#DO YOU NEED HELP ON THE BASIC MECHANICS OF HOW AN UMBRELLA WORKS

[hyenaswine]

"but if we label autism & depression as both 'neurodivergent,' that's like saying they're the same thing!" truuuuue like when my friend & i stand under the same umbrella & instantly meld into one person like in a cronenberg movie

[formidablefangs]

Honestly tiring that this needs to be said and reiterated so often.

A system is a defense mechanism created by the brain as a reaction to a traumatic even (typically multiple) during childhood development. It's the disruption of the development of self and a covert disorder.

So terms like system, multiple and (though we personally dislike this one) plural, are therefore medical terms in the context of a disorder.

Basic proper research should show this.

This is why the community tries so hard to defend its terms and repeats that being a system is a neurological and psychological medical matter.

This is why we hate the fact that there are people using our terms and claiming to have the expirience of our disorder without the required points of diagnosis that make it happen.

We're upset because there are people:

A) grooming minors and others with disinformation and misinformation into believing something either they dont have or that's the wrong thing they're experiencing entirely.

B) claiming to have a similar expirience to us without bothering to properly look into it

C) have something else but plaster pur terms over it to try and pretend to be like us.

Yes some endos might just not remember their trauma, that's normal and exactly how the brain will work with this disorder.

Yes sometimes they actually just dont have the disorder and instead have something else or multiple other things that are going undiagnosed because they believe in false information.

Yes a lot of them are just looking for a place to fit in because that is human and what our brains need when we're going through things.

But for God sake we know more about how the brain works than people let on, there is documented research and still more research being done and if this misinformation/disinformation continues to spread and people continue to try to pander to and normalize endos then it will halt that research and stigmatize the disorder so it will be even harder for us to get help than it already is.

And on top of that if they cant just find something else to further separate from us, stop using system terms and use something more disconnected than they need to halt what they're doing now and do something else until they can figure it out.

Alters are pieces of the brain, parts of a whole self that failed to develop properly, they form from multiple things outside just trauma and trauma can be anything. But that doesnt mean alters that form from sources unrelated to trauma arent still "traumagenic", the system itself formed from trauma therefore all the alters and parts of the system follow suit in the defense mechanism the brain has made to cope.

Parts of you cannot move to someone elses brain.

Parts of you cannot die, but instead change. Theh fuse, split into different parts, go dormant but they cant die because they're a part of your self, a facet of you in your brain, and you as a person whole or not can change.

Parts of you that function as the brain does.

Alters exist for comfort, managing symptoms, dealing with memories, organizing the system, calming other alters, helping with daily or work or school tasks, every aspect of your mind and life the brain has developed a way of dealing with it through the system. Relationships and the bad things like intrusive thoughts included.

I sincerely hope that those who call themselves endo, those who use "system" terms under the endogenic umbrella and their supporters understand this, understand how the brain works and at least try to accept it.

I know we hate being put in a box, that people hate when things are restricted to a box, but with things like this medical condition, a disorder related to the function of the brain and psyche, the box is there for a reason to help understand how said thing works. Trying to force it outside the box is only hurting those who have it.

Systems are systems because of what happened to them. The expirience is different for everyone but theres a template in place to guide the understanding of it logically.

The fighting is tiring, people have talked it to exhaustion and to the people who continue to refuse to listen and instead chose to perpetuate the ignorance, I hope you can take a breather from the internet for a while and find something better to get into than this.

Its genuinely exhausting.

[therimguy]

Whether you drive a compact commuter or a heavy-duty truck, your vehicle’s tires and rims work together to ensure stable handling, good fuel economy, and a comfortable ride. Yet damage to rims or worn-out tires can undermine performance and even create safety hazards. This is where Tire Change and Rim Repair comes in—a one-stop approach that addresses both tire replacements and rim restorations simultaneously. By bundling these services, you can often save time, reduce costs, and avoid the hassle of juggling multiple appointments. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the benefits of combining mobile Tire Change and Rim Repair, discuss the warning signs to watch for, and break down both DIY and professional methods. We’ll also dive into cost factors, share real-life examples, and provide preventative measures to extend the life of your tires and rims. Whether you’re seeking a quick tire service, curious about mobile tire change and rim repair options, or simply want to know how the best rim repair shops operate, you’ll find valuable insights to keep your vehicle running smoothly—and looking good—on the road. Why Combine Tire Change and Rim Repair? Merging Tire Change and Rim Repair into a single service can save you both time and money. Here’s why: - Efficiency: Changing tires while the rim is already off allows technicians to inspect and fix rim damage on the spot. - Cost-Effectiveness: Bundling services often results in discounts, lowering the cost to change tires and repair rims. - Improved Safety: Addressing worn tires and damaged rims together reduces the risk of blowouts, steering issues, and poor handling. - Convenience: Handling both tasks at once eliminates repeat visits to service centers or scheduling multiple appointments. - Better Aesthetics: Refurbished rims elevate your vehicle’s overall look, while fresh tires ensure top performance. By unifying Tire Change and Rim Repair under a single umbrella, you simplify the maintenance process, minimize downtime, and maintain consistent quality. Warning Signs: When You Need Tire Change & Rim Repair Addressing tire and rim problems early prevents more expensive repairs: - Excessive Vibration: Could indicate bent rims or misaligned wheels, especially noticeable at highway speeds. - Visible Cracks or Gouges: On the rim’s outer edge or spoke area—major red flags for structural integrity. - Repeated Air Pressure Loss: If your tires keep deflating, it might be due to a damaged rim bead or worn tire. - Uneven Tread Wear: Spotty tread wear can point to poor wheel alignment or rim issues aggravating the tire’s contact patch. - Bulges or Blisters on Tires: Often a result of hitting potholes or curbs, these can coincide with rim damage. Paying attention to these signals helps you decide whether you simply need a quick tire service or if it’s time for comprehensive Tire Change and Rim Repair. DIY vs. Professional: Pros and Cons Before deciding on a solution for Tire Change and Rim Repair, weigh the pros and cons of a do-it-yourself approach against hiring professional rim repair shops. AspectDIY ApproachProfessional ServicesSkill RequirementModerate to High—mounting tires and fixing rims can be complexTrained technicians handle everything start to finishCostLower upfront, but requires specialized toolsHigher, though may include discounts when bundling servicesTime InvestmentPotentially significant, especially if you lack equipmentQuick turnaround in a well-equipped shopQuality AssuranceVariable—depends on personal experienceTypically offers warranties or guarantees Tip: If you’re confident with basic mechanical tasks, a DIY approach might be fine for minor rim scuffs or simple tire swaps. However, advanced repairs—like welding cracks or rebalancing wheels—often demand professional expertise. Step-by-Step: DIY Tire Change & Rim Repair If you’re determined to tackle Tire Change & Rim Repair at home, here’s a broad overview: - Preparation: Park on a level surface and secure your vehicle with jack stands or ramps. Gather tools like a lug wrench, torque wrench, tire bead breaker, and rim repair materials. - Tire Removal: Loosen lug nuts in a star pattern before raising the car. Once lifted, remove the lug nuts fully and pull off the wheel. - Rim Inspection: Check for cracks, bends, or deep gouges. Minor scratches can often be sanded and filled, but more severe damage may require a professional rim repair shop. - Repairing Rim Scratches: Use fine-grit sandpaper (320–600) to smooth surface scuffs. Apply a specialized rim filler or putty for deeper grooves, followed by primer and matching paint. - Mounting New Tires: Ensure correct tire orientation and match the recommended psi. Seat the bead using a compressor, then balance the wheel. - Reinstallation: Align the wheel on the hub, tighten lug nuts by hand, then lower the car slightly to torque them in a star pattern. Advantages: Potentially low cost to change tires and repair rims, personal satisfaction. Drawbacks: Time-consuming, risk of incomplete or subpar results if you lack skill or tools. Professional Tire Change & Rim Repair Services Professional rim repair shops often provide a more comprehensive package: - Full Inspection: Technicians use diagnostic equipment to check for bends, cracks, or structural weaknesses. - Advanced Repair Techniques: Welding for cracks, hydraulic presses for bent rims, and CNC lathes for precision shaping. - Paint Matching or Powder Coating: Ensures rims look factory-fresh, with better durability. - Wheel Balancing & Alignment: Minimizes vibrations, extends tire life, and boosts overall handling. Combining these services with a tire change typically streamlines your Tire Change & Rim Repair experience, offering warranties and peace of mind. Table: Common Rim Damages & Recommended Fixes Type of DamageDescriptionSuggested Repair MethodSurface ScratchesMinor scuffs affecting paint or clear coatDIY sanding & paint if you’re comfortableDeep Gouges/BendsStructural harm from potholes/curbsProfessional welding, hydraulic pressCracked RimFractures usually near spokes or outer lipExpert TIG or MIG welding, safety inspectionCorrosion/Rust PittingMoisture infiltration under finishSandblasting & re-coating; likely pro-level Note: Attempting major repairs at home may lead to higher costs later if the fixes don’t hold up. Weigh the potential savings against the risk of further damage. Pricing Factors: How to Estimate Rim Scratch Repair and Tire Change Costs Your final Rim Scratch Repair Cost combined with a tire change depends on multiple elements: - Rim Material: Aluminum alloy rims are more common and typically easier to repair, while steel or specialty rims (chrome, carbon fiber) may be more expensive. - Extent of Damage: Simple scratches or minimal corrosion are cheaper to fix than bent or cracked rims. - Tire Quality & Brand: Premium tire models cost more, but often come with better mileage and performance. - Labor Rates: Geographic location significantly affects how much a shop charges per hour. - Bundled Deals: Some rim repair shops offer discounts on tire changes and repairs if you combine services in one visit. Table: Typical Costs for Tire Change & Rim Repair ServiceApprox. Cost Range (Per Wheel)NotesTire Removal & Mounting$20 – $50Extra fees for TPMS reset or specialty tiresBasic Rim Scratch Repair$50 – $100Light sanding, filler, paint for minor scuffsMajor Rim Repairs (Bends/Cracks)$100 – $250+Welding, shaping, refinishingNew Tire Purchase & Install$70 – $250+Varies widely by tire brand and size Keep in mind that going the professional route for Tire Change & Rim Repair often includes balancing and alignment checks, which can extend tire life and ensure a smoother ride. Real-World Example A busy delivery driver faced multiple issues—balding tires and curb-scraped rims on the front axle. Splitting the task between a tire shop and a separate rim repair facility would’ve cost roughly $400 in labor alone, not counting new tires. Instead, the driver chose a quick tire service that bundled new tires with professional rim scratch repair for $320 total. The technician also discovered a slight bend in one rim and corrected it, ensuring better handling and reducing future expenses. By merging Tire Change & Rim Repair, the driver saved both time and money while improving road safety. Mobile Tire Change & Rim Repair: A New Trend The automotive industry has witnessed a rise in mobile tire change & rim repair services. These on-the-go solutions bring tire mounting, balancing, and even rim refinishing straight to your driveway: - Convenience: Ideal for those with hectic schedules, you don’t have to drive to a shop or wait in line. - Fleet Servicing: Businesses running multiple vehicles can schedule on-site maintenance. - Emergency Support: Mobile units often handle flat tires or minor rim damage on the spot, minimizing downtime. However, major rim repairs requiring welding or specialized equipment may still necessitate a dedicated service center. Preventive Measures to Minimize Tire Change & Rim Repair Needs Smart driving habits and routine care can extend the interval between replacements: - Monitor Tire Pressure: Underinflated tires increase rim impact on potholes or curbs. - Frequent Rotations: Rotating tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles promotes even tread wear. - Gentle Parking: Using mirrors, parking sensors, or backup cameras reduces curb rash. - Regular Washing: Brake dust and road salt corrode unprotected wheel surfaces. - Alignment Checks: Misalignment speeds up tire wear and can strain rims unevenly. Following these steps lessens the likelihood of sudden blowouts, wobbly steering, and the urgent need for Tire Change & Rim Repair. Additional Tips for Cost Savings - Off-Peak Scheduling: Some shops reduce labor charges during slower seasons or weekdays. - Bulk Discounts: If multiple tires or rims require attention, ask about package rates. - Used or Refurbished Rims: Buying pre-owned rims in good condition can be cheaper than repairing severely damaged ones. - Warranty Coverage: Certain tire brands or rim coatings come with warranties that offset future repair costs. Staying proactive and researching your options can significantly slash your overall cost to change tires and repair rims. Where to Learn More If you want further details on advanced rim repair methods or tire technology, check out Motor Trend’s Wheel and Tire Guides. To get a personalized rim repair estimate or talk to professionals about the best approach, therimguy.ca offers transparent consultations and expert workmanship. Conclusion Combining Tire Change & Rim Repair into a single service session is a smart way to maintain your vehicle’s safety and style without juggling multiple appointments—or inflated costs. Whether you opt for a mobile tire change & rim repair solution or visit a specialized shop, handling both tire and rim maintenance at once generally leads to better outcomes, fewer hassles, and noticeable cost savings. From minor scuffs to severe bends, addressing issues promptly not only prevents further damage but also optimizes performance and extends tire life. Knowing your options—DIY vs. professional, basic touch-ups vs. advanced rim welding—empowers you to budget wisely and keep your ride in peak condition. By combining consistent upkeep with timely interventions, you’ll minimize your overall Rim Scratch Repair Cost or tire replacement expenses, and ensure a smooth, reliable ride wherever your travels take you. Read the full article

[haptureratch]

Being on wellbutrin (WHEN IT'S NOT TAKING YEARS OFF MY LIFE BY MEGA MARIO STAR RAINBOW RAVE BOOSTING MY ANXIETY) is so funny

Like I'm reading an old idea for a fanfic in my Samsung notes and lighting up punching the bed because DAMN THAT'S SUCH A WILD GOOD IDEA AND I -SEE- WHAT YOU DID THERE

Like.

Chill you goofy hypomanic binch XD

I'm comforted by the fact that these sleepless nights will end eventually because the psych plan has shifted to bringing my anxiety down and letting me sleep. I guess I can kind of enjoy extra verve now that I'm not thinking about the implications of it, and knowing that it got as bad as it would and the professional said "no worse". And that there's no work in a few hours (huge relief bc I obviously can't stay home while trialing meds but they do have the ability to impact work). But this is still soooo not normal lol. It's almost 2am. I was so ready for bed and then nope I started singing again and here we are. It's the music and the singing that fire me the fuck up lately.

I hope I'm okay when it's out of my system. I feel okay now. I feel lighter in some ways (heavier in others like my headache and tight carotids and EVEN MORE hyperactive startle response and reflexes). I feel the self-amusement side of me is turned up. I'm better at writing (that TORRENTIAL MESS I wrote on....Sunday? No one is allowed to read it unless they are a mentally ill girlie on the internet. Y'all are allowed. Y'all will understand.) I feel more at ease around people and non-autistic (conversation just comes, I don't care if I'm doing it wrong I just do it). Life around me tastes good (instead of .... what's a word .. jarring? I thrive off the vibrancy and possibility. I see the lights and I want to explore where they lead. IS THIS HOW HE LIVES???? Like a stabilized form of this?? FuKc)

I think this med just takes everything I already am and heightens it. Deepens it. Maybe I'm prone to insomnia and it's just so much worse. I do have a natural rhythm of getting fatigued and my body is ready for bed but if I stay up through that I get a second wind. That's kinda what's happening on this med just INTENSELY so. And music is my shit, I feel it so deeply. It moves me. I love it.

I'm so chatty.

I ted talk all by myself but, again, this med cranks it up quite a bit. I'll need to share the positives of this med with my psych so maybe she can get me something with a similar mechanism or like....she'll do her double board certified thing and COOK.

I'm glad I was able to accept my mom needing to go home. The first instinct was to feel abandoned and scared but something in me got brave and accepted it.

Is this all divine timing? Is the med at some kind of level that's helping me (but, again, taking years off my life by stealing me from my sleep) and I was able to polish off the fear veneer [[I swear to god I'm cooking so hard .. note to self go absolutely OFF on wellbutrin, get deliciously hypomanic, and write a BOOK MY DUDE]] -- anyway, am I going through a period of growth right now?

Side thought: if I already worked through my touch issues with Amy and had all those epiphanies, why am I still struggling with issues under that umbrella? I went back to being weird and feral about touch which is a basic human need. I didn't incorporate daily platonic touch. I didn't connect with others. I can think back to that bedroom in Galveston and I THOUGHT I had my whole life laid out in front of me and I saw it and understood it. But here I am. I'm not drowning in grief over it currently, I am just genuinely curious. Why did I forget it all over time and just revert back? Not to attack myself but to GENUINELY WONDER

Oh thank god I might be getting a wave of sleepiness

HA HAAA nevermind beech we back.

Maybe this experience can make me braver. Look at that. PAUL RUDD MEME LOOKATUS. I trialed a med and had super difficult relationship stuff and got into a bad physical state (weight/nutrition) AND went to work and did the work. Wow. I should be proud. I survived a difficult med trial along with all that. I wish that alone, that realization, could cure this core nagging negative thought that I am too weak to make it.

I just get so caught in that feeling of extreme anxiety. There are stronger words to say but my mind is slowing and my eyes are growing heavy

Sleep please take me

Carry me off and steal me for 10 solid hours

No I had to get up and use the restroom. And that gabapentin... I FELT THAT. Swaying around searching for ANY HINT OF PROPRIOCEPTION to maneuver myself to my bathroom. Meds are a fun experiment when they aren't terrifying. It's interesting to feel the science in your own body. Brings the reading and the research to life. Real kinesthetic learner style type shit.

