#based on my recent visit to a haunted house

[too-many-blorbos]

Short Story for Spoopy Month: "A Halfway Haunt"

“It’s all fake, Jay. There’s nothing in here that can scare you.”

Lies. Even from the waiting room, he’d seen the flickering lights and heard the creepy music. His mother had insisted on coming here. “We have to do something spooky for the holiday!” she’d claimed. But she was no fan of fright either, which is why she’d settled on this place: a daylight walkthrough of a haunted house. Enjoy the creepy atmosphere without fear of lunging actors or jumpscaring animatronics. Great for kids. Bring the whole family. 

But you didn’t need actors to be scary. So what if no one was popping up and shouting “Boo!”? It was still dark. It was still foggy. The fake corpses and skeletons still looked eerily real as he passed by them. Even if no costumed horrors were around, his imagination conjured phantoms to take their place. At least they were allowed flashlights, but that only made it easier to see the gorey details around them.

“You’ll be okay,” A gentle voice assured him from up ahead. “I’ll go first, so if anything attacks, it’ll get me first and you can run away.”

The voice belonged to a girl who’d tagged along with them–younger than Jay’s parents, but probably a grown-up. She’d met them in line and asked to join their party. She felt safer in a pack, she said. She looked out of place in the haunted house, with her pink hair and cartoon T-shirt, but she was determined to get through nonetheless. “If you can do it, I can do it, little man,” she’d told Jay, offering a fistbump. He hadn’t caught her name, but he was glad for her presence. She’d volunteered right away to lead them, scouting ahead and reporting back on the terrors up ahead. It was easier to face the fear when he had fair warning. 

The group approached a room lit with fog and green lasers. Something about it made Jay shudder. He dug in his heels. “I’m not going in.”

The girl didn’t want to either. She tensed up and stopped when they saw the door. It spooked her too.

But she squared her shoulders and stepped through the curtain. The light of her flashlight bobbed among the fog. “It’s fine,” she called back. “The room’s empty. Look, they used fog and lasers so it feels like we’re wading through water. Isn’t that cool?” It WAS cool. Jay clung to his mother as they walked through. The movement made the smoke stir and swirl in lazy circles around them. It looked like the swirling surface of a murky pond. 

Scary. But cool.

“Just through here now.” The girl held open the door to the next section. They passed through the undersea grotto, into an abandoned mine, and then into a farm full of sinister scarecrows. Jay averted his eyes whenever their flashlights illuminated a gruesome feature. And there were many–a man impaled on a spike, a desiccated body, a giant crocodile head. The worst parts were the “in between” parts, where you had to squeeze past props or walk narrow halls to get to the next section. He buried himself in his hoodie every time they came to one. But whenever he refused to continue, the girl stepped in. She pushed aside dangling pig heads for them and held back blood-splattered curtains. Once she noticed his aversion to gore, she started warning him of bloody parts. And she chattered. She asked him questions and revealed the house’s secrets as they went.

“This bridge is built over sponges so it feels unsteady. And that bottomless pit is just a mirror floor, see? It’s an illusion.”

“Look here, it’s the hydraulics that make the croc head bite and snap. They’re usually hidden, but you can see them now!”

“The vanishing specter is a Pepper’s Ghost, they use that at Disneyland. It’s a mannequin lit up and reflected with a mirror!”

“Oooh, I remember this part! It’s not scary. Turn your lights off, they’ll spoil the effect.”

“How often have you been here?” Jay’s mother asked as they shuffled down a star-specked tunnel that spun around them and made Jay’s head spin.

“Just twice,” the girl admitted. “And the second time didn’t really count. I got so scared in the waiting room that I panicked and ran. Drove home as fast as I could.”

Jay didn’t blame her. This place was freaky even now, it must be nightmarish on a proper haunting night. He cringed as they passed a glowing coffin. The girl gave him a smile, scarcely visible in the dim light. 

“You’re doing great, little man. We’re almost through. Oh look, a dragon!!! Do you like dragons?”

It got worse at the end. Fluorescent paint pulsed under strobe lights as they fumbled their way through a maze. His eyes hurt by the time they exited into a somewhat less searing room. He was rubbing the flashes from his eyes when he heard his dad speak.

“Where’s your mother?”

Jay whipped around. His dad was beside him but his mother was gone. Lost in the maze. His stomach churned, his heart hammered against his ribs. They’d have to go back in for her. What if they couldn’t find her? What if they got lost again and he had to spend another eternity in that torture chamber of light and sound?!

“It’s okay. I’ll find her.” The girl vanished again. He heard her calling in the other room. More patrons stumbled out the door, but his mother was not among them. 

And then she was. She breathed a sigh of relief on escaping the maze and hurried to join her husband and son. Jay gripped her hands tight. “That was scary. Are you ready to leave?”

Jay nodded.

Luckily, the nightmare was nearing its end. After a few more obstacles, they finally stepped into an empty hall. The girl stood at the end, silhouetted by daylight. She turned and grinned at Jay, pointing around the corner. He almost fainted when he saw the exit sign there. “You made it through, little man.” The girl held up a hand for a high five. Jay slapped it, arms weak with relief. “Wasn’t that cool?”

It was, despite all the fear, cool. With the sun shining on him again, the terrors in his memories felt less real and more like the props that they were. And he’d learned things. The next time he went through a haunted house, he’d be able to spot where the scarers were hiding and what tricks they used to frighten him. That would make it easier.

Jay’s parents beelined for the souvenir photo booth. Jay spotted the girl walking off. She waved to him, giving one last grin. “Happy Halloween.”

He waved back. A happy Halloween for sure. He let himself free of his hoodie cocoon and followed his parents out. One of the workers gave him a big smile and a treat bag for trick-or-treating. He stood in a short line outside to receive candy from a pumpkinhead on stilts. Nearby, his parents chatted with one of the non-costumed employees.

“We had a great time. I still have goosebumps!” Jay’s dad gushed.

“Glad you enjoyed it,” the employee replied. “Just be careful going home. Last year, a guest got in a crash as soon as she pulled out of the parking lot.”

Jay’s mother gasped. “Was anyone hurt?!”

The employee nodded somberly. “She didn’t make it. Poor girl; she was so scared, she didn’t notice the other car coming. And she hadn’t even gone through the house; she was still in the waiting room when she ran off.” She shook her head. “Some people can’t handle fear.”

****

Sandra clung to her dad’s hand, not taking her eyes off the skeleton-man guarding the entrance. She didn’t want to be here. Daddy said this was a not-scary haunted house, but she already had goosebumps and they hadn’t even left the line.

“Hey, kiddo. Is this your first time here?”

Sandra turned. The question came from a girl behind them–younger than Daddy but way older than Sandra. Her pink hair glowed under the dim lights, and her shirt had a cheery cartoon character on it. She looked funny in a spooky place like this.

“I’ve been here before; I promise it’s fun.” She crouched to Sandra’s level, giving the child a kind smile. “Mind if I join you guys? I feel safer in a pack.”

Daddy agreed. The strange girl offered Sandra a fist bump. After some hesitation, she tapped her tiny knuckles against the girl’s bigger ones. The girl grinned bigger.

“If I can do it, you can do it, okay?”

[transbookoftheday]

Trans Horror Podcasts

My post about trans horror books last year was much more popular than I expected, and since I've recently fallen in love with fiction podcasts and audio dramas, I thought I'd make a post about trans horror podcasts as well.

If you like trans horror, please give these a try - especially if you enjoy listening to audiobooks!

Hello From The Hallowoods:

Come walk between the black pines! In this award-winning queer fiction podcast, an eldritch narrator follows the increasingly connected residents of the forest at the end of the world. It's a bittersweet story that explores queer identity, horror genre tropes, and finding hope in humanity's last moments.

Hello From The Hallowoods is my absolute favorite podcast! If you only listen to one podcast from this list, please make it this one - it's so beautifully written and super queer! Also: season 4 starts today!

Trans main characters include:

our nonbinary eye-affiliated podcast host

a nonbinary "Frankenstein's creature"

a transmasc ghost

a genderfluid storm witch

a trans woman who can visit other people's dreams

multiple characters using neopronouns

Camp Here & There:

Good morning, campers! Camp Here & There is a weekly horror comedy podcast tuned in to the loudspeakers of a small midwestern sleepaway camp plagued by supernatural terrors and natural disasters. Sydney Sargent, resident camp nurse, cheerfully reports on all the terror we must face with a big smile. Let’s hope there’s nothing weird about that!

Sydney is a trans man.

Dos: After You:

Things have changed. Deck has fallen in love with someone who isn't human, and leaves a hungry house behind to see him again. Will he be waiting for you? The world has changed… but what about him? Dos: After You is a queer urban fantasy/horror audiodrama available in both English & Spanish

Deck is a trans man.

Jar of Rebuke:

Follow Dr. Jared Hel's journey as he works to re-discover his forgotten past and finds his place within the small Indiana farm town of Wichton and the cryptozoological organization he works for called 'The Enclosure'. These audio journals, and other recordings, dive deep into Midwestern US cryptids and folklore while also telling a mystery about identity, queerness, neurodivergence, and community.

Jared is nonbinary.

Spirit Box Radio:

Spirit Box Radio is an award winning, horror audio drama podcast about a radio show for enthusiasts of all things arcane. Follow Sam Enfield a former postboy with no experience in the arcane arts, who finds themselves forced to take over running the show, following the disappearance of the previous host. Sam soon discovers there are more than ghosts haunting the show, and finds himself amidst a mystery which threatens everything he knows about the world beyond his tiny basement broadcast studio, and maybe even himself.

Sam is a trans man.

The Silt Verses:

Carpenter and Faulkner, two worshippers of an outlawed god, travel up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations amongst the reeds and the wetlands. As their pilgrimage lengthens and the river’s mysteries deepen, the two acolytes find themselves under threat from a police manhunt, but also come into conflict with the weirder gods that have flourished in these forgotten rural territories. This is a world where divine intervention takes place through prayer-markings scratched into stumping-posts, and offerings are left squirming to die in the flats of the delta. This is a world of ritual, and hidden language, and sacrifice. This is folk horror, and fantasy, and a dark road trip into the depths of unusual faith.

Faulkner is a trans man.

The Magnus Protocol:

The Magnus Archives 2: The Magnus Protocol is the prequel/sequel/”sidequel” to the internationally renowned Magnus Archives podcast. The Magnus Institute was an organisation dedicated to academic research into the esoteric and the paranormal, based out of Manchester, England. It burned to the ground in 1999. There were no survivors. Now, almost 25 years later, Alice and Sam, a pair of low-level civil service workers at the underfunded Office of Incident Assessment and Response, have stumbled across its legacy. A legacy that will put them in grave danger. If this intrigues you then it is our pleasure to welcome you to the Office of Incident, Assessment and Response. Make sure you pick up your badge at desk and report to your line manager before sitting down. Oh and stay away from I.T., seriously.

I'm not sure if Alice is canonically trans, but her voice actress is a trans woman.

[paradoxcase]

Chapter 6 of Nona the Ninth

Ok, this gives a clearer picture of the political situation here now

I'm not sure if this means that some parts of the newspaper are in the Nine Houses language and some parts are in a local language, or if there is some kind of pidgin being used here. If the Nine Houses language is really being used as a trade tongue in the wake of the planet very recently being under control of the Nine Houses, I would expect the whole newspaper to be in the Nine Houses language, or else for it all to be in a local language if there was strong opposition to the Nine Houses language and a local language existed that most people there understood

I'm not sure why this is shocking to Nona, since she literally heard Pyrrha suggesting this to Palamedes earlier

I'm not sure what secrets Camilla thinks Nona might be hiding, although my best guess is that she might be worried about her being converted to BOE's side at the school like Corona was, but I'm not sure Nona knows enough about BOE to be able to tell that they're strongly opposed to Camilla, Palamedes and Pyrrha, and therefore that BOE-related talk would be something she should keep secret - she didn't know why Corona wasn't a friend anymore, and she didn't identify that Hot Sauce was thinking about joining BOE. But I guess she does know that the kids at the school don't like necromancers, and that Palamedes is a necromancer, so maybe that's what she's thinking about?

Ok, so I guess Pyrrha and Nona appeared out of the River in the vicinity of We Suffer's unit sometime after the events of As Yet Unsent, and Palamedes who was still just a skeletal arm at this point uses necromancy to heal Nona. Or maybe it wasn't necromancy but just regular medicine, because that's also something Palamedes knows a lot about and if he could have used necromancy, presumably Judith could also and Nona knows Judith so she was probably there. Then I guess they do We Suffer some kind of favor and help her out of a tough spot. We Suffer recognizes Pyrrha, I guess because she had met G1deon at some point while he was trying to kill Wake and I guess either wasn't up to date about their affair, or else has the same issues with G1deon/Pyrrha that Wake did when she tried to kill them back on the Mithraeum, which I guess just might have been a simple "you killed me, so now I'm killing you" thing

Wait, I just had a thought about that. Pyrrha was almost killed by Wake-possessing-Cytherea, but then afterwards she thought that Harrow was Wake when Harrow rescued her. I wonder if she thought that it was also Harrow who had tried to kill her? Only she had been visiting Cytherea's body because she knew Wake was possessing it, and she had her eyes closed talking to Harrow, so maybe she thought that Harrow was actually Cytherea's body because she could sense Wake haunting Harrow?

