#anyway. i hope i just die tonight and that's it. it won't happen but i hope it does i really do. manifesting so hard rn

[daz4i]

oh i need to KILL MYSELF kill myself huh

[letmesleep8]

even if I die screaming // elliexreader

CHAPTER 3: Cassiopeia

AO3 | chapter 2 | chapter 4

content warnings/tags: cheating (not on/by ellie); mentions and use of drugs; subtle homophobia; slight discomfort.

notes: hello loves! i'm back with chapter three and it's a bit longer than usual, hope you like it. also, there is a minor OC mention in this one. nothing too much, it's actually such a quick role that i didn't want to waste a character in it, not going to happen often.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────••─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────••─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"With my back to the shoreline, I dreamt that he drowned"

 — Georgia, Phoebe Bridgers

January 22, 2039 Winter

Dear diary, 

I've been avoiding Ellie for the last couple weeks since Christmas. The last time I saw her was during New Year's Eve, tried to come talk to me but my mom was there and she had had a couple drinks. I realized it was better for me to not cause any type of scene.

After what she saw on Christmas mama said it'd be better for me if I got closer to Dina since we "have much more in common", of course what she really means is that I should not go anywhere near Ellie. She's also been really trying to set me up with one of Seth's boys, Mike. The older one, I think he's like 18 or 19. I really don't give a shit, I've only been seeing him so she would stop coming to my door late at night to pray for me while I'm asleep. 

Tonight there's gonna be a community get-together at Tipsy and I know for a fact Ellie is gonna be there. And so will Mike, I guess. God, he's so fucking annoying. I mean, he doesn't actually do anything bad, he's just boring and... shallow.

Anyways, I'm going right now 'cause Cat promised to give me bangs. I bet it's going to look awful and mama's gonna kill me. If it does happen I'll make sure Dina burns this journal. 

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────••─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────••─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

The sun had just set, the sky was not too dark. I grabbed the cake I baked for the community party and filled up Stevie's water bowl before leaving out of the door. As I turned to lock the door behind me, I got scared by a voice.

"What are you doing? Were you leaving?" Mike said, making me jump and almost drop the cake. "I said I was going to pick you up, why were you going by yourself?" He smirked, realizing I got spooked. 

"I completely forgot, I'm so sorry", I smiled while trying to hide the fact that I wanted to throw the vanilla cake into his face, I absolutely hate getting spooked.  I could see his smirk getting wider, he probably realized how distressed I was. And I think he liked it.

"Where 'ma hug at?", Mike tilted his head. I could feel my face twitch as I walked down the steps to my front porch. I looked up and put one arm on his shoulder, hugging him. He was quick to put both his arms around my waist, making me furrow my brows. I'm usually really not a fan of physical touch and Mike was always really touchy. After about two  seconds, I pulled away and started walking. 

The walk to the bar was quick and sorta quiet. He asked to hold hands, saying my hands must feel cold. I said I'm fine and stuffed them in my pocket. The lights on the street were beautiful, taking away my attention from him completely. We then got to my mom, sitting beside Seth. He got up, with a smile. 

I smiled back, wide and polite, as always. "I baked a vanilla cake, I hope people like it", I uncovered the cake and handed it to Seth, who seemed impressed. "Well, at least I know ma' boy won't be starving anytime in the future", he said with a grin. I could feel my smile getting smaller by the minute. The boy laughed with his dad.

On the other side of the room I could see my friends, all sitting together on the same table. Ellie included. I think Jesse saw me staring because he waved at us, calling us over. I thought if I should wave back but before I could even come to a decision Mike was headed towards them, dragging me along. 

"Look who's here! I thought you got kidnapped by Santa or something." Dina laughed, elbowing me. 

"Nah, was just doing an internship as a reindeer, but I'm back in town", I scoffed. Ellie was quiet, sitting on the corner chair. "Hi", I waved to her, reluctant. 

"Hey", she replied, her voice low. With the slightest of smiles, she points at my fresh bangs and says: "I like the new cut, suits ya' good." 

I smile and I can see her cheeks get fairly flushed. I open my mouth to respond to the compliment, but get rudely interrupted by Mike: "no shit, you cut your hair?", he's surprised. 

"You didn't notice the whole walk here?" I knew Mike wasn't exactly the brightest but I never took him for being blind too. He shrugs his shoulders and opens his mouth, trying to find an excuse for his lack of attention. Luckily, Seth calls him over to the kitchen for help, sparring us both with this useless talk. "I'll see ya' ", he says as he walks to his dad. I sat with my friends.

"Not noticing a haircut is a man's worst flaw", Jesse jokes. I roll my eyes and reply: "I really don't give a fuck. Anyone got a beer? Any alcohol? Anything?"

Dina whistles and laughs. "For you?! I'm impressed, look who decided she likes beer now!" Dina always liked to mess with me, especially about the fact that I don't usually drink with them. 

"Well, I can't always babysit you all", I mock Dina. "Time to return the favor." Dina lifts her hands in the air, so does Jesse. I turn to look at Ellie.

The auburn haired girl sighed and got closer, whispering: "s'okay, I do have something on me but y'all can't tell anyone otherwise we'll all be in trouble!" She gets up and all three of us follow after her. 

We sneaked out to go Ellie's house, she unlocked her door. "It's a mess, I wasn't expecting to have guests. You wait outside." I leaned against the front door, Dina leaned against Jesse, whispering something in his ear that made him chuckle. Soon after, there she was with a 6 pack of beer. We all walked together, deciding to stop by a creek, as usual. 

Ellie sat on a rock and I sat by her side, she handed me a beer. Jesse and Dina got a beer each and went to sit further, guess they needed some privacy. I took a sip, trying my best not to make a face. I'm really not used to alcohol. I try to break the cold silence. 

"So..." I looked up to the sky. "Do you really just keep a 6 pack hidden in your room?"

She chuckled, not saying anything else. Maybe she is mad at me. I would be. But her being mad would mean that it actually meant something, I don't think it did for her. Did it? Do I? Do I mean something for Ellie? Well, maybe now she sees me as a heartless bitch. I take another sip of the beer, thinking about how Ellie completely despises me. 

"Are you sure you wanna drink it? I know you hate beer." I looked to the side to see Ellie looking at me, smiling sweetly. "I could give ya' something else, if you want, of course." She laughs. 

"What? Oh, sure" I try to brush it off, as she reaches for something inside her jacket. I watch as she takes a joint and a lighter off her pocket and try to play it cool, even though I've never smoked a cigarette before. She lights it up, gives it a puff and passes it to me. I try to mimic her and end up coughing really hard while she laughs at me. 

"You've never smoked weed?", she laughs. "I've never smoked anything!", I reply, still coughing like an old man. "Aw shit, if I knew I wouldn't have done this, you should have told me!". She took it off my hand and smoked it again. 

Ellie blows out the smoke into the sky as I recover. "I can help you if you want", she says with a smirk. I raise an eyebrow, pretending to be innocent. I think I know what she's gonna do, I've seen guys do it in movies. I nod my head yes, "go ahead".

She puts the cigarette between her lips and takes another drag, but holds the smoke this time. She gently cups my face with her hand and slowly gets closer, I open my lips, not sure if I'm just going on with the bit or actually trying to say something. Lightly brushing her lips against mine, she blows out the smoke in my mouth. I closed my eyes and took it, breathing it in, and for a moment I could feel her smile against my lips. She backs away. I can see her rosy cheeks, they match the state of her eyes. She takes another drag to herself, looking the other way. As she turns around I can see the freckles on the back of her shoulder. I look to the sky and back to her, until she notices.

"All good?" Ellie smiles, looking a bit embarrassed. I shake my head.

"Toss your hair to the side", I say. She does so without asking a single question. "Now turn back around."

I take my index finger to meet her back, making her skin shiver. Move it to one side then another, tracing patterns, connecting dots. Constellations. 

"Cassiopeia." I moved my finger again. "Big Dipper." I moved it once more. "Cepheus". I whispered under my breath, by her neck.

Ellie chuckled. "Are you tracing stars on my back?" She got the weed back to her lips, dragging on it once more. Afterwards, Ellie looked into my eyes, close to her neck. She got close and brushed her freckled nose against mine, shamelessly touching lips and blew out the smoke into my mouth again. Our gazes intertwined and our faces closer than ever when I heard Dina approaching. We both backed away.

"Sorry for bothering you two. Mike's looking for ya'." Dina grinned, shaking her head and walking away. I quickly got up, adjusted my hair and walked away too, without looking back.

[scarletwinterxx]

let me take you to the place of your dreams - Jeno imagine

hiiiii honestly this had been on my drafts for so long, i finally finished it😭😂 hope you like it!

if you have a request or scenario you want me to do, just send me a message I'll see what I can do😊💌

For my other works you can check them out here, and for my other story series’ you can check them out here.

All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2023 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.

"So I just put in anything?"

"Yea basically anything you want to try, to do with your prospect partner. If somebody thinks it's interesting, then they pick it. Totally anonymous. If you don't like the person who picked your note then you can just pass" Ryujin explains while she hands you a piece of paper and a pen

"But what if somebody said the same thing as me" you ask

"Hasn't happened before, believe me you're about to hear the weirdest shit tonight"

"So what do I put?"

"I don't know, your dream place to do it" she jokes

"And I don't have to say it's from me right?"

"Yep, totally anonymous"

Do it in an expensive car.

You wrote it down as a joke, no one will know it was you and you didn't really mean it. Pinning the note on the board, taking one last look at it before walking to the refreshments table.

College parties are like Friday night staple. It would be weirder if you stay home instead of going out and potentially die alcohol poisoning. The funny thing is everyone's schedule intersects with one another, meaning if it's exam season you won't hear a single stereo blasting at any of the usual party dorms. But best believe once exams are over, you'll see atleast one or two passed out student at some random doorstep.

"Did you write yours?" Ryujin asks, appearing again beside you

"Yep"

She looks at you with a smirk, not expecting you to actually do it. "Didn't know you had it in you"

"You say it like it's a scary cult initiation" you mumble

"No no no totally not, I mean look at Minjeong and Jaemin. They met through that"

"They did not"

"They did"

"What did she write?"

"Some very cute cliche scene only Na Jaemin can pull off. She kinda did write it with him in mind so in a way it worked out for them" she shrugs, pointing the beer can she was holding towards Minjeong and Jaemin who looked like they were lost in their own world.

"And you? Have you every tried?"

"Yep, landed a few dates with Jung Sungchan last semester"

"That's how that happened? I thought you met at the gym or something"

"Definitely not, said I wanted to make out in the radio booth. He was the university radio DJ at the time" she laughs at your reaction, "How about you, what did you write?"

"Probably will never happen"

"Why? What did you write, tell me" she pulls on your arm dramatically

"Because we're a bunch of college students and I doubt someone here drives an expensive car"

"Why? What do you need the car for?" it takes her a second before she squeals and hit you on the arm a couple of times

"You little minx! You did not!"

"It's a joke, like I said as if someone drives an expensive car around here and if by some miracle they do I don't have to reveal who I am"

As the night went on, you kind of forgot about that whole thing. Ryujin kept on passing shots to you, by the end of the night you're sure you won't make it past the front steps but you tried anyways. It's getting to stuffy for you inside. As expected, you took exactly two steps from the door when you tripped on your feet, landing on the floor with a loud thug.

Too drunk, you just giggled instead of standing up. Not noticing someone was standing behind you.

"Are you just going to sit there?" someone spoke from behind you

"I'm just waiting for the world to stop spinning for a second"

"Sweetheart, if the world stopped spinning for a second we'll all be fucked"

"At least some of us will be" you laughed, looking up behind you to see who it was. "Holy shit, you're hot"

The mystery dude lets out a laugh, "thank you, but can you move aside first then we can talk angel"

"Jeno, quit flirting for a second. We need to drive Minjeong back" someone behind the hot dude, whose name you think is Jeno, said

"What are you doing there anyways, who- wait I know you. Y/N?" at the mention of your name, Minjeong's head popped up from the back. Now you notice was Jaemin speaking,

"You know each other?" Jeno asks, Minjeong immediately stepping forward to help you up and Jaemin following his girlfriend

"Yes, she's my friend. Hey are you okay? Where's Ryujin"

"Sucking faces with Sungchan, I think. I'm not sure" you answer, leaning sideways making you stumble a bit. This time Jeno catches you before you dive down the floor again.

"I can't just leave here here, I need to find Ryujin"

"I think she's busy, didn't you hear what she just said. Hate to ruin somebody's night" Jeno said, looking down at you

"And she's three seconds away from completely passing out. Do you where she lives?" Jeno asks Minjeong "Yea"

"Okay, we can drop her off first then we'll drive you back"

Jeno had other plans for tonight but it looks like it has to wait. It will eat him alive if he leaves a drunk girl alone at a party like this. He knows a lot of the guys in the frat house but of course he can't vouch for the rest of the campus, that's not a risk he's willing to take.

The trio helped you get back to your dorm, Minjeong getting the keys in your pocket and tucking you in bed while the two boys wait in the living room.

"You met someone tonight?" Jaemin asks his bestfriend

"Nope"

"Why not just give the note wall a try? Who know you might find a girl for you there" Jaemin says, for a second his eyes looking where Minjeong disappeared with you

"You're one of the lucky ones, most of those you even try that game ends up with a one night stand or find themselves in an arrangement of some kind" Jeno counters

"And?"

"Not what I'm looking for. Just here to be the chauffer for the night. Don't know why you're grilling me about my lovelife" Jeno answers sarcastically, making Jaemin laugh.