No, yeah. This staying up because I have a stream of thoughts isn't outside the realm of expected Jess. I've done this with my creative writing. And read over it a million times late into the night trying to perfect it. But I think the medical response is still back off that med. Hypomania can still be bad for you even when it feels good. I need to be able to sleep. I wonder if this is just a reflection of how unstructured I am outside of work. Wait. Oh my god. OH MY GOD THIS IS JUST LIKE WHAT I DEALT WITH IN MED SCHOOL. REBECCA TRIED TO GET ME TO STRUCTURE MY DAY AROUND STUDYING AND HOBBIES AND I DIDN'T.

Oh my lord, my sweet lord this must get solved.

I'm glad Rilley got me into handling it mode. Instead of backing away in fear mode. I don't think I'd be doing all this life analysis now had we not had the hard talk earlier. I love and trust her so much. She is truly an incredible individual. She would make the absolute best therapist. She's basically there, she's so close. Fill her up with some training and I swear to god she'd blaze to the top.

[number5theboy]

Please elaborate on how Five could've turned into the most insufferable character to watch

Thanks for asking me to elaborate on this text post:

@tessapercygranger​, @waywardd1​ and @margarita-umbrella​ also wanted to see a more detailed version of it, and I ended up writing an essay that’s longer than some of my actual academic essays. So buckle up.

WHY NUMBER FIVE SHOULD BE THE MOST OBNOXIOUS CHARACTER IN TV HISTORY, AND HOW HE MANAGES NOT TO BE

Number Five: The Concept That Could Go Horribly Wrong

Alright, let’s first look at Five in theory in an overarching way, without taking into account the execution of the show. The basic set-up of the character, of course, is being a 58-year-old consciousness in a teenager’s body, due to a miscalculation in time travel. Right off the bat, Five is bar none the most overpowered of the siblings; by the end of Season 2, no one has yet been able to defeat him in a fight. He is a master assassin – and not just any master assassin, but the best one there is – and a survival expert, able to do complex maths and physics without the aid of a calculator, shown to have knowledge of half a dozen languages, has very developed observational skills and, to top that all off, he can manipulate time and space to the point where he can literally erase events that happened and change the course of history. And Five knows how skilled he is; he is arrogant, self-assured and sarcastic, and his streak of goodness is buried deep inside. David Castañeda once described Five in an interview as 90% chocolate with a cherry in the middle, meaning that you have to get through a lot of darkness and bitterness before knowing there is a good core, and I think it’s an excellent metaphor. However, Five is also incredibly, fundamentally terrible at communicating with anyone, and, because he is the only one with time travel abilities, the character a lot of the actual plot - and the moving forward of it - centres around. Also he’s earnestly in love with a mannequin, who is pretty much a projection of his own consciousness that functions as a coping mechanism for all the trauma he has endured. All in all, this gives you a character who looks like a teenager, but with the smug superiority of a fifty-something, who a) is extremely skilled in many different things, b) has a superiority complex, is arrogant and vocal about it, and most of the superiority is expressed through cutting sarcasm, c) has one very hidden ounce of goodness that he is literally the worst at communicating to other human beings, d) is what moves the plot along but is also bad at talking to anyone else, meaning that the plot largely remains with him, and e) his love interest is essentially a projection of himself. Tell me that’s not a character who is destined to be just…obnoxious, annoying, egocentric, a necessary evil that one has to put up with to get through this show. There are so many elements of this characterisation that can and should easily make Five beyond insufferable, but the show manages to avoid it, and I’m putting this down to three aspects.

That Trick of Age and Appearance

Bluntly put, Five as a character would not work if he was anything else than an old man in a 13-year-old body. Imagine this character and all his skills and knowledge, but actually just…a teenager. Immediately insufferable. Same goes for him being around 30, like his siblings, all of which are stunted and traumatised by their father’s abuse. If Five, being comparatively unscathed by Reginald to the point where he explicitly does not want to be defined by his association with his father, were 30 like his siblings, it would just take the bite out of that plot point and also give him a lot less time in the apocalypse, reducing the impact it had on him as a person. And making Five his actual 58-year-old self would make him very similar to Reginald, at least on surface level, with the appearance and attitude. Five and Reginald are two fundamentally different people, but having one of the siblings being a senior citizen that’s dressed to the nines and bosses his siblings around in a relatively self-centred way does open up that parallel, and would take away from Five’s charm as a character. Because pairing the life experience of a 58-year-old with the appearance of a teenager gives you the best of both worlds. You get the other siblings (and a lot of the audience, from a glance in the tags of my gifsets) feeling protective and paternal about Five, but his age and experience also give the justifications for his many skills, his arrogance, in a way, and his ability to decimate a room full of people. It’s the very interesting and not new concept of someone dangerous with the appearance of something harmless, a child. This is also where Five’s singular outfit comes in. I know we like to clown on Five to get a new outfit, but I think what gets forgotten often is how effective this outfit is at making the viewer take him seriously. The preppy school uniform is the perfect encapsulation of the tension between old man in spirit and young teenager in appearance. The blazer, vest and especially the shirt and tie are quite formal, relatively grown up. They’re not something we, the audience, usually associate with a teenage boy wearing; it makes Five just a little bit more grown up. But there is also a reason characters in this show keep bringing up Five’s shorts and his socks, because those are not things that we associate with grown men wearing; they’re the unmistakably childish part of his school uniform. Take a moment and imagine Five wearing a hoodie or a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers; would that outfit work for him as well as the uniform does? Would he be able to command the same kind of respect or seriousness as a character? I don’t think so; the outfit is a lot more pivotal in making Five believable than a lot of people give it credit for.

Writing Nuance

The other big building block in not making Five incredibly insufferable is the writing. Objectively speaking, I think Five is the most well-written, and, more importantly, most coherently written character on the show (which does have to do with the fact that the show’s events are all sequential for him), and his arc and personality remain relatively intact over the course of the two seasons. More to the point, a giant part of what makes Five bearable as a character is that he is allowed to fail. He is written to have high highs and low lows, big victories through his skills and his intelligence, but also catastrophic failures and the freedom to be wrong. His superior intellect and skillset are not the be-all end-all of the plot or his character, just something that influences both. His inability for communication has not (yet) been used to fabricate a contrived misunderstanding that derails the plot and left all of us seething; instead, it’s a characteristic that makes him fail to reconnect with the people he loves. This is a bit simplified, as he does find common ground with Luther, for example, but in general, a lot of the rift between Five and his siblings is that they can’t relate to his traumas and he does not understand the depth of Reginald’s abuse, which is an interesting conflict worth exploring. Another thing that really works in Five’s favour is that he is definitely written to be mean and sarcastic, but it is never driven to the point of complete unlikability, and a lot of the time, the context makes it understandable why he reacts the way he does. Most of the sarcastic lines he gets are actually funny, that certainly helps, but in general, Five is a good example of a bearable character whose default personality is sharp and relatively cold, because it is balanced out with many moments of vulnerability. Delores is incredibly important for this in the first season, she is the main focus of Five’s humanising moments, and well-written as she totes the line between clearly being a coping mechanism for an extremely traumatised man and still coming across to the viewer as the human contact Five needs her to be. In the second season, the vulnerability is about his guilt for his siblings, it’s about Five connecting a little bit better to them. There’s also his relationship with the Commission and the Handler specifically – which honestly could be an essay on its own – that deserves a mention, because the Handler is why Five became the man he is, and this dynamic between creator and creation is explored in a very interesting way – their scenes are some of the most well-written in the entire show. And TUA never falls into the trap of making Five a hero, he is always morally ambiguous at best, and it just makes for an interesting, multi-faceted character, well-written character, and none of the characteristics that should make him unlikeable are allowed to take centre-stage for long enough to be defining on their own. I know a lot of people especially champion the scenes where Five goes apeshit, but without his more nuanced characterisation, if he was like that all the time, those scenes would not hit as hard.

Aidan Gallagher’s Performance is Underrated

But honestly, none of the above would matter that much if the Umbrella Academy didn’t luck out hard with the casting of Aidan Gallagher. I think what he achieves as an actor in this show is genuinely underappreciated. Like, the first season set out to cast six adults having to deal with various ramifications of childhood trauma, and a literal child that had to be able to act smart and wise beyond his years, seamlessly integrate into a family of adults while seeming like an adult, traumatised by the literal end of the world, AND had to be able to create the romantic chemistry of a thirty-year-long marriage with a lifeless department store doll. The only role I could think of to compare is Kirsten Dunst in Interview with a Vampire, where she plays a vampire child who, because she is undead, doesn’t age physically, but does mentally, so she’s 400 in a child’s body. And Kirsten Dunst had to do that for a two-hour movie. Five is a main character in a show that spans 20 episodes now. That’s insane, and it’s a risk. Five is a character that can’t be allowed to go wrong; if you don’t buy Five as a character, the entire first season loses believability. And they found someone who could do that not only convincingly, but also likeably. As I said, he is incredibly helped by the costuming department and the script, but Aidan Gallager’s Five has so much personality, he’s threatening and funny and charming and arrogant and heartbreaking. He has the range to be convincing in the quiet moments where Five’s humanity comes to show and in the moments where Five goes completely off the rails. Most child actors act with other children, but he is the only child in the main cast, and holds his own in scenes with adults not as a child, but as an adult on equal footing with the other adult characters. That’s not something to be taken for granted. But even apart from the fact that it’s a child actor who carries a lot of the plot and the drama of a series for adults, Aidan Gallagher’s portrayal of Five is also just so much fun. The comedic timing is on point, he has the dramatic chops for the serious scenes, the mannerisms and visual ticks add to the character rather than distract from him, and his line deliveries, paired with his physical acting, make Five arrogant and smug but never outright malicious and unlikeable. It’s just some terrific acting that really does justice to the character as he is written, but the writing would not be as strong if it wasn’t delivered and acted out the way Aidan Gallagher does. He is an incredible asset for this show.

Alright, onto concluding this rambling. If you made it this far, I commend you, and thank you for it. The point of all of this is that Five, as a character, could have been an unmitigated disaster of a TV character. He is overpowered, arrogant, uncommunicative and could so easily have been either unconvincing or completely unlikeable, but he turned out to be neither. It’s a combination of choices in the costume department, decisions in the writing room, and Aidan Gallagher’s acting skills that make the things that should make him obnoxious and annoying incredibly entertaining, and I hope you liked my long-winded exploration of these. Some nuance was lost along the way, but if I had not stopped myself, this would’ve become a full-blown thesis.

[angelicamerlinbarnes]

TUA DISNEY AUs: Big Hero 6 (Pt. XVIII)

(please understand that by AU, I mean they share an incredibly small amount of things in common with the original source material which I barely remember BUT the “story” takes place in the setting of the film) (not to be misleading or anything :p)

(BEWARE: abuse, murder, corruption, mental health issues, unhealthy coping mechanisms, suicidal ideation, death, grief, violence, basically i took the sad montage after Tadashi dies and just kept going with that except without the whole "getting better" thing, sorry, my bad, enjoy anyway i guess i don't know, bye, etc.)

(If you can handle watching Umbrella Academy, this will be fine for you.)

(Hiro) Vanya hasn’t much of a head for science - not since a gas explosion in her childhood apartment killed her parents and exposed her to radiation, leaving her brittle-boned and sickly. She spends most of her days holed up in her room, reading and writing about every little thing she sees and hears and feels. There’s this cat in the alleyway she feeds sometimes, and her friend Ben who comes by to see how she is every few days. The only time she goes out is for school, or bot fights down in the bad neighborhoods. At those she gets to see Ben, and his partner Klaus and his friend Diego. Oh, and Sissy - the beautiful, shy punk girl who spins the records in the corner store. Vanya lives what she considers a pretty average life - until Ben dies, she screams, and all the windows around her shatter from nothing.

(Tadashi) Ben has been a science nerd for years, spending hours in the libraries and labs researching every little thing that catches his fancy. His partner, Klaus, has no such interest, having more of a head for poetry, but Ben loves him more than life itself - especially since Klaus was the only person who stuck with him when one of his experiments went wrong a few years ago, resulting in tentacles that are prone to ripping out of his chest when he’s angry. And since he loves Klaus so much, he spares not a second thought to running back into a burning building to get him back, even when it means certain death. And Ben knows you can’t bring back the dead - he tried when Klaus’ beloved boyfriend Dave died in a gunfight a few years back. Once you’re gone, you’re gone - or so he thinks until he wakes up and Klaus starts crying and muttering, You’re here, you’re here, you’re here, I did it, I did it, I did it - and Ben reaches out and thinks, Oh, no, sweetheart. You didn’t.

(Honey Lemon) Allison was engaged to Ray before he disappeared, but even after that failed experiment lost her the love of her life, she continued to work for the forward movement of science and kept her vow of love to Ray. Using her research, she managed to create a pill that allowed her to bend reality, hoping to bring back Ray. Though she couldn’t raise the dead - no amount of I heard a rumor Ray was alive again worked - she won herself other advantages with her newfound powers, including sponsors, knowledge, opportunities, and protection. Klaus, Diego, Five, and Ben are her only true friends in this world - and she nearly loses all of them when Ben dies, drowning in their grief. When Luther, one of Five and Ben’s passion projects starts hanging around to monitor their mental health, Allison finds a new kind of love - deep, ever-lasting friendship that she’ll never give up. Even when they have to leave him behind on the moon after they save Ray, she doesn’t let him go - she finally knows how to speak up for what she wants, and speak up she does: I heard a rumor that Luther came back to me.

(Fred (actually a mash-up of Honey Lemon and Hiro though to be honest)) Klaus is a starving artist and poet, and he's covered in tattoos of his own words and drawings. Diego is too, because Diego loves him, and Klaus wants to love him back and probably does already, if he’s really honest with himself, but he’s not ready yet. Dave happened too soon ago. And then there was a fire, and Klaus was running around outside, looking for Ben, looking for the platonic love and light of his life, and he saw him run inside screaming Klaus’ name and never come back out. And he lives with that guilt every day, smoking and drinking all the bad shit again in an effort to just forget, forget, anything goddamn anything to forget, and he goes crazy. People forget, because he’s not a student at their nerd school and because he acts like a dumbass, that Klaus is actually just as much a genius as the rest of them, and whatever he wants, he can get without much trouble. So what if he can’t bring back the dead? He won’t live without Ben, he won’t, and he won’t leave Diego - which leaves only one option, really: find a way to make himself see ghosts.

(Wasabi) Diego lives a charmed life. Truly. He’s almost been assassinated fifteen fucking billion times, his two best friends are robots, and he’s in love with a person too sad to love him back. See, Diego’s skills brought him to the military’s special attention - he found a way to make weaponry that doesn’t obey the laws of physics. He keeps it as secret as he can, and will sell it to nobody, but millions of people are still after it. It’s not until one of the assassins almost nails Klaus with a bullet and Diego kills her with a store-bought kitchen knife without moving that he realizes the weaponry he created isn’t special, but Diego is. From then on it’s nothing but trouble - because Klaus likes to dumb himself down, but he can’t fool Diego, and so when he starts screaming at empty air and calling it Ben, Diego isn’t surprised in the least, though maybe he should be. Instead he just sighs, opens his arms, and lets a sobbing Klaus fall into him, loving him more than he did yesterday and less than he will tomorrow. Diego has his home, and he has his people, and he has his powers - and he will defend them to the fucking death.

(Gogo) Five is bitter and grumpy, living off coffee and perpetually crazy. He’s brilliant enough to have done surgery on himself, implanting an AI pacemaker in his heart named Dolores from an accident that nearly stripped him of everything, his life included. He was born with special powers, both of which fuelled his fascination with science, but he keeps that secret close to his chest - he’s seen what people do to Diego and Allison, and he has no interest in that. He’s close with the others, somewhat, though his impassable genius makes it difficult for people to understand him - Diego gives him piggy back rides and he often falls asleep curled into Klaus’ side, and Allison gives him rides home and Ben builds robots with him. But as hard as he finds it to connect with them, it’s even harder to lose them - so when he realizes he can use his time travel powers to save Ben, he doesn’t hesitate. And then he’s dying in Klaus’ arms, and he’s watching as his favorite person in the world chooses to lose the love of his life all over again to save Five, and something deep inside him changes.

(Baymax) Luther is a medical robot, built by Five and Ben in their spare time. There are some videos in him, mostly of Ben talking to Klaus because Luther was meant to be a gift for Klaus to help him with his depression, anxiety, PTSD, anorexia, and addiction, etc.. Five adds grief counseling to his programming and gives him to Klaus on his first birthday after Ben’s death, making Klaus dissolve into tears. While Luther clashes with Diego, who hates him for surviving where Lila didn’t, they get along well enough to appease Klaus, because Luther knows Klaus loves Diego and Diego knows Luther helps Klaus. When they travel to the moon to get Ray, Luther winds up stuck there, unable to get the others home if he doesn’t stay behind. Klaus and Allison both have trouble letting him go, but Klaus forces Allison to come home with him, crying as he leaves Ben for the third and final time. When Allison brings Luther back, his videos still intact, Klaus touches Ben’s face on his chest and cries, cries, cries.

Lila is a malfunctioning masterpiece, and Diego’s best friend. He made her as a help robot, but she’s a prototype, and was rejected for her proneness to violent outbursts and catatonic episodes. She’s easy to manipulate, as Diego never bothered to fix her security protocols, but it’s not like there’s anyone else who talks to her - except Five, and he’d never touch her programming without Diego’s explicit permission. She sleeps at Diego’s house, in her charging station next to Eudora’s. Lila knows robots can’t feel love, so that isn’t what she’s feeling - but her wires are tied to Eudora’s in some way, she just knows it. They’re two halves of the same code. But she never gets to explore that link - she burns away to nothing in the fire that destroys the Handler’s minions, using the last of her strength to save Five from the flames. She hopes, when Diego finds his baby brother curled in her charred corpse, that he’ll bury her in the rain, and keep on living without her well enough.

