#and there's a World of difference between those two even though they're both angry

[loving-jack-kelly]

once again thinking about how jack kelly would not be the person he was without the anger that drives him but at the same time has not yet recognized that anger can be a good emotion. thinking about how jack gets so, so angry on behalf of himself and the people he loves and when it's over feels like he has to apologize for it. thinking about how jack has anger burning under his skin and he hates it even as he learns to use it and control it and keep it in check. thinking about jack learning to understand his anger, learning to know the difference between selfish, unhelpful anger and the anger that can be used to motivate, the anger that deserves to be anger and the anger that would be better expressed as hurt or sadness or disappointment. thinking about jack who is a fundamentally angry person learning to lean into the hope that comes with being angry for the right reasons instead of the bitterness that comes with the anger of despair.

[heartfullofleeches]

[Angst]

Childhood Best Friends with a small age gap- two or three years, nothing crazy- but it means everything as they age.

It was hard for them to make friends their age when you first met. They liked things that were too "childish" for their peers - things another child who lived not to far away adored. They'd seen each other on the way to school, but they didn't interact frequently due to their difference in grade.

Until that day-

"Whoa...Cool backpack. You like that show too?"

"Thanks... I'm thinking of getting a new one though... Do you want me to ask my parents if you can have it?"

"What?! It looks fine to me... Why are you getting rid of it?"

"My friends called me a baby... I won't be able to go back to class without everyone laughing at me unless I get a better one."

"That's silly!.... It's on right now... Wanna watch it with me?"

The two were inseparable from then on- School hindered the time they had to see each other each morning, but as soon as it let out - both ran to meet with their new best friend. The elder of the pair was often mocked and teased for their choice, but they could hardly care anymore. They had someone who'd stick by their side to the very end - childish fixations and all.

Years went on and they made new friends. It happens. More obstacles began piling up throughout - chipping away at the few hours they scarcely had to begin with. Studying, Hobbies, balancing days between hanging out with other friend groups and the person who once meant the world. They tried to make things works, but nothing went to plan-

"Is it alright if Y/n comes with us tonight?"

"Y/N? Aren't they're too young to see this movie? We shouldn't be responsible if they have night terrors or something.."

"They aren't that young... Are they?"

They never thought about it before. You were so close in age as kids it never hit them that as you grew that little gap drew a bridge between you - and it was easier to let you go than finding an alternative.

"Hey, Dude! Are we still on for this weekend? I can't believe they're making a reboot after all this time!.."

"Are my messages going through? You haven't responded in a while... I saw you outside school yesterday and yelled your name, but....."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Hey."

"You're hanging out with them today? Did you forget about my birthday?...."

"You removed me off your list of friends...We're still friends, right?"

"Let me alone. I'm sick of being your babysitter. Go find friends your own age and stay away from mine."

And that was the end of things.

College cames around and their live became relatively tame. Their thoughts drifted to that childhood friend of theirs every now and again, but between school and partying with the new friends they had made - those memories faded to the back of their mind.

An acquaintance asks them to help show some new faces around the campus. One sticks out to them amongst the crowd. It's you. What do they say to you after all these years? You don't look sad to see them. Nor angry. Intact - you look..

Relieved.

Pulling them aside at the end of the tour, you free yourself from the burden that's weighted down on you since they left you.

"I'm sorry."

"It was never my intention to hold you back. Overtime I realized I was just that annoying kid who clung onto you because I thought you were my first and only friend...When you never felt that way about me. I'm sorry for taking that away from you. If our paths cross again, I promise I won't even look at you."

After being abandoned by your best friend- the person you looked up to most, you matured well beyond your years in hopes that would make you like them again. Overtime, you gave up that goal, but others could see how you've changed.

"Isn't that.... Y/n?.."

"Oh, man- It is! You guys were glued at the hip before we became teens."

"They're..kinda cute... Do you still have their number?"

All this time apart, a feeling long forgotten resurged inside them. The need to protect you. You didn't know these people like they did. You shouldn't be going to parties with them, getting to know and befriend them. They'll only hurt you - worse than they had. They never should have said goodbye to you- They should have allowed the feelings they were so scared to have, but had always been there develop and blossom naturally until you both were adults ready to move on to that stage in your friendship.

They know you best. No matter how much you grow as a person, you're still the same.

"That's a cute Keychain, Y/n!"

"Thanks! I've loved this show since I was a kid!"

They'll prove it to you.

[bldngiris]

꒰OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW ꒱ . . . d winston !

pairing(s) : book! dallas winston x fem!soc! reader

in which y/n dreams of escaping tulsa but her dad is holding her back. however dallas winston listens and yearns.

requested : yes or no.

!! content warnings : yelling, swearing, r's father is an ass, r is a soc but she doesn't like being one, discrimination. movie dallas used only for visuals even though i used blonde book dallas in mind!! mentions of religion, angst

robin chirps : happy easter!! this fic is inspired by oklahoma smokeshow by zach bryan :) bold is the song lyrics!

go on and put on that dress that all the bad boys like.

y/n stood in front of her full-length mirror and took a look at herself one last time before heading out the door. if her father had caught her wearing anything other than appropriate soc attire, she would be done for. the amount of times she had been hit on by cocky high class boys who just wanted to get into her pants was numerous, alas her father didn't care. "you don't want to look like one of those greasy balls of garbage do you?" he would ask her. truth was y/n didn't want to be a soc. sh didn't want to be a greaser either. she wanted to escape tulsa and live in a city without labels and get away from all the hostility stored away in the streets of tulsa.

i know your daddy ain't home so ride with me tonight. you always wind up here in a puddle of tears

y/n had made her way to the diner with her friends. however, her "friends" had left her midway through the walk home to go hang out with a group of other socs. it had started to rain and the closest place y/n could go to was bucks. y/ns feet subconsciously made their way to the building lit by neon beer signs, ignoring the voice in the back of her head saying, "if i catch you 'round one of them greaser places.."

she slowly opened the door to the place, as a mixture of tears, mascara and raindrops ran down her face, her hair sticking to her face, her dress drenched. many eyes were on her as barely, if any, socs came to bucks. whispers, some louder than others presumably by drunk men were heard as y/n sat on one of the bar stools.

them boys are out and they're angry and they're lookin' for blood In the back of a blue old pick up truck. you've got nowhere to go although you're all gussied up

y/n sat at the barstool, a shaggy, pale, blonde boy sat beside her, a malboro cigarette hanging out of his mouth loosely.

"hey man, what're you doin' out here?" he asked the soc, curiously, in a sluggish tone of voice. y/n sniffled.

"my friends left me when we were at the diner, n' i didn't wanna get jumped, it's dangerous walkin' home by myself, y'know." she sniffled again. "plus, it's cold and wet." she paused again. dallas listened, as he hummed and nodded, understanding what she was talking about.

there's so much whiskey in his coke it'll make her nose bend

"that really sucks man," he muttered taking a sip of his whiskey and coke, y/n could smell the drink from her seat. dallas did't turn away or ignore her after that. they spent the next hour talking.

but she swears that his love is a damn god send

don't get me wrong, dallas hated socs. but y/n was different, under the high class, hair done, pretty dress facade, she was a normal girl yearning for more than just a privilege title. the two could relate on another level which dallas had appreciated. dallas and y/n both wanted more or less the same thing, both wanted to escape tulsa, but more or less everything was holding them back from doing so.

she's known god since she was a child, she used to play in the yard and she would dream of one day

y/n played in the front yard of her house with a white picket fence. she saw two kids around her age, playing over by a park around the 'border' between the west and east side.

"hi! im y/n can i play with you?" she asked the three children. they were greaser children, as seen by the difference in their appearance.

'til the world came around and took her dreaming away. told her how to dress and act and smile.

"sure! im soda, thats johnny and that one over there is steve" one said. soon enough, y/n's father had come out of the house, soon following a burst of yelling came about. "y/n get over here and away from that white trash." he exclaimed. y/n wondered, how could a grown adult be so hostile toward children? y/ns father grabbed the little girls hand and took her back over to the freshly painted house on the block.

'y/n, sweetie, you know better than to talk to those type of people." he told her. "now, im sure mrs. sheldon and mrs. valances children would love to play with you hm?" he said. the little girl with pigtails and turned around to watch the greaser kids looking at her sadly, eventually cheering themselves up and laughing softly as they played on the monkey bars.

she's an oklahoma smokeshow. he's an asshole from back home. she'll never make it out alive.

that night, at bucks dallas and y/n talked for hours. y/n told dallas about her image and how she was forced by her father to keep up the good girl act, how every soc guy just wanted to get in her pants and how she's never going to make it out alive.

dallas told her about how he grew up in the streets of brooklyn, new york because his asshole father didn't give a shit about him. his mother and grandmother didn't have enough to provide, because his dad kept taking the profit to the bottle. he ended up in juvi by the time he was ten for theft, trying to provide for his family until he just left and ended up here in tulsa.

that small town bar scene, where small vices kill your big dreams. he'd take you home but he's too drunk to drive.

"but my dad will never let me leave, not until i'm 21 at least, and if i do, he'll list me as a runaway to the police and they'll come and find me." she muttered, solemnly. it was nearly midnight now. dallas way to intoxicated to drive. y/n had used bucks landline to call a cab as she made her way home, thinking of the boy who had changed her life in a mere few hours.

well, I've been here, I've been up all night. thinkin' 'bout a life with you and i. one you'll never know 'cause you're a small town smokeshow.

dallas layed there, head empty except for the thought of y/n. it was nearly 3 in the morning at this point, but all he could think about was the girl who he had just met but felt like they had known each other for years and there he continued dreaming, because unfortunately for him only one of the two got their 'escape' from the prejudice of tulsa, oklahoma. unfortunately, it wasn't y/n. unfortunately, it wasn't the way either of them planned.