"Sorry, didn't know it was a touchy subject"

"You don't look sorry" Jeno snarks back

"Nope, can't say I can relate"

Another week has passed and you've completely forgotten about the note you wrote. Not until Ryujin came bursting through the study halls doors looking for you. When she spotted you, she made a dash for it.

"Girl I think someone got your note!"

"Huh? What note?"

"At the party!"

You needed a few seconds to understanded what she was saying before it clicked.

"Wait what? how did you know?"

"I saw a very expensive looking car drive by when I was walking out the gym"

You rolled your eyes at her statement, "And it didn't occur to you it might have been a professor or someone's parent?"

"Oh"

"Yeah oh, besides we're not even sure if someone took my note" you tell her

"Someone did" "Say what?"

"Someone did take your note, at the party. I left later than you, and a lot less drunk. I went to read some of the other notes but the one mentioning an expensive car wasn't there" she tells you

A few outcomes already playing in your head but you shrug them off. Remembering you don't have to reveal yourself.

"Also Lee Jeno is looking over here"

"Who?"

"Lee Jeno, Jaemin's bestfriend. Anyways I need to go, I'm running late for my next class. Guess I got excited over nothing. See you later, bye" then she was off again.

Looking behind to check who was looking, there's only one person looking at your direction. He made eye contact with you, tilting his head a bit to the side like he was waiting for something but you just looked forward again returning to your original position.

Jeno chuckles to himself, you probably don't remember him. So he packed his stuff, walking towards your table before taking the vacant seat infront of you.

Surprise written all over your face, because one you've never met this guy and number two he's probably one of the most attractive dude you've ever seen.

"Uh can I help you?" you ask him

"You can start with a thank you" he answers

"Excuse me? Why?"

"Ah so you don't remember. Well sweetheart, I was the one who drove you home last Friday. Not that I expect you to remember" he chuckles

"Minjeong said she took me home"

"Yea, with Jaemin. Using my car. Technically I drove all of you home"

"Oh"

Again he just stared at you, raising a brow at you

"Oh right, thank you" you mumble

"No worries. Just glad to see you alive after that, I bet the hangover wasn't as fun"

"I was begging all the gods to take the headache away or atleast blow my brains off, that would've been an easier way to take me out"

He let out a laugh, you're not so different sober. You're still as funny as he remembers from the only interaction he had with you.

"I didn't say anything embarrassing right?" you asked, eyes suddenly opening a bit wider. You don't fully trust yourself sober, much less when you're drunk.

"No, you were knocked out the whole ride back"

"Oh thank god"

"But you did call me hot, thanks for that again" suddenly you feel all of the blood rush to your cheeks and your hands suddenly got clammy. Did the room suddenly dropped a few degrees colder but also the air feels hotter.

"I didn't, tell me I didn't" you let your head fall on the table while Jeno just smiles down at you, enjoying every second of this.

"I did say we can continue that conversation later, how about we get some lunch or coffee after your last class?" he ask

"You're having too much fun with this conversation" you mumbled, not really giving him an answer

"I enjoy looking at pretty things" he answered without missing a beat, taking note of the way his gaze never left the side of your face.

"You wouldn't be here if Minjeong didn't make you drive me home"

"False. I was the one who found you sitting by the door, I wasn't going to leave a drunk girl alone like that"

"What, you bring them home instead?" you ask, this time looking straight at him

"I'm sensing very judgmental vibes from you right now, all I was asking was if you wanted to grab lunch"

"That was a no, bet you never heard of that before" you mumbled under your breath but he heard you anyways. You gather your stuff, ready to leave and finish this interaction.

"Dinner then?"

"So you're that type of guy who can't take no for an answer, good to know"

He lets out a chuckle, standing up from his seat too. This time he's towering over you, "I was being courteous, I'll take my leave now before you psychoanalyze me. Guess I'll see you around" he smiles then walks away.

Another week passed by, another Friday party to attend. If you're being honest, most of the time you come to these parties against your will. Like tonight, Ryujin wouldn't let you go home after your last class. Insisting you can get ready over at her place before the party. So here you are.

"If you want to spy on Sungchan, you can just say so" you tell her, finding it a bit funny how she keeps on looking around for him

"I'm not looking for him"

"Oh really, cause he just walked in" that made Ryujin look behind her, scowling back at you when she didn't see the aforementioned guy

"Just kidding, he's outside. I just saw him like five minutes ago being dragged by Dery so if I were you, I'd go there before he gets too drunk" she shoots you a smile before walking towards the back door, leaving you alone by yourself.

You followed short after, it was getting a bit crowded inside so you decided to get some fresh air. You're enjoying you're drink by yourself when suddenly someone whispers by your ear

"I know your secret"

That made you whirl around, ready to slam the dude. Only to find Jeno laughing to himself, eyes disappearing as he smile

"Dude what the fuck is wrong with you"

"Sorry, you looked too serious and too alone" holding his hands up before standing beside you. Resting his hip on the fence, facing you instead of facing forward like you were doing

"What are you doing here?" you ask him

"It's a party" he shrugs

"No, I mean here Jeno. What are you doing here" you gesture between the two of you

"Oh, well like I said I saw you alone so I here I am. And didn't you hear what I said?" he tilts his head, a smirk playing on his lips. You didn't like how much you find him attractive doing just that.

"What? What did you say?" you ask back

He chuckles before leaning closer, totally crossing your personal bubble to whisper to you again. "I know your secret. Your note"

At the mention of that note, your blood runs cold. You totally forgot about that until this moment.

"What note?" you ask, pretending you didn't know what he was talking about. He smirks at you while getting something from his pocket, when you saw what it was a mixture of horror and shock shows on your face.

"This is your note, right"

"No, I don't know what you're talking about" you deny, suddenly you can't look straight at him

He chuckles, opening the note and reading it a few times over. "You know how I know? we've had a few classes together over the years, sometimes you let Minjeong borrow your notes which she then lets Jaemin borrow then I borrow it too, you have a distinct way of writing A"

"Are you calling my handwriting ugly?"

"So this is yours?"

You scowl at him, snatching the piece of paper from his hand. "I was just kidding when I wrote that"

Do it in an expensive car. Cursing yourself for even writing it. And also cursing the universe for letting Jeno be the one to find it.

"It'll be our little secret" he says, sipping on his drink while looking at you.

You took the risk of looking at him, catching his gaze on your lips by a split second before he's looking straight in your eyes again

"What?" you ask

"Never though you'd be the type that wants to try out exhibitionism"

"Okay first, that was not what I was thinking when I wrote that and two you're stereotyping me now?"

"Oh just like you did with me?" he raises a brow at you "So why did you write it?" he adds

"As a joke, plus what are the chances someone on campus owns an expensive car when half of the people here are neck deep in student loan debt" you explain

Again he chuckles, downing the rest of his drink before setting it down.

"What? You look like you're planning something devious" you tell him, for the second time tonight he comes a little too close to you. Enough to leave goosebumps on your skin just from his proximity.

He slips something in your hands while whispering something in your ear, "Hold on to this for me? I'll go find Jaemin and say bye" he smile then walks away without saying another word.

You look down at your hand to see a key fob, the logo all too familiar to you. Your mouth agape as you look towards where Jeno disappeared to but you can't see him anymore. You leave your drink and made your way outside, surely he'll find you. He did just leave the keys to his VERY expensive car with you.

While waiting for him on the front porch, you walk back and forth looking towards the row of cars parked on the side of the road.

"My car's a bit further down, don't want to scratch her with everyone walking by" someone says from behind you, already recognizing the voice

"Are you sure this is yours? This is not stolen right?" you ask him, meanwhile Jeno just laughs as he walks ahead of you. You follow behind him.

"It's mine, birthday gift before I left for college"

"Oh so from your rich parents then"

"You didn't specify on your note who had to buy the car" he jokes, halting his steps to let you catch up so this time you're walking side by side

"I'm not having sex with you, I don't care how expensive your Benz is" you tell him seriously. Unconsciously hugging your self with your arms across your chest.

Jeno holds his hands up, his mother did raise him to be a gentleman. And contrary to your initial impression of him, he does take no for an answer.

"We don't have to do anything, you can go back to the party if you want to. I'm going now since it's getting a bit boring, I'll go grab something to eat though if you want to come with"

You weigh your options, is it smart to leave with a guy you barely know? most people your age would do the same, hell some leave parties with complete strangers.

"I'm not gonna end up in your trunk right?" you ask him, this made Jeno laugh. Holding his hand against his chest, "Not unless you ask me to, but I prefer the backseat it's more spacious"

"I don't want to know how you're so sure of that, I'm just hoping the seats are clean and I won't contract anything" you mumble, following his lead. He stops beside a sleek black car, holding his hand out for the key. You let it fall back in his palm, he press the unlock button before opening the door for you.

"And they say chivalry is dead" you mumble, earning another chuckle from the guy before he jogs over the driver's side.

"I'm really hoping I won't end up in a ditch somewhere"

"I'm not gonna murder you" he says as he starts the engine, looking over at you to check if you're all buckled up before he start to drive away

"That's exactly what a killer would say"

He just laughs at your statement, pressing something in the dashboard before passing his phone to you "Play some music, please. Your pick"

Just like that the two of you settle, you keep the small talk going. It surprised you just how easy it was to keep a conversation with Jeno going, the two of you talked about anything and everything. When you got to the restaurant he was talking about, he told you to wait while he jogs over to your side. Opening the door for you, not missing how his hand stayed on top of the doorframe just in case you hit your head.

"A breakfast diner? It's 1am?"

"So? It's never too late for pancakes" he smiles at you, letting you walk in first. When the two of you ordered, he insisted he'll pay since he technically did invite you. After a few protest from you, you let him tap his card.

"Now I owe you" you mumble as you slide in the booth, him sitting infront of you. He notices you look at the seat beside you before looking at him, "What?" he asks

"I just.. it's silly but can you seat here?"

He didn't say anything else, standing back up to take the seat beside you.

"Better?" he asks, looking at you. You nod at him, this time you're not glaring or scowling at him. Instead a small smile is on your lips, Jeno thinks he likes it better that way.

"Can I ask why?"

"Huh? why what?"

"You want me to seat here?" he asks

"Oh uhm one time before I was seating alone in a cafe and this dude suddenly sat beside me. It got real weird real quick I had to call for help" you frown, recalling the bad memory.

Jeno sits straight when he heard your story, like suddenly he was on fight mode. "Is he from campus?"

Already thinking if he can track down the guy and have a talk with him, but you shake your head. "Some random dude I thankfully never saw again"

The food arrives as you finish talking, again the two of you made small talk while you ate. The time passing by, the two of you paid no mind to the clock on wall. You were having a great time.

"It's pretty late, I should drive you home" he says, looking at his watch before sliding out of the booth. Again he waits for you, holding the door open for you.

You watch the street lights pass by, the rest of the neighborhood lost in dreamland while you're in your own moment.

Jeno stops infront of your apartment complex, then turning off the engine. This time he didn't move to open the door for, so you look over at him to find him already looking at you.

"What?" you chuckle

"If I ask you out on a date, will you say yes or no?"

"Are you asking now or..."

"Depends, do you kiss after the first date only?" you roll your eyes at his question, unbuckling your seatbelt before leaning over the center console to pull him by the jackets towards you.

"Depends, are you not going to stuff me in your trunk?"

Jeno chuckles, tilting his head sideways. This way his lips are closer to yours, one move and they're touching but he made no move to close the gap. He lets you decide what the next move would be.

Then you do. You close the distance between the two of you, feeling his lips against yours. His lips still taste a bit sweet, like the syrup on the pancakes you just had. This thought made you smile.

Jeno pulls away enough but still close to you, like he's scared to let you go too far from his grasp. "What's funny?" he asks, thumb on your cheek

"Nothing, you taste sweet" you says before diving right back in. This time you feel him pull you even closer until you're climbing over and settling on top of him. Sitting squarely on his lap.

Jeno pulls the seat back to make more room between you and the steering wheel. Your arms locked around his shoulder while his are around your waist. He didn't do anything to take it further, he was contented kissing you like you're his last breath of air.

You don't know how much time has passed, loving every second his lips are on yours. Eventually you had to pull away, Jeno then moves down to kiss your jaw then down the hollow of your neck.

"I should go now" you breath out but didn't really make any effort to move, instead you tilt yout head to the side to give him more room to continue whatever magic he was doing.

"Mhm, sure" Jeno mumbles against your skin, he nips at your neck for a while before he kisses his way back up to your lips. Smiling again against his lips.

"Does this count as doing it in an expensive car?" he jokes when the two of you broke apart. You hit him on the chest playfully, Jeno catches your hand before kissing your knuckles.

"Go on a date with me?" he asks, his expression completely different from how it was just moments ago. You roll your eyes but the smile on your lips told him otherwise.

His arms are still around you, and yours still hugging him. You might not be attached at the lips anymore but the space between your bodies still nonexistent. He could definitely get used to this, he thought.

"Okay fine, next time we'll try the backseat though"

[ghostofthemost141]

Serene

Chapter 3

Gif credit to @eurodynamic

Ch.1. Ch.2. Ch.3. Ch.4. Ch.5. Ch.6. Ch.7.

Pairing: Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish xF!Reader

Word Count: 2,615

About: You were on vacation to the beach and you think you're about to die when you're caught in a riptide until an unlikely hero comes to your rescue. Precisely a Scottish man that bores a tail.