Anyway, so I guess the "break clause" mentioned in As Yet Unsent was an agreement that the Sixth House made with BOE to allow them to leave the Nine Houses if there was reason to do that, but I'm guessing that BOE put a price on this and now wanted Nona in exchange for doing this? And now the Sixth House is relocated somewhere else that they traveled to by stele, and Camilla and Pyrrha and Nona are being managed by BOE until they figure out how to recall Harrow and actually have the Lyctor that BOE wants, or until they figure out how to escape. And I guess whatever guarantees of safety BOE made them turned out not to be true when the resurrection beast showed up. And I guess the Sixth House is now lost/inaccessible to Camilla and Palamedes because of this

I'm not sure if she means that they would be mad that they were encouraged to make this decision based on information from BOE that turned out to be untrue, or if they would just object to Nona/Harrow for some reason

[heliads]

Hey hey Lisaa!!💓 Hope you're having a great day!! Here I am with the promised angst prompt for Marvel's Eternals. It's a Druig x reader (I love him with makkari but this needs to be off my chest). Let's think that after some time of leading his community in the Amazon, Druig needed a break so he visited some place new where he met reader. Reader (around 20-21 years of age) and Druig fell in love and stayed together for about I don't know, maybe 5 years or so. Reader knew who he really was, but had no idea of the existence of his community. Druig left one morning without any words and never came back. It ruined reader, but eventually they moved on, found someone else, maybe even had a kid.

After 10-15 years (the timeline of reader's life, them moving on and so), Druig comes back as if nothing happened. He went to check things over in the Amazon and to prepare for reader's arrival, cause he planned to take them there. Being an eternal, 10-15 years mean nothing to him, it's like a month passed by. So, imagine his shock when he sees somebody kissing reader. Somebody who lives in their house. In his place.

Reader and Druig have a fight based on these prompts:

"I've moved on."

"I used to daydream about us. But now it's too late."

"Don't you want to know what could have been? If you had asked me this years ago, I would have said yes."

The ending as usual it's up to you, but these prompts kinda make the ending clear. It's not going to be happy:))) Tear my soul apart Lisa. I want to cry my eyes out. Thank you lovely!!! Remember to change what you don't like!!❤️❤️

omg i love eternals and i love angst. the perfect combination

masterlist

You are alone when you see him for the first time. Sitting there in the bending shadows of the trees, he looks like he could be a young man, about your age if not a month or two older. Later, you’ll learn that he’s far beyond your own mortal lifespan, but at that first moment of contact, you had no idea. You didn’t know a lot of things about the young man in the forest, least of all how much you would grow to know about him. Decades in the future, if you had been presented with the chance to change any moment in your life, you would think about altering this day the most.

You have no idea of how much he would haunt you, though, so on this particular afternoon, you do not heed the whispering in the woods and you draw closer to the young man. You’d been passing through the forest when you’d seen him. He had tripped over a tree root, then started glowering at the tangled mass of aged wood as if he hadn’t expected it there. This particular oak is one of the eldest growths in the area, but he still furrowed his brow like it had been moved there recently just to spite him.

You had paused by him as you passed. You had thought to offer him a hand up, but the immediate spark in his blue eyes warned you otherwise. This is not the sort of man who takes kindly to kindness. He’ll cut to the bone when he needs some entertainment, and you are certainly not to ruin him of his fun by being polite of all things.

So you retract your hand and your good intentions, choosing instead to offer him a smirking sort of smile. “Everything alright there?”

The man redirects his glare from the offending oak to you. “Just peachy. I always chose to spend my evenings on the ground as opposed to anywhere else.”

Far from taking insult at his tone, you find it within yourself to laugh. “Figured I’d check anyway. Newcomers to the area get lost often, do you need directions?”

The young man bristles even more than before, if possible. “I’m not a newcomer.”

He says it with all the irritation he can pack into the few short syllables. From the way he carries himself, you wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been here longer than you. Maybe longer than anyone, dead, alive, or otherwise.

You nod once, feigning solemnity. “Alright, then. You tripped on purpose and you’re lost on purpose, too. I’ll stop asking questions.”

Something almost like a smile appears on his face. The corners of lips are fighting a losing battle to stay pinned down. “Good. You’re a quick learner, I appreciate that.”

You take one for the team and grin. “Oh, I pride myself on it.”

The young man picks himself up from the ground at last, brushing his hands off on his navy attire.

You jerk your chin towards the direction you’re heading. “Coming?”

He cocks his head to the side, curious, and you explain yourself. “I assume you’re going to be following me out of the forest anyway. You might as well save yourself the trouble of trying to skulk along in the background and just join me.”

This time he does smile for real. “Like I said,” he muses, “a quick learner indeed. Although I have to tell you that skulking is one of my favorite activities.”

“Feel free to do so if you please, then,” you say, “either way is fine with me.”

He chuckles quietly. “I’ll stay.”

And he does. The young man follows you out of the shadows of the woods and into the bright air of the surrounding town. He walks by your side until you reach your house, then heads inside when you invite him in. He stays the night, then the next day, then the next. Soon enough, you don’t ever want him to leave.

You learn quite a bit about him. He goes by the name of Druig, although he’s responded to many others before and likely will again. You weren’t wrong about the vibe you got in the forest, the one that he’d been here quite a long time. As it turns out, Druig was stopping by your town for a quick break from his usual life. He’d been here before, yes, but about a couple centuries earlier, not the few years you’d been expecting.

You weren’t anticipating an immortal to become your new roommate, but you can’t say you mind. You and Druig exchange quick retorts and hidden smiles like playing cards. He soon becomes your favorite gamble, and you have long since been his. Every night, Druig says that he’ll be leaving the next morning, and every morning, he stays. Next time, he swears he’ll go. Next time. Always one more night.

Soon enough, he stops saying it completely. You certainly have no issue with it. He’s growing on you, you can admit that easily. He makes you feel like you’re the greatest person in the world, and seeing as Druig has seen quite a bit of the planet for quite some time, the fact that he stays with you time and time again has to mean something.

It feels completely predictable when you finally fall in love with him. Druig sees you like no one else, how could you not love him? The surprise was when he fell in love with you. A thousand lifetimes he has led, a million people and more he has met, and throughout all of that, he wants you more than any other. Druig swears that you are the only one for him, and although it seemed impossible at the beginning, you finally think that it might be true.

It just feels right, that’s all. This is the way your story was always supposed to go. It was written in the stars from the moment you met him in that forest. There was no other path that you could have taken, no other choice that you could have made. In any other lifetime or universe, you would always meet Druig, you would always fall in love with him, and he would always leave you.

That is what happens when you try to convince an Eternal to lay aside their old life, after all. Druig only came to your town by accident, looking for a passing whimsy to fill his time. He hadn’t intended on finding you, but he did. He loved what he discovered in you enough to stay for five years or so, and when that time was up, Druig looked around and realized that he had a thousand other things he’d rather be doing and abandoned you.

That’s what you think, at least. In truth, you have nothing to fill your mind but endless theories. When it comes down to it, Druig gave you no sort of explanation, nothing even so solid as a goodbye. One night he was there, the next he was gone. It was just like those promises of your initial months, but this time it was real and this time you didn’t even have that familiar phrase to remind you that this was never permanent.

Some part of you had always known that your relationship with Druig would be nothing if not temporary, but the painful truth is that it was so wonderful to love him that you managed to convince yourself otherwise. He made it easy to forget he ever wanted to do anything but love you. If you fell for it, well, that’s on you. Druig made his choice, and at long last, you’re going to have to say yours.

One day after he leaves, maybe weeks or months or even years later, you walk to the forest where you met him. You can still find that old oak, and when you look up at it, you curse it for tripping him up and making him fall into your path. You could have walked right by and never hurt yourself this much. What a life you could have led.

At the same time, meeting Druig was one of the best things you ever did. He changed you forever, even if you don’t want to admit it. You are different now, different in a way that you will never be able to reverse. Some days, you’ll curse that, but you think overall you’ll be able to accept it.

You breathe in and out slowly, then turn around and walk back to your town. Druig has left in the middle of the story, but you’re taking yourself out too. Your time with him is done, your memories complete in the past. What’s done is done, and at last, you are free of his hold on you.

…

Druig feels excited to come back. He had a dream a while ago in which his life was not just good but great. It took him a while to figure out what he could change to chase that perfection, and then it hit him. Sometimes, humans can be a little too unpredictable. They don’t go where you want them to go, they argue and fight when they could just be calm.

That’s why he’s made his community in the Amazon. It’s quieter there. The people get along. He sees to it that they do. The environment is beautiful around them, and everyone does their best to help it grow. It is the perfect place for anyone to live. It is the perfect place to start a family.

Druig has never been sure of love in the past. After much careful consideration, though, he thinks he’s found it in Y/N L/N. He didn’t count on her being such an important part of his life, but yes, she is now. He’s been fixing up his place in the Amazon and it’s finally ready. All that is left to do is to bring her over.

He takes the long way around to her corner of the earth, breathing in the brisk air of the sea and thinking of her. It is nothing to take his time; time is all that he has ever known. What he did not count on is that she might not have the same grasp on the quickly passing years as he does.

When Druig arrives at the town, he has to take a minute or two to re-orient himself. Streets have sprung up out of nowhere, buildings have been demolished or improved until they’re almost nothing like what he remembers. Y/N doesn’t live in the same place as she used to, but after asking around, Druig is able to locate her new residence without difficulty. He feels mildly peeved that she hadn’t told him she was moving, but then again, he can admit that there would be no real way for her to let him know.

He springs up the steps to her house, knocking smartly on the door before rocking back on his heels and waiting. She takes her time in approaching, and when she swings open the door at last, she has to use the better part of five minutes to collect herself.

“Druig,” she manages to breathe at last.

He nods. He’s smiling again; he usually doesn’t, but something about her has always made him lose that bit of his self-control.

“Y/N,” he replies.

They’ve always been happy to poke fun at each other, so he’s expecting her to laugh along at him mirroring her words, but for some reason Y/N just looks shell-shocked.

“What are you doing?” She asks at last.

Druig frowns. Admittedly, he had been hoping that she’d be at least a little bit happier to see him. He’s gone to all this trouble of fixing up the Amazon for her, she might as well be pleased about it.

“I’ve been busy making a place for us to live,” he says, “how soon can you leave?”

Y/N looks even more stunned, if possible. “Leave? What are you talking about?”

Druig spreads his hands. “We talked about having a life somewhere else, remember? Somewhere exciting. Well, I’ve found it. You shouldn’t have to pack much, I have everything we could need.”

Y/N shakes her head slowly. “Druig, I can’t leave. Not with–”

She cuts herself off quickly, but Druig hears what she didn’t say. Not with you.

He doesn’t like where this is going. “Why not?”

Y/N lets out this incredulous sort of laugh. “Why not? Druig, you were gone fifteen years. You can’t just show up out of nowhere and expect me to go with you.”

Druig lifts a shoulder. “It was only fifteen years.”

That’s not much, all things considered, but from the way Y/N’s staring at him, he could have stayed away fifteen centuries.

She takes a moment to control herself, then continues. “Look, I can’t go with you. I’ve moved on.”

Druig feels as if the world has turned upside down. “You’ve what? You didn’t wait for me?”

“I did,” Y/N murmurs, “I did for years and years, but you never showed up. I used to daydream about the day you’d show up again and take me away from everything, but it’s too late now.”

Druig has spent century after century studying humanity, but he feels as if he can’t understand a thing she’s saying. “I don’t get it. I’m here right now. We could go.”

She presses her hands together, trying to find the right words to say to adequately make up for everything. “Do you know the worst part? Worse than the fact that you’ll never get why I can’t go with you. I would have, if you had just told me that this was your plan. If you had asked me this years ago, I would have said yes. I would have said yes a thousand times, but you left and never came back until now.”

“What’s stopping you?” He asks desperately.

Y/N holds up her left hand as an explanation, and suddenly Druig sees it. She’s got an engagement ring on her finger. Immediately, Druig wants to say that it’s the wrong ring. He would have given her a better stone, something perfect. It hits him then that she doesn’t want perfection, because perfection was him and he left. All Y/N wants is to be happy, but that is not Druig. Perhaps it never has been.

He lets out a tired sigh, the weight of millennia pressing in at his lungs. “The Y/N I used to know would have waited. What happened to her?”

“I was a girl when you left me,” Y/N hisses, “a girl, and I thought the world of you. I am nothing like the girl you left. You’re the only one who hasn’t changed, Druig. You’re still just as sharp as ever.”

Druig doesn’t miss how she spits out that last word. Sharp, yes, that’s him. Cold and cutting, the blade that refuses to rust. He never minded it before, but now he does. Oh, he does. 

The older parts of his brain are taking over now, forcing him back into autopilot. Already, his spine is stiffening, the last parts of him that had dared to feel something locking back into endless nothingness.

“I’ll go, then,” he whispers, “I hope you enjoy your life.”

He says it genuinely, but judging from the look on Y/N’s face, he might as well have sworn at her. Druig turns around before she can say anything to cause him more grief, and forces himself to never look back. A thousand thoughts are spinning around in his head, and when he looks up, he’s in the forest where they first met.

Or, he’s in the place that used to be the forest. Most of it has been cleared away to make space for new housing. A few straggling saplings still remain, but everything else is empty space. Druig walks until he is in the exact same place where he first found the girl he loves. The tree has been cut down. All he gave her is gone.

He does not know how long he stays there. It’s a penance of sorts, a reminder of what he’s lost. He was never made for this sort of life– mortal, fleeting, requiring all of his time and attention– and this just reminds him of it once and for all. What they had together has vanished, disappeared beneath the folds of time. It’s not her story anymore, just his. His forever.

requested by @zaypay, i hope you enjoy!

marvel tag list: @thatfangirl42, @rogueanschel, @mycosmicparadise, @ellobruv, @callsign-scully, @with-inked-solace, @sher-lokid7, @amortensie, @23victoria, @watchreadfangirlrepeat, @gods-fools-heroes, @w1shes43

[yyumemika]

Astraea's Atelier: Ally of Justice Part Four

Ally of Justice: Part 4 

Summer 

(10 minutes later, Shu’s Atelier) 

Shu: We’re here. 