[petra-creat0r]

Deltarune: Fool's Fate Ch. 2 Main Bosses

Time to start on Fool's Fate Dark World two, electric boogalo, aka the Arcade World! Let's get started with the main bosses of this chapter (plus their daughter), the stars of the arcade's most popular cabinet, Electric Rhythm Empire, Empress, Ritsu, and Emperor!!!

(Man the colors on this looked different on my canvas... Why are my colors getting messed up? Particularly Emperor's. He's supposed to be like, a yellowy green. Which I guess he kinda is here?)

The rulers of the arcade Dark World and their daughter (seriously need better names for these). At the start of the chapter after tracking down one of Chicago's friends, Neil, the party runs into Empress and Ritsu, who were tormenting Neil with rhythm puzzles. After introducing themselves, CK challenges Ritsu to a battle. Emperor isn't mentioned until later and not encountered until the end of the chapter.

Empress and Ritsu take on the Lancer/Queen/Berdly sort of role where they're encountered multiple times through out the chapter to challenge the party with puzzles, battles, funny cutscenes, etc. Though you encounter both Empress and Ritsu at the start of the chapter, after your fight with Ritsu, she throws a fit before being pacified by Remie, putting her out until the 2nd area, thus meaning you're mostly dealing with Empress in the first area.

Empress's personality pulls on Queen (I imagine them having a mom rivalry in Castle Town) though when Ritsu's around, she's rather chill and laid back. She does care about her kid, but also knows her kid is very energetic and can handle herself when playing/fighting a group of other children. Just... Don't hurt Ritsu. You likely don't want to see what happens if you mess with her baby. Empress on her own though? Prepare for an intense DDR break dance fight. Actually multiple of them. In a row. She doesn't like to loose. Even if she can be intense and a sore loser, Empress will still praise your creativity in solving her puzzles and road blocks.

Like I mentioned earlier, one of Ritsu's first encounters involved her throwing a temper tantrum at loosing a battle, so that can give you a bit of a sense of the type of kid she is. She considers herself an idol, literally introducing herself as "The sensational, terrific, all-time idol Ritsu!!!" Other than being a bit of a spoiled brat, Ritsu is very energetic. Sometimes it can take quite a lot of stamina and speed to match her in a rhythm rap battle, girl has BARS.

Emperor isn't encountered until the very end of the chapter, he is a bit similar to King in a few aspects, (again, I see a rivalry between him and King) mostly in being very authoritative and angry much of the time. However I also seem him as a general control freak (Makes sense taking in his Light World item) and probably something of a perfectionist and neat freak. He's mainly even made aware of your presence because you break into the Palace, after which you're quickly seized and captured. Even if we mainly see him as a cruel ruler throughout the chapter, Emperor is also a caring father. Empress and Emperor may both be flawed, but they are genuinely good parents who care about their daughter. Additionally, this guy can totally shred at Guitar Hero.

I imagine in the final battle, you're either mostly up against Emperor, or both him and Empress. Perhaps its a mix of both depending on the phrase and how much control Emperor is taking during the fight until later the two manage to finally work in harmony before Ritsu comes to break up the battle. I don't know, either way it's going to be rhythm hell with both the dance and guitar rhythm sections of this game.

Empress and Emperor's names should be a tad obvious. Like Magican and Priestess, they pull from tarot cards. The Empress and the Emperor. It's also where they get some of their personalities (this half explains their similarities to Queen and King. Those two just fit the maternal and paternal roles that the Empress and Emperor cards represent.)

Ritsu is a bit more interesting because she doesn't have tarot card inspiration. It comes from the Japanese word "律" or "Ritsu", (Electric Rhythm Empire was originally a Japanese arcade game) which Google translate told me means rhythm, law, or regulation. Her full name is Himeko Ritsu, meaning basically "Princess Drum Rhythm". Technically, Empress and Emperor also have the family name Himeko, but I'm not putting their full names since they're ridiculously long and just for a gag. (Well, at least Empress's is.)

As for their Light World counterparts? All three of them together are the arcade cabinet for Electric Rhythm Empire, but individually... Empress is likely the cabinet screen. She uses a lot of flashy holograms and theatrics. Ritsu is the card/ticket dispenser or one of the collectible cards (ERE is one of those rhythm games with collectible cards). Emperor is the control panel, thus his control freak tendencies.

In addition to their items, though, I also have each of them have a different rhythm game mechanic tied to them. Empress is dance rhythm games like Just Dance or DDR, Ritsu is button press rhythm games like Friday Night Funkin or PaRappa the Rapper, and Emperor is instrument control rhythm games like Guitar Hero or Piano Keys.

Backstory under cut

The ruling of Arcade World has always been something of a popularity contest. A long time ago, it was ruled by someone else, but ever since ERE joined the picture, they quickly rose to the top and have ruled supreme, charming the land not through any sort of sorcery or mind control manipulation, but through their charisma and music.

Empress and Emperor were an ultimate power couple, nurturing and leadership ruling side by side. And their daughter Ritsu was a cute little idol everyone adored. As a trio, they were the perfect balance of challenge and fun, bringing in many Lightners to bless the Arcade World. The ERE trio were beloved and sought out by everyone in the land. ... And even by some outside of the land.

One day, a knight arrived. A Lightner somewhat familiar yet still foreign to the Arcade World. Enamored by this land after stabbing into the earth to create a flowing Fountain of Darkness. A brilliant geyser that amazed all who beheld it. After wards, the Knight went straight for the Palace to track down the rulers and present them with the Fountain.

After presenting the Fountain to the Emperor and Empress, the Knight warned that soon a group of Lightner heroes would arrive and try to close the Fountain which now gave this land form. "I don't know when, but soon" The Knight said, before turning on their heel and and departing. Leaving the Arcade World to it's own devices.

Afterwards, the Emperor started to become obsessive over the Fountain. ensuring it remained protected in the Palace. Empress, on the other hand, was more concerned about the protection of her daughter and people, deciding to take on a more direct approach of confronting the Lightners head on when they arrived. Ritsu, being only a child was unaware of the dealings and goings on of adults. Merely caught in the middle of her parent's separate yet convergent goals. Mostly following her mother and excited at the possibility of getting to play new people. And so the dynamic of the Arcade World and it's rulers was ever so shifted... Until the Lightners soon arrived, just as the Knight had said.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELECTRIC RHYTHM EMPIRE: PREPARE FOR SUPER RHYTHM MANIA! Insert Coin to Start

Cheat Code: ⇨⇨-Ⓑ⇧-⇧⇨-⇧⇩-⇦⇧ ⇦⇧-⇨⇧-SELECT-⇩⇨-⇨⇧-Ⓐ Ⓐ-Ⓑ-⇦⇨-START-Ⓑ

Ⓑ ⇨⇨-⇧⇩-Ⓐ⇨-⇩⇩-⇦⇨-⇨⇩ ⇩⇧-⇩⇩-⇦⇧-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩, Ⓑ ⇨⇨-⇧⇩-Ⓐ⇨-⇩⇩-⇦⇨-⇨⇩ ⇩⇨-START-Ⓐ-⇧⇩  ⇦⇦-⇧⇩-⇧⇩-⇦Ⓐ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇧⇩ ⇦⇧-⇨⇧-SELECT-⇩⇨-⇨⇧-Ⓐ, ⇦⇦-⇧⇩-⇧⇩-⇦Ⓐ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇧⇩ ⇦⇧-⇨⇧-SELECT-Ⓐ-⇧⇩

Ⓑ⇧-⇧⇨ Ⓑ⇧-⇧⇨ ⇨⇩-⇩⇩ ⇩⇧-⇦⇨ Ⓑ-⇦⇨-⇨⇩ ⇦Ⓐ-⇧⇩-⇦⇦-⇩⇨ ⇦Ⓐ-⇧⇩-⇦⇦-⇩⇨ ⇦⇧-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨  ⇦⇨-⇩⇩-⇩⇧ ⇧⇨-⇦⇧-⇧⇩-⇧⇨-Ⓑ-⇦⇧-⇧⇩ ⇦⇦-⇩⇩-⇦⇧ ⇦⇧-⇨⇧-SELECT-⇩⇨-⇨⇧-Ⓐ ⇦⇦-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨ 

Ⓐ-Ⓑ-⇦⇨ Ⓐ⇨-⇦⇧-Ⓑ-⇨⇦-⇧⇩-⇨⇨ Ⓐ-⇩⇩-⇦⇧-⇧⇩, ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇩⇩-Ⓑ⇧-⇦⇩-⇨⇧ ⇧⇧-⇦⇨-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨ ⇨⇧-⇩⇩-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩-⇨⇨ ⇨⇩-⇩⇩-Ⓑ⇧-⇩Ⓑ-⇩⇨-⇨⇨ ⇨⇨-⇩⇨-Ⓑ-⇩Ⓑ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇧⇩ ⇧⇩-Ⓑ-⇦⇧-⇩⇨-⇨⇧, ⇨⇧-⇩⇩-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩ ⇨⇩-⇩⇩-Ⓑ⇧-⇩Ⓑ-⇩⇨ ⇩⇧-START-⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇩⇩-Ⓑ⇧-⇩⇨

START-⇨⇨ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-START-⇨⇨ ⇦⇧-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨? Ⓐ⇨-⇩⇩-Ⓑ⇧-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩ START-⇩⇨ ⇩Ⓑ-⇧⇩ ⇩⇧-⇦⇧-⇩⇩-⇦⇨-⇦⇩? ⇦⇦-⇧⇩-⇧⇩-⇦Ⓐ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇧⇩ ⇦⇩ ⇦⇧-⇩⇩-⇩⇩-⇨⇦-⇧⇩, ⇩⇦-Ⓑ⇧-⇨⇨-⇩⇨ ⇨⇩-Ⓑ-⇦⇨-Ⓐ⇨-⇧⇩ Ⓑ-⇦Ⓐ-⇩⇩-⇦⇨-⇦⇩

Ⓑ ⇩⇧-⇩⇩-⇦⇧-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩ ⇩⇩-⇦⇦ ⇨⇩-Ⓑ-⇦⇧-⇧⇧, Ⓑ ⇩⇧-⇩⇩-⇦⇧-⇦Ⓐ-⇨⇩ ⇩⇩-⇦⇦ ⇦Ⓐ-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨ ⇩⇨-START-⇨⇨ ⇩⇨-⇨⇧-⇧⇩ ⇩⇨-Ⓑ-⇦Ⓐ-⇧⇩ ⇩⇩-⇦⇦ ⇦⇦-⇩⇩-⇩⇩-⇦Ⓐ-START-⇨⇨-⇨⇧ ⇧⇧-⇦⇨-START-⇦⇩-⇨⇧-⇩⇨

[starlightshadowsworld]

Ghouls Rule except its not Jackson who wants to fit in with the Normies, but Holt.