!Warnings!: Sexual Harrassment

Italics means Third Person POV

Notes: This chapter is mostly about your home life and backstory but the targeted enemy in this story is a popular character in the series but just cause I make him an enemy doesn't mean I hate the actor who portrays him. He plays the character well and is a great guy. Also, your uncle is another character that is a favorite character of mine in this series, guess who 👀, regardless of what nationality you are. Anyways, hope y'all enjoy it!!

“I'll see you den, Dove.” His words echoed into your mind over and over again. The second you left that beach two days ago, you were craving to see him again even though you just got done seeing him at that moment. And now tonight, you would meet him again at the time he said. You were just praying he would be there. Praying that he kept his promise. Praying that he- 

“Dove!” A booming voice woke me from my daydream. 

I looked up to find my professor peering his eyes at me. 

“Yes, sir?” I sheepishly said, knowing I was busted for daydreaming. 

“Were you paying attention at all?” He asked with disappointment in his tone. 

“No, sir I wasn't.” 

You knew it was best to tell the truth with your professor versus lying to him cause he knew you would be lying just by your body language. Your professor tsked at you, showing his disappointment in you. 

“See me after class.” He demanded. 

“Yes sir.” I answer, feeling my guts drop to my stomach. 

Anything but that. I am not sure what it is about my professor but he has this weird tick to him. He's not necessarily giving ‘pedophile vibes’ but there is definitely something off about him. And no, him being a near red head blonde has nothing to do with it. Guess I'll find out later. 

~

You wanted to find some kind of excuse to not meet with your professor after class. That nerve grew more and more in you the closer the clock ticked to the end of class. Gem and Pixie were not in this class with you so you were basically screwed. You're supposed to meet them after class but you had to race to the shore for only one person. As the final bell rang, you started to rush pack your belongings so you could disappear in the crowd of students. Just as you stood up to leave, your professor was already at the front door, saying goodbye to the students that passed by. You froze in your spot, feeling your heart race. You just did not have a good feeling about all of this. Once the last student left, your professor shut the classroom door, letting it slam loudly. 

“Professor, I need to be going.” 

“Just, just wait a second, Dove.” He said with a chill tone, but for some reason that unnerved me the most. 

Your professor approached you, standing a little too close for comfort. 

“Why weren't you paying attention in my class?” He asked. 

“Just..have a lot going on, sir.” I half lied, trying to maintain eye contact but it was hard when he unnerved me so much. 

“So much that you can't pay attention in my class?” 

“I'm sorry, sir, it won't happen again.” 

You snared your tone to hopefully get your point across but he just chuckled at you, letting you know that he wasn't intimidated by you at all. 

“Professor Graves, I need to be going now.” I snared once again, hoping he'd move out the way. 

“You've certainly matured a lot.” 

“Excuse me?” 

You nearly shouted at him as his eyes were starting to wander in places it shouldn't. You felt gross and disgusted with not only him but yourself. Is this truly how men saw you as a person? For your body? 

“Out of my way.” I growled, shoving my professor to the side with my shoulder and hustling outside. 

You didn't stop running until you made it to your car. You wanted to throw up, knowing that your damn professor saw you in that way. You managed to keep yourself from throwing up by doing deep breathes in and out, while trying to keep yourself from shaking too much. 

“Shit.” I mumbled, trying to pull myself together. 

Besides Johnny, there was only one other man in your life that you could trust. Your uncle that you live with. He was your greatest support system and you loved him deeply. You needed him, his support. You immediately texted Gem and Pixie and told them you were sick and couldn't meet up with them and you were going straight home. You were still going to go see Johnny later but that wasn't until dark had befallen. You had two hours until then. You saw your professor walking out of the campus so you immediately started your car and peeled out of that parking lot immediately, rushing home. The further you were from campus, the calmer your nerves got, even though the event still lingered in your head, making yourself sicker and sicker, both mentally and physically. The lingering nerves even remained when you parked in the driveway of yalls house. 

“Oh Remi ain’t home..” I said, taking notice of the absent car in the driveway. 

She must be doing a class. I took a deep breath in and then out, with my hand resting on my door handle. Before I could even step out, my uncle beat me to it. 

“‘Ello?? Anyone there?!” He called out, flashing his phone flashlight at me. 

I laughed as I stepped out of my car, shutting the door behind me. 

“I’m here!” I announce my presence. 

Once I got closer to the house, my uncle stopped flashing his phone at me, opening the front door for me. I stepped through, as he shut the door behind me. 

“You doing okay today, kiddo?” He asked me. 

“Yeah, Uncle Alejandro.” 

“You sure? I think you’re lying to me, estrella.” Alejandro, or Ale as I like to call him, said, peering his eyes at me. 

“I mean..” 

You paused, not sure how your uncle was going to take this. You knew he was going to be supportive and believe you no matter what but you were worried at how angry he would get about it. 

“Talk to me, estimada.” Uncle Ale reassured me. 

I sighed deeply as I went and sat down on the couch with Ale following me. 

Ale sat down next to me, staring at me with lots of concern. He could read me like a book and know that something was wrong. Very wrong. 

“Um, so, you know my professor? Uh, Graves?” 

Ale’s face immediately churned. Yeah, this is not gonna blow over well. 

“Hmhm.” Ale said, wanting me to go on. 

“Well, he caught me daydreaming in class.” 

“Cariña, we’ve talked about that.” Ale jumped in with. 

“I know, Ale. I’m sorry.” I apologize, feeling guilt that I disappointed him even though I know I didn’t. 

He just wants the best for me. I am his niece after all. 

“Continue.” He said. 

“Well he made me stay after class-” 

“Made you?” 

I felt chills go down my spine, hearing that near growl come from my Uncle’s throat as he said that. Shit. 

“Yeah, he did. And well he was just sorta getting onto me for daydreaming in his class. And then he made a comment.” 

“What kind of comment?” 

I almost don’t want to tell him just by the reaction of saying he made a comment at me. 

“He said: You’ve certainly matured a lot, while looking at my breasts.” I mumbled that last part, hoping he didn’t hear me but he did. 

Your uncle went silent, but he was fighting the urge to find out where this man lived and beat the daylights out of him. Yes it was just a comment, but it was still harassment. Especially since this wasn’t the first time this has happened. Finally, your uncle spoke. 

“I want you to go to the Dean tomorrow and report him.” Ale told me. 

“I-I will.” I said. 

Ale immediately brought me into a hug. You know like those kissing booths they have in movies? Instead of a kissing booth, Ale needs to open up a hugging booth because he gives out the best damn hugs. I hugged back, trying to hold the tears back. 

“You know I say that because I love you right, Dove?” 

“I know.” I croak through my tears, completely overwhelmed with what happened. 

Ale rubbed my back in comfort, letting me cry on his shoulder as I have many times before. 

“You’re going to be alright, Dove. Uncle Ale’s got you. And Remi too.” Ale mentioned his lady. 

I chuckled in response. 

“I know.” I said, pulling away from the hug. 

I wiped the tears away, hearing a car pull up into the driveway. 

“Speak of the Devil.” Ale said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. 

“Stop! You’re so weird.” I exclaimed, playfully hitting him. 

Remi and my uncle have been dating for about two years now and I love her. I consider her to be my Aunt even though they aren’t married. Yet. Remi entered the house and Ale immediately ran up to her, embracing her in his arms. 

“Bienvenido a casa mi amar[Welcome home, my love]” I heard Ale greet her, followed by many kisses. 

It warmed my heart to see my uncle in love and be with someone he loves so much. 

You could only hope that it will be you one day. 

~

“Where are you off to, Dove?” Ale asked me as I grabbed my coat. 

Your heart raced as your Uncle stopped you, with concern filling his eyes. Night has befallen and you knew Johnny would be waiting for you. Your uncle doesn’t even know what happened on your vacation due to Gem and Pixie pushing you to keep it a secret, for you knew your uncle would want to wrap you up in bubble wrap after hearing about it. 

“Just going to the shore, for a walk.” I told him. 

“It’s dark out.” He said. 

“I know, I’ll be okay Ale I promise.” I reassured him. 

I could tell Ale was a bit unsure but he trusts me. 

“Okay, well be back by ten pm okay, estrella?” Ale told me. 

Two hours was plenty for me. 

“Yes, sir. See ya.” I said, walking out the door. 

“See ya.” He said back as I shut the door behind me. 

You hurriedly jogged to your car, jumped into it, started it and pulled out of the driveway within two seconds. You were so excited to see Johnny again. He had you possessed in a weird way. He was always on your mind, especially those dreamy bright blue eyes of his. Little did you know, he felt the same about you. Even when he was with his best buddy Simon in the deep, deep sea, you were on his mind. The way your hair flowed in the wind, and how sparkly your eyes were, had him possessed as well. They are cheesy thoughts sure, but it was truly how he felt about you. Quick as a flash, you were at the New Orleans beach, relieved there was no one else here. You figured there wouldn’t be but you just had to be sure. You wanted Johnny to be your secret. You left your car and started walking along the shore until you got some miles between you and your vehicle. 

“Johnny? Are you there?” I call out to him. 

A big splash from the shore confirmed your answer. You turned to see a beaming smile and bright blue eyes appear on the sand. 

“Hello, Dove.” 

“Hey, Johnny.” I greet him, feeling a deep blush creep onto my face. 

Johnny pulled himself out of the shore and propped himself up against a big sand dune that would block your vision of Johnny. That’s smart, you thought. Johnny patted a spot next to him beckoning for you to sit next to him. You nod as you came and sat next to him, feeling the wet sand hit your pants, causing you to cringe. 

“You alright, lass?” Johnny asked. 

“Yeah, just wet sand.” I said. 

Johnny just beamed his eyes at you, watching every little movement or expression you were making. He was completely infatuated with you, he just wished he could find the right words to say to you. But he could tell you were acting off. Something happened. 

“What’s wrong, Dove?” 

“Oh uh nothing.” I lied. 

I didn’t want to put my bullshit onto Johnny. I am sure he has a lot going on already. 

“I can tell something is amiss. So what’s up?” He asked me again. 

I sighed deeply, seriously debating whether or not to tell him. 

“I just..have been having issues with my professor at school.” 

“How so?” 

“He has been advancing onto me so to speak.” 

Johnny immediately furrowed his eyes, understanding what you said. 

“Bloody wanker..” Johnny mumbled and I had to suppress my giggles from hearing that insult. 

“What class does he teach? And what campus?” Johnny asked. 

“Oh, it’s no big deal Johnny. I’m handling it, I promise.” I reassured him, but I could tell he was pretty angry. 

“He didn’t ‘ouch you did ‘e?” He asked. 

You shook your head in response, seeing Johnny’s face relax a little but still angry. 

“You know I can still turn into a human righ’?” 

“I know Johnny and I appreciate it but I don’t want you to get hurt.” I said, leaning on his shoulder. 

Just from that comment alone, Johnny knew how you truly felt about him. And he was happy. 

“You feel somethin’ for meh, bonnie?” Johnny asked smugly. 

“Maybe.” I returned the same tone. 

Your hand ended up grazing over his tail, feeling the bumpy yet smooth scales. Johnny watched as you did that, knowing you were doing that with good intentions. 

“Your tail is so pretty, Johnny.” I said, seeing the scales shimmer within the moonlight. 

“Not as pretty as you, Dove.” 

You giggled hearing Johnny’s comment, feeling absolutely flustered. 

“Oh stop.” You joke. 

“I mean it though.” 

“Do you though?” You question. 

Johnny gently grabbed your chin and moved your face to were you were looking deep into his blue eyes. 

“I do.” Johnny sincerely said. 

You felt your heart race quicker and quicker the longer you stared into Johnny’s eyes. It was as if he was hypnotizing you with those dreamy eyes of his. You wanted to do something, so badly, but didn’t want to spook Johnny, even though he was worried about spooking you. 

“Can I kiss you?” I ask, immediately cursing at myself  for even asking, but he just smirked in response. 

Without saying anything, Johnny leaned in and connected y’alls lips together, immediately feeling your heart flutter at the action. You shut your eyes and placed your hands on Johnny’s chest, while Johnny wrapped his arms around you, bringing you even closer to him. He pulled away for a second to get some air but immediately connected them back together. You didn’t want this to end, you wanted it to go on for forever. Despite him being underwater 24/7, Johnny’s lips were soft and nowhere near being chapped like you expected them to be. Johnny rubbed your back passionately as you could feel the tension in the air get hotter. You wanted to keep going, go even further knowing he can turn into a human, but you held yourself together. Not yet, soon, but not yet. You pulled away from the kiss first, but remained up close. 

“You enjoy that, Dove?” Johnny asked. 

“No, not at all.” You sarcastically reply back with. 

Johnny chuckled back, loving your style of humor. The two of you embraced in another long kiss and even though the tension was in the air, the two of you held your composure for each other and just kept y’alls lips together, not knowing there was a pair of eyes watching the two of y’all from the far distance. 

TO BE CONTINUED…

[loopingcat]

I'm not okay.

Warning: vent,suicide

Honestly... What the point of me living?. I don't get why I exist, I don't get the point of my existence, I don't get the point everything about me or my existence. Sometimes I wish I can shut my self from this world and disappeared from everything forever.I just wish I die,I wish I never exist. My mental health is becoming worse almost every single days. My friend want to kill her self. And a bunch of bad shit is happenings to my life that make me want to disappear from this world. I don't deserved to live. I don't get it why do I exist anyway:/ I feel like I just want to kill myself tonight's,I don't want to exist anymore. I feel like shit, I feel like I'm not love, I feel like people just think I'm A annoying emo brat who have suicidal thought. Me existing wasn't necessary. I don't think I shall live anymore. suicide is the only ways to escape this living hell for me. maybe it might solve my existence:/ I don't get how people love me. I'm just a annoying person that should not deserves to be loved by someone... Even if you guys say "I love you" or try to convinced me that a lot of people in this world care about me then I think. I don't believes it, being loved by someone feel like a lie to me :/ I probably won't be alive 1 day later after this post was made. This will probably be the last post I ever made, this will be the last breath I take before disappearing from this world.I hope I die,I hope I never exist, I hope one day I disappear soon, I hope the world will be better off with out me existing, there was not never a point for me to exist in th world...

