#bringing out the morse code and everything

[hope-to-hell]

starlight on your shoulders. Agent Stone x Ivo Robotnik. Angst. Shades of Stone/Tom/Maddie if you squint. When you fail, go back to the beginning. With nowhere else to go, Stone returns to Green Hills and reopens the Mean Bean. He is not having a very good time.

----------

When you don’t know where to go, you go back to the beginning. So go back. Brew your coffee, bitter now and salty with tears. Listen for the click of ginger candy against his teeth, remedy for the nausea born of too many stimulants on too little sleep. Listen, but in vain.

He was human once, beneath it all. Now he is starlight.

Doctor. Where did you go?

When he saw you bleeding on the threshold he stuffed his fist into the wound. He curled his lip; he spit and snarled; he said if you die I won’t forgive you.

So you didn’t.

Do you wish you had?

It’s better to be unforgiven than to be alone.

Brew the coffee. Steam the milk. Set the cup on the counter and watch it grow cold.

Hum to the rhythm of his hand, pitch rising and falling to the tap of his fingers against one another; his thumb flicks against the pad of his ring finger and the lights grow dim.

Doctor?

This is a lightless place, high in the mountains; in the dark beyond dark you can see the ghost of a memory of a galaxy that bloomed brightly and far too briefly in the sky. He is starlight.

He is starlight.

Where did I go? Where did YOU? Agent. You’re better than this.

When you found him barely breathing, when you heard the shift and crack of shattered bone, you whispered if you die I will never forgive myself. And he didn’t die— until he did.

Brew the coffee. Steam the milk. Close the blinds.

Wait for it. Wait for what, exactly? For time to run backwards? For all the stars to fade? What did that wretched rodent say? The stars are gone but their light still shines. Something like that, anyway. Sit on the floor with your forearm braced across your knees. Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Listen for footsteps somewhere just beyond the edge of hearing. Keep waiting.

Brew the coffee.

Unlock the door. Turn the sign to open. Raise the blinds. The sun is gone. Take the orders. Brew the coffee. Brew the coffee

Brew the

What is this? he asks, words fuzzed with sleep; he takes a sip, considers— and sips again. Not terrible. The coffee’s sharply sour, laced with bitterness, notes of caramel and rich earth. Like him. He trails fingertips along the leaves of the pothos he complains about but never throws away; wisps of steam cling to his lips with every sip of coffee. Something in him loosens just a quarter-turn.

He taps out messages in Morse code against your thigh, innocuous at first but growing bolder; the last is spelled out over your zipper, leaving fiery traces in its wake. He sprawls in his chair, bored to any eye but yours; his wickedness still sears across your flesh. Will this meeting never end?

Brew the coffee.

Watch the nighthawks trickle in. The sheriff comes now and again, arm in arm with his wife; they sit quietly in the corner and though they hardly say a word their pity hangs about them like a cloud of cigarette smoke.

What do you want?

Just an Americano. Room for cream.

Where’s your rat sits at the tip of your tongue alongside have you come to arrest me and put a bullet in my heart, it’d be kinder. But the words stay tucked away behind your teeth.

Listen, he says. I’m—

Don’t you fucking say you’re sorry.

No, I just— its movie night on Friday. Will you come?

Brew the coffee. Consider all possible motives and when you come up empty, what then?

Ring the doorbell. Hand over the bottle of wine. That’s what you do, right? You bring a little something for your host. I’m Tom, and this is Maddie. How could you not have known their names? Etta walks across a darkened room; the Sundance Kid waits in shadow. In the morning, Butch arrives and for a moment everything is in balance.

Breathe high and shallow. Hold it in. Stars wheel overhead. Which ones are dead or dying? Does it matter?

Made some coffee. Not as good as yours but, well— Tom holds out a mug and so, reflexively, you take it.

Drink deep. The brew’s okay. Lean against the porch rail, mug cradled in your hands. Why?

I mean. It’s just the Walmart special.

Not the coffee. This. If it’s charity you’ll kill him.

Nobody should have to deal with loss alone. This from Maddie, pulling her shawl close against the cold. He’s not lost, though. You know exactly where he is: scattered to atoms in the dark of space, with pieces of him falling now and then to earth in streaks of burning gold.

Brew the coffee. Let the phone ring in the dark of night. The calls don’t matter anymore.

Missed you last night. We watched Jaws. Maddie was rooting for the shark. Tom smiles brightly but there’s something hollow to it, something false.

Did you, now. Will you tell him you had better things to do, like sit on the edge of your cot with head in hands, trying to remember the freckles scattered softly across your Doctor’s cheeks? Were there six? Seven? Will you tell him how you screamed then, punching bags of coffee beans until your knuckles bled? Judging by his furtive downward glance, he has some idea of it at least.

Hey, it’s okay. You know you’re always welcome.

Thomas Addison Wachowski. What do you want with me? Now you know not just his name and Maddie’s, but a thousand other insignificant details as well. He winces, but it’s somehow not as satisfying as it ought to be.

Only my mother called me that, and only when she was sore at me. He takes his drink to go and, glancing backward, disappears into the night.

No one should have to deal with loss alone.

Ride up to the overlook. Do you remember the first time you came here so many lifetimes ago, when you and Ivo leaned against a borrowed van, looking at the fairy lights of houses far below? When you fail, go back to the beginning.

Doctor? But there is only endless quiet.

Agent. What is wrong with you?

What is wrong with me? I have no home. I have no purpose. No reason. I shouldn’t be here. I should have gone with you.

Don’t be stupid. Agent. I thought you were smarter than that. What do you do when you fail?

Think back to evenings underwater, how you could lay a hand upon his shoulder and he wouldn’t flinch away. You didn’t talk about it, even after everything. Feel it gnawing at your insides: a missed chance. A failure. A—

What. do. you. do. when you fail?

I— You can feel it, can’t you? The thing you should have said?

Brew the coffee. Steam the milk. We’re closed. Be sharp. Be cold. Be the knife you were honed to be, when there was still light in your eyes.

The door’s unlocked. Maddie sits beside you on the floor, cross-legged, still and calm. I just came to say hello. She sees the bloodied burlap sacks; there’s no way for her to miss them. Listen.

Don’t say it. So she doesn’t. She sits in silence for a time, and when at last she leaves, her hand presses gently on your shoulder as she passes by.

It’s better to be unforgiven.

[banchagu]

-… .-. . .- - …. . / ..- .--. --- -. / .- / -… . -.. / --- ..-. / …- .. --- .-.. . - …

[little-miss-dilf-lover]

WORLDS BEST DAD.

dad bucky barnes x fem!reader

WORD COUNT. 1123 SUMMARY. father’s day never used to mean much to bucky until having a family of his own. with another baby on the way, you all enjoy a slow morning in bed giving gifts and appreciating the worlds best dad. [fluff] NOTE. not so keen on my own dad so wanted to make bucky a dad. seems healthy right?

⎯ ☆ ⎯

This day in particular hadn't meant much to Bucky in a rather long time, the day feeling like a random Sunday in June with no cause for celebration. Though that changed about three years ago when he became the central focal point for the special day: having a daughter and baby on the way to give him a reason to enjoy the occasion. 

Bucky lays at your side, sleeping soundly while you rest against the headboard, hand smoothing large circles over your bump — the act like you were trying to calm your son’s kicking feet. You make a faint sound of unease and your husband’s head whips up from the pillow, eyes attentive despite their struggle to adjust to the bright light of the room.

“Everything okay?” he asks almost immediately, gaze honing in on yours. 

“Yeah,” you assure and smile softly. You bring your other hand to brush over his cheek, thumb swiping over him sweetly. “Want to feel him? He’s kicking like crazy.”

He returns a smile as the reassurance eases his mind and he adjusts, laying back down and resting his temple on his fist. He extends his other hand and you grab his wrist gently, guiding him under your top and to the point of discomfort. Your husband's smile widens with the contact of his hand to your skin and he begins to feel rough taps against his palm.

“I think he’s speaking to you in morse code,” you start, and he peers up to meet your eyes again, showing interest in what you have to say. “I think he’s saying ‘Happy Father’s Day’.”

He grins and lowers his eyes back to your belly, his hand continuing it’s circling despite your son’s seeming to have calmed down. It was as if he just enjoyed the sheer contact of touch, to feel both you and his son in a way so gentle and casual and domestic. And while pregnancy this time around was more taxing on you than the last, the little moments you’d frequently have like this in bed made it worth it — the giant, interfering belly, fatigue and thick, heavy ankles felt worth it.

With your due date closely approaching, it’s important to appreciate these moments of silence, these moments of calm before it all becomes anything but. These minutes you’d share with your lover in the morning with his hand on your bump became part of routine, it became something you’d do every morning. Quite like you hanging onto the quiet before the storm, the storm being your daughter wreaking hyperactive havoc with her awakening.

Like it was anticipated, you hear a noise from the monitor on the nightstand and you pick it up, watching your little girl crawl out of bed with a stuffie in her hand. Within a few short seconds, your bedroom door creeps open, and a short silhouette of your daughter appears through the gap.

“Morning princess,” Bucky smiles as he gestures her over.

“Hi, baby,” you, too, grin, welcoming her.

She paddles her way across the room and to your bed, small, hurried footsteps carrying her closer before she excitedly jumps between the two of you. 

Bucky grunts as he takes the brute force of her landing, though he would much rather the knee to the stomach was on him than you. “Careful with mommy’s tummy,” he reminds softly, and wraps his arms around her — bringing her to lay between so he can smother her face with kisses. 

You watch it play out, loving eyes observing the warming act. And only when it dwindles down and he stops, do you touch her. You smooth over her wild bed head and redirect her attention, nodding to your husband beside her. 

“Do you want to tell daddy what we’re doing today?” you ask, softly jogging her memory. She struggles for a moment and you get closer, whispering beside her ear. “What are we going to make for breakfast?”

“Pancakes,” she exclaims as she sits up, hands beginning to clap at the thought. 

“Pancakes?” Bucky repeats, matching her excited tone like he was entertaining her. “What are we having on them?”