Eudora is a suicide-prevention robot. Seriously. That’s all she’s here for. Ben and Diego built her together for Klaus specifically, programming her with some of his favorite jokes and references so she’d have an easier time talking him down from the edge when one of them can’t be there. She’s programmed to instantly call Ben, Diego, Five, or Allison immediately if she finds him doing dangerous things, like playing with Diego’s knives naked. (It happened one time. Seriously. True story.) She’s calm and gentle, unruffled and kind, and Diego often spends hours talking to her, because she may be programmed for Klaus but she can still help anyone who needs it. He nearly looses her to Cha-Cha, but Klaus saves her just in time, beating Cha-Cha to a steaming hunk of scrap metal with a baseball bat for trying to hurt his best (robot) friend. She’s not saddened by Lila’s death, per say, she can’t be… but when she’s downloading databases on panic and anxiety attacks for Diego and Klaus, she makes sure to save some on insomnia for herself, too.

Sissy is a botfighter, one who dresses in a black and magenta punk aesthetic to fend off strangers, too shy for the world. She messes around with Vanya, the two of them often dancing in the rain and finding joy in the small moments, but happily ever after was never in the cards for them. Sissy lives with her abusive boyfriend Carl and has their son to take care of, an accident from too many beers - when Carl murders her in a drunken rage, it’s less of a surprise and more of a solemn inevitably. Her son, Harlan, is placed in Vanya’s care, and Vanya travels the world with him, telling him everything about his mother she knows. It’s a bittersweet ending, but a hopeful one too.

Ray was a student at the nerd school before he became a therapist, using his incredible mind-healing technology to help people all over the world. Allison fell in love with him quickly, easily, and the two were engaged before the year was up, planning for a spring wedding in which Klaus would, obviously, be the flower girl. But when he was offered the chance to go to space as a therapist for the other nine people on the mission, he jumped at the chance, bidding Allison goodbye and heading to the moon. But something went wrong and he was lost to the world, along with the other nine astronauts, all of whom died when the ship crash-landed. Ray has been in a coma for years there, having been knocked out in the explosion, and remains that way until Luther brings him home, Allison having come for him at last. (When he’s well enough to, he takes care of Five, Klaus, and Diego, whose mental states have been steadily declining for years. Their robots are brilliant, of course, but there are some things you just need a human for.)

Reginald is the dean of the nerd school and also an asshole. He has a habit of killing students when they get in his way, or to steal their inventions as his own - and he gets away with it too, because he’s at the forefront of memory technology and quite literally erases these people from existence so nobody comes asking questions. Plus he’s got connections in the government that destory any records he needs destroyed. He had a couple of kids he wanted to get rid of the night of the showcase, and started the fire to make it seem like an accident - well, Ben actually was an accident, he wasn’t on Reginald’s hitlist, not yet, but whatever. It is what it is. What Reginald doesn’t anticipate is Klaus - because nobody ever anticipates Klaus - and so he thinks nothing of it when he confesses to Ben’s murder in his monologue in front of all his former students. He can just erase their memories later. Or so he thinks, until Klaus lets out a savage war cry and lunges forward to strangle him, killing him in cold blood without a second thought, and so is the end of Reginald Hargreeves. (Five takes the fall for his murder - not that it matters. Diego and Klaus break him out and the three of them disappear, never to be seen again - at least, not until Allison’s done manipulating every single person in the world into forgetting it ever happened on live TV.)

The Handler is Reginald’s finest invention: a flawless AI in a perfect human body. Problem is, she became bored of being his servant years ago and took over his life, blackmailing him into doing whatever she wants. Most of the killings are still his idea, and Ben certainly wasn’t her fault, but it’s the Handler who wants Five dead, and it’s the Handler who sends her reject minions after him. She wants Eudora dead and she wants Klaus deader, but she gets neither - Five finds her and hacks her into little tiny pieces, putting all of them in a fire and then shoving those ashes into an Iron Maiden, dropping the Handler to an inescapable grave. Fuck her “life”.

Hazel is a teddy bear with a security camera in his stomach. He sits on Agnes’ counter in her donut shop, just watching the goings-on even though nobody ever steals anything there. Mostly he’s held in the lap of Five, who comes into Agnes’ whenever he doesn’t want his friends to see him cry - over a failed invention, Klaus’ most recent suicide attempt, Lila’s death - whatever, you name it. Agnes takes care of him, making him milkshakes when he asks for coffee, and eventually sends Hazel home with him, asking him to take care of Five for her. He doesn’t know it’ll be the last time he ever sees her - two weeks later Agnes is killed by Reginald and her donut shop is ransacked by looters. Her memory lives on in Hazel and Five, who rebuilds and reopens the shop with Klaus and Diego and Allison after a couple years, renaming it for Ben and living on despite his grief, and Hazel sits on the counter again, watching the sunset through the glowing windows.

Cha-Cha was supposed to be one of those “oh-hey-we’re-not-racist-anymore-we-make-black-dolls-too-see?” Barbies. She ended up with a rather experimental kid who enjoyed robotics and horror films, resulting in Cha-Cha: an AI in a Barbie with chainsaw arms. She kidnaps Klaus under the Handler’s orders, as he’s a connection to Five (who the Handler wants to kill) and Ben (who’s the only connection to Reginald and the Handler’s murders). This backfires spectacularly, of course, when Eudora and Diego come for him: Cha-Cha goes for Eudora’s throat and Klaus breaks himself free of his binds and beats her to smithereens with a baseball bat.

Leonard used to hang around Vanya, just generally assaulting her and being a creep, until suddenly he disappeared one rainy Monday never to be seen again. His body was found rotting in a lake a couple years later. It was revealed later on that he had decided to and succeeded in making real-life replicas of the Five Nights at Freddie’s characters, and they hadn’t been too fond of him trying to boss them around. The Handler recruited the replicas later on for her own schemes, and they followed Reginald rather well, their appetite for people satisfied well enough. But Leonard remains the school legend, and a striking reminder to be careful what monsters you let live.

Grace is the queen of the Land of the Remembered, and you may be wondering what she’s doing in this story. Well, to put it simply - Reginald’s little games have been messing with her shit. There are perfectly kind and memorable people who have come down to her only to be erased in the Land of the Living within the week, leaving her no choice but to take them in as refugees, working out a deal with the Land of the Forgotten since they weren’t given a fair shot at their deserved afterlife. She takes care of Ben when he dies for the second and final time, appearing to assure Klaus he’ll be alright when he crosses over. This is when Diego finally learns the truth about his mom, who has always been home in time to make dinner and never missed a single milestone, and who is apparently also an all-powerful goddess. She gives him a hug and tells him his boyfriend is cute (He’s not my boyfriend.) (You’re holding hands, darling. You may be an oblivious idiot, but I’m not.) and then she heads off, though she’s always back with Ben for the holidays. (Not Lila, unfortunately. She has no jurisdiction over robots.)

And Hiro is ace-aro and he and Miguel are QPPs, and Honey Lemon and Wasabi are QPPs, and Fred and Wasabi are dating, and Gogo is an bisexual aro queen with a girl she likes to kiss in the back alleyways, and Hiro has two sisters named Violet and Boo and Tip is his ace-aro lab partner. You’re welcome.

[rpd-rookie]

Pollen - Chris Redfield x Fem!Reader (NSFW)

Summary: A new type of mutamycete has been discovered in a remote region of South America. As a scientist working for Blue Umbrella, you are sent along with BSAA Captain Chris Redfield and his team to conduct research on it. Unfortunately, everything goes to hell when the infection goes out of control and start contaminating the unit ...

Author’s Notes: This is a request sent by the Queen of Headcanons (@missmamacitaoliveira​). It is basically porn with a plot and I chose to characterise it as "mild dub!con" because the sexual interaction depicted in this one shot is definitely the result of an arousal both characters (Chris and Reader) experience because of the mutamycete that contaminated them. Consent is given but the sexual act in itself is still a mix of fear and lustfulness at least at the beginning of it. Read at your own risk.

Warning: Sex Pollen / Smut / Mildly Dubious Consent / Rough Sex / Masturbation / Language 

           Golden spore-like particles were beautifully floating and dancing in the air outside the sterile plastic tent, shining like millions of innocent little fireflies but killing like a deadly swarm of wasps. They were covering the surrounding forest in yellow, from the trunks of the trees up to their tops, rotting the bark and the leaves, turning them into a thick yellowish mold capable of liquefying even the most solid of steels. A one-of-a-kind fascinating spectacle you had never thought to witness one day.   Incredible – yet scary - what this new type of fungus was capable of doing.  

Your earpiece crackled loudly in your ear, making you grimace and you dropped your leather notebook on your desk. “We’ve …sot … bit of sit…tion.” was all you could make out, the words sounding like gibberish because of the permanent interferences caused by the large cloud of mutamycete that had spread and contaminated the ambient air and the flora in the forest area by the riverside. “What kind of situation?” You asked, already removing a white Hazmat suit from a hanger. A never-ending sizzling was buzzing in your ear now, making it impossible to ear whoever was trying to communicate with you. “Hello?” You said as you adjusted the device to restore the communication. But all of a sudden, some static electricity – probably generated by the interferences - fried your earpiece in your ear, making you squeal in pain and fear and troubling your vision for a second. “Shit.” You cursed as your threw the broken earpiece to the ground, a low buzzing echoing in your head. “Why does it always happen to me?”             You quickly slipped on the rubber suit, put on some chemical overshoe boots and grabbed Umbrella’s latest air-filter helmet before heading towards the exit.             Luckily for you, you didn’t have to wander outside for too long as an officer rushed towards you, pointing at the military green tent that happened to belong to the medical unit that accompanied you on this mission. “Hurry, please.” He said with an alarmed voice that sent shivers down your spine. Something was definitely wrong.

           You ungraciously followed him to the tent, your uncomfortable get-up making it hard for you to run properly. After all, it was made to work in a lab, not play commando in a remote tropical region of South America.             Once in there, you immediately noticed two soldiers convulsing hard on their medical beds, struggling to breathe in spite of the oxygen the mechanical ventilators were providing them. Their faces were bright red, covered with pustules and blisters; their skin peeling off as if some acid had splashed on them.             “What happened?” You dared ask, your widened eyes staring in shock at the poor men whose painful screams where muffled by the masks covering their melting faces. “Unsuitable gear. Thank your corporate overlords for that.” You glanced at the man who had answered, recognizing the angry powerful husky voice in spite of the deformation caused by the gas helmet he was wearing. “Captain Redfield, I’m sure…” He waved you to shut up and you obeyed, knowing that now was not the time to start an argument with him. It would not end up well, Redfield being too impulsive and stubborn to have a calm conversation with you even in more peaceful circumstances. His reluctance to work with Umbrella Co., you supposed. “How can I help?”   “You’ve been studying this new mold, haven’t you?” Chris asked as he rushed to immobilise one of his men to allow a medic to sedate him with a syringe of morphine. “Might care to explain what’s happening?”         “I’ve only studied the infection on the nearby vegetation. I don’t know what’s happening to them.”    You mumbled, trying to keep your composure and ignore your growing concern and panic caused by the gut-churning vision before you.       “Just tell what you know!” Chris growled as he pinned his struggling teammate down on the white mattress with an incredible strength you found scarily impressive. “It’s basically the same mutamycete that we collected at the Baker’s except that it was somehow genetically modified to have a reproductive morphology similar to plants and flowers. That’s why it looks so much like pollen.”         “Make it understandable for a 5 years old, Y/LN, please.” Chris demanded with an annoyed sigh and you nodded though you didn’t really know how explain days and days of complex scientific research in a few simple sentences.     “Alright. The previous mutamycete permitted to turn dead people into Molded, sort of. This new version does the same but it can also reproduce … breed if you prefer. A simple contact with a compatible host can lead to fecundation that can ultimately lead to lots of Molded babies. But I don’t need to develop that part, do I? Everyone in this tent knows how to make babies, I believe.” You scoffed, finding a certain comfort and some safety in sarcasm. But now was not the time for humour and you understood it perfectly when Captain Redfield glared at you. “Sorry. I tend to make bad jokes when I freak out.” And you were definitely freaking out right now. “But to sum up, this new mutamycete basically mimics the primary instinct of a G- virus infectee.”     “Meaning?” Chris asked, his voice sounding an octave lower certainly because of the knot in his throat the simple mention of the G-virus had created.       “It basically has a vital need to procreate, relentlessly searching for the right host to fecundate.” “So you’re saying that my men are what … pregnant with Molded?”          He frowned and you could hear all his worries in his voice. He genuinely cared about his men. Very admirable and honourable. “I don’t know, Captain. I’m just telling you how it works on plants. Might be different for humans… I hope. Do you have an ultrasound scanner?” “ No, but we have one at the lab.” The doctor said. “ Then we need to evacuate quickly. And I …” You took some surgical pliers from a medical trolley and a test tube from your pocket. “…am going to need a sample to study all this.”

You approached one of the soldiers who was now basically dozing because of the morphine and slowly removed one of his gloves to cut one of his nails in order to later study his DNA. But as soon as your fingers touched him, he woke up with a start and jumped you, growling like a beast and grabbing you by the waist with a superhuman strength, almost digging his nails in your flesh through your clothes.         You first instinct was to scream. Not the most efficient thing to do, you agreed. But, fortunately for you, you were accompanied by men who had better first instincts and reflexes than you. Chris pushed his man away from you and pounced on him, grabbing him almost brutally by the wrists to slam him down against the bed. You put a hand over your pounding heart and stared, terrified and powerless, at the enraged man squirming to get up. His eyes were dark and hungry and fixed upon you as if he was unable to focus his attention on anything else. “What the fuck, Carter?” Chris roared as he used all his weight to keep his soldier in place. But Carter didn’t care. Carter didn’t even look human anymore. And watching those two men struggling on this bed was like watching two lions fighting on National Geographic. Except that it was terrifying. Fucking terrifying.

           Twenty-four hours later, Carter and his teammate were dead and their bodies still burning up like hot ember had been placed in the morgue section of the lab for you and your colleagues to study. But, in spite of the disgusting bloody experiments you led on them, you couldn’t take your mind out of the near-death experience you had been through at the camp. It haunted you, making it almost impossible for you to focus exclusively on your work. Those eyes. That darkness in them. That hunger that looked more and more sexual and lustful the more you thought about it. It was making you shiver in fear and discomfort. You had never seen anything like it before.       You shook your head to make the images go away and concentrated again on your researches. You had been studying fours little rats in a glass cage for hours, trying to see how their systems reacted to the new mutamycete. But for now, six hours after injection, only an unusual high body temperature could be noticed.

The automatic sliding door of your lab opened with a hiss, making you slightly jump. You briefly checked the clock on the wall. 10:38pm. You didn’t expect any visit that late especially not a visit from Chris Redfield. “Captain Redfield. What are you doing … here?” You furrowed, staring at him with concern. He didn’t look so well.     “Something’s happening to me.” His voice was cavernous and raspy and he sounded almost out of breath as if he was chocking under his black turtle neck.             You immediately got up, resisting the instinctive urge to come closer to check up on him and took a few steps back. “Alright. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong and I’ll see what …” You weren’t able to finish your sentence as Chris crumbled to the floor beneath him, growling as if he was trying to resist something, his nails dug in the grooves of the white tiles. “Oh my god, Chris.” “I feel like I’m burning up.” He struggled to say. And this time you rushed towards him. You couldn’t leave him like that. You had to do something.          

Knelt onto the floor, you grabbed his broad shoulders to help him lean his back against a lab bench. His face was scarlet red and pearls of sweat were dripping along his forehead. You wiped them away with your sleeve. They felt weirdly sticky and had a strange sour smell. But what worried you the most was the heat radiating from Chris’s body. You could feel it brushing your face. It looked like the man had been microwaved. “Don’t move. I’ll call for help.” You tried to get up but Chris’ hand caught your arm in a firm strong grip that made you wince. “You don’t… understand.” He managed to say, panting, his extremely dilated brown eyes staring at your (colour) confused ones.

Without forewarning, he placed your hand over his crotch, a gesture you found disgusting, salacious and incredibly inappropriate and that instinctively made you squeal and try to get away from Chris’ grasp. He was incredibly hard. “What the fuck?” You gasped, horrified as you tried to quickly get up. But you lost your balance and clumsily fell on your rear. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.” He confessed, suffocating. “I’ve been like this for the past hour or so.”         “The past hour?” You repeated, not knowing how to react or what to do. “Please tell me you can do something.” Chris begged, truly shamed and panicked and perfectly aware of the how indecent and degrading his behaviour must feel to you.   You stood up to focus on your breathing and regain your calm. “Okay. Everything’s going to be fine. Breathe.” You needed to have your mind clear if you wanted to help Chris. You needed your scientist mind back. “Are you … aroused?” You said, genuinely uncomfortable to ask something so intimate.           “Fuck, Y/LN!” Chris growled, glancing down at his pants. “ Isn’t it obvious? I’m freaking hard!” “Clearly.” You cleared your throat. “Don’t move.” You rushed towards your cupboard to rummage in it. “I’m going to give you GnRH antagonists. They can suppress hormones like testosterone. It should ease your pain for a while, or at least long enough to be able to find something that might help you. It’s possibly an effect linked to a long exposure to the mutamycete. Got you.” You took the vial with your trembling hands and turned around to go back to Chris. But what you didn’t realised was that Chris was just right behind you.

