out for myself, if I was able to push you, my baby brother, away so easily."

Oscar took a few seconds to take a few deep breaths, scratching behind Coffee's ears and smiling while hiccuping at how she leaned into his touch without any hesitation.

His smile turned bittersweet. "I loved you so much. You were my light, the one good thing that I had, and I fucked it all up and- and-"

Oscar was suddenly hit with memories from that day, from the way they roared at each other, from the way that Oscar felt so hurt, when Hudson refused to listen and even insult the advice he had tried to give him. He remembered feeling so alone in that moment, because up until then, Hudson was his reason to believe that Oscar was good.

But when he looks back on that day, all he remembered was the way Hudson glared as tears streamed down his face, and Oscar's never hated himself more than in that moment, because it just proved that he was a heartless monster.

He thought that was all he was good for- until Shéamus came into his life.

Shéamus came in, and saw a warmth within Oscar that he himself didn't even know was there. Shéamus saw everything that Oscar was, lies and all, and still loved him.

With that newfound warmth, Oscar started to be himself more around Shéamus, and he found himself not sticking to his old tricks as much- and he didn't get hurt for it.

That meant that there had to be some goodness within the world, if it gave him friends, a pet, a partner, all without Oscar having to put up a performance. He didn't have to be heartless to gain happiness for himself. Oscar could trust people.

Oscar was good- Shéamus saw it within him, his friends saw, and Hudson had seen it- and Oscar refused to lose the first person to love him for who he was.

"I'm sorry!" Oscar sobbed, making Lady Coffee jump in fright and hop onto the ground, but that just gave Oscar space to lean forward and wrap his arms around himself tightly.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so fucking sorry Hudson!" Oscar's face hurt with how hard he was crying, but it was like a deep pool that Oscar had ignored for years, and now all his sorrow and guilt was crashing into him all at once.

"You're not a wild animal! I should never have said those things to you! I shouldn't of pushed you away like that!"

His head hung low as he sobbed, releasing every painful emotion tied to his brother that he had locked away for the sake of appearances.

"I've missed you so fucking much! I wanted to talk to you so badly, but I thought that you hated me! I'm sorry, Hudson!"

The only reason Oscar's crying calmed down even slightly, was because he heard a sniffle.

He struggled to take a breath in without hiccuping, and he slowly lifted his head- to find Hudson's face flushed red and with tears streaming down his face silently.

Oscar had always been jealous of how Hudson was a silent crier all throughout his life, whereas Oscar was always so ugly and explosive when he cried. But in that moment, as their eyes met, Oscar saw the second that Hudson's face crumpled up, and he tearfully exclaimed, "I missed you too!" and lunged for him.

It felt like they were miles apart in that moment, as Oscar quickly slid off the armchair and crashed to his knees, spreading his arms out wide and letting Hudson dive into them, and the moment that Oscar had his baby brother wrapped up in his arms-

-he was home.

He was finally home.

Oscar wrapped his arms as tight as he could around Hudson, feeling him tremble and shake in his hold.

"I'm sorry too!" Hudson cried out, pressing his face into the crook of Oscar's neck, and Oscar just fluttered his eyes shut and inhaled Hudson's scent, and started weeping once he recognised that light floral scent that's stuck with him for years.

He pressed his face into Hudson's hair as his brother said through tearful hiccups, "I-I missed you too! It felt so wrong not to see you everyday, not to know where you were and what you were doing that day. It- it- felt like I couldn't relax until I knew you were safe, but I couldn't do that anymore and- and-"

Oscar gently shushed once he heard how overwhelmed Hudson was becoming, and it was so easy to slip back into old habits, to use one hand to rub up and down Hudson's back, and the other to gently scrape his fingers along his scalp, and immediately, Oscar felt Hudson's body practically sag against his own. Oscar still knew how to take care of his brother, after all this time.

"It's okay," Oscar whispered. "I'm okay, I'm safe. We're safe."

"But you weren't safe once," Hudson said, making Oscar freeze, then push his face further against Hudson.

"I heard about you and Winnie," Hudson said, his tone holding something dark and protective. "I heard that it was bad- that you got hurt a lot."

Oscar sighed. "Neither of us were good for each other. I hurt Winnie just as much as she hurt me." His scars started to itch again, but before they could get too bad, he felt Hudson clutch the back of his jumper.

"I know," Hudson said, "but if I was there, then I could've protected you from her. I could've made you end things sooner." He felt Hudson squeeze him tighter, and Oscar just squeezed him back in reassurance, to let him know that he was still here in one piece.