“Gummy bears,” she giggles, her toothy grin visible through her animated expression. “And chocolate, and— and cream, and, and,”

“Candy worms?” you suggest and she turns silent, her head twisting slowly to look at Bucky. 

He notices her questioning glances and decides to play along, keen to humour his little girl. “That’s too far,” his head impishly shakes, pretending not to like the idea.

She mirrors your lover’s reaction, her face grimacing as he mimics a faux face of disgust. “No, mommy.”

You smile as you look between them, suppressing a laugh. “How about jelly beans?”

She takes another minute and turns to look at her dad, silently awaiting his response. He pretends to give it some thought and nods faintly, permitting his approval as a grin widens. 

Your daughter finally agrees with a nod that rather matched that of Bucky’s. Though you reroute conversation, directing it back to the subject of the special day. 

“Should we give daddy his present?” you ask, face lighting up. 

She clambers away from the pair of you and slides off the bed, heading for the gift bag on the floor beside the dresser. She rejoins you moments later with a beaming smile you have never seen shine so bright. 

“What’s this?” Bucky sits up, smile genuine and sincere as he reaches for the pink bag in your daughter’s hand. 

She giggles, watching intently despite her young age. “A doll,” she interrupts, spoiling it before he even has a chance to take it out the bag.

He pulls it out and his smile falters, trying his very best not to laugh and taint the memory. Bucky turns to meet your eyes to figure out a way best to respond, though you’re no use: the hand over mouth a visible tell you were also struggling to compose yourself. 

“That’s so thoughtful," he pauses and looks over the regifted doll. “This is from your room, isn’t it?”

She nods shamelessly. “Do you like it?” she asks, innocent eyes lit wide and huge.

“I love it,” he kisses her forehead. “Thank you, princess.” You watch as he then removes the attached envelope, a saddened grin replacing the cheerful one before as he reads over the face of the card inside — ‘I got the best dad in the world’ printed large and proud on the front beside an ink transfer of her small hand. It was really a warming sight to see him get choked up by it, rather beautiful really, to see his doubts get reassured in real time: that he is a good dad, despite questioning himself not to be.

⎯ ☆ ⎯

[katamari-of-luv]

Every new Spamton Sweepstakes page I've found so far:

(Spoilers if you want to find them for yourself! If I missed something, feel free to add on!)

Clicking the "What's next?" link at the bottom of the main page takes you to /chapter3/, which simply reads "Not applicable." and has an ellipsis for a page title. UPDATE: Holding down the left arrow on your keyboard on this page causes the word "But..." to slide in from the right side of the screen.

Manually inputting /chapter1/ yields the same result (notably without the "But..." -- thank you rollingdanielle for pointing this out), while /chapter2/ reads "Applicable." instead. /chapter4/ has a red pixel slowly fade in at the center of the screen. Clicking that takes you to /chapter4/message/, which appears the same at first glance but actually contains several hidden links under the red pixel:

These link to one of two different six-second audio files: e.mp3 ("fading in" sound effect?) and m.mp3 ("fading out"?). I would love to hear it if anyone else finds a way to translate the "message". The placements of e's and m's don't appear to coincide with either binary or Morse code, but I could very well have missed something. Perhaps something Wingdings-related but I'm only a third of the way done with writing this post and that would be my fifth time pausing to puzzle out this one page. Maybe later.

UPDATE: HOLY SHIT. This comes from convobreaker on Bluesky's very informative thread. The layout of the audio file links correspond to a QWERTY keyboard, and the m.mp3 links match up to letters that can be unscrambled to spell /chapter4/thankyou/. The page is titled "How long did it take her to smile?" and presents you with two boxes to input text and a button to confirm. Pressing it with nothing in either box or anything but a valid email address in the first displays the text "Unknown contact." Pressing it with only a valid email address in the first box gives you the hint "She never smiled?" Filling the first box with an email address and the second with anything at all replaces everything with text reading "Thank you." Presumably the correct answer will send you a response.

On that note, /chapter5/ (titled "back") sends you here:

1 is unclickable, 2 takes you to d.mp3, a six-second drum and organ loop (that I could swear I've heard before-- can anyone identify it?) (UPDATE: Thank you to vividviolence and rollingdanielle! It plays before fighting Berdly for the second and final time in the Snowgrave or Weird Route, and may imply the "Applicable/Not Applicable" text refers to whether a Weird Route is possible in a given chapter.), 3 leads to ma.mp3, a warbling sound effect that fades out towards the end, 4 takes you back to /chapter4/, and 5 is h.mp3, a short acoustic guitar-like clip. It seems like manually inputting any "chapter" pages past 5 only takes you to room-dogcheck (they don't redirect, just display the little white dog).

Upon returning to the main page, clicking the "glitches and secrets Web Ring" banner, and continuing through to the /egg/ page via the "clues" link, a new link can be found embedded in the words "secret cats". /rain/ is another of Noelle's private journal entries, regarding the time she invited Catti over to play a "sillyriffic" Cat Petters minigame together. As per usual, she reminisces on seeing things in video games nobody else is able to replicate (but suspects Kris of knowing about it this time?) The "try it yourself" text leads to a playable version of this minigame at /rarecats/. The green dancing cats bouncing around the screen award points when clicked in accordance with the rarity scale on /rain/. An "angel wing" cat causes a stained glass window to appear onscreen and fade after a few seconds. Clicking that in time brings you to /windows/, a page titled "Aren't you forgetting something?" containing many instances of the same window sprite repeated over and over.

Each window links to a different combination of the same six words. Every page except one brings you to /room-dogcheck/. The correct combination, /lostwheretheforestwouldgrow/, leads to a page titled "ROOTS" which displays a blue tree that slowly floats up and down. It plays a single somber piano note the first three times it's clicked, then sends you back to /windows/.

UPDATE: Thank you to theyloy for tipping me off to this! Clicking the tree three times actually takes you to /window/ with no S. All the windows but one are now scrambled versions of the phrase /thepoorchildren/. Clicking and dragging to "draw" on this page, titled "Therapy", for long enough eventually reveals the red tree the man who gives you eggs hides behind, and clicking that links back to /egg/.

And last but not least, there's a new clickable area in /ramb/. The red desk at the front of the swanky, inviting green room now leads to /romb/, a silent set of wooden doors with the page title "No one will shed a tear for him." Clicking on them plays a door-opening sound effect and causes the screen to go black for a moment, then this text appears:

The text cannot be highlighted, and clicking either of the empty spaces plays the ma.mp3 sound effect associated with Chapter 3 via the /chapter4/message/ page discussed earlier in the post. This is wholly conjecture, but it may be of note that the spaces appear to be the right size to contain the word "egg".

UPDATE: Thank you once again to rollingdanielle! After clicking the door, but before the text appears, you can ctrl+A to click an invisible button floating around the screen. Doing so changes the page title to "You can never defeat us!!! Let's rumble!", plays ma.mp3, and then redirects to /chapter3/. This text could possibly be used in the Lanino and Elnina fight, as the speaker refers to fighting alongside at least one other person and "rumble" could be a pun on thunderstorms.

With that, I've listed off everything I know! Again, you're welcome to reply or reblog with anything I may have missed. Just one more month and Deltarune will be Tomorrow...

[booksandabeer]

Celebrating 10 Years of CA:TWS — A Stucky Rec List

Rec list for the CA:TWS 10th Anniversary Event @catws-anniversary (thank you so much for organizing this event! 💙) | Prompt: Memories

10 years, huh? 10 years of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 10 years of what many—myself included—still consider to be the best MCU movie ever made.

But also 10 years of post-TWS fanfiction. 10 years of Bucky Barnes Recovering and Steve Rogers' Sadness Errands; of Up All Night to Get Bucky and Revenge Road Trips; of Winter Soldier Trauma Umbrellas and Everybody Needing A Goddamn Hug; of Good Bros and Soft Epilogues. 10 years and tens of thousands of Steve/Bucky fics later, here we are.

So, to mark the occasion, let's take a trip down memory lane and celebrate the movie and the stories it inspired: One fic from each year since it all began:

There's really only one rule here: All fics are set before, during, or after the events of CA:TWS and/or reimagine its plot in interesting ways. Naturally, many of the fics on this list are post-TWS canon divergent, but I tried to go for a nice variety of length, genre, and popularity to keep it interesting. Speaking of popularity, this is very much not intended as a round-up of ‘most popular fics of each year’ because—and I say this with all the love and respect in my heart for those stories and their authors—nobody needs a rec list for that, and I believe in spreading the love. Here we go:

Poltergeists by enemyofrome | 17K, T

Author's summary: When the helicarriers blow up and the Winter Soldier goes on the run, he takes Steve with him. He's got a name written in Morse code on the inside of his arm, a ton of questions he doesn't know how to ask, and now, a new handler with absolutely zero sense of self-preservation to contend with. Life is hard. In which Bucky tries to figure out whether he's a human being, Steve does everything he can to keep from losing him again, and there are lots of explosions.

Starting off with one of the best versions of the 'Bucky didn't leave Steve, he took him with him after the Potomac' fics that were (and still are!) so popular post-TWS. This one stands out because of its fantastic beginning, its interesting take on how Bucky was broken and remade into the Winter Soldier, and because it allows both characters to be messy. It's a popular fanon trope that it's Steve who brings out a ruthless, almost vicious streak in Bucky, but here it's emphasized that this is very much a mutual thing. Just like Bucky, who's often afforded the "excuse" of still figuring out how to be a person again, Steve gets to be difficult here—without ever turning him into a stubborn asshole. They're both traumatized, and they're both allowed to show it and to lash out, including at each other. Also, this fic will give you capital-F Feelings about morse codes and apples. Believe me.

sleepwalk back to the battle site by ftmsteverogers | 22K, T

Author's summary: “I’m going to track down every HYDRA agent that’s left,” Bucky says, buckling his gun deftly to his belt. “And then I’m going to kill them.” “Oh,” Steve says. “Come with me?” Bucky asks, dangerous hands tucked into his pockets.

