#but what does she care what happens to these husks? she can always try again

[valleynix]

Can you explain more on the reality stuff please?

of course!!

so, as has been mentioned/implied, there are multiple "realities" within TPtM; this just means there are other versions of this setting going on, or perhaps past versions that have already come to pass (like with the Watcher)

in TPtM, the megamycete ("Black God") is literally a deity. it can do whatever it wants, and this includes allowing T-Miranda (TPtM's Miri) to traverse different realities by bringing her consciousness from one body to another through the megamycete, which acts as a vessel, of sorts

T-Miranda fully believes she is the one to depart one reality and go to another when she realizes, once again, she has failed, but this is not the case. it is all the megamycete's doing, and each reality is connected through this (assuming it has one), thus allowing for easier reality traveling

(does this make sense?? 😭)

the Watcher is from one many, many decades ago, who has been forced to watch each reality unfold and watch themself from another "world" fall victim again and again to T-Miranda's (megamycete's) plans. because the megamycete itself is able to store memories of those that have passed, it is also able to store the memories of other realities it has visited, which allows the Watcher to see those past events unfold over and over

honestly, with how many realities she's visited and how many times she's both witnessed Eva die in her arms and her "perfect" vessel (Reader) succumb to insanity/failure, one would think she would give up, but her god is not a kind one, and it promises the next will work. the next will be the reality she is able to see her daughter once more.

different circumstances do arise in each reality; that's why Reader and the Watcher look a bit different, or why sometimes Reader simply does not exist in a reality, or even why Miranda does not exist in a reality. it's a lot like alternate universes, i guess ? freaky

i realize this sounds like the megamycete just has a personal vendetta against Reader in any reality, but that's not the case LMAO. it really doesn't care about them, and is simply more interested in seeing how far its influence/power can spread either through them or through T-Miranda, seeing how the little bird mutant in the other realities are literally indestructible bioweapons dead set on killing anything in their path

i hope that makes sense!! sometimes this stuff makes more sense in my head and i struggle putting it into words 😭

[ohbother2]

OKAY SO-

Alastor lost his cool and flipped his shit immensely when Lucifer showed up - why would that be? and why wedge himself between Lucifer and Charlie? Why would he react so viscerally when his literal main-competitor for retaining his rank and respect is Vox, and Vox openly antagonises him first, trying to drag Alastor's reputation through the mud in his broadcasts

Alastor remains cool, calm, collected, and in doing so completely surpasses Vox's attempts

in many ways, Alastor is unflappable. Always smiling, always a step ahead, always the most powerful and domineering in a room

and then- Lucifer shows up. This short statured, rosy-cheeked, rather pathetic excuse of a man

he waltzes in to the hotel, a fumbling over-excited mess, the least threatening a person could possibly look in hell, barely reaching Alastor's waist

and yet, he outranks Alastor, he could over-power him easily, he is the predator

and Alastor simply cannot handle that

Alastor may be furious that such a week-minded, emotionally unguarded man ranks so far above him with no way for Alastor to even attempt to gain the same status

so what does Lucifer lack? what is the one thing Alastor can have that he can't?

a relationship with Charlie

his anger is calculated, he finds what hurts Lucifer, he finds his weakness, he grips onto it with both claws, and he drags it in front of him, mocking the fact that, yeah, sure Lucifer may outrank him, but in his daughters mind? one of the few things Lucifer can't control? Alastor has the power, has the lead - in all manners of 'power' and 'influence' that Lucifer cannot control, Alastor makes sure he knows he is on top - he is Charlie's favourite, he succeeds where Lucifer has failed her

regardless of his motives, he has been there for Charlie, and Lucifer hasn't, and that's all that matters

but why does he have this deep-rooted need to prove himself? why can he not accept that he is still the second most powerful in that hotel?

his need for power, for dominance, for control is shown again when Husk confronts him in the hallway

'big talk for someone who's also on a leash'

this time, Alastor doesn't even bother targeting Husker's, insecurities, his weaknesses

he drags him down the hallway chained at his neck, teeth gnashing and positively enraged

there's no typical Alastor intelligence or cunning behind this action - it is pure unadulterated rage, it's a: I can kill you, and I will

killing husk would be useless - Alastor obviously has a purpose for him, that's why he's been kept alive and the other overlords haven't, killing him would get rid of any leverage Alastor had, it would get rid of Husk full stop

Alastor has been gone for 7 years, and now he's back, supporting a cause he doesn't believe, forced to wander around the hotel halls and haunting its residents instead of freely roaming Hell

Lilith has also been gone 7 years - and she isn't yet back

Alastor just so happens to appear at the hotel mere moments after Charlie tries to talk to Lilith, marching into the foyer and wedging himself into the project with a showman's flair

he is chained, he is chained to that infernal hotel where he doesn't belong - he cannot be redeemed, he doesn't want to be redeemed

he is chained to Lilith, and by extension he is chained to Charlie

and in his eyes, he is powerless, so utterly and infuriatingly at the mercy of those above him, and that simply won't do

so what can he do? what can a man, whose greatest desire is power, who's biggest insecurity is the power and status he wields over others, do to reclaim some semblance of that power? how can he usurp Lilith? how can be make this soul-bond beneficial to him?

he can win Charlie over - he can replace her father in the process, he can mould her as he sees fit, he can play on her need to view the best in everyone, in the need to create friendships and her insatiable ability to care for those around her

he cannot get to Lilith, he cannot match Lucifer, but he can have Charlie

and he's nearly got her

and when he does? who's to say her naivety, her trust, the relationship he's intentionally crafted with her, leads her to strike a deal with him in a moment of need? when the angels attack, when the hotel begins to crumble, when heaven commands her to stop her efforts? why wouldn't she strike a deal, in her mind, he's as caring as a father figure, and a man who's been there since day one unlike either of her parents

she shakes his hand

he has her soul

he has Charlie, and he has Lilith, and he has Lucifer

there's nothing they can do, and isn't that really what power is? not raw-strength, not magic, not status, but the ability to control those who others may believe to be above your own station?

he's forced to the hotel, he's chained down and unable to grab for more power - if Lilith is preventing him from earning it himself, well, he can always just force her to give it to him

all it takes is one hand shake.

the cherry on top? he get's to show Lilith it's her own desire for him to be at the hotel that has allowed him to ensnare them all

[bloodreddemons]

Hazbin Hotel Episode 1-4 Hot Takes! ~

They finally dropped. They are finally here, and I have A LOT to say. (Good & the bad, my opinions of course.)

Episode 1 was kinda boring and it just seemed overall weird and off. It didn't really pick back up that well, or align with the pilot too much, and the pilot slapped.

I feel like for those who haven't seen the pilot would be so confused with what is going on or who the characters even are. It feels like you also have to do a bit of digging to actually figure out other details.

I wasn't expecting to like Adam he was funny asf and I loved his singing. Love Alex Brightman he's great.

I can see what people are saying now when they were talking about the premise changing or being different, it definitely seems that way. It just feels like it's all over the place and there's multiple things happening at once. A bit confusing.

Charlie just looks weird to me I don't know why, I kinda like how she used to look.

Sir Pentious new voice is better. Again, love Alex Brightman. Lol.

Loser, Baby, Hell is forever, Poison, & Respectless are the best songs so far. Stayed Gone is ok too tho.

