#boygenius prompts

[ashprompts]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 (𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐒) — 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒

a collection of sentence starters from the album by boygenius, "the record." feel free to alter pronouns/text as you see fit

"give me everything you've got, i'll take what i can get."

"i want to hear your story and be a part of it."

"who would i be without you?"

"speak to me until your history's no mystery to me."

"talk to me until the words run dry."

"i'll give everything i've got, please take what i can give."

"i want you to hear my story."

"it's a bad idea and i'm all about it."

"when you wake up, i'll be gone again."

"in another life we were arsonists."

"mama told me that it don't run on wishes, but that i should have fun."

"so many hills to die on."

"run out of gas, out of time, out of money."

"you're doing what you can, just making it run."

"take a break, make your escape."

"can you give me twenty dollars?"

"i know you have twenty dollars."

"she's asleep in the back seat looking peaceful enough to me."

"we're coming back from where no one lives."

"[name], i'm sorry."

"i just make it up as i go along."

"i can feel myself becoming someone only you could want."

"now i'm wide awake, spiraling."

"i'll get a real job, you'll go back to school."

"we can burn out in the freezing cold."

"you know how i get when i'm wrong."

"i can feel myself becoming somebody that i'm not."

"i'm 27 and i don't know who i am."

"you can't help but become the sun."

"when you don't know who you are, you fuck around and find out."

"it feels good to be known so well."

"i can't hide from you like i hide from myself."

"you already hurt my feelings in the way only you could."

"i remember who i am when i'm with you."

"your love is tough." / "your love is tried and true blue."

"you've never done me wrong, except for that one time."

"it doesn't matter anymore."

"who won the fight?"

"i don't know, we're not keeping score."

"i'm trying to be cool about it."

"wishing you were kind enough to be cruel about it."

"telling myself i can always do without it, knowing that it probably isn't true."

"it's impossible to pass your tests."

"i'm trying to forget about it."

"kindly get out of my head about it."

"once i took your medication to know what it's like." / "and now i have to act like i can't read your mind."

"i ask you how you're doing and i let you lie."

"we don't have to talk about it."

"i'll pretend being with you doesn't feel like drowning."

"it's nice to see how good you're doing."

"we know it isn't true."

"it would only take the energy to fix it."

"i don't know why i am the way i am."

"not strong enough to be your man."

"i can't stop staring at the ceiling fan."

"spinning out about things that haven't happened."

"do you see us getting scraped up off the pavement?"

"i lied, i am just lowering your expectations."

"half a mind that keeps the other second guessing."

"always an angel, never a god."

"i think i've been having revelations."

"skip the exit to our old street and go home."

"go home alone."

"you live up in my head."

"i've been making music since you told me to do it."

"i just wanna know who broke your nose."

"figure out where they live, so i can kick their teeth in."

"if this isn't love then what the fuck is it?"

"i guess just let me pretend."

"i don't wanna die. that's a lie, but i'm afraid to get sick."

"if you're not enough, then i give up."

"i used to think if i'd just close my eyes, i will disappear."

"if you love me, you will listen to this song."

"i could tell that you were serious."

"it gave us more time to embarrass ourselves."

"i might like you less now that you know me so well."

"there's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

"i am not an old man having an existential crisis."

"i never thought you'd happen to me."

"will you be a satanist with me?"

"mortgage off your soul to buy your dream vacation home in florida."

"tryin' to score some off-brand ecstasy."

"will you be an anarchist with me?"

"sleep in cars and kill the bourgeoisie."

"at least until you find out what a fake i am."

"spray paint my initials on an atm."

"i burn my cash and smash my old tv."

"will you be a nihilist with me?"

"if nothing matters, man, that's a relief."

"if nothing can be known, then stupidity is holy."

"if the void becomes a bore, we'll treat ourselves to some self-belief."

"oh, you know what i should do?"

"it's so hard to come back."

"you could absolutely break my heart."

"that's how i know that we're in love."

"i don't need the symbol of a scar."

"isn't it enough that we stripped down to our skin?"

"i feel crazy in ways i never say."

"will you still love me if it turns out i'm insane?"

"i know what you'll say, but it helps to hear you say it anyway."

"damn, that makes me sad." / "it doesn't have to be like that."

"if you rewrite your life, may i still play a part?"

"i can't imagine you without the same smile in your eyes."

"there is something about you that i will always recognize."

"if you don't remember, i will try to remind you."

"i will go on and on until it all comes back."

"i'm out of my depth at a public beach."

"i never listened, i had to see it for myself."

"making peace with my inevitable death."

"i guess i did alright, considering." / "tried to be a halfway decent friend."

"an honest fool with more bad habits than you can count."

"was anyone ever so young?"

"breaking curfew with illegal fireworks."

"unpacking god in the suburbs."

"you don't have to make it bad just cause you know how."

"writing the words to the worst love song you've ever heard."

"an incantation like an anti-curse."

"i think that you're special." / "you told me once that i'm selfish."

"you said my music is mellow, maybe i'm just exhausted."

"you think you're a good person because you won't punch me."

"i love you. i don't know why, i just do."

"you're not special, you're evil."

"you don't get to tell me to calm down."

"you made me feel like an equal, but i'm better than you and you should know that by now."

"it looked like it hurt and i wasn't sorry."

"i should have left you right there."

"you don't know me."

"i wanna be happy."

"i'm ready to walk into my room without looking for you."

"i'll go up to the top of our building."

"i can't feel it yet, but i am waiting."

[gingerjolover]

idea from your prompt list… i’m thinking reader saying number 28 regarding jbs tramp stamp. a little “me and the boys are getting tattoos” and her not giving reader any other info… then boom. tramp stamp.