From: Looping cat

To: The whole world

[mewnekoice-mecha]

From The Ashes

For the Wonderful @selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs

Thank you for letting me make this. This is a fun little plot i had for the Series. What happens when the Bsd cast find out that (fem)Guiding Light is an Internet Singer, and thanks to them overcame a creative block?

It's been a couple of months since the BSD cast came into your world, and honestly having them around has done wonders for your self-esteem and health. Right now you're looking through a book but not just any book your Song book, you were thinking about making them a song as thanks for just being there and getting them out of a slump.

Before the Cast came to your world, you were a fairly popular and well-known Internet singer but due to some family issues and just life it's taking a back burner and before you knew it six months had passed without you making anything. The only reason the bsd cast don't know about this is because you never took your phone or laptop into the mini recording studio you had in your house at the time. Since coming that studio has now being upgraded thanks to Francis and Alcott, your more surprised that no one questioned why there was a recording booth in the house.

Anyway, back to the point you're making a song and have to hide it from the others til it's ready which is proving to be easier said than done thanks to Three specific people *cough* Ranpo, Dazai, Fyodor*cough* and you're almost done, all that's left is adjusting the music and then actually singing it,but those nosy men won't let you.

Deciding enough is enough you go whine to Fukuzawa hoping he'll calm them down enough so you can finish the song. And behold it worked while Fyodor didn't really care Dazai and Ranpo sure did, and that gave you enough time to go find junichiro and con him into helping you.

"Ok I know I've been acting off lately but there's a reason for that, can you all meet me in the dance room," you asked. Blushing when curious eyes meet yours.

" It's about time, so we can finally see what you've been hiding," Ranpo declared, before dragging atsushi with him ignoring any protests.

After settling in the room, I explain what i've been working on and why I kept kidnapping certain people. That done I ask junichiro to start the music once I get settled.

(Start Playing "From the Ashes" by Illenium ft.Skylar Grey)

The room went black before showing a ruined town filled with smoke and ashes, as the music starts I appear wearing what was once a white dress now dirty with soot and burned in certain areas.

" Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah"

Moving around the ruins like I was scared but still powering on it became clear that I was badly hurt but ignoring it.

"I've been here before If you want, go ahead, start a war It's not that I'm brave It's that I would rather die Than for things to stay this way"

Still roaming the ruins, I look through the rubble looking more and more upset when i can't find what I'm searching for.

"Losing means nothing If there's nothing to lose

What do you want from me tonight? You wanna burn down everything in sight I'm not afraid of a little fire So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes"

Turning a corner shadowy figures could be seen laughing and mocking a figure on the ground,as I get close the figure turns out to be me but my dress is white and I'm wearing make-up and jewelry which I'm no longer wearing.

"(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) From the ashes From the ashes (The ashes, the ashes) So light your matches (The ashes) And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah) From the ashes (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah)"

The figure on the ground glared at the people laughing before getting up and saying something, which didn't make the people laughing happy but shadow me didn't care and walked away from them.

"The flames fill my lungs Burning up everything I've become It's not that I'm brave, no It's that I've been here before And I know I'll be okay

Losing means nothin' If there's nothing to lose"

Leaving that scene, I continue on my walk before hitting another memory, this time showing the BSD cast helping me and showing little shots of day-to-day life, like reading with Oda and Poe, Riding on Atsushi, petting Rashomon and more. As the slideshow continued my dress was slowly burning and and I was turning darker.

"What do you want from me tonight? You wanna burn down everything in sight I'm not afraid of a little fire So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) From the ashes From the ashes (The ashes, the ashes) So light your matches (The ashes)"

As I turned towards the Cast I smiled before slowly falling apart like ashes, forming a Phoenix out of my ashes I 'flew' around them before landing on the ground in front of them as a pile of ashes.

And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah) From the ashes (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah)

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes

The pile of my ashes started moving before, 'Hatching' and I rose again but now my dress is back to white and and I had my hands stretched out towards them. After that it was silent until I was knocked over by Anya and kenji, with nanomi and atsushi not far behind saying how cool that was and why did i hide such a thing.

[rems-writing]

Ateez as other r&b songs

Listed below are the r&b songs released by other artists. It's gonna be a mess since I listen to other artists besides Bryson Tiller lol I thought long and hard about which songs I associated with Ateez

Hongjoong - Say You Love Me by Kai

We all know how possessive the captain is of Atiny. Literally the lyrics in this song say "Just say you love me tonight. Don't make me jealous tonight." Plus, the instrumental is something that Hongjoong would produce if given the chance. Idk. Maybe I'm just being delulu and manifesting an interaction between him and Blaq Tuxedo. Blaq Tuxedo are an r&b producer/singer duo who have worked with big name artists such as Chris Brown, Doja Cat, and Tank. To name a few. Anyways, I'm getting off track here. So. Manifestation. Hongjoong did say that Ateez will be in the States for a while so yeah. Hoping this happens.

Seonghwa - When The Rain Stops by Hoody

I'm not going to lie. I was going to originally have a Miguel song but I forgot which one so this was my backup plan. If ya'll don't who Hoody is, she's the Korean r&b QUEEN! And that's on PERIOD! Fight me hoe. Anyways. I took a listen to this song and bruh. Tell me why I imagined Seonghwa's soft voice covering this song. If he decides to do another cover yet it isn't another DPR Ian song, I highly recommend this one. It'll be a musical asmr type of thing.

Yunho - Ice Queen by Baekhyun

Let's face it. This big bitch is the human embodiment of sunshine. If he ever sang this song to me or another hotteok, they'd fucking melt on the spot. Yunho's vocals are heavily under fucking rated and they need to be showcased more.

Yeosang - Open Passionate by Kehlani

Ever since I heard this doberman's deep ass voice in Halazia and Dune, I always wanted him to sort of test his range a bit. This Kehlani track is two songs in one and I feel that he can handle the transition. Plus I can't hear the lyrics "What if you slip up? What if tequila grabs your neck and says, 'Don't bitch up?" without hearing his soft voice entering my ear and hitting my brainwaves.

San - With A Little Help From My Friends [Soul Mix] by Omarion

So for a bit of context, the original artists of this song is a band called The Beatles. I'm sure everyone knows about them so I'll spare you the explanation. When Omarion covered this track and then put an r&b twist on in, I immediately thought of San. This man has such a huge heart and he loves his bandmates more than anything. The airiness of his vocals would fit perfectly with this track.

Mingi - We Need A Resolution by Aaliyah

There's really no context or connection to this. Mingi is my ult. This track is my all time favorite r&b song that isn't made by Bryson Tiller. If Hoody is the Korean r&b queen, then Aaliyah is the American r&b queen. I guess the only thing I have to say is I can picture Mingi's raspy voice singing the lyrics and doing the adlibs and stuff.

Wooyoung - Die 4 You by DEAN

Like San, Wooyoung loves his bandmates more than anything. However, the way these two boyfriends go about it is different. While San would prefer to stay professional and handle a scandal or conflict in a calm manner, Wooyoung will not hesitate to call you out on your bullshit. I feel like another reason why he and Yeosang are best friends is because they will stick up for each other no matter what. But that's a different story. Anyways, musical aspect. Like San, Wooyoung has an airiness to his vocals yet I feel as though he won't put as much power into it like San will with his cover. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course! I just feel like he'd have fun with this song a lot. I'm unsure if he listens to Dean but if he does, I want him to cover this single.

Jongho - Bad News by Kehlani

Contrary to Next To You by Bryson Tiller, Jongho can showcase his powerful vocals in this Kehlani track and even do some insane harmonies. However, due to the soft nature of this otherwise slow jam/ballad, he would definitely have to focus on balance. That way, his high notes can be heard yet still put the listener at ease.

[miguelmeiai]

Life is Strange 2 - What if Esteban didn't die? - Chapter 1

Esteban gets between his sons and the police officer, who holds a gun in his direction.

─ Are you really going to shoot at me? For no reason? Please, please listen to us first. I want to know what happened. Let's calm down.

The police officer puts the gun down.

─ Okay.

Esteban looks at Sean.

─ What did you do to Brett? Please tell me the truth.

─ Daniel accidentally spilled zombie blood onto his shirt. But this is all that's happened. But this motherfucker thinks it was on purpose.

─ This is a lie! He did it on purpose! This dumb and stupid little kid!

─ Hey, don't say that about my little bro!

Sean almost beats Brett, but Esteban holds him.

─ Don't do it, son. It'll make things worse for us.

Sean calms down.

─ You all, please go home! I have more important matters to care about ─ the police officer orders.

Brett shows his middle finger at Sean and Daniel. Sean does the same and hugs his brother tightly.

─ Are you okay, Daniel? He didn't hurt you, did he?

The police officer looks at Esteban with a mad face.

─ What could I expect from two kids raised by a Mexican dad? That's why we can't let you immigrants take over America, or else violence will spread! You will never be welcome in this country! Sincerely, I hope a decent president takes over and builds a wall to keep those assholes away.

He goes back into his car and drives it away. Esteban is still bothered by what he's just heard but tries not to show it. They all get inside.

─ So... I think papito here needs to get back to work. And please, don't get into any more trouble. Things aren't easy for immigrants like me in this country.

Sean goes towards him.

─ Dad, wait...

Esteban looks at him.

─ I... I just wanted to say... please don't get bothered by what that stupid police officer said to you. You are a good dad and both me and Daniel love you.

─ I know it, son...

He, still sad, goes back to repairing the car he was working on. He doesn't want his children to see him unhappy. Sean is worried about him and talks to Daniel.

─ Daniel, I think dad is sad about what happened.

─ Yeah... what if we... bought a pizza for him?

─ I don't think that would do much to cheer him up, but we could try. He had given me some money for the party, but... I think spending that money buying something for him would be worth it.

─ But... won't you go to the party tonight, Sean?

─ Nah... I'm okay. I prefer staying with my family, especially after almost losing my dad.

─ Did you see that guy point a gun at him?

─ Yeah... By the way, I have to get back to my bedroom. Lyla is waiting for me on Skype. See you later, Daniel, and DO NOT enter my room!

Sean goes back to his room and resumes the call with Lyla.

─ Why did you leave out of a sudden?

─ You won't believe it, shit happened.

─ What shit?

─ Long story. By the way, I wanna say that I'm not going to the party tonight. I wanna spend some time with my dad.

─ Wow, how did you change your mind so fast? You never cared that much about him.

─ I know, but...

─ What about Jenn? Weren't you excited to see her at the party?

─ Yeah, I was, but... there'll be other opportunities for that in the future.

─ I wouldn't be so sure of that. But, if that's your decision... by the way, I'm also not going to the party tonight. At least not without you. It would be boring to go there without you.

─ I see... so, talk to you later?

─ Yep. I'm still very confused. You were super excited for the party.

─ I know... bye, see you later.

─ Bye, Sean! I like you so much... I mean... as a friend... anyway, never mind.

She immediately turns off the call. Sean gets up and looks for his sketchbook and a pencil. He sits on his bed and starts drawing a forest. In the drawing, he is sitting on a rock beside his dad and brother near a river. His imagination goes wild, and he gets lost in his thoughts. He feels as if he were there.

[catkin-morgs-kookaburralover]

disclaimer before we start, this is not a suicide note. promise. if you're concerned about it, either scroll on by or read the whole thing before you jump to conclusions.

I wish I could know what I mean to you.

You say you've lost friends before; you say you couldn't bear to lose me too. And yet. (There's always an and yet.) I can't believe you. I can't believe that you care about me, that you wouldn't forget - that I won't simply slip through the cracks when I'm gone.

I'd be devastated if you died, especially like I'm planning to. I know I would. But I simply can't believe you'd feel the same way if I died.

Call me a coward if you like - I do, often enough. I know it's cowardice, to look for the easy out instead of the hard continuation. And yes, I do call killing myself the easy out.

Be comforted, at least, that I'm determined - no matter how often it occurs to me - not to do something actually cruel like go play in traffic or jump in front of a train. I don't need to traumatise people like that: there are other ways that will less affect people.

I wish you'd forget about me altogether. I really, really do, sometimes. I love you - I do, I love you dearly - but I wish you'd forget I exist and just let me go.

This has always been my destiny. I promise. I always expected to die by suicide, unless the Lord Christ returned before I did. I never expected to get this far, anyway - and I absolutely promise you this, you are one of the very specific reasons I've got this far. If I was to pick merely a handful of instances, five, well - I don't know precisely which the other four would be, but you and your actions would definitely be one of them.

Forgive me. That's all I ask. And seek help when you need it. Don't be ashamed to do so: it's not a moral failing. Or so I like to think. But how would I know? God knows I wouldn't be writing this if I was absolutely mentally stable and certain everything I did was right.

I don't claim this is right. But it's the only option - I can't go on like this. They don't think I'm mentally ill enough to be hospitalised, which is fair enough. Maybe I'm making it all up, and when it comes to it I'll find myself unable to. But how hard can this method be, really? Of course there's the risk that I mess up, survive and screw up my entire life. That's always a risk. It's possible I should do more research into this method just in case, though it's rare enough it's difficult to find much information about people intentionally taking it as a method of self harm and/or suicide. Or maybe I just say screw it and go through with it, see if it kills me. Hope it does. Or maybe that fun thing called 'complex suicide' where people use multiple methods in combination to kill themselves. Frankly I think that's most likely.