A classic post-TWS fic that picks up right after the movie ends. Equal parts Revenge Roadtrip, Bucky Barnes recovering, and Steve Rogers being in urgent need of a good hug. This starts out intensely melancholic—Steve's despair and helplessness are palpable and there's a scene involving a drinking glass that still brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Halfway through, the story changes pace and becomes much more action-heavy, but it still manages to allow space for the quiet, intimate moments between Steve and Bucky. They have both become sharp and deadly men, but they're also allowed to be soft with each other. Their coming together feels sweet and inevitable. I also really enjoyed the Steve characterization here. His absolute conviction that Bucky is still Bucky at his very core and always will be, but also his emotional and intellectual flexibility to adapt to this still-new-to-him, changed version of Bucky rang very true to me.   

Surveillance by Sproings, 7K in 2 parts, G

Author's summary: If there are ears everywhere, that means it's somebody's job to listen. I hate my job.

Do you ever think about how SHIELD bugged Steves DC apartment and how horrible that was, but also...you're kind of curious what they might have overheard? Do you ever wonder about the people who listened in on his sad, lonely life? Well, here you go. An outsider POV fic told "through the ears" of an unnamed SHIELD agent assigned to spy on the private life of a man who doesn't really have much of one. The story begins just before IM3 and takes us all the way through the events of CA:TWS and beyond. It's clever, original and told with great empathy for both the subject under surveillance and the person carrying out that surveillance—who increasingly questions its purpose. Here's a small snippet to give you an idea of the fic's style:

He got a phone call, once. He put it on speaker, too, which was very exciting for me at the time. It was from an archivist at the Smithsonian. They seemed really surprised that he answered his own phone calls. The two of them talked for a long time about an exhibit the museum was planning. A very long time. As if one of them was starstruck, and the other was desperate for any kind of human interaction.

What Gets You Through by velleities | 12K, M

Author's summary: For Steve, getting through each day is a process – one he’s currently failing at spectacularly. Feeling out of place in this brave new world, he hopes to find a home in Bucky, and looks for him with everything he’s got. But Bucky doesn’t want to be found, and when he does touch base with Steve, he never sticks around for long. Bucky has embraced the modern age, leaving Steve lagging behind – or so Steve believes, until Bucky shows him otherwise.

This post-TWS fic revolves around five encounters in liminal spaces, and each time Bucky has pieced himself back together again just a little more. Despite their increasingly longer and more honest conversations, and Bucky's incremental progress, he always disappears again, leaving Steve to grapple with his heartbreak. There are quietly gorgeous moments in this fic (the bus and the church in particular were my personal favorites) as well as wonderfully crafted characterizations. Bucky is initially portrayed as somewhat feral in some ways yet surprisingly well-adjusted in others, and I love that Steve can't help but be a little annoyed at that. However, it quickly becomes clear that, in good old Bucky Barnes fashion, much of it is really just a front put up for Steve's benefit...

A Real Boy by itsnotbleak | 5K, T

Author's summary: It took the Winter Soldier three weeks to remember that human beings needed to sleep and eat. It took Steve far too long to realise the Winter Soldier was sleeping in his bed.

A wonderful, short-but-doesn't-feel-like-it fic (in the very best way) set immediately after CA:TWS, in which Bucky secretly and then soon not so secretly visits Steve in his apartment. Follow along as Bucky Barnes argues with his brain about sandwich toppings, the importance of a good night's sleep, and the necessity of personal hygiene. Also: how to best go about becoming a real boy (again). And who the hell is that Bucky guy anway? This is as soft and sweet a Bucky recovery fic as you're ever going to find. It's funny but not silly; sad in a way that all of these stories inherently are—because, well, these are some tragic boys—but not super angsty or depressing. A beautiful story with a lovely, hopeful ending.

Savage God by PottersPink | 36K, M

Author's summary (abbr.): Past, present, future, Steve knows Bucky Barnes. It’s why he recognized him when he found him in that alley in April of 1942, even though Bucky was older, stronger, wearier; he called himself The Asset, and had a metal fucking arm. He flinched when Steve tried to touch him, and when Steve told him he loved him, his first response was to ask why. Seventy years later, Steve wakes up in the twenty-first century, and he doesn’t know whether to be heartbroken or hopeful when some of the things Bucky revealed to him in 1942 start falling into place.

An absolutely riveting AU that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I'm itching to talk about it more but I cannot since it would mean spoiling the hell out of it. What I can say is that it's a very intriguing and clever exploration of what would happen if Steve knew about the future but without really knowing any of the details. How would it change the events of CA:TFA and CA:TWS, and how would it change Steve himself? I so very much appreciate this characterization of Steve as smart, competent, and unwavering with a hefty dose of no fucks left to give. This fic features some really nifty time travel and plotting, great action sequences and a very satisfying ending where certain people get their much-deserved comeuppance. Plus: Bonus Shrinkyclinks (kind of)!

Charlie Lock by seapigeon | 105K, M (hard M)

Author's summary (abbr.): The Winter Soldier knows that sometimes, in order to make the kill, you must destroy what the Target lives for. Steve Rogers knows that he can't fight his captors. If he fights, they'll kill Bucky. But the price of his life is steep. Tony Stark has nothing left to live for, but he's needed. So all these miserable motherfuckers better stay alive, too. Clint Barton never expected to be a leader. But a leader he is, and no one else is going to die on his watch. --- A story in which the first wave of Project Insight succeeds, and the Avengers must pick up the pieces and find a way to stop Hydra from completing its work with Zola's algorithm.

This is not only the longest fic on this list, but also the angstiest one—by a mile, so please heed the tags. It's dark, disturbing, and brutal. However, it is neither relentless misery porn nor is it shocking for shock's sake, where everything is magically forgotten and/or healed the moment Steve and Bucky start kissing. Instead, the author puts these characters into an absolutely horrifying situation and then slowly, gently guides them out of it and into the light.

It's a Stucky fic but it's also a multi-POV ensemble piece featuring all the Avengers and other familiar faces. If you are someone who'll always be a little bitter about the unfulfilled promise of an Avengers found family, then this is for you. In this AU, they do not only fight together, but grow together in every way. They truly become a team, not just co-workers barely tolerating each other. The story takes its time exploring the characters and the group dynamics. Steve and Bucky are definitely at the center of the narrative but there is space here for every member of the team to grieve and adjust to the new reality and to find at least some measure of healing. It's a story about the meaning and the consequences of revenge, about hope and resilience, and about love in all its many forms. It also has one of the most satisfying title drops that will have you pump your fist in triumph when it happens. It's a tough read, but ultimately a very rewarding one.

SPELEVINK by Ginny_Potter | 10K, G

Author's summary: Bucky’s back. He’s leaving me messages through IKEA plushies, Steve texts Sam. jesus christ, rogers, Sam texts back. Or, Bucky lives in an IKEA Tiny Apartment, Steve is a dancing monkey once again, and somehow they find their way back to each other.

This is an absolute DELIGHT of a fic that will have you alternately laughing out loud and crying quietly into your SVARTFIBBLA blanket (super-soft, recycled polyester, 47x63"). It's ‘crack treated seriously’ at its very best and a clear homage to the fandom classic Infinite Coffee… (that’s not a dig or a spoiler, the author says so in the author’s note).

Now if you know me, you’ll know that angst o’clock is my happy hour and I’m usually not very into these heavy-on the-humor quasi-absurdist fics (because I’m super special and not like all the other girls, obviously). But. I LOVED this story so, so much. It’s such a fun read—even when it makes you cry—and it really became one of those ‘huh, I guess I’m into this after all’ moments of joyful (self)discovery via fanfic for me. I never thought a pair of oven mitts could move me like that, and I'll never be able to walk into an IKEA again without muttering "F******!" under my breath (iykyk). Absolutely fantastic.

a handful of dust by RecoveringTheSatellites | 20K, M

Author's summary: Steve looks for Bucky for a long time. But the thing is that Bucky doesn't get found, Bucky finds. Bucky always finds Steve. This takes a hard left after the Potomac and stumbles through the dark a lot after. Take a bit of running, the occasional synaptic misfire, the resurfacing of old memories, a dash or two of PTSD, and (eventually) a nice dose of action, stir, and serve over some unresolved issues.

Honestly, the second paragraph up there perfectly sums up the story. It's a good ol' fashioned Bucky recovery fic with some angst, some action, and a whole lot of healing and devotion. Steve and Bucky get to be very sappy about each other, but also extremely Badass Battle Boyfriends™ when somebody threatens their hard-won happiness. Both are allowed to be messy, unstable, and very co-dependent.

This was the first time this author played in the Stucky sandbox and I mean it 100% as a compliment when I say that you can tell. This is someone with "fresh legs" diving headfirst and very deep into the Stucky trope pool and they're doing it with great relish and enthusiam. The result is a story that rejects some of the tried and true conventions of the post-TWS fanfic canon and lovingly embraces others, but that is definitely aware of and in dialogue with the body of work that came before it. Also, it's just a really fun read that gives these two the very soft ending they deserve.

Everybody is Supposed to be Dead by pollutedstar | 22K, M

Author's summary: In 1944, Bucky Barnes falls off a train into the Alps, missing and presumed dead. Months later, Steve Rogers nosedives a plane into the arctic. In 2010, the Winter Soldier project is uncovered by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Bucky Barnes is found alive. Three years later, Steve Rogers’ frozen body is found in the ocean.

A really interesting AU and a fascinating exploration of what could’ve been; the impact it would’ve had on the events and characters if Bucky had been the one to be “found” first. How would it affect Steve to come back into a world where he isn’t quite so lonely and adrift, and where he does have the relief and reassurance of having Bucky by his side and at his back? How would that have changed the way he acted and reacted to this strange new world and the people and organizations trying to recruit him to their cause even though the ice hasn't even completely melted off his body yet?

There are a lot of astute and precise observations about characters like Tony, Natasha, and Clint in this story, and on top of that, it offers up some very compelling insights into Steve's conflicted and difficult relationship with his role as Captain America.

it's never over (hey orpheus) by romcommie | 12K WIP, 2/?, M

Author's summary: He remembers a song first and then everything else follows, burying him below. Or, Bucky Barnes pieces a life back together with a few choice verses, some duct tape and seventy years worth of spite. Steve Rogers tries very hard to relearn there's a life to be lived in the first place.