This is the atelier the owner of my boarding house lent me.

It seems the owner was originally using this as a clothing store office, so unfortunately the workspace isn’t very wide. 

Kurou: Honestly, you’d complain about anything. This place is super extravagant and beautiful, are you using it by yourself? 

Shu: Is there a problem with that? 

Kurou: No, yeah. I completely forgot, you’re the son of a wealthy family. In an environment like this, it’s just not enough. 

This atelier alone is way bigger than the room at my parent’s shabby apartment. It’s so amazing I almost can’t feel the difference in economic power. 

Chiaki: Ooh! This is awesome, Itsuki! Like a secret base! Is there anything up these stairs? 

Hoho, this is probably where we can hold a strategy meeting or something! 

Shu: Don’t run around. Are you a small child? 

Chiaki: But exploring a big, cluttered building like this is fun! It reminds me of when I went to a ninja house with Sengoku! 

It’s a shame there aren’t any ninjas in France. 

Shu: Anyway, we aren’t here for me to boast about my atelier, I have something to show you. 

Chiaki: Yep! We’re here to investigate your supernatural phenomenon! 

Kurou: Haha. I probably shouldn’t find it interesting, but I’m starting to get pumped up. 

Maybe I should ask someone to take pictures and follow the case until it’s solved. 

The content of the travel programme is still lukewarm, so we can make it about exorcising evil spirits or something. 

That way even if we don’t wander aimlessly, we can still just talk about this place. 

Chiaki: You’re only saying that because you don’t like riding in vehicles, Kiryu… Hmm, exterminating ghosts is more of a Ryuseitai thing to do. 

And ghosts are scary… Wait, no, it’s completely off topic for a travel programme. 

Kurou: It’s always been common to make TV shows travelling to different haunted spots. 

Shu: Hmph. It’s great that you have business spirit, but don’t tie everything to your work. 

That’s related to your idol activities, and this is my private issue. 

Chiaki: Yup! We don’t plan to poke fun at your troubles, so don’t worry! 

Kurou: Haha. That’s true. Morisawa is desperately trying to deflect the fact that he’s freaked out by the paranormal. 

Chiaki: Th-That’s just not true! I can take on anything! I’m Chiaki Morisawa with a flaming heart! I won’t run and hide from anything! 

Leo: Roar! You guys, let's make it into aaaaaaart☆

Chiaki: KYAAAAAAAAAA!? 

Kurou: Huh, Tsukinaga!? What the hell are you doing here? 

Leo: Wahaha☆ I thought something was lively and I saw familiar faces! What kinda situation is this? Ah wait, don’t tell me! I’ll guess! 

Shu: …You just enter at your own convenience don’t you, Tsukinaga. 

Kurou: Eh? He comes here often? What is he, a stray cat? 

Shu: …He’s tried to break in plenty of times, and each time he physically pried open the window or broke the door. 

It would be a problem if he destroyed everything, and I don’t really want to involve the police, so I gave him a duplicate key to my atelier. 

It seems he uses it come and go as he pleases. 

Which is all well and good, but he has a habit of not locking the door… 

Because he leaves the doors wide open, anyone and everyone can come in from outside, which is a problem. 

Leo: Wahaha! I get a lot of work from around the world these days, that’s why whenever I come to France I pay Shu a visit! 

And it's comfortable here! 

Shu’s creations are always strewn about here and there, so whenever I see them I get inspired! The inspiration just flows…☆

…Recently, the number of un-Shu-like works has been increasing.

Chiaki: W-What do you mean? Umm, Tsukinaga…? 

Leo: Huh? Are you okay! Why did you fall down, are you sick!? Should I call an ambulance? 

Shu: This situation is becoming rather chaotic… As is always the case with the three of you. 

Alas, even though I moved to this country to be free from such troubles and work on my art in peace. I suppose that’s life, it can’t be helped. 

[justalitlecreacher]

So About Fazbear's Fright

Someone found a corpse in the Freddy Fazbear horror attraction

lets talk about it?

⚠️Content Warning for descriptions of blood, gore, death and mentions of child death/murder⚠️

I'm sure everyone who's seen the news recently knows what Fazbear's Fright is but just in case; Fazbear's Fright is a walkthrough horror attraction based on Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (think a haunted house but based off a cheap pizza arcade with animal robots)

Fazbear's Fright take it's inspiration from the 5 Missing Children of Feddy Fazbear's original location and the tragedy that took place in it's second location when an animatronic attacked a security guard and removed a piece of his brain.

(Wether or not this is appropriate or in good taste is for you to decide and not the point of this post)

Anyway

Fazbear's Fright opened last week to a mediocre reception. (for reasons listed above).

They have one (1) functioning animatronic

The SpringBonnie suit, a specialized suit that allows use as a wearable costume and an animatronic robot. These suits were discontinued soon after their introduction when the mechanisms holding the animatronic pieces back failed; severely injuring the suit's wearer. These suits are incredibly rare and it's insane that Fazbear Frights was able to get their hands on one of them as intact as it is.

I'm a massive fan of the Freddy Fazbear franchise. All tragic accidents and missing children aside, the characters are charming and the pizza is surprisingly not awful. I (of course) visited Fazbear's Fright the week it opened (click here to see my full, innocent, review of the place; it was surprisingly good ignoring the content of this post).

Anyway, SpringBonnie is by far the star attraction, you get to see it at the very end of the haunted maze and they really played this thing up; you get a full 360 view of it and while it doesn't move they've managed to make it feel like its watching you the whole way through the room. (they also pump some awful stench into the air so you can really tell that this thing has been sitting somewhere rotting for who knows how long)

The week after I visited, someone crossed that tape border they have circling the animatronic, and made a shocking discovery.

The SpringBonnie animatronic appeared to have human teeth hiding behind its animatronic smile.

Why would SpringBonnie have human teeth? No one was meant to see him this close, and, trust me, Fazbear's Fright doesn't have the budget to waste on details that will never be seen.

An investigation was launched after the photos were released and everyone went "hey! those are a little too realistic!"

So that's how they found a corpse inside the SpringBonnie animatronic.

But, the most interesting part, the part no one is talking about, is not what was in the suit, but who was inside the suit.

William Afton

Some of you may be too young to know who that is, allow me to introduce you

William Afton founded Fazbear Entertainment alongside co-founder Henry Emily. In the early days of the pizzeria, William and Henry would both wear the springlock suits; SpringBonnie and Fredbear respectively. It's a lesser known fact that William Afton was actually the victim of the springlock accident that saw the springlock suits that cause them to be discontinued (he survived but the few pictures of him showing bare arms show severe scarring that appears to extend beyond his sleeves and possibly to his chest)

Now, remember the missing children from earlier this post? What I failed to mention about them was they caught the guy behind the kidnappings.

It was William Afton

William Afton, wearing the SpringBonnie suit, took 5 children into the back room of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, an off camera location known only to the employees, and no one ever saw them again.

William was caught on the cameras outside of the break room, but he was never convicted because who could prove that it was William in the suit and not Henry or any other Fazbear Entertainment employee who had the training to handle the suits properly. Regardless no one believed William's innocence and he was forced to take a backseat in the company

Or so we thought anyway; William dropped off the face of the earth really, everyone assumed he'd gone into hiding to wait out the media storm that comes from being accused of kidnapping and possibly murdering 5 children from your own pizza restaurant.

Well.

We found him.

[neoyi]

As I ventured further into my Banjo Kazooie play through, I took notice of just how many types of entrances the bear and the bird can walk into. Caves, houses, windows, roofs, secret doors, whatever.

Every where I looked, there was always something to see and eventually do once I reached the place. Each level is densely packed, often through NPCs or situations appropriate to its environment.

Like, they could have made a big, open field, put in some intricate platforming regime, and called it a day - and it'd still be a great game. But they didn't just put Jiggys in an out-of-the-way corner through obvious platforming challenges, BK encouraged you to break windows, jump into giant pipes, swim inside a mechanical whale-shark, or fly to an unseen location to discover other, new places that has Stuff For You To Do.

I'm genuinely impressed with the last three levels I've recently played (Mad Monster Mansion, Rusty Bucket Bay, and Click Clock Wood) that does all of this. They specifically took one big concept, and filled it with little sidequests, events, and background that you have to investigate and interact with if you want to get everything.

Mad Monster Mansion is literally a Big Haunted House with a surrounding courtyard. It's so easy to fill the yard with some dead trees, maybe some pumpkins, and a few tombstones, and ask you to run around and find the cleverly hidden Item Gets. Nah, man, Banjo Kazooie loaded that courtyard with a church, a hedge maze, a spooky fountain, a cemetery, and a questionably rusty cabin. All of them can be explored and each of them have a gimmick tied to their specific environment for you to work through. It's fucking great.

Oh man, I didn't even mention the organ room. There's an organ room. And of course you have to play a Simon Says-ish game where you press the right organ keys against a giant ghost hand.

The mansion is also great in that it takes one building and squeeze in as many rooms as they can. You can enter the front door and get the Jiggy there (by quietly sneaking up to it lest you wake up the giant ghost that resides within) and like, the interior is standard enough: you got your fireplace, a table, and some chairs.

But if you dig a little deeper, you soon find you can break windows. Behind them whole ass other rooms in the mansion. You can find a bedroom, an attic, a wine cellar (located in, what else, the basement door), and a bathroom with a talking toilet (that you have to flush yourself down, of course.)

It's not just about gameplay, by giving the mansion common places like a bathroom or a bedroom, it transform it from being just a setpiece you're exploring to a living, breathable house. Someone lived here once. And maybe still do as a ghost, because come on, this is the Halloween level.

The same concept also applies to Rusty Bucket Bay. It blows my damn mind that Rare managed to take a container ship, park it between two berths, and made a whole ass platformer out of it.

From climbing the smokestacks to get a Jiggy piece at the top, to navigating the deadly engine room, to swimming inside the ships' back propeller - everything is a playground in Banjo Kazooie. And like Mad Monster Mansion, you can break windows and visit a room with beds for its crew members (who are also enemies you encounter during), or stumble upon a meeting center with maps pinned to the wall. Again, it's a lived in place. People work here. Those storage boxes aren't just for platforming, they're getting ready to be delivered (or unloaded.)

And then you get a level like Click Clock Woods where the gimmick is that you explore four versions of the place, each based on a season. This time around, you see the environment changing based on ecological diversity. And you can participate in them, too!

I love that Banjo and Kazooie can slowly grow a giant flower over the course of spring, summer, and autumn. I like that the beehive you've seen during those times, will crumble in half by winter. During autumn, leaves will pile up for you to walk on; water and rain is abundant during spring, but the lake you once were able to freely swim in has been drained by summer; and that baby eagle you first hatched during spring - and whom you can feed over the whole year - will eventually grow up and fly away by winter.

I can see why people really adored this game. Rare didn't just make A Desert World or a Forest World or a Swamp World. They made richly defined, dense as fuck biospheres where every corner is a curiosity waiting to be explored. They made a Beach World where you can beat up a giant nautilus, and then explore its shell. They made a Snow Level where a giant Christmas tree carries no less than three different minigame or platforming segment around, surrounding, or inside the thing.

Banjo Kazooie is Rare using every part of the buffalo and I'm so glad I finally got to experience this game for the first time. I'm just sorry it took this long to finally get to it.

[lavendertownfreak]

Yo! Names Damian! Former Unova resident now living out in Lavender Town. I used to be a fairly nomadic trainer who faught many a gym leader, but I’ve since settled down and now focus on studying odd Pokémon. Also sometimes sub in as a gym leader for the gym that the town got recently. Um… he/they pronouns… Oh yeah! Meet the lads! I have a lot of mons from my days challenging gym leaders, but i only presently live with 4 of em.

To briefly talk about the lads:

Una: a tentacruel i caught as a tentacool and used in Johto. She’s probably the smallest and nicest tentacruel I’ve ever met! She lives in my pond out back. She’s super affectionate and loves hugs, which I’d be cool with if not for the venom.

Penny: a shiny ariados i found here in Lavender Town actually. She’s great, actually a saint. I’m outta the house pretty often, and she’s my main line of home defense! She just sits up in the rafters. Bit of a big baby tho.

Roleplay: this little spook I found in Alola. Was checking out some haunted mall and this little booger just kinda latched onto my leg and refused to let go. Super affectionate, but also timid. I’m pretty sure she’s in the cupboards usually, though I don’t ever know where EXACTLY she hides during the day. Shy to new comers but warms up fast. She also refuses to leave my property, which makes vet visits fun…

Suki: If Roleplay isn’t my partner Pokemon, then Suki is. Found this little shit in Hau’oli city at the tail end of my Alola trip. She just kinda started following me and effectively caught herself in my sleep. She’s super energetic and mischievous (frankly more than I typically have the energy for) and gets on well with the others. Follows me everywhere and likes hiding in my hats.

I also live with this jigglypuff lookin thing I found on a vacation to Paldea with my girlfriend, but he’s not really part of the household. Call him Korbous, or Korbo for short.

(Oh right, I also take asks or something…)

(OOC: Yo, guy running this here, just a quick heads up that Im gonna be a little loose with some bits of game cannon, and also that I’m gonna treat some Pokémon changes I wish were real as though they were (common examples: ninetails is part ghost and there’s a regional variant/fake of Aipom based on the White Hand thing. These will mostly just be type or ability changes, but regional variants I’ve thought up for Kanto will be acknowledged, so keep that in mind.)

[unlikelywrestlingfan]

Tag game!

Thank you for the tag, @elphantas-hoe !

Relationship status - I am married to my job, but who knows what the future holds

Favorite color - red!

Favorite food - pizza! 

Song stuck in your head - weirdly, nothing right now.  

Dream trip - I want to go so many places!!! But I often think about how much I want to go see the Shakespeare sights in England!! I want to visit his houses and the Globe and I want to see his and his family’s graves in Stratford!!!!!