I'm not planning to do it right now, or even tonight, mainly because I'm too likely to be interrupted, so it would only be useful as a cry for help.

Also see: I do not want help, because I want to kill myself. Sorry to be blunt about it, but it's true. Getting help just sounds like too much hard work.

I don't know. I'm tired. I hope you take care of yourself more than I take care of anyone, including myself.

bolding this to make sure people notice it. since it has happened before. if you call the police for a wellness check on me I promise you I will tell them I'm fine and the only thing you will have gained is breaking my trust. I give you permission to call them if you have some reason to suspect I am actively in the process of suiciding. I am telling you right now I am not. that's a promise. but you know what genuinely could tip me over the edge? having my trust broken again about that. I. am. not. kidding.

[akuaya-eng]

(Main story) Chapter 3 - Episode 10

- LONELY BATTLE -

Claude

"Another calamity will occur"…

(thinking) I still vividly remember the Red Moon Calamity. If a calamity of that scale happens again…

----------

Claude

Damn it…! The curse is spreading more than I expected…

Soldiers

Ugh… ahhhh!!

Claude

Retreat for now! Don't touch the curse!

Curse's Voice

Help… help… me…

Soldiers

But… there are citizens asking for help…

Claude

… It's too late. They are no longer alive. If we get too close, we will be consumed by the curse too.

Soldiers

It's… it's all over! We're all going to die, consumed by the curse…!

Claude

Don't panic! In this situation, unarmed civilians are more terrified than we are. As soldiers of the Empire, we must be their hope…! There must still be survivors. Search carefully and with utmost caution.

Soldiers

Y-yes!

Claude

(thinking) I said that to the soldiers, but… what a horrible sight. A peaceful village turned into a sea of curses so easily. How many more villages are like this? Is this… a calamity?

----------

Claude

(thinking) We must prevent such a disaster from happening again. Now that we have this much information, we can't ignore it. If the higher-ups won't act, we'll have to do something ourselves…

... or seek help from outside the country.

Oscar

(knocks) Hey, Captain? Are you there?

Eric

Oscar, it's the middle of the night. Keep it down…

Claude

Yes, come in.

Eric

(opens the door) Did you call for us, Captain?

Claude

You two have completed a difficult mission. First, I want to commend you for your efforts.

Oscar

A commendation alone isn't enough. We deserve hazard pay for this one.

Claude

I see. I'll consider it.

Oscar

That means you have no intention of paying us. It's tough being the lieutenant, right, Eric?

Eric

………

Oscar

… Hey, Eric. Don't look so down.

Eric

Sorry, that's not my intention…

Oscar

The captain told me. I was able to see the results of your special training.

Eric

It was nothing special. It's what I should be able to do.

Oscar

I know. You can do even better. So, let's train again.

Eric

Yes. Please.

Claude

…Anyway. I know you're both tired, but we need to discuss our next mission.

Oscar

Huh, the next one already? That's too much.

Claude

It's that urgent. This isn't just about us, but the entire Empire… no, the whole world is in danger.

Eric

! Do you mean--

Claude

Yes, it's about the signs of a calamity. We can't wait for orders from above anymore. Now that we have no information from Espada, we must investigate this on our own, even if it means acting independently.

Eric

I knew it…! So let's start the investigation immediately!

Oscar

Well, this is indeed a serious issue. But if we don't get a break, we'll collapse.

Claude

If we don't act, a calamity will surely occur. You know how terrifying that would be, Oscar.

Oscar

… Yeah. If a calamity happens, we won't be able to enjoy food or drink. Alright, Captain, let's do this.

Eric

I'll give it my all too, Captain.

Claude

Thank you. Now, let's take a look at all the current information about the calamity. Please compile it as a document by tonight.

Oscar & Eric

Yes, sir! (both leave)

Claude

Phew… it's going to be a long night. Ugh…! (audible heartbeats) Another seizure…! Damn it…! Ugh… aaahh!! (falls) Huff… huff… I can't lose to this curse…! I will find a way. I'll free myself… and Ellie from this suffering…

[nukabrain]

My OCs

Wanted to create character sheets!! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed creating them! Took me awhile too, kept getting sidetracked by schoolwork :C (Gotta keep those grades up!!) (So I can try to write consistently but not sure if that's even gonna happen-)

So MEET....

Courier (FNV) OC: Enzo Atticus | 25yrs | Independent NV

Is a doctor, so he frowns upon people who fight risky.

For safety, he fights with a sniper so he can minimize damage on himself.

Will get his money's worth, so of course he passes all the speech checks (its at 100 and I haven't even made it to New Vegas)

He is the type of person who always nit-picks on things.

Every time he heals a companion he will grumble things like "why would you do that" and "can't believe I'm using my resources on you" (He doesn't mind at all and enjoys healing others but he will never tell you that)

I know I mentioned he uses the sniper rifle but he is SERIOUSLY good at using it, even Boone considers his sniper skills to be as good as his.

He is very healthy himself, because "If you get sick out here it's game over for you." Plus he thinks its a pretty dumb way to die because you couldn't out run a worker ant.

This man is the unluckiest person on earth. (I had to nerf him somehow.)

Will be traveling along bothering no one and suddenly step in some puddle. Day is ruined because he forgot to pack spare socks.

Will lean on a wall and it crumbles on him. Gets angry and kicks a bucket. Water splashes on him. Did I tell you water? It was actually piss.

Also gets massive headaches/migraines (due to being shot in the head- duh)

Quotes from Enzo:

"I am NOT helping you with your addiction to chems, this is the 4th time this week and its fucking Tuesday."

"100 caps?? Oh c'mon the only enemies I better see are geckos."

"Why did I sign up for the courier job if I was a doctor? Easy, the pay was simply divine. I thought 'How bad could this transport job could be!'.... turns out pretty fucking bad."

"God damnit my boot broke and blood seeped into my socks. That's the 2nd time today! I should really take payment in socks instead of caps."

"Why do you keep rushing into battle? I can't keep wasting my stimpacks on you..... I had some extras anyways but STILL STOP RUSHING INTO BATTLE HEAD ON."

"Oh sorry sweetie, I just thought you look simply wonderful tonight. Now what were you saying? Oh it's only for 50 caps? A special discount for me? Aw thanks sweetheart."

"God I love fighting robots. No blood on my armor! I can even reprogram them in my favor!"

"Please just be water please just be water. *peaks in bucket* ITS FUCKING PISS ARGHHH"

"Buddy your armor isn't fit on right. *Adjust armor* There. Oh yeah and your shoelace isn't tied right. Fix that."

"Hey handsome, you never told me your name."

"Hey I worked on my endurance for running away from enemies, but it also comes in handy for special events like these."

ENZO PHOTO:

Character Insert (RDR2) OC: Elise Roseburn, 31yrs | Herbalist

very VERY kind, she helps whoever walks through her door.

not the naïve kind of kind, in order to receive her kindness you must treat her with kindness first.

Since she lived in the woods her entire life, she knows some good tricks

that also means she's good with rifles. She hunts for food herself.

She only has 9 1/2 fingers because she cut off her pointer finger from watching her dad cut a log. She got a little to close.

Knows every natural remedies there is.

Has a little shop in the woods just off the main path. It's like a secret spot only veteran travelers know of.

Those veteran travelers gatekeep btw, they don't want her to get too popular to the point someone kills her or she runs out of supplies.

She may treat everyone nice, but she's not attached to any of them. Sometimes she'll hear news of some of her customers dying and she won't bat an eye.

Cheeky! She'll make smart remarks and tease her customers.

She's able to tell a lot about a person within 5-7 minutes of conversation. (I know there is a word for this I just can't remember)

Doesn't like it when people do things for her. She doesn't mind gifts, but if there's a task she set for herself, only she can complete it.

Often pushes her emotional problems away. Perhaps staying in the forest alone is taking a toll on her.

Talks a lot about her parents, but when asked about their current status, she lies and say "they moved to a small town."

ELISE QUOTES

"Well hey there mister, you ain't looking very well."

"Ay! Unless you wanna mop my floors, rub your dirty boots off in the grass."

"Stop looking at me like I'm some catalog girl, unfortunately for you, I ain't for sale."

"Bless my heart, ain't that the cutest looking guy I ever seen."

"You think I'm 25? Well lets keep it that way."

"Unless your ready to eat lead on a Tuesday afternoon, I suggest you get your ass out of my shop."

"Well miss, if I told you my secret it wouldn't be a secret anymore."

"You only get my respect if you earn it. Now scram"

"Oh man he's a goner. Now which one of you nice boys gonna clean up the mess?"

"Oh this little beauty? She's my ace in the hole."

"What the fuck you mean you went hunting. Looking like that?"

"Now now boys, settle this outside, away from here. Winner gets a free item from my shop!"

"Airing the lungs aren't you? Hope you don't talk to your ma like that."

"A visit to the bone orchard never goes well."

"If I say it cost 3 dollars it costs 3 dollars, take yo bargaining ass someplace else."

ELISE PICTURES (OR HER VIBE? I CAN'T DRAW :C)

[ascendanceseriesveteran]

Aftermath 🌹

Honestly, I've lost a lot of creativity and I don't have any good fic ideas that won't turn to shit.

Will welcome any prompts.

Got a bit spicy at the end sorry not sorry 💅

Don't have your hopes up.

The carriage rocked to a stop and I dared to look outside. Lyriad was one of the towns occupied by the Avenians, but, to my greatest surprise, I wasn't greeted with burning buildings or a ravaged landscape. Everything was relatively untouched and the inn seemed busier than we expected.

"Are they seriously that desperate for ale," Roden groaned. Which I thought was ironic given he laid waste to the castle supply frequently.

"These are probably the people who lost their homes and had nowhere to go," I said.

Someone gently tapped my shoulder, but I didn't need to turn to know who, "Maybe we should just camp out." Imogen was whispering, but everyone heard her anyway.

I turned to her. Aside from the admittedly embarrassing fact that looking at her practically winded me every time. And not because I would twist around suddenly but simply because she was so breathtaking and even her scent alone made my heart pound in my ears. Aside from all that, she didn't seem particularly uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping outside voluntarily, something that made me fall in love with her all over again.

"It's my duty to ensure the King isn't sleeping on the floor, Imogen."

I chuckled at Roden, "Since when do I care where I sleep. Actually, since when do you care?"

"I'm not asking if you care, I'm simply stating that it's not happening if I can help it. Imogen shouldn't have to sleep on the floor either. And you also forget that a princess is sitting across from you."

"A princess," Amarinda interrupted, "Who is perfectly capable of sleeping on the floor as well."

"Imogen was shot, Jaron is practically a cripple, my neck still hurts and if Tobias doesn't get some proper food he'll probably die from malnourishment." After successfully insulting the young physitian, Roden smiled and left the carriage before anyone could stop him.

I didn't protest. In all honesty I longed for something resembling a bed and a roof over my head. Not a heap of cloth in a tent. My entire body ached and my leg throbbed with betrayal. Even with half of Imogen's body against mine, I could feel the air's chill. Sleeping under the stars tonight would have been about as romantic as sleeping in stables. Both had drawbacks that I didn't want to be subjected to. Nor did I want Imogen to endure that, though I knew she was capable of anything, her comfort was a priority for me.

A few minutes of silence lapsed before my captain joined us again, "There were three rooms but I only took two. Thought we need one person capable of defence in each so I'll stay in the one with Tobias and Amarinda."

Tobias glared, "I can fight too, you know."

The up and down Roden gave was enough to make Tobias snap, "I'll have you know I wounded someone in battle."

"Who, yourself?"

"You know what, you are such an-"

"Boys."

They blanched. I thought it rather unfair that they simply listened to Imogen without protesting, but said nothing about how they didn't extend that same courtesy to their literal monarch.

I stepped outside and twisted around to help Imogen down, placing my hands on her waist and carefully setting her on the dirt.

"You know I have fully functioning legs," she kissed my cheek, "Something you can't boast at the moment."

"Let me savour this. Besides, I have fully functioning arms, might as well put them to good use."

"Do you have fully functioning lips as well?"

My grin widened, "Is that an insult or a challenge?"

I was worried she regretted our kiss in Connor's dungeon and kept my distance since. Secretly replaying the moment every other minute. But as she raised herself onto her toes and pulled me down to her, I melted. There was a hint of sweetness from the berries she was eating throughout the carriage ride. I had been watching them tint her lips red. Now I was tasting a fantasy, even more divine than I thought reality would ever grant me.

"He has something else that is fully functioning too."

It was like someone poured a bucket of water on us. I glared at Roden, hoping he understood the depth of my resentment for him. Resentment was better than humiliation. One day I would kill him if I didn't die in this moment, right now.

Though I wasn't sure what would kill me first, embrassment or Imogen. But she just gave me a once-over, bit her lip and burst out laughing as my face grew hotter than the sun. Embarassment it was then.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

//Just a couple of things to say before we end off tonight. Don't worry, it's nothing serious this time, I just need to clarify a few things and make some announcements

1 - Narumi's ability.

//First of all, I know a lot of people are confused about the whole "Narumi can regenerate" thing, and unfortunately, I refuse to elaborate on how that stuff works as of right now, since it will be brought to light later on, especially since it ties in to how Narumi can take so many powerful hits and use her gauntlets without breaking her arms.