I'm interested in finding out why Lilith & Alastor were gone for like 7 years. I wonder where they went and it just makes me wonder if the war against heaven was possibly planned?? 🤔

I love Brandon Roger's but I didn't really like him as Katie Killjoy I think I liked the other VA. I just don't hear Katie, I hear Bryce Tankthrust.

I wish Vivzie designed Sir Pentious with more of a steampunk look since that's what era he's from so he's not wearing almost the same exact suit every other Overlord has.

Nifty is literally fucking iconic. I enjoyed her every time she was on screen even if it was for a short time. She's so funny.

I was expecting Vox & Valentino to have deeper voices but they still sounded great.

Velvette fucking ATE I was pleasantly surprised by her. I love her so much. She's my favorite of the VVV's and her singing is so good.

Charlie & Vaggie's fight wasn't that impactful, it kinda just came out of nowhere and seemed like something that should have happened way later. It didn't even seem like such a big deal either to be an argument.

I don't really like Vox as a person for letting Valentino treat Angel Dust the way he does. Just trash. He has to know about it.

Vox is just too obsessed with Alastor. He wants his cock soooo bad it's kinda crazy. It's the most fakest beef ever. Bad meat.

I like the new VA's they're amazing, but I do really miss the old ones. Most of them.

I think Vaggie's singing is better than Charlie's and that's fucked up because singing is like her whole thing.

Camilla killing the Angel wasn't that impactful because we don't really know who she is.

I don't really care to know how they will be trying to redeem people...idk I always thought that those parts would be boring.

So far I don't think the show was worth a 4 year wait....

Huskerdust WILL be canon at this rate. They might just be the best couple.

Charlie should have lit Valentino's ass up for treating Angel Dust the way he was. She shouldn't have listened to Angel and just fucked him up. Stop crying omfg!

I get that Husk & Angel are like in the same boat & all but....is being Alastor's minion really as bad as being constantly knocked around by Valentino?

[theyapper0]

PART TWO OF "FINALE"

Adam: I just want to get this over with…. 

Alastor trips on falls to the ground. He struggles to get back up and still his pride does not allow him to turn onto his back and look up at the Winner 

Instead, Alastor stays on his hands and knees. His shaky hands and knees, his bruised, WEAK limbs. 

He couldn't best Adam… how embarrassing.

A puddle of his own blood forms where he's knelt, dripping and flowing out of his like a river. 

In the reflection it, he sees Adam, standing tall and unscathed above him, his hands outstretched and glowing.

He's firing one last, fatal blast. 

Alastor's eyes widen. He couldn't die. Not here. Not now. Not to HIM.

Adam fires the blast.

Angel Dust, in the midst of all the fighting and carnage, looks up at the sound of the blast. He realizes that Alastor LOST… 

Alastor was supposed to beat Adam! Or at the very least hold him off and keep him distracted for a good while until they get the Exorcist numbers down! But that couldn't have been any more than 20 minutes! 

And ALSO!!! WHERE DID ALASTOR GO?! DID HE DIE?! 

(Angel also sort is beginning to care about people so he is sorta worried for Alastor’s wellbeing) 

Adam moved back into battling on the front lines as opposed to his previous stance of Alastor fighting him one-on-one to isolate him. 

Adam is MUCH stronger than any of the Exorcists so he's EASILY wiping out HERDS of their army. 

Something needs to be done. Fast.

But Adam is so strong. He's stronger than any Sinner they have here, Hell, he's stronger than the fucking RADIO DEMON! 

The only person who probably even comes CLOSE to his unbridled power would be… 

“HEY CHARLIE!!!!!!!!!!” 

Angel tries to call for Charlie, who is still going on a crazy killing spree.

But she isn’t listening, she's distracted and caught up in the EUPHORIC FEELINGS OF MUTILATING AGAIN!!!!! WHY DID SHE EVER STOP?! THIS RUSH, THIS POWER, SHE'S ALWAYS HAD IT, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE, BURIED JUST UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE. 

IF SHE WAS ONLY DOING THIS FOR ONE DAY, SHE MIGHT AS WELL MAKE THE MOST OF IT! 

IN A CONSTANT BATTLE OF CONTROL, TO FINALLY LET LOOSE AND DO WHAT SHE WAS MEANT TO DO AND BE WHO SHE WAS MEANT TO BE!!! 

Angel tries to get her attention but fails miserably. He realizes that there's no way that Charlie is snapping out of her state anytime soon and it's far too dangerous to get close enough to her to PHYSICALLY stop her (not that they were strong enough to do so anyway) 

So he just kinda goes, “Ok, FINE!” And runs off go try and fight Adam himself. 

The Exorcists they can handle, but Adam, he could very well wipe them ALL out without even breaking a sweat, he needs to be STOPPED

Even if that means dying in the process… 

Husk, who's fending off Angels with Niffty, sees Angel running towards a blasting Adam and he quickly pieces together not only what might've happened to Alastor, but also what Angel is most likely planning on doing… 

Shit…

Niffty: Angel's heading towards Adam! 

Husk: Oh for crying out- come on! That idiot’s gonna need us 

Husk and Niffty hurry behind Angel

Vaggie was doing extremely well against the other Exorcists. She knew their fighting styles so every attack was able to be predicted and she was strong enough to fend off probably EIGHT angels at a time. Before she was banished, Vaggie WAS one of Heaven's top soldiers after all, ranking just under-

Lute had gone out of her way to find Vaggie in this chaos (and Vaggie would be lying if she said she wasn't scooping out the battlefield to try and find her as well) 

So they catch each other and fight. But this battle wasn’t like anything either of them have ever done with the other before. Before, when Vaggie was still in Heaven, every spar between the two was planned, it was scheduled and foreseen as part of their training. 

This battle could not even be compared to Vaggie’s banishment. She was shaken up at the time, having just completely disobeyed Heaven for seemingly no reason in particular, a moment of clarity, a moment of weakness. At the time, there was no time to react to Lute’s abrupt attack- the slicing of her wings, the mutilation of her face.

This battle couldn’t even be compared to their fights when Charlie and Vaggie had gone to Heaven. It was mere roughhousing above all else at the end of the day, Vaggie didn’t have her spear and Lute didn’t use her sword (why didn’t she?). They had fought with nothing but their own fists.

But this battle… This was to the death. This was the first day of war. This was a fight against Heaven, a fight to protect Sinners, a fight to protect the hotel, a fight to protect the place that Vaggie now called home.

This was a fight where only one can come out alive… 

“I gave you a chance back at Heaven to make amends but you've stubbornly and STUPIDLY chose against it,” Lute says, “So I hope you know that I won't be holding back, Vaggie.”

So why was Vaggie shaking so much? 

She wasn’t scared, she COULDN’T be scared. She was prepared now. There wasn’t anything Lute could do to her that Vaggie couldn’t return tenfold. 

Vaggie doesn’t respond to Lute’s speech (There was a time when Vaggie would playful roll her eyes at the theatrics).

Vaggie let out a mighty battle cry and flew forward.

The fight starts very cold, neither party speaking to each other as both were focused on landing that fatal blow that the other wouldn’t allow themselves to receive. 

But this is hard, mentally, for both of them. Vaggie and Lute have history, GOOD history where they were each other’s everything up until a few years ago. But now… now they're fighting on opposing sides with the belief that the other is truly evil, that the other enjoys working with the ENEMY! 