You bumped into his large chest and accidentally dropped the vial onto the floor. It broke into a thousand pieces as it landed on the tiles and you cursed, internally blaming yourself for your stupid clumsiness and your panic. “Please don’t tell me that’s what I needed.”       You grimaced, scared to tell him the truth as you could tell he was getting angry again. Then again, who wouldn’t?       “There might be another way.” You tried to reassure him but you knew it was vain. “Another way?” He harrumphed with a growl of pain as he leaned against your desk to breathe deeply. “What way?”     “ Well, have you tried to … you know…” You mimicked a pumping motion with your hand, not daring to say the word. “Masturbate?”         “You’re serious?” Chris’ darkened eyes widened, refusing to believe you were actually serious. “This is your medical advice? You want me to jerk off!”           “Yes, that’s what I want … I mean advise.” You corrected, probably as uncomfortable than him right now, if not more.           “Are you guys at Umbrella all dumb or is it just you? I don’t even know how I still can walk, Y/LN. I’ve never been that sensitive in my entire life. I feel like if I touch myself I will actually explode, like literally. I can’t jerk off right now!”  

There was an awkward silence that didn’t last long as Chris turned around to shout his suffering again. Though this time it was mixed with an animalistic rage whose cause was still blurry to you. Was it mad at you? At himself? At his condition? At Umbrella? … All of it?     You sighed and approached him. Hands on his back you helped him face you. “I can’t believe I’m about to do this.”   You told yourself.      

You put your hand over Chris’ male parts, making him wince and hiss, to blindly look for the zipper, staring away from him on purpose. “What the fuck are you doing?” He asked, slapping your hand away from him. “You got a better idea, soldier boy?!” You retorted, wishing there was another solution and that this all situation was merely a nightmare. You opened Chris’ trousers and disgustedly slid your hand in his briefs. “Ouch, easy!” He grumbled the second your fingertips touched him. His member was so sensitive and aching right now.       “This is the worse day of my life.” You admitted as you delicately took his hot swelling length, which was thicker and heavier than what you expected, in a limp grip. “Pff. I’m sure part of you enjoys it” Chris said in between two guttural moans, a sensation of both suffering and pleasure tensing his abs and clenching his jaw. “You must think it is karma for all the times I’ve been an ass to you.”             “What?” You harrumphed as you stopped moving your hand, genuinely offended. “How can you believe I’m enjoying it? You’re sick.”           “Then why are you all flushed?” He asked.

All this panic and concern for Chris had made forget about your safety and yourself in general. You touched your cheeks. They were abnormally hot and you could feel their sudden redness tickling your skin. “Embarrassment and panic.” You retorted, trying to convince yourself more than Chris. After all, wasn’t it the most plausible reason? Unless… “Or the mutamycete and in that case it’s all your fault and if I die I’ll come and kill you.” You started panting and Chris stared at you silently. “What? You think that masturbating you arouses me? Pff, you should know better than anyone right now what it means to be aroused.”         “Y/N” He called out by your first name. He had never done that before.   “What?!” You screamed, pissed at him.         “Shut the fuck up and keep going.” He ordered with a severity worthy of his military status. “Seriously?” He didn’t reply, seeing no need for an answer, and you reluctantly resumed your soft motion on his engorged cock, feeling the prominent thick veins throbbing against your palm as Chris suddenly began removing his military vest and his turtleneck “Are you kidding me?” You mumbled in between your teeth, definitely not liking this situation. “I’m burning up. I can’t stand my clothes anymore.” But soon your eyes occasionally started glancing towards Chris’ broad and hairy chest. He had a formidable body. God, what the hell were you thinking?   “Please tell me you’re gonna cum soon.” You begged but he didn’t respond. A bad sign. “Gosh, I must be doomed.”     “Perhaps if you actually put some effort in it.” Your eyes widened at him. Was it really criticizing the way you were jerking him off? “Seriously, Mister ‘Ouch I’m too sensitive’?”     “Don’t mind me. I get it. You’d rather do something else than help me right now. And I know this must feel very degrading. Well guess what? I’d rather do something else than being jerked off by you.” You stepped back. You had had enough of it. “Then go ahead.” You waved at the door. “Leave and get out of your bloody mess on your own. I don’t give a fuck. Actually you should have done that from the very beginning instead of coming to me. Why did you come here anyway?”             “I have no fucking idea, Y/N. I was in my quarters and seconds later I was here. I can’t explain it. I was like … guided here. ” You frowned, finding this honest confession extremely weird and yet not so absurd, your scientific brain making a parallel between Chris’s words and the way the mutamycete was permanently searching for a host to breed. The conclusion that Chris might want the same thing froze you to the spot, scared and apprehensive, a bit like a deer caught in headlights. Why hadn’t you thought about that earlier?  “And the more I look at you, the more I stay with you… I wanna fuck you so bad. And I hate myself for it.”

You gulped, finding yourself unable to regain control over your paralysed body as an instantaneous wet hotness formed in between your legs. You tried to repress it but Chris came closer, his darkened chocolate brown eyes staring at you the same way Agent Carter’s eyes had stared at you under that tent. It made you shake, expecting with a certain amount of fear what was bound to happen.     “Fuck! You have no fucking idea how hard it is to resist the urge to just slam you against that desk and shove my cock into you.” Your heart skipped a bit and the air got stuck in your lungs. You couldn’t breathe anymore. Terrified and yet so atrociously aroused it was making you want to hurl. A strange sensation – certainly a result of the contamination - you had never experienced in your entire life and you didn’t know how to process.     “I’m calling security.” You announced as you somehow managed to rush towards your desk. “They’re going to place you under quarantine. That’s what I should have done from the very beginning.” You tried to seize your phone but it was immediately taken away from away from you and thrown across the room before you could even push a single button.  

You trembled again when you suddenly felt Chris’s towering body press against your back, his hardened member pushing against your butt as his muscular arms were forming a caging embrace to prevent you from escaping. “Then why haven’t you?”  He whispered in you ear, his hot breath tickling your neck and making you shiver, this time more in arousal than in fear. “I don’t know.” You mumbled in a whisper, feeling your heart pounding like crazy in your chest because of the exquisite proximity between Chris’ strong body and yours. This was insane.

You moaned when you felt Chris softly grazing his teeth against the sensitive skin of your neck and then gasped with a certain apprehension when his large hand grabbed your throat to squeeze it, knowing he could choke you to death with ease right now without giving you a chance to fight back. “Tell me you want this.” He murmured, rubbing his pelvis against your rear hoping teasing you would convince you to give in to him. “I won’t touch you unless you want me to. But please, please, tell me you want me to.” You looked back at him to stare at his eyes. In their hungry darkness, you could notice that Chris was still in there, spotting his integrity slightly gleaming behind the veiled pupils. He was fighting the temptation caused by this stupid fungus. But how long could he resist? Or better question, how long could you resist judging by the wetness growing in your panties. The answer? Not long.

“Do it.” You whispered so low, hoping he would not hear you and let go of you. But he did hear you and he didn’t wait. He pulled your skirt up to your waist and ripped your panties with a swift powerful motion that made you squeal and hold on tight to your desk.     “I don’t think it’ll take long.” Chris said with a raspy voice as he dropped his trousers and briefs to his feet, finally freeing his throbbing cock that sprang erected and hard as a stone pillar. He watched it for a second, admiring it twitching and begging to be relieved. Then he stared at you, at your naked butt and your glistening red lips. “Gosh, you look delicious.” He said to himself before spitting on his finger to lube his length. Last thing he wanted was to hurt you. “You’re sure you’re up for this?” He asked again, not knowing how he would react if you said no. “I’m sure. Just fuck me, please.” You whimpered and Chris smiled as he guided himself towards your entrance. He moved briefly in between your half-closed thighs, right against your tight lips, to spread your juices along his shaft before kicking your calves to make you spread your legs for him.       Once the access granted, he finally pushed himself deep into you, sliding him member so deep it almost disappeared in you. You winced and moaned, nails dug in the wood of the desk, when you felt him stretching you, definitely not used to welcome such girth inside your pussy. “Holy shit.” You cursed, with a small tear in the corner of your eye. “You’re so big.”           “I know. Sorry.” He chuckled, his hand wandering down your back. “You’ll get used to it.” You cried out when Chris suddenly pulled out to push himself back inside of you with one single hard move. The force of his thrust made you fall flat on the desk. “You got nothing against rough sex, right baby girl?” Baby girl? The pet name made you furrow. What was next? You calling him daddy? “Cause I’m in that kind of mood right now.” He growled as he repeated the same motion, making you muffle a new loud moan in the leather notebook on which your head was resting. “Let’s get this over with.” You growled, already breathless.

Chris’ pelvis smacked loudly against your ass, making it bounce, as his heavy balls hit your swollen clit. “Fuck!” You shouted, hating the sensation as much as you were liking it. And he did this over and over. With time, you grew accustomed to the brutality and even happened to find a blissful pleasure in his roughness. Hell, you could even hear how wet your pussy was. “You like that? You want it faster?” You nodded and he grabbed your hips to pull you even closer to him and started relentlessly pounding you from behind. You screamed his name, wondering how he could still be that rough and yet that fast. His cock was literally a jackhammer hitting you hard inside, not that you minded. “Yes, just like that.” You said as you brought your fingers to your swollen clit. “Do you want to cum already?” You heard the cheekiness in his voice. He was amused.   “Aren’t you the one who said it wouldn’t last long?” You retorted with a mocking smile that he definitely noticed in the tone of your voice since he grasped a handful of your hair to pull you back against his chest. “You’re going to regret this tone, young lady.” He bit your lips, making you almost bleed and kissed you with a hunger and a ferocious passion that would certainly let your lips bruised for days.

And as he did, his fingers crawled towards the buttons of your white shirt to violently tear the clothe apart, reducing it to rags and making the small metallic buttons fly in the lab. “Let me see those boobs.” Chris ordered as his hands squeezed your breasts, feeling the hard nipples pointing through your laced bra that he ultimately removed with the same burning ardour he had shown while removing your shirt. “So perky and pretty.” He confessed in a whisper as he pinched the rosy teats between his fingers. “Do you like them?” You asked, biting your sored lips           “More than I like you. That’s for sure.” The rebuke made you sourly laugh. “I don’t like you either.”     “Good.” He turned you over to face him and pushed you against your desk to make you sit on it, throwing all your stuff to the ground before laying you down on it. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist but that’s apparently not what Chris wanted as he put both your feet above his left shoulder with a grunt. “And don’t move.” He commanded and his hand slapped your breasts. They reddened almost instantly but the overall sensation was exhilarating, making you clenched your walls around Chris’s cock. “Fuck, don’t squeeze me like that.” He complained and you chuckled. But your laugh was brief since Chris caught you by your legs again and resumed his previous pounding.

You head tilted to the side and a stream of OHs and AHs escaped your mouth. You were completely at Chris’ mercy, lost in an intense bliss that made you completely unaware of the world around you. There was only pleasure. Pleasure and Chris.         You toes went to feel Chris’ muscular pectorals, curling up more and more by the second. “I think I’m gonna cum.” You confessed with half-lidded eyes that you could barely keep open now. “Yeah?” You nodded. “You want me to help you?”       “Please.” You whined, desperately wanting to let the ticking bomb of pleasure between your legs explode. “Alright then.” His arms circled your waist and he hoisted you up against his chest with an incredible ease. You were certainly very light for a man as strong as Chris.         His small dark hair tickled your breasts, making you shiver and you wrapped your legs against him as well as your arms around his neck. You could feel it still inside of you and you were waiting eagerly to se how he would manage fucking you in that position which was far from easy. “Hold on tight.” He announced as he squeezed your ass to make you slide up and down his penis. The first moves were sloppy and clumsy but what followed drove you back in intense delight. The perks of being fucked by a man who had definitely been spoiled by Mother Nature.

Your body perfectly angled against Chris’, hands now holding on tight to his large shoulders, you could feel your clit rub atrociously well against the bush surrounding his member that your pussy had excessively creamed. “Chris. I’m cumming.” You shut your eyes and cradled against his body to keep yourself in place when the exhilarating moment you had been longing for finally happened.             You shouted so loud as you clenched your walls against Chris’s cock you wondered how no one rushed in your lab to see what was happening in there. “That’s it baby girl. Cum for me.” Chris hissed, his mind split between your pussy squeezing him tightly and your nails scratching his shoulders to the blood. “Fuck, Chris!” Your climax knocked you out, rendering you dizzy and limp, and you let yourself slump against Chris, head over his shoulder.             “Alright time to truly finish this.” He chuckled and knelt to the floor where he laid you hot body on the tiles. The coldness made you tremble but you were too giddy and tired to mind. Nevertheless, you sensed Chris lie on top of you, his massive body sprawled over yours almost crushing it under his weight.

His shaft found his way back in your relaxed pussy and he weaved his hand in your soft hair to pound you for the last time. Only soft almost soundless moans escaped your mouth but you could tell that the effect of your powerful orgasm was slowly fading away as your energy was slowly growing back and regaining your limbs. “I’m gonna cum in you.”         This was a terrible idea, risky even, and you knew it. But you didn’t know how – or didn’t want – to fight back, actually desiring to feel Chris’s hot sperm spurt inside of you. So instinctively, you managed to circle his waist with your legs and spur his hard rear to make him go deeper inside of you. “Eager girl. You want to take my cum so bad, don’t you?” He scoffed and kissed your lips hard as he pinned your wrists up your head to finally release his sticky white seed in your vagina with a guttural animalistic grunt that echoed in the lab. “Take it.” He growled as he kept pushing himself hard inside of you to be sure not to waist a single drop of his semen.

Chris pulled out of you and gazed at you glistening red pussy, glad to see that his cum was not oozing out of you. “That felt so good.” He admitted before allowing himself to fall next to you with a sigh of content and enjoy the coldness of the tiles against his sweaty body. “And you know what? I actually feel a lot better.” You didn’t answer, exhausted but more especially lost in your thoughts. Gosh, what have you done?           “You’re alright?” Chris asked, his voice finally back to normal. You glanced at him and noticed even his eyes had found their sweet chocolate colour back. “ Y/N”   Your name echoed in your head and you suddenly got the impression that your body was abnormally convulsing. “Y/LN! Y/N” Chris repeated as he urged to hold you. “Y/LN. Hello?” You felt your mind slowly dozing off, finding yourself unable to answer. What the hell was happening? That was the last thing that came to your mind before it completely shut off. Then everything went dark and only Chris’ voice calling your name remained. “Y/LN! Open your eyes. Wake up!”

           You woke up with a start, lost and wondering where you were, your startled eyes scanning your surroundings in search of something familiar. It took you a couple of seconds to realise you were laying on the ground and that you actually were in your tent, a the camp. “Y/LN” Your eyes met Chris’. He was staring at you with concern, his hands firmly holding your shoulders. “You’re alright?” You stared at him, still very astonished and then, you spontaneously jumped in his arms. “Chris! You’re okay!” The relief in your voice made Chis frowned and he slowly pushed you away. “Yes. You?” You nodded with a smile.   “So it was a dream?” You asked, expecting an answer from Chris which was completely absurd. “A dream?” He repeated. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did you bump your head or something? Hurt yourself?”     “No.” You shook your head, not getting why he looked so worried.         “But your ear.” He pointed at it, not daring to touch it and you brought your fingertips to it. A thick liquid was pouring out of it. It was pus and blood. You were bleeding. Why were you bleeding? “What the fuck?” You looked around you only to spot the fried earpiece on the ground next to you.           The interferences. The static electricity. It had certainly burst your eardrum and made you faint and … “It was all a dream.”

[the-scalemail-system-blog]

Some terms and notes on DID

We have found this guide to terms useful in learning about ourselves, so we have decided to share it to help others who have DID/OSDD or simply wish to understand the condition. Long post ahead.

DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder, a disorder where the brain splits into separate parts. This disorder usually has amnesia and can cause significant stress to someone, hence it being a disorder. 

OSDD - Other Specified Dissociative Disorder, similar to DID but may not show the same symptoms of DID. They may not have amnesia, or the alters may not front, etc. 

System - Anyone that has headmates or alters. 

Singlet - Anyone who does not have any alters, someone who just has themselves and their own thoughts. 

Traumagenic - A system that exists due to previous trauma. 

Quiogenic - A system that doesn't know or care how it formed. 

Preasigenic - A fuck you term basically meaning "I don't have to tell you my origin, that's for me to know and for you to not make your business." 

Neurogenic - A system that formed due to other mental illness rather than trauma. 

Protogenic - A system that's been plural since birth/as long as they can remember. 

Paragenic - A system caused by MDD (Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder) or similar experiences. 

Median -  A system that rides a gray area as a system. These systems have 2 or more facets that somewhat blend together and may function similar to a singlet, though these facets may still have their own unique thoughts, names, and personalities all of their own. 

Gateway - System that has "walk-in" alters that come and go as they please.

Mixed Origin - System with alters of multiple different origins. 

Polyfragmented - A system with 100 or more fragments or alters. 

Splitting - When an alter goes through a large amount of trauma, stress, or anxiety, an alter can split into 2 or more alters if they cannot handle it. An alter dissociating a lot can also lead to a split. 

Integrating - When 2 alters or fragments become one again. Integration can cause the alter to completely change. Their personality can change, their appearance may change, their age, their memories. It can all change. This is ok, and nothing bad. It is completely normal and can be very good for the system.

Dormancy - When an alter goes dormant, they are nowhere close to fronting. They can be impossible to find in the inner world, you may not be able to feel them at all. This is usually something done completely by the will of the alter and nothing to be worried about, though it is natural to miss them as well. 

Subsystem - When someone in the system has a system! I heard ya like systems, so I put a system in your system. 

Fronting - Being the one in control of the body! Being in the pilot seat, to put it simply. 

Co-Fronting - When two or more alters are fronting or present at the same time. 

Blending/Blurring - When two alters are close to each other, they may temporarily blend together. It may be because of dissociation or a specific trigger. This is only temporary and nothing like integration, which is permanent unless something causes the alters to split once more.