Between the two of them, Jackson embraces the Monster world. He's a mad scientist, he's fascinated by the supernatural and the werid.

But Holt, Holt wants to be a regular person. He wants to make friends and DJ at parties.

He's happy with his place in the Monster World of course, but Holt is still part Normie and wants to explore his heritage.

But he's always been banned from going to the Normie world.

Jackson's got no interest for it, but Holt does. So when they have the chance to attend a Normie school, Holt pleads with Jackson to see what Normie school is like.

Jackson hates every second of it. He's a lot more cynical, a lot more realistic and aware of how Normies treat those that don't fit the standard.

And Jackson has never fit the standard, not as a Normie and not as a monster.

But he puts up with it, because it let's Holt live vicariously through him and his experiences. Holt's eyes light up even it it's so mundane it hurts and that's enough for Jackson.

He gets to live through both worlds while Holt is confined to one, it's the least he can do.

It falls apart when Jackson attends a party, because Holt convinced him and the headphones he's wearing are yanked off.

Holt is revealed and he's chased out, called the most awful insults and ends up in tears. Because he never expected this, why are they treating me like this?

Sure he knows Normies have a vendetta against monsters but... Hearing it and experiencing it are so different.

... Why do they hate me?...

Jackson, in their shared mindscape embraces him. Holt cries, clinging onto him and tells him he's sorry.

Because he's witnessed first hand what Jackson receives on the regular in the Monster World.

He's never faced this kind of discrimination before, and he's so sorry for putting Jackson right in a situation he was uncomfortable with from the start.

Jackson comforts him, and says he forgives him but its not Holts fault. In a perfect world they would get to live in both Monster and Normie society, but that's not the case.

And he agreed to this, so they can both take the blame.

"Jax... I wanna go home."

"I know, I'll get us out of here."

Jackson manages to escape the mob, though he does get hurt along the way. Because angry mobs do be angry.

He ends up back at Monster High, and immediately all his friends surround him in concern.

They've been looking for him and Holt everywhere. Heath, of all people hugs him in relief and starts ranting about how you're parents have been worried sick man.

Everyone chimes in they were all worried

"and so was Heath"

"I was not! I just didn't wanna get in trouble with my aunt and uncle!"

"Liar, you were the first one worried."

And Jackson cries.

It's not just him, Holt is too because they're back where they belong. Back with the people who love them, who accept them for who they are.

Jackson gets patched up, stops a few murders by talking all his friends out of getting revenge.

He tells them not all Normies think that way, just like not all monsters do. He's used to this, Holt is not and it's a bit of a wake up call for everyone else.

Bloodgood reminds Jackson and Holt that monster, Normie or both they will always have a place at Monster High.

There is an event on Halloween night but it's not the monster normie dance from canon.

"Guys, I appreciate the invite but i can't attend a party." Says Jackson, Frankie smiles. "Trust us, I think you'll want to see this."

He follows them, expecting loud music to knock him off his feet. But that doesn't happen, there's music playing but it's softer, quieter.

Jackson remains, he's suprised. Deuce tells him it was Holts idea and Jackson finds himself back in his mindscape.

Finding Holt smiling before him. "I know what you said, but I still wanted to make it up to you. You let me see the Normie world, and I wanted to show you the monster world you've been missing."

Jackson looks at him in suprise "you... You threw me a party?" Holt nods "sure did, everyone pitched in. And I might not be DJing in person but I picked all the songs."

Jackson hugs him and Holt instantly hugs him back.

"I can't believe you cramped you're style for me." Holt snorts, shaking his head "it's not my style but it's just as killer." He grins, gently pushing him away.

"Now shoo, go have fun. Dance till your socks fall off."

And he does, Jackson laughs and dances with his friends. In the back of his mind he can Holt cheering him on and singing along.

They're home, they are well and truly home.

[batneko]

Okay, bowuigi soulmate AU on the suggestion of @scribeprotra

(sorry not sorry it came out angsty)

Though most people in the world of the Mushroom Kingdom speak English, they use a different alphabet from the "real" world, so for most of his life Luigi has had no idea what the first thing his soulmate was going to say to him was. He and Mario both looked, for years, but never found anything that looked like the letters on the back of Luigi's hand. Eventually Luigi just resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life.

(Mario doesn't have a soulmate, which is not uncommon in this universe. It's not really a big deal and people without soulmates follow what we'd consider a more "normal" pattern of dating. Luigi doesn't know, but Mario made the decision to put romance on the back burner so he could support his brother.)

Then they fell into a warp pipe and landed in a world where they could understand everyone, but not read the signs. Luckily Princess Peach is the kind of person she is, and took it upon herself to help them settle in and look for a way home. On one excursion she ends up kidnapped, and Mario decides since she was only out there because of them, it's their responsibility to save her!

It all leads to Mario and Luigi in Bowser's castle, and though Luigi was reluctant to fight a giant fire-breathing turtle dragon, when he sees his brother in trouble he chucks a loose brick at Bowser's head and shouts "Hey! Big guy!"

Bowser turns around, sees a figure with a moustache and a stupid hat, and roars "YOU!" before realizing there's two of them.

They rescue the princess, they're celebrated as heroes, and Luigi and Bowser both more or less forget they spoke at all (Bowser more, Luigi less).

Years pass, including a lot more fights, a few team-ups, and eventually the agreement to try a few friendly competitions to keep things civil. When Luigi discovered his soulmate mark was the local alphabet he was excited, at first, but he's already used to disappointment and he's conflicted about the exact word. Is it angry? Surprised? What if he's doomed to get off on the wrong foot with the person who's supposed to be his partner?

Then one day, at one of those friendly sporting competitions with Bowser and his team, Bowser spots Luigi making a note to himself and suddenly grabs him.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"What you're writing. Where did you learn that?"

"It's just how we wrote back where Mario and I grew up, it doesn't mean anything bad."

Bowser suddenly rips the collar off his throat and points at the writing there. "What does this say?"

It says Hey! Big guy! And though Luigi can't be certain (it's been YEARS) he has a horrible horrible feeling that the exchange between his soulmate words and Bowser's is very familiar.

Bowser seems completely oblivious to any of this and just starts asking Luigi where he's from and how to get there. Luigi doesn't even realize why Bowser is asking until he says "I don't know how to get back, Mario and I decided to stay here," and Bowser does NOT like that answer. Luigi can't bring himself to say what he's thinking. Maybe it's not true? Maybe Bowser is right and his soulmate is still waiting for him in Brooklyn?

Bowser talks to Peach after the match is over and says he's sorry but he's finally got a chance to find his real soulmate and he's going to have to end their flirtation. Peach, ever the diplomat, says she understands.

Time passes. Bowser is doing research on his own on how to cross between worlds. But for some reason he keeps coming by and asking Luigi about it. He says it's just to make things easier once he gets there, but after a while they start talking about other things. They start to become something like friends.

One day Bowser mentions how much it hurts to hope after all this time. About how he'd resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life. Luigi almost confesses then, but he's afraid of how furious Bowser will be knowing that Luigi hid it from him all this time. How can he admit he didn't tell Bowser straight away because he didn't want him?

[torhues]

oikawa tooru.

oikawa loves to watch you sleep.

it's nothing new. you've been living together for a little over a year now, his mornings begin with you sleeping by his side most of the time but, but oikawa doesn't look like he has moved on from the way you look when you're sleeping.

he thinks you look funny— ugly, maybe not ugly, but definitely funny. you look like such a mess, make weird faces, leave trails of incoherent words that wake him up in middle of the night. your limbs are all over the bed and most of the time, they're above him, as if he's your bed or something. you never wake up the way you go to sleep, always ending up on his side of the bed, pushing him to the edge while wrapping your arms around him as if you're holding him for falling down, like you're not the reason why he's in that position in the first place. you end up taking the whole comforter and it got to the point where oikawa suggested using two different comforters for the sake of both of you, but it didn't help either, since you would leave yours and slide into his every single night.

but he doesn't complain, not at all. he doesn't mind if you steal his comforter and he has to sleep without one every night. it's fine if he falls down from bed once a few days, or if he wakes up with a neck or back pain thanks to your habit of having your hands and legs all over him. oikawa doesn't have any complaints because he thinks it's a blessing to wake up every night and look at your beautiful face.

he thinks you're the prettiest while sleeping because you don't seem to care about the way you have to present yourself to people, even if it's just him and you in the room. you smile while sleeping, or frown, make some sort of angry face, etcetera etcetera; oikawa thinks it's adorable, because those are the moments when he realises he's in love with you.

"you could've woken me up," and sometimes, he's too busy falling in love with you, he doesn't realise you've woken up already.