I was in the middle of writing something about the tramp stamp and was so stuck, and this helped me sm so thank you anon :)

wc is somewhere around 700 words (short king!)

julien baker x fem!reader - #28 "This not what I expected."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Julien is murmuring against your skin, her lips leaving small kisses on your cheek and jaw. She's half snuggled into you, her body hanging off the bed, arms effectively pinning you down. A yawn escapes you; she pulls back, eyes wide and teasing as she watches you yawn, a grin stretching across her face. It's like she can't help it, leaning in and kissing you again, moving up to your temple.

"Where are you going again?" you mumble sleepily. She laughs lightly, mumbling against your skin, "the boys and I are getting tattoos”. She smiles, kissing underneath your ear when you hum in acknowledgment.

"You'll be back by lunch?" you murmur, half asleep, leaning into your girlfriend's affections. "Mhm, should be back by 1:30... you want me to bring you something?" Julien asks, rubbing your back and pressing a kiss to your head. She wants nothing more than you to come with her to the tattoo shop, but she also wants you to rest, your body not used to traveling the way hers is.

"Will you guys eat lunch with me?" you mumble, Julien smiling softly down at you, convinced there's nothing sweeter than your sleepy talk. "Yeah...Phoebe, Luce, and I will get take out and bring it home...okay?" she says, rubbing down your back, tapping your butt. "Can I have a hug?" she asks, standing up from the bed. She chuckles, watching you roll over, eyes lighting up when your arms widen, nuzzling into your chest and neck, your hands rubbing her back and patting her head. "You're squishing me..." you breathe out. She squeezes harder, chuckling into your neck, "I wish I could crawl into you....is that weird?" she asks, lips attached to your skin. "You're weird."

"Okay, I'm gonna go if you're going to bully me..." she says, standing up, pinching your hip, and rubbing your bare thigh. She scoffs when you don't respond, your eyes remaining closed before a tiny smirk blossoms on your face. "You're so mean," she says, slapping your thigh softly.

"I love you, Jay," you murmur, watching her slip on a jacket. "I love you, sweet girl," she responds, kissing you again quickly.

"Have fun!" you say, yawning again. Julien blows a kiss, leaving the house.

.

It's about 2:00 when Julien returns, Phoebe and Lucy following behind her. "Hi," Phoebe says excitedly, smacking a kiss on your cheek before shoving her arm in your eyeline. "Oh sick!" you exclaim, tracing the outside of the wrapping. "It looks good, P," you smile at her; she happily hums, putting bags of food on the table. Lucy greets you similarly, kissing your head before showing you hers as well, "I love that you guys have more than one matching tattoo," you giggle. "It's almost like we love each other or something," Lucy smirks, teasing you softly.

"Let me see JB," you request, your girlfriend showing you the same matching tattoo and your initial on her ring finger. "You're insane," you murmur, blushing deeply. She smirks, kissing the corner of your mouth, wrapping you in her arms, her hands on your ass. Your hands rub her lower back, and she winces softly, pulling away. "What did I do?" you ask, panicked, "Are you okay?"

Lucy and Phoebe laugh, "No way, did you not tell her?" "Julien!" "Babe, she got a tramp stamp!" Phoebe and Lucy say, talking over each other. Your ears perk up, hearing ”tramp stamp”.

"YOU WHAT?" you exclaim, eyes wide. Julien giggles sheepishly, lifting her shirt and turning around, her jeans sitting low on her hips.

Absurd Freedom. Your girlfriend...has a tramp stamp... that says 'absurd freedom'.

She turns back around, looking at you with waiting eyes. Phoebe and Lucy freeze, watching Julien watch you digest what you just saw. They glance nervously at each other, actively knowing that you'll support Julien no matter what but also knowing that Julien thinks very highly of your opinion.

"This is not what I expected."

"I- but- okay is- are you mad?" Julien stammers.

"Of course not, I just- you're such a nerd," you say, smiling wide. "The myth of Sisyphus... made you get a tramp stamp?"

"You scared me!" Julien exclaims, making Lucy and Phoebe laugh.

"Oh my god, you drama queen, let's eat," you say, pulling her into you and kissing her head.

"Should've seen the look on JB's face after she showed you," "Shut up Phoebe!"

[leechteethwrites]

something i wrote inspired by all the bright places. i love this movie :)

[poeticblogname]

chinese satellite by phoebe bridgers holds such a unique place in my heart and i didn’t really realize until tonight. i had listened to this song with my friend, while we stared at the night sky and talked after a few months of silence. the following month she passed away. here’s a little spiel about how they relate

“you know i hate to be alone” is the last line of the chorus and why we met up that night in the first place. i didn’t want to be alone at that time, her and i hadn’t talked in a bit, but i decided to reach out anyway, she came. little did we know it’s be the last time we ever saw one another.

“we took a tour to see the stars, but they weren’t out tonight” we met up at a local park, she pulled up i was listening to phoebe bridgers, laying on the concrete and staring up at the sky. she came to lay beside me. and we laid in silence for a few minutes.

“you were screaming at the evangelicals” we were from the bible belt, so we were both raised christians and we both stopped believing in a god in our middle school years, before we met in 8th grade. as you could imagine we were both pretty angry towards religion and the people who forced it on us, which happened to be evangelicals.

“i will never be your vegetable because i think when you die, it’s forever” i’m not 100% sure on her opinions on the afterlife, im not sure of mine either. but this line really wrecks me, she spent a few days in a coma, people in comas are often called vegetables, then she died in november. she’s gone now and maybe it will be forever.

“i’d stand on the corner embarrassed with a picket sign, if it meant i could see you when i died” now that she’s gone, i would give myself to any religion that could prove i would see her again one day. id stand on the street corner, id stand outside the white house, i’d scream and curse ever passerby if i knew it meant i would see my friend again.

“sometimes when i can’t sleep, it’s just a matter of time” ever since she died, my insomnia has gotten worse. i can barely ever fall asleep, i get anxious over going to bed when i’m alone. i don’t know where these feelings come from but they’ve worsened in the last 6 months.