But… despite all that, despite their hatred for each other and their devotion to their respective causes, there's still love. The love and care they have for each other is still there. 

They're both hurting. And fighting to the death is the best way to channel that pain. 

They both do still care deeply for each other but they’re both soldiers, their feelings don’t matter, all that matters is their mission to KILL the other.

Angel rushes towards Adam, Husk and Niffty not being too far behind. 

The 3 of them get his attention long enough to cease his fire on the other Cannibals and Sinners on their side and focus on them.

So Angel, Husk and Niffty do their bests to fend against Adam for as long as they possibly could (which won’t be that long at all because if ALATSOR couldn’t last more than 10 minutes, these guys are COOKED)

During the fight, Angel gets blasted back into the pavement. He lays there for a moment because FUCK, did that hurt…

He rolls to his hands and knees with strained effort, cranking his head up to see Husk and Niffty fighting Adam together.

(Husk and Niffty are both super strong btw and they also make a great team because they know each other and their fighting styles like the back of their hands bc they’ve worked together under Alastor for so long).

Angel begins to dig through the huge mess of debris, shaky pavements and ground. (There's basically like a huge crater filled with dirt and rocks and stuff from where Adam let his blast go off when he finished off Alastor)

Angel digs through the rubble with his bare hands and he finds Alastor, unconscious underneath all the earth.

Angel grabs the man by the shoulders, “Al! H-hey, wake up there, Smiles! We gotta get going NOW!!!”

Alastor slowly comes to, all bruised and battered and beaten and covered in dirt. What happened..? 

The last thing Alastor remembered was… Oh right…

Husk and Niffty come HURTLING towards them as a result of a powerful blow from Adam. They fall into Angel, who was trying to help a disoriented Alastor to his feet. 

Adam flies towards them, he stops and is hovering above them, looking down at the 4 Sinners. 

Adam’s face is strained… These were humans, they were his children once… Weren’t they just as deserving of mercy as his children up in Heaven just because of the mere fact that they are a creation of God? Weren’t ALL the Sinners just as worthy of peace as Winners?

Angel: LEAVE US ALONE, I’M NOT GONNA LET YOU HURT THEM!!!

Angel screamed, standing in front of the battered three, angry…

Angel cared about Husk and Niffty, and even sorta Alastor… Despite how annoying and unbearable all of them were at times, despite how annoying it was to be forced to see them day in and day out, these were his…. These were his FRIENDS! 

Angel may not be as strong or as powerful as the others, or as smart, or make the best decisions when it came to himself, but he wasn’t gonna let them die. He couldn’t let them die, he couldn't let them die because he… Cared. Because he CARED! Because Vaggie cared and Charlie cared and ANGEL WANTED TO CARE! HE WANTED TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING THAT MEANT SOMETHING!

ANGEL WASN’T GOING TO LET ANYONE HE CARED ABOUT DIE! NOT IF HE WAS STILL STANDING!

Adam stared down at the Sinners.

And within a moment's notice… his hesitation dissipated. 

This Sinner… Angel Dust, that was his name… shouldn’t be able to change. This Sinner COULDN’T change. This Sinner who has been condemned to Hell for all eternity. This Sinner who should NEVER be allowed into Heaven….

Is defending his fellow man.

No. This was all wrong. This couldn’t be happening. Lucife- Charlotte was diverting the natural order- it seemed to be a family trait.

NO! Adam was TIRED of having to pick up the pieces! He was tired of having to MAKE DO! Of having to roll with the punches and ACCEPT whatever the Morningstars DECIDED to suddenly CHANGE! 

This was just like the serpent! This was just like the Garden! This was just like what that devil did to-!

“YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS! NOT AGAIN! NOT EVER AGAIN!” Adam screamed at the top of his lungs

He jerked both hands up towards the Sinners below him, SINNERS, that’s what they were and they’ll never be NOTHING MORE!

Adam’s hands began to glow brighter than they ever have before, beginning to charge up the BIGGEST blast he possibly could

All Angel, Husk, Niffty and Alastor could do was look up helplessly at the first man. They were too injured, too hurt to move, to RUN. Even if they could, it wouldn’t be fast enough. 

They were dead.

Alastor began to recede, melting into the shadows beneath them.

It wasn’t until the Radio Demon has halfway through sinking into the earth did the 3 notice. 

Angel: H-HEY, what the fuck are you doing, Al?!

Nifty: Are you kidding?! STOP IT!

Husk: No way are you leaving us! Not after we just risked our own lives for your fucking ass!

Alastor chuckled, “I’d love to stay, my comrades, but I’m afraid my assistance is needed elsewhere!” 

Husk: BULL-FUCKING-SHIT!

Niffty: We help you and this is how you repay us!?

Angel: You can’t do that!

Alastor merely laughed over their screaming.

Alastor had escaped without so much as moving a muscle.

Alastor had saved himself. 

They looked back up at Adam, who was still charging his blast.

Unforgiving. 

Sir Pretentious was away from where Adam and the others were, he was mainly sticking with his egg goons on the other side of the battlefield, trying to bring their Exorcist death numbers up. 

He saw what happened to Alastor when Adam let off his first blast (Alastor… was he..?) so the smartest course of action was to stay as FAR from Adam as possible, once they defeated all the angels, they could attack the first man as a single army. 

The plan he had believed to be unspokenly agreed upon…

Seemed to not be understood by others…

Because his friends were in danger. 

Angel, Husk and Niffty were staring up at the mighty hand of Adam, a creation that was made in the image of God, a creation that had power that could very well RIVAL God…

ALASTOR couldn’t even defeat him and Pretentious had gotten his ass handed to him by the Radio Demon enough times to know that that meant he was no match then. 

But he couldn’t just stand idly by and allow for his friends to get brutally massacred! He needed help! He needed-!

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

[teddie-bear420]

Swap Au!! I call it “cold hazbin hotel”

Emily moonstone wants to redeem sinners and get to heaven with the help of her butler lute!

Lots of doodles and ramblings under the cut,

if you have any input or jokes or questions send them to me!!

So this swap starts at the very beginning! Lucifer is a big goodie two shoes who doesn’t express his real feelings and is kinda just heavens doormat. Sera on the other hand is driven by fairness and when she sees Adam mistreating Lilith she intervenes. This gets her sent down to hell with Lilith and they start ruling hell with all the sinners. At some point both Lilith and sera stop caring about the state of hell and the sinners establish the overlords that rule territory’s and all that. Around the time that Emily is born sinners like alastor and husk are well established overlords.

Back in heaven, corruption spreads to leadership and Lucifer (as head archangel) kinda just lets it happen. He still runs the show but he doesn’t stand up for what he believes in anymore. Very weak man, thin wrists… dainty even. Adam is still the general of the Exorcist army and nobody holds any one accountable in heaven and the requirements to get into heaven are raised to in unachievable amount!

Sera and Emily are very close, they talk almost everyday, when Emily starts to grow into an adult sera kinda panics and strains the relationship (Emily’s got mommy issues). Emily’s time spent in sin city leads her to starting the hotel with the Dino chick to hinder the overpopulation in hell (jk she just really wants to see heaven)

So Emily is the heir to a stolen kingdom

Lucifer still has Charlie in heaven and she fills Emily’s role of keeping everyone happy. In this swap he shelters Charlie for any hardships or even having her work for anything, so Charlie is a nepotism baby (in the normal show Charlie went no contact with her dad and built the hotel ground up) her job is to keep everyone joyful!