"thought i'd let you sleep a little more," he speaks just above the comforting silence enveloping the two of you, trying to maintain the decorum, matching the intensity of his voice with yours while caressing your cheeks. "you're making me want to sleep again,"

"well, y—" he slips in next to you, making you shift involuntarily to make space for him. his hands are a little cold, sending bits of shivers down your spine as he wraps them around your waist, letting his fingertips trace random patterns on the bare skin under your sweatshirt. "i'd love to sleep more but, we need to make breakfast,"

"what's so good about breakfast at seven on a winter morning?" he whispers against the crook of your neck.

you chortle at the contact, "may be that it can help me with my hunger?"

"if we sleep, we won't be hungry anymore," oikawa pulls back, allowing his eyes to admire your face while you take your time presuming the words behind his love sick eyes. "can i tell you something?"

"go on,"

"i think i'm in love with you,"

your lips curl into a smile, "you tell me that every day," or more so, multiple times, every day. it's more of a remind so that you don't forget he loves you, and that he loves you more than anything else in this world, as if you're ever going to forget it.

"no i mean, i'm in love with you right now, at the moment, while we're lying next to each other; like, i'm falling in love with you right now and—" a pause, as if he's trying to build up suspense or create the atmosphere. it's simply an oikawa thing to do, he wants everything about you to be special. "— and, i don't think i can ever stop falling in love with you,"

it's magical how every single word that falls off his lips manages to flutter your heart. his smile never fails to fluster you even though you've been dating for three years now. oikawa has you going crazy and also keeps you sane. it's difficult, but you're somewhere in between. he has you head over heels for himself, making you fall for him every morning that you wake up. he's keeping you afloat but is also the reason why you're drowning. he is like a pool of contradictions in your life and you can't help it because every part of him makes you feel alive.

that is the effect oikawa has on you. so, you cup his cheeks, hoping that you have the same, if not more, effect on him as well. "i don't think i can ever stop falling in love with you either,"

[neurotonic]

splurging abt this bc…. idk i want to. as much as i like to play around with potential animosity between prism and solaris, they’re such similar people, and i think deep down the both of them have a strange sort of fondness for the other in the sense that they can see themselves in each other…

as tough as i like to think solaris can be on prism, i think most of that- whether she knows it or not- stems from prism’s compassion and vulnerability. she’s a lover at her core, and solaris can’t imagine being that kind of person without getting hurt, or scathed, or trampled by the world. seeing prism be so whimsical is… unnerving. it’s not safe for her, and she doesn’t understand it.

meanwhile, i think prism is the exact opposite with solaris. she’s seen what happens when she lets her rage consume her… it got her working with zoraxis, inevitably being betrayed, ruining what she spent her life working towards, sending her spiraling into her grief… she can only imagine how angry and tired solaris is. how much the world hurt her. she wants to coax her out of her shell… mellow her out so things don’t become worse than they have to be.

but. you know. it’s hard to wrap their minds around each other’s viewpoints… and it turns into this strange messy friendship that the other is always misconstruing as an attack on their carefully crafted character

foirst of all you're always welcome to splurge in my inbox no matter what. second of all i really . really really like this interpretation of their characters... I've definitely thought about how similar they are in terms of experiences before, it's just how they end up interpreting their experiences and their general outlook in life has them acting very differently from one another... and like you said, even the smallest nudge in the opposite direction their fates would have been closer to the other's. Is Foil the right term for them...??

Which is why I really like the idea of them meeting and trying to work with their differing viewpoints ... Gotta be honest I haven't done much of that recently. sniff...those engineers sure can be a mirror of themselves yayyayy!!

The similarities get to them, I think, because sometimes they don't understand why they still couldn't get along most of the time?? It's a strange experience yet. I feel like they could complement each other's flaws by filling in a new perspective. and I always love that contrast between dynamics. The more they hang around each other I feel like they could appreciate each other's company. Even though they're still steadfast with their viewpoints (another similarity between them, I think it's not easy to make them discard their core beliefs)

Well. Anyways. I think this is social enrichment for them. Not romantic not platonic but a secret third thing (we're two sides of the same coin and we both don't know how to feel about that)

[utilitycaster]

I've seen you talk about found family dynamics a few times and how its often abused in fandom and I know Bells Hells in no way fits this trope but I was wondering about your thoughts on Vox Machina and Mighty Nein within the dynamic or if it doesn't fit those groups either.

Hey anon,

So here's the thing: I actually think the bigger issue is that most people make a lot of incorrect assumptions that a found family is automatically functional and healthy and loving and ignore that simply because it is a family born of choice rather than birth. D&D parties are often found families, but they are also often a bunch of deeply traumatized weirdos who met by chance in a tavern, which is not precisely a recipe for the most well-adjusted dynamic. People can make terrible choices of family just as easily as they can be born into a dysfunctional or abusive family.

A lot of people also equate found family with "they need to stay together forever in the equivalent of the avengers' mansion" which is similarly not true. What is a family? It is an (often) lifelong bond; but the people within the family still also have their own lives outside of it, and might live apart while still loving each other very much. They also often forget or try to disparage the idea that characters can belong to a found family while still also having families by marriage or blood outside of it and might need to make compromises to balance the two, even though this is again a very true thing of families in the real world.

The cast of Critical Role generally gets this; the fans don't always. Quoting from episode 1x85 for the second time in like 12 hours but as Keyleth said, "I think Percy's right. We're worse than friends, we're family. And family leaves." I can't entirely define a found family - it is ultimately a vibe, and it is ultimately subjective - but I actually think Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein are both found families.

What's always been very revealing to me is that no one ever really disputes Vox Machina is a family, even though from the end of Campaign 1 until the TCSR was published over four years later, in early 2022, it was assumed that they were all living separately or in couples - Percy and Vex in Whitestone; Keyleth in Zephrah; Scanlan and Pike in Westruun; Tary in Wildemount; and Grog traveling the world but often finding himself in either Vasselheim or Westruun. Indeed, even with the TCSR and the fact that everyone has residences in Whitestone, Keyleth does usually live in Zephrah (though she can easily travel); Vex must spend time away from both the others of Vox Machina and her actual family by marriage and blood given her duties in Emon; and Scanlan splits his time between Whitestone and Ank'Harel. Perhaps it's that there were already familial bonds between the twins and between Pike and Grog, and that only Tary dated outside the party and the people who make this claim often forget him anyway.

People do frequently argue the Mighty Nein are not a family for parting ways at the end, despite this being no different than Vox Machina, and also actually being far more able to reunite quickly than Vox Machina can. I think it's in part because several party members (Veth, Jester, Caduceus) all did still very much value their biological families and a lot of found family people really do not like that, but also...look. Most Campaign 2 hate is a front for either being mad that Molly wasn't resurrected or being mad about one or more of the ships. I've never seen anyone whose only complaint was "I felt like it was a found family but then they parted ways"; it's always thrown in on top of being far more angry about several other things.

For what it's worth: I don't think Bells Hells are quite as bonded, but I do think they're on their way, especially if travel and communication remains messy and they're forced to spend more time on watch and sharing rooms (again: I think Matt's vision for this campaign is, in retrospect, actually pretty great, but it should have probably been communicated a bit better to the cast and more investment have been put in the character development to compensate for the challenges of this unique structure). My issue specific to the fandom response to Bells Hells as a found family isn't that I think they're not going to be a found family; it's that people who insisted they actually had the best and most honest found family dynamic and everyone who disagreed were just being haters suddenly turned on the proverbial dime when a character not in their good graces was the one who actually voiced it.

In summary: I think people in fandom, generally, place a disproportionate weight on found family as like...an end all and be all and forget that much like a family of blood/marriage/adoption, a found family can also take on many different configurations and have various levels of functionality and honestly and healthy behaviors; and in doing so forget to actually say "is this dynamic of closely bonded people fun to watch and interesting? then who cares what the fuck we call it." But I do think it's hard for a D&D party in a longform campaign of very close friends not to take on some familial traits.

[lovemebutleavemewild]

Leave it to the land - Chapter 5

The world has ended, it's over—except some people can't seem to accept that. Those same people think the cure lies in people like you and your little sister. And they're willing to do anything to find it.

Read it on ao3.

Tag list: @elentiyaiswriting

You actually sleep this time. Ghost can tell the difference straight off, when the tension finally leaves your shoulders for the first time in three days.

He's usually good at reading people but he's not fully sure what to make of you. After that time on the roof, he'd thought you were hopeless, thought they'd be babysitting you as you froze up every two minutes.

Then when he'd opened the door back at the safehouse and you'd practically ran into him, there'd been this blazing look in your eyes, like you were ready to set the world on fire.

He'd felt it again, in the creek. You practically vibrated with an energy, with that tiny knife clutched in your hand like you were ready to take on the whole world with it, and win.

He wonders if that's why Gaz likes you. And he must like you, if he told you about one of the safehouses—they're not meant to tell people about the safehouses, no matter what.

Ghost is usually good at reading people but he's always read Kyle Garrick as a cautious, smart man and he can't figure out what made him trust you so wholeheartedly.

Which means you're someone he hasn't read very well at all.

After Ghost and Soap don't murder you in your sleep, it doesn't really make sense to stay awake every night.

You still keep Dot close to your side and take your turns taking watch every night, even though Ghost and Soap never let you keep watch alone. After a few nights, you finally snap while you’re alone with Soap.

“Do neither of you trust me not to let us all get eaten, or is it just him?” You jerk your head in the direction of Ghost's tent.

Soap laughs.

“It’s definitely both of us,” he tells you and it's harder to be angry when he's grinning at you but you refuse to let your mouth twitch.

“Ghost is just cautious, hen,” Soap finally tells you. “Two sets of eyes are better than the wan.”