“i swore i could feel you in the walls” this is a normal part of grief but i feel her sometimes and everything i see reminds me of her. i can feel spirits sometimes, i just hope they’re her.

“i want to believe that if i go outside i’ll see a tractor beam, coming to take me to where i’m from” i wish i could go back, to where we were before, to before she died. i wish aliens would take me to say goodbye.

[spritehouse]

"teenage dirtbags"!ralvez (aka them being young and fucking around) au where they're both just young and mad at the world and they have every right to be.

[frogs-likes-2-write]

Songs that can be used as angst inspo!

I’m your man-Mitski

Dealer-Lana Del Rey

Just-Radiohead

Sober to Death-Car Seat Headrest

Night Shift-Lucy Dacus

What did you do?-Jack Stauber

A Pearl-Mitski

Illicit Affairs-Taylor Swift

I bet on losing dogs-Mitski

Norman Fucking Rockwell-Lana Del Rey

Not Strong Enough-Boygenius

Line without a hook-Ricky Montgomery

No Suprises-Radiohead

Twin Sized Mattress-The Front Bottoms

No Children-The Mountain Goats

Disarm-Smashing Pumpkins

Right Where You Left Me-Taylor Swift

Say Yes-Elliot Smith

Please Please Please let me get what I want-the Smiths

[xjulienbakerx]

are your requests open?

ty for sending this because I've been meaning to make a post!

I am open for requests.

Obviously, I have a very, very strong bias for JB but I'm not opposed to getting prompts for the other boys. No promises tho.

[ghibli-stims]

whats ur fav song btw

In the Hall of The Mountain King is a nice one, although a very nerdy choice, lol :3

[ialwaysknewyouwerepunk]

my brain has settled into this calm time of the year and suddenly i'm experiencing things more vibrantly, but also reliving memories like they're happening all over again. feeling very close to the things that mattered a lot to me this year, like they're a weighted blanket keeping me warm and soothed

[icanonlyblamemyself]

I CUT MY HAIR OFF AND YOU ASKED IF YOU COULD KEEP THE PIECES

i cut my hair off &

you asked if you could keep the pieces.

you collect things;

shells & bent pennies & promises

you swore to me one day we'd get out,

but that day hasn't come yet.

until then i'll feel feminine rage boiling inside me,

i need to be a man,

i need to let go,

i need to leave.

[kyoukamybeloved]

”In other words, the suicidal maniac wants to live. Is that it?”

“I’ve come to think it’s worth trying.”

"You used Corruption, believing in me? How beautiful."

skk webweaves: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

//strange gods - Roxane Gay// the portrait of a lady - Henry James// art from @/_mwk19_ on Twitter// say yes to heaven - Lana del Rey// the grudge - Olivia Rodrigo// litany in which certain things are crossed out - Richard Siken// art from @/suya1414 on Twitter// Kyoto - Phoebe Bridgers// we’re in love - boygenius// writings prompts for the broken-hearted - Eden Robinson// anyway - Richard Siken// art from @/AB0to on Twitter// things I never give myself permission to say - Chelsea Dingman// art from @/ssmi_0215 on Twitter// the whetting of teeth - Jamaal May// no light, no light - Florence + the machine// cosmic love - Florence + the machine// letters to Felice - Franz Kafka// art from @/rokkyun1 on Twitter// the sorrow festival - Erin Slaughter// norman fucking rockwell - lana del rey// remember my name - mitski// art by @bananana2217// townie - mitski// misheard lyrics - car seat headrest// you couldn’t just leave - Trista Mateer// art from @/T__rate on Twitter// your love finds it’s way back - Sierra DeMulder// a pearl - mitski// humpty - mitski// art by @yuyonyu// abandon me - Melissa Febos// where did you go - Hishaam Siddiqi// I should hate you - Gracie Abrams// art from @/qmthtdy on Twitter// killer - Phoebe Bridgers// a poem for Haruko 10/29 - June Jordan// crush - Richard Siken// pandemonium - Lauren Oliver// art from @/1110yu_ku_si on Twitter// catalog of unabashed gratitude - Ross Gay// steamboat - Adrianne Lenker//

hey remember when I said last part would be the final one? yeah uh about that, turns out I still have some inspiration yippee. hope you liked it :)

tags:

@dinosaur-mayonnaise @philzokman @amagami-hime @nnavia @homuncvlus @vinylbiohazard @bunglegaydogs @zamxii @ghostsinacoat @slug-behaviour @vivid-vices @atsuwushi @gorotic @pendragonstar @ricelover888 @oatmilkbasic @thou-shalt-cha-cha-real-smooth @the-gayest-sky-kid @lotus-reblogs @whiteapplesandblackblood @dazaiyuri @evermorehypewoman

[leechteethwrites]

hi tumblr! a poem for march :)

[gingerjolover]

masterlist :')

requests are currently CLOSED (asks are always open to submit ideas but will go to the bottom of the list🫶🏻)

while some of my writing is PG/PG-13, this blog contains content unsuitable for minors. 18+ only, minors gtfo!

**-** smut

who I write for!