//I WILL however confirm that, while yes, she's not going to die because of this ability, she IS still severely wounded, and is permanently out of the fight now. Currently she's lying down like a maggot in the forest, covered in dirt and blood, and can barely move as she is.

//The second point that I want to make in relation to this is because there's no information, we won't be counting it as a thing she can do in her Death Battle episode, besides bringing up her immense stamina and durability feats that she's already displayed. And speaking of that...

2 - Danganronpa Survivor X Death Battle release date change.

//I said before that we would wait until the current arc has finished to upload the crossover arc with Death Battle, but there have been a change of plans since then that allows us to upload that arc and those episodes much earlier.

//It may clash with the main posts, but I feel that this is kind of it's own side project with no over-arching plot, so we should be able to run it as a side series.

//I can't say for certain when the release of the arc will be, but at this point we're waiting for all the main combatants to have their limelight in this arc, so that we've covered everything we need to and so we don't end up spoiling anybody. Once we've done that, we should be ready to rock and roll.

3 - YouTube.

//This is just a side thing that I announced on my main, but I'm currently getting into livestreaming on YouTube and am doing a playthrough of the fangame Pokemon Infinite Fusion on my YouTube channel.

//I don't usually plug my other socials, but I'm just gonna do it while it's happening in case you guys want to come down and hang out. Plus, to celebrate me getting 1k subscribers, I'm going to be doing a Danganronpa tierlist stream that I hope you guys will come and watch (I will post that to this blog given it's relation)

Here's the link. Feel free to stop on by.

-Mod

[moobloom-mention]

TommyInnit's First-Hand Guide on How to Say Goodbye

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3

Summary: The answer? You don't.

Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of death. Death. Grief. Violence. Alcoholism.

Word Count: 6021 words

----------

Out of all the inconveniences that could possibly arise being out on patrol, dealing with ambling crackheads had to be the worst.

Don't get him wrong, wondering the streets of New York is bound to expose a handful of drug-addicts, but holy Prime, it was as though someone had sprinkled cocaine around town.

Considering how low the temperature had dipped- which made sense, it was December -it was surprisingly to see so many addicts walking down the poorly paved streets instead of huddled along a lit fire.

Even Robert- the meth head Tommy had adopted 30 minutes ago -looks tired of it.

At least, he seems to be as far as the vigilante can tell. Sure, it's a little difficult to make out the short fellow's expression from atop a 6-story building, but Tommy doesn't mind squinting.

So long as Robert doesn't keel over and die, it's safe to say Tommy's found his patrol-buddy for the night.

A shrill noise from the vigilante's left ear slaps his focus away from Robert, fingers instinctively reaching to readjust his earpiece. He finds himself leaning against a vent atop the roof as he does so- what can he say? You stick around America for so long, you put up their tendency to lean.

It takes a well-aimed swat to the device for the shriek to grow quiet, making way for the continuous smack of gummy-worms being chewed.

"I'm just sayin'," Purpled's crackled voice pipes up from the earpiece. "If people truly cared about the environment, they wouldn't be consuming Trolli products."

Another gummy-worm is audibly popped within his best friend's mouth.

"Isn't Trolli's biggest product gummy-worms?"

"And?" Purpled snarks, unphased. "If I cared about the environment, I would've stopped making you earpieces after the back-up pair got destroyed."

Tommy playful banter dies on his tongue as his earpiece shrieks once more, words fumbling into a discontent grumble. He's painstakingly aware that the noise isn't some odd design flaw- it's intentionally, and it's his punishment.

He should've been suspicious the moment he'd pleaded for another earpiece and instead of the usual rant about being more careful, Purpled had given him a pat on the back and a genuine, "It's all good, Tommy."

"You don't see heroes struggling with getting a new fuckin' earpiece," Tommy grunts out.

"Yeah, maybe because those heroes don't go through twenty of them in the span of a month."

Tommy can't hide his abashed smile.

Alas, what can he say? The life of a vigilante is a dangerous one and earpieces were bound to get destroyed here and there.

…but maybe twenty is excessive.

"Anyway," Purpled excuses, shockingly eager to move on from the opportunity to taunt Tommy. "How's your buddy Robert doing?"

Tommy opens an eye to glance toward the streets below, scanning the lot for a dark green scarf. It's easy to pick Robert out, the man having hobbled into an alleyway between a condemned building and another working building that should've been condemned a decade ago.

"He's found himself a nice alley," the vigilante hums, disappointment striking his heart as he watches Robert nestle himself down for the night. "Seems our big-man won't be meeting his dealers tonight."

"Rough," Purpled sighs, the crumpling of a bag echoing through the speaker. "Guess it's one of those nights, huh?"

Tommy hums noncommittally. The streets are far too active for something to not happen, even if it's as simple as two addicts duking it out in the streets.

"You better hope somethin' happens," the vigilante begins, certain Purpled can hear the grin in his voice. "My dogs are itching to pick a fight."

"I swear to Prime, if your feet come anywhere near me you're getting scratched off the shipment list."

"Aw, c'mon. They aren't that bad."

"Mhm, tell that to the fungus culture growing inside your shoe," Purpled laughs.

How rude.

"My shoe does not host some shitty fungus culture! For your in-for-mat-ion, it's a-"

There's a flicker of movement from the street below.

In retrospect, he shouldn't have given it much of a thought. Crackheads were roaming the sidewalks left and right- the appearance of another silhouette is barely enough to gather his attention.

The only issue is the fact that there's nobody for the shadow to be imitating.

He faintly registers Purpled's concerned "Tommy?"

"Sorry, I just-"

The silhouette- no, he pauses, the silhouettes begin a steady pace forward.

"Something's going on?" is all the vigilante manages to sputter.

Static crackles through the earpiece.

"Wow, thank you for clarifying. I really got the picture," comes the dry response.

Tommy's mouth instinctively opens to hash out an insult, throat tightening as he watches the pair of silhouettes shuffle along the dimly-lit streets.

They seem to have a location in mind, beelining toward an old bar with a flickering "Open!" sign peering through the windows. It's a wonder how OSHA hasn't put a stop to the business already.

Two silhouettes disappear within the bar.

Prime, it sounds like a joke Phil would try to pull off.

Tommy jumps as the earpiece shrieks again.

"Tommy! For fuck's sake if I have to come get you-"

"Sorry, sorry," the vigilante rushes, unapologetic. "I just thought I saw somethin' weird."

"Goddamnit-" is the only word Tommy manages to catch before more curses pour through the device. Years of practice enables him to tune his best friend's anger out for the most part, eyes staring intently at the bar. The silhouettes don't bother to reappear- Prime knows the shit he's about to get himself into.

"Hey," Tommy interjects, Purpled's rant stilling at an instant. "I think I'm going to finish my patrol up and then head back, yeah? I guess it is one of those nights."

An irritated sigh crackles through. "Fine. Just-"

Tommy doesn't wait to sprint for the edge of the building, grasping the roof's edge as he lunges for a nearby pipeline connecting the complex to the ground.

At least, that'd been the plan.

His grip on the building disappears just in time for Purpled's, "-don't be an idiot. Wilbur would-" to crackle through, startling the vigilante as the sudden feeling of weightlessness and howl of wind greets him.

Fuck-!

Tommy reaches for his power and yanks.

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

There's a flash of light and Tommy finds himself once again perched atop the apartment building, as though he hadn't just embarrassed himself to the Universe.

"-don't be an idiot," Purpled scolds, "Wilbur would kill me."

"...you got it, boss-man."

On second thought, maybe he'll take the stairs for this one.

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

Don't get him wrong, Tommy is far from the description of "saint". He's broken more than enough bones in his life- bones of other pricks, thank you, Wilbur might call him clumsy but he's not that clumsy -to know he's not going to heaven.

Sometimes illegal crimes have to be retaliated against with more illegal shit. It's just the way life goes.

But even in spite of his ongoing quest to complete his extensive bucket list of morally-excusable crimes, he'd never once stepped foot within a bar.

That sure as hell doesn't stop him from realizing that this...restaurant isn't much of a bar in the first place. "Sorry Excuse for a Shack(c)" would make a much better name, with elegant dining options like rotting carpet and an old granite countertop Tommy prays patrons aren't expected to drink at.

In spite of the neon "OPEN" sign hanging in the window, there isn't even a bartender slouched behind the bar in wait for customers.

It's just him, the stale smell of piss, and two very well-dressed gentlemen with nice looking hair.

At least, it looks nice from an aerial view.

Tommy's grasp on the beloved ceiling joist- isn't that just the funniest word, joist -he'd chosen to hide atop tightens, thanking Prime he hadn't worn his fiery red uniform out for patrol. As much as he can appreciate shining like a disco ball, the bright outfit had never been ideal for Tommy's iconic impulsive stealth-missions.

He forces himself to lean forward in spite of the beam's groan, taking note of the semi-queasy look on the taller man's face. His far shorter partner doesn't bare the same expression, looking more irritated than anything.

"We're finding a better form of transportation," Big Guy demands, a hand pressing at his temple.

"What, did you want to take the bus?" Shorty asks, voice clipped in spite of his mild amusement. "Besides, it's just like a hangover. You should be used to those by now."

Damn, not cool Shorty.

As if in total agreement, Big Guy- oh fuck this, he might as well be Wil's best mate if he's a drinker -settles a scalding glare atop Shorty's head, who in turn pretends not to notice.

Tommy's not sure if he should feel creeped out or curious at how closely they resemble Tommy's own dynamic with Purpled.

"It's shocking you've lived this long," Purpled's voice parrots within his mind.

Wil's Mate and Shorty are acquaintances friends (?).

Shorty:

- Can turn into a shadow and/or travel by them

- > Feels like a hangover

- Does NOT like buses

- > To be explored.

Wil's Mate:

- Devastating death-glares

- Alcoholic (L)

- Possibly linked to Wilbur (??)

A soft clink of glass draws Tommy back to the scene in front of him, Wil's Mate fiddling with a stray glass that Tommy is sure is meant to be a beer stein.

His eyebrows furrow as the glass slides down the old counter and off the edge, the bar's carpet doing little to cushion the crash of broken glass.

"I'd rather you not destroy the place," Shorty comments, very-much sounding unfazed.

"Oh please," Wil's Mate grins. "If Charlie gets worked up about it, I'll buy this shithole from him."

Fuck yeah, a new player enters the game.

Charlie:

- Owns bar

- > Kinda sucks at it, ngl

- Definitely should be looked into

Wil's Mate [REVISITED]:

- Rich.

Damn, call him Velma because he is crushing this mystery.

Tommy barely makes out the lift in Shorty's eyebrows.

"Yeah? What makes you think he'll take your offer?"

Wil's Mate only laughs, deep and hearty. "Anyone with common sense would take twenty bucks and then thank me for taking this place off their hands."

"Uh-huh."

This guy's a real convincer, isn't he?

It's only then that the conversation below grows quiet, voices prey beneath the clinking of alcoholic beverages being rummaged through.

Tommy leans forward yet again, straining to hear the actual conversation taking place.

A loud groan is the only warning he receives before the wooden joist beneath him splits, sending the teenager tumbling a good ten feet to the ground.

Tommy's lungs spasm as his back greets the molding carpet, a hand flying to instinctively still his spinning vision.

He blinks just in time to stare at the shocked expressions of both Shorty and Wil's Mate.

Holy shit, Wil's Mate should not be that tall.

But it's the sheer anger radiating off Shorty that shrieks of imminent danger.

"O-Oh, would you look at that?" Tommy smiles weakly, grasping desperately for his power. "This isn't the bus stop."

Shorty lunges.

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

Tommy blinks away the blinding light from his vision, eyes wide as he stares down at the joist that'd failed him moments before. Wil's Mate and Shorty are still talking and rummaging through bottles as the vigilante carefully stands, desperately searching for a better spot to position himself.

Charlie [REVISITED]:

- Has unreliable support joists in his bar. Seriously, how the fuck is this place still running?

Shorty [REVISITED]:

- DEFINITELY does NOT like buses.

- > Do NOT explore

Only a hop away stands another joist, one directly connected to a pillar rooted at the bar's floor.

Well doll him up and call him Clementine, because it's perfect.

The conversation below grows quiet once more.

Please, please, please-Prime, PLEASE-

The sound of glass shattering does well to cover the soft groan of Tommy's newest joist supporting his weight, a quick glance proving that Wil's Mate had slammed a crystal cup a little too harshly on the bar's shitty counter.

Shorty only rolls his eyes, unamused by the other's antics.

"My fault," Wil's Mate sighs, unapologetic. "Duckie, be a dear and grab me a double Titos?"

Titos?

Oh, wait! He knows this one!

Shorty- Duckie? That's fuckin' weird, he's staying Shorty -looks natural as he makes his way behind the bar's counter, grabbing a short glass from a cabinet and a familiar clear bottle of Titos.

The bronze cap shines just as bright as it ever did beneath the lightbulb of Wilbur's room.

Tommy watches as the drink is poured with practiced ease, a splash of some red drink even added into the mix.

It must be some sort fruit-based juice; drunk Wilbur never failed to complain about the bitter warmth of straight vodka.

Prime, this guy might actually be Wil's best-mate.

"And you still remember," Wil's Mate smirks, almost looking fond. "I'm touched."

[REVISITED]: Shorty and Wil's Mate are acquaintances friends (?) definitely friends.

"Don't push it," Shorty grunts out as he moves to grab a different bottle of alcohol. The contents of the bottle is blurred by an off-shade of white, with a landscape and some odd-looking- swan? Duck? Goose? -bird on its label. Shorty's quick to pour himself a drink of it, Wil's Mate making an odd look of feigned disgust over his partner's choice. Shorty doesn't seem to mind though, taking a sip. "I didn't drag your sorry ass out here for a night of drinks."