Dissociation - Dissociation is a state where your mind goes blank, thinking and grasping reality may be incredibly difficult or just straight-up impossible. Singlets do this a lot as well, it’s pretty much when your brain goes on auto-pilot. When you’re taking the same route to work as always, doing a daily chore, etc. However, for systems, it's a daily occurrence. Reading a wall of text may be difficult and remembering what it says may be impossible. It can be caused by a trigger, an alter trying to front, or someone co-fronting. If one is dissociating heavily, this can lead to a split. 

Age Sliding - When an alter changes from one age to another. They may get older or younger, this may be caused by a trigger, but not always. 

Host - The one who fronts most often, whoever is in the pilot seat most. This may fall under more than one alter, or there may be no Host at all. All of it is valid! 

Protector - The one who protects the system. They do not always need to protect the body, but rather stay internal and help other alters feel better, or rather they may only protect the body. Whatever way they protect, it is fully valid.

Persecutor - An alter who acts to harm the system, one or more specific alters, or the body. Though, there is often an odd protective reason for these actions. They may feel if they are harming the system, then no one else has to because they are already doing the harm. They may be trying to keep the system "humble". Whatever the reason, by talking things over and treating them as equal, one can find the reason why the persecutor acts how they do. Some persecutors may also be introjects* of abusers. 

Introject - An umbrella term for any system member that is based off of an abuser, family member, caretaker, or a historical, popular/famous, or fictional figure, etc. Includes, but is not limited to, fictives and factives.

Caretaker - Someone who takes care of the system. Not quite a protector, as they tend to stay inside and keep the system running smoothly. They may try to resolve internal conflicts, comfort other alters, etc.

Gatekeeper - Someone who holds back traumatic memories that the system may not be ready to deal with. They can hold back traumatized alters, control who is and isn’t fronting, etc. 

Trauma Holder - An alter who holds traumatic memories for the system. 

Internal Helpers - Alters that only help internally rather than externally, they tend to know more about the system, the inner world, and the structure of things. Think of them as the mechanics of the system. 

Little - An alter that ranges between the ages of 1-12 if the host is not of the same age. 

Middle - An alter that ranges between 13-17 if the host is not of the same age. 

Non-Human/Inhuman - An alter that is something not human, this could be an animal, something paranormal, an alien, a robot, etc. 

Fictive - An alter that is derived from a fictional source. These usually come about due to seeing the character as being able to handle and deal with a situation better than the rest of the system. 

Factive - Similar to a fictive, but derived from a real person. It could be a celebrity someone really likes, a youtuber, even just a really close friend! Anyone derived from real life. 

Fragment - A fragment is a part of you made for specific tasks. Such as walking the dog, doing the dishes, going to school, etc. These can become alters given enough world experience and time. 

Non-Verbal - A term for being unable to speak. Some alters can permanently be non-verbal or only sometimes. It happens, don't be afraid of it! 

Headspace - The space alters go when not fronting, not every system has one and these can differ from system to system! 

Switching - The act of switching front from one alter to another. Not all systems switch but many do! 

[palettepainter]

Do you have any headcanons on when Ecto and Higari got together or when they were younger?

Yep! Here are some

-I mentioned in a post with Higari’s family that Higari left for the city at 16 to go on UA’s support course. With him being raised in the country and the family still recovering from the passing of his dad Higari was very nervous and hesitant when he first joined UA. He was the awkward one in class, the outcast, he knew little to nothing about city life, the only thing he did know was his Uncle’s home (I have yet to draw out his uncle but hopefully can soon) where he was staying while studying at UA. I imagine Powerloader probably got bullied a little, being the shy quite kid he got unwanted attention, it never escalated to Higari getting seriously hurt, it was mostly stuff like name calling, throwing paper at him in class, people taking his seat, the worst it ever got was when he started to get pushed over in the hallways. With Higari still being emotional over his dads death lead to him lashing out, which then resulted in him getting in trouble. The bullying didn’t help Higari in classes either, and his anxiety made him forget things more easily, and his grades gradually began to drop. 

-Ectoplasm on the other hand was the total opposite. I have my own headcannon for his parents and I don’t want to spoil too much, but basically his parents where very well off money wise and work in the music industry, hence why Ecto has a love for singing - they weren’t millionaires by any means, but they where well know for their occupations and thus had plenty of money. Because of this Ectoplasm was considered somewhat famous among his classmates, and maaaybe a teenie part of him enjoyed the attention at first. Unlike Higari Ectoplasm had a large social circle and was good at talking with people, though he never really felt like he had a propper close friend. With his parents again being well known and quite wealthy, Ectoplasm was never sure if someone was friends with him because they genuinely wanted to be, or because his family was wealthy. Ectoplasm in reality was also pretty lonely, but he’d accepted that making friends would always be difficult with who his parents where, so sadly, he’d come to accept the fact he may not ever really get a proper friend. He covers up his loneliness by studying, it helps him focus on something, and helps his grades improove - a win win. Ectoplasm didn’t really focus much on making friends during UA..until he meets a ginger haired support course kid in the library

-Their first meeting was very brief: Higari had gone to the library to try and find a book on mechanics and engineering to prepare for the end of year test that was coming up in a few months, if Higari failed to pass he could get booted from the course. Ectoplasm unlike Higari was a high achieving student, and Higari was one of the lowest. Ectoplasm who has finished collecting the books he needs walks past, sees Higari struggling to reach a book (curse his shortness), and so Ecto walks over and picks up the book for him. Higari timidly thanks him, before Ectoplasm nods and then walks away. It was the first real time Higari has actually had any kindness shown to him, so the memory of that day has stuck with him. Ectoplasm didn’t think too much on it, he just helped out, no big deal.

-The two reunite however during an class exercise a few days later, the hero course students would be paired with a student from the support course - the aim of the exercise was for the support course students to design a support item for their hero student they where paired with, and then present it as their final project. Higari was more confident in making things rather then paper tests, so he had a bit of confidence going into the exercise. Right before the pairs have been picked Higari notices Ectoplasm standing with the rest of the hero course students, and how a lot of the people from his class seem to be looking/whispering about him. Higari had never been in the city before and so knew nothing about Ecto’s wealth, he just figured Ecto must have been pretty popular. While the pairs are being picked, Higari hopes he won’t be paired with someone mean...and surprise surprise, he ends up being paired with Ectoplasm. For the rest of the day the students are given time to know their partner, and then discuss ideas for a support course item. Higari recognizes Ecto as the kid from the library a couple of days back but is to shy to bring it up, he probably forgot about him anyway. The two introduce themselves, and thats when Ecto makes the comment on how Higari looked familiar. Higari was a bit flattered he’d been remembered, and it gave him another confidence boost to explain the library meeting the two had. Ectoplasm thinks for a moment, before realizing Higari was the kid he helped out at the library a few days ago. From their things go pretty well, Higari finds it easy to talk to Ecto once he’s found his confidence and Ectoplasm is very patient. Ectoplasm propses the two meet up at lunch time to talk about the project, and Higari can only nod eagerly (he always ate alone at lunch, so the idea of someone wanting him to sit with them made him happy, even if it was jus to discuss a school project)

Higari ends up going home feeling a little better then he did before 

-Days pass and Ectoplasm is surprised at just how quickly Higari was able to design a potential support item for him, maybe even a bit impressed at his speed, While Ectoplasm trained Higari watched, studying his attack style so he could work on an item to help him. It was obvious in the first few days of Higari watching his fighting style that Ecto liked using his legs to attack, and thus Higari designed a support item that would not only protect Ecto’s leg from sustaining damage, but also strength his kicks. Higari first showed him his initial sketches at lunch time, where he ended up going on in a bit of a tangent, for all of two minutes, before he suddenly went quite. Ectoplasm wanted to ask why he’d all of a sudden stopped, he hadn’t lost interest or anything, but Higari, saying he had nothing more to say, hurriedly leaves with a nervous glance over his shoulder to Ecto. The same kind of situation happened three more times, Higari would say something smart and then suddenly pipe down for no reason. On the fourth time it happened Ecto finally asked what was wrong. Higari insists it’s nothing, and Ectoplasm - not believing him - asks again. Higari as a kid is not used to opening up to friends since...well, he didn’t have any. But in the end, he tells Ecto. He admits how some other kids at UA tease him for being so nerdy about engineering, and so he just learnt to keep his mouth shut. If he gave them nothing to tease him over, then they couldn’t pick on him. Better to be quite then bullied he figured. Ectoplasm offers him reassurance, saying he doesn’t mind if Higari rambles, and that he was honestly interested in the project and what Higari had to say if he felt like it was important. Higari may have been a little awe struck, he’d never had anyone aside from family listen to him babble, so Ectoplasm, someone who might as well have been a stranger, telling him it was totally okay for him to nerd out and ramble was new

but oh BOY did he ramble, Ectoplasm may not have understood half of what he was saying, but he listened regardless.

-Their friendship begins to grow from their, Higari feels at ease around Ecto, maybe he gets a little clingy with him but that’s all because Ecto to him was his first friend. Ectoplasm begins to view him less as just a project partner as more as a friend, and in seeing Higari light up about mechanics he too feels happy. Alas neither of the two have the courage to ask the other round for dinner or meet up outside of school - Higari was too shy to ask someone like Ecto, a popular kid, to hang out. And Ectoplasm didn’t want Higari to find out about his parents wealth and then view him differently. So many times Ecto’s ‘friends’ has really just been interested in him because of the money his parents made, and he didn’t want to ruin what he now had with Higari. In the end the universe forced them to hang out - Ecto usually hung around at school even after the day was over, he liked walking home in piece, but on this particular day Ecto didn’t have his umbrella and it was raining. Hard. He rushes home, getting thoroughly soaked in the process and is chilled to the bone by the time he reaches the bus stop. Ten minutes pass, he’s still freezing cold, and then Higari walks past. Higari didn’t even recognize Ecto at first, with how soaking wet and miserable he looked. Ecto brushes off Higari’s worrying when the smaller by notices how Ecto is starting to shiver, and says he’ll be fine when the bus arrives. It took a bit of time for Higari to speak, but after finding his voice he timidly asks if Ecto wants to wait out the rain at his place - it’s not that far from here, and he’d at least be warm. Ectoplasm thanks him for the offer but declines, but quickly agrees when a giant bolt of lightning lit up the sky and the rain fell down harder. Higari leads Ectoplasm back to his Uncles home, where Ectoplasm is practically dripping with water. 

Ecto tries to tell Higari that he’s fine, but Higari is already dragging him inside and throwing a towel over him. Higari’s uncle was a bit surprised when Higari brought a friend back home (he knew Higari struggled with socializing) but was over the moon none the less, he was terrible at hiding how happy he was and quickly made Ecto a hot drink. Ten minutes later Ecto, now slightly warmer then before, is standing in Hiargi’s room with a towel wrapped round his shoulders as Higari tries to dry of Ecto’s school books on his radiator. Higari’s room is small and doesn’t have a lot of stuff aside from the usual bedroom things: bed, cupboard, desk, beanbag and a window. When Higari moved down into the city he didn’t bring all that much stuff to decorate his new room, just stuff like clothes and other personal belongings. The only real decoration themed stuff he had where tiny model cars sitting on his window sill. Higari notices Ecto staring, and apologizes if the model cars are too nerdy. Ectoplasm shakes his head, saying that his dad had a few model cars around his home. The two get to talking, filling the silence with conversation, it was the first conversation the two had that wasn’t school related. Higari opens up a bit about his family and siblings, telling Ecto a bunch of stories from his home back in the country while Ecto eagerly listens. Ecto was and still is a single child so never had any sibling issues growing up, never had to share anything, or fight over the TV, so he found Higari’s stories interesting. Higari felt bad for just talking about himself so he eventually asked Ecto about his family. Ecto still didn’t want to tell Higari that his parents where pretty well know, so instead said that it was just him, his mum and dad - which wasn’t a lie. After Ecto had dried off and warmed up, he hurried on home, Higari insisting he take his umbrella, he could just return it at school tomorrow. 

Ectoplasm leaves with a big smile on his face.

-Higari eventually found out about Ecto’s parents half way through their project. Ecto had started going round HIgari’s after school so the two could discuss the support item’s design and how it could be made. Ecto’s parents noticed the change in their sons behaviour, how he’d always seem more happy after returning how from this mysterious friends house. After Ecto returned home after being soaked with rain he explained to his slightly worried parents where he’d been. His parents decided that it might be time for Ecto to introduce this Higari friend of his, so they plan to invite him round for dinner - despite how Ecto felt nervous about the idea. Higari was very flustered when Ecto asked him round for dinner, at this point Higari was maybe starting to get a little smitten for Ecto, but he fiercely denied it. Higari enthusiastically accepts after his shock, and spends the rest of the day trying to prepare his most smartest outfit. The next day after school he goes round to Ecto’s home, where his parents greet him. Ecto’s parents, more so his dad, was very nosing in the teasing sense with Ecto so was very eager to meet this new friend Ecto seemed so happy about. Ecto hoped Higari wouldn’t comment on how posh everything looked, but he noticed. Higari felt a little out of place in such a fancy looking home, and even commented on how fancy everything looked. The truth comes out at dinner, where Higari comments on all the framed music posters Ecto had around the home, to which his parents then admit that the family has always been big in the music industry. Ecto at this point is half sinking in his chair because NOW his parents have moved on to tell childhood stories from when he was little, that Higari eagerly listened too. At the end of the meal and after Higari goes home Ecto sulks to his room, ignoring his parents who ask whats wrong. Ecto is hesitant to approach Higari, knowing that he’ll just ask a lot of questions all about his parents and their music careers. Higari notices how Ecto is avoiding him, and is worried maybe he did something wrong. One day he manages to catch Ecto just before he leaves the lunch hall, the two are alone in the hallway and Higari shyly asks why he’s been avoiding him - where Ecto then snaps.

He knows his parents are cool, he knows having rich parents is cool, he knows that Higari is going to ask so many questions about them, he knows Higari is going to ask if Ecto could get them an autograph. Everyone always asked about his prefect parents, and he was so tired of it! 

After Ecto has vented out his frustrations he sighs and turns to leave, but before he can Higari quickly rushes infront of him. Higari says he doesn’t care if Ecto’s parents are rich, he likes spending time with him because he enjoyed his company, no other reason. Higari hadn’t even heard of the music his parents made until they named some during dinner. Ecto raises a brow, still suspicious but still desperately wanting to believe Higari. Higari begins to panic, not sure what to do, in the end he does the first thing that comes to his mind and asks Ecto to meet him after school tomorrow. Before Ecto can ask why Higari has already rushed off, leaving Ecto very confused.

-One day later after school and Ecto and Higari are standing outside Ecto’s favourite karaoke place. Ecto asks how Higari knew this was his favorite place, and Higari shyly admits he remembered Ecto mentioning it once. Ecto blinks down at hi, he remembered? The two are pretty awkward when they first enter the karaoke room together, unable to make eye contact. Higari insists Ecto pick the first song, not like he knew anything about music anyway. Ecto is a bit shy at first, he’d never sang to anyone other then his parents, but Higari is patient as Ecto looks through the different songs. After finding one of his favorite songs and listening to the first few lyrics Ecto eventually found his voice and started singing. He wasn’t sure when he’d started dancing but when the song finished he was no longer sitting - Higari stares wide eyed, and Ecto feels blush come to his face. When Higari starts clapping his hands Ecto hurries back to his seat, but manages to stutter a flattered thank you. The end up having a blast, Ecto even got Higari to sing a little (they may have danced a bit more too). By the time the two head home it’s dark, but they exchange numbers and head home, Ecto realizing that Higari is in fact, a true friend.

-As for when they got together, it took them ages to finally become a thing. Higari was the first to develop a crush and Ecto despite being smart was a total oblivious idiot to Higari’s affections. The two finish their end of year project with a pass, Higari getting a high grade for the support item he designed and, thanks to Ecto, got a high enough mark on his paper test to pass. When they graduate the two temporarily move into an apartment together, but soon Ecto’s hero career picks up and he eventually moves out - Higari was sad he had to go but didn’t want to hold him back, they talked when they could with both having busy careers, it was only after Ecto suffered the loss of his legs did their relationship begin. Higari was one of the first people aside from his parents that got to see Ecto in the hospital. Higari is prepared for Ecto to vent, to yell..he’s not prepared when Ecto just grabs him into a hug and cries. Higari is there to comfort him and support him through recovery. With Ecto needing assistant he moves back in with Higari in his apartment when he’s discharged from the hospital - Higari is there to witness the sadness, the anger, the self hatred, and he’s there to offer a shoulder to cry on when Ecto needs an outlet. One day Ecto tells Higari he’s thinking about retiring from being a hero, with his leg gone there wasn’t much he could do, and the prosthetics he’d been shown at the hospital weren’t build for combat. It crushes Higari seeing Ecto look so defeated and miserable, so much that he pulls out the old school project designs he made, and redesigns them into combat suitable prostethics. Higari spent many days at his work desk perfecting the design, making sure they where perfect. He’d been with Ecto through his physical therapy and rehab, he knew Ecto’s fighting style better then anyone else, and finally finishes. When he presents the  prosthetics to his doctors and after they’ve been approved as safe they allow Ecto to try them out. They’re a bit hard to get used too, as he’s gotten used to the other prosthetics the hospital gave him. He’s a bit wobbly, and fell over a few times in the beginning. But after trying training again, something he hadn’t done since his injury, they work like a charm. Seeing Ecto happy for the first time in ages makes Higari smile, he’s so busy praising Ecto that once again is caught off guard when Ecto pulls him into a tight hug, thanking him over and over - Higari hugged back, some happy tears may have been shed 

-After Ecto has his new prosthetics Ecto buys a bigger house for the two to live in, mostly so that if his prosthetics for some reason broke, Higari would be able to fix them quickest. But it was also becasue Ecto was starting to get a little crush on his old school friend. I’m not really sure how they two would announce they’re dating, it just sorta...happened. They where both shy and a little awkward at first when it came to kissing, but they’ve got the hang of it now!