“You don't seem cautious,” you observe.

“Maybe cautious is the wrong word. A’m cautious. Ghost is more like … paranoid.”

And isn't that the understatement of the century.

Soap tells you more about himself as the days pass, either while you share watches or during the day as you walk.

He tells you how he was born in Scotland, the youngest of a family full of sisters, how he enlisted in the army and left home at 18.

He tells you how he worked with Kyle, calls him a good lad.

He explains that when things started to go bad, they were called back. From one warzone to another.

Dot walks a little closer to Soap now, always keeping either him or you between herself and Ghost. You get it. Soap, with his broad accent and constant jokes, feels safe. Ghost feels like any child's nightmare.

On the fifth day, you wake later than anyone else.

Embarrassed, you join Soap and Ghost where they're sitting, examining a map, after checking on Dot. She's eating some kind of granola bar—you assume Soap gave it to her. You suppose you should be happy she's getting more to eat, and try not to feel weird about him giving her food.

Soap turns to you as you approach them.

“Getting down to it now, hen,” he says. “Ya need to tell us where we're goin’ next.”

You hesitate. You have two options now—you can tell them where the safehouse is and make your break for it before you ever get there, or you can find Kyle first, and hope he chooses to help you over his supposed friends.

You refuse to believe Kyle knows anything about the lab in the city. He'd been so adamant he'd get you out when you told him.

“Won't let them make you do anything. Especially not something like … that.”

Kyle will help you, you're sure of it. But if the two of you go against Ghost and Soap, you're not sure you'll be able to hold your own, even if you are technically even in terms of numbers. Things could get ugly once they realise Kyle doesn't want to hand you and Dot over for a payday.

You take the map from Soap. Your eyes zero in on a large red X seemingly a few miles from here. Soap sees your fingers trail over it.

“Army base—they set up a medical camp there in the early days. Still pretty overrun.”

You nod and focus on the rest of the paper.

“Here,” you point to the place on the map, the one Kyle had shown you the night before everything went to shit. Soap hums and makes a circle where you've pointed, then tugs the map out of your hands, holding it out to Ghost instead.

“Right in the centre of the city. Figures,” Soap tells him. Ghost grunts.

“Let's move while we've got good light,” Ghost tells them. Soap nods and calls over to Dot.

“You ready to go, hen? Get that horse saddled up, eh?”

You only half hear Dot’s laughing protests about Pegasus not being a horse. You're less than a day's walk away from the safehouse now. You'll be there by the time night falls.

The rest of the day passes without incident. As you get closer to the city, you come across more and more of the dead. You, Soap, and Ghost dispose of them without issue. Without ever discussing it, you've started to put Dot in the centre with the three of you forming a loose circle around her. You're not sure when it happened but you know it means she’ll be more protected.

At least until they try to hand us over to the sentries. You force yourself to keep remembering that.

It's just starting to get dark when you reach the edge of the city. You stop just short of the tree line and look down. You put your hand on Dot's head. You could feel her getting increasingly more nervous each time you came across a tier five and you try to comfort her without saying anything.

“Looks like there's an old apartment building up this side street that’s close to where we're going.” You turn your eyes to where Soap is pointing.

“Could be a good place to keep a look out, scope out if the place is empty or not. What d'ya reckon?” he asks.

“Could be,” Ghost says, gruff as always.

“I'll check it out. You cover me.”

You raise an eyebrow at that.

“You think we should split up?” You make it clear from your voice how much you like that idea. Soap shakes his head at you.

“Scout clears the area and checks it's safe before sending the whole team in, hen. Standard practice.”

Standard practice. Military men . Of course.

“Well, why you?” You make an effort not to look at Ghost but the implication, why not him?, hangs in the air.

“Way we do it—way we've always done it.” Soap's tone of voice brokers no argument.

“We'll hole up in that one.” Ghost points at a smaller, closer building. “Good vantage point to pick off any problems.”

There's not much point arguing, not when the sun is already starting to burn lower in the sky. You have no desire to be outside after dark.

“Let's go.”

This last part of the journey you make in silence. You're not alone anymore and you all know it. In the quiet, you can hear the sound you've long come to associate with the dead—shuffling feet, low groans, the occasional this as they trip over one another.

When you reach the door to the first building, Soap nods at you and Ghost, chucks Dot under the chin and heads off alone, gun tucked carefully under his arm.

The door to the building groans loudly when Ghost shoves it open. You push Dot ahead of you to squeeze through, terrified the noise will draw attention. Ghost follows you both and shoves the door closed. He disappears for a second into an adjoining room then reappears, seconds later, dragging a sturdy wooden table. After a second's hesitation, you grab the other side and together, you shove it against the door.

Ghost looks at you shrewdly for a second then starts up the stairs. You roll your eyes.

“C’mon, Dee,” you say and the three of you start to climb. It looks like you're in an old apartment building—some of the doors have welcome mats outside.

Ghost doesn't stop at any of the doors but continues as far as the stairs go before pushing open the fire exit and stepping onto the roof.

He's just stepped away from the door, with Dot following, when something lurches forwards, straight towards Dot.

You lunge forward, grabbing the knife from your belt, but before you get there, Ghost grabs the man by the scruff of the neck. The next second, you see the top of his knife protruding through the front of its skull and what once was a man slumps to your feet, finally still.

For some reason, this really annoys you.

“I would have got it,” you snap at Ghost, pushing past him. You let him secure the door himself this time while you check the rest of the roof is empty. Then you make your way to the lip of the roof to look down.

“Not too close!” you snap at Dot when she tries to follow. She juts her chin out at you, the way she does when she's annoyed but you don't care. You're way too high up to be comfortable with seeing your little sister craning over the edge.

Ghost evaluates the roof carefully, then paces along the edge of the roof, checking the scope of his gun every few seconds until he finds a spot he's happy with. Then he puts a hand to the radio strapped to his shoulder.

“Soap, how copy?” He asks. After a second, you hear Soap's voice come through the speaker.

“Clear copy. You ready?”

As soon as Ghost gives the affirmative, you're leaning over the edge of the building again, looking for him.

Eventually you notice him darting from one alleyway to the next. He's making good progress down the street. Ghost has his gun trained on his movements but so far, Soap has handled the few dead he meets on his own, quietly.

Progress is steady, but slow, and after a while, you find your eyes wandering up the street.

“Shit!” you feel rather than see Ghost's head move in your direction and you point without looking at him. He turns his head again and understands in a second, his hand flying back to the radio.

“Soap, there's a herd heading your way. Find cover.”

“Might be a bit of a problem there, LT.”

You see what he means. The portion of the street he's on seems to be filled with either shops or parking garages at floor level, each one blocked by a metal roller door. In fact, the closest escape from the street seems to be the building Soap was aiming for anyway. The problem is, it's still a distance away and the herd is moving towards it too, from the opposite direction.

Ghost seems to realise it at the same time as you do. You wonder if you imagine the second of hesitation before he reaches for his radio again.

“Gonna have to run for it. I'll cover you.”

Soap has no such hesitation and starts to run at once, almost at the exact same time as the first of the dead sees him.

Things seem to move in a blur after that. Ghost is shooting, picking off anything that gets close to Soap, but there are always more coming.

Soap slams into the front door of the building just as the first dead reach it. Ghost shoots one but another grabs at Soap's shirt. He turns and stabs it through the eye, his other hand clutching around for the door handle. You have just enough time to pray it isn't locked when he falls backwards inside. Two more dead start to follow him. Again, Ghost shoots the first but the other stumbles inside, out of your line of sight. The door slams shoot behind it.

“Soap, how copy?” Ghost's voice is tense and only gets worse when there's no answer.

“Soap, how copy?” Still nothing.

“ Johnny!”

“Clear copy, LT. All good.”

If you weren't looking at Ghost as he said it, you'd miss the second where he closes his eyes, just a second of relief, before it's gone.

“Good. Get upstairs until those fuckers clear the front. We'll need to wait until the street is empty before we come to you.”

“Copy.”

It's quiet after that.

Ghost warns you not to make a fire which rules out most of the food you have. You're looking through the bottom of the bag for a makeshift dinner when something lands on the ground next to you. You look over to see two of the MREs the two men are always eating. You clench your teeth but if it's a choice between accepting a favour from Ghost and letting Dot go hungry, you can bite your tongue about it.

About other things though … not so much.

“So,” you say later, when Dot is asleep. Ghost is staring down onto the street and you sit on the flat lip of the roof, leaning against the wall of the building so you're looking at him. “Johnny, huh?”

Ghost just grunts.

“Gonna tell me your name, too?” you ask him sweetly.

“No.”

You know you're poking the bear but you can't help it.

“If I guess, will you tell me if I get it right?”

“You know, I heard tier twos were psychic, didn't think there was anything to it.”

You scowl. In the early days, when the tiering system was first introduced, some crazies started believing that anyone categorised as a tier two were like witches, and that they had powers like psychosis and healing which was why they were more immune than others. You had heard rumours about such people in the centre and the stories about what they did to the tier twos they managed to catch. You weren't sure if any of them were true but they all made you feel sick.

As much as you dread being caught by sentries, you're more scared of being caught by people like that. Hard to reason with people desperate enough to believe such things.

“Sounds like you know a lot about tier twos,” you snap at Ghost. This comes dangerously close to admitting that you know he plans to sell you out. How many others like you has he come across and sold out?

He's quiet for so long you wonder if he might have fallen asleep standing up. It's too dark now to see even his eyes through his mask. But then-

“My brother was one.”

You jolt and stare at him, wondering if he's joking.

“You brother was what?”

Ghost shrugs.

“A tier two. Apparently. You should get some sleep. I'll take the first watch.”