Tommy winces as the joist beneath him squeaks.

Still, it holds firm.

"Punz's kid is cutting back on production rates."

Wil's Mate suddenly lurches forward, spitting out his snooty "~double Titos~" as Tommy silently chokes on his own saliva. "He's what?"

Tommy can't help but agree.

Cutting back on production rates? Purpled never brought something like that up- uh, not that being the guy's best friend meant he needed to know everything, it just would've been nice to be in the know before Shorty.

"I don't know," the shorter sighs, tugging angrily at his black hair. "I talked with Fundy and he insists that Purpled's shipments have stayed normal for him. If anything, it seems the kid's only interested in halting the products you want."

Wil's Mate's eyes widen. "You're saying he's-?"

"Yeah," Shorty affirms with a bitter laugh. "You've finally fucked up."

Ooo, now this is getting good.

Purpled holding grudges is nothing new, but Wil's Mate must've fucked up terribly to get booted off the shipment list.

Wil's Mate sits still, deathly quiet.

Then, "How?"

"Why are you asking me?" Shorty hisses. "Last time I checked, my orders never had Schlatt written all over them."

Okay, think think think.

Shorty and Schlatt are getting shipments, which means they have to be powerful people to be in touch with Punz's business. Purpled hasn't mentioned anything about them before, right? Just angrily ranted about gummy-worms?

It doesn't matter anyway, the most important issue the possibility of these dickheads becoming threats to his best friend.

And judging by how angry Schlatt looks-

Tommy's breath hitches.

Holy shit- holy shit! No fuckin' way.

Tommy forces his limbs to still, eyes widen as he squints toward Wil's Mate. There's no way in hell it could actually be Schlatt- one of the city's most privatized and dangerous villains of city -entirely unmasked and sitting in a dump with his supplier.

Then again, Wil's Mate does have some features that compare with what little of Schlatt's appearance has been leaked.

The same harsh, nearly-black eyes that could make a baby cry.

Similar length and style of dark brown hair.

His voice is...actually decently close to how Tommy always assumed the villain would sound. Gruff and elongated.

The alcoholism tracks pretty well too. Being a villain can't be an easy thing to think about while sober.

That only leaves Shorty's identify a mystery, then.

Mr. Duckie himself.

Oh, Tommy blinks, dumbly. It's Quackity.

It wasn't unheard of for the two villains to be stirring ruckus together, but ordering gadgets for one another? No wonder Purpled's missed, that's gotta be a new one for the books.

So is Quackity apparently hosting his own set of transportation powers.

Purpled is totally going to eat this shit up.

That is, if Tommy's stealthy enough to make it out of this goddamn rat nest.

His ever-faithful joist only bounces as the vigilante climbs to its neighbor, cautiously making his way toward the entrance wall of the bar. He'll have to drop down a few feet from the doors, Charlie apparently not having liked to keep the whole "open rafter" theme continuous throughout the building.

It also means potential contact with two notorious villains not above getting rid of some measly vigilante. Now if he was Dream, then maybe he could get away with a scratch.

But he's not Dream.

He's Tommy Danger Innit, the city's favorite vigilante goddamnit.

His eyes move rapidly as he tracks the movements of Schlatt and Quackity, rather thankful that the pair are seemingly far too engrossed within their arguments to care about him moving through the rafter.

Married couples, eugh.

He's quiet- for once, his mind laughs -as he reaches the end of the rafters and drops from the ceiling, gaze set on the doorway. It's only a couple steps if he sprints.

Easy enough, yeah?

The bar stills.

A floorboard creaks.

And Tommy chokes as something- a hand, his mind screams -grabs the backing of his uniform, yanking him with little regard to his attempts to fucking breathe.

Oh FUCK-!

"Quackity grab his-"

Hands- the aforementioned villain's, his mind helpfully supplies as well -entrap his wrists, panic flooding Tommy's system as he attempts to twist from the pair of villains.

It's all in vain, something cold entrapping his wrist with a sharp squeal of metal.

Fuck fuck fuck.

Tommy's tries not to pant audibly in spite of his struggles, eyes squeezing shut as he mentally reaches for his power. It was situations like this that made him thank Prime he'd spent plenty of years perfecting his timing and connection with his power.

Time was not an entity to be fucked with, and wouldn't it be Tommy's lucky day to be forced to poke the bear.

Lady Prime was not going to be a happy camper.

A soft beep tumbles into the air and the mental reach for his power suddenly freezes, as though his mind had been forced to back away from the thought of time traveling. Fear overtakes his previously cocky stance; of course his power chose the peachy time of now to flake on him.

"Holy shit."

Tommy snarls on instinct, throwing his head back toward the villain's voice. There's a grunt of pain that stirs pride within Tommy's stomach; he'd just head-butted one of the most feared people in the city.

Yeah, no. He's fucked.

"What the fuck did you do?" Tommy gasps, still struggling as he frantically makes a move for his powers.

Schlatt's grasp never loosens, the pair of villains seemingly too enthralled by the repetitive beeps filling the air.

The beeps signaling Tommy's failure.

Quackity moves in the corner of his eye, and the vigilante seizes the opportunity of his newly freed arms to make a swing. He only proves to jolt him and Schlatt forward, a glance amending that cuffs had been used to keep his hands occupied.

They're jagged against his skin, unrefined.

Tommy's breath hitches.

The design of it is far too familiar-

"Hey, Purpled..."

The hundreds of blueprints they'd scrolled through.

These aren't just a flimsy pair of cuffs.

It's a pair of Punz's power dampeners.

Prime, Tommy laughs humorlessly. These fuckwits were who Purpled had been searching for. The same pair who had killed the city's most notorious inventor; apparently just to get their hands on these cuffs.

But that meant Punz's design hadn't just been a hypothetical. It'd-

"-worked," Quackity finishes with an unguarded expression of shock. "Holy shit, it worked."

Tommy freezes.

He never thought there'd be a day when a dead man's invention would make his blood run cold.

"Don't tell me it's locked your joints too, kid," Schlatt laughs from above Tommy's head, giddily aware of the vigilante's plight. "Can't use your power to get out of this one, hm?"

Panicked beeping is the only response.

Tommy flinches as Quackity's hand swipes at his ear, his eyes wide once he feels his earpiece jostle. He forces his cuffed hands upward in a weak attempt to keep the device in place.

To keep his sole contact with Purpled intact.

But the earpiece lands all-the-same in the villain's grasp, before it's dumped uselessly to the floor.

"Fuck."

So long for a two-week survival streak.

Goodbye, device #21. We shall mourn you.

The villain's foot barely crunches down.

The device shrieks, loud and grating on the trio's ears.

Suddenly, the cuffs give way to Tommy's wrists.

He's free.

Schlatt barely has time to react before the vigilante spins around and lands a punch, the addicting taste of freedom on his tongue as he lunges for the bar's doors.

"Q, quick-!"

The thundering roar of blood in his ears does little to drown out the loud bang bouncing against the building's walls.

Pain flares in his knees, eyes blurring as the bar's moldy carpet floods his vision.

He faintly registers a hand ruffling through his unkempt hair, mind urging him to lean into the movement because fuck if he doesn't want Wilbur right now.

The hand pulls away.

"Nothing personal, kid. Just business."

And Tommy falls, prey to the warm embrace of unconsciousness.

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

The first thing Tommy notes as he gains awareness is how quiet everything is.

There's no panicked shouting from Schlatt or Quackity, nor the distant buzz of wailing police sirens. The only continuous sound appears to be the dizzying echo of short, labored breaths.

Oh. That was him making that noise.

He almost regrets forcing his eyes open, vision swimming as he gulps desperately for air.

His teeth feel dry like his dentist had just sucked all the saliva outta them- he isn't waking up from a dentist procedure, right?

A glance proves he's just...laying down in the dingy bar.

His fingers squeeze at the moldy carpet below him.

How embarrassing.

He can feel something sluggish makings its way down his chest, sticking to his pale skin in a way that has Tommy wondering if the villains had found it funny to dump syrup on him.

Ha, that would be such a classic villain move.

There's a dull thud in his ears as he raises his head to glance toward his chest, almost laughing at the fact that the substance is a touch too dark to be the syrup Phil had always bought at the grocery store for him.

This was probably some Great Value shit, wasn't it?

Low budget villains were ridiculous, honestly. A guy can't even get good- oh.

Pain is an easy-enough concept to understand, innit?

He gets punched, his arm says "Ow-", and then his brain says "Ow-" for several days.

So he would just love to know why the fuck his eyes are very much saying "Ow, that gaping hole looks painful" whilst his brain only sits in silence.

Prime, maybe this was just some fucked up spectator mode that occurred after death, like on that Team Fortress game Techno had always been obsessed with, when it replays the shot that'd killed him.

Or shock.

Shock would be...better than death.

No worries, no pain; just him, this trusty floor, and Purpled's-

Oh Prime.

Purpled is going to kill him.

Fuck going into shock over the very real threat of death, Purpled's spite alone could resurrect him.

Tommy stares helplessly at the squashed earpiece sitting idle a few feet away. One that his best friend had worked so hard on, had modified for Tommy's sake- even if with ill-intent.

He can't even furiously scrub at the tears threatening to escape his eyes, arms far too heavy to think of moving.

But Purpled needs to know.

He needs to know that Tommy had fucked up yet again and that he needed to:

A.) Get patched up

and

B.) Be built a new earpiece.

Maybe they could even laugh about this whole thing later whilst going over plans to get revenge on those dick'eads.

His mind still can't comprehend the idea of having met Schlatt and Quackity.

What a crazy world.

Purpled is going to love this story.

Punz would've loved this story, or at least would've loved to know that Tommy had found the man's killers.

There's a gentle buzz and he winces, a bright light snarling to his left.

For a moment, he fears it's Schlatt returning to finish the job.

The light dims.

Oh.

It's just his phone.

His earpiece lies not far from it.

Well this was going to be a fun phone call.

Tommy's stomach rolls as he leans to his left, arm shaking far too violently as he grabs for it.

A click and the bright light returns.

His eyes burn.

Fuck whoever designed this stupid fucking thing.

At least Purpled's contact is easy enough to find, despite it being in the "P" category.

Ha.

That was kinda funny.

It rings once.

Twice.

Thrice.

[Click]

Oh good, he doesn't know what comes after thrice.

"Tommy?"

A sniffle escapes him. Fuck his throat hurts.

"Wha's up, big-man?"

"What-? You called me, man. Where are you, I thought you were on your way back?"

"I-" Tommy bites his lip, wincing at the current of pain his action elicits. "You'll never guess who I just met."

"Adam Levine?"

A heaved laugh warms his chest. "Schlatt! And Big Q! They were-"

Easy breaths.

Steady breaths.

"They were- out of costume."

"Please tell me you didn't engage."

His shoulders instinctively hike up in defense, uncaring for the hiss of pain the movement causes.

Purpled's voice turns soft, almost uncharacteristically so.

"How bad is it?"

That's funny.

"It's uh, i-it's not looking good, big-man."

"How not good?"

Prime, he's always loved Purpled's almost parental concern in times of need.

"Like shot and dying in a bar not good, dick'ead."

There's a beat of silence.

"Tommy. You need to time travel."

Tommy's arms shake at the idea. So much of his energy had already been squashed into keeping his mouth moving, had already been drained with every word he attempts to comprehend.

"I-I can't. Not before...not before this happened."

"No, no. You're- you're lying. This is a prank, isn't it? It's not funny asshole."

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

There's a soft sob over the speaker, muffled behind what Tommy can assume is Purpled's hand.

"Please," Purpled begs, "Please don't apologize."

There's a beat of silence, before the echoing twist of a doorknob spooks Tommy once more into awareness.

"Wha are you doin'?"

"I'm coming to get your ass."

Purpled's voice is nothing but a shaking metronome.

"Purpled, no."

"I can't lose you too, Tommy-"

Right. The whole Punz thing.

"I just- what is Phil going to say? Techno? Hell, Wilbur?"

Tommy's eyes squeeze.

Fuck, he needs to say goodbye to everyone.

A flash-drive isn't enough for them, it won't be.

He wasn't supposed to get shot.

He isn't supposed to die.

Where the fuck did his plot armor go?

"-Tommy? Tommy, answer me!"

His eyes flutter as he desperately makes another grab for his power. Surely it won't run from him this time, yeah? Whatever the fuck Schlatt and Quackity had done couldn't last forever.

"Please, I'll make you all the earpieces you want. Please just-"

There.

Tommy's fingers wrap delicately around his power's string, eyes blurring as warmth floods him.

"-say something-!"

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

There's a soft flash of light.

Tommy seizes, gasping for air as he comes to consciousness. Panic surges him forward, barely able to conceal the whimper as he collapses to the ground, weak.

Shit shit shit-

So much for the initial benefit of shock.

At least the bar's moldly floor is still here to support him.

It's odd, to reach the revelation I'm dying at the prime age of sixteen.

He's meant to be lounging in Purpled's bean bag, toying with whatever gadget his best friend had lying around.

He's meant to be worrying about an Algebra test that's tomorrow.

School might be for nerds but Wilbur will give him that disappointed look if Tommy doesn't pass it.

His chest aches.

He supposes he doesn't have to worry about that Algebra test anymore.

There's a bullet nurturing his chest.

And Tommy isn't ready to die.

He doesn't attempt to withhold the sobs he'd been trapping within his throat during his phone call, mouth already dry once more as he lurches forward. The flash of pain that riots through him only encourages his heaves, bile splattering against the carpet.