He felt Hudson snuggle further into his neck. "I'm sorry for calling you those things," Hudson whispered in a hushed tone, as if afraid of Oscar getting angry again just for even mentioning it. "I-I always appreciated what you did for me, and what you were trying to do that day. But you've always been so scared of the world, Ozzy. I just wanted to prove that the world could be good- not safe, but good, because you were the one who made me believe that life could be that way."

Oscar furiously blinked back tears, determined not to cry anymore than he already has, but then he felt Hudson turn his head slightly, and whisper into his ear, "Can I have my big brother back in my life now?"

Oscar choked on a gasp, and leaned back just enough to look Hudson in his teary eyes and cupping his face. Oscar's smile was wobbly as he whispered, "Only if I get to have my adorable little brother as well."

Hudson giggled, a sound that Oscar clutched to his heart, and then Hudson asked, "So all is forgiven?" Oscar nodded, brushing away a stray tear from Hudson's freckled face.

Then, Oscar leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together, a gesture of their love that they've done since the moment Hudson was born.

He closed his eyes as Hudson whispered, "I love you, Oscar," and Oscar bit his lip to stop any sound from being let out at how he could feel a piece of his heart, a broken, shameful piece, heal in that moment, and he whispered back with all the love in the world, "I love you too, Sonny."

After a few minutes, they finally separated, smilng at each other with a new light in their eyes, and Oscar's attention trailed to Hudson's ponytail.

"I'm surprised you've let your hair grow out again. You've always gotten it cut short as of late."

Instantly, Hudson avoided Oscar's gaze, cheeks turning red from embarrassment, and he mumbled just loud enough for Oscar to hear, "I know but- I remember how you used to do my hair when we were little, so I thought that if I grew it out again-" Hudson stopped, biting his lip, but Oscar understood the silent reason.

-Then maybe Oscar would come back to him.

Oscar smiled at how cute his brother still was, and asked, "Do you want me to braid your hair again?"

Sonny's radient smile was the best answer he could've gotten.

-

Oscar was humming a lullaby by the time Shéamus came in to check on him.

Oscar was holding a sleeping Hudson in his lap, rocking him back and forth while Coffee cuddled into Hudson's chest. Oscar had been admiring the braid he had done for his brother, when he looked up and saw Shéamus giving him a soft smile.

"I take it that everything's all good between you two again?"

"Yeah," Oscar said, and Shéamus smiled wider as he leaned down to press a few kisses against Oscar's cheek.

Oscar giggled, then gazed down at his baby brother, his baby, his home, in fondness.

"Yeah, my life's perfect now."

[grieselightning]

You descend into the humid basement, blade in hand...

... And the Dragon grins mockingly at you as you come into view.

scene redraw from my swap au , which u can read here

bg under tha cut

[grieselightning]

heyyyyyyy <3 i'm definitely not going insane over here okay guys 💕 definitely not. anyways, you want some skeptunist kis.

you guys want some. skeptunist. making out kis. making out with tongue perhaps. maybe even some grabass.

that was your one warning proceed with caution. i'm Sane. ❤️

i'm Not sane. I'm Losing My Mind and i need to be Put Down.

happy pride month. they're so gay i'm gonna pass away. i cannot believe these idiots made me draw a bare foot.

please put me put of my misery /j

[grieselightning]

Psssssst, hey folks, you want some more Burned Bridges?

So I made a bunch of gifts for my friends, but some of them couldn't go in the main post because, uh, I don't think they would've quite fit... Let's just say that Burned Bridges are even more passionate this time compared to last time.

Anyways, to stop being cryptic, more gifts for my friends! They will be under the cut because they all involve kissing with tongue. You've been warned <3

First, some quick doodles for @phantasmatoucan's Burned Bridges and @pzysm's Frigid Claws, because why wouldn't I randomly destroy my friends with doodles of their favorite ships kissing /silly

Beaks are really hard to draw kissing. I gave it my best shot kjsdhfjk

Anyways, uh, here's the full drawing of my Burned Bridges:

For none other than @pink-november, the Burned Bridges prophet, they (along with Owl) murdered me last week, and so it's only fair that I murder them back <3 /silly /j

More gifts coming soon!

[grieselightning]

"It's been a wild road, this tournament. But all roads have to end. And we have reached the end of the--

🏆 VOICE OF THE SEXYMAN CHAMPIONSHIP ~ Skeptic Edition 🏆

"--And now we must show the results of our audience enthusiastic votes! Poppy, if you will?"

"Right back at ya, Boss! And the results areeee~..."