You consider arguing but he's turned away from you now, clearly done with the conversation. Anyway, you're still catching up on the days of sleep you lost and you know tomorrow will be a long day, so without saying anything else, you climb into the sleeping bag next to Dot, hoping to get a few hours of sleep. You plan to wake up later in the night so you can insist on taking second watch.

And you would have done, if your sleep wasn't interrupted what felt like minutes later by a slamming door and raised voices. Your eyes snap open at once. You'd positioned the sleeping bag behind an old heating unit to block it from the worst of the wind so you can't see anything. But you don't need to be able to see. Instead you listen, hearing a bunch of voices of people you don't know. One in particular stands out.

“Lower your weapons and step towards me slowly, hands on your head,” the voice says. “Don't pull anything or I swear, I'll blow your fucking head off.”

[star-shapedfruit]

Alright lets talk about THAT scene

Honestly I'm still processing all of it and I don't even know if this is even gonna be coherent or more like

This is long. LETS GO

So it's still very much up in the air as to whether that was really Hiyori or not because of the whole illusion thing that Father has going on in this domain but I'm going to assume this is actually her. It just seems kinda weird for Adachitoka to pull that and then go 'Haha SIKE! Jk!' in the next update. Like, if you're gonna pull a scene like that- you gotta commit to the bit ya know?

So let's assume it's all real. Cord snapped. Kapow. She's dead. Now what? God I wish I fucking knew because Adachitoka LOVE to throw curve balls at us so no matter what we predict it'll probably be wrong 🙃

But I think this might have something to do with it.

Kofuku was the one to originally tie the plaques together (uh oh) but then Ookunushi was the one to place them back and bless them with happiness. So you've got a disaster god dooming them but a god of fortune blessing them. Those poor plaques are so confused lol. But either way, Yato and Hiyori are bonded for life and that's an already pretty strong bond they've got. They're two idiots in love and call it silly and cliché but perhaps it's that bond that will save them.

Hiyori is a special case. She's a half-Ayakashi with ties to both the Near Shore and the Far-Shore and we have no idea what happens to someone like that when they die. Do they lose their memories? Will she forget Yato, Yukine, and everyone else from the Far Shore? Will she forget her name? Again, a tricky one but since she treads the lines between the two worlds and her soulmate is a god, maybe not. It could be possible that she retains all those Far Shore memories and forgets a lot of the Near. She remembers her name but can't recall her parents or friends faces.

(That then brings up the huge elephant in the room of what other shinki will think of that and then start to ponder their own deaths leading to the GGS (the likes of Daikoku, Bishamon and Ebisu's shinki etc) but let's just put that to one side for a minute. I can only have one panic at a time)

I think one thing is for certain at this point though. Noragami won't exactly have a happy ending. Either Hiyori somehow lives and Yato is forced to cut her ties and she forgets everything or she dies and permanently joins the Far Shore, leaving her life, ambitions, friends and family behind. And yeah, neither of those are good. But it looks like they're the only options. Now shoot me for this but I seem to lean towards the latter. I really hate endings where someone forgets the entire journey they just went on and it ends up in a sort of 'it was all a dream' ending. They just make me angry lol. Person has this amazing story and adventure and it ends with a literal I forgor meme? Lame. It's more impactful if both parties suffer 😈 (Why I always get more emotional watching the S2 finale of Doctor Who than the S4 finale. I hate that Donna had to forget everything to save her. But that's a completely different kettle of fish).

I went on a tangent there oops. ANYWAY. If we go down the route that Hiyori is dead then it seems like only two things can happen; she'll become a shinki or she'll be deified. She can't be dead dead I refuse to believe that 😤 Not only because she's my favourite character but I really can't see Adachitoka killing her off for good.

Now call me a hopeless romantic (and my Yatori brain going ding ding ding) but the immediate answer that came to mind when I saw this passage at the end of the chapter is love. Perhaps it'll be Hiyori's love for Yato (and Yukine of course) that will be the Deus ex machina that will ensure that she can come back and that she comes back with her memories in tact, maybe even bypassing the GGS. With that, she may be the secret weapon to destroying Father (did Ebisu and Take even destroy the shrine? Honestly can't remember). Whether that means Yato will name her and the three of them will completely whoop his ass or something else entirely, but I think that post-death Hiyori will be the final piece needed to end Trash Dad and the crisis on earth.

Horrific as it is, It would be fitting for her character to make that sacrifice. She's always been brave and selfless and if she knew that in order to save everyone she loves on earth and the rest of the population by fighting by Yato's side, even if that meant that she had to die, she'd do it.

Yes this isn't the perfect ending but there is no perfect ending. Hiyori has been doomed ever since she jumped in front of that bus.

[feastfic]

!!! It's time guys >:) My much-anticipated M+L headcanon longpost gwhee

• For starters!!! The baby bros, after the events of Partners in Time, actually end up living very different lives from the brothers we're acquainted with. Neither of them know why purple or mushrooms makes their skin crawl, but they've duly avoided as much of the things associated with either of those elements as much as possible. Aside from that, there isn't any major difference to their personalities. HOWEVER their capabilities working together is even stronger than the "normal" brothers'; an impressive feat all on its own!

• There are Shroob aliens scattered throughout the world, not just a few like shown in BIS. They're like a small group of wanderers — not sticking to one spot and searching for another; the earthly kingdom's lands are simply unsuitable for their race.

• After everything Bowser's had to put up with? He's a scarred old man. <3

• The brothers' strengths are very closely intertwined. When one is absent, the other doesn't have their capabilities at their full potential. Which isn't to say they're not entirely capable on their own (they absolutely are!) but they're a force to be reckoned with when they have each others' backs.

• Cackletta and Antasma are (EXTREMELY distantly) related; so much time has passed though between them having a common ancestor that it's better to simply say that they're both just bats.

• Luigi and Mario both are. Very bisexual. The former is more masc-leaning and the latter more feminine-leaning. God help us if they both like the same person; just two old men talking about the one they like <333

• Out of the two, Mario curses more when he's angry; Luigi does it more so when he's spooked by something (both lapse into Italian "Oh bastardo NON FARLO di nuovo a me")

• They also speak Italian to each other when they know anyone who's around them won't understand them. That's just how brothers are </3

[dearreader]

hello! welcome back to my FMA Characters as Taylor Swift albums!!! previous albums are here:

debut, fearless (taylor’s version), speak now (taylor’s version), RED (taylor’s version), 1989 (taylor’s version)

now, let’s talk about the old taylor- oh no, she can’t come to the phone right now. why? oh… CAUSE SHES DEAD:

𝔯𝔢𝔭𝔲𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

Edward Elric

- time for THE comeback album bitches

- taylor has described this album as her most metal album (she was going through it and LYING), but while i disagree with that regard i still think there is something to that idea. taylor initially described it as finding love in the darkest of times, which is true. the album focuses more on the idea and fears of a relationship based on past loves and her world as a whole. and while that relationship is no longer happening, the message of the album still holds true.

- "my world is uninhabitable for most, no one can stay. but you're staying?"

- there is though, still a hint of venom or anger at times in the album. mainly towards the media or certain people who tried to destroy her career by lying through there teeth and putting her through years of media abuse, BUT WERE NOT HERE FOR THAT RANT BY KELLY SO ILL SHUT UP, but it's also anger towards her circumstances about the life she had chosen and didn't fully realize what she was getting into

- as when she signed on to be a country singer at 16 being a celebrity was a very different experience and meaning than our current idea of it as social media was no where near as prevalent

- it's those ideas why i think reputation is ed.

- ed is someone who made a decision years ago and is now forever facing the consequences and blaming himself not only for it but all the aftershocks it's caused in the beobles he's loves lives

- and here's to my real friends, they don't care about the HE SAID SHE SAID! and here's to my baaaaaaby, HE AINT READING WHAT THEY CALL ME LATELY! and here's to my mammmmma, HAD TO LISTEN TO ALL THIS DRAMA! *the other shoe drops*

- that's not even metaphorical SHE ACTUALLY THROWS A SHOE ON THE GROUND AT THAT POINT. LIKE SHE IS EMPHASIZING HOW THE STRAIN IT PUT ON HER AND HER FAMILY + WHILE HER MOTHER WAS DEALING WITH HER CANCER WAS ONE OF THE FINAL STRAWS FOR HER!!!!!!)

- i'm sorry, i'm not, i just fucking love this song

- and though the people in his life don't blame him, as neither do the ones in taylor's that we can tell through her songs, he knows he doesn't make it easier to know it be around him. (even before he discovers the conspiracy). he is angry and upset about what has happened to him but also knows that he got himself into this situation. so while he doesn't necessarily fight it he is annoyed by it.

- he also feels very indebted to making things right and is going out of his way to help and save everyone which is a lot for anyone to take on ESPECIALLY at his young age, which is something that has been seen in taylor's past albums and echos of defeat in this one

- i think in general edward deserves a LWYMMD moment as only hot people get those and ed's been through enough shit in life he deserves it.

- also the love songs on this album feel very shocked and surprised, blushing and unable to speak. which is how we often see ed reacting to winry (cause he's 14 and has a crush on a girl ohhhhhhhhhhhh).

- they're unsure and exciting, the narrator doesn't know how to deal with it. it goes from being excited to being upset and confused to admitting guilt over situations but also not regretting it as it freed them.

- the love songs are all about finding a love that's new and exciting a real. not just the idea of love to go off of but a real love between two people. which is what edwin can be seen with as childhood friends to lovers. as both are almost blindsided by their feelings and even propose to each other in the most awkward way imaginable and both get flustered.

[mdhwrites]

One episode I like a lot for Sasha’s arc in season 2 is The War Hammer. It not only demonstrates the consequences of pushing your friends too far for a hollow trophy, but it also establishes another flaw in Sasha’s Strength: too much determination to achieve something, even if that something won't get you far.