Charlie is ignorant to the horrors

Vaggie and lute are a little harder to explain cuz I still have no real idea how to approach making lute a sinner cuz uhh.. she already is one. I do know I wanna keep her antennae bangs…Pink to blue….Bug motif…Transition allegory?? You decide

Lute will probably have butler butch vibes, she’s very servant like

But! I see vaggie getting to second in command and becoming a beast. The most ruthless demon slayer ever man, she fights the biggest demons she can find just for the fun of it. She still bulks up (you can take buff vaggie from my cold dead hands)!! She is assigned to protect the arch angel Charlie from quote…

“naughty individuals” -Lucifer (he means Adam)

Their dynamic is very silly, vaggie has to keep Charlie safe from things like assassins, perverts, technology and a goose. We all know that lute struck vaggie down cuz she was gay right? Well that still happens, but vaggie wins the fight (also being egged on by Adam) and ever since she’s looked for a fight so bad she ends up joining lute (warriors bond and all that)

EMILY IS A LAWYER HAHAHAHAHHA AND A BUTCH

Basically she wants to change the heaven standard the lawful way (sera was a court judge after all) think musicals like legally blond, that one Hamilton song, and the death note musical.

She and Charlie get along well enough, it does gag Emily when she finds out that Charlie doesn’t know what a minimum wage job is.

Ok so the main cast gets swapped with the over lords as you can see, the overlords I chose now look much younger, tho carmilla and Rosie are my milfs forever. Velvet is now an intern trying to get out of hell (she hates the heat) vox is now kinda just an obsessive fan boy, carmilla wants to go to heaven to see her daughters again. That Dino chick is the first guest, Emily wants to tame her inner fire (girl style)

Emily has always wanted to see the garden of Eden, so when she comes up with a way to redeem sinners she hopes to visit heaven with them! I’m gonna doodle around with her demon bits,

THATS IT FOR NOW

Will maybe post more

[sinner-sunflower]

A HH Lucifer-centric AU 9/?

PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, PART 7, PART 8, PART 10, PART 11, PART 12, PART 13, PART 14, PART 15, PART 16, PART 17, PART 18, PART 19, PART 20, PART 21, PART 22

Whew! Even though there's so much work later, I somehow wrote a kinda long one.

Also,

I have the major plot points down now. As for the ending, I saw a comic on twitter and will definitely take inspiration for it.

I'm very excited for this.

Will be reqriting this better after it's finished and MAYBE.. I'll have the confidence to post it on ao3.

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

Charlie doesn't dare to move even after her father left. She doesn't know how long she stayed kneeling on the ground, staring at the spot where her dad once was.

She can't stop her tears. Is this stress? No. Maybe it's the daddy issues Husk is always talking about.

She hurt her dad again. But he also caused her hurt first and-

Charlie: No! Oh my god. Do I really think that?

Lately, they are becoming each other's undoing. She knows she has the right to be angry, but ...

She can see that he's really trying. Doing everything she asks of him, fixing the hotel, staying at the hotel to help and support her, even getting along with Alastor - now that she thinks about it, what's up with her dad and Alastor?

That's how Vaggie found her- still on the ground, face adorned with dried tears tracks, and definitely deep in thought.

Vaggie: Sweetie? You okay?

Charlie: Vaggie

The dam broke and she was crying again. Charlie hugs her lover tight. Vaggie's shirt was getting wet from tears and snot but she just hugged back just as tightly.

Vaggie: What happened?

Charlie: D-dad.. he- he- wahhhhh

Vaggie: Is he okay? Did something happen? Did he.. did he do something to you?

Charlie: No, Vaggie! More like I did something to him! He was here, in our room, wanting to talk! But I-I-I was so happy. And then he said he was leaving and-and then he said I'll be handling pride and- I wahhh

Charlie didn't know how she had any more tears left to give. Just rethinking what just happened makes her even more miserable.

Vaggie: Wait, wait. Leaving? Why? Didn't he just got here and what about the thing in Sloth??

Charlie sniffs.

Charlie: He said it's related to it- that he needs to find something, no, someone. He didn't want to go without saying goodbye and I just.. exploded.

She nuzzles her face on the fallen angel's neck.

Charlie: I don't want to lose my dad, Vaggie.

Vaggie doesn't know what to say if she's being honest. She wants to be mad at Lucifer. Like, how could a parent who claims they adore their child amongst everything else abandon said child. Lucifer wasn't there when Charlie wouldn't get out of bed whenever her birthday came up, he wasn't there when Vaggie caught her staring at the family portrait full of wishful thinking, or when she cries calls out to her parents in her sleep, or-

But she can't. Because he's trying just like she was back then. They're both doing a little redemption on their own- it just happens to be for the same person.

So she understands. To hurt and to be hurt.

Vaggie: I haven't known your dad for very long, Charlie. But I can tell that... he cares. Yes, he's awkward, a bit socially inept, and has his own issues. But, there's one constant in everything he does.

Charlie: What's that?

Vaggie: You, dummy. He loves you more than anything. He probably made the deal with Heaven to spare Hellborns because of you, now that I think about it. My point is, there is no way in the seven rings of hell that he won't put you above everything.

Charlie is about to protest but Vaggie cuts her off.

Vaggie: Uh! He will. You know why?

Charlie: Why?

Vaggie: Because you're his daughter. It's just how parents are.

Vaggie pulls them both up and they gaze into each other's eyes lovingly.

Charlie: What would I do without you, Vaggie?

Vaggie: Still be your amazing self, I'm sure. I hope you guys resolve this, though. Maybe you could convince him to try other dating options. I don't like this whole thing going on with your dad and Alastor.

They laugh and share a kiss.

Her girlfriend was right. This is how her dad is. He's willing to be better for her.

I want to be better for him too.

....

Wait.

Charlie: What?!

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

What to look forward to in Part 10:

Lucifer in Sloth.

Going to Earth.

[schrodinger-swriter]

HI AGAIN!! i saw you said we were allowed to put one or two asks in at a time so i’m hopping on that haha. first of all, with my first husk request, i’d like to say right after i sent that in, i noticed one or two letters you had already done and i would just like to say i’m so sorry if that caused you any extra work!! (well not sorry enough cause i’m coming back to give you more PFF- 😭😭) (sorry i’m crazy, moving on) but if you could give me Lute with the following letters that’d be amazing!! : A, B, G, H, U

thank you sm again!! your work fucking rocks haha, i will definitely be in here more after you do the first two requests i sent, no rush tho!! love ya (/p) and your work 💕

A, B, G, H, and U for Lute

No need to apologize! Slip ups happen all the time. I actually have the switch between windows when I'm updating the masterlist when a new alphabet post is made! Aha!

I hope this is alright, I admit I struggle with writing softer... more domestic stuff for Lute, so this post may be a little short..

ATTRACTION:

Lute would be interested in someone strong... strong body and strong willed. Though only if your loyalties lie with Heaven. Lute already spends her days fighting.. and it seems she might even be Adam's right hand man.. Woman.. his personal guard, it seems. Be it assigned or voluntary. She is more than willing to protect and fight for you, but knowing you can provide for yourself puts her at ease as well as makes her feel more secure.