Last book you read - Based on the next question, I am going to take this as what I am currently reading - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Last book you finished - While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell

Last book you hated reading - While I’m certain I’ve read one I hated more recently, the one that immediately and vehemently enters my mind is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I was forced to teach it.

Favorite thing to cook/bake - I love!! making the yogurt bread from Kitchen Princess!!! I should make some tomorrow!!!!

Favorite craft to do in your free time - just?? Just one????? I CAN’T CHOOSE!!

Most niche dislike - Uhhhhhhhh, hmm, this is a very specific question? My mind is going to wrestling, as it is a niche interest and this is my wrestleblr, so I’ll say I dislike the Wrestler Gets Distracted By Their Rival’s Entrance Music and Then The Rival Attacks Them From Behind. It’s not that I think it should stop happening, I just personally dislike it because I’m like. You really. Fall for that. Every time? But it’s just one of the tropes of the form, ya know? 

Opinion on circuses - I think the people doing to cool stuff is cool, but if animals get mistreated, that is uncool.

Do you have a sense of direction - NOPE! I could get lost in a hallway with two doors. 

I shall @ijustthinkevilunoisneat and @chrissybxo but only if you want to!

[denimbex1986]

'In recent years, there have been remarkable coming-of-age films that avoid stereotyping - Aftersun, Falcon Lake, or Near. Among them is All My Strangers, a queer drama with a mysterious atmosphere. It received six BAFTA nominations and earned lead actor Andrew Scott a Golden Globe nomination. Now the movie is available on Disney+.

"Vampires are haunting my door," says drunken young Harry (Paul Mescal) to his neighbor, trying to get him to let him into his apartment. It paraphrases the well-known song The Power of Love by the pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood, one of the important songs for the queer community in the eighties. His neighbor Adam (Andrew Scott) is a writer and in a huge London apartment building where no one lives except for the two men, he is trying to write a work through which he longs to return to his childhood.

Adam wants to support his memories, which he keeps in a dusty box, by visiting the village where he grew up. Harry and Adam gradually find their way to each other and go to visit together. However, not only an old abandoned house awaits Adam, but also his parents – enthusiastic, loving, very young and vital. Besides, there wouldn't be anything strange about it if Adam hadn't admitted to Harry that they had died in a car accident over thirty years ago.

The non-violent drawing into the story causes a pleasant confusion in the viewer: is this really the writer's way of processing the past, or on the contrary, is he uncovering hitherto unacknowledged traumas from adolescence? What did his childhood really entail? And is Adam losing his mind, or do ghosts really exist?

A very lonely life

British director Andrew Haigh (* 1974) plays a new, romantic, sparkling and natural partnership against the background of family traumas. The film All My Strangers is based on the psychological novel Strangers by the late Japanese writer Taichi Yamada, but it is more of Haigh's subjective and fragile confession. As a gay teenager in the 1980s, he experienced not only the specific separation from family that queer people often face, but also a wave of rising homophobia due to the massive spread of AIDS. And the fact that the film is a personal matter for the director can be seen in practically every scene. The house that Adam's parents live in is also the home where the director spent a significant part of his childhood. "It was a strange choice, a hard choice. But I wanted the film to have some honesty and vulnerability, to feel grounded in some reality. The only option was to make it my own reality," Haigh described to the Guardian newspaper .

The protagonist Adam thus becomes the director's alter ego. Moments when Adam's communication with his dead parents begins to border on absurdity in the audience, the director anchors with a reflection of specific memories. In the finale, we can reflect on a ghost story full of the scariest element, i.e. a confrontation with a repressed past. The line of Adam's efforts to reawaken a long-dead relationship with his mother and father can be taken as an original form of a coming-of-age story of a lonely middle-aged man. Before the fatal accident, which also took place on the eve of Christmas Day, the bullied boy did not have time to escape. He thus lacks the fundamental form of acceptance that a young gay man would have been able to obtain at that time thanks to dialogues with his parents. Although "communicating" with spirits may offer some form of reassurance, it will never be the thing for Adam to bring back his traumatic years.

The omnipresent loneliness is a burdensome element here, often reaching beyond the limits of the audience's tolerance. "They say it's a very lonely life," Adam's mother (The Crown star Claire Foy) reacts with concern when Adam tells her about his sexual orientation. "No one says that anymore," reacts the writer explosively, knowing that despite the significantly different social acceptance of queer people nowadays, loneliness is the only companion that constantly accompanies him.

The physical expression of actor Andrew Scott, who is himself gay, adds a significant level of harshness to the film's loneliness. His characteristic half-smile reflects moments of joy, while at the same time carrying as much sadness as the hero of the coming-of-age drama Aftersun . Paradoxically, this is played by the star of this film, Paul Mescal, who in All My Strangers ably supports Scott in the role of the young queer man Harry, who is lonely for other reasons. Although the family has unconditionally accepted his gender identity, he perceives that the center of attention and hope for the future are his heterosexual siblings.

Rediscovering his own queer identity through building a relationship with young Harry means a direct confrontation with past traumas for Adam in his forties. Although the focus on the writer Adam puts his story on the back burner, he also realizes what a light of hope his relationship with Adam represents for him.

will you take care of me

When the two men first go out as a couple to a gay club in central London (another place where director Haigh spent part of his youth), Adam is given a line of ketamine by his younger partner; however, he believes that Harry offered him cocaine. “Will you take care of me?” Adam asks semi-eloquently just before his traumatized mind from the past sends him into a dissociative state called the k-hole.

Throughout the film, Haigh tends towards an outward approach bordering on stereotyping gay life. Although it might seem so at first glance, his presentation of two partially different queer men does the exact opposite. Drugs were and are a very strong part not only of the club scene, but also of the social queer scene, at the same time the directing process does not glorify their use in any way, not even for the purpose of strengthening gender identity.

Haigh approaches the erotic scenes between Scott and Mescal with the same degree of individuality and sensitivity. Jamie Ramsay's camera close-ups respect the boundaries of the actors' safe space, and the director thus avoids the unnecessary bodily exploitation of queer characters, which is still quite common in Western cinema.

Also thanks to the unique directorial care, the film is a landmark in the ongoing debate about whether LGBTQ+ characters should be represented by heterosexual actors. After all, Paul Mescal himself commented on it. “It depends on who is responsible for telling the story. There have been so many offensive depictions of queer life in cinema, and that's only because the creators and actors were careless," the actor told NME .

You break the memory

Although shrouded in mystery, the final form of All My Strangers is actually a banal, yet unique narrative about the importance of coming out, self-love, and externalizing the acceptance of gender identity. Just like Marek Torčík in his debut autofiction novel Rozlóžíš paměstí , here Andrew Haigh helps his hero Adam to break down his memory, to search for the limits of realism and accuracy of memories, to follow their gradual transformation or even the formation of those that never happened.

Where the audience's willingness to accept the believability of Adam's story about communicating with his dead parents ends, the possibilities of interpreting the film also end. We can then meditate on a superficial spiritual play about sharing important life stages with parents, which he could never share due to their premature departure.

The second way, on the contrary, is to perceive the dialogues with Adam's mother and father as the writer's ultimate self-reflection, which for him means not only the topic for the novel, but also the final confrontation with the fact that some wounds cannot be healed by time.

At the same time, all my strangers are proof of the possible importance of music in visual culture. Just as director Charlotte Wells strongly supported the atmosphere of individual scenes with the use of 90s rock and pop hits in the aforementioned Aftersun , similarly Andrew Haigh works with 80s synth-pop. The final decomposition to the sounds of The Power of Love disarmingly presents the fragility and vulnerability that both heroes carry as a result of their (un)constructed solitude.

The outcome of Adam and Harry's romance can be perceived ambiguously in the finale. The direction offers two versions of the ending in a penetrating and emotional gradation: either we yearn for a romantic ending to an atypical gay romance, or we accept the fact that Adam's journey to self-acceptance and coming to terms with loneliness remains at the beginning. And until society rids itself of the patriarchal stereotyping of queer people, none of us will move from the starting line.'

[flowersdaggersviolasandblood]

Blood, Flesh, and Tears

Name: Torment (He/Him)

Race: Zariel Tiefling

Class: Paladin (Oath of Vengence)

Background: Haunted One

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!

So after dealing with the homies outside, we now get to deal with the homettes inside. Before going on another senseless violent rampage, decided to pay a few peeps a visit. One, decided to get Torment acquainted with the dommy daddy, Abdirak.

This entire time Torment was in a perpetual state of "this better not awake anything in me." Spoiler alert, it did. Homeboy was spared because of this. Hope we'll get to see this man later in the game. Torment also rescued Liam and mainly wanted to know where Halsin was, not caring much yet about the Nightsong. As we rampaged across the Goblin camp, Tormet started eating some gummy worms and gaining a few Mindflayer powers from them. Torment is still a bit skeptical about doing this, but utilizing these powers might give them an edge against the Absolute cult.

After wrecking house (fuck Dror Ragzlin, that mf was hard as a cock!) Torment was able to free Halsin and gain some knowledge about his reasons for wanting to reach the old temple of Selune. Apparently the cultist are bring innocents to a place called Moonrise Towers where these individuals come out as True Souls. This could be their main base of operation, so infiltrating it will be high priority if they want to find a cure.

Torment agrees to let Halsin bunk with the Party as they go venture through the Underdark to reach Moonrise Towers. During and after the Goblin slaughter, we learned a few new things about Shadowheart. One, we got the lesbian fight between she and Shadowheart and was able to tell the girls to kiss and make up. Two, we learn that Shadowheart has a life desire to be a Dark Justiciar, but her Mother Superior always deemed her unfit for the role. It is also around this time that we even get a cutscene moment of Shadowheart and her earliest childhood memories that she could remember.

With this in mind, Torment is starting to warm up to her, though he's becoming a bit more worried about Shadowhearts' dedication to Shar. Torment isn't going to pretend that he knows everything about the Lady of Darkness, but the allusion to abuse and the fact that her worshippers adopted Shadowheart into their ranks, when they probably would've left her for dead. Torment is careful to not make any hints that he might disapprove of her worship, wanting to hear more of her story and the Shar worshipers before casting his final judgement.

During the Tiefling party, I won the fucking game my guy! Some time ago, Astarion offered to share the night with Torment, which Torment was unsure if he wanted to because the moment he dropped this, it was when he recently killed Alfira and he feared for Astarions' safety. But after the bloodshed he committed, Torment was high on adrenaline and was a bit more susceptible.

Hearing Astarion's declaration of love made Torment's heart stop and he tried to see if the vampire was toying with him. He wouldn't have pegged Astarion as someone would would drop such precious words so suddenly. Torment, in the brief second, couldn't help but doubt these words, but at the same time, he has withdrawn himself from more carnal desires that he was willing to shove his own self doubt and mistrust to enjoy the night with Astarion. This time, not running away from him.

With that merry song and dance out of the way, we're now ready to set our sights on ACT 2, but first, Wyll asks that we take care of the "Devil" that still prowl the road. With the Goblin threat gone, Torment is more than ready to deal with this Karlach. Before going after her, however, Torment gets another visit from his Guardian.

Apparently this Guardian is also infected with a tadpole like the rest of the Party, and they express that the magic that controls these parasites is secreted away with the cultist. No typical healer can alleviate this burden, as removing the parasite any other way will kill Torment. They urge that Torment find the source to this magic and destroy it, for when the Absolute decides that everyone transforms, it won't be a matter of days, but it will be instantaneous.

[youwerenevermeanttofeelalone]

A Heartbeat Away | Damian Wayne

✦ pairing — older!Damian Wayne x gender neutral!Plus Size Reader

✦ word count — 2.7k

✦ based off the song I Should’ve Kissed You by One Direction

✦ summary — Damian is haunted by the fact that he only said good night when he should have kissed you.

✦ warnings — light angst, mentions of pregnancy (a minor character is pregnant), mentions of food and beverages, fluff.

✦ author's note i — randomly remembered my obsession with this song and couldn’t get it out of my head.

✦ author's note ii — the parts in italics are flashbacks.

════════════════════════

Ever since he started living with Jason, Damian found himself straying away from the things that held him back.

His life would never be normal, but in hindsight, he could admit things weren’t as bad.

The fallout with his father came crashing down in the worst moment possible — Dick was dead and his relationship with Tim wasn’t the best.

As little as he knew Jason, he was sure he could trust him so he asked for his help instead of somebody else’s.

And Jason didn’t say no. Whether he had the heart to do it or not was irrelevant because he still took Damian in and helped him find a job.

He hated said job.

‘It’s a job,’ you had told him, ‘you’re not supposed to like it.’

You.

Damian rarely stopped thinking about you. Calling it infatuation felt like an understatement, and yet he couldn’t find a better word to describe the whirlwind of emotions you gave him.

He still remembered the day he met you for the first time.

Jason paced in the living room, perking up every time he heard a noise outside the apartment.

You’re driving me insane,” Damian said from the small dining table.

”Roy’s late.”

”Why are you surprised?”

Jason glared at him.

Both of them heard somebody stand on the other side of the door. Their steps didn’t sound like Roy’s.

Pulling the door open, Jason was ready to snap at whoever had knocked.

“You ordered something and gave my apartment number instead of yours. Again.”

Damian didn’t recognize the voice so he slanted his body to the side to see who it was. He couldn’t stop staring.

”I’ll make it up to you.”

”Jay,” you sighed. “I’ve told you before, you just need to tell me beforehand if you don’t want things to arrive to your apartment. My roommate could have opened it.”

Damian chuckled, a single elbow resting on the table.

Jason craned his neck. “You think this is funny?”

”I think you’re a moron.”

”Shut up and come meet our neighbor.”