It reminds me of one episode of two different shows, I don't know if you have watched them by the way, Gravity Falls and Steven Universe. An example of Gravity Falls is the falling out between Stanford and Fiddleford: after the test of the portal went wrong and Fiddleford almost got trapped in another dimension, he begged Ford to destroy the machine which he refused because it was his life's work, he wasn't going to give up when he was so close to his goal. Fiddleford left anyway much to Ford’s anger as he yelled at him that he could do the rest on his own and didn't need him.

And with Steven Universe, it happens when Pearl’s desire to go to space went so far that she almost got herself and Steven killed. Their ship was falling apart and he told her “Sometimes you have to know when to bail” and she made the sacrifice of throwing away that spaceship to not implode with it.

That's what got, in my opinion, Sasha’s determination so twisted. Her goal was to amplify her control: not only her friendship with Anne and Marcy but also ruling over another world. Having goals is something good but if those goals are only to feed your ego, you won't get too far or you will but you won't have achieved anything. That's why Sasha was so unsatisfied after usurping the throne in True Colors: her coup was successful -if only for a short time- but it didn't bring her any happiness as her friendship with Anne was broken as a cost and warning her about Andrias didn't work which led to a terrible fight that ended up with Marcy being stabbed. It's the opposite of the feeling she had in The Battle of The Bands, she might not have won the contest but she had fun with her friends singing Anne’s song and letting go of control.

So this isn't a bad way to read it but I do disagree, at least for the overall meaning to her arch. It's a good lesson, to listen to your friends, keep your word, etc. like that... But it's also one that clearly Sasha doesn't keep. It's not one she learns in that moment because she will break her word in True Colors still. So... Why doesn't she learn the lesson? And strap in because I'm taking this for a ride just to talk about Sasha's character as a whole.

Because she's a spoiled brat who's never been said no to. This is my reading of the character admittedly but she, WAY above Marcy, sees Amphibia as a game because for a long time, she's seen LIFE as a game. They youngest form of her we see is an angry child playing make believe knight, yelling at people way older and bigger than her and getting REWARDED for it. She is the child of divorce but rather than miserable, in Reunion she makes it clear that she can make parties at her place happen on a whim and has at least a pretty generous allowance, if not almost a blank check for whatever she wants to do so long it isn't outrageous. This to me speaks of divorced parents who both want to be the 'favorite' and thus would never push back against their princess.

Remember: Her goal, as stated at the end of the first episode we meet her in, is to turn the world RED. To play. And why not? St. James was hers to rule already as a star cheerleader with incredible influence and popularity. Teenagers were so easy, why should adults be any harder, especially when she's able to twist the toads around her finger?

She is the hero of her own story though. She makes people's lives better. They're HELPLESS without her... Which is why Reunion hurt so much. See, for all the reasons I stated that she is the queen, she also rules alone mostly. She doesn't make close connections because everyone wants something from her. There were only two people who ever wanted to be her friend without that. She sounds genuinely surprised when Anne and Marcy want to spend more time with her after all. Two genuine connections. Two queens to elevate to her position.

In Reunion, we saw the positive element of this. Beaten and facing what seemed certain death, she decided to accept it. It was better that one of her true friends live than for them both to die. In Barrel's Hammer, we see the MUCH darker side of it. She literally cannot envision the two being able to even function, let alone thrive, without her. It drives her mad. It drives her madder than she's ever been and so turning back is never an option in her mind.

And Percy and the other Toad make her pay a price for it. Just like Anne had. A second time where her game didn't play like it was supposed to. And I like that we actually get a moment to see Grime fueling Sasha's WORST parts because of who he is. It's not done maliciously but the calculus of war that Grime is playing by can often feel like a game. Like you must strip people down to simply a number on a spreadsheet.

It is also the calculus of war that leads to her discontentment during True Colors. To her, she got the neutral ending, not the good ending of an RPG. She thought she was ready for it, ready to cut away Anne so that she didn't have to keep making concessions, but on the throne of Amphibia, there's nothing to distract her from the fact that she rules... But she rules alone. That's not satisfactory to her though. She's the hero. The hero has friends by their side, and Andrias being the villain gives her the chance to be that again.

And that last attempt to bring it all together instead made it all shatter like glass. We even see shards of Sasha wanting the binary world she lived in by wanting to be able to dismiss Marcy. To not offer Marcy the same kindnesses that Anne gave her. Hell, her thinking that it's as simple as giving command to Anne to make things not complicated is another sign of those old ways of thinking continuing to plague her. To make her resist change, even as she more and more is forced to realize that if she really wants to be the hero she envisions in herself, she needs to accept change. Accept others. Accept life and stop thinking she's the protagonist in a game.

And in Barrel's Hammer, getting a legendary weapon wasn't her showing she was the chosen one like she surely saw in her mind... It merely pulled the cork that was keeping things together, draining away those who truly cared about her until she would be left high and dry.

======+++++======

Bonus note: I have seen the first episode of Steven Universe, both halves, and kind of hated the gems and thought they were insufferable to the point where I had no interest in watching more. Gravity Falls on the other hand I've seen the first episode, two or three episodes inbetween, and then the last three and actually found that viewing experience satisfying enough that I've never gone back.

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

[nounpolycule]

Why are those "what your favorite companion/Doctor says about you" posts always so specific, like even more than those astrology posts that are like "Things the signs need to hear: Virgos, you are loved even if you're not 'useful'. Libras, if you don't pay your roommate back that $1000+ you owe them in the next two months then you're a piece of shit." What is this discourse you're talking about why are you assigning me sides why are your pitting bad bitches against each other why do you think Rose fans are soooooooo unwilling to multiship like c'mere let me indoctrinate you into the world of riverrose so I can prove you wrong. Like I can play that game too.

If your favorite Doctor is Six, your passion shines bright, even if you can't see that light. You deserve the compassion and respect you give others, and also maybe a hug and a free car.

If your favorite Doctor is Eight, your obsession outweighs your audio processing disorder.

If your favorite Doctor is a different Classic Who Doctor, idk we probably haven't spoken, hmu if you've got correct Rose Tyler opinions. If you don't have correct Rose Tyler opinions that's fine but don't hmu.

If your favorite Doctor is Nine, you're either butch or have so much love and respect for the butches in your life. You're not deterred by "bad" CGI, and you think stories should be driven by the characters - they're the heart of it, after all. You don't understand people who think you should skip Nine, or people who think people need to earn the right to have their basic needs met.

If your favorite Doctor is Ten, then I am giving you a kissy and biting everyone who has wronged you. You've watched other media specifically for David Tennant. You've got an episode or six that you think deserve a lot more love. You deserve a lot more love too, probably. Sometimes people think you're annoying for how much you talk about loving Ten, but you know the truth (they're annoying for how much they talk about hating him).

If your favorite Doctor is Eleven, you either have no trouble distinguishing between the concepts of "best" and "favorite", or you suck to be around. If it's the former, you're willing to acknowledge that the Eleven that lives in your head is different than the one that lives on your television screen, and you won't hesitate to rip things like Eleven kissing Jenny Flint or the entirety of the episode Let's Kill Hitler apart. If it's the latter, you think it's a bigger deal for someone to say that something you've said is antisemitic than for Jewish people to have to listen to you repeat conspiracy theories in the middle of a conversation about people being antisemitic in different ways.

If your favorite Doctor is Twelve, you're a dyke. You've considered learning to play a song to impress a girl, maybe you've even gone through with it. You owe the "she/her-ing pre-Thirteen Doctors" jar so much money. You don't like Regina from Once Upon a Time. You've tried and failed to find good electric guitar covers of Beethoven to study to and honestly that's so disappointing bro. You think Murray Gold is a genius.

If your favorite Doctor is Thirteen, you're either right about everything or literally nothing at all. Chances are if you haven't seen Jodie Whittaker in Antigone, you're in that second category :/. If you're in the first category, though, you understand the value of tragedy and catharsis.

If your favorite companion is Rose, then her outfit in The Unquiet Dead awoke something in you - that something, you would go on to realize, is called "attraction to women". You get angry when people say or imply Rose is too uneducated, too stupid, too selfish, too poor for the Doctor, or in general, because they're wrong and also missing the point. You know that the correct way to engage in shipping in this fandom is to figure out both the best and funniest polycule (though it's up to you whether those are the same or different). You're disabled - if you're hesitating to ask the group chat "is [thing your joints/organs/whatever do] normal?" because you think they might say "no", then you already know the answer. Don't forget you have therapy tonight at 7.

If your favorite companion is Mickey, you read at least two of the books that he's in. In your heart, "Mickey considered them firmly broken up before they even met Jack" is canon over "Mickey asked Rose about hooking up in a hotel room while seeing someone else" because Winner Takes All came out over two weeks before Boom Town did, actually. You know he's bi and don't know how other people don't get that. You understand that two people can be incompatible in a romantic relationship and take each other for granted while still working well as friends and caring about each other deeply.

If your favorite companion is Jack, you've had a dream in which you thanked John Barrowman for being part of your journey to realizing your sexuality, only to wake up and go "huh that's weird" and realize that it's actually true an hour later. You think treason is one of the most fun crimes a fictional character can commit, and that's part of why you love Tosh and Lois from Torchwood so much. You know that Torchwood: Children of Earth has some of the scariest Whoniverse monsters, and you're not talking about the alien. You've listened to the Big Finish audio Serenity more than once.

If your favorite companion is Martha, you deserve compensation. People in the wider fandom have a tendency to be weird about her at best and racist and misogynist at most frequent, even when they're defending her. You deserve better than this fandom has to offer and you know the same applies to Martha. Bonus points if you think she and Rose should kiss but you deserve your compensation either way.