Charlie better thank him later for decorating his bar.

Where he'd once wince at the acidic substance getting onto his hands, he only shakes violently. It'd always been this cold, right? And it was just the temperature making him shake, not the fear tickling at the back of his throat?

Prime, he's getting too distracted with how little time he has.

He has...a mission! A mission, yes!

A- uh, a family to call?

A family to grieve.

His finger trembles over Techno's caller ID.

The phone rings.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

[Click]

Tommy's heart burns.

"You've reached the Blade's inbox, I'm probably busy doing something cool right now-"

Or asleep, considering it's the middle of the night.

"-please leave a voice message after the beep. Beep."

"Uh, Techno. Hi. I'm-"

Not poggers? Wish you were here? Dying in an empty bar and you're too busy being asleep to pick up?

Tommy's lungs squeeze.

"Imma be honest Big Man, I can't do this."

His thumb taps at the call's red button.

Surely-

He coughs.

Surely if not Techno then Phil will be up, right?

His dad had always been a night owl.

Somehow, it's far easier to tap Phil's contact number than his older brother's.

The phone rings.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four

Fi-

[Click]

Oh.

"Thank you for trying to reach Phil Watson-"

Sent to voicemail.

"At the beep please record your message with your name and your-"

His thumb taps once more to end the call.

He wants to be angry.

He wants to be loud.

He feels numb.

Deep breaths.

I can do this.

You have one more person.

Just one more and this all goes away.

Tommy grabs at his power.

And yanks.

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

There's a flash of light.

And a finger that hesitates over a contact ID.

"💙 Wilbur [NOT POG] 💙"

This...it won't be hard.

A tap.

One.

Two-

[Click]

It's 1 in the morning.

But Wilbur still picks up.

"Toms?"

His brother's voice is groggy before it turns panicked.

Fuck, Tommy must've made some pained sound.

"What's wrong? Do you need me to come get you? Hold on, let me get my keys-"

"No!" Tommy jolts, hissing in pain as the gunshot flares. "I'm- sorry, sorry. No, I'm okay."

He twists the phone in his hands, the phone app abandoned in favor of pulling up his text messages with Purpled.

There isn't a notification to indicate their prior phone call with one another.

Purpled won't remember their previous conversation.

There's only a blue message with the word "porter" and animated grey bubbles that follow it.

His phone buzzes.

It's easy to ignore.

"I'm just...texting Purpled."

"Oh," Wilbur hums, thankfully dropping his mother-hen voice. "You guys are supposed to hang out tomorrow night, yeah? I can go grab some pop for you in the morning."

Tommy smiles. It's something he does anytime he's on a phone call with his brother, even whilst they're faux arguing.

For once, Tommy's glad Wilbur can't see his broken smile and glassy eyes. "You'd do that for us?" he laughs, the sound a gentle wheeze. "He'd love that."

"Pepsi for you, right?" Wilbur asks, obviously attempting to get arise out of his younger brother.

"Y'know what?"

There's the gentle shift of fabric, as though Wilbur had properly sat up on his bed in anticipation for the big reveal. "What?"

"I think I've turned a new leaf," he confesses, "Get me Pepsi."

There's silence, and for a moment, fear stabs through his lungs. So help him, if his shitty cellular service had disconnected him-

The beginning of Tommy's sob is interrupted by the fading laughter of his older brother, Wilbur demanding, "No fuckin' way, what'd you do with the real Tommy?"

The question nestled itself close to the vigilante's heart.

"He's in an alleyway bleeding out," Tommy jokes. It's dark as hell, but hey, not like Wilbur would be able to tell the difference. It won't be important until the upcoming days, that is if Schlatt doesn't decide to come back and properly dispose of his body.

That Charlie guy is definitely going to be pissed.

The phone stutters with soft laughter again, as if the joyous sound is too much for the provider to handle.

"I do," Tommy pauses, gasping for breath. "I do have a request, though."

"Shoot for it, Toms."

"Remember Henry?"

"How could I forget?" Wilbur murmurs, voice terrifyingly soft.

Tommy bites a whimper as he adjusts, ass already sore from the odd slouch he'd been subjected to for Prime knows how long. "There should be some...some fuckin' flash drives inside his plush. Could you grab them for me later?"

There's a pause from the phone. Then, "...is it blackmail?"

Tommy chokes as he laughs. "No, it isn't blackmail. It's just important that you all watch what's in them tomorrow."

"Aww, Toms. Is it an early Christmas present you're too embarrassed to show us?"

It's far too easy for him to nod in agreement. That was a much better story than, "No, no, I'm just dying here in this stupid-ass alleyway."

"Yeah, that. Can I get another request too?"

"It'll cost you a night of peace-and-quiet."

Hmm, Tommy could afford that. Still, "You bastard- fine."

Wilbur then goes quiet, as if to urge Tommy to continue with his request.

"A story?" he tries, eyes wet with exhausted tears. "Like the old days?"

"That's an odd request," Wilbur notes. Tommy can almost imagine the bewildered expression on his brother's face.

"Please?"

"...okay?

"Once upon a time there lived the most handsome prince in the world- Your Most Royal Highness Prince Wilbur-"

It's easy to fall into the soft tone of Wilbur's voice, reminiscent of the time Tommy had just moved into the house. He'd been terrified of every little thing, rarely getting a wink of sleep.

It wasn't until Tommy stumbled upon Wilbur reading a story aloud that exhaustion had truly overwhelmed him. He'd fallen asleep at the other side of Wilbur's door before even the young eight-year-old knew what he was doing.

Wilbur makes a shrill voice, drawing Tommy back to attention.

Oh, he's doing an impression of some green goblin character that Tommy is sure is named after him.

An alert flashes on his screen.

5%

His eyelids feel heavy.

"Hey, Wil?"

Guilt gnaws for interrupting the story.

"What's up, Toms?"

"I think-" Tommy clasps a hand to his mouth, halting the sob that'd been threatening to spill from it. "I think you're breaking up."

"Oh."

"Yeah, it must be on my part," the mute button shouldn't be so easy to click as he coughs, not daring to take a second-glance at the thick substance he'd choked out.

It's blood. He knows it is.

"I must be going into a shitty area. Always told Dad to upgrade our providers," Tommy prays the tremble in his voice is disguised beneath the crackle of a speaker. "I love you, and you love me, yeah dick'ead?"

"Always, Toms."

"Good. Now go get that damn flash-drive."

"Alright, alright. See you soon?"

The blonde lurches forward as he laughs, vision already beginning to blur.

"See you soon. Hang up on me, will ya'?"

"Deal."

There's a soft beep to indicate the disconnect.

Please, Lady Prime, be kind to them.

[liauditore]

is there any voicaloid songs you think capture bigB pretty well‽

OH MY GOD THANK YOU FOR ASKING... MY SAVIOUR I CAN FINALLY RAMBLE ABT MY STUPID PLAYLISTS. ANON I LOVE YOU.

so first off bouquet garni ofc . i did a whole drawing abt it so i won't go into detail here but yeah it's so him.

in general he's very inabakumori-coded imo but especially float play i mean just. i mean come on.

A pacifist till yesterday had dawned

and lost umbrella too. this specific remix i think adds kind of a chaoticness that suits last life bigb and his whole thing with cleo rlly well.

Leaving soon, pleading with you Right before the rain will soak me through They could still try to kill me while I have no view, and there’s nothing at all I can do Letting go never came, my hands stay dripping with rain Never gained a sense of things I had to face What I’d end up dropping someday

and lagtrain. cus it's lagtrain.

this is maybe getting a bit into unhinged headcanons territory but i really like associating Like a Dog with his relationship with Ren specifically (i mayhaps have Too Many thoughts about those two). I don't expect anyone else to see what I see but um yeah something about the passive aggression Bigb has towards him in Double Life, how they always end up together every season, something about how Ren will always drag Bigb into his murderous plans etc. etc.

deathly loneliness attacks tends to be either a bigb or a jimmy song depending on the day for me. specifically mercAU!bigb but i havent even drawn him yet so i cant rlly say anything.

that nameless kisaragi station song is another one i relate to my very obscure headcanons lmao but if you squint i think the clown to clown communication might get through a little bit?? 😭😭

something something the evo players having more awareness of the time loop than the others. plus his relationship with grian. idk if u see it u see it im not a cop.

I only wanted to go meet a friend tonight But it’s over now so good night

None can see me even if they try Where the hell am I? Doomed to never truly die I tried my best to keep you safe and sound But that wasn’t quite enough to stop it was it?

but yeah!! i hope at least one of these tickled ur brain??

i feel like with bigb there's like.. this distinct flavour of angst that's not quite edgy enough to be people allergy and not quite self-loathing enough to be nonsense speaker (although if your headcanons for him land more in that territory i highly recommend those songs).

there's like this specific flavour of dulled acceptance he has with his own shortcomings that i don't see talked about often. it's not like he doesn't care, he just goes with whatever happens to him like his opinion doesn't really matter and no one listens anyway so what's the point in trying to fight it. he's like the quiet middle child who doesn't 'cause trouble' so he gets overlooked as a result even if he's technically doing everything right lol

(and he's on the edge of snapping as a result. constantly. but he would never. like im gonna do something bad-- im gonna do something REALLY bad-- and then he never does)

and sometimes that ends in disaster (him and cleo) or bottled up resentment (him and ren) and other times it provides some much-needed stability (him and grian or pearl).

i think uh 'resigned' is a good word for it. yeah he's resigned to it all.

but yeah so uh i like bigb

[mewnekoice-mecha]

From The Ashes

For the Wonderful @selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs

Thank you for letting me make this. This is a fun little plot i had for the Series. What happens when the Bsd cast find out that (fem)Guiding Light is an Internet Singer, and thanks to them overcame a creative block?

It's been a couple of months since the BSD cast came into your world, and honestly having them around has done wonders for your self-esteem and health. Right now you're looking through a book but not just any book your Song book, you were thinking about making them a song as thanks for just being there and getting them out of a slump.

Before the Cast came to your world, you were a fairly popular and well-known Internet singer but due to some family issues and just life it's taking a back burner and before you knew it six months had passed without you making anything. The only reason the bsd cast don't know about this is because you never took your phone or laptop into the mini recording studio you had in your house at the time. Since coming that studio has now being upgraded thanks to Francis and Alcott, your more surprised that no one questioned why there was a recording booth in the house.

Anyway, back to the point you're making a song and have to hide it from the others til it's ready which is proving to be easier said than done thanks to Three specific people *cough* Ranpo, Dazai, Fyodor*cough* and you're almost done, all that's left is adjusting the music and then actually singing it,but those nosy men won't let you.

Deciding enough is enough you go whine to Fukuzawa hoping he'll calm them down enough so you can finish the song. And behold it worked while Fyodor didn't really care Dazai and Ranpo sure did, and that gave you enough time to go find junichiro and con him into helping you.

"Ok I know I've been acting off lately but there's a reason for that, can you all meet me in the dance room," you asked. Blushing when curious eyes meet yours.

" It's about time, so we can finally see what you've been hiding," Ranpo declared, before dragging atsushi with him ignoring any protests.

After settling in the room, I explain what i've been working on and why I kept kidnapping certain people. That done I ask junichiro to start the music once I get settled.

(Start Playing "From the Ashes" by Illenium ft.Skylar Grey)

The room went black before showing a ruined town filled with smoke and ashes, as the music starts I appear wearing what was once a white dress now dirty with soot and burned in certain areas.

" Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah"

Moving around the ruins like I was scared but still powering on it became clear that I was badly hurt but ignoring it.

"I've been here before If you want, go ahead, start a war It's not that I'm brave It's that I would rather die Than for things to stay this way"

Still roaming the ruins, I look through the rubble looking more and more upset when i can't find what I'm searching for.

"Losing means nothing If there's nothing to lose

What do you want from me tonight? You wanna burn down everything in sight I'm not afraid of a little fire So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes"

Turning a corner shadowy figures could be seen laughing and mocking a figure on the ground,as I get close the figure turns out to be me but my dress is white and I'm wearing make-up and jewelry which I'm no longer wearing.

"(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) From the ashes From the ashes (The ashes, the ashes) So light your matches (The ashes) And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah) From the ashes (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah)"

The figure on the ground glared at the people laughing before getting up and saying something, which didn't make the people laughing happy but shadow me didn't care and walked away from them.

"The flames fill my lungs Burning up everything I've become It's not that I'm brave, no It's that I've been here before And I know I'll be okay

Losing means nothin' If there's nothing to lose"

Leaving that scene, I continue on my walk before hitting another memory, this time showing the BSD cast helping me and showing little shots of day-to-day life, like reading with Oda and Poe, Riding on Atsushi, petting Rashomon and more. As the slideshow continued my dress was slowly burning and and I was turning darker.

"What do you want from me tonight? You wanna burn down everything in sight I'm not afraid of a little fire So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) From the ashes From the ashes (The ashes, the ashes) So light your matches (The ashes)"

As I turned towards the Cast I smiled before slowly falling apart like ashes, forming a Phoenix out of my ashes I 'flew' around them before landing on the ground in front of them as a pile of ashes.

And I will rise from the ashes

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah) From the ashes (Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah)

(Ah, ah, ah, yeah, ah, ah, ah, yeah) So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes

The pile of my ashes started moving before, 'Hatching' and I rose again but now my dress is back to white and and I had my hands stretched out towards them. After that it was silent until I was knocked over by Anya and kenji, with nanomi and atsushi not far behind saying how cool that was and why did i hide such a thing.