Lucy Dacus

Unspoken - Lucy and crew!reader don't have to say it but they're in looooove

Warm Like the Breeze - Lucy and her gf cuddle on a daybed before tour

Sweet Angel - Lucy's gf has chronic pain, so she wears many different hats - nurse, dog mom, and sweet angel from heaven above

Pet Names - blurb

**Dom!Lucy** - blurb

**Bothering Lucy** - blurb

What I want - mini fic (gingy’s halloweekend)

Lazy Day - mini fic (gingybread's holidaze)

Julien Baker

Sleep It Off - Julien has had a rough few weeks, resulting in some conflict with her soft!gf :(

Dirty Shirlies - Julien doesn't like when randos talk to her girl (possessive!julien in the house)

Pet Names - blurb

Julien's Accent - blurb

#28 This is not what I expected - six-word prompts (mini fic)

**Electrolytes** - after a separate night out, julien just wants to spend time with her gf <3

Possessive + Protective - blurb

Taking care of you - blurb (TW: ED)

Princess - blurb

#30 I can't risk losing you again - six-word prompts (mini fic) (gingy's halloweekend)

Ariana! What are you doing here? - soft!gf is doing jb's makeup on Halloween and she just can't sit still (gingy's halloweekend)

Pumpkin carving - blurb (gingy's halloweekend)

Detangle - Julien's gf helps her get unready after BG's Halloween show at the Hollywood Bowl :') (gingy's halloweekend)

Ice Skating - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

Looooover - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

(Ginger)bread House Battle - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

Mini Telecaster Ornament - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

Winter Wedding +1 - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

The Love Nest - mini fic (controversially young!gf universe)

Phoebe Bridgers

Taking care of you - blurb (TW: ED)

Lasagna - Phoebe's had a long day at the studio and her gf knows exactly what to do when she needs comfort

**She's a biter** - blurb - part 1 - part 2

Pet Names - blurb

Pumpkin Patch - blurb (gingy's halloweekend)

Mistletoe - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

Katie Gavin

Don't let Go - Katie teaches their sweet (and scared) gf how to rollerbade!

Pet Names - blurb

#22 I don't want to hear it - six-word prompts (mini fic) (gingy's halloweekend)

Happy Not Birthday - katie's gf hates her bday but loves katie <3

Early morning walk - christmas morning domestic vibes

Jo Maskin

Hidden Meanings - Soft!gf reader always gifts flowers for Jo with hidden meanings <3

#4 Don't talk to me ever again - six-word prompts (mini fic)

Missing you - blurb

Pet Names - blurb

For the bit - mini fic (gingy’s halloweekend)

Untitled V-day Fic - (gingy's cupid shuffle)

Naomi McPherson

Calming you down - blurb

#7 I can't stop thinking of you - six-word prompts (mini fic)

Pet Names - blurb

Mornings - mini fic

Mornings Pt 2 (Bob the Builder) - mini fic (gingybread's holidaze)

Taking care of drunk soft!gf - blurb (gingy’s halloweekend)

Pumpkin seeds - blurb (gingy's halloweekend)

NYE Jealousy HC - blurb (gingybread's holidaze)

Untitled Angst - preface

You're Losing Me - Part 1

You're Losing Me - Part 2

You're Losing Me - Part 3

You're Losing Me - Part 4 (Coming soon!)

Boygenius

Types of dates - blurb

Commitment styles - blurb

MUNA

Couple Halloween costumes - blurb (gingy's halloweekend)

Munagenius

The Group Chat - blurb

"We're munagenius's gfs, of course..." - blurb

[matildalyonne]

Many have seen the picture (included for context) of boygenius dressed as the Trinity, with Julien – dressed as Jesus Christ – revealing she is wearing underwear emblazoned with “GOD’S EYES ONLY”, while Lucy – dressed as The Father – smirks and points at the article of clothing and Phoebe – as The Holy Ghost – covers her eyes.

This has raised a big question for some fans, namely: “Are Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus in a sexually intimate relationship?” This is truly no one's business. However, this photo also prompts a different and possibly more interesting question – what can we glean of the band’s theology of the Trinity based on the picture?

Phoebe – dressed as the Holy Ghost – averting her eyes in the picture has profound implications on the nature of the godhead. The most straightforward interpretation points to the boygenius picture depicting an understanding of the trinity that predates the 381 revision of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Constantinople, which added the following lines to the Creed:

“And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.”

These lines were clarification on the nature of the Holy Ghost, who was mentioned in the original version of the creed established in 325, but not expressly stated to be worshipped or co-substantial with the Father and Son. The addition of these lines solidifies the council’s view of the Holy Ghost as an equal part of the Triune God. This view does not appear to be shared by the band members of boygenius, given that the Holy Ghost’s pose in the photo communicates a lack of authority to look beneath the underwear, implying that the Holy Ghost is not God.

The photo could also feasibly be interpreted from an Arian theology of Christ – that is to say that photo does not decisively communicate that Christ himself is God. Julien – as Christ - is looking away from the underwear, towards Lucy – as the Father. One could reasonably interpret the look as a one of deference. Perhaps only the Father is authorized to remove the underwear and gaze beneath. Whether Christ himself is able to look beneath the underwear is left inconclusive within the bounds of the photo. If Christ is also not considered to be equal and co-substantial with the Father as God, the picture may be Arian in nature. This, however, is less certain.

In conclusion, the picture depicts a view of the Trinity that is – at the very least – not in congruence with the Nicene Creed after its revision at the First Council of Constantinople, and could further be interpreted in an Arian view with some assumptions. However, for this viewer, one thing remains clear: seeing Julien Baker has me muttering “Jesus Christ”, even when it isn’t Halloween.

[writing-intheundercroft]

Tried and True - O. Gaunt

Pairing: Ominis Gaunt x M!MC

Word Count: 4,460

Rating: T

Summary: Days after the events in the Scriptorium, Ominis can tell something is up with the new fifth year.

A/N: Back from my one shot drought! @darch7995 sent me a prompt for Ominis x M!MC, listen to the audio here. Inspired by the Boygenius song True Blue. This is also my first stab at writing a male mc!

“I don’t want to learn the curse, but I can handle the pain.  Cast the cruciatus curse on me.”

Ominis shut his eyes tightly, hands balling up into fists as he listened to Sebastian and their new friend pace in front of the blasted entryway.  He felt the bile rising in his throat as he thought about their situation–stuck in a hallway, with only the worst torture known to wizardkind as the solution.  Either Ominis would have to defy everything he ever believed in, his own personal principles to cast the cruciatus curse on one of his friends, or become a pile of bones on the floor like his Aunt Noctua.