BONDING:

Similar to the Vaggie post, you both tend to bond when the pair of you spare together. Lute seems to be very skilled in combat, that sort of thing doesn't happen over night. The only drawback here is that she's likely to go a little hard on you, and perhaps she's a bit of a sore loser..? You might be able to convince her to go out and do something relaxing, though it will take a lot of coaxing to pull her away from her duties.

GIFT GIVING:

Lute doesn't do gifts often. She doesn't exactly know how to react when given a gift, so she might react a little tensely. She does appreciate it, she just isn't used to being cared for like that. Likewise, the thought to give you gifts outside of special occasion doesn't cross her mind. She's more of an acts of service person, anyway.

HARSH:

Lute can be very intense. Heaven and it's plans will always come first for her, which can put a nasty strain on the relationship if time and time again she puts the plans you've made together to the side. She can also get really into an argument if she's passionate about the subject, even sometimes saying something in the heat of the moment.

She's stubborn, too. "Angels don't make mistakes", you know? But you're an angel too.. I mean you'd likely be one, right? Given Lute's obvious disdain for anything sinful. Getting an apology out of her is like pulling teeth, though her tense... well tense-er body language does show that she's having mixed thoughts going on inside of her. Tries to offer peace by doing something for you.

UPSET:

When Lute is upset she tends to... shut herself away, a lot of her feelings being outwardly converted into something that LOOKS like annoyance or anger. She'd much rather spend some time alone letting off some steam.

When you're upset she can be a little... emotionally distant. She's trying to connect, but she's so used to being this war machine of sorts that being vulnerable wasn't something she ever considered. She's trying, and even if she doesn't say much she's listening to you rattle off about what's gotten you in a sour mood.

[leolithe]

this has been sitting in my drafts forever so i'm just gonna post it!!! these are my Plural Lotus headcanons that are Integral to my interpretation of them

Lotus represents balance while Natah and Margulis represent extremes, but she also represents Acceptance in The Sacrifice. So it makes sense that Lotus is the most passive, or "watching and waiting" one of the three

Lotus is also the most withdrawn and cautious one because she's the one who holds the trauma of every event leading to The New War. From her kidnapping in Apostasy Prologue, she was Lotus-turned-Margulis. From the Sacrifice to her death in New War, she was Lotus-turned-Natah.

After holding back Wally, Lotus fainting was a direct result of realising that the war was over. That she was finally free. That she could finally get the rest she desperately needed. And her entire body took that realisation and completely shut down. The need for rest was that dire.

This is when Natah and Margulis start to awaken. In the epilogue, when the Operator and Drifter are asking Lotus Radiant questions, Natah and Margulis also answer at the same time, each with their own insight and inflections. This is what leads to Lotus saying that she hears voices.

Natah was just as dead as Margulis when her body was reprogrammed. (Jovian Concord monologue: "I became a memory, a ghost"). Therefore, Lotus was formed from a blank slate of a (powerful) Sentient husk and Margulis' memory.

Natah, being the Sentient body personified, is able to access everyone's memories at will. She can also read everyone's minds, while still being able to focus perfectly on the present/outer world. She uses this to watch over Lotus and monitor her wellbeing.

Natah hates accessing or reading Margulis' mind though. She does not enjoy the imperfect, inaccurate, messy nature of Human memory. So she leaves Margulis alone for the most part.

Because she sees everyone's memories, Natah is the first to realize that she was formed to protect the Lotus. She takes the role of prosecutor, and she's very fiercely protective. Natah places much more weight in remembering the trauma rather than suppressing it like Margulis did.

Margulis is someone Lotus remembers for caring for and loving the Tenno, so she was formed with the intent of having a caretaker in the Lotus system. She's best at grounding Lotus, whispering soothing words to her and generally being a gentle and comforting presence.

There is very clear friction between the way Natah and Margulis handle their roles. Natah's decisiveness can be pushed into being cutthroat and stubborn, and Margulis' healing can veer into unrealistic idealism. Natah doesn't like how Margulis encourages Lotus to neglect her traumatic memories, and Margulis doesn't like Natah's insistence on forcing her to remember. They both think the other is pushing back Lotus' progress; Natah by intentionally surfacing painful memories and Margulis by exposing Lotus' weak points to the same aggressor again.

Very much a fight between, "If you don't remember how it damaged you, it will always happen again" vs "It will never happen again, you're safe and free to live like it never did"

Natah vs Margulis isn't only about Power vs Healing/Destroying the enemy vs Protecting your allies... it's about Remembrance vs Oblivion in regards to distress and trauma.

Lotus gets intermittently pulled around by these two for a while, until Margulis' comforting lies become unignorable and Natah's ruthlessness becomes unbearable. And when Lotus finally snaps and asserts herself to them... it's a wake up slap to both Natah and Margulis. This marks the point where they start quietly trying to work together... pushing past their rivalry to then FINALLY. Explore each other's bodies. Sentient-Human headmate style.

Thank you for reading. I can go on and on but I'm just gonna leave u with the mental image of Lotus walking in on Natah and Margulis having ravenous floor sex because they've actually never fucked a woman in their lives and they're not normal about it

[bestpigeon]

ANGEL DUST X HUSK

Angel dust x Husker. More than a friend

Word count: 2091

Warnings: mentions of abuse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-angels pov-

Husk and I have just finished singing. Yeah, I didn't expect him to comfort me that way. It was somewhat nice, and it actually helped a lot. We walked back to the hotel, joking and laughing at our encounter with the demons, the ones who tried to spike my drink.

I always manage to figure out when someone spikes my drink, I'm used to it now. But I'm thankful that Husk was the one to help. It was cute seeing him worry for me. No one ever really did that for me before, apart from my best friend, Cheri bomb.

"Did you see the small guy? He thought he stood a chance!" I say laughing at the now dead demons stupidity. Husk chuckled handsomely and nodded along with me.

"The lil' shits thought they'd kill us, funny watching 'em try," Husk says, and I snicker once again. As stubborn as Husk is, he's actually quite charming. I nod in agreement, and we enter the hotel, chatting and laughing away.

Charlie smiles, and Vaggie nods in approval since we were, surprisingly, bonding. We then approach the bar, and Husk goes back to his usual place, being the bartender. "So what do ya say, honey? Pour me a drink, the strongest ya got baby, " I say while leaning against the counter and glaring at Husk.

"You got it," husk says before turning around and pouring me my usual, instead just adding more alcohol, specifically alcohol.

-Huskers pov-

Me and Angel just got back from our little performance earlier. It was nice seeing Angel open up. He's a good singer, too. I toss him a drink and give him a nod.

"Thanks, kitty," Angel says before taking his drink, winking playfully, and walking away. I turn around to grab another whiskey, and I catch myself smiling at todays activities. I quickly stopped and cleared my throat.

I open the whiskey and chug at least a third of the bottle. Fuck I needed that. Charlie said I need to maybe stop myself from drinking as much. But I can't, I need alcohol, it makes me feel better. It helps me forget everything.

I chug the rest of the bottle and squint slightly as the alcohol slides down my throat. I rub my head with my hand in frustration, I could already feel the hungover I'll feel tomorrow, but I don't care. The pleasure I get now is worth it.