Damian didn’t have to be told twice. He stood up with an eagerness he hadn’t felt since Jason texted him to let him know he had found the materials so he could build a suit and go back to patrol.

”This is my brother Damian.” Jason turned around to place the package under the table next to the door.

He knew you’d either seen him before or heard about him the moment his eyes landed on you. People always had a visceral reaction when they met him, some found him attractive, others attempted to ask for favors, and some recoiled in fear.

But you didn’t. You held his gaze and stood in the same spot you had been since you knocked on the door.

And whether it had been in a newspaper or a gossip forum, he was glad you knew something about him. There was something about the way you stared at him that screamed for him to trust you. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

“Nice to meet you,” you politely said, smiling at him.

Stunned by the fact that you hadn’t mocked him, and now assuming it wasn’t wishful thinking after all, he tilted his head. Most people did mock now that he wasn’t under his father’s wing.

Still, he said, “Likewise.”

Your smile became warmer. “I live three doors down the hallway in case you need anything.”

He felt a pang in his chest at the gesture. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

Weird sensations in his chest were normal when he was around you. Befriending you was easier than he’d ever admit and talking to you became the highlight of his day.

The pangs in his chest turned into a fluttering sensation in a heartbeat. You’d make him feel breathless when you did the smallest things — when you smiled at him, when you complained about other neighbors with him, when you asked about his day.

He felt special. For once in his life for being the closest he had ever been to resemble a normal person.

And he also remembered, quite painfully, that night he let you walk away without mustering the courage to tell you —or show you— the way you made him feel.

The deserted hallway was yet another proof of how easy it was to lose track of time around you.

Damian hadn’t expected to get back home past midnight or to skip patrol, but 1:00 AM turned into 2:00 and he couldn’t part from you no matter how many times he tried to remind himself to do it.

He hadn’t even expected to enjoy the state fair as an adult, yet he couldn’t remember a time he had more fun than that evening.

You gazed up at him, waiting for him to either do or say something. Anything other than stare at you in the middle of the hallway.

You had already thanked him for making you company, there was no way you’d say anything. And he froze.

“Good night,” he sputtered.

Your brow twitched. “Night.”

He watched you unlock your door and get inside your apartment with a heavy heart.

You moved out a couple months ago and he hadn’t seen you since then. The texts the two of you exchanged were sporadic and they bordered in formal.

He should have kissed you, he was aware of that. And to make matters worse, Jason chewed him out when he found out.

He still looked for you every morning he left the apartment as though you’d remember you had forgotten something. That you had forgotten him.

Jon said it was for the best, that somebody as sweet as you didn’t deserve to carry with his baggage.

Damian knew his best friend to be right, but how could he let go of you that easily when you made him see he was more than his mistakes and regrets?

He didn’t need anybody to carry him, he could drag himself anywhere if needed.

He simply hated the hole in the pit of his stomach every time he entertained the possibility of having to see you one day with somebody else because he wasn’t brave enough to say what he needed to let out.

The idea of being out of time was killing him slowly, so naturally, he’d sought a quick death.

════════════════════════

You gasped upon opening the door. You weren’t expecting anybody to be outside — much less Damian Wayne.

“Oh!”

“Hi,” he softly greeted.

You blinked rapidly. “Did you need anything?”

“I wanted to... Are you on your way out?”

“I’m just dropping this off for my mom.” You momentarily lifted the bags you were carrying in one hand. “She lives nearby.”

He spared a look to the reusable bags in your grasp. “Is she sick?”

“Pregnant,” you explained, playing with your keys. “It’s high risk due to her age so we take as much care of her as we can.”

Damian walked backward, allowing you to come out of the apartment and lock the door.

As you pushed the door to make sure it was locked, he asked, “Would you care for some company?”

Turning around, you gave him a small smile. “That would be lovely.”

He reached over. “Let me help.”

“They’re not heavy.”

“I insist.”

”Okay.” You handed him the bags and took the initiative to lead the way.

He reached your side immediately.

Not knowing what else to do, aware you’d let something slip if you didn’t find something, you made small talk. “How’s Jason?”

“As annoying as always.”

You still remembered when he meant those words, when he complained about Jason and how often they butted heads. His tone was different now, lighter, almost playful.

“Good to know some things never change.”

You walked the streets with an ease you hadn’t been able to in years. Growing up in that neighborhood meant which streets to avoid, and sadly, most of them were unsafe.

There were many things you could have asked or said, perhaps apologize for being cold while texting.

You were in your right to be cold and you could have just not answered, but you wanted to keep contact even though you were hurt.

Damian was great company. It was a shame you misread the entire situation and couldn’t go back to chat with him like before.

It took you a few attempts to get them to talk comfortably, but once he was able to, he didn’t look back. He even gossiped with you.

Stopping in front of the house, you looked around to make sure your mom had the windows open. Once sure, you walked up the front steps.

You withdrew a single key from your back pocket and extended your other hand so Damian would give you the bags.

The floors were recently mopped which meant your aunt had visited that day.

“It’s me,” you yelled so your mom wouldn’t get up. It was her time to be watching TV in the living room.

Carrying the bags towards the kitchen, you caught the jingle from a commercial.

You filled a glass with water and added a couple of ice cubes.

Your mom was comfortably sat on a recliner, feet up and remote control on her thigh. “Hurry back before it gets dark.”

“Don’t worry, a friend of mine walked me here.” You handed her the glass. “Do you need anything else?”

She ignored your question as she took the glass. “Who is it?”

“You don’t know him.”

“Him?” She lifted an eyebrow.

You hadn’t mentioned a guy to her in almost two years now, her surprise was understandable. “Not now.”

“Oh, so it is like that?”

Maybe it was and maybe that was the issue. She wouldn’t blame you if she knew him like you did, if she heard him laugh or saw him change his demeanor to accommodate to somebody else’s sensibilities.

You didn’t think you’d witness anything remotely close to that when you met him for the first time, but you learned really quickly that Damian was full of surprises.

“I’ll call in the morning in case you need something. I’m working ’til 3:00 PM tomorrow.”

“It’s okay.” She took a sip of water. “Did you bring anything sweet?”

“Homemade muffins and a few chocolate bars. Do you want one now?”

She shook her head. “I’ll wait after dinner.”

You kissed her cheek. “Call me, please.”

“Go, go.” She ushered you to go with a gesture of her hand. “Don’t make your friend wait.”

It was your time to ignore her comment.

Damian was sat on the front steps when you came out, looking up at the darkening sky.

“Is everything alright?” you asked in a whisper as to not scare him.

“No.” He shook his head and stood up. “I mean, yes. How’s your mother?”

“She’s good. Having fun watching reality TV.”

Damian squinted. “Is reality TV really that entertaining?”

“It’s mindless stuff, but it’s fun sometimes. You get to judge other people’s lives without feeling remorse because it’s most likely fake.”

The walk back was way shorter and you didn’t want to part. It was time to swallow your pride and your feelings for him.

He didn’t part ways with you at the building entrance. He walked beside you until you reached the elevator — Damian extended his arm to keep the doors open and allowed you to get in first. He followed suit.

You turned the lights on with Damian on your tail. He did wait for you to invite him in, but you were sure both of you knew there was no way you wouldn’t.

“I made muffins. Do you want one?”

Damian nodded.

You guided him to the dining table where a trippy vase in pastel colors rested with flowers.

He looked around the apartment as he walked towards the table. As he sat down, he fixed his eyes on the vase.

“Green or black?”

“Mmh?”

“Your tea.”

You could swear you saw him smile to himself.

“Black.” He placed his cellphone on the table. “You still have that thing,” he said, referring to the trippy vase.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

He huffed a laugh. “Jason said it was ugly.”

“Jason doesn’t have the best taste in the world,” you lightheartedly retorted.

The vase was precious to you, a gift from Damian who spooked you in the middle of a rainy night and made you knock your favorite vase.

You set a plate in front of him and placed the muffin there. “Your tea’s almost ready.”

“No roommate this time?”

“Nope. I miss Lou, but I don’t miss having a roommate that much.”

“I thought the move was temporary just so you could be close to your mother...”

“It is, but there’s still a long way to go. The baby should be here next month and she’ll need help around the house.” You disappeared for a moment as you looked for a mug.

Having found one, you dropped the teabag and poured the boiling water in.

“Sugar.” You put the sugar bowl down just in front of the mug. Feeling his eyes on the side of your face, you gazed at him. “It’s brown, don’t worry.”

He relaxed and uncovered the sugar bowl. “Is the father of your mother’s child around?”

“Yeah.” You sat down on the chair closest to his. “She remarried last year and her husband tries to help, but you know, work gets in the way.”

“Tell me if I can help with anything.”

“Don’t worry, you have enough things to juggle with already.”

“What’s one more? At least let me make you company or walk you home. These streets are dangerous.”

You softly nodded. From the day you met him you knew you would never be able to tell him no — and having his company after a long day sounded nice.

“So...”

“So,” you encouraged him to go on.

“Are you seeing anybody?”

“No. I thought I was a little while ago, but...” You hoped he’d understand what you were getting at. “I guess something got lost in translation.”

“Did it? Or was he too much of a coward to show the way he felt?”

“Don’t.” You hated hearing him talk like that about himself.

“You don’t know how much I regret not kissing you that night. I—“ He sighed, twisting his mouth as he frowned. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“At least now I know you did think about doing it.”

“I did. Many times throughout the night.” He turned to the side to fully look at you. “I wanted to find the perfect moment and became overwhelmed. Sounds like a bad excuse, but I swear it’s the truth.”

“I believe you.”

Damian scooted closer and reached over to place his hand on your face. Softly, he caressed your cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

You leaned onto his touch, tilting your head. “Me too. Sorry for being such an ass.”

“It’s fine. I would have reacted similarly.”

“Similarly or worse?”

“Worse.”

You laughed, making him smile.

“May I?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Damian leaned in, placing his free hand on the back of your chair as his nose brushed yours.

His lips softly connected with yours, but the slow pace didn’t last. The two of you had wasted too much time, thrown away too many opportunities to be this close —or closer— and patience wasn’t a virtue Damian possessed.

The chair was now balancing itself in two legs, making you interrupt the kiss with a squeal.

Damian then made you stand up and wrapped his arms around your waist. His lips were immediately back on yours.

Your hands went up to rest on his biceps as he kissed you again. His arms tightened around you as he deepened the kiss and you melted.

You melted into the kiss, onto his warmth, due to the fact that he wanted this as much as you did.

Kissing him had become a mere fantasy for you, and there he was, not only making it a reality but exceeding your expectations.

Grabbing him by the neck, you broke the kiss in search of air. His breath was barely ragged and you remembered he told you he could hold it in for a long time.

You needed him to teach you just to be able to kiss him for longer.

“That was nice,” you said, still breathless.

“Yeah, really nice. We should do it more often.”

“Are you asking me out?”

“I’m telling you I want you to be mine.”

All in or nothing, of course. Jason had warned you that Damian didn’t take things lightly.

But you were okay with that.

[creativeashproductions]

If I Stay Part One // Luke Patterson

Summary: A beautiful day Luke visits a record store to relive the times he would buy an album, but he finds more than memories. He meets you and a connection blossoms between you two and then Reggie and Alex as well. All is well until Julie discovers something.

Warning: Swearing, talk of death and car accident!

Words: 2.6k

A/N: This is based off the movie If I Stay and the movie Charlie St. Cloud. Sorry for not posting sooner, my sister in law along with my three nieces were in a car accident. Thankfully the kids are okay but my sister-in-law in currently in hospital due to minor injuries thus far.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX PLEASE!

Masterlist

So, Julie’s life changed dramatically in the lost year and few months, firstly her family lost their mother. Secondly, Julie’s love for music faded until the melody and lyrics were haunting memories. Thirdly, after losing her place in the music program, she had to question her sanity. For in her garage lived three teenage ghosts to her disbelief and horror quite frankly; the ghosts grew on her so much she was in a band with them.

In the hours that Julie was attending school, the boys tended to tour the entire city. They enjoyed seeing the changes that had happened for the two and a half decades. Reggie really enjoyed the western-themed stores, even scaring a little girl with a floating cowboy hat that disappeared once on his head. Alex adored learning about the drastic changes within in the LGBTQ+ community, he had plans for when 2021 LA Pride came in June. Luke, of course, would go anywhere that had music such as music stores, record stores, concert venues and even followed a rock legend once.

“Ooh.” A voice spoke in the record store, “This would be the perfect gift.”

Luke turned to see you gazing at the Rock N’ Roll records with a passion in your eyes and an adorable smile that melted his heart. He couldn’t help but walk closer even if he had no clue if you could see him or not.

“Def Leppard? Definitely one of my favourite bands.” Luke spoke anticipating the usual one-sided conversation. His speculation shattered when you turned to face him with big eyes, “You can see me.”

You nodded your head, pushing your hands into your faded blue jeans glancing around the store, hoping the owner didn’t notice. To your relief the man was oblivious, Luke glanced over before stepping closer.

 “You’re alive?”

“Mhm.” You spoke, removing a single hand to play with your burgundy jacket that cinched at the waist to give form. It was open to reveal a plain black shirt that left an inch of your midsection free, “I always wondered if ghosts were real. I got my answer.”

“This is so cool! My friend is the only person that can see my friends and me.” The grin was breathtaking on the teenage ghost. There was a connection between the two that was immediate and intense.

“At least you’re not alone.” You supplied turning to pick up the record, turning it around to read the tracklist. In the end, you decided you didn’t feel like buying it, replacing it you started for the front door.

A college-aged person walked in glued to the screen of the phone not replying as you mentioned a thank you before the door closed. Luke rushed to follow your steady pace in black hiking boots.

“Where are you going?” Luke questioned coming to the same stride as the girl that had taken his attention quickly. His interest had grown when he found he could hold a conversation with her.