"In 1ST place, it's @phantasmatoucan with the Target! Followed by 2ND place: @remaking-machine 's Trench Coat. And after a 3RD place round, we have @bubblybloob 's Moth.

Congratulations! You are all immortalized as the sexiest Skeptics in this fandom!"

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

"But...now it's time for the moment you all been waiting for.

Its time for

The

WHEEL!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

"This will determine the next voice tournament"

(Lovingly drawn by @everestgale)

"Drum roll please"

🥁 🥁 🥁 🥁

"Well...

There we have it folks! The next voice is

The VOICE OF THE SMITTEN!"

"See you next time for signs on the 28/7/2025!"

"I got artfight and I wanna focus on that"

[grieselightning]

BURNED GREY SLAYERS

Bonus little color puppets i made

[grieselightning]

More FrigidClaws art, I have been drawing Cold and Hunted a lot lately!

Additionally!

@writingdevil’s writing with them both is stuck in my head I am very normal about it /silly

Read it Here!

Soooo, Drew art of it! ⬇️

[grieselightning]

He collapses right beside Smitten's unconscious form, curling around him, gasping in relief when the soul responds to his call.

They're safe they’re safe they’re safe they're safe–

How about some drawings to @pink-november's most recent Soul Eater AU fic, discordant symphony, which you all should go read, all of their Soul Eater AU fics are so good AHHHHHHHHHH-

Ahem, anyways, more Burned Bridges under the cut. They're kissing.

“Ouch, how coy–”

And while we're on subject of them, have a reference drawing for Smitten's outfit in this AU. It's a bit old, but it's close enough. And if you'd like to see Cold's drawing, it's in this post :]

Yes, they all get heels. No, I am not sorry /silly

[grieselightning]

STP x RWBY AU BLAST

so i've been back on my RWBY bullshit lately and i decided i was going to plop the STP cast on Remnant. this isn't gonna be a really linear story i feel like, it's more just vignettes of the overarching plotline, but it's been a lot of fun and I've finally just about finished drawing the whole main cast!! so Here We Go!

Team WHTE (Wendy [Wraith], Heather [HEA], Tabitha [Witch], Elliott [Opportunist, last name])

Wendy and Heather are partners (Wendy on the right, Heather on the left in the top image) as are Oscar Elliott and Tabby (Oscar on the left, Tabby on the right in the bottom image)! They're kind of a backstory team that come back Later in Specific Ways. also shoutout to silvermoondarkening on AO3/Fiona for Tabitha's name!!

what exactly do i mean by that?? well lucky you the backstory of this team specifically is the only thing I've written so far LOL

So here is some Early Backstory For WHTE, and some Later Backstory For WHTE! [warnings for Death and Cheating in the second one. oop]

design notes for this team:

I gave the Pringles bangs because if I had to draw basically the exact same woman 30 times for this project i was going to go insane HWHFJDHSHS

Tabitha is a Cat Faunus, hence the tail! Oscar is also a Faunus (i gave him Rat Ears) but he hides his ears when he first gets to the Academy out of fear of Hate Crimes. meeting Tabitha softens him up to the idea a bit.

heather looks really short but she's actually average height, wendy is just like 6'8 BABDHDHS

i don't know how to select colors without going with the same color combos everyone uses so i'm Making Things Up that Don't Work. and i'm not even a little bit sorry about it tbh.

I tried to kinda make them all feel like they belong together without making them all wear The Same Outfits, so you'll see a lot of little recurring design elements shared between them (Wendy and Oscar both have the split-open coat, Tabby and Wendy share a laced corset while Oscar and Heather have a seam down the center, Heather and Tabby have a scarf in the same color they wear in different places, Wendy and Oscar have revealed shoulders while Heather and Tabby are covered)!

gonna put the others under a cut because there's a Lot to this AU and i should probably start doing that so my posts aren't Miles Long LOL

Team GRBN (Greensleeves [Cage, last name], Regina [Damsel, last name], Benny [Broken], and Nightshade [Hunted, last name])

Anne Greensleeves and Primrose Regina are partners (Anne on the right, Primrose on the left in the top image), as are Hazel Nightshade and Benny (Hazel on the left, Benny on the right in the bottom image)! thank you again Fiona for naming Cage and Damsel!!