-the next day, no one pov-

Husk had passed out, wasted, on the counter of the bar. He usually does that. He refuses to go to his room. Angel walks out of his room and goes into the main lobby. He smiles at Husks unconscious body and goes to the kitchen.

Angel feeds fat nuggets with a smile. He loves that animal to death. "Here ya go baby, eat up," he says, not like fat nuggets would reply, but he takes comfort in his animals anyways, so he doesn't care.

He gets a call from his phone. Angel pauses before gulping and slowly grabbing his phone out of his cleavage. The phone read, 'Bossy asshole.' Valentino never gives him a break. He doesn't care. I mean, it's not like he can protest, Valentino owns him. With shaky hands, Angel answers the phone

"Angel baby~ I need you in today. You've got a big shoot today. Don't disappoint me, sweetheart~" Before Angel could reply or protest, Valentino hangs up. Angel moves one of his multiple hands and ruffles with his hair out of frustration. "Today's gonna be a long fucking day.." He says quietly.

Angel pulls out his glasses and walks out of the hotel. He doesn't bother telling Charlie since she'd probably cause some trouble like she usually does. He walks to Valentinos porn studio, and he swore he could feel his heart pumping. This happens all the time. He's always stressed and nervous when he has to go to work. His work is never joyful.

He arrives, and Valentino automatically sends his to his changing room. Angel does what he says without hesitation and gets ready for his shoot. How many guys would he have fuck him today? Angels naturally horny and flirtatious, he used to enjoy his job. But it's no longer enjoyable anymore, not when he gets frequently abused.

He walks out and gets to work. He says his lines almost perfectally, thankfully only messing up once or twice. This to him, was a fucking good work day. He had no worries about disappointing Valentino! That's different then usual, he's normally so shaky and nervous that he fucks up and ends up getting 'punished' in some way.

He finishes suit with a smile and is somewhat proud of his successful shoot. It only took a portion of time than usual. He goes into his changing room and prepares to go home. But Valentino opened the door and locked it behind him.

"Angel~" you did well today, my baby." He says. Angel turns around and puts on his usual fake attitude when around Valentino. "Thanks, Val. I always try my hardest, y'know, love ma work!" Angel says with a somewhat awkward chuckle afterwards, hoping this would be the sugar on top.

"But..you forgot one tiny thing, baby," Valentink says while approaching Angel. Angel feels his body get tense, but it successfully keeps his composure. Angel doesn't say anything since he didn't want to risk angering Val. "You missed a shoot yesterday~," Angel panics internally, 'Oh shit Vals gonna beat me to tomorrow,' Angel thinks.

Valentino stands in front of Angel and hits him in the face. Angel falls back into the wall behind him with a whine. He looks at Valentino with nothing but fear. "Val- i-im sorry I lost track of time! I-" Angel couldn't even finish his sentence before he got hit again. This time, he got kicked in the stomach.

"Your fucking shoots are the most important thing in your shit little life." Valentino says, showing Angel no mercy. His hand goes to Angels neck, and he pins him to the wall. Angel feels tears swell in his eyes. "Who owns you, baby?" Valentino says, getting close to Angels neck. "Y-you do, Valentino," Angel says quietly and with a slight shaky voice. "Good boy~" Valentino whispers in Angels ear.

Valentino smiles with an evil smile that only his employees see. "You're going to go back and do twice to amount of work to make up, okay baby?~" Angel gulps but nods submissively, scared to make any movements.

-Husks pov-

I woke up with a huge fucking headache. I look around and see Charlie talking to Alastor while Vaggie stares at Alastor with nothing but fury. I sigh and lean against the bar. It was quite late at night, already meaning I slept through nearly the whole day. Charlie then approached me with a worrisome smile.

"Hey husk! Do you know where Angel is? We haven't seen him all day.." Charlie says. Why did she ask me? I don't know. I adjust my position and glare at Charlie. "Nah. Ain't seen him at all, " I say. Charlie nods cleslt disappointed and worried, and goes back to Vaggie and Alastor.

That made me worry, I mean, Valentino owns him and is a piece of shit. He's most likely being beat the shit out of at work. I sigh, feeling sympathy for Angel.

-3 hours later-

Angel walks through the door. My head automatically shoots up. My eyebrows furrow in worry. Angel has a black eye and huge eye bags, and he also has a few bruises scattered around this body. Angel approaches me and slumps himself onto one of the chairs. "A drink, gimmie the strongest." Angel says quietly. His voice raspy probably from working all day.

I nod slowly and do what he says. I understand how desperate he probably is for alcohol. I always go to alcohol when I'm stressed. It helps ease my worries. I make the drink and slide it over. He automatically chugs the whole thing and signals for another. I do what he asks and give him another drink.

"Wanna talk 'bout it?" I question him. I feel like we've gotten closer to him recently. I feel bad for him. I also feel bad since I can't do anything to help him. "I just...i- need a break." He says, his voice shaking. He's clearly on the brink of tears. I sigh and move my hand to his hair. I lightly stroke his hair in an attempt to calm him down. "I'm here if you needa talk.." I say quietly.

I'm slightly embarrassed by the touch, I'm normally hesitant to touch and stur away from it. But Angel seemed to like it. He needed comfort. It's the least I can do,, I feel like my heart is going to fly out of my chest at any moment. I ignore it.

Angel sits up slightly and lays his head on the counter, and stares at me with a smile. I can't help but smile back. His eyes were red, clearly, and he'd been crying. "Thanks, Husky, y'know, I'm thankful you care. Not many people do ya know," I smile and nod at him. This feeling is unusual for me. But I didn't mind it, anything for Angel.

"It's okay..im um, always here if you need it. Do ya want me to..fix those?" I question as I nod in the direction of his injuries. Angel smiles and chuckles? He sits up, and he seems more relaxed now. That's good.

He leans over, and his hand moves to my tie. I keep eye contact with him as he moves closer. He stops about an inch away from my face. "Y'know Husky, thanks for being here. I appreciate it, kitty. " he smiles before leaning in and kissing Husk on the lips.

I eyes widen really wide in surprise. I feel heat go to my face, too. I didn't expect this to escalate this quickly. I thought my heart was pumping fast before, but now? It might as well be out of my chest. Before I can kiss back, he pulls away. He looks at my flustered face and chuckles softly.

"Blown away, baby? I've been wanting to do that for a while." He says as he plays playfully with my overalls. I was completely shocked, but I enjoyed it. "Ya didn't move away, so I'd say ya enjoyed it, huh?" He says with a smirk. I smile at him my face still slightly red.

"Y'know, bein' friends is borin. And..I've had my eye on you for a little while now." I say, I surprised myself at how brave I was being. Angel raised an eyebrow at the bravery but smiled. "I agree. But, we have to keep it a secret..I don't want Valentino finding out." Angel said as his smile drops. I nod in agreement.

-Angels pov-

I kissed him, fucking finally. Normally sex wouldn't take long when I'm meeting new people, but it took weeks just to kiss Husk. I love him though. Ever since we sung together I've realised my feelings, but I knew I've liked him longer.

When I saw Husks flustered face I knew he was the one for me. I've never loved anyone this much before. Knowing its mutual made me feel better. All the pain I felt from Valentino left my mind as I spend time with Husker. I admired his bravery.