Ominis dry heaved at the thought of his sweet, loving aunt’s body nearby. He’d doubled over, gasping with his hands on his knees as he listened to the boys formulate their plan.  He wanted to scream when their new friend offered to take the cruciatus curse, to claw at Sebastian for even suggesting it.  

“I shan’t forget this,” Sebastian said, his voice a touch too relieved to not have to take the brunt of the pain.

Ominis kept his eyes shut, trying to think of happier things as he heard Sebastian cry out the curse.  It sounded like their new friend had been struck by electricity, his grunts and groans frazzled and choked. Ominis raised his wand; he could sense him on the floor, lurched forward in pain on his knees while Sebastian ran through the now clear doorway like an excitable crup puppy.

“Are you alright?” Ominis squeaked out.

“The pain was excruciating, but I’ll manage,” he gasped, voice throaty and distressed. 

“Take a wiggenweld,” Ominis urged. “Please,” he said, fumbling in his pockets for a vial. He could hear Sebastian gasping with delight a few feet ahead, like a child in a candy shop.  He was exalting all the old textbooks and artifacts in Slytherin’s secret office.

“You guys!” Sebastian yelled out. “Hurry up!”

“I’ll be fine, Ominis.” he said, a bit steadier now.

“Are you sure–”

“That’s enough.” the boy shuddered. “Come, Ominis. Let’s go.”

On shaky, unsure feet, Ominis followed.

“Do you have the answers to the astronomy homework?”  Sebastian asked absentmindedly, flicking through the Daily Prophet at the breakfast table.

Ominis could hear their friend slurping his coffee. “Did you not study?”

Sebastian snorted. “I was busy studying other more important things.”

Things had returned to normal…well, as normal as they could be.  Ominis would never forget the events that led up to their discovery of the scriptorium, and things had been quite terse with Sebastian in the dormitory.  Their new friend insisted on keeping the peace, brokering somewhat of a truce between the friends.  

“That book is not schoolwork, Sebastian.” Ominis scolded him, pouring out more tea. 

“Don’t baby him, Ominis.” Their new friend argued, reaching across to grab at something.  With the heavy, hot teapot in hand, Ominis worried he might burn him.

“Be careful,” Ominis warned, pushing his hand out of the way.

He jolted, pulling his hand from underneath Ominis’s rather quickly.  Ominis wouldn’t normally have noticed, except he’d heard the quick strangled gasp his new friend made upon their contact.  

“What’s wrong?” Ominis narrowed his unseeing eyes.

“Nothing.” the boy said hastily. “Nothing at all.”

“Say, what’s that on your arm?” Sebastian asked, his tone shifting to curiosity. “Did you get a tattoo?”

Ominis could hear their friend slapping Sebastian’s hands away. Sebastian yelped in return.

“What is that on your wrist?” Sebastian demanded once more.

“It’s nothing,” their friend insisted.  Ominis could hear him tugging on his robes. “Honestly Sebastian, you’re so annoying.”  He shoved away from the table, quick footsteps making their way out of the Great Hall.

“Dunno what his problem is,” Sebastian grumbled, moving back to his breakfast. “Say, do you have the answers to the astronomy homework?”

Ominis clenched his jaw. “Of course I don’t, Sebastian. I’m not in astronomy–it's a bit difficult to chart the stars if you can’t see them.” he fumbled with the handle of his wand. “Do you think something is wrong with him?”

“With who?”

“With him,” Ominis clarified. “Who else?”

Ominis could feel the bench move as Sebastian shuffled in his seat. “He has been rather odd lately.  Just yesterday, he was being weird in beasts class with Poppy–she nudged him with her elbow and I nearly thought he would yell at her for it.”  Sebastian took a bite of his food, ruminating further on their friend. “Oh, and I heard Everett say he asked Kogawa if he could sit out flying lessons for the week.”

“That’s not like him.” Ominis frowned. “He loves flying.”

“I know,” Sebastian said matter-of-factly.  “I thought it was weird too, but when I asked, he said he just felt like sitting in the grass for a bit, enjoying the weather while he still could.  I can’t say I blame him, it’s rather comfy out there next to the summoner’s court field…” he trailed off, going back to his chatter on astronomy lessons.

Ominis ignored him, chewing on his bottom lip. He has an idea of what might be afflicting their friend, but it seemed intrusive to ask.  He, being blind, had never seen the marks the cruciatus curse left behind, but he could remember the pain, and the way that it had lingered for days.  He felt goosebumps rising on the back of his neck as he recalled his own experience.  He’d laid in bed, frozen for days after his older sister had carelessly cast the cruciatus curse on him. 

“I’m going to check on him,” Ominis said, abruptly pushing away from the table.  He could hear Sebastian calling out for him, telling him to come back to the table, but he couldn’t.

Not if his new friend was suffering the way he once had.

Finding him was going to be a challenge, that was certain.  Forsaking his classes, Ominis meandered through the castle, wand glowing red as he tried with little success to locate the boy.  The greenhouses were empty, save for a few first years trying to steal some Chinese chomping cabbages; their favorite spot in the library was empty.  The Undercroft was silent.

There was no way he’d be in bed, Ominis thought.  He’d just been complaining the other day about the lack of privacy, lamenting over Hogwarts’s shared dormitories.  He preferred to keep himself busy, only ever falling into bed late at night.  

“Where the bloody hell is he,” Ominis muttered.  He turned the corner by the Charms classroom, eyes widening as a body crashed into him.

“Oh, I’m so sorry Ominis.” Amit Thakkar gasped. 

“No worries, Amit.” Ominis grunted, adjusting his robes. “My fault entirely.”

“I do get so engrossed in my star charts,” the Ravenclaw boy said. “I was just telling…” he trailed off, saying the boy’s name.  

“You’ve seen him?” Ominis asked, ears perked.

“Yes, I have.” Amit shared. “He was just on his way up the stairs to the astronomy tower.”