Some other small notes~~

-Ecto wanting to become a hero was at first a sort of rebellion thing. He got tired of friends always asking about his parents and their career, so when it came to choosing a course he picked the hero course, not wanting to be apart of his parents music career. Jokes on him cuz in the end Ecto ended up liking the idea of helping other people by being a hero, and his parents where supportive 

-When Ectoplasm told his parents he and Higari where dating his parents admitted that they thought Higari and Ecto had been dating since their time at UA. And despite Higari’s worries Ecto’s parents like him

-I’ll draw his dad out eventually but Ecto’s dad spoiled the crap out of Ecto. Both Higari and Ecto had fun loving dads while their mothers where more serious. Ecto’s dad was ready and prepared for when Ecto brought a girl or boy home, he’s got a tone of baby photos of Ecto and he’s ready to embarrass him (which he did when Higari came over years later, Higari was very amused)

-With Ecto and Higari both being teachers at UA and not wanting to draw villains attention, they had a small private wedding with some close work/school friends and their parents. The real celebration began when Ecto, Higari and their friends from UA all went out to karaoke to celebrate. Everyone got drunk

[darkhymns-fic]

The Stars Pull Us Together

Having recently transferred to Luin Academy, Colette prepares to start on one of her first assignments - which she needs to use the school's own observatory for.

She didn't expect to literally run into Lloyd on the way.

Fandom: Tales of Symphonia Characters/Pairing: Lloyd Irving/Colette Brunel Rating: G Mirror Link: AO3 Notes: For Colloyd Week, Day 4: Stargazing! Because I need to write at least one modern au fic of them.

--

It was still early evening when Colette arrived at the observatory, the sun just teetering at the edge of the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink. There were only two of the dome structures, a bit smaller than she expected, just off to the side of the campus grounds and overlooking the undulating hills that made up the Asgard terrain. The autumn season made the air brisk, the wind slightly strong as it tugged at her hair. She had to hug her books close, hunch her shoulders just to withstand the sudden cold.

I just need to get inside, she told herself, feet crunching against the gravel. A hand reached out to the door handle of the first observatory, pulled on it and… found it stuck? Oh…

It took Colette a good minute to realize that this was the wrong observatory anyway, once she saw the construction sign to the left of her, half-hidden in the shadows. Slightly embarrassed, but at least relieved that no one was around to see her blunder, she then walked to the second observatory.

She sensed there was something different here, until she noticed the rows of potted plants that lined the steps and small ledge that circled around the building, from small ficuses to even a charming aloe vera. It was a pleasant spot of greenery over the stark whiteness of the observatory’s walls. There were no construction signs here – unless you counted the little greeting by the small steps (with a small cactus plant placed next to it) that said, ‘Welcome to the Luin observatory! Please watch your step!!!’ The letters looked to be handwritten, and Colette couldn’t help but draw her attention to it, marveling a bit at the multiple exclamation marks…

And by looking at it, she didn’t watch her step at all.

Colette flailed, and by doing so, she had let go of her books to fall to the ground. She was about to crash headfirst into the door until it suddenly opened inward, along with a shout of, “Whoa what-!?”

So she wasn’t the only one at the observatory tonight. 

Papers falling around them like lost wings, a groan beneath her chin, and Colette was ready to faint from the shame of not only falling down, but bringing another person down with her… “Ah… I’m so sorry…” she voiced, blinking open her eyes to find herself inside the observatory now. It was mostly bare except for a few laptops on a nearby desk, a coffee maker to the side, and of course, the great telescope that was in the middle, its end pointing upwards to a currently shuttered roof.

Another groan. “S’okay… I kinda walked into that one anyway.”

The voice was familiar to her. Colette looked to see a guy half-seated, one hand planted against the floor. His plaid jacket caught her eyes on the rich redness of the fabric, reminding her suddenly of winter flurries that would freeze her cheeks, and summer storms that always came by so fast, and how he would try to shield her with a broken umbrella… “Wait, Lloyd?”

He blinked, looking so confused for a moment that she wondered if she was mistaken. But the tousle of brown hair on his head, going off in different directions, told her otherwise. “Hold on a sec… Colette! It’s you!”

“Y-yeah!” When he smiled, she was brought back to the boy with the scuffed sneakers, whose home she’d visit that was off the road, overrun by bramble on the way. “I haven’t seen you since we graduated.”

“Right, like that was what, three years ago?” Lloyd mused on that as he tried to shift upwards, and then couldn’t with Colette still half on him. “Um.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” She giggled as she hurriedly got to her feet, trying very hard to not slip and fall again. She inwardly winced at her laugh, that nervous tic that she could never get rid of, even now. “Guess I’m still a klutz.”

“Don’t worry about it… It’s good, because I’m still catching you!” He laughed too, and the sound brought back even more memories out on the grass, with the sky stretching overhead that, for a brief moment, she was lost in it.

Lloyd looked older, now that she got a better look at him when she wasn’t at a tilt anymore. There was only the hint of a stubble at his chin, but his hair had grown out more, even as it made the same waves that she remembered back from childhood. He wore similar clothes from high school still, with his plaid jackets, his frayed jeans, and his work boots. It was so familiar, that she wondered if maybe they had never separated at all.

“…Colette, you alright?” Lloyd asked her, in a tone that felt comforting all at once. “You didn’t really hit your head, did you…?”

“Ah, no no, don’t worry! I’m still just… surprised to see you!” Her hands clasped each other as she looked up at him, noticing the few inches he had gained in height now. “Does this mean you go to Luin Academy too?”

“Oh, well… about that…” Lloyd’s gaze shifted to the side, and she thought she caught something pass in his expression – that is, until a flying piece of paper smacked him right in the face. “Ack!”

“Oh no, I forgot!”

After a hectic dash of Lloyd and Colette trying to grasp the sheets that had escaped her textbooks, some of them flying far back outside to the second observatory, eventually they’d gotten them all. Or, Colette hoped they did. But at the end, she was shivering and felt a little winded from chasing about various articles that her professor had given her all over the grounds.

“It’s seriously cold out. You don’t have a jacket with you?” Lloyd had latched shut the metal door, leaving them both in the observatory that was basically one mid-sized room with a giant telescope in the middle. Colette noted the metal staircase on the side, leading to the curved ceiling and any other mechanisms that she missed. There was even more of an assortment of plants here, some set nearer the ceiling while others were at the table she sat at. There was the soft hum of a laptop next to her, which she carefully placed her books near. Lloyd was already brewing up coffee, the scent quickly filling the air.

“I didn’t think I’d need it.” Colette shivered in her blouse. Though long-sleeved, the material was still light. She gratefully took the warm mug he handed to her, heating up her palms. “It gets even colder out here than back at home.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Lloyd took a seat next to her easily. “I can give you one of mine if you want.”

“I’m sure I still have the last one you gave me!” She laughed, making sure to swallow her sip of coffee before doing so. Not too hot, not too bitter. In fact, it had a sweetness to it – of vanilla creamer – and she was surprised he still remembered.

“That old thing?” Lloyd asked with such curiosity in his eyes that it made her smile even more. “It’s fine if you wanted to throw it away! Does it even still fit?”

“Yup! It fits me like a blanket still!” And it was true, that old spare jacket that Lloyd had once given her as a joke gift, but she had treasured it all the same. It wasn’t uncommon for her to wear it often when they went to school together, getting stares from other students, but neither caring at all.

She clutched the now half-full mug, looking at Lloyd with a bit of awe. He was holding his, its surface a bit more scratched, but fitting him oddly well. “You know, I thought you went to that other college?” he asked, scrunching his forehead as he tried to remember the name. “The…Spirit…something?”

“The Spiritua University,” Colette corrected kindly. “But, I was having trouble adjusting, so I transferred to Luin instead. Sorry, I think I forgot to tell you that in my last email.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Lloyd rushed a hand through his hair, grinning. “I kinda…forgot the password to that email anyway… Genis was supposed to make me another one but he’s been busy over at Palmacosta.”

“I haven’t talked to him much either.” It had been so many months without seeing her old friends – yet here was Lloyd before her, as if walking straight out of her memories.

Maybe she had been staring for too long – a nervous chuckle from Lloyd, the exact same tone that she remembered from years back. “It’s probably weird to just find me here, huh?”

Colette shook her head. “I don’t think that’s weird. I think it’s lucky that we’re able to find each other again.”

Lloyd visibly relaxed his shoulders. “Heh, you know, I think so too.”

She took her time studying him even more, from his more grown-out (but still messy) hair, to the way he sat on the plastic chair. The lights inside of the observatory were dim, just bright enough for reading, but not too much light pollution to make using the telescope difficult. It felt relaxing being in here, with him.

She remembered his words from earlier, then gently asked, “How come you are here though?”

It only took a moment longer before Lloyd explained himself. “Well… I did actually try to get into Luin. Did the application and everything. I think I wrote the longest essay of my life too. But… my grades really held me back anyway, I guess.”

Lloyd had still been undecided when she left for school back then. He would travel instead, he told her, or he’d take over Dirk’s specialty workshop. She’d never asked him if he’d wanted something else entirely. “I’m sorry.”

“You dork, you’re still apologizing for nothing after all this time?”

“I can’t help it!”

Another laugh, feeling as warm as the dim lights around them. “I don’t think I’m a good fit for it anyway.” Lloyd shrugged, but she saw the grin still on his face, boots tapping the floor in barely concealed excitement. “But you know? One of the teachers read my essay and contacted me! He…kinda kept talking about all the spelling mistakes and junk, until he told me about a side job I could do here. I wouldn’t have to be in classes but he said he’d teach me anyway.”

Even Colette was stunned at this random act of kindness from a stranger. “Really?

“Yeah! And, it definitely seemed a little weird that he just offered, but then I thought, why not? So that’s why I’m here!”

Curious on the story, and having her suspicions, she asked. “Who was the teacher that spoke to you?”

“Oh, it was…” Lloyd scrunched his forehead, but then his eyes lit up, remembering. “Kratos Aurion, I think. Maybe you know him? He really liked what I wrote.”

“He’s my astrophysics professor! I’m actually doing an assignment for his class.” Colette was slowly figuring out what he must have written. She gauged it from where they sat at, from the past nights they’d both lay on the grass of his backyard, matching patterns in the black as much as they could go. “You did always like the stars, didn’t you?”

The same smile she would sometimes think about before she slept beamed at her just then. “So do you. That’s why you’re here, right?”

She nodded, feeling more excited than before – or maybe it was just the caffeine in her system taking over. “And now you work at the Luin observatory. That’s great, Lloyd!”

“Yeah! But uh… I didn’t realize that you basically needed to know math to be an actual astronomer… So I just clean up things here and make sure stuff is working alright. It’s good enough!”

Colette giggled, looking around at the small room, neatly tidied up, just how much coffee he drank in here. “You even got some of your plants here too!”

“Hehe, well at least the ones that at least don’t need much sunlight. So no flowers or anything..”

So natural had they fallen into the rhythm of talking aimlessly like they used to, that Colette nearly forgot why she was here. It took the beeping of her phone alarm – to warn her of the small time window that she had – to jog her memory, as well as Lloyd’s.

“Oh shoot, sorry! You came here to use this thing, didn’t you?” Lloyd quickly got to his feet, downing the cup of coffee in one go, surprising Colette that he could do so while it was still fairly hot. “I may not be smart, but I’ve been learning how to operate these machines. It’s not too hard once you get the hang of it.”

“Ah, well, maybe then…” Colette went to grasp the papers, at the numbers she had written out hastily over the gridlines. “Professor Aurion gave me some coordinates to look up, can you use these?”

She suspected Lloyd wasn’t as bad at math as he claimed. Because when it came to something he really liked, he always did try his best. He looked at where she pointed, then gave her a thumbs up. “You got it.”

Luin’s observatory was a first for her, but she had used such things before. She gathered her notebook in her lap, looking over at the telescope that was bigger than most. It swiveled gently as she moved it to the right, checked over the viewing piece. It was well-maintained, which she had expected.

“Ready?” Lloyd called from the side, hands hovering near a panel.

“Ready!” she called back. Her hands turned the dial of the telescope, and then adjusted the contraption just a bit on its tripod so that it hit the exact angle for her. It was a tall piece of equipment, so she had to perch on a metal seat just underneath to view it properly.

Once the lights dimmed even lower, the ceiling of the dome shifted. She could see it rotate to the coordinates she had told Lloyd of. Another small shake, and then the middle shutter of the dome slowly panned open, revealing the now clear night sky, the blanket of stars up above.

Sometimes it was a gamble when the skies would be good for observing, especially during the cold seasons – but the cold season was also the best time to stargaze too. That was one thing that she remembered from back then.

And looking at the stars had always calmed her.

“Can you see through it okay?”

“Um, just a bit…” She tried to get more comfortable in her seat, but the metal of it was prodding her leg, and soon she knew she had edged out too far to nearly stumble off.

By then, she already felt hands on her shoulders, Lloyd quickly climbing up to join her in the observing seat. “Do you need me to be your seatbelt?”

Colette hoped her happiness didn’t show off too obviously, but his hands felt even stronger too now. “Hehe, maybe for a little while if you don’t mind it.”

She leaned back to the telescope and near the eyepiece, hands gently placed on the handles while she felt Lloyd nearby, keeping her steady.

The night was clear, and the coordinates Lloyd had set the observatory had been right. She didn’t have to get used to any haziness, or peer through a cloudy sky. The stars were so numerous, painted against greyscale, or an old film reel. But she found the cluster she had been looking for, and already set to write down her findings.

“Lloyd, you should see this too!”

“You sure? I’ve looked through it plenty of times this week.”

Colette shook her head, bringing Lloyd’s hands from her shoulders to the telescope. “I think you’ll like it.” She winked at him. “Besides, have you seen it from this spot?”

“Ya got me there.” And like an excited kid, which she had already suspected had never left him, he looked through it too, hands handling the telescope with care and precision. Colette craned her head to look past the instrument to the sky above. While specific nebulae and clusters were hidden from her, the stars to the naked eye were still spread out, like a trail through the dark.

“That’s awesome! That’s the Hercule something, right?”

“The Hercules cluster, yeah!”

It was and yet wasn’t like stargazing out in the fields, with just the crickets and the gentle breeze for ambience. A metal room instead of outdoors, (though the plants helped) and the sky partially blocked from the roof, but she still saw the same light in Lloyd’s eyes – always whenever he would look up at the starry skies.

“So, what did Kratos wanted you to do for this?”

She tilted her head. “You know, it was kind of strange but… he just said I should count the stars here.”

Lloyd turned to her in disbelief. “Huh? Wait… all of these stars? There’s too many! And just plain impossible!”

“He said that too! That an average human lifespan isn’t enough to count every single one…not to mention new ones appear while others fade away.” She tapped her pen against the paper, feeling a smile curve her lips. “But he said we should try anyway.”

“Man… this guy’s weird.”

“Hehe. But he’s very kind. Don’t you think?” Colette took Lloyd’s hand, held it like it was second-nature. “I told him about Iselia. I wonder if he figured out that we knew each other.”

“Huh.” Lloyd gripped her hand back, still half perched on the side of the observing seat, not at all mindful to the height. “He could’ve just asked one of us.”

Colette, feeling more confident then she had in years, scooted a bit from her seat and gestured for Lloyd to come near. “There’s room for both of us here! Maybe if we counted together, we could get it all.”

Lloyd barely hesitated, sitting next to her in only a somewhat tight fit. But she didn’t mind the feel of his jeans pressed against her leg, the scent of him comforting in its familiarity. “I bet I could count more! Though, can we even share the telescope between us?”

“Hmm…we can take turns!” And even as they did at first, giggling as both tried to take their stay at the eyepiece for longer, they eventually leaned back to watch the stars through the open shutter, clear from light pollution and misty clouds.

She had always liked the stars too, she thought, with Lloyd leaning against her shoulder, eyes bright as the night continued, way past the closing hours for the observatory. But now, she knew the exact reason why.

[yandere-ac]

yandere snake mayhaps? 👉👈

Yandere Snake X Reader

The letters

This was a nightmare. A complete utter nightmare that you couldn’t wake up from. A few months ago, you had started receiving letters from an anonymous sender. And you had to admit, at first you thought it was sweet. The letters told about how the person always thought you were the greatest and how they’ve always wanted to be with you. You had No clue who it was but for a while you thought they seemed like a nice person. But then, the letters had started to get a bit more creepy. Talking in very disturbing detail about how they’ve imagined a whole life with you. “My dearest Y/N. You are mine and I am yours, until the end of time and all of eternity”. That is how each letter started, and with each letter it got more and more horrifying. And that was only the start of it. Soon the letters started talking about how they didn’t like the other residents and wanted to take you away from them. And by that they seemed to mean full on abduction since they stated, quote “They don’t deserve you. I don’t even deserve you. But I’ve started thinking. If I took you away, I’d limit your exposure of people not deserving of you to only one instead of ten. I’d keep you in my basement or loft. Just a place where no one could find you, and I could be with you everyday. I think about that so often. The only reason I haven’t done it is because I know you’d be sad”

This person, no, this maniac scared you so much. But it didn’t stop there, no, quite the contrary. It got worse in fact. Soon you started receiving disturbing descriptions of them stalking you. Like actually watching you through your windows. They talked about how cute you were and how they wanted to make you theirs. But when you started receiving gifts such as claws and teeth you went straight to Tom Nook. And that was were you were now. When you rushed into the resident services, you were shaking and crying uncontrollably. Tom imidiatly rushes out from his desk to ask what happened but once he got close to you, you just broke down, collapsing into his arms as your crying got more violent. By this point Isabelle had also rushed out from her desk. Tom cooed you as he slowly rubbed circles on your back, and Isabelle was also embracing you, telling you comforting things so that you would calm down.