“It’s a nice day. I thought I would go for a walk.” You replied, stopping to look around the street with curious eyes. Luke yearned for those eyes to look in his again because he swore he saw a galaxy in them, “Would you like to join me?”

Luke’s head was nodding in response with a new pep in his step as you walked down the street filled with all different kind of stores. Luke recognized Family Living Grocery store as the one that the Molina got their groceries, he and the guys had joined Julie on a trip once. It was one of his worst memories as a ghost, surrounded by snacks and food he couldn’t indulge in.

“So, what’s your story, Caspar?” You questioned stopping to look as at a beautiful dollhouse, “My cousin had one. We actually renovated it a while back for her unborn niece.”

“Caspar?” Luke teased, watching the nostalgia faded from your expression as you continued on the walk. His hazel eyes, greener at the moment, glittered at the different banter he had with you than the guys or Julie.

“Well, I don’t know your name!” You exclaimed turning the corner at a parlour with gorgeous stencilled artwork on the glass.

“Luke. My name is Luke. Hey! I know this shop!” Luke beamed, stepping back to take in the storefront. In the twenty-five years since he last saw it, the blue faded into a teal, but the door was still the same as it always was.

“You have a tattoo?” You asked, scanning his arms bare in the cut off shirt he wore. You couldn’t see any ink on his skin. Luke couldn’t help the smirk on his face at the blatant heated gaze.

“No. It was 1994. We just played our biggest gig at the time, and Bobby decided we should get tattoos.” Luke’s mouth twisted at the mention of his former friend, “Of course we were sixteen and Alex just about fainted in the shop. The guy took one look at Reggie and laughed at our fake IDs. Told us to come back in a few years.”

One of the few memories that weren’t tainted by the betrayal that Trevor Wilson had gone on to do a year after the tattoo fiasco. It was more than not being credited or his songs being stolen, but it was also that someone he wholeheartedly trusted turned his back on them. Luke frankly didn’t care how Bobby coped after that fateful night. Still, he changed his name and refused any mention of his previous music experience. That hurt a lot.

“So, you’re a ’90s kid.” You raised an eyebrow coming to a stop on the edge of the street, pressing the button to cross.

“Technically a ’70s kid. We died in ’95 a few hours before a life-changing gig.” The mood turned sombre as Luke thought back on that one night that life decided to raise both middle fingers at his dreams, “Death by a hot dog.”

The snicker fell from your mouth before you do anything about it but sobered up quickly in the view of his painful admittance.

“So, you’re seventeen?” You asked crossing when the crosswalk light flickered on. Your attention focused on crossing while listening to the teenager.

“Forever seventeen but I would eighteen physically, but if I had survived I would be forty-three.” Luke mused shoving his hands into his staple black jeans with the chains and his constant accessory of a blue rabbit’s foot.

“Oh, damn. I’ve seventeen as well.” You replied dodging pedestrians before humming a to a song you had heard recently but where you did was unknown. You didn’t want to bump into anyone.

Luke glanced down at his watch, somehow even in death it worked, noticing that it was around the time rehearsal would commence. The thought barely ended before a flash of light preceded Alex’s presence. You slightly jumped in response.

“Luke! Julie’s wondering where you are. We have rehearsal.” Alex was surprised that Luke wasn’t already at the studio. He was always the first one holding his guitar for the rest of them.

One glance at the girl beside Luke cemented a reason for his tardiness. Alex could see that you were the reason and a pretty reason too. Alex wished he had your jacket with such a beautiful colour, but the music was more important.

“Oh, man!” Luke panicked fearing that being late would cause Julie to leave the band after the whole school dance fiasco.

“So, Luke. I like your name by the way. I’m Y/N.” You greeted holding back from offering you a hand, your theory would have been proven correct. Ghosts can’t touch other people, all the movies portrayed that.

“Nice to meet you! I’ll find you soon!” Luke shouted seconds before Alex poofed them both away with a single hand on his bandmate’s shoulder.

A content smile appeared before you continued on your way, unaware of the lack of acknowledgement from people on the street.

The next few days, Luke would find you either in the record store or just out front during his free time. He hadn’t realized how lonely he was touring the music entertainment spots until he had your company. Soon you were joined by Alex and Reggie every once in a while.

The three were planning outings with their new lifer friend as Julie grabbed her songbook from her room. She was amused when the three wouldn’t shut up.

“What are you planning?” Julie questioned scanning their animated expressions, even taking in the slight change in Alex’s appearance.

Alex had a braided bracelet of the rainbow on his left wrist that definitely hadn’t been there yesterday. He even seemed calmer and less anxious, as well.

“What happened to Alex?” Julie questioned with a small smirk, “Did you bump into Willie?”

Alex shook his head, “No, Luke met this girl at a record store and then Reggie and I met her. She’s cool! There’s this app she showed us, and it had videos of anything you could imagine!”

Julie’s teasing smile faltered at the mention of Luke meeting someone before it returned once more. She pushed the feeling away as this girl had brought peace to the drummer.

“What’s her name?” Julie asked, pushing the songbook away to listen intently to the new piece of the boys’ afterlife. The three burst into stories of the girl.

“She took me to this cool place nearby where people store their horses!” Reggie burst out, clapping his head, “I already have a country song started! This is so a hit single for our future country album!”

Alex only released an exasperated sigh at Reggie’s idea that he voiced every single day since the beginning of the band. Luke was just used to finding sheets of songs from Reggie around the studio and often his songbook too.

“She also brought me a bag of clothing she had in her house that she let me go through. Apparently, her house is the place where cousins take their old clothing.” Alex supplied striking a pose in his new white sweater with a rainbow logo on the front.

Julie grinned at the positivity radiating off the two boys.

“Is she a ghost?”

Luke shook his head, “No. She’s alive.”

A spark of happiness flits itself inside of Julie before it dissipated because Flynn had already gently let the girl down about Luke.

“What’s her name! I’m gonna find her Instagram!” Julie took out her phone waiting as Alex supplied her the name. Her thumbs froze before she could type staring down at the black screen.

The name was familiar.

Laying on a bed on San Pablo Street was a girl with her eyes closed and a serene expression. This bed wasn’t just any bed in a home. Instead, this bed was one no one wished to be in. A bed with machines surrounding and right in the middle of those machines was Y/N.

The very girl that had met Luke, Reggie and Alex were in fact in the ICU of a hospital recovering in a coma.

“Why do you look like that?” Luke demanded as the colour drained from the lead singer of their band.

“Are you sure it was Y/N Y/L/N?” Julie gulped dread filling her veins as each boy nodded their head and the girl slumped, “I go to school with her. The thing is she’s been in a coma for two weeks now.”

You were outside the record store once more as the three ghosts appeared in front of you each looking the worst you had ever seen them.

“Did you lie?” Luke questioned stepping closer to the teenage girl that furrowed her brows in confusion, “You said that you are alive. Why did you lie?”

“Lie?” You asked, taking a step back from the odd energy the boys had. A look of distraught on each face, “What are you talking about?”

“Why are you here every day at this exact time. Never late, never early.” Alex questioned sick to his stomach as your brows came together.

“I- walk…” You trailed off thinking of the last week in deep thought paling as you had no recollection of going home or getting to the store. It was like you blacked out each time.

Actually, the last time you remember not being with the guys or at the store was two weeks ago.

“I don’t re…member.” You whispered, “I haven’t seen my family since…oh my god.”

Luke stepped closer, terrified as he reached out, hoping with his entire being his hand would go through you. It didn’t. Luke’s hand rested on your arm, still wearing that burgundy jacket. Your eyes flickered between his solid hand and the same outfit you wore for weeks now. Why would you be wearing a jacket and hiking boots in Los Angeles?

“My cousin had been saving up for a trip for her eighteenth birthday. She wanted to go skiing, so we split the cost between our families.”

As if a wall broke, you realized with horror that the college boy that hadn’t held the for you like you first thought. He hadn’t seen or heard you because in his world you weren’t there. No one had acknowledged you because they couldn’t see you just like they couldn’t see Luke.

“What else do you remember?” Reggie spoke up next, noticing that Luke was getting more upset. His eyes going so light the green appeared to be blue and glittered with tears and his heart dropping.

“My parents, my cousin and I were driving up the mountain in the rented car. There-“

Two Weeks Ago

Your head leaned again Lou’s head sharing the headphones connected to your phone blasting the carefully curated playlist. Lou had been living with your parents and you the last six months as her parents were travelling for work. It was a dream because she was like a sister already and vice versa; Lou as a surprise baby with her older sister being ten years older.

“We haven’t been to the slopes since we first got married.” Dad said glancing over at your mother in the passenger seat, “Didn’t we conceive-“

“Dad! Gross!” You shouted, wrinkling your nose as he glanced in the rear-view mirror to smile at your antics. Your mother’s laugh was probably one of your most favourite sounds in the world, it was warm like hot chocolate on a cold day.

“Did you see that video of the hologram band?” Lou asked, not paying attention to your family’s antics, “It’s super cool.”

“We still have half of our playlist to go through. You should show me when we get to the cabin.” You replied, “We could put it on the projector with the others.”

The others being your extended family, including the surprise of Lou’s parents. Your mother pointed out the snow on the mountain gaining everyone’s attention. It was beautiful compared to sunny Los Angeles.

Lou’s thumb was just about to click the video of Julie and the Phantoms against your wishes. You felt the fear before the yell, snapping your head up you watched as a pickup truck hit ice swerving into your lane. The screech of tires preceded the crunch of the vehicles hitting each other. Throughout the surrounding area, the echoes of the crash bounced off the mountains scaring birds away. Miraculously Lou’s phone survived the crash and played the electric video of ‘Edge of Great’ by Julie and the Phantoms. A song you would hum under your breath during your walks meeting the guys.

The snow turned red under four of five bodies. You lay nonconscious a stark difference in the burgundy jacket and black shirt you had painstakingly chosen that morning.

If I Stay Part Two (Final)

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[heliads]

Best Kept Secrets (Part Two)

Based on this request: “Wanda and the reader are married and the reader mom is Agatha but the reader does not know that…Then Agatha watches the reader having a good time with her family and Agatha is happy but sad because we get another flashback of the reader snapping their finger in order to destroy thanos and his army.”

part one / masterlist

Cameras continue rolling, boom mics lower. Episode begins.

Y/N looks around, at their family gathered nearby. There’s a white and red checked picnic blanket tucked around them, a water bottle sloshing noisily in their lowering grasp. Y/N’s wife, Wanda, is speaking to their two twin sons, Billy and Tommy, who are delighted over a grasshopper they’ve spotted among the emerald stalks beneath their feet. To any unsuspecting passersby, the scene would look perfectly normal, and it should be so, yet there’s still a cloud of unease lingering over Y/N’s face. For a second, Y/N didn’t think they were back at the Westview park but instead in some unfamiliar place.

It had happened just as Y/N was reaching for the water bottle. They had been kneeling, right hand outstretched, and then the scene had shifted around them. The sky had turned an ashy gray, the dew-drenched grass broken up into rubble and debris. Y/N had been kneeling in that same position, hand outstretched, but there was something wrong there, something that had filled them with this strange determined terror…

Y/N is jolted back to reality when their young son, Billy, turns to her with a concerned expression. “Is everything alright? You look too unhappy for a fun picnic.” A gentle smile slips onto Y/N’s face like a well-worn glove. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I was just finishing up my lunch. Speaking of which, it looks like you boys are done eating as well. Is there anything else you’d like to do while we’re here?” Tommy nods excitedly, bounding up from his position on the picnic blanket. “I saw the coolest dragonflies and bugs around us.” 

Wanda laughs. “Doesn’t that sound interesting! Here, take these. You can catch us some insects to study.” With a flourish of her hand, Wanda turns two wooden serving spoons into identical butterfly nets, and hands one to each twin. They look at each other in excitement then dart off into the grass, swinging the nets with enthusiasm, if lacking somewhat in coordination. Y/N gives Wanda an amused stare. “What about the spoons?” Wanda waves a hand dismissively. “I can turn them back later. Sure makes packing easier to just change all the cutlery into toys.”

The audience laughs at that, and Y/N grins. “Speaking of which, let’s speed up the packing of the picnic basket.” With a gesture of their hands, all of the plates and utensils fly into the wicker basket in a flurry of purple sparks. Wanda nods appreciatively. “I’m going to have to learn that trick.” Y/N stands up, glancing around her at the paths leading out of the park. “Just curious, did you see Agnes walking around? I could have sworn I saw her just a few minutes ago.” Wanda frowns. “I don’t think so. Are you looking for her?” Y/N glances around one last time, then shrugs. “Not anymore, I guess.”

Billy, having just successfully snared a dragonfly, calls over to Y/N. Y/N walks over, admiring the insect with their son. Billy considers it one last time, then turns over the net and releases it. Y/N watches it go. “That’s a good choice. As much fun as it is to study interesting things, you always have to let them go in the end.” Billy nods sagely. “You know, I finally get why you and Mom work so well together.” Y/N smiles questioningly. “Why is that?” Billy stares out over the park, looking for more winged insects. “She always has so many thoughts in your head, and yours sometimes don’t show up at all. She’s noisy and you’re quiet, and it works out.”

Y/N tilts their head to the side, looking over at Billy. “What do you mean, I’m quiet?” Billy shrugs. “I can’t hear as many of your thoughts. It kind of reminds me of Agnes, actually. She does the same thing.” Y/N’s brow furrows, but they still allow a fond expression to cross their face. “Look at you go, using your powers. I think it’s amazing that you can tell all that already.” Billy beams, glad for the compliment, then races off after a recently sighted butterfly.