Ominis took off, apologizing to Amit over his shoulder as he charged towards the staircase.  He really did think it was crass to run in the hallways; he always rolled his eyes when the younger students did so.  He couldn’t understand the urgency behind running. He much preferred a gentle, slow pace, which worked much better with his echolocation spells. 

Yet Ominis ran.  He took the stairs, two at a time sometimes, wand bobbing in his hand as he made his way up the stairs. His eyebrows furrowed; his echolocation spell seemed fuzzier and fainter.  He could only sense his own feet hitting the wooden steps, which made running into a solid body at the top of the stairs an even bigger shock.

“Ominis!” his friend shrieked.  He grabbed him at the shoulders to keep the blind boy from flailing backwards and tumbling down the spiral steps. “What on earth–”

“I was looking for you,” Ominis said breathily, gasping for air. 

“Why?”  

“I need to know if it hurts.” Ominis said sternly.  He held his wand up; now still, he could sense his friend standing in front of him.  The boy’s heart was pattering, pulse thumping under Ominis’s interrogation.

“If what hurts?” His friend asked, feigning innocence.  

“I can tell you’re lying to me,” Ominis crossed his arms. “Your heartbeat quickened just now. I want to know if it still hurts from when Sebastian cast–”

His friend shushed him; there were footsteps coming up the stairs behind them. “Come on, follow me. I’ll tell you everything, I promise, but we shouldn’t talk about this out in the open.”

“But where?” Ominis asked, tilting his head as the boy tugged on his robe sleeve. “There’s no room on this floor.”

“There is,” his friend said quietly.  He pulled Ominis to the center of the floor; he could hear the footsteps, the giggling from the stairs.  It was likely some third years, heading up to an astronomy tutoring session.

After a few seconds, Ominis heard stones shifting. He raised his wand; something was materializing on the wall in front of them.  Without a second thought, his new friend pulled him towards it–a door–and shoved him inside.  Ominis stumbled down a few steps before finding purchase against some bookshelves.  Twirling his wand by the handle, he descended into a large room.  

It couldn’t possibly be right–he’d walked the castle hundreds of times in his years at Hogwarts, and he’d never heard of a room in this part of the castle.  Especially not one this large–from what he could identify with his wand, the room stretched out to two other chambers.  Even more perturbing, he thought he could hear the neigh from a unicorn coming from nearby.

“Where the hell are we?” Ominis gasped.

His friend laughed. “A bit tough to explain. Come on,” he said, hand ghosting over Ominis’s back to push him further into the room. “This is the Room of Requirement.  Professor Weasley showed it to me so I could study uninterrupted.”

“By Sebastian,” Ominis offered.

“One might say,” his friend chuckled, his breath catching towards the end of his laugh.

“There it is again,” Ominis accused. “You’re wheezing.  You’ve been wheezing ever since we found the Scriptorium.”

“So?” he scoffed. “The castle is dusty.”

“You won’t fly,” Ominis began pacing back and forth. “And you love flying.  It’s too painful sitting on a broom right now, isn’t it?”

“What if I just wanted to skip flying class?” 

“It’s not like you,” Ominis noted. “You won’t let anyone touch you either.  I heard you snipped at Poppy in beasts class.”

His friend shuffled uncomfortably. “I am sorry about that. I owe her an apology. But why are you bringing it up now?”

Ominis stomped his foot, a bit like a petulant child. “Like I said, you’re not being yourself, and I’ve noticed.  You won’t let anyone touch you, you’ve been shivering all week, you sound like you’re in pain half the time.  Tell me the truth–does it hurt?”

He heard the boy take in a sharp breath. “The cruciatus curse, you mean?”

“Yes,” Ominis barked. “I know what it’s like. When my sister cast it on me, I crawled into my bed and stayed there for days. I know what that pain is like, and I’m certain it’s why you’re not being yourself lately.”

His new friend was silent for a moment, eventually clearing his throat. “Did you know about the marks?”

Ominis furrowed his brow. “The marks?”

“There are marks all over my body.” His friend said slowly.  Ominis could hear his robes fall to the ground, him unbuttoning his cuff to roll up his sleeves. “Like electricity–certainly feels that way whenever the wind brushes me the wrong way.” he shuddered.

Ominis took a step towards him, gingerly taking hold of his friend’s limp wrist.

“Does it hurt badly?” he asked, hand ghosting over the boy’s arm.  He couldn’t see them, but he could feel the outline of the marks trailing up his forearm. They resembled veins of lightning–likely what Sebastian had seen at the breakfast table before he’d tugged his cuffs down.

He let out a low, steady hiss of breath through his nose as Ominis’s slender fingers touched the pain points. “I’ll be fine,” he swore. “I’ve seen worse.  They were much darker right after we left the scriptorium, but now they’re getting lighter.  Bet they'll be gone by next week.”

“That’s not what I asked.” Ominis said sharply. “Does it hurt?  Still?”

He let out a loud sigh. “It does, okay?  It hurts, it’s hurt every day since we found the damn scriptorium, and I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d throttle Sebastian.  Things are hard enough as it is for him, you know he’s struggling right now to help Anne–”

Ominis let go of his friend’s wrist. “Is that why you let Sebastian cast it on you?” his voice trembled. “Because you care about him?”

“Ominis, wait,” his friend whined, now grabbing his hand in return. He could hear his friend’s sharp inhale. “It wasn’t just for Sebastian. It was for you.”

“For me?” Ominis asked incredulously.

“I know how you feel about the spell, Ominis.  You think I haven’t listened to you?  I could never learn the spell that caused you so much pain.” he said shakily. “We had no choice–either Sebastian had to cast it on me, or we’d die in there.”

Ominis pursed his lips. “You care that much?” he tilted his head, realizing just how blunt his question had been.

“I care.” he swallowed thickly, thumb running over Ominis’s knuckles. “I care a great deal, you see.” he confessed, his voice sounding watery. “I didn’t want you to worry over me, and that’s why I didn’t tell you how badly it hurts.”