After a while your crying died down to simple whimpers, Isabelle had fetched you a blanket and you were currently waiting for some hot water to boil as she had also offered to make you some tea. “So tell me Y/N, what did you say had happened?” Tom asked you, sitting opposite to you. “I’ve been getting these letters from someone and they are creeping me out. The person is also stalking me now and have sent...very disgusting things to me” you answered him, voice cracking several times as you do so. “I brought the worst ones so that you could see for yourselfs” with that, you handed over some of the letters that had made you the most scared. Tom took them and carefully read through each one. His face got more and more concerned and grossed out as he continued to read. By now Isabelle had come up to you with the cup of tea, you took the cup, hands shaking as you did so.

“I...I...my gods...this is truly unacceptable...we’ll have to do something about this. Do you have any hunch as to who it could be, be?” Tom asked you, putting down the letters. “That’s the worst part! I don’t even know who it’s from! It could be anyone!” You said, voice shaky and cracking. “Hmm...well do you have a hunch of who it possibly couldn’t be?” Tom asked you, looking at you. “Well...I guess you two. The able sisters. Timmy and Tommy obviously. Snake. And maybe Francine” you said. Tom, Isabelle and the able sisters where obviously not the sender. You knew both Tom and Isabelle and they would never do something like this. The face that Tom pulled when he read the letters alone convinced you. You also knew Mable and Sable. Mable was way to nice and cheery to produce something like the writings in those letters, plus you had seen her handwriting and it didn’t look like the one in the letters. And Sable just wouldn’t do this. You two were friends and it would just be to put if reach. Timmy and Tommy were also very obviously not the sender. And Snake and Francine were two of your favourite islanders, you hung out everyday. You trusted them not to do something like this.

”Well, would it make you feel safer to sleep at one of our houses tonight? Or well, some of our houses. I don’t think Mable and Sable are awake at this hour, and I’m not sure about Francine and Snake. But your always welcome in my house Y/N, I’m sure the boys would love it” Tom said, putting his hands together as he happily told you. ”And you’re always welcome with me as well! It would be like a big sleepover!” Isabelle exclaimed. This made you smile. These two were always so nice and polite. Always doing so much and asking for very little. “You two...thank you so much. You guys are to kind. But I can’t ask for that. I would feel bad. I’ll go ask snake, he’s usually up at this time and he has a comfortable blowup mattress” you said, bowing your head a little as you did. “Okey Y/N. But if anything happens. Our doors are always open”

And with that you went out, going to Snakes place. Strange, Tom though. As he looked at the letters, one persistent factor was that the writing was very messy. Almost jittery. But who could have written it? “Well, we should probably close up. It’s 40 minutes past closing time” Isabelle said turning off the lamp by her desk. “Oh! Yes of course! I had forgotten!” Tom said, quickly putting away his things. “Hey, you can leave early if you want, I can handle this. You’ve got your boys to put to sleep. They’re probably worried” Isabelle tried to convince her coworker. She knew Tom worked really hard, keeping up the island, making sure everyone was happy, and on top of that basically being like a dad to the twin boys. “Oh are you sure, Isabelle? It’s not to much?” Isabelle only laughed at this. “No no Tom, it’s alright I assure you! You have a good night now alright?”

You arrived and knocked on the door. Almost immediately the door swung open violently as the small rabbit gave you a big smile along with his wide eyes. “Hey Y/N!!!!” He yelled enthusiastically. You knew he had trouble with controlling his volume so you never got anger or annoyed when he yelled. You found it kind of endearing actually. He was just so full of energy at all times. “Hi snake, I was wondering- if it’s not to much trouble! If I could sleep at your place tonight? I-I know it’s very sudden and I understand if you don’t want t-“

“Are you kidding me!!! Of course I want to have you over!!!” As he said this he grabbed ahold of your hand and dragged you into his home.

On his way home, Tom couldn’t shake the thought of those letters. Who could they possibly be from?! He felt so bad for you, poor soul hadn’t done anything to deserve this. The only thing you had ever done was simply to care to much. You were a very empathic person and never gave up on people. Even when it came to crooks who didn’t deserve to be in your presence like Redd, you still remained patient and tried to help him. You had told him that you though Redd till had good in his heart and that you could help him. You had a heart so big it couldn’t fit inside that body of yours, but Tom worries about you. Because of your compassion it could easily draw creeps to you, and it had seemed that had just happened. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a small drop of water hit his nose. Looking up he saw that the sky was grey. He quickly pulled out his umbrella as he quickened his pace. Just as he passed by Snakes house he stopped for a moment, looking at the abode. “Oh I hope they’re alright...no, no Tom. They’re with Snake...he’ll keep them safe...” and before he could think any more of the situation he continued to rush home. He had two, probably worried, tanookies to read a bedtime story to.

Once inside, Snake dragged out his blowup mattress and started filing it up with air, ever time you had a sleepover with him you insisted he use a mechanical pump but every time he declined, saying that his lungs were well trained and pull of air. While he fixed the mattress you were in the kitchen, preparing snacks. You’ve been to his house so many times that you practically knew the place as your own, and so when he asked you to fix something to eat, you knew where to look.

“And so she asked me: Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the cutest of them all! And I answered ‘why that would be Snake! The prettiest bunny out there!’ And she got really mad” you laughed at the bunnies shenanigans, the both of you sitting by the mattress eating some snacks. “Really? What did she say?” You asked him, snickering slightly. ”She called Me stupid haha” Snake responded putting his arm around you as you both laughed. “So, Y/N. Not that you would ever need a reason to visit your best friend snake! But is there a reason why you decided to drop in here out of nowhere?“ you froze up, do you tell him about the letters? No, you didn’t wanna drag him into this. ”Oh No reason. I just felt like we should hang out more y’know?” You said giving him a smile, hoping that he would be satisfied with that answer and wouldn’t press you for the truth. Luckily for you his eyes lit up and it seemed like your answer made him happy. “Oh you’re so kind Y/N! I agree! We should just hang out all the time!” He answered tail happily waved as he said so. “Yeah, we really should...hey...would you sleep next to me tonight...I’m a little paranoid to sleep alone” you asked the rabbit, and you could have sworn that you could see his cheeks dust pink. “Sure Y/N, I’d be happy to”

And so, the two of you laid down together, you wrapped your arms around his small body and he happily complied and did the same, nuzzling his head into the crook of tour neck. You felt thankful for him, he was always so kind to you, and was always there for you. Any time you’d look even slightly down he’d rush to your aid and comfort you. By now you two were so close that it didn’t feel weird sleeping in the same bed. As time went on you started to feel drowsiness take over you. Slowly you felt your eyelids fall heavy. As you closed your eyes, you could feel Snake gently brushing your hair. And just before you drifted out of consciousness, you heard him say something.

“Until the end of time and all of eternity...”

[o-winterqueen-o]

6. Trying to fix broken-down automobile in the rain with - for ichigo, rukia, orihime, chad, and ishida, lets see how you problem solve with the main gang lmao

Okay so,,, I guess it would depend on what exactly is wrong with the car,,, and where we're broken down. Because like, I was girl scout growing up and when i was like 15 my troop went to this mechanic's garage and learned how to do some basic stuff like change a tire or the coolant and

5. Ichigo: Look I love this boy to the ends of the earth and I would do anything for his happiness but bad things happen when you put Ichigo + rain together. You're basically asking for a new traumatic event to unfold while you're fumbling with the screws. Ichigo you are not getting out of the fucking car you are staying in there and letting me deal with this bullshit. There's only a 50% chance of this strategy working but I'll be damned if i don't try.

4. Uryu: Mr. Smartypants over here has never changed a tire in his life but he's read about it so he's going to be a backseat mechanic. He might be able to help put the car on a lift but will it be enough to keep me from tearing my hair out in frustration? Probably not. I love him so much but he would probably end up dropping my phone (which we're using for a flashlight) into a puddle and there's a good chance it won't be on accident.

3. Rukia: This girl doesn't know jack shit about cars and she will punt me if I point that fact out in the wrong tone of voice and then i will be dead and we will both be miserable. On the plus side, if I'm able to avoid that fatal mistake, Rukia is the kinda girl that's eager to learn and know how things work and I would be happy to show her what i'm doing so ^^ happy ending so long as she doesn't kill me for being tone deaf!

2. Orihime: She also doesn't know jack shit about cars but she will not resort to violence if I say that so she beats out Rukia in that department ^^ Could possibly reject the tire being busted and have us rolling along on our merry way in no time and I will buy her all the donuts. Alternatively though she could reject the tire's existence so it's a bit of a toss up on that end. Either way she and I will have a nice time chatting as we drive and if she can't solve our problems with her rejection, we will continue to have a nice time as she helps me fix the tire. Probably holds an umbrella over me. I owe her my life.

1. Chad: Need I really explain this? Chad is Chad, there's no one better than this kind sweet hunk to help you fix your car. Lift? what lift? Chad will pick up the car for me one handed. Unlike the rest he probably has some idea of what he's doing but he's not going to question me, he'll only point out if there's a way to do something that's easier than what i'm doing. Oscar Joaquin de la Rosa did not raise a fool. I will not be tempted to jam a wrench into his knee caps at any point in this endeavor. We are operating under the chicano 'get things done' mindset together. nothing can stop us. 10/10 would break down in the rain with him again.

[tlblah]

So let’s track Reginald Hargreeves life bc I need some clarification

We start in the middle I guess.

- he is with his wife in her deathbed, she tells him to go (there are rocket ships leaving the planet)

- she then proceeds to die, and Reggie goes to the window and releases lights from a jar (I wanna know if this is what creates the children but I’m not sure

- We then find out she asked him to take her violin with him and give it to someone who will appreciate it

That’s all we know about him on his home planet.

- Next, he travels to earth. We don’t know if it’s both space and time travel, or maybe the speed of light caused time to travel backward when he traveled to earth? He seemed to land in the 1800s (??)

- He states his name as Reginald Hargreeves and stumbles across an Umbrella Factory I.e the future name (and location) for the Umbrella Academy

We fast forward in time, with an immortal (?) Reggie (though it could be that he ages as an alien but his human suit never does. He could also maybe not age or age super slowly when compared to humans) also what made him such an asshole like damn.

Ok now we’re in the 1960s

- he is that secret 12 illuminati type group. His main interest is the Dark Side of the Moon.

- so i don’t know if he knows human history or not bc if he knew about human history he would have known how to send a human into space but instead he had to call up Grace, who seemed to specialize in primates. Though he does have a serum that gave Pogo a more advanced brain/body?

- question: so he knew about the moon in 2019 but what did he know?? Did he know Vanya was going to be the bomb? Or did he just know that the moon was going to explode and destroy earth bc no aliens would have known Vanya was going to blow up the moon. Which makes more sense, now that I think about it. He knows earth events from an aliens perspective. So something from the timeline after the destruction of earth fucks up his planet. Also when is the commission?? I know they have all the time they want but are they really in a bubble in the space time or are they so far in the future that time has become something that they can control?

Moving on from that brain spiral

- obviously in the original timeline, everything goes as planned

- Grace dies between the 1960s and 1989 bc the children only know her as a robot

- Pogo keeps learning and growing as well

- Reggie is a millionaire and continues to be one the 12 (I’m not sure about this bc the timeline has fucked up we don’t know if he as meant to kill the other 11 or if that happened bc the kids fucked up this new universe. I hate parallel and alternate universes bc you can never fix it or go back bc it’s now it’s own separate strand of a universe)

Zoom past into 1989

- 43 kids are born to mothers who were not pregnant the morning of October 1st. Reggie goes on a shopping spree but it’s not succeeds in getting 7 of them.

- he raise them as trainees with the help of Robot Grace and Pogo

- he numbers them ranking from lowest in power Number 1 to Number 7 before having to mute Number 7 because he could not control her or her power like he could the rest of the children

- he ostracized Vanya, unwittingly causing her to become the bomb at the future date (oh fuck what if Vanya wasn’t the original reason why the moon crashed into earth?? Time travel is so confusing.)

- anyways he raise his children and fucks up perfectly good children.

- Number 5 thinks he knows his powers, and Reggie tells him no, unwittingly pushing Five to over use his powers and get stuck in the future after the apocalypse. Five is now lost in the time line

- Ben dies during a mission, breaking up the team and turns the children against Reggie even more when he blames them for Bens death. They are 17 here

- once they can they move away from their abusive dad leaving Reggie with only Number 1, who follows his dad to tee to shuck off the abuse he felt. Which is even more sad when Reggie sees that coping mechanism as a failure.

- Luther goes on a mission alone, gets injured and Reggie has to inject him with the same stuff he injected Pogo (is that the only thing he knows? Is it from his alien culture??)

- Once Reggie can tell Luther isn’t reacting well to the unwanted body modification, he sends Luther to the moon to both give him a purpose and to not have to deal with having to help Luther work through his pain (like fuck Reggie)

This is where stuff gets hazy. The children lead their own lives and Reggie is alone with Pogo and Robot Grace again for 4 years (the length of time Luther is on the moon)

- 10 days from the apocalypse Reggie kills himself to get the children to all come back home and help avoid the apocalypse (the kids are 30)

- He doesn’t know about Number 5 tho, who is able to jump back just in time, before the apocalypse begins

And that’s where The Umbrella Academy begins

So what are the questions we have about Reggie?

1. Did Reggie create the 43 kids somehow? Was it in the alien news and he just knew when they’d be born? What did he do that could have caused them. Basically what is the origin of the children.

2. What is reggies knowledge of human events. He honestly seemed surprised that they killed JFK so he didn’t know about The JFK assassination. And yet he knew about the apocalypse so maybe he just new human events that affected the galaxy? Or is it that he is from earth but after humanity has been destroyed and aliens took over? The possibilities

3. What happened to Grace? She obviously stayed with him in the past and died before the kids were born, but what happened? And did Reggie really care for her or just her brain? He didn’t seem to care all that much from Robot Grace since he didn’t even give her a room. Was Reggie even able to love anyone after his wife died or is it because he’s an alien that humans seem like puny mortals to him.

4. What made him leave his planet? Is he a scientist looking for something? Is he trying to also fix a timeline? What is the reason he came to earth and why did he feel the need to create the Umbrella Academy?

5. Why the fuck is Reggie such an asshole. Not a real question because he’s just the most asshole person of an alien, but what the fuck.

***** Edit/Note******

The commission never fucking stopped him. The commission must have known about Reggie but they didn’t do anything. Obviously they knew about the real apocalypse since they tried to keep 5 from changing the future and yet Reginald when back in time and live through a freaking century and the Commission didn’t do anything. Obviously he fucked up this timeline yet with just his presence but what the hell, Commission. I mean we hate you guys but what do you know that we don’t. Like is Reggie part of the commission? Are they using him to get what they want? What exactly does Reginald know why do fuck are storylines and timelines so hard when time travel is involved. Bc just this here has hundreds of possible timelines that you can just narrow it down and you only get more questions. Ie

Is there a timeline that the apocalypse happened and Reginald wasn’t involved

Then a timeline where reginal goes back and creates the umbrella academy

Another timeline with other children

A timeline where 5 never got lost

A timeline where 6 never died

Two different timelines where one happened and not the other and vice versa

A timeline that I’ll never believe of Reginald being a decent person

A timeline in The Day That Never Was, where Vanya found out on her own and Allison never got her neck slit.

A timeline where the siblings actually helped Vanya

The new timeline of the Hargreaves in the 1960s

A brand new timeline of the world after the Hargreeves interfered then left then came back in 2019, which is where we are now, with a new Sparrow Academy, a not dead Reginald and a not dead Ben. Also shit, Grace never stayed with Reginald so those children may not have had a decent mother figures they might even be more fucked up than the original 7 (or 6 bc Ben is sweetheart with sass)

[salenakingston]

Mystery March Day 4 - Storm

When it came to the weather in Tempo, there wasn’t much difference to tell the passage of each season. All that seemed to change was the temperature in the air, and even then it didn’t fluctuate that much. What else would you expect from a desert town? At least on the plus side, it meant the people living there didn’t have too much to worry about. Maybe sandstorms? Tornadoes? Well, those were probably more likely, but so was any state practically bordering Texas, especially when going further north.

Rain came, as it always did. Wouldn’t be much vegetation if that wasn’t the case right? Even while the rain poured from the heavens, generally nothing bad ever happened. The van had good traction, so slick roads were handled. Umbrellas were always kept in the back, just on the off chance they were required, though half the time Vivi would just make a run for it.

That was a luxury Arthur couldn’t really afford. As advanced as his arm was, water was still the greatest weakness it held.

Thank goodness the others were alright with waiting for him whenever that happened.

Considering the most recent circumstances, some aspects of their dynamic began to rise back to the surface. Not all of Lewis’ temper disappeared, not that any of them expected it to. There were moments when anger tended to get the better of him, and his relationship with Arthur was still filled with annoyed looks. Sometimes even glares.

Yet despite all that, it was clear he was making an effort.

The boys could still sometimes chat like they used to, even crack a smile in one another’s direction. When effort was given, it was received in turn. Vivi found it much easier to trust the ghost, even if not fully. She could trust him with the most basic things; however, since the Mystery Skulls were back in action, she wasn’t so sure she could trust him to have their back when it counted. Frankly, she could say the same for Mystery, but he was forgiven far more easily for a couple reasons.

For one, he was actually around in the time when Lewis was not. He had been there when they needed him. For two, he hadn’t purposefully tried to kill anyone. He truly was like Arthur, holding guilt for an action of harm against another, but in the kitsune’s case, his only goal was to save their friend, not kill him.

Lewis had done that deed.

Blond man and dog had already begun to mend the wound caused by that injury, and in a way, having Mystery there helped to ease his own fears. Both of them had suffered at the hands of the same entity, and could find comfort in one another’s shared experience.