Ok, listen up, people! This is a WIP and there are only 2 chapters posted so far, but I haven't felt this absolutely bonkers excited about a post-CA:TWS fic in a long while. We're talking frothing at the mouth here. I have such a massive crush on this fic, it's a bit embarrassing, really. It's one of those fics where you know after just a few paragraphs that you're in very good, very competent hands. The wealth of historical and cultural detail; the way the story shifts/flips/flickers back and forth between time, perspective and narrative levels; the Bucky voice—it's all so well done! I'm so insanely excited to see where the author takes this!

ENJOY!

[pumpkinbxtch]

Hey!! Could you do aftercare Leo Valdez head cannons please!!

˗ˏˋ leo valdez | aftercare headcanons

☆ radiostar is playin': 1-2-3 by gloria estefan and miami sound machine...!

warnings; allusions to sex, language a/n; hey! you mean my favorite boy? absolutely yes. tags; @green-tea217

Maybe he doesn't look like it to some, but...

he's a total love machine.

he's all smiles afterward, feeling silly with that afterglow vibe he always tries to spread around, and it works.

both literally have that goofy grin while catching your breath.

you feel that love in your stomach and-

stop Let's move on!

yet you still end up drained.

Leo rolls over to see you (with flushed cheeks and sweat on his forehead) and admires how you slowly recover, whispering sweet (but also teasing) things to you.

"That's my girl," "Hmm, you've never looked better, huh?" and he makes you blush, but he also makes you feel loved.

Then he opens his arms and raises an eyebrow, testing the waters to see what you want at that moment.

If you hug him, he'll hold you until you say you want to move, cuddling with you while stroking your hair.

He traces your skin delicately with his index finger.

there are moments when you're drifting off to sleep in his arms, feeling the taps on your bare back in Morse code. "I love you."

"Me too," you respond weakly, smiling against his chest. He grins like a fool.

He also buries his face in the crook of your neck, and you run your fingers through his curls that tickle your jaw.

He looks for you a lot too, in a way to let you know how good he feels with you.

Anyway, if what you want afterward is a bit of privacy to be alone, he'll get up, put on his boxers, and walk to your side of the bed to tuck you in with the sheets.

"I'll be back, mi amor," he says after giving you a kiss on the forehead and brushing your hair away from your face.

That man cooks for you, like REALLY cooks. You know because you smell the pasta cooking in the kitchen from his room.

He checks on you and brings you water a couple of times.

He sits on the edge of his bed and hands you the glass with a beaming smile. When you give it back, he sets it on the nightstand for a moment and asks if you're feeling okay.

"Everything alright?" he whispers sweetly while holding your chin and locking his chocolate eyes with yours.

You nod, and he kisses you.

He tells you the food will be ready soon, then offers to take you to the bathroom so you can shower.

That mf has gotten really strong. He can carry you however he wants, but he does it by throwing you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and runs to the bathroom laughing like a kid.

When you enter, you see he's already placed your towel nearby for you to take, and when you come out to dress, you see he's left your -his- clothes for you to wear.

Before you eat together, he does the same and includes tidying up the room.

he wants you to feel comfortable, happy, and he succeeds.

when he's ready, he hugs you from behind and kisses your neck, you jump when you feel his wet hair but it gives you relief to feel him close.

"Hungry?" he whispers in your ear while gently tightening his embrace and smiling like the damn devil because he's saying it with a double meaning.

"you'll be the death of me, babe" he says because he really can't help but drool over you when you walk around in his clothes.

Both return to bed for a cuddle session and sweet whispers in each other's ears.

he uses his warmth powers for you, which is the best when the weather is cold or rainy.

"You're too good for me," he says and gives you a slow kiss while caressing your cheek.

you enjoy resting on his chest, and he's delighted with it.

You sleep entwined with each other, he's the big spoon, you're the little one.

He lives to see you happy and satisfied, doing it with love and kindness because he's your man.

[howlsofbloodhounds]

Do you think Color& or Killer would use would use AAC? Anyone else you think would?

Sure, definitely. I feel like Sans and Gaster had their own makeshift signals and number of sounds—taps, clicks, finger snaps—for quick communication whenever one or both didn’t want or couldn’t verbally speak, and of course this likely carries over when Color first escapes the Void.

Especially if he’s too confused, too overwhelmed, too scared to communicate or interact with a world that’s unfamiliar and possibly even unreal to him at first.

Perhaps Bravery’s influence is a major factor here, compelling Sans to be brave and speak up—even if that action later, looking back, possibly feels unnatural and out of character to Sans.

I do feel that Color will be taught sign language in his facility care stay if they didn’t already know—either by staff, or by other patients. Color has the time, the patience, and the perseverance to learn.

I do believe he will still heavily struggle—he has episodes of dissociation, he has a fractured open skull, he struggles with emotional regulation, he struggles with understanding social cues, sarcasm, overstimulation, he has severe trust issues of just about everyone and everything during this time, memory issues, getting easily exhausted both physically and mentally from social interactions and physical activity. His bones are fragile, his body is possibly even athropied due to the Void.

He will struggle to regulate his frustration, anger, and embarrassment if he makes a mistake or forgets anything—which he inevitably will, more than just the “normal” forgetting of someone learning something new.

I do believe Color would struggle a lot with using pen and paper as an alternative means of communication, not only due to the the Void having likely destroyed and annihilated his fine motor skills—as well as Perseverance’s possible dysgraphia, their potential eyesight problems carrying over from when they were alive, and the body’s already existing visual impairments—and the likely awful, painful chronic migraines that he likely deals with and could be triggered by stress and frustration.

A tablet with an app could help of course, but the screen lights could probably strain his one eye—unused to brightness or light as it already is—and he’s is very likely very, very behind on the latest technology and out of practice on what he does know.

If Color even actually remembers how to operate a phone or a tablet at all after two decades of not seeing or using any, and struggling to hold on to his sanity, memories, and identity.

Which, of course, could cause all the emotional regulation issues mentioned above. Wouldn’t be surprised if he needed up crushing or breaking a piece of technology given to him in sheer frustration—or was definitely going to, only to suddenly be overwhelmed with a dizzying, yet blanket feeling of calm overtaking him. As if suddenly stuck in molasses.

So, perhaps he uses cards or pictures given to him to nonverbally communicate at first— and perhaps the staff and another patient even caught on to his and Gaster’s made up little language.

Or not, perhaps that was something Color was unwilling to share with anyone there, as if possessive of his own experiences and memories—even as he kept doing it. If anyone did catch on to it and let him know that they knew, maybe that became a point of conflict.

So maybe Color uses those cards, pictures, nonverbal communications like facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures—whenever he can’t verbally bring himself to speak—while he learns sign language, and tries to relearn motor skills and how to operate both familiar and unfamiliar technology.

I’ve seen it HC’d that Killer in Stage 4 uses Morse code to communicate, and Killer in Stage 3 is primarily via body language and vocalizations. I do think Killer would primarily rely on sign language, either something he knew as Sans or learned himself as Killer (something new, beneficial for survival), or something taught to him—perhaps by Chara or even Color—when in lower Stages. Sometimes Killer in Stage 2 may be too apathetic to even want to put in the effort to communicate.

And of course, Killer will definitely use text to speech or an app if he must. He is a bit chronically online, and im sure his phone is one of the very few physical items he places value on.

It holds his cat videos and cat photos, it has stimulating games on it, it has Color’s number on it and proof of Color’s existence on it whenever Killer can’t see him or speak to him or touch him to reassure himself Color is real for whatever reasons.

Even if he possibly does have to speak in code with Color, and find ways to hide Color’s contact such as disguising it behind a calculator app or something.

Killer can also use pen and paper of course, and his goop adds as a substitute for ink and his finger as a pen—as potentially does his knife and either his or a target’s blood—but his possible visual impairment from said ichor and lack of consistent eyelights could be a hinder here.

As well has hand and arm cramps and exhaustion, man can potentially lose entire limbs and Reset to have them back, doesn’t mean his mind doesn’t pull the opposite of a phantom limb and randomly decide, “oh hey this arm shouldn’t be here, wasn’t this cut off?” and then his body starts freaking the fuck out.

As for others I feel would use AAC, regardless of the specific form and based off nothing but pure vibes, I’ll go with..Ink (pictures, drawings), Dream (I feel he needs to use AAC actually but is actually kinda struggling to either learn or to accept that an alternative option is valid), Nightmare (pen and paper and probably drawing).

I also feel like Cross and Delta would benefit from using some form of AAC, but both are kinda too proud to admit it; even as Delta encourages Beta to use it.

I feel like Dust, one who is nonverbal in some manner or just really not one prone for verbal speaking besides from maybe talking to Papyrus, just generally prefers to communicate via vibes and body language. Man shrugs his shoulders so damn much. People struggle to either see his face at all or read his facial expressions.

There’s probably more but I’ll leave my ramble here for now.