Y/N watches him as he chases after it, raising his net high in the air to successfully entangle the butterfly in the woven fabric. Y/N’s smile disappears from their face, however, as they watch the butterfly struggling in the net. As it flutters around, looking for a possible escape, the bright violet of its wings seems to darken, almost vanishing into empty gray. With every flutter of its wings, the purple leaches from the butterfly.

There’s another sight in Y/N’s eyes now. Y/N can still see that electric purple hue circling around something, can still see it trembling and disappearing into nothingness. But the violet isn’t clinging to a butterfly’s wings this time. No, it’s around a hand, Y/N’s hand, and it’s vanishing as Y/N’s heart rate seems to slow, because as the purple fades away so to does she, which means that Y/N is-

Y/N’s eyes widen, dragging them back to reality as Wanda walks up next to them. Wanda frowns at the look on Y/N’s face. “Are you alright? You look worried. I thought Billy specifically requested that you have a good time.” Y/N laughs at the joke. “As much fun as that sounds, it’s a lot easier to change someone else’s emotions than to fix your own.” Wanda makes a face at the camera. “You have no idea.” Laughter ripples down from the audience, and Y/N looks around for a second as if trying to find out its source. 

Wanda puts a hand on Y/N’s shoulder, gently steering them back to face her once again. “You are feeling alright, yes? I just want to make sure everything is under control.” Y/N looks back at Wanda, but their expression is still tinged with unease. “It always is with you around, isn’t it?”

Cameras cut to B-Roll footage. Screen fades to black, but shortly opens on a new scene- Wanda and Y/N’s bedroom.

Y/N lies awake, staring at the ceiling. Beside them, Wanda sleeps peacefully, but Y/N seems unable to share in her quiet rest. Y/N closes her eyes, as if considering something, then slips silently from the blankets and out of bed. Wanda starts to stir, but then Y/N flicks her hands towards the cameras, and they turn away, shut down. Wanda returns back to her deep sleep, no longer concerned.

Cameras are unresponsive. Scene cuts to black.

Y/N quickly dons a pair of comfortable clothes before heading out of the house and down the block. They can still hear Billy’s voice echoing in the recesses of their head- I can’t hear that many of your thoughts. It kind of reminds me of Agnes, actually. She does the same thing. Y/N knows why Billy can’t hear their mind, it’s because of Y/N’s magic, but why would Agnes have the same ability?

After a couple of quiet knocks, Agnes’ front door opens. Agnes looks startled to see Y/N standing there, and hurriedly gestures for them to come inside, quickly shutting the door behind them. “Not that I don’t love spending time with my closest of friends, but can I get a reason for this late-night visit?” Agnes glances around her, but Y/N holds up a hand. “Don’t worry about the cameras- I shut them off. Nobody can see us right now.” Agnes’ head jerks up. “You know about the cameras?” Y/N inclines their head. “Only every now and then. I think I lose my memory of them sometimes because certain people want me to forget.”

Agnes nods in agreement, then a sudden movement outside in the street catches her eye. Agnes turns her head slowly to face the window and curses softly when she sees a figure moving down the street. Y/N follows her gaze. “Why is the mailman out doing his route? It’s the middle of the night.” Agnes grimaces. “Wanda must have sent him out to see where you were. Even unconsciously, she can still tell that you’re looking into things that you’re not supposed to know about.”

The mailman is almost at their window when Agnes’ hand moves almost imperceptibly, and the man looks the other way, avoiding Agnes’ house completely. Y/N’s eyes dart to Agnes’ hand, at the brief flash of indigo electricity that had danced around her fingers. “You have the same magic as I do. How is that possible?” Agnes faces Y/N with a look like a caged animal. “Why did you call me Agatha on our last visit?” She counters, and Y/N sighs. “I don’t know. It just came into my head. Now tell me- do you really have the same powers as I do?”

Agatha- for it is truly Agatha now- holds up a hand, allowing the purple sparks to flicker between her fingers. “It’s less of a power and more of a learned ability.” Y/N’s brow furrows as they consider this, and then their eyes widen. “I’ve never seen anyone with that same ability, and I shouldn’t ever, unless-” They break off, staring at Agatha. “I thought my mother abandoned me long ago. I thought she was dead. But she’s not, is she? She’s you.” Agatha nods once, and Y/N looks overwhelmed.

“You’ve known all along. You knew that I was your child and you never once looked for me? You could have told me when I first arrived. You could have never left me at all. Why do it then, for fun? Because you were sick of me, even though I was too small to know what you were doing?” Agatha winces like she’s been slapped. “I didn’t want to leave you! I had a coven, a coven with strict rules, and they made me give you up. I didn’t know who you were until a week or so ago when you arrived here, I swear it. I would have found you long ago had I known.”

Y/N’s breathing is harsh in their chest. “Do you mean it? You would have stayed with me?” Agatha nods. “Leaving you was one of my worst regrets. It haunted me every day.” Y/N stands there, as if in a trance, then rushes over, flinging their arms around their mother. Agatha seems frozen in place, then slowly wraps her arms around her child to return the embrace. “I’m so sorry, Y/N. I never meant for this to happen.” Y/N nods. “I know. It’s alright now.”

Cameras return with a shower of ruby sparks. Scene opens in the Maximoff-L/N family kitchen.

Tommy is standing alone at the kitchen table, fixing himself a peanut butter sandwich. His brother is off in his room, trying to teach himself a new card trick he’d seen their Uncle Pietro do once. Y/N walks into the kitchen, and glances over at their son. “How’s the sandwich?” Tommy nods, his face a mask of complete concentration. “I have to get it just right. The perfect sandwich is key to the perfect day.” Y/N raises an eyebrow. “I can understand that. How do you know it’s perfect?” 

Tommy carefully smears a last dollop of peanut butter onto his sandwich, reverently placing the two pieces of bread together. “I just know. With the right toastiness of the bread, and the crunchy peanut butter, perfectness was practically inevitable.” He snaps his fingers in satisfaction. Y/N flinches, staring at Tommy’s hand. Inevitable. The snap. Wait-

Another hand is snapping its fingers, another hand clad in a large golden glove. No, it was not a glove but a gauntlet. It’s not Y/N’s hand this time, it’s someone else’s, and someone else’s voice declaring that they were inevitable. And then there’s a voice coming from behind the figure, who whirls around in outrage, and it must be Y/N’s voice speaking now. Y/N replies, but most importantly they snap their fingers as well, the cloud of purple magic over their hand lit up by six gems spangled into the gauntlet on their own hand, and-

Wanda walks into the room again, forcing Y/N to return to the present moment. Wanda takes in the sight of Y/N, about to head through the door. “Where are you heading in such a rush?” She asks. “I was heading to Agnes’, actually.” Y/N says, and Wanda frowns. “Why do you keep bringing up Agnes? First at the picnic, then again here. I mean, she’s just our neighbour, right?” Y/N glances over at her. “Does it really matter? I just want to see her.” Y/N starts to turn away towards the door, but Wanda reaches out an arm to block their path. “Actually, I was thinking we should have a talk. Let’s go into the other room.”

Wanda’s hand is enclosed around Y/N’s wrist, practically dragging them away into a spare bedroom. Once the door is shut behind them, Y/N snatches their hand back from Wanda’s grip. “What’s gotten into you?” Wanda scowls. “What’s gotten into me? Y/N, you’ve been acting very strangely the last couple of days. I think you need to relax.” The word seems charged with some sort of energy, and Y/N takes a step back, as if to avoid it. “Are you trying to mind control me?”

Wanda’s lips tighten. “Why would I do that?” She says, forcing a laugh. Y/N raises an eyebrow. “Well, of all the ways to deny mind control, I have to say that was the least convincing.” Wanda folds her arms across her chest. “You sound paranoid. Why would I want to control your mind?” Y/N starts to pace back and forth across the room. “That’s the problem- I don’t know. I don’t know a lot of things, actually.” Y/N stops walking, and faces Wanda again. “I can’t remember anything about my life before we got to Westview. I know about my powers, and I know about you, but that’s it. Why is everything else a blank?”

Wanda frowns. “Aren’t I enough for you?”  Y/N sighs. “You’re more than enough, Wanda, which is why it hadn’t occurred to me before now. I just keep feeling like something is wrong, and I need to wake up and figure out what it is, but every time I try I feel like you’re always there to stop me from remembering.” Wanda’s concerned expression shifts into a colder stare. “Don’t try to make me the villain. I will always care about you most of all, before anyone.” Y/N can’t return her gaze. “I wish I could believe that, but I keep starting to remember things. I think something happened to me, but I can’t remember what it was. You won’t let me remember what it was.”

Wanda’s eyes flash with ice. “I will do what I want. I’m doing everything to protect you, and I don’t know why you can’t be content with that.” Y/N’s face hardens. “I can’t trust you anymore, Wanda. You won’t let me.” Y/N strides to the door, throws it open. “I’d come up with one last snappy comeback for the show, but I suppose you’re in charge of all the scenes, aren’t you?” With that, Y/N storms away, leaving Wanda standing there in shocked anger.

Cameras focus on Wanda, who is reassuring the twins that everything is fine. Cameras do not pick up Y/N L/N, who is moving quickly towards the barriers of the town.

Y/N’s blood is pumping through their veins, surges of adrenaline making their eyes glow violet with power. There’s something on the tip of their tongue, a discovery that needs to be made. So, Y/N heads for the edge of town, towards the street where they first arrived in Westview. As they approach the city limits, Y/N’s head tilts up in awe. There’s a line designating the edge of town, and beyond that, a tall barrier glistening with magic. No other human would have been able to see it, but the magic of centuries of witches run through Y/N, and their eyes can pick up details that no one else can see.

Y/N comes to a stop in front of the town boundary, and reaches out a hand. Where their fingers touch the barrier, scarlet light is replaced by indigo. With a movement of their hands, Y/N draws aside the barrier as if it were a curtain, the light changing into purple wherever she walks. Through the boundary, Y/N can see the town beyond, but it lacks the charming simplicity of Westview- instead, there are armored vehicles and encampments, all of them military. Scores of soldiers stand guard, watching her approach. Just as Y/N fully steps through the boundary, however, they collapse to the ground.

Pain swirls around Y/N like a storm. As Y/N watches, fragments of their very being begin to drift away. It’s as if Y/N is being eroded by time itself, a statue being carried away to dust and rubble in the span of seconds. There’s a shout from across the encampment, and a woman with dark hair runs up to her. The woman - Darcy, Y/N can read her mind - is restrained by guards, but in a weakened gesture Y/N uses her abilities to pull the soldiers away from her. Darcy sprints up to Y/N, but she seems unable to save them. Y/N croaks out a question. “What happened to me?” Tears fill Darcy’s eyes. “You died in the battle against Thanos. You sacrificed yourself to save all of us.” As Y/N hears Darcy’s words, a sense of clarity seems to enter them, and Y/N’s eyes clear at last, even as her body breaks down into shards of pure magical energy.

Cameras stay on the Maximoff-L/N home, where Wanda and Agnes sit with the twins. Recordings do not pick up the incident currently occurring on the Westview boundary.

Billy turns to his mother suddenly. “Mom, something’s wrong with Y/N. I can hear their thoughts in my head.” Wanda looks up at him. “What do you mean?” Billy looks terrified. “Y/N’s in pain, so much pain. I can hear them screaming. Mom, I think Y/N is about to die.” Wanda and Agnes both rise at the same time, expressions of terror mirroring each other. Agnes murmurs something about having to go, and she quickly disappears out the door while Wanda does her best to locate her spouse. Wanda flings out her arms, eyes flashing scarlet with the magnitude of the power she is about to use. Around Westview, the boundary begins to expand.

As soon as Agatha closes the front door behind her, she instantly vanishes, appearing in the space near the boundary. She stares with an open mouth as the barrier surrounding the town glows an angry crimson, and glides forward across the ground. After a second, the boundary leaves behind a single body, lying alone in the grass. Agatha runs to it, and has to choke back a scream at the sight of her child.

Y/N should have healed. They should have started healing, they should not be in this much disrepair. Y/N is lying crumpled on the ground, watching their body begin to disintegrate away. Agatha kneels over her child. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you getting better?” Y/N smiles up at her. “The power of the Infinity Stones cannot be undone forever. I was called to die long ago, and Wanda can’t reform me for much longer.” Agatha shakes her head, tears starting to course down her cheeks. “I’m not ready to let you go. Not yet. I just found you.”

Y/N’s eyes glow with warmth, and they place a trembling hand on Agatha’s cheek. “We were never supposed to meet, so any hour together was already on borrowed time. I’m grateful to have this much.” Y/N’s head tilts to the side, as if listening to an approaching sound. “Wanda is coming. You’ll have to go before she gets here, because she doesn’t know who you really are.” Agatha is shaking her head in refusal. “I can’t leave you here. I can’t let you die.” Y/N’s hand clasps onto Agatha’s, gripping it tightly. “None of us can really die, not forever. I’ll stick around, even if it’s on the other side. Now go, before it’s too late.” Agatha takes in one last look at her child, then vanishes into the empty air, just as Wanda bursts into view on Y/N’s other side.

Wanda falls to the ground beside Y/N. “I didn’t want this to happen. I should have told you everything. Y/N, you-” Y/N cuts her off gently. “It’s alright, Wanda. I know. I died at the battle against Thanos, and I would like nothing more than to be able to come back and stay here with you, but life has a way of not always following through.” For a second, the dying Avenger thinks it’s raining, until Y/N realizes that it’s just Wanda’s tears falling onto their cheeks.

Wanda forces back a sob as she watches Y/N’s body begin to dissolve away. “What do I tell the boys when you don’t return? How are we supposed to keep going?” Y/N smiles at her, pure and lacking in the bittersweet tinge that had always tainted it before. “The boys will have you, and that’s all any of us needed. You’re the one that will always matter, Wanda, even after I’m gone. I knew that when I met you, and I’ll know it even after I close my eyes.”