If your favorite companion is Donna, you should pay your roommate back anything you owe them fucking ASAP to make sure they have money to pay for their half of rent in January. Like this will help you both.

If your favorite companion is Clara, you're either a classicist, someone who feels strongly about her memorizing the answers to Trivial Pursuit questions, or you're probably wrong about everything. You understand that Doctorification has an equal and opposite, Oswaldification.

If your favorite companion is Bill, you're autistic. You piss people off by asking "too many" questions but that's honestly your sexiest trait. You have a strong sense of right and wrong, and while you might get a bit stuck in your opinions, you think it's important to talk things through. It breaks your heart every time you remember that the s10 soundtrack hasn't been released.

If your favorite companion is Graham - [gets knocked out before I can start shit]

If your favorite companion is anyone else idk man I got up at 6am to study for finals not to spend over an hour on a joke post.

[mirikitakato]

[TRANSLATION] HALLOWEEN 2023 - A CAPRICIOUS LOVE FOR AN ENDLESS NIGHT: EPISODE 8

Cain:...Ever since the village was mentioned at the market, I've been feeling that the atmosphere between them is a bit different. I might get laughed at by those two if I say this, but... I feel like sometimes, wizards who have lived for a long time can seem a bit childish, especially those in the North. I mean, they're reluctant to talk, they resort to violence right away, or they don't even seem to understand why they're angry.

Akira: I think that too, sometimes. Even something trivial can turn into a huge fight...

Cain: Exactly. It’d be nice if they could just put some distance between them and look at the overall situation, but that's not how Northern wizards work, right? Especially the twin teachers. I think they were so close that they didn't know how to fight like siblings. So, even a small conflict could turn into a serious and difficult situation.

Cain said, searching for words. This may all seem like a thing of the past now, but...I knew Snow and White have a past where they killed each other because their opinions were at odds.

Cain: But normally, it's natural to have some disagreements, right? For example, young people who don't know much yet, have a lot of room to grow but are still immature... From the perspective of someone like me, who's used to disagreements, having met a lot of people with unique ways of thinking...

Akira: Ahaha…

Cain: Even when we do disagree, I'm like, “Is that all?”. Then I'm like, “Okay, let's talk it out, let's get to know each other, I want to know.” It's interesting because you and I are different. I like you even though you're different from me, and even if we disagree, we can always go back to the way we were. The twin teachers are actually both here in the village for their homecoming. Even if something happens, there are plenty of strong wizards to rely on.

Akira:.......Yes, you're right. Oz and Figaro are here today too. We may not have the experience or knowledge of wizards who have lived for a long time, but... At least we can watch over them and support them so that they can disagree in a good way.... I'm sorry if that sounded a little presumptuous...

Cain: Not at all! It's because you're young that you can think and feel things like that... There's bound to be times when the young can be a catalyst for the old ones. On top of that, you're the Sage who knows about the world we don't know. It's reassuring to have you around.

Cain laughed cheerfully and pat me on the back.

At that moment, I suddenly felt a gaze from behind me.

Black-haired boy:…...

*******

White: The wind has changed direction. The spirits are stirring everywhere.

Snow: We may be able to see that sight sooner than we thought.

White: ....... Snow, you must have talked to the Sage. That child's emotions are easily visible on their face.

Snow: What? I just told him a story from the past. Seeing how they are now, I may have caused them unnecessary worry...

White: The story about the teapot? It's been a while since I've seen it. Where did you put the other teapot? There must have been a scene that you, as well as I, wanted to trap.

Snow: …... White. If you still have something to say about what I did at that time...

White: …... No. It was the right decision to leave Thewlis behind. I don't want to lose the place you liked either. Here, I brought some bitter tea to go with the honey candy. You should drink it too.

Snow: Okay...

Oz: ........

White:…...What's with that pitiful face? Shall I blow on it and cool it down for you?

Snow:…....That's actually a good idea...... Adult White is so cool.....

Oz: …....

White: Are you trying to take advantage of me? Here, drink it yourself.

Snow: Stingy! You were the one who offered to do it!

White: Hohoho...just kidding. Here, come closer. It's better if you lean on me.

Snow: Kya, kya... White, you shouldn't...

Oz: ........ Snow, White.

Snow: What is it? Are you going to interrupt? I thought you were going to watch until the end.

Oz: What do you mean by “until the end”?

White: We were just getting to the good part. You just had to come barging in on our intimate moment. Oz: Shut up. More importantly, the spirits are making a fuss. I thought I could sense the presence of the spirits from the Western Country, beyond the mountains, carried by the wind. But that's not it. I feel like something is approaching the village.

Snow:…...Oh, you noticed it too.

White: The air in the village is changing, as if something missing has been filled. If we leave the Sage here any longer, they might be affected by it. They'll be lured in like a moth to a flame.

Oz: The villagers said that they've been seeing Thewlis more often since the Night of Calamity. You heard it too, right? They said he was standing by the water's edge, as if he was waiting for something.

Snow:…... It seems our divination was right on point.

White: The offered cup of wine is empty. And so is the honey candy that was in it.

Snow: It's time for us to depart.

********

Akira: That child...

Cain: What's wrong, Akira? Did you see something?

Akira: I saw a child peeking at us from under the shadow of the bridge over there... Do you think he's afraid of wizards too?"

Cain: A child? Maybe it's a different child from the ones we met earlier. I'll go talk to him.

Owen: How about leaving it alone?

Akira: …....!?

My shoulder jumped involuntarily at the voice coming from my side. I looked up to see Owen, who had a plate of pastries piled high on it magically levitating in the air, licking the food crumbs from the corners of his mouth while looking down at us.

Cain: Owen...

Owen: Oh, kind, kind Sir Knight, not be able to get over the habit of meddling in other people's affairs. But superficial kindness is meaningless in this country. What if the people you've been kind to lose their sense of crisis and are attacked by other wizards? Then it's your fault. It's like pampering wild animals and making them unable to resist the fangs of nature.

Cain:….... You may be right about that. I guess it's more rewarding to have someone act like you guys, strong and unfazed by all. It would make everyone else feel more at ease...

Owen: That's right. But you can't act like that.

Cain: I can, probably. But I decided not to do it today. Because it's meant to be some kind of fate that we met like this. Not being able to meet eyes to eyes…mmmh!?

Owen: Look who is talking. A child like you should just eat sweet.

Cain: Gulp…What is this pastry? It has a taste I can't quite describe...

Akira: Is that a cream puff? It's a pretty fancy pastry for the Northern country...

Owen: I told them to make it. But the skin is thick and crumbly, and the cream has a flavor I can't quite identify. It's better than just fruit soaked in sugar, so I'm eating it.

Cain: Well... I guess the ingredients are limited. But just what I need. Share one with me. Kids like sweets, right?

Owen: Hey.

Cain took a cream puff-like pastry from the floating plate and walks towards where I pointed.

Cain: Hey, you there. Come here and eat with us.

The child who was hiding under the bridge peeked out his face. The light from the lantern placed nearby gently illuminated his face.

Owen: That kid…

Akira: Black hair and golden eyes...He's a very beautiful child. But somehow, I feel he looks like someone...

Owen: …....Heh, he's like a spitting image of those two.

Akira: Eh?

Owen: Didn't they say, “Beware of the beautiful boy who appears by the water”? He must be really well-trained to come out in that form.

I looked at the child again. His eyes, which were somewhere between vacant and full of life, large and golden like the full moon, flickered with light.

Akira: (I'm drawn into his eyes like I'm being sucked in...)

Suddenly, a faint, flower-like, fruit-like fragrance wafts through the air, and my heart beat wildly.

It feels like my blood was receding, but at the same time, a strange sense of exhilaration rose from the depths of my body, making my body temperature rise gradually.

Akira: (My head feeling dizzy...)

My consciousness became hazy, as if a veil had been drawn over it.

I took one step, then another, and I stumbled towards the boy.

I didn't know why, but I found him strangely attractive.

Cain: Akira?

Cain turned around, noticing my unsteady gait.

Cain: Hey, what's wrong with you? You look kind of off...

Cain said something to me. Cain's hand touched my shoulder. But for some reason, I couldn't hear his voice.

Akira: (My heartbeat is so loud. I'm feeling lightheaded and dizzy...)

(It's like I'm swaying at the bottom of a cold, warm, and comfortable body of water.)

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the boy.

The black-haired boy opened his small lips, his voice like a bird's chirping.

Black-haired boy: Lord Snow, Lord White, and their companions. Please, take your time. Please, please, take your time. Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. Take your time, take your time~.

The boy said this in a cute voice.

He repeated the words that adults would say and fluttered around us.

Cain: Wh-what the...?! Sage, get behind me!

It might have been a strange sight.

I could see Cain in the corner of my eye, his brow furrowed.

Cain put his arm around me to protect meand reached out to the boy.

His thin shoulder is touched, Cain and the boy's eyes meet for the first time.

Cain:…...What…? Suddenly, my head is spinning...

Cain swept his hair back as if to shake off the sudden sensation.

The black-haired boy looked up at Cain with a smile, his lips curving into a crescent moon under his large, mesmerizing eyes.

Something rolled into the gap between them.

Akira: Honey candy...

Black-haired boy: Take your time~. Take your time~.

The boy dodged Cain's hand as it reached for his shoulder.He turned and ran upstream to the fountain, and eventually disappeared into the twilight like a phantom.

Owen: It's not just his face that looks like them. He's like a ghost.

Cain: That child...is it something transformed? It doesn't feel like a human.

Akira: Yeah…I'm so nervous and fidgety. My heart is still pounding...

Cain: Hey, hey. Akira! You’re gonna fall into the spring!

[Splash!]

Owen: Haha! Sir Sage. You're soaking wet.

Akira: My feet are hot...

Episode 7 | Episode 9