“Come,” Ominis sighed, tilting his head towards the corner.  He’d sensed a large armchair by the fireplace; with a featherlight touch, Ominis pushed his friend’s lower back towards the chair. “Take a seat.”

The boy curiously sat as Ominis flitted around the room. “You keep a potion stand around here, I assume?” 

“Yes, center of the room.” his friend advised. “What are you doing?”

Ominis stood in front of the cauldron, familiarizing himself with the table and all of his friend’s supplies. “Making a brew Noctua used to make for me,” he said, unbothered, pulling an integral ingredient out of his cloak pocket. “Now, where do you keep your mallowsweet?”

“Drawer on the left,” the boy said, slumping into the chair. “I can’t believe you’re willingly making a potion.  Sharp would be floored right now,” he snorted.

Ominis felt his cheeks burn.  “There’s that sense of humor,” he deflected. “Already getting back to your normal self.”

“If I’m being honest, it’s good to talk about the pain, get it out.” He breathed. “Been hell keeping it a secret all week.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me just because you thought I’d be tough on Sebastian,” Ominis rolled his eyes, grinding the mallowsweet as the station came to life, bubbling slowly. “I’m always tough on him.”

“I know you are,” he laughed, trailing off into a cough. “But I know you love him. He’s like a brother to you, and I’ve already mucked with your friendship so much…”

“Don’t say that.” Ominis bit his lower lip, letting the now powdered leaves fall into the pot. “Your presence is greatly appreciated, I hope you know that.  It’s already hard to remember what Hogwarts was like before you.”

“I’m touched, Ominis.” his friend said; even with his back turned, wand set on the desk, Ominis knew he was smiling. “I should’ve known you could tell–you’re the most perceptive out of all of us.”

Ominis picked up his wand again, observing the brew.  “Can you tell me what color this is?” he asked.

The boy stood, padding over to Ominis.  He was slightly shorter than Ominis; he’d reached up to put a hand on Ominis’s shoulder. “Dark brown,” he observed the bubbling beverage, sniffing over the cauldron. “What is it?”

Ominis smiled, conjuring two cups. “Aunt Noctua’s renewing hot chocolate.”

The boy snorted. “You made me hot chocolate?”

“Oh, don’t laugh. It has mallowsweet in it, which will relax your muscles.” Ominis pointed out as he ladeled the concoction into a cup. “Dittany, for healing purposes. A pinch of powdered mandrake root as well to help with the pain.” He handed the cup to his friend, ladling one for himself as well. “All of that, plus an entire chocolate bar from Honeydukes.”

“Let’s go back down by the fire,” He suggested. Ominis followed him dutifully; instead of the armchair, he settled onto the plush carpet. “Sit next to me.”

Ominis awkwardly folded to the ground, his knees knocking into the boy’s. “I’m sorry,” he blushed, lifting his cup again. “Cheers.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their hot chocolates.

“I feel better already,” his friend confessed. “Is this the only known remedy for the Cruciatus curse?”

Ominis snorted. “A remedy for all, we used to call it–I just remember Aunt Noctua making me this drink whenever my siblings cursed me.” he shut his unseeing eyes, shaking a little at the memories. “She always said a hot chocolate brewed with care and a few healing herbs could do the trick.” His smile faltered as he thought of Noctua, her bones still in the passageway.

“I am sorry, Ominis.” his friend said quietly.  

“For what?” Ominis asked, sipping his drink.

“For everything,” he confessed. “For pushing Sebastian, for Noctua, for lying to you about the pain.  I just don’t want you to worry about me.” The boy sighed, stretching out a leg.  His foot knocked into Ominis’s. “You’ve been through enough as it is, and I’m just sorry to add more for you to worry about.”

“I worry about the people I love,” Ominis reminded him. “You’ve never done me wrong before–well, besides last week, but we can blame that on Sebastian.”

“I wouldn’t blame him,” his friend mused. “He’s got a one track mind, that one.  He’ll do anything to save Anne.”

“I would too,” Ominis grunted. “But I draw the line at unforgivable curses.” he started drumming his fingers against the edge of the cup. “I’m not a violent person by any means, but hearing you in pain…Merlin, Sebastian is lucky to still have both kneecaps.”

He laughed; Ominis flushed as he laid his head against his shoulder. “I admire that about you, Ominis.  Your love is tough, tried, and true.”

“I hope I’m not too tough,” Ominis slowly tilted his head, letting it fall against the top of his companion’s head. 

“Never,” he murmured. “You care enough about me that you noticed I was hurting.  You know me. I know it hasn’t been long, Ominis, but I’ve…” he trailed off, trying to find the right words. “I’ve made friends here at Hogwarts, but none as caring and kind as you.”

Friends, Ominis cringed. He was sure his face was crimson by now, setting his half-empty cup on the floor. “I’m sure that’s not true.” he stuttered, wringing his hands together. “There are plenty of nice people–”

“No one like you,” the boy echoed. “You could have anything you want in the world if you truly wanted it, with all your family connections.  But you choose to be better than them, to rise above it all.  I admire that about you; how strong you are.”

“I’ve never been called strong before in my life,” Ominis admitted.

“Well, you are.” his friend assured him. “It takes a great deal of strength to stand up to your folks.  That, and your friends–you always do seem to set Sebastian on the right path.”

“You’ve picked up quite a bit about me,” Ominis observed, relishing the way he leaned his weight against him. “Nice to know there’s more to me than my devilish good looks.” He joked.

“You’re more than just a pretty face. Like I said, I care a great deal about you.” he murmured. 

“The way you care about Sebastian?” Ominis asked. His voice was higher than he would’ve liked, stomach twisting in knots as he contemplated the weight of his question.

After a moment of silence, Ominis heard his companion set down his cup. “No, I don’t think.” his lips were closer to Ominis’s ear now. “Different. More.”