Wanda leans over, presses her forehead to Y/N’s. “I love you, Y/N. I love you so much.” Y/N laughs, the sound slightly tinny as their chest turns to ash. “I love you too. I’ll see you soon.” Wanda closes her eyes and kisses Y/N softly. When she opens her eyes again, she is kneeling alone in the middle of a grassy field. Y/N has finally been laid to rest.

Cameras begin to refocus on the Maximoff-L/N home, but there’s a flash of scarlet and they turn off, disappearing into the night. They are no longer necessary. Wanda leaves the studio, tears still drying on her cheeks. It is time to rebuild.

wanda maximoff tag list: @mionemymind​

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

Stories I haven’t read yet, but clearly need to put on my ever-expanding List.

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Welcome back queen [Thank you, it’s so lovely to be back!] if ur still doing follower recs I gotta recommend I would wait for a thousand years by bleuett it’s soooooooo good

[This one was actually recced to me by two different people, the other of whom said, “ Maybe I'm crying a little so I feel like a should recommend ‘I would wait for a thousand years’ by bleuett on ao3.”]... it’s def. on my List!

I would wait for a thousand years

by bleuett (T, 10k, wangxian)

Summary:  During the worst of winter, a traveler comes to stay at Lan Wangji's inn. He wears a red ribbon in his hair.

“Do you see the rabbit?” Wei Ying asks and points at the moon. “That’s the moon rabbit, he helps make Chang’e more immortality elixir. He keeps Chang’e company.”

“I do not wish the rabbit for company,” Lan Wangji says tightly. “You are the one I want by my side.”

“And I’m here, Lan Zhan. If you go to the moon, I’ll follow you, I’ll always be here now.”

~*~

I just read a great fic by aisthuu "every love story is a ghost story", didn't see it in your recs so wanted to recommend it! LWJ is a guqin composer and teacher, buys a cheap guqin off eBay which ends up being attached to WWX's spirit from canon era. It's bittersweet, LWJ deals with Lan's homophobia (implicit in a Lan way) and his feelings towards the ghost. This is author's only ao3 fic and honestly I don't remember how I stumbled upon it, but I'm happy I did and hope you will enjoy it too!  [I’ve recently read this one, and loved it!]

every love story is a ghost story

by aisthuu (M, 59k, wangxian, my bookmark)

Summary:  The man is in Lan Zhan’s bed. Did they—he begins to wonder, eyes trailing to where the man’s body lies under the blanket. Had Lan Zhan—?

Then the sleep-fog clears and Lan Zhan realizes that the young man isn’t quite opaque around the edges.

“You’re a spirit.”

The spirit narrows its eyes. “I’m so much more than that.”

(Lan Zhan buys a guqin off eBay for a suspiciously low price, only to find that it’s haunted. And now there’s a ghost in his bed.)

~*~

Ok so I absolutely have to rec "see you yesterday" by glyphic. It's a wip, but it's currently at 101k so there's a whole lot there, and it's terrible and wonderful and beautiful all at once. The way the backstory of canon events is adapted to the modern-with-cultivation setting is brilliant, and then there's the amnesia, and then there's the time loop. This fic lives permanently rent-free in my brain.

see you yesterday

by glyphic (M, 101k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  

Wei Ying 21:09 hey lan zhan what’s the weirdest way youve died

Lan Zhan 21:11 Falling encyclopedias.

Wei Ying 21:12 omg no way that’s so rude turning books against you???

Lan Zhan 21:13 A betrayal I will never forget.

On Halloween night, an exiled demonic cultivator and a Lan disciple get stuck in a time-loop, find each other, and try to figure it all out.

~*~

If you are looking for recs for yourself I absolutely love (the complete!) story Just as the Snow Melts by draechali on AO3. It's a canon divergence where everyone lives, even WWX! ~ @airmidcelt

Just as the Snow Melts

by draechaeli (T, 67k, wangxian)

Summary:  Like a snowy mountain top in spring the residents of the Burial Mounds trickled down the mountain and joined the flow of society.

“I went to the Burial Mounds,” Lan WangJi said.

“Ah, yeah… I’m sorry Lan Zhan,” replied Wei WuXian, “I hadn’t thought anyone would come to visit. I am still not sure how it happened; I brought A-Yuan to Yiling to play by the river and then ended up somehow teaching a bunch of children swimming and writing along with him.”

~*~

Hello! It's come to my attention that you have not as yet read Grandmaster of Meme-onic Cultivation! Please do! It's the only thing that gave me joy during 2020 😆 like proper belly laughs and disney villain style cackling. It is a wip, and it is long but so so worth it!! The author has reworked the entire canon through these message crystals and still conveys complex characters despite the tricky format. It's just so good!! Highly highly recommend it! ❤ ~ @theladypeartree  [Oh!  I’ve been subscribed to this one, and know that @swaglexander-the-great is a reliable provider of Hilarity, so I’m excited for it to be finished!]

Grandmaster of Meme-onic Cultivation 

by Hades_the_Blingking (T, 49k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  The Untamed universe is exactly the same, except everybody has magical crystals that have a suspiciously familiar messaging system. The story is pretty much the same as the show, except everyone lives!! (so minor changes).

or in which Wei WuXian tries his darndest to date Lan Zhan, Jiang Cheng possibly has a aneurysm, Jin ZiXuan is still the most awkward human alive, and Xue Yang makes me write some VERY cursed things. Written in chatfic format! :3

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Chomrafy on AO3 deserves love and encouragement; she’s written a body of compact, poetic, and eloquent shortfics each of which can stand alone, but that comprise an intricately cross-referential and mostly internally-consistent universe. They’re grouped as chapters in works according to theme; for example, “in cupped hands” focuses upon Jin Ling and his second-generation baggage; “Departure in Autumn” portrays the last years of WWX’s first life. Follow the tag “Chomrafy’s MDZS shortfics.” [I don’t see this tag?]

in cupped hands

by chomrafy (G, 2k, wangxian)

Summary:  Of secrets, of futures, of love. A Jin Ling-centric collection of 200-word fics.

Ch.1: Jin Ling repays a debt (JL, JC, & WWX). Ch.2: Jin Ling and a ghost in the mirror. (JL & JYL) Ch.3: A matter of friends (JL & the other kids) Ch.4: In this house we don't keep dogs (JC & WWX) Ch.5: In the end, he remains silent (JL & uncles) Ch.6: A first night hunt, of sorts (JL & the other kids) Ch.7: Jin Ling, forgiving, forgetting (JL & LXC & JGY) Ch.8: Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling argue (JL, JC, & WWX) Ch.9: Jin Ling and his father (JL & JC) Ch.10: Jin Ling speaks up (JL, JC, & WWX) Ch.11: Jin Ling and a piece of home (JL, JC, & WWX)

Departure in Autumn

by chomrafy (not rated, 6k)

Summary:  Four perspectives. A steady march to the end.

Ch.1: Because if anything happens to them, Wen Qing would never be able to heal with these hands again. Ch.2: As long as this is still home, Jiang Yanli will wait as long as she needs to. Ch.3: Five times Jiang Cheng reaches for Wei Wuxian, one time he turns away. Ch.4: Whether the road is broad or narrow, bright or dark, they would have to keep walking. Wei Wuxian digs Wen Qing's grave.

~*~

Hello, hope all is going well. I don't have an ask, by I do have a recommendation. I read this fic a while ago and found it again. I just wanted to recommend this for everyone. Let me know what you think please. Thank you. [Oh!  This one’s in my To Read list, but  I’d forgotten about it.  Mmmm, fox!wwx and dragon!lwj.]

Ten miles of Lotus Flowers

by Yukirin_Snow

M, 274k, wangxian

Summary:  He was a mischievous fox spirit, wreaking havoc where he went, about to depart on a journey that would span centuries.

He was a heavenly prince, a proud dragon destined to ascend the throne to become emperor.

Neither expected their paths to collide over the span of three lives.

~*~

I forgot if it was your blog 😥 that recommended “Bestseller” (when Wei Wuxian writes the Xianxia cut-sleeve equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey, based entirely on his experiences with Lan Wangji, he doesn’t expect it to become the next big hit) (https://archiveofourown.org/works/21528316/chapters/51318766)

But OMG IT WAS HILARIOUS!!! I LOVED IT!! And if it wasn’t your blog, I’m so sorry for how weird this sounds 😭😭😭😭 I just loved this fic so much that I have to tell it to someone 😢 [It’s on my List, but I haven’t read it yet!]

Bestseller

by pupeez4eva

M, 8k, wangxian

Summary:  He had written the book to prove a point. It was never supposed to be a big thing, and he certainly never intended for everyone — Jiang Cheng, Zewu-Jun, the Juniors, literally everyone— to be reading about his sex life.

Oh God, he definitely needed to make sure Lan Zhan didn’t find out about this.

(Or, when Wei Wuxian writes the Xianxia cut-sleeve equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey, based entirely on his experiences with Lan Wangji, he doesn’t expect it to become the next big hit).

~*~

I’d like to rec On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake! by @blackwiresgrowonherhead

It’s one of my absolute favorites and I laughed out loud so many times when reading it

on your marks, get set, bake!

by BlackWiresOnHerHead

G, 41k, wei wuxian & juniors

Summary:  Jin Ling resumes thumping on the door to room 721, and the small collection of freshmen starts chanting “Senior Wei! Senior Wei! Senior Wei!” with increasing volume until finally Wei Wuxian opens the door.

“Yes?” he says with his widest, most innocent eyes.

“Senior Wei!” demands Lan Jingyi, shoving himself to the front of the group. “Why didn’t you tell us you’re a contestant on this year’s season of The Great Gusu Bake Off?!?”

--

Several months ago, college student Wei Wuxian secretly competed in the most popular reality show in the country. The show starts airing in the fall. The freshmen in his dorm collectively lose their minds.

~*~

If you're in the mood for v. short ridiculous fun fic, may I suggest My chain hits my chest/When I'm bangin' on the radio by x_los It's 2k modern cultivators AU, featuring WWX calling LWJ's sword Bitchin' [omg I’m laughing so hard] and I think it's more fun going in blind?

My chain hits my chest/When I'm bangin' on the radio

by x_los

T, 2k, wangxian

Summary:  Lan Wangji finds he doesn't even need to call for help for Wei Wuxian to come running.

[creaturesfromelsewhere]

Horror Pinball Paradise Lurks in Tarpon Springs, FL

"Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball." -The Who

Recently I paid my first visit to a peculiar little museum in the quiet little town of Tarpon Springs, FL, which lies just to the north of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Unlike most museums, the Replay Amusement Museum is strictly hands-on and this museum is filled with horrors. Horror-themed pinball machines, that is. Something about this particular genre of pin always fascinated my friends (fiends?) and I, even as tiny little monsters. Unlike other pinball machines, these weren't 'nice'. They growled. They wanted to scare you. They played creepy music and unleashed nightmarish sounds upon the arcade. In short, they were irresistible to the darkly inclined! Instead of using quarters at Replay, you pay an entrance fee and you can play until you drop, or until closing time, whichever comes first.

Replay boasts almost all of the best horror machines, staring the number one, best selling pinball machine of all time, The Addams Family, based on the 1991 movie staring Angelica Houston and Raul Julia. This machine has sold a whopping 20,000+ units and is usually ranked as a top 5 personal fav of anyone who plays. Tons of sound captured from the movie puts this game into a category all it's own with world class gameplay to boot.

The second best selling horror-themed pin doesn't break the top ten, but comes in at the 11th best selling machine, and Replay has it, too. The Twilight Zone. As with The Addams Family, there's a huge arsenal of voice and sound straight from the 1960's TV show.

Now we move into the more niche games. They sold well enough, and are usually well regarded, but they were always harder to find and you rarely saw more than one of them in the same place. Call them victims of the 'we already have a horror pin' syndrome. My personal fav, Haunted House, is blessedly here and it looks almost brand new. Hadn't played it in forever and it was just like seeing an old friend who has been absent for far too long. We got along just like old pals. In my youth, this game ate fist-fulls of my quarters with it's irresistible 3 level playing field ("Triple playfields mean triple fun"). I especially appreciated the haunting green color of the 'basement' playfield. Everyday I played this beauty was like Halloween! If I was stupid rich and could own my own pin, this would be it. If I could also afford a Victorian mansion like the one on the cabinet to house it in, even better.

Next up is another popular one, Creature From the Black Lagoon. This one came out right after The Addams Family, and I played it a fair amount, but could never get the hang of it. Really appreciated the theme, though. Excellent sound from the movie and a genuine hologram of The Creature really set this one apart (the film was originally released in 3-D, hence the hologram).

Attack from Mars came out a few years after Creature, and features a strobe (seizure warning!) plus cute little Martian figures and a whole fleet of flying saucers - that light up!

Bram Stoker's Dracula, based on the 1992 move staring Gary Oldman and Winona Rider, is here with it's multi-ball play and interesting gimmick of a magnet that drags a ball across the playfield. Always looked great with it's red color theme.

And we'll round things out with a couple of newer games, Stranger Things and The Walking Dead. Loved both shows, but never got into the pins. Haven't really played much since about the mid-90's, with a couple of exceptions. Both seemed nice enough, but by this point in my visit, I was getting rather fatigued. And unlike the older machines where I could rely upon muscle memory, I'd never played these before and was terrible at them.

I have never seen so many fine horror pins under one roof, and I haven't even mentioned the dozens of other pins lining both walls of this place, with dozens of video games between. A perfect nostalgia trip for anyone who ever haunted an arcade with a few newer machines tossed in to keep it interesting. The one pin I was surprised not to see was one of the Elvira machines. But I'm sure Elvira will turn up sooner or later to complete the creepy collection. Once she does, she can wish you "Unpleasant dreams," when they finally toss you out at closing time.