These two are the first year team that sorta takes over a chunk of the narrative once the WHTE/BLUE throughline ends (i'll explain BLUE in a second).

some design notes!

i let Prim and Anne basically keep their same bangs but i played with their hair in other ways because I Wanted To, Leave Me Alone /silly

Hazel is the only Faunus on this team! She's a Rabbit Faunus and has Bunny Legs, and in addition she volunteered to have Chimera Wings grafted onto her back from a Grimm by Headmaster Narrator/Nathaniel. he did so to ingratiate her to Beast and Den, other Grimm hybrids. Den is the current Fall Maiden and nate can't have that, so Hazel's mission is to get close to the sisters and then Murder Den. she uh. she doesn't like that mission.

Connections! Benny and Prim have the same separated sleeves thing + cape going on, Anne and Hazel have the same color outerwear, Hazel and Benny share a nearly identical color scheme, Prim and Benny both have a collared shirt, Hazel and Prim both have puffy sleeves, and Benny and Anne both have belts/bands around their legs!

Team BLUE (Bates [Cold, last name], Lancelot [Smitten], Umber [Opportunist's pseudonym, last name], Estella [Skeptic])

Clara Bates and Lancelot are partners (Clara on the left, Lance on the right in the top image), as are Ozzy (now going by "Osmond Umber") and Estella (Oz on the left, Estella on the right in the bottom image)! Estella's design and name come from Fiona!! Thank you Fiona you are such a gift 💕 Lance's name was stolen from @/corrodeheaven! thank you Sebby sorry i stole your name hc BWBFJDK

BLUE is a second-year team (except for Oz who is a year older than the others)! They take over from WHTE after the disaster at Vacuo as the Lead Team. Clara gets wrapped up in Nate's Maiden Seeking Shenanigans and becomes an important pawn in his plan to acquire all the Relics and use them to End All Death And Change Forever. Oscar flees his original team in Beacon and ends up joining up with BLUE upon invitation from Estella. surely this time things will not go horrendously wrong. and sure yeah Mistral is Really Racist To Faunus but if he wants to pretend to be a different person maybe he should let THESE people know he's a Rat. estella and lance will protect him.

design notes!

Estella and Lancelot are twin siblings in RWBY and are both Hawk Faunus! Estella got Hawk Eyes and Lance got Wings!

Estella uses one of Lance's shedded feathers in her hat! she helps preen his wings when they get too bad.

Oscar's New Look went for Be As Hot As Possible So No One Questions You. honestly it's kinda working out for him.

this team is probably the least cooperative team of the big ones and as such, they share the least cohesive design elements. Clara and Lance both have some sort of corset and a sash around the waist, Clara and Estella both have a belt, Clara and Oz both have a cape, and Lance and Oz both have loose-fitting pants! but mostly these people do not feel like they belong together and that is intentional.

I'm working on writing the next major part of the story now, which is from Clara's POV and chronicles BLUE's first year at Haven and some Major Events that begin to drive a wedge between members of the team. Next will be a fic chronicling GRBN's first year (pronounced "green" btw i'm making the B stand for an E like how RWBY makes the W into a U. leave me alone /silly), then probably some random jumping around until I reach the next Major Plot Event!! yippee!!

[grieselightning]

[staggering to my feet and wiping a single perfect drip of blood from my mouth] i have to get back on my bullshit. no matter the cost

[grieselightning]

fan princesses drop!!

i went through a long phase of not inking Anything i drew but i have a bunch of fan princesses i can share!! in fact i have Thirteen Of Them? help me??

first up: introducing The Hive!

what if Princess was Bees

or at least wore a dress made of bees. close enough. she becomes Bees in her chapter threes. her chapter bees, if u will.

Hive is a Gentle Base Princess! You get her by going down without the blade, telling her you were sent to kill her, but then changing your mind and deciding to rescue her. When Narrator throws the blade down, the Princess, wary of your intentions, asks if she can have it to cut herself free. If you give it to her, she Immediately Stabs You and you get Hive!

I've actually written her chapter! You can read it Here!

next is her sister route, The Burrow!

she's a raaaaat!! my raaaaat 💕💕💕💕

my poor sweet ratty girl.........you get Burrow if, instead of giving the Princess the blade when she asks, you keep it for yourself. She freaks out and Mauls You To Death 😌 congratulations now there's a Rat in your cabin. several rats actually. she has a whole army of them.