"So we're together then?" Husk says. I chuckle and nod. I lean my head on my hands as I stare at him with nothing but love. "Yeah sure baby" I call him baby all the time but this time it felt different.

Husk leans over and plants a soft kiss on my cheek before grabbing my hand. "You room? I don't like going to my room." He says. I smile and nod, my face was red from the sudden kiss. I grab and hold his hand and lead him to my room.

Well, today was an eventful day. I've finally kissed Husk and now we're together! Fucking finally. Me and Husk get into my room and we decide to sleep since its late. We get into bed and huddle together. His wings hugging me. This is what I need. I felt comforted.

-no pov-

Husk and Angel drift to sleep. Though they've just agreed to be into a relationship, they were already previously touchy and affectionate. Especially Angel. Husk purred softly, making Angel chuckle.

[irkimatsu]

Alright- another request- I just can’t get enough of your writing!! Not my fault it’s so addictive. Anyways

Overlord Husk with an extremely physically affectionate pet reader. I can see reader trying to discreetly get some affection/reassurance (bc they need to-) but without being too obvious about it, they don’t want to be teased by husk after

I'm so glad you're enjoying my writing - and thanks again, so so much, for the fanart! I still keep staring at that art of my Mazzie, it's so good!

I hope what I've written is to your liking once again! Reader gets snuggly with Overlord Husk during a game after the other players make her uncomfortable, Husk's other clients get a little whiny about it, Husk does not care. Of course he'd never tease you for wanting his attention; hell, he probably wants affection from you as much as you want it from him! (I do use she/her pronouns and "girl" in the fic, but the actual gender doesn't really matter, you can mentally replace those words easily if you want)

Overlord Husk is busy, and you know you shouldn’t interrupt him. His games are always important, influencing what resources he has at his disposal and which business deals he can make, and tonight’s game is especially so, against some high-ranking mob members looking to strip the Gambling Demon for everything he’s worth. He doesn’t need you distracting him from something so crucial.

Instead, all you can do is allow him to distract you. His mouth is stretched into a permanent cocky grin, his teeth tightly gripping an expensive cigar. His strong paws gently hold his hand of cards as his golden eyes flick over each one, determining what he has to work with this round.

You wish so deeply that his paws weren’t busy. His arm should be encircled around your waist, paw resting securely on your hip, as the other paw gently combs his claws through your hair…

“Hey, girly!” one of Husk’s opponents calls out, snapping you out of your daydream. “Get me another drink!” He punctuates his request by shaking his glass at you, a half-melted ball of ice rattling around at the bottom.

“Yes, sir,” you say reflexively as you take his glass and head to the counter at the back of the room.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Husk warns, his dark voice creeping pleasantly across the back of your neck as you prepare the requested drink. You dump the used ice into the sink, use a pair of tongs to place a fresh one in the glass, and then start filling the glass with the expensive whiskey Husk had brought along specifically for this game.

“Oh, who cares how I talk to a pet-”

Husk’s deep growl echoes through the room as you approach the table again, drink in hand.

“Jesus Christ! Okay, I get it!” He swipes the glass from your hand and takes a long gulp without the slightest acknowledgment. You’ve gotten so used to the lack of manners in these games that you barely notice.

“Could you top me off too, doll?” Husk asks, his voice so much smoother with you than it is with his companions, as he offers you his empty glass.

“Of course, sir,” you say with a smile and a bow that you hadn’t offered to your previous client. You go back to fill this glass with the same whiskey, this time without ice; he always complains about how ice will only dilute the taste.

“Thank you,” he says, still smooth, as he takes the glass from your hand. Your heart skips a beat as his claws graze against your hand, but all too soon, he’s pulled his hand away and you’re left longing for him even more strongly.

“Me too, me too!” shouts a third player. This one doesn’t sound like he needs any more whiskey, but it’s not your job to cut people off; Husk will decide if you shouldn’t serve someone, and until he says anything, you’ll follow the orders you’re given. You pour another neat glass for this one, deliver it to his spot, and turn away before giving him a chance to provide a response that you know won’t happen.

You’re surprised to see Husk with his ears flattened, his growl threatening to turn into a hiss.

“Lay a finger on her and I will slit your fucking throat.”

You turn around to see the client you just served with his face frozen in terror, his hand hovering a mere inch from your ass. He immediately yanks his hand away from you and turns his attention back to the cards in his hand, as if trying to pretend that didn’t just happen.

You hope you’re done serving drinks for now; you’re starting to feel rather uncomfortable with this particular batch of opponents.. With no other requests forthcoming, you return to Husk’s side, trying not to stand so close that it’s awkward.

You’d love to stand closer, but at the moment, you’re his assistant, nothing more. You can beg for all the attention you need when you go back to the penthouse, but for now, Husk has a cold reputation to maintain.

Cold… the atmosphere during these games is always so cold, with players focused on nothing more than fucking each other over for the sake of a bigger prize. The other players rarely acknowledge you, and you honestly prefer it when they don’t; it’s easier to handle them when they ignore you for the sake of their cards, instead of leering at you like you’re a piece of meat.

You just wish Husk wouldn’t ignore you, too. He could leer at you all he wanted… not that he ever would. Sure, he stares at you plenty, and you know some of the raunchy things he thinks of when he does; he’s asked you to re-enact some of them for him in private, after all. But his expression is always too soft to call a leer, too full of reverence for you.

Surely he can’t show that softer side around important clients-

But just as you think that, his eyes are on you, his pupils widened. He’s set his cigar down into his ashtray, allowing him to give you a much smaller smile with only his fangs visible.

“You wanna sit with me?” he asks you in that smooth, heart-melting voice of his.

“I’m fine standing,” you insist with a polite smile.

“Come on, I see how you’re looking at me,” he says. Fuck, are you always so obvious? “Have a seat.”

The chairs in here are in no way meant for more than one person; your only choice is to sit on top of him. You gently lower yourself onto his knee, trying to keep a respectable distance, but as soon as you’re in a sitting position, he wraps his arm around you and pulls you into his lap.

“That better?” he asks.

Much better. You think it, but you don’t say anything. Instead, you reposition yourself so you can rest your head on his chest, lightly nuzzling against the shirt buttons you wish you could unfasten.

“How come you get to touch the goods?” asks the client who had tried to grope you a few minutes ago.

“I’m the one she made a contract with, not you,” Husk says shortly, clearly with no patience for stupid questions.

“Controlling asshole. Shouldn’t you let her decide? Hey, girly! You wanna come hang out in my lap?”

“No,” you say simply, your voice muffled by Husk’s shirt.

“Do you wanna stay here with me?” Husk asks, his voice so easily switching to the kind timbre he reserves for you.

“Yes, please,” you respond, hugging his waist and nuzzling again.

“Don’t let the girl get too cozy!” A glass slams down onto the wooden table. “I need another whiskey!”

“Go get it yourself,” Husk snaps. “She’s busy.” His claws gently stroke your scalp as he presses a fleeting kiss to your head. “Mind if I get back to my game, doll?” he asks.

“Mmm-hmmm…” you agree. Being this close to him, nuzzling into the fur that peeks out from the top of his shirt and breathing in his woody cologne, is so comforting that you’re already starting to drift off. “As long as I can stay here…”

“Of course. I’m more than happy to keep holding you.”