[catboytenya]

as promised, here's a shit ton of screenshots. like i said before, my ex, @/sentiearksys/@/taysudon/@dandelarkchao was incredibly abusive to me and is trying to rewrite the narrative that i was the abusive one, and quite frankly, i'm not gonna let him push me around any longer, so, here's my final post on the topic.

don't go harassing him, but i encourage blocking.

i had been hoping he would stop posting lies about me when i posted actual proof, which i actually have, unlike him, but i don't think he ever will. so, like i said, this is my final post on this topic.

some of these i feel shy sharing because i don't like how vulnerable i am in them, but i feel a bit helpless that he's going around telling people i was the abusive one meanwhile..... i've put up with this cruel treatment for years. and i have the proof of his treatment, and all he can do is talk shit and lie about me without any evidence.

if he wanted me to stop posting evidence, he should have stopped posting lies about me. after we broke up i was completely fine with never bringing him up again until he decided to start lying about me. like i said before, ultimately, this is about defending myself and clearing my name, as well as warning others about how he really is behind closed doors.

today, i had the luck of talking to some of the people he lied about to me and forced me to block, and i got to finally hear their sides of the story. all these people that he told me were terrible and awful and cruel are the sweetest people i've ever spoken to who did not deserve the terrible things he was saying about them. if i DO make another post, it'll be entirely to defend them and include screenshots of the awful things he said about them. for now, i'll be leaving them out of it. i just wanted to include this paragraph to thank them for taking the time to reply and to talk to me, and honestly, to show my appreciation for them as my new friends.

i'm not only including any screenshots from previous posts, i'm also including new ones, so everything is on one post. thank you for listening.

as i mentioned before on older posts, we're both systems, and use pluralkit to talk. i get that because of this it might be a bit confusing, so i'll spare you the trouble: cloudy creatures, katsuki/kacchan, and shouto are me, the rest is my ex. i explained in past posts that some of these screenshots are old, and that's why some of the timestamps say "today"

this was originally one long screenshot but tumblr destroys the quality, so, here it is in parts:

he voted for trump btw. if his parents made him do it why is he defending his decision so hard over a tumblr post?:

Here's my admitting that he was the reason I didn't kill myself while I was feeling suicidal, followed by (a few of) the times he held it above my head:

there's also.... whatever this incident is. passive aggressive, guilt tripping, ect. typical playing with my emotions while i'm trying to have a serious conversation:

he would also pretend that his headmate(s) were dying or grievously injured to punish me. basically a "your partner is DYING because of YOU" kinda thing:

these are from a previous post but here he is making my cat dying about him and also about choosing either him or my best friend faith:

and here he is barely even giving me a second to grieve my other cat dying VERY suddenly before he starts talking about the mini art fight me and my friends have going year-round. also who says "haha!" to someone who's cat just died?:

the next few screenshots are gonna be censored since they're from a previous post before i decided to stop censoring them, red is my ex, blue is me. anyway he would start talking in morse code during serious conversations to make me have to stop what i was doing to open a translator:

here he is doing his typical "i don't like when you talk about faith" thing:

here he is being upset about my animals as well as being jealous over my theoretical bunny i've been wanting to adopt:

here he is upset about me leaving to go play mario kart with my sibling??:

here he is demeaning my ability to communicate + also just?? telling me that i need to relearn basic english???:

here he is claiming that i didn't give him any recognition in a really demeaning way even though like. idk how else to explain it but we were so head over heels that we excused 99% of his behavior.:

here he is making me feel really shitty about how many songs i put in my character playlists, this eventually culminated in me deleting all of the playlists i had made:

i genuinely have more but i've hit the 30 image limit. thank you for reading, and again, if i make another post, it'll be because i'm doing it for my new friends.

[6feathered6siren6]

Paradox

Author's note: Part 4!! I honestly struggled getting this next part out, but I did it. I have more ideas, drabbles of things I had planned for this one. But hope you enjoy! :)

Trigger warnings - Self-neglect - Torture

P1, P2, P3, P4, P5

『01:00』

Triple digits. You stared at the computer screen. The document of the novel you wrote. You felt so mixed. All you wanted is to write something perfect. Something different, something gorey, and filled with something that other novels would not have. Yet, you were trapped into this time loop, writing the novel differently each time when you did. You wanted to be able to leave it, be with your lovers. 

Looking at the link on your computer. You know you can’t leave the loops until you kill whoever is Victim, but… You can get everyone a better future. You already know almost everything that would happen, hell, you rewrote a loop once without joining. But in the final loop, you want everyone to have a happy ending.

Angel’s manager needs to go, get V to understand he is a softy towards the server, Misaki to take a different job but higher paid(Would giving them a task with a lot of money work?), and Ronin.. He just wanted to play games with you, just do that again? 

Sighing and leaning back into your desk chair. Before an idea pops in your head… What if using the server to find them, like what if they are connected? But you also remember what they say is either very similar or the exact same thing. So it couldn’t be them. 

Victim only got in contact with you in a loop… come on remember… it was in the 70’s, somewhere there… And they have been watching but from where? They only send 3 letters. 

1. Telling you that you have to kill them in order to stop the loops.

2. That killing randomly won’t work. 

3. 

What was number 3…  It felt like a blur, but you paused. 

You need to remember the smaller details, if Victim wants you to kill them, then you really need to become a perfect killer. 

Ping!

Luckily, there is a server that can help you. 

-

Misaki is a professional hitman or assassin, they have killed many before, so surely they can spill some secrets. You had a paper notebook, not trusting putting your notes into your computer. You never know when someone hacks into your computer. Misaki has told you before in another loop, that they had you on call when they were assassinating someone. So they might have some info for you. 

–

Slight bust. But she did bring in good points. You don’t even know what they look like, nor much, all that they want is to die and die by your hands alone. Always gifting you a bat, plain wood, same shape with slight color changes. Red most of the time, while blue in a few. Could it be morse code? 

No, you’re overthinking it.

You click your pen against the notebook. Looking at your very little notes. Would V help? He does detective work… only for killers but would he help?

Shit… would it be a bit late to send a message to him now? This far into the loop? Fuck it, now or the next loop. 

You started typing the message to the server’s vigilante, he has to help just a bit or you will text him the next loop, annoy him to get some lick of info.

-

Surprisingly, he pulled you into a call. A video call, you don’t bother to see your camera, just looking at him. He answered the questions you asked, he was even giving you ideas to look at. Which helped you immensely. When he left the call, you left the server, also making sure the server notification sound was off. You don’t need any distraction. 

-

You were writing in the notebook, writing for questions and ideas. How to get them? Like traps would work. But which ones?

Knock, knock.

Who was there? Getting over to the door, opening to see no one was there. Looking down to see a box wrapped in white and light pink. You slowly look around to see if you can find who did that. But no one. Picking it up and going inside your place, opening it, and it’s self care spa items. It was from Angel. 

‘So a few people on the server are worried about you, and said that your next murder is taking a lot of your time, so take a spa day and relax. (Trust me, I’m taking my advice right now!🤍) Enjoy these items courtesy from Angel and - - - -’

The second name was crossed off, then another note, it had dry blood on it. Most likely from Ronin. 

‘Get your mind in gear, you are freaking out a few people, so rest fucker. - Ronin’

He drew a middle finger for you. How lovely. 

You look at the gift then to your notebook. You had something to do. But… You do know where they live so you can send a gift back, if not this loop maybe another. But for now.. You need a shower. Then back to work. 

–

“Damn, Darlin’. Every time I see you, your eyebags seem to grow, you can probably hold about half my baggage in those.” He smirked as he saw you through the screen. You haven't slept for… 2 weeks? Damn… 

“Oh, hush, I have a reason.” You said, leaning back into your chair. You already thanked both Ronin and Angel for the gift. Angel was glad it was delivered without blood(Ronin was gonna apparently deliver it with blood.)

“Well, staying up for a long time can hurt your pretty little face. And no one wants that, do they?” Ronin did sound worried for you, but… it was… fuck. It was January. Two more months. Then everything would be gone, all the planning, the ideas, the traps, everything…

Darlin’…

Darlin’...

“Darlin’!” Ronin shouted, you looked back at his camera on your screen. He seemed a bit panicked, he was definitely worried now. “There you are, shit. You really are out of your mind, huh? Go rest, you really gonna need it.” 

He ended the call, he was right, but if you can retain any information about Victim, you will. As you stood up, you fell to your knees, barely any strength. You really need to eat something. 

-

You were passed out in the room you were working at. The corkboard holding red rope and notes of things. The room was dark as the moon rose to gaze its light to you. Paper garbage was surrounding you, time was ticking and you only felt further now than before. But to begin with… Who was Victim and how did they do this? And why? Why did you have to be stuck falling in love only to lose them in the end? By your hands or not. They have your answers.

『01:05』

Walking to Ronin’s alleyway, seeing if there was anything in the path that could be significant. In past loops, you scared the people in the server to the point they needed to intervene. Hell, Ronin visited you before the usual point he does. But, you are taking their advice to relax more. Light research. Nothing more. When you got to the middle of both your place and Ronin’s alleyway, a note. With Victim’s handwriting. It had dry blood on the note. 

“Nothing will save you. You deserve the pain you will receive, reawakening that thing, will only make you burn harsher in hell. I will make sure you die each time, with harsher and harsher death, making you suffer with the creation you made and regret who you killed. – “

The name was covered in blood, making it harder to read. Victim is after someone in revenge. Killing them over and over in these loops. But why? 

You know a bit more, Victim and there is someone else in these loops that remembers. But that ponders the question, did these loops start because the Victim wanted someone dead and revenge for someone else? Was it Victim or their… There is no name addressed to this, so what to call them for now… Creator? They created something apparently to the note, so was it Victim or Creator that started these loops? And why did they?

You feel like there are so many questions. But for now, you need rest, before Ronin goes victim hunting. You don’t need to die now, Misaki is requesting to watch an anime that's coming out, even though you memorize it by heart, seeing them smile is important to you right now. At least to pay back a favor from another loop.

『01:09』

You were out with V, patrolling with him with his route. He allowed you to follow him, after asking him politely, of course. You gained his trust, and you were seeing how he did things, you knew some, but not the whole thing. You looked at your hands, you haven’t killed anyone in the past couple loops, which in your opinion, was good. But you still got that bat from Victim. Taunting you? You still don’t know now. 

“Reader. Thank you for keeping me company during my patrols, I didn’t expect you to join me.” He said, the frost chill air surrounded the both of you, basking in that winter about to come to a close. 

You smiled softly, you missed the sweet domestic moments. “No problem! Plus, I do too, and I needed to get some fresh air.” You have been out constantly in the past couple loops, nope, it’s a break loop, no thinking about the loops. Just… enjoy the moment with them. 

V smiled back as he looked away from you to scan around again. Joining in, you also help scan, luckily from the last few loops looking for more notes from either Victim and Creator, you were able to scan for small details. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. The moment might have been quiet but it was a nice silent moment with V. 

He offered you tea afterwards. The tea was bitter but sweet at the same time. 

It was a peaceful moment, but you felt like something was off through the whole time. A pain in your heart. Like you were hurting again. God, you miss the moments, where you smile with the others. Loving them with your heart. Without worry about these loops.