I've written the "free her" route of her chapter at least!! You can read that Here!

next up: The Librarian!

my pringle in a sweater........she's just a nice lady (mostly)

Librarian is also a Gentle Base Princess! You get her by interrogating the Narrator in the woods, then when you reach the Princess, you tell her a bunch of stories about what's going on here, what the outside world is like, and why you were sent to slay her. When you run out of stories, you have the option to slay her to try and get more or to tell her you're all out. If you tell her you're out of stories, she kills YOU to try and find more. welcome to The Library slayer

I haven't written anything for Librarian yet but her accompanying Voice is Voice of the Curious, and her two chapter 3s are The Restless Spirit (for if you slay her) and The Unfinished Novel (shared with her sister route Scribe; for if she murders you again)!

speaking of Scribe, oh my beautiful poor sweet baby girl i love you so much

Scribe is the result if you slay the Princess to get more stories! this poor innocent woman has a Voice that sucks SO MUCH he literally will not allow you to free Scribe. you can ONLY either slay yourself when you run out of stories, taking you to Unfinished Novel, or horrifically maul Scribe to death and get The Ghostwriter, which is basically just "What If We Moment Of Clarity'd The Princess"

i have written scribe but the scene leading to Ghostwriter is. deeply uncomfortable and needs some adjustment before i am ready to share it with the world. needless to say her Voice, Voice of the Storyteller, is an absolute Monster and all the other Voices HATE him HDHSJSJR. he gets Shadow Smitten'd in Ghostwriter and you can basically choose to kill him permanently in that chapter when you finally free Ghostwriter from her Typewriter Prison. one day i'll draw her too but for now. baby.

And last up: introducing The Stalker and her sister route, The Mirror (used to be called The Shadow)!

Stalker and Mirror are what happen if you simply Do Not The Princess. if you go into the basement and then sit on the top of the stairs and talk to the princess without committing to perceiving her in any one way, she slowly loses herself and goes CRAZY and you are in Danger. Eventually, Narrator will take over and force you downstairs with the blade, at which point you can either decide the Princess is dangerous and continue down to slay her (she gets you first and you get Stalker), or slay yourself on the stairs and get shuffled to Mirror!

I've written more for these two and their lines than for anyone else, so here's their shared Chapter 1 and you can read at least one route of every one of their branching paths from there! have fun✨✨✨

[grieselightning]

The Resonance of Our Souls

An ambush attack from the Witches had shaken the entire academy to its core. It was devastating, considering how they have such good relations with them, and Lord Quiet and the Princess continue to mediate talks and discussions to ease tensions and quell the possibility of a rebellion happening. There were no fatalities during the attack but there had been so much damage and casualties as a result of it. His brother, Smitten, and his meister, Cold, had managed to fight off the enemies with their impeccable soul resonance but not without getting their own set of injuries to themselves. In retrospect, Skeptic should have paid more attention to them back then.

---

Something lurks beneath the shadows of their everyday lives, finally baring its fangs and threatening to destroy the peace of the city they live in. Bonds forged and honed are tested against the storm of frantic desperation as madness brews within grieving souls. Can they save those who are lost at sea or will they fall alongside their discordant melody?

sips tea

the fic that started the whole stp soul eater au is here

[grieselightning]

I love my friends, my friends are all wonderful and lovely people, and I am also very bad with words. So, what's a better way to share my appreciation and love than to make a bunch of doodles for my friends 💜

Up first, Nightmare and @sparklingseraphim's Paranoid, @voiceofthelionhearted's Burned Bridges (Smitten/Cold), @pzysm's Frigid Claws (Cold/Hunted)!

Next, @phantasmatoucan's Burned Bridges, @grieselightning's Opportunist, @coldranger's Hunted!

Finally, @hello-universe-lovers's Thorntunist, @slay--the-dragon's Opportunist, and @writingdevil's Hudson (Hunted) and Oscar (Opportunist) from her human AU!

I love you all, my dear friends /p 💜

...Though, let's just say this isn't the last time I'm doing something like this. There are more friends. And not all of them got their gifts yet. You're on deck. I am coming for you. This is a threat /silly /j 💜

[grieselightning]

PRINGLES BLAST

you guys like the princess. here have some princess.

first i drew Razor Fury and Apotheosis as a meme. why did i try so hard for a meme.

please never ask me to draw exposed muscles ever again /silly

i haven't inked these but you can have College AU Wraith, Witch, and Patty anyways. my girlies!!! i love my girlies!! 💕💕

what if spectre had short hair and freckles. i think she would be Cute. pretty ghostie 💕

damel!!! damel and razor!!! look at these girlies!!

get pringle'd. i love Women i love drawing Women it's why all my men Look Like Women /silly 💕

more pringles will come soon!! i'm working on a RWBY AU where they are Very Important 😌

[grieselightning]

LovE THEM SO MUCH <3

VOICE DESIGNS BY @everestgale

RUNNING BEFORE I GET BLOWN UP /SILLY