“I was hoping so.” Ominis said breathlessly, turning to press a kiss against the top of his head.  He hadn’t realized the boy had moved his face, tilting it up towards him; he found his lips pressed against the corner of his mouth.

Drawing back slightly, his companion chuckled. “Try again?”

Ominis smiled softly, letting him lean upwards this time.  His lips pressed lightly against Ominis’s, the sweet taste of chocolate and the tang of mallowsweet still lingering on his mouth.  Ominis lamented the absence of his mouth the moment he drew back, holding back a shaky whine.  He was immediately assuaged by the feeling of him leaning against him again, this time more heavily.

There would be time, Ominis thought, when he wasn’t in pain.  Time where he could hold him, touch his hand without worrying about the aftershocks of the curse.  More time for them to be alone, to explore their feelings and the newness of his touch. To discuss what this meant for the future…

Ominis decided to not let his mind wander off too far, choosing to slouch into the boy beneath him again. This time, he did not protest the contact; his hand snaked towards Ominis’s, fingers tangling together.

“Still hurts?” Ominis whispered.

“Was better after you kissed me,” he said, voice muffled by Ominis’s shirt.

Ominis bit his lower lip. “Well, a remedy is a remedy.” he joked, shifting his body to face him. Without his wand, Ominis could only go off the stuttered, uneven breaths of his companion.  He slid his free hand up his neck, stopping when his fingers met his chin.  Leaning forward, his companion closed the distance, lips gently crushing against his. 

Ominis felt his heart fluttering.  The kiss was gentle; he could no longer tell if the boy was trembling from the lingering side effects of the cruciatus curse, or from the way Ominis’s tongue slid against his lower lip. Ominis leaned forward, cradling the back of his neck as they laid against the carpet, cups of hot chocolate spilled against the plush rug beneath them.  The pair fell onto their sides, legs tangled, slightly panting as they finally separated.  Ominis rested his forehead against his, their noses brushing.

“Sorry about the rug.” Ominis murmured. “Feeling better now?”

“Getting better by the second,” he whispered back. “I always do when I’m with you.”

Ominis let out one of his rare, toothy grins. “We should stay here until you feel fully well.”

“We could be here a while,” he mused, tugging Ominis closer.  He held the front of Ominis’s sweater in a tight fist, thumb running over the soft cashmere. “If you don’t mind.”

“Perfectly fine by me,” Ominis whispered against his lips.

They stayed there, for Merlin knows how long, cuddled in front of the fire.  Classes were skipped, dinner was missed, and Ominis was sure they’d find Sebastian stalking the entrance to the dungeons, ranting and raving either about whatever he’d learned from the spellbook that afternoon or about being left out.

It didn’t matter, Ominis thought.  He walked down the stairs of the Astronomy tower in lock step with his friend. He wasn’t really sure if he should still call him a friend–Merlin knew whatever they’d done that afternoon had breached the fine line of friendship and relationship.  But as their fingers entwined, hands swinging back and forth as they walked, Ominis knew things could never be the same as before. 

He was perfectly fine with that.

Just as Ominis had predicted, Sebastian had been pacing in front of the Slytherin common room.  He turned to the two boys, arms crossed against his chest quite sternly. 

“Where the hell have you two been?” Ominis could sense Sebastian’s scowl. “I had to sit by myself at dinner.”

“Ominis has been taking care of me,” he said, clutching Ominis’s hand a bit tighter. “No thanks to you.”

Sebastian huffed. “Well, if you would have told me, I could’ve helped–”

“I think you’ve done enough, Sebastian.” Ominis raised a brow. “You should know him well enough by now, he’s our best friend.”

Sebastian hesitated; Ominis knew he was staring at their joined hands, the way they were standing closely. 

“So, this is happening, isn’t it?” Sebastian asked.

Ominis blushed; he was sure the boy next to him was grinning. 

“Yeah,” he said, thumb brushing over the back of Ominis’s hand. “I think it is.”

It took Sebastian a second to comprehend, quickly collecting himself. “It’s about time,” Sebastian drawled. “Honestly, I’ve felt like the third wheel around you two for quite some time now.”

“Well, we’ll have to fix that then.” the boy said, squeezing Ominis. “We’ll figure out a cure for Anne. Then, it’ll be the four of us.  A proper gang.”

“Really?” Sebastian perked. “You–after all that, you still want to help?”

“Of course, Sebastian.” Ominis said gently. 

Sebastian went off on a tangent, something he’d researched that afternoon in his solitude. Ominis knew he should have been listening, but all he could focus on was the way the boy next to him shifted closer, slinging his arm around his waist. Ominis followed suit, putting his arm around his shoulder.  They slotted next to each other, fitting quite nicely.

“Let’s go to the Undercroft then?” Sebastian asked hopefully.

“To the Undercroft–but first, you have to snag us dinner from the kitchens.” The boy instructed. “It’s the least you could do.”

“Right,” Sebastian said quickly. “I’ll get some sandwiches and meet you two down there.”  His footsteps pittered off into the distance, muttering excitedly to himself about his readings.

There was a gentle squeeze at Ominis’s waist; he tilted his head down, leaning against the shorter boy. 

“Are you sure you’re feeling well enough?” Ominis murmured as they walked the empty hallways towards the DADA tower.

“Don’t baby me now,” he huffed. “But yes, I’m feeling fine.  I’ll feel even better with some dinner, and perhaps some alone time with you.”

Ominis snorted. “Is that why you sent Sebastian to the kitchens?”

Ominis could feel his companion’s heated cheeks against his shoulder. “Maybe,” he said coyly. “Worked, didn’t it?  Bought us some time.” His head jerked, likely inspecting the hallways to make sure they were alone, before rising up on the tips of his toes to kiss Ominis’s cheek.

Ominis licked his lips, biting down a smile. “Yes, I think it did.”