These loops fucked you up, killing so many people, fucking with your memory, you knew so much about Angel, V, Misaki, and Ronin, but you barely felt like you knew yourself, then also messing with your mental health. You could barely look at yourself in the mirror anymore. Your moral compass was so fucked. You want out, but it seems Victim was calling your name, ending these loops. So much time to do so, but so little as well, from October to March. You still have so much to do. So much detective work. Closer to the end of loops, the better. 

『--:--』

Combat shoes could be heard walking through an abandoned building, a bat was in their hand, the wood was being dragged through the concrete floor. Untouched by blood. A chuckle filled the room, it sounded deep, a male. 

“Go fuck yourself.” Another figure was heard. That one was tied up on a chair. No way out. “You can keep killing me over and over, there would be no difference, I will come back the next loop.” 

“Maybe, maybe not. But, at least I get the joy of hurting you over and over, hearing your screams for what you have done.” The male had a grin, one of sadistic tendencies. “So be loud for me, won’t cha?” 

A loud crunch and a scream was heard for a couple blocks. A scream you couldn’t hear as you walked with V, talking about cooking and animals. A domestic moment away from the gruesome scene that was playing a few miles away from you.

[sixeyescurseuser]

《prequel》

Thinking about A Quiet Place: Day One AU…

Dozens of emergency helicopters circle around the city, dropping pamphlets and broadcasting crucial information for survival. 

Geto can’t hear any of it. But thankfully, his husband translates everything, rapidly signing about how the hostile creatures must listen for their prey because their vision is poor, and that their only weakness is water because they cannot swim. 

Citizens' only form of steady communication is through the radio or the helicopter’s PSAs - both which Geto cannot access.

Geto's eyes widen in panic, feeling completely out of his depths. People’s homes and livelihoods are already being torn apart. The buildings surrounding their apartment are half-collapsed, with lines of abandoned cars on the road, smoke and ash obstructing the air due to the fires. 

With a heavy expression, Gojo gathers his husband into a tight embrace. But they don't have time to process everything because evacuation boats await at the harbor to take them to safety. However, they cannot make a sound unless they wish to become these foreign creatures’ next meal. 

Gojo gently cups his husband's cheeks and touches their foreheads, reminding Suguru that it's them against the world. That they won't ever be apart. 

Geto nods in understanding. He softly kisses Satoru's lips, then pulls them along to pack an emergency bag and leave. 

Simply crossing the city without giving themselves away is a challenge in and of itself. 

Sometimes, Geto unintentionally makes noise with where he walks, or with the clink of his ring against his zipper, and Gojo will be the one to force them into an alleyway, listening to see if there's a monster lurking by. It’s imperative that he acts as both of their ears.

However, even if he isn't hearing, Geto’s body seems to have a sixth sense of where the monsters are as well.

They're tag-teaming to look out for each other. Along the way, the pair witness so many deaths, many of which could've been one of them had they not been a split second faster than they were. 

There's a close call where Geto accidentally triggers a bell on the door to a convenience store. Seconds before the monsters dogpile on him, Gojo manages to sidetrack the monsters by setting off multiple car alarms, then taking Suguru’s hand and running for their lives down the stairs to the subway. 

They find refuge in one of the bathrooms underground. Geto holds his husband the tightest he's ever held him for the next hour. Gojo trembles against him while Suguru's heartbeat rabbits from his chest, underneath Gojo's ear.

They're so traumatized, clothes hanging loose on their frames even more from the lack of food and sleep, and skyrocketed stress levels. 

When they take shelter for the night, they wrap around one another so close, sharing gentle nuzzles and kisses. Because like this, in their own little bubble, they can pretend the world didn't go to complete shit days ago.

There were probably multiple instances where Geto accidentally made too loud of a noise and they had to diverge from their original path to the harbor. 

Geto begins to feel like a liability. Is he slowing Satoru down because he doesn’t know if scratching his nose will be too loud? Is it risky if he signs with too much force? They spend a night cuddling, with Geto asking which actions would make noise and Gojo confirming or denying.

Gojo's hand gently pets Geto's hair as he answers. They are able to communicate in morse code too, by lightly tapping each other, back from when they learned to do so in university.

(Back then, Gojo made sure he learned multiple methods to speak to Suguru without just talking and having Geto ready his lips.)

When Geto asks if Gojo regrets bringing him along, Gojo stomps those thoughts down REAL quick. He knows his Suguru, knows how dark his spiraling goes, especially when it comes to his deafness and the inconvenience - now risk - it can cause.

Gojo will sign, /If I don't have you, I have nothing. Understand, my love? Nothing./ every day if he has to, in order to get his feelings through Suguru's thick skull.

The next day, Gojo and Geto finally make it onto the boat. As it leaves the dock - and their dilapidated city behind -  they collapse into each other's arms, tears streaming down their faces.

They are going to survive together; just like they've always been, and just like they always will.

***

w/ @no-one-says-hi

[kakerutori]

Navigating Concessions: The Case Against and For Byler

Alright, so this sounds insane coming from a Byler, I know. But just to really tease out all of the reasons why I like/ship Byler, I want to try something. (I’ve also been receiving a small influx of questions arguing against Byler, so that’s where this idea came from.)

I’m going to try to examine some moments that raise questions amidst Mike and Will’s relationship and try to explain them as if there’s nothing romantic going on. Nothing. After that, I’m going to go into why I do see things as potentially romantic.

1. “It was a seven.” (s1)

Well, obviously nothing’s going on, here. It’s the first 8 minutes of the show, and we’re just establishing the characters. The purpose of this scene was to show that Will is honest, and it’s nothing new to Mike. Showing Mike’s reaction is to emphasize just that - this is a normal occurrence, and he has no idea what’s going to happen next.

The thing about this scene that I love is that it’s simple and to-the-point. It’s true! Nothing is happening here, not yet, and that’s the point. Even in normalcy, Will trusts Mike. Even though this is a setup of what’s about to happen to Will, this ends up being the defining point of Will’s character that allows us to root for him. I can agree that nothing romantic is necessarily happening here, but it’s really sweet that the show decided to start here with the two of them over anyone else in The Party.

2. “Crazy together.” (s2)

In this scene, they’re literally talking about the Mind Flayer and El. It’s not about themselves. To say that this is a true heart-to-heart is not genuine. They’re confiding in each other after Will went through a bad episode and Mike is simply empathizing with him. To say that entrusting in someone with your deepest secrets is romantic is untrue, because friends do it all the time. This was probably included just to show how Mike and Will dealt with their traumatic experiences.

This is already getting painful and I regret everything. So the biggest counter point I know for this scene is that indeed, Mike brings up El. Therefore, his mind is on her, right? Well, it’s actually a lot more fleeting than that. He brings her up, but he immediately drops it and focuses on Will right after. Subject matter is often used as a point of contention for Byler/Mleven because the topic is always Mleven, but this time, it’s just plainly untrue. Mike and Will are talking about this encounter with the Mind Flayer, and Mike is empathizing with Will by bringing up a situation similar to his through El. He thinks of her as a claim to his main point, being there for Will. Mike is sweetly giving his time and his comfort to Will, and they’re both being vulnerable about their fears. You simply cannot deny their vulnerability to each other that’s uniquely theirs. This exploration and presentation of intimate traumas is so sweet of them to confide in each other.

3. The shed scene (s2)

This scene is heartbreaking. Will is possessed, here. We don’t know if he can fully hear Mike, evidently because he’s struggling to express himself. Everyone is fighting to get Will back from the Mind Flayer. This moment is sweet as it sheds (haha) light on Mike and Will’s origin story as best friends for years, which doesn’t include anything romantic of the sort. It’s just a retelling of them meeting on a swingset and choosing to be best friends. It’s cute, but it’s nothing much more than that. Plus, Mike is speaking alongside Will’s family, so he’s directly parallel to family in this sequence.

First and foremost to counter this - guess who isn’t here? Dustin and Lucas, who definitely have memories of Will in their lives, right? But no, neither of them are there. They’re needed to transcribe the Morse code that Will taps while Mike is there, in the fray, giving his all to fight for Will. And Mike is in tears. This scene tugs at the heart because it remains one of the most vulnerable moments Mike has ever shown onscreen. And yes, Will may not fully hear him, but Will is trying. Mike is the third person he’s hearing from, and it’s clear that Will is in a state of struggle. He’s not given up, not succumbed to the power of the Mind Flayer just yet. Will almost cries, too. We only see his face fully harden again when Joyce speaks to him after this scene with Mike. I love this scene because of how emotional it is. Mike is doing everything he can to keep Will present, loving him alive alongside the two people who’ve raised him. To me, this isn’t simply a display of Mike being like family, it’s a display of Mike’s intimacy with Will that’s just as strong as the other people who’ve loved him his entire life.

4. The rain scene (s3)

This one seems obvious and plain enough, Mike and Will don’t get each other. They’re arguing, disagreeing about what teenage-hood is, and they both very clearly define it differently. Mike comes to Will trying to understand him, arguing that he’s just prioritizing his girlfriend at this point in life and that he can’t pay attention to everything that he once did. In contrast, Will says that he just wants thing to stay the same with The Party together, playing D&D, having fun like they used to. He and Mike are no longer on level ground. When Mike says, “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls,” it’s the final indication that he knows that he himself likes girls and that they cannot be on the same field since Will doesn’t appear to want the same things that he does and can’t relate to Mike because he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Mike also continues to talk about El and how he clearly prioritizes her. Will just isn’t growing up the same as Mike and Mike clearly isn’t into Will. He hasn’t been all season. He’s just spelling that out here since Will prompted him to.

On the surface, they’re separating. At the core, they’re not on the same level. But underneath, they’re just trying to learn what the other wants. Once again, if this was meant to highlight the separation of the friend group, where are Dustin and Lucas? Dustin’s far away, but Lucas could have come in. He’s right there at the Wheeler’s house. But no, he’s not there. This is a scene between Mike and Will alone as they defeatedly explain why they’re upset as a final plea to each other. Will starts it, Mike carries it. Just like the “crazy together” scene, this is an exclusive moment between them as they share what’s on their hearts, and El is on Mike’s mind as an added point to his perspective compared to Will’s. I’m always so fascinated by Mike’s wording because by saying “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls,” he emphasizes Will’s lack of attraction rather than lack of a romantic relationship which raises a question to me of why Mike would peel back that layer in the first place. It’s not answered fully here, but it raises the question nonetheless, and to ignore that and say it’s just Mike merely drawing a line of differentiation between them is shallow. All in all, yes, they don’t get each other. But that’s why we have this scene, because they’re trying to find out, and based on the way their breaks in conversation leaven them both rather stunned, maybe they know each other more than meets the eye.