As far as Arthur himself went, he tried to be much more open with his friends, both of them. While there were still instances where he held his emotions under lock and key, or even ignored Vivi when she tried to get in contact with him, he still worked to break the habit of letting them know when something was bothering him.

Small steps.

Point being, the consideration hadn’t gone unnoticed. Rain they had down pat. It was a whole ‘nother ball game when it came to snow.

White covering the ground in Tempo, or even anywhere around Tempo for that matter, was quite rare. Rarer still was getting enough height to the point where vehicles could not drive down the road, let alone get out from where they were parked. And so that’s how the four of them were now stuck at Vivi’s place, having gone over there to discuss some cases. When the snow started coming down, no one suspected it would turn out this bad.

The temperature was already beginning to drop, the chill appearing to seep through the walls. Of course, Lewis and Mystery didn’t seem at all bothered by this fact; although, the same could not be said for Vivi and Arthur. While the former of the two often wore a sweater year round, even she could feel the difference. The latter of the two was another issue.

Arthur’s vest might have been warm, but it wasn’t exactly covering all parts of his body. He should have been smart enough to wear something a little warmer given it was the middle of winter, but old habits must truly die hard. Same could be said for the shirt he wore. At least he had pants on.

Even so, that wasn’t the most pressing problem.

None of them had taken into account how the blond’s metal arm would take to the cold, not even Arthur himself. It wasn’t like the other three knew the first thing about how it all worked. Whenever it was explained to them, it was almost like he was speaking a foreign language. All they could do was nod their heads, as if they were following along with absolute clarity.

Arthur was another matter.

He couldn’t help but kick himself mentally for this oversight. He should have known better. Was it for the lack of a real ‘winter cold?’ Was it truly just something he forgot about? He knew heat had an effect on the arm, so why wouldn’t the cold? Great, now he was going to have to figure out a solution for this. As if he didn’t already have enough ‘arm upgrade projects’ to juggle around.

For now, it didn’t seem like the limb was bothering him that much. Sure, it felt colder than usual, but as long as the heater in the Yukino home was running, there was nothing to worry about.

As if God himself had been listening to the blond’s thoughts, that was the moment when the power decided to flicker out.

Just great.

It had long since been deemed unsafe for any of them to try and make their way home with the storm hitting this hard, but now that decision was definitive. No member of the Yukino family thought it wise to try sending those boys out on their own, most of all Vivi. Arthur made sure to call his uncle to let him know where he was before passing the phone to Lewis. The ghost seemed to give a look of confusion.

The blond just seemed to tilt his head back, “Aren’t you going to call your family?”

Eyes narrowed. Oh that wasn’t a good sign. He began to hand the phone back, “Arthur you know I ca-”

He was cut off by the blond motioning to Vivi’s family. Of course, what would they think if he didn’t at least inform them of his whereabouts? He’d been purposefully avoiding them, and it was a wonder that not only had the two families not already informed the Peppers about their son’s return to Tempo, but also the passersby who knew him.

Maybe it was the sunglasses? Maybe it was the suit he would sometimes be wearing rather than his normal outfit? Or maybe they already knew and were giving him space? Regardless, he had to play his part. Stepping to the side, he ‘called’ his family.

Then he finally gave the phone back.

Day dragged into night.

The Yukinos were kind, providing a meal for the boys stuck hunkering down in their home. They were important to Vivi. Lewis did his best sneaking food to the other three, making it look like he was eating what was provided to them. It seemed to work for the most part.

When the darkness became too much, the collective deemed it was time for bed. With any luck, the storm should pass through the night, then it was a matter of waiting for the roads to clear. With the four of them working together, they could surely dig the van out enough to allow Arthur to return to Kingsmen Mechanics.

Lewis could just return to his mansion under the cloak of invisibility.

Arthur insisted the ghost stay with Vivi in her room while he took the couch. He couldn’t very well kick the Yukinos out of their respective rooms, and as far as any of them were aware, the bluenette and ghost were still dating. It only made sense they would want to share a room. All about keeping the act up. He would be fine on the couch. Sure wouldn’t be the first time.

When the duo finally agreed, they slipped off in the darkness of the home. Arthur stood in place until he heard the sound of the door shutting.

The blond exhaled the breath he had been holding in, feeling relief wash off him. Talking to Lewis was indeed getting easier, but even the smallest disagreements, or plans he disagreed with could lead to that temper rearing its ugly head. He was overjoyed nothing bad happened this time.

 After lowering himself to the couch, he worked to remove his vest and shirt, a task that normally wouldn’t seem like the chore it was now. Where metal connected to skin had begun to feel numb hours ago. It was another case of keeping something to himself rather than worry his friends. Guess the mindset of “I can totally handle this for the rest of the day” came back to bite him in the ass. Well, the sooner he got it off now, the better.

First, he tied a knot in the left sleeve of the shirt.

Arthur rested the arm against the coffee table in front of him, then slipped the shirt back on. With a lack of any other garments to change into, he was left to sleep in the same clothes he wore during the day. He couldn’t dress down for the fear of freezing, and the pants would give him some warmth. At least he also had a blanket.

Too bad it could only warm him up so much.

He mentally cursed every home that didn’t have a fireplace.

The removal of his metal limb had helped, but just barely. The end of his shoulder still felt numb, and whenever there was a feeling, it was tight. It was like the muscles tensed, and could not relax themselves, creating a less than favorable combination of discomfort. Would he even be able to get to sleep were it not for the freezing temperatures?

Arthur wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he felt a sudden weight near his legs. That had to be Mystery, coming to help warm him up. As considerate as the kitsune was in this gesture, there was little he would truly be able to do. A giant fox with multiple tails wasn’t exactly hiding in plain sight as a dog if he took on his true form to offer the blond more warmth. A small whine echoed from the other end of the couch, earning a whisper from the man, “I know… t-thanks a-anyw-way Mystery.”

Damn the slight stutter from the cold.

Guess he should be happy his teeth weren’t joining in with it.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed this time before he saw a small light hovering above him. Did someone light a candle or something? Maybe he could huddle close to it, or at least his shoulder could. When tired eyes brought the room into some semblance of order, he could see it wasn’t a candle, but rather the flaming pompadour on top of a floating skull. What was he doing out here? Wait, was he having some kind of dream, or nightmare, and he wasn’t aware of it? That would make sense.

Lewis was probably here to finish the job.

His body trembled, not simply from the lack of heat. He never was good at hiding how scared he became, especially when it came to their otherworldly friend. Part of him just wanted the ghost to get it over with, rather than drag this out longer than it needed to.

He reached out towards Arthur.

Arms wrapped around him.

The blond felt himself being lifted from the couch.

Resting in Lewis’ arms.

Floating down the hall....

Stopping in front of Vivi’s bedroom door…

Wait… wait a minute… What was going on?

Lewis adjusted his hold on Arthur, twisting the knob to open the door, the squeaking of wood echoing from his attempt to create as little noise as possible. Once the three of them were in the room, because of course Mystery followed them, the door was shut once again. The blond couldn’t take it anymore, whispering up at his captor, “Lewis, what’s going on?”

The ghost said nothing.

Just dropped him down on the other side of Vivi’s bed. Were it not for the ghost quickly laying the pulled sheets and blankets over him, Arthur was sure he would have sprung right back out. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here.

“Lewis wha-”

“Hush Arthur. Get some sleep.”

“But-”

Lewis placed a finger against the blond’s lips, floating over him. There wasn’t much space between him and Vivi, yet Lewis somehow found a way to snuggly fit. He could feel Mystery hop onto the bed, body pressed against his legs. Where he once felt cold, a warm seemed to wash over him; although, he couldn’t tell if that was from Lewis’ unnatural heat, or the comfort of his friends.

Finally, he found his eyes closing, sleep taking him to escape the storm.

[brightlotusmoon]

Guys guys guys

I want to share a thread from one of my ADHD Support groups on Facebook. Date of post February 27 2020.

Here's the initial question:

"ADHD has very similar traits to autism ((from what I have gathered at least)) and in support/representation are always grouped together.

Do you think ADHD should be clasified as on the autism spectrum? Why or why not?

What positive or negative effects ((May it be treatment, understanding, research, or a social aspect)) do you think it would have if it was?"

And here's some of the comments:

1. "In lots of conversations I have had, this topic has come up, and the conclusion we usually reach is that eventually, both ADHD & ASD will be reclassified into something like “Executive Function disorders” and the spectrum will just be broader, rounder, and more inclusive of all the beautiful facets of our Neurodivergent brains" 🧠 #NeurodiverseSquad

2. "I am diagnosed with both. In fact I received my ASD Level 1 (aka "condition formerly known as Asperger's") diagnosis just 4 weeks ago.

Here's the thing: they are in no way mutually exclusive. In fact this was the mistake I made when I had my initial assessment that diagnosed the ADHD - (wrongly) assumed that if I had one, I couldn't have the other. This is in fact not true, and recent research shows that between 1/3 and 2/3 of people with an ASD may meet criteria for ADHD as well. However, the reverse is not true - this is because (as current research shows) 6-7% of the population have ADHD, and only about 1.5% are on the autism spectrum. So somewhere between 0.5 and 1% of the total population (likely) have both. Most people with ADHD do not also meet criteria for ASD.

Basically, the way these two things are diagnosed are based on totally different criteria. ADHD is about, well, attention and more broadly executive (dis)function. It's a readily measurable, testable condition that boils down to certain specific pathways in the brain working much slower (and/or much faster) than the average population.

ASD is, well, different. The current diagnostic criteria all revolve around the following things.

1) Significant impairments in social communication

2) Patterns of pervasive repetitive behaviour (and thoughts)

3) Unusual sensory interests, and/or sensory hypo-/hyper-sensitivity well outside typical ranges

To be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, it's not enough to just "experience those things sometimes". There has to be a pervasive, life-interfering pattern of at least 2 of those three things, which cannot be explained by any other underlying cause or condition, AND can be demonstrated going back to that person's earliest childhood history, and preferably family history too.

Can those things describe a person with ADHD? Totally! Are they how we define ADHD? Nope!

The neurology of ADHD is pretty well understood today - scientists very good idea what ADHD "looks" like in the brain and how it functions. We don't know everything but we know a lot compared to, well, basically anything to do with the brain. It's one of the best studied neurological conditions, period.

The neurology of autism is, well...... much murkier. There are multiple theories. The current ASD diagnosis was a bit controversial when it was totally revamped in 2013, lumping things like Aspergers and PDD-NOS under a single standard. Not everybody was a fan of that, although at the time research in the field was pointing more in that direction - but right now the pendulum of scientific consensus seems to be swinging the other way, thanks to more extensive brain studies finally being done. It's still early days, but there is now the possibility that what we call autism/ASD today may turn out to be a group of several distinct neurological conditions, one of which may in fact be a close relative of ADHD, mechanically speaking. But a LOT more research needs to be done before we can say anything for sure. Early days.

In any case, the best takeaway from this looooooooong writeup is:

You can be both. You can be neither. If you are on the autism spectrum, there is a very good chance you might also fit the diagnosis for ADHD - but if you have ADHD... while you are statistically more likely to be autistic than the average person, it's still a much longer shot. Don't rush to conclusions, and talk to specialists. Neither of these conditions should be either a "badge of honour" or a "badge of shame" - cause it's not a badge, it's a complex part of how your brain works in real life. Between 1-2 out of every 3 people with autism MAY have ADHD - whereas only 1 out of somewhere between every 6 and every 14 people with ADHD is autistic.

It's not possible to rule out a neurological link between the two, but it's not going to be a link that defines either one of those conditions. It's more like the link between ADHD and depression - us ADHDers are far more susceptible to depression than the average person; but faaar from every depressed person has ADHD.

Truthfully - with autism spectrum, before anyone goes running off for diagnosis... speaking from personal experience, you gotta ask yourself what you are hoping to get out of it first. I'm glad I did, but in some ways it's a harder pill to swallow than ADHD - especially because there are no actual pills to swallow for treating it, nor therapies designed to help newly-diagnosed autistic adults. Young kids diagnosed with autism get a big boost from intense learning therapy, which helps them catch up on things like social skills and avoid a lot of the associated trauma - but there's not much out there for the adults, since you can't really get a do-over on your childhood and the damage (as in, trauma) is already done long ago. It's just a thing you find out about yourself, and while it can be empowering - it can also be a bit overwhelming and leave you with more questions than answers about yourself. That's about where I'm at with it, anyway!"

-

Now, having both, I'm inclined to agree with these. I myself have wondered here if ADHD could be ever put on the greater Mobius strip spectrum of Autism. But a comment someone here made, about the two being on the same Axis but not spectrum had me rethinking. A bunch of us activists with both are still waist deep in research, and I'm tossing these ideas out to chew on.

Basically, Tumblr is full of folks who look at an Autistic or ADHD post and say "wait, I relate to this but I only have one or the other!" And 80 percent shared comorbidities means a huge relation. They're cousins. I call ADHD Autism's excitable twin. It's exempt from allistic fuckery for me. I like to nickname it Cognitive Attentive Tempo Syndrome. (CATS!) My ADHD therapist likens it to being a polar bear in Florida, with meds being water wings. So there's enough overlap that the primary traits for one could be secondary traits for the other.

In conclusion: Yes, this relates to you. Enjoy your executive function dysfunction Neurodivergent Umbrella Axis Family Reunion.

[younganonymus]

For the serious questions thing. I hope its not too many but 1, 8, 14, 18, 23, 25, 28, 33, 37, 60, 77, 93, and 97 please?

1.:I like most to be outside,most likely when the sun is shining but rain does not bother me at all. There,I love to inline-skate,doing Parcours or any other kind of sports. Also,it is very calming and nice to just sit outside with someone you like or even a partner of yours. (Spending time with a beloved is of course always a good choice! {Too bad I do not have such a person...})

8.:Country Music,yeeehaaw! :-D That is,always was and always will be my number one genre!!! But besides that,and yes,they are all almost alike in favor:rap,metal,classical,goa,hardstyle(/hardcore? Stuff like Angerfist,Korsakov,Evil Activities,...),reggae,pop,techno,...

14.:Yes,there definitely is a higher species than us humans! Maybe not something like God from the bible,rather than that more like Buddhism’ Gods or Greek,but I am pretty sure there are some entities who either live deep down in the ocean somewhere or outside our beyond in space. Most I felt reasonable with fictions like/from Assassin’s Creed universe and Subnautica,where in both super smart aliens/once humans exist and high-end technology developed,while in Assassin’s Creed they were even able to manipulate time so smart were they. (Kin od similar to the species from the “I am Groot”-movies. And yes,I keep forgetting that movie’s name.)

18.:I think it would be like you are not allowed to touch anything of importance in order to keep the present you know as it is,which means you must not destroy something,kill someone or invent something. Maybe such things as lighters,chemical drugs and electricity came by a time traveler who wanted humans to evolve faster... ;-P

23.:Technically I am good with plants,yes. But because I lack free time and energy to do anything at all the past weeks my own home plants do not look quite good. (In fact I can even do your whole garden if you get me to doing so!)

25.:Hahaha,ummm... I like to call my dancing dancing,yes,but compared to what it actually has to look like I am no dancer. In fact I know the basics to Waltz and Tango,some few steps of Line Dance and currently I am trying to learn “hakken”,which is very amusing and entertaining yet quite good condition exercise for hardstyle music.

28.:Medieval age is my most interest of ages in. Most particular the ?verge/emerge? from medieval to industrial,where cowboys and most fascinating pirates lived and ruled on their own. Like,stories from knights and kingdoms and adventures and stuff are most interesting,but I would love to see what living like a pirate was like.

33.:Oh shit. If everything goes as planned,in seven years I see myself either dead or having my own squad working with me still in a company and a boss of mine but also HOPEFULLY owning my OWN place with animals with green areas for them in private. Also,which is most important to me: I really really do hope by then,by the age of 30,I have a trusted wife and two little children,so we can be one family and I one good,lucky and finally happy father! (Not meant to be dramatic. My health and mental state are simply not good and getting worse time after time,so it would not surprise me at all to be sick or dead that time.)

37.:Good thing(s) people tell about me........:

I am helpful and very kind.(Yet they do not know how much sacrifice that costs me and NONE of them ever shows the slightest bit respect and thankfulness.)

60.:If I had money to donate I would donate for homeless peoples charities. Not only in Germany (probably especially not here) but in Africa,Brazil,Spain,China and USA. Japan probably as well. At least those are the ones where I know most about.

77.:Hahaha! YES,I can imagine something pretty romantic I would do for my (currently not existing) partner! IN FACT,I am quite a big romantic guy. You like candles? You like rainy days? You like roller coasters? You like your car? You got me to loving you??? Well,prepare for spontaneous room lightened by dozens of candles in either minutes while you are in a different room or in hours of preparation while you are absent,get ready for being picked up at work with an umbrella in my hand so we can walk home and you can wear my coat so you do not need to feel cold. Figure yourself of us sitting in one while I tell you how much I love and wish you the very best on your birthday and probably promote to you one day if roller coasters are your biggest hobby and forget the fact we are just friends and only know each other for just a couple of weeks-I am already keeping an eye open for someone who can model your car so you can unpack it on your birthday and put a tiny version of your exact car beside your bed,even if we are not a couple then.

93.:If a zombie outbreak happens I would grab my bow and arrows (Actually I NEED to get quite many new areows since only four of mine are top.),get something like a sword and never let go of my good survival knife. With all that, I would climb up some old industrial buildings and build a camp and shelter there. Traps,barriers,defend mechanisms and escape routes included.

97.:The worst catchy song I ever heard...Hmmm...Maybe “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” or “Scatman”. Those are the ones I can not stand having in my head although they are actually good songs.

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I am thankful for your kindness and your asks and everyone is welcome to send more asks! I hope I did not over-explain everything again.