5. “Not possible.” (s3)

This scene lasts, like, ten seconds long. It’s far too insignificant to analyze, and anyone who does is looking way too deeply into the subtext. This scene highlights that Mike and Will are still friends and still can very much miss each other like anyone would when a close friend is moving away. It’s a sealant to their once broken relationship to set up their friendship continuing on and that the both of them still like D&D and that the game as well as The Party as a whole will continue to be relevant to the story. If anything, this moment sets up that Will is in love with Mike as only he makes the promise to not join another party, showing his loyalty to Mike that Mike does not explicitly reciprocate. This entire thing was included in the show to give the audience a breath of closure for them this season and show that they still are close. This one hurt to write, too. Holy shit.

The show very well could have shown us that Mike and Will’s relationship was still intact through the hug sequences during Hopper’s letter, but nope, we get another exclusive Mike and Will moment. Once again, Dustin and Lucas are pointedly not here, making this not about The Party but them in it. And this time, it’s through the thing they argued about and both still clearly wanted to commit to, further disproving the idea that Mike has grown up way faster than Will and was truly ready to ditch D&D. Mike even brings up joining another party first. Will simply replies to him. And the smiles that they give each other are so sweet. Comparing how Mike is left confused and frowning when El leaves him to this little glowing smirk when Will leaves him is insane. Will makes Mike smile; it’s a tiny flirt that can go unnoticed, but the brevity helps not to call out too much unneeded attention to it, otherwise, would them flirting for minutes on end seem appropriate after the reality that they’re parting ways and helping the Byers move out? I don’t think so. Still, it’s rather key to me that they filmed this exchange between the sadness. It’s a breath of closure alright, one that looks up on their relationship.

6. The airport scene (s4)

This scene is so undeniably awkward. There’s literally nothing romantic about two friends reuniting like this. It’s strained, Will’s lying here about the painting being “nothing,” and Mike makes terse and disinterested remarks. He’s clearly not focused on Will. Just before this, by contrast, he was able to kiss El, hug her, and he gave her flowers. This puts a gap between Mike and Will to set up how they become “best friends” again later on, setting them apart on a journey of growth that stays platonic. It’s pretty obvious that Mike doesn’t really care about Will right then.

This scene is undeniably awkward. But y’know who Mike isn’t awkward around? Literally everyone else in his life. He can hug everyone he loves except for Will. And yes, he kissed El, but it’s been established that they kissed a lot the summer before and can do that instinctively, and yet Mike cannot write that “love, Mike.” Will then responds with doubt upon seeing Mike so closed off to him, not wanting to give away something that Mike may not accept or treat well even after so much hard work has been put into it. It’s a moment of testing the waters, and yeah, Mike doesn’t pass the vibe check, but it helps to set up how differently Mike actually thinks very exclusively regarding Will: “Hawkins, it’s not the same without you.” If Mike simply didn’t care and they started from the bottom, why is he talking about home and being a team literally two days after this with Will alone? This scene sets up not just a growth of friendship but of the bond these two have that not even awkwardness or ignoring it can deny.

7. The apology scene (s4)

So now we get to the days after the awkwardness. Being back together, Mike is able to see how rude he was and how much he still values Will. These two are unstoppable when it comes to overcoming dangers, and Mike knows that. He simply misses his friend who’s been through so much together with him. He brings up platonic terms like “team” and “best friends,” clearly wanting Will back in his life as just that, a best friend by his side. Best friends reconcile after bad arguments all the time. This was finally making up for not seeing their forgiveness after last season’s fight. This scene highlights their maturity to understand wrongs and overcome self-doubt, establishing their working together for the rest of the season to come.

Alright, I couldn’t even pretend to deny their togetherness in the concession. Because seriously, no one can tell me that this scene wasn’t romantic. Mike, completely and admittedly unprompted (re: “oh, I didn’t say it” “you didn’t have to”), comes into Will’s room, shuts the door and establishes privacy before he lays down his heart not only at the Rink-O-Mania but for the “year” before it and how Hawkins isn’t the same without Will. Yes, he mentions platonic terms, and yes, he never says “god, I needed you” or “I love you,” but did he have to? The intimacy and visually private moment is so very clearly written between these two alone. You don’t get these types of moments often between mere platonic characters. This type of outpouring is written and framed with a closeness that’s almost uncomfortable for the audience. Just look at how they react to each other. They’re on the verge of tears, happy, relieved, and excited to be back together as a unit. It’s a sure sign of Mike’s maturity as he doesn’t just brush this off or play it down in a merely friendly way. This is focused, this is only for Will. It’s a reconciliation as well as a promise. Again, no, it’s not openly romantic, but it sure as hell serves as an example that Mike can be vulnerable and tenderhearted to Will just as Will gives grace to him.

So, I mean, I don’t know. Are there any arguments I missed? Because I remain pretty unshaken. Byler’s endgame and all the setup is there despite the concessions.

[theghostbunnie]

Big huge rambling peice where I lost the point I was trying to make I think it's about consuming media when you have empathy issues or something idk

Show creators look directly into the eyes of their audience and blink in a version of morse code akin to a dead language and 3 smoke signals in the rain to go " hey.... For entertainment purposes we're gonna write this kid getting abused/neglected/some unjustice happening to them. It'd bum everyone out if we took it seriously and made the whole story about that or write an arc where we take that seriously or ever address it happening so we're not actually gonna focus on that, but this story also doesn't work without it ///implied/// there. Which sounds super serious until I say like 90% of stories that involve children need some degree of child neglect happening to give the characters room to do anything. You wouldn't have KidsNextDoor or CampCamp or Clearance or Craig of the Creek or whatever the fuck if all kids were written with adults who knew where they were at and what they were doing. Like most of the time this isn't even a problem that's just how the fictional entertainment game is. It's fictional and is not showcasing reality.

But maybe the Mortys from Rick and Morty will just have to be written like an alien species getting oppressed by the Ricks instead of a little boy getting abused by his grandpa because the story is about sci fi and has to put everything through that lense first and maybe we can focus on the 2 main ones and paint it like that SOMETIMES. Candace from Phineas and Ferb is gonna be called crazy by her mom and her mom is never going to be home or involved with the home a singular day of summer, because the story can't go that dark but it needs that implied for the plot to work. And so you understand completely why they don't go there. But it's still just sitting over there.

And then things start getting less understandable. Maybe something awful is implied not for the plot to keep working, so in a sense for even a peice of media to keep going but can't be addressed because it doesn't fit the tone, but for a quick joke.

Maybe the show does take things seriously sometimes, but not for that character, or not that topic

and you understand nothing is wrong with that inherently it just makes //you// /feel/ bad. It just feels unfair.

That's not how this media is supposed to be enjoyed or taken, but to some fictional characters your gonna get really attached to one of them and your never going to be able to get it out of the back of your mind any time you see them. And your a baby if you bring it up during the wrong circumstances btw.

[utilitycaster]

Apologies in advanced for the long ask, but i think it is telling that the sort of people who argued for Predathos to be released, and that the Prime Deities deserved to be killed, are the same type of people who would turn around and argue that Solas has a point and that the Veil should be rent open. Hilarious, considering that the talking points usually used to argue in favor of either one are at complete odds with the other.

Both fandoms are guilty of ripping characters agency away so that they can't be blamed (that wild take from a few weeks back that Solas' whole deal was that he was basically manipulated by Mythal into trying to take down the Veil vs. The arguement Bells Hells "had no choice" regarding their decisions in Predathos' lair), arguing that both parties goals is to "save the little people" and then not being able to actually put to words how their grand plans would actually help against systemic issues (also, in both situations, no one actually asked the "little people", who are portrayed as NOT being on board with either plan), and would rather risk a cataclysmic event to "change the status quo" (and feeling antagonistic towards storylines where people are doing that work to dismantle systems because it's "not enough"), it's just more of the same.

Both fandom groups having a history of not being able to handle anyone who does not share their opinion can't be a coincidence either.

Insanely, I also can imagine that if, say, Taliesin says something less than positive about Ashton during the upcoming wrap-up (and he very well might, considering his history, that he was likely playing with a similar theme that he has with many of his characters and never intended for Ashton to always be "right", but to have the assumption that they are "right" and putting a force of personality behind it and seeing what happens) that any diehard Ashton stans would immediately disavow Taliesin of having any understanding of the character a la how the DA devs obviously have no understanding of Solas (a character they wrote) because they made him a villain.

Anyway, you don't have to post or respond if you don't want to. Just wanted to vent to someone who understands the frustration, being in both fandoms, and how annoying it is to see this approach to interacting with media, but, if you have the time: what do you think draws this type of fan in? What about both these stories appeals to them? Why do they inspire such strong feelings?

Hi anon,

Re everything pre final paragraph, agreed. I mean, we've already seen this re: Taliesin saying, repeatedly, in character and out, that Molly is dead and Kingsley is a separate person and this is very much his intention, and people ignoring that. They may not disavow Taliesin but if they don't, they'll either decide secret messages are being sent to them via Morse code blinks or that others in the cast made him do it, or attack other fans who have absolutely no control over this.

I started writing out a very long and in-depth answer to what draws this fan in/why they like these stories, but I think it comes down to something much more simple. It’s not confined to Veilguard nor Campaign 3 by any means, but it certainly does exist there: To quote @burr-ell in conversation, “too many people want RPG to mean ‘im the specialest birthday boy and god's favorite princess and if you're mean to me i get to blow the whole building up’ and not like, playing a role in a game.” 

We are also very specifically talking about the responses to these works on Tumblr, and there is a specific culture here of "our modern world is uniquely awful and my life is harder than that of a medieval serf [it’s not] therefore the only valid response to bring about a better world is drastic and often violent complete destruction of the status quo without any interrogation of what specifically to keep and what to destroy [it’s not], but because anything less than perfect and rapid action is problematic [it’s not], doing things is bad [it's not], so I balance eternally in a space of miserably doing nothing and telling myself I am virtuous for doing so [they’re not]." It’s a uniquely ignorant, ahistoric, self-absorbed, and utterly ineffective mindset for achieving any material goals in the real world, which I do think is why they are so drawn to fictional options, where they can briefly escape this entirely self-imposed powerlessness without having to like, work on themselves as a person.

This leads to this idea that agency is something that only the most privileged have, so if you have agency, you are privileged and therefore bad unless you use it to prop up their belief that they're the most special birthday boy. And finally I think the immersive nature of RPGs attract people who really want to sink into and over-identify with a character, though again that’s not exclusive to fantasy nor RPGs.

And so: the world needs drastic change, but change has to come with someone with agency, which can only be the domain of privilege (old white man) but maybe a little bit other (elf) so that he Gets It. But he would have stuck to the Status Quo [which in this case is specifically the Veil and the Gods but not like. Other problems, because Status Quo is what these people use to mean Big Impossible Problem That Only The Specialest Birthday Boys Who Never Did Anything Else Before In Their Life Can Solve and not like. Tevene slavery or Dwendalian Imperialism] had he not experienced Trauma or Manipulation. This gives him a Motivation, and also, because Trauma or Manipulation confers Total Absolution by removing Personal Agency But Permitting Action, he is never to be questioned in his goals [Until it’s Critical Role Campaign 3 episode 119 and you realize with the sickening crunch of the single cell of your brain falling to the base of your skull that your pure as driven snow agencyless yet still battling the gods babies Bells Hells have suppressed the story of Aeor for apparently no effect other than to almost get Liliana killed; have just stopped Ludinus; done what he was going to do anyway, and come up with another answer after the gods gave them a bunch of presents and now suddenly they are such good people for saving the gods (that they themselves put at risk, because to not put them at risk is to perpetuate the status quo, and the gods are bad because Bells Hells specifically are not treated by the gods as their favorite princesses except they definitely are, at least compared to the common people whom they don’t talk to, and also the good thing to do about bad people is to suppress the story of what you think their crimes are; anyway how dare the people of Vasselheim not weep with gratitude and kiss their feet when Bells Hells point a nuke at their lives' purpose. Extremely rude of them.)]

In short a lot of people project onto/identify very strongly with a character or characters whom the narrative, deliberately (Veilguard) or who the fuck knows the intent (C3) portrays as selfish and entrenched in their own pain to the point that they see pain inflicted on others as not just a necessary evil in the pursuit of their goals, but also their birthright to relish in, as the specialest birthday boy who was denied this. And if you as a viewer are like huh! Solas (or Ashton, or Laudna, or Imogen) is being an asshole, then first off, you are DENYING THEM THEIR BIRTHRIGHT, OPPRESSOR and second off you are PERSONALLY ATTACKING THE TUMBLR USER WHO IDENTIFIES WITH THEM and therefore you are EVIL and ATTACKS ON YOU ARE JUSTIFIED and thus they can feel like they are tearing down the status quo of evil bnfs [arbitrary term for people who sometimes maintag a coherent argument these fans do not like that gets more notes than their post did] because they will never, ever, do anything in real life other than uphold the status quo through inaction and an inability to care about other people, and post online about how revolutionary they are while better people actually do the work.

[mags6422]

It Happened One November - Part 6

Part 5 | 0 | Part 7

It doesn’t take long for everything to go to shit again. Half of the squad are out in the shed interrogating baby Byers. They finally get somewhere when they realise the kid is trying to tap out a message with morse code or some shit. What do they teach kids in this town anyway that this child knows morse code but whatever. 

CLOSE GATE

Billy doesn’t get it but everyone else gets excited about it so he guesses it makes sense to them. Before anyone can explain it to him, the phone rings. Dustin is quick to pick it up and hangs up immediately which strikes Billy as a bad idea since they are waiting on a call back from the cavalry that Hopper called in but no one asks him. 

The phone rings again immediately after and Nancy is right there ripping the whole thing from the wall which is pretty badass but now everyone is tense. 

“Do you think he heard it?”

“It’s just a phone right? It could be anywhere…”

As if on cue, a howl goes up in the night and before he knows it, the inquisition crew are hauling Baby Byers into the room again and the Chief stomps in with a fucking assault rifle in one hand and a hunting rifle in the other hand, offering it out to Jonathan. 

“Do you know how to use this?” Jonathan is obviously panicking and Billy has never held a gun before but he’s about to volunteer to give it a go before Prissy Pants Nancy is piping up.

“I do!” and goddam she does, efficiently checking the load and clicking off the safety before bringing it neatly into her shoulder like this is her usual saturday night. Shit, Steve might have been onto something dating this book nerd cause Billy’s never been this attracted to a woman before in his life. 

Speaking of Steve, Billy catches his eye and gets into his position on the right of the group with a nod. Max is somewhere in the centre looking scared as shit but standing her ground so fuck if Billy can do less. 

Outside there is an unholy racket going on and it sounds like… are they fighting something else out there? Billy gets the sudden nonsensical mental image of the Jehovah's Witness out there being eaten alive but shakes it out of his head when one of the demodogs comes sailing through the window with a crash. 

“Is it dead?” One of the kids is wondering but it’s on Steve’s side so Billy keeps his position while Steve goes and gives it a kick. The noise outside has stopped and it sure looks like the thing is dead… what the hell?

Billy whips his head back to the sound of the security chain on the front door sliding off by itself! And hefts his axe, ready for whatever comes through that door next. Now Billy’s not sure what he expects, but some little punk girl is not it and based on everyone else’s reaction, he’s not the only one surprised. 

Wheeler Jr stumbles into a hug with the kid and he hears Max asking “Is that her?” behind him. Billy turns his head toward Steve who gives him a nod and ‘I’ll tell you later’ shrug so Billy lets himself relax a little. 

As it turns out, the kid (Eleven? What kind of name is that?) is actually Punk Supergirl and soon enough, her and Hopper are going back to the monster lab to close the gate while the Byers and Nancy head out somewhere the kid’s never been before to try get the Mind Flayer out of him and that leaves Steve and Billy to look after the munchkins. But of course, that’s not the end of it. 

Part 5 | 0 | Part 7

Read the whole series on AO3

[under0-0s]

‎She hadn't heard the door of her lab open.

‎She was working on something, had been for the last few days.

‎"Remind me to make a list of everything to never bring to my lab, Marc" she said to her microwave.

‎"Funny how I can synthesize a molecular cure in 30 minutes, but the second I smell acetone and burnt sugar, my hands still shake like I’m 8 and back in their garage"

‎She looked up from her work to the microwave where it replied on it's display screen, "I should teach you Morse code. This is impractical"

‎She finally noticed you standing there, "hey there. Could have announced yourself. It's almost as unprofessional as being friends with my adoptive guardian" she says

‎"Never took you for a snitch"

‎- @cursed-with-knowledge

He blinks.

For a minute, it takes him a bit to settle out with what she was speaking of. Ah. So, a little bit upset.

It did quite sting for him to hear it out loud. Snitch. Like he had been one for so long, he never took it for a label. Was that truly what this was, though? Snitching? Even when he simply wanted to make sure she was taken care of? He couldn't tell. In fact, now he felt over involved. Unwarranted.

"You're calling me unprofessional? You know what is unprofessional? Abusing that laboratory like it's your rat hole."

Yes, he did in fact feel as though he was speaking to himself, the difference being that it wasn't a middle aged self-sabotaging narcissist with graying hair in front of him. This was a kid, who had a life ahead that cannot be put to waste. And truly, even he, wasn't this rigged until after his twenties.

It hurt a little bit anyway. Why wouldn't it? It would hurt anybody who put the effort in, wouldn't it?

He didn't, for a second, think of wanting to comment on the earlier jabs she made at the talking microwave. He couldn't.

"You know what... don't bother. I think you like being here. I gave you this, didn't I? Don't get me wrong, you're still very deserving, the only one, even. Although, I didn't think to become unwarranted here. Hope Marc can keep up."

He says, his feet already turning with that defensive stance from losing his film. He could feel the disassociation coming from a mile away. His reflection was already changing in his own eyes.

"And my lab smells like Lavender and Licorice, for the record. It's more...welcoming."

He says, on his way out, every hair on his body standing on end. He wasn't this.

[breakerwhiskey]

269 - TWO HUNDRED SIXTY NINE

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support.

If you'd like to send Whiskey a message, click here.

Transcript under the cut. For more episodes, click here.

Breaker Breaker, this is Whiskey calling out for Breaker Rum. I do see what you did there. Sorry if I, uh, didn't totally read your message right. I think, well, there was some static in the Morse code and… I'm not entirely sure I got everything right. But if you're from England, how the hell did you get here? Unless were you here before?

I mean… I guess I'm assuming that you're here because it sounds like you think that the dog that I saw along the highway was your dog, but if that were the case, surely I would have found you in all my looking.

It's kind of you to see me as tanned and gorgeous and happy and I guess I'm happy more than I'm not. Happy being relative. To, you know, everything else. I think, on the whole, I am as happy as I can be. Dogs would make me happier, definitely, but barring that, everything else that would ease my life, bring me joy, those things are a little farther out of reach and a lot out of my control, so.

If you really do think that the dog I saw was your dog, well, I don't know, should I come back to Kansas, try to find you? And your now three dogs? Seems kind of fruitless, but what else am I gonna do? Either way, I- I'm happy. I'm happy that you found your dog. And that you got some more. I hope the four of you are very happy together.

And I, I don't know what you meant about the Birdie stuff. I'm, honestly, I think I'm choosing to ignore it, um, because, well, there could be a lot of people out there, um, named Birdie and you spelled it differently in any case. Yeah, I'm just gonna assume that this whole thing is a weird coincidence, um, so that I don't go crazy trying to chase ghosts, uh, again, because… I, well, I've had enough of that.