You stay relaxed against Husk’s chest, tuning out everyone’s voice except his. Is it just you, or is he speaking more quietly now that he has you so close? It’s definitely not your imagination that he’s been letting his cigar burn in the tray instead of continuing to smoke it.

You’d expect the other clients to make fun of Husk for coddling you like this, but maybe they’re all afraid of being mauled to death if they say anything.

Maybe you don’t mind helping out during his games so much, if this is how he’ll reward you from now on.

[frazzledsoul]

There's something so fucked-up about creating a cozy rom-com to redeem Jimmy Mariano, of all people.

Let's forget the first attempt at the backstory because it was obviously changed. Jimmy knocks up this teenage girl, somehow agrees to marry her, they have an apartment and a life set up and they're at least going to try family life, and he bails before the baby comes home. The show doesn't talk about it because the subject is supposed to be about the Gilmores and the betrayal of Lorelai running away and choosing a less prestigious lifestyle, as well as how it's always more important that Lorelai is embarrassed to tell her wealthy father she's sleeping with his wealthy business partner or how Jess won't plan for dates and how this is the worst thing in the universe or whatever comparatively trivial thing is often going on with the main characters, but the Danes really could not take the stress of Liz being left alone as a teenager with a baby. The business was failing, William Danes got very sick at some point, and Luke (also only a teenager when this started) was the only person to hold it together...Jimmy left Liz in the middle of that, likely knowing she didn't stop drinking while she was pregnant, knowing she couldn't and wouldn't stop partying, knowing the rest of the family couldn't handle it. He didn't come back for eighteen years (and I doubt he paid child support, either) and when he did exactly...what was he expecting? Liz is gone, Luke is barely holding it together, Jess at this point is something of a broken husk of a kid who's finally failed at keeping his demons at bay...what did you think would happen, buddy? You abandoned your kid to that, two decades ago. I guess you thought it's like giving a kid up for adoption and you'd show up and find out that he's done fine without you and you can stop thinking about it, but you didn't sign the papers to give him a better life, you just left. And once you find out that he's not better off, that you had a big part in making him what he is, you leave again.

And when Jess comes to find him, in a beach bum version of Stars Hollow where he will never fit in and that he's going to hate worse than the place he just left, he rejects Jess again, because he just can't handle it again and even after making all the effort to go and see him in the first place, he doesn't have any room for Jess in his family or his life, even if Jess has no one else. He has to beg to be given half a chance, and Jimmy barely takes it. Where's the shame, the guilt, the sense of responsibility? Why does the kid you abandoned have to beg YOU for a chance, Jimmy?

And I don't care if he's cute and charming and ASP thinks throwing a handful of la-la-las in this bucolic environment is going to cover up the ugliness here. I don't care if the excuse of being a teenage father is going to be what Jimmy keeps riding on, because Luke and Lorelai were children when they got the huge responsibilities of a small baby and a dying dad dumped on their laps, and they still tried to care for the people that needed them. I don't want to see THAT GUY, who has no shame or guilt over what he's done and seems to resent Jess for asking for anything, redeemed. Fuck you, deadbeat dad. Put in some effort. Oh, it might harm your laconic hot dog stand owner vibe. I forgot.

So I'm glad it never happened, because Jimmy Mariano didn't deserve it, and I don't think it was what Jess needed, and the fact that he comes back to Stars Hollow angrier than ever and still spitting nails at Luke, unable to offer either Luke or Rory any sort of an apology or explanation, is definitely an indication that things did not go well out there. I know ASP would likely have had all kinds of excuses for Jimmy just like she did for Christopher and fail to really account for the harm he caused the kid he left behind, just like she did for Christopher but I think...we had more than enough of that for this universe, especially with the attempts to wave away Liz's behavior that we got over the next few years.

We didn't need more of that. Let Jess silently hate his worthless dad. Rory didn't get to. There should be one character that does.

[nyxknocks]

So, Rashomon was not whatever I expected it to be. Though, I don't really know what my expectations were in the first place...

This style of story telling is always fun for me. It's very Clue-esque in the way you get everyone's side of the story and how it always favors themselves to look the best or the one with less blood on their hands. The characters are... interesting. I don't think a single one of them is good, but again that's the whole point, isn't it?

The line about how the demons there fled because of the ferocity of man pretty much tells you what this story is about. Humans at this point are all selfish, acting towards their own gains and for their own wants with little care for others (the assault, for one). Everyone makes a point to center themselves in the tragedy, that while yes this man did die, they are also a victim (and I mean yes she is there is absolutely no doubt of that) of other circumstances.

It feels like a nod to what we discussed about the shifting of blame. They are culpable to some extent to what happens (the assault, a murder, what have you) but it's not their fault, they were forced to. Just like how the government forced their hands during the war. But I hate linking everything around this time period and also from Japan as related to the war, because it feels reductive and small minded. But in the 50s its hard not to think of the impact the war hand, especially since Kurosawa had to deal with everything during the occupation.

Tajomaru had to assault her because she was beautiful, and then in his account he had to fight the samurai, he didn't want to kill him.

In the wife's account, she fainted after the samurai is freed, thus absolving her for whatever befell him, but she made a point to mention that even if she did kill him in her black out state (which she does not admit to) it was because he looked upon her so horribly after the assault. (Very Chicago).

The samurai's account is the most confusing, because it's told through a secondary source and also he is the one who died, so.

The woodcutter lied at the inquest or whatever because he didn't want to admit he saw the whole thing happen. Likely because he didn't want to get caught up in the blame game and also to hide the fact he stole from them. Again, selfish.

The ending can seem hopeful, with the priest saying the woodcutter restored his faith in humanity or whatever, and maybe I'm just jaded but if he lied once he can lie again. How do you know for sure he has 6 kids at home? You have no proof! You just gave this random dude you met in this husk of a building a baby you just found! Obviously it's meant to be taken well, because the literal imagery of the rain and clouds moving/stopping to let the sun in is like a ray of hope being cast on the people/story being shown. A bit of proof that humans aren't all inherently selfish and self-serving. Mildly hopeful, I guess?

I never realized the Rashomon effect was named after this and that's embarrassing. Like I said, it's one of my favorite styles of story telling because you can see things from so many different angles and still end up wondering just who is telling the truth. It really allows you to strap in and focus on the story because you become invested, trying to untie the narratives while also having your own thoughts/opinions reshaping it to fit your own narrative. It's really sneaky how it happens and its satisfying every time, because you never know, not really.

Also. Best part of the movie.

I also like how you can see the slide cut or whatever it was called. So Star Wars. The whole beginning gave me Twilight Zone deja vu. Genuinely love that aspect.

[swiftscion]

Deirdre approaches Larcei with a bright bouquet and well wishes for her birthday. Pink carnations represent a mother's love. She knows she is not Ayra. She does not want to replace Ayra but should Larcei ever need or desire a mother's love, Deirdre hopes she knows she is here for her always. And purple gladioli. Strength and integrity. Larcei is a fighter both literally and in spirit.

"Happy birthday, Larcei dear. I hope your day is as wonderful as you are!"

A twinge of her happiness falls from her face. A joyous birthday is not the only reason she is here. When Larcei takes the flowers, Deirdre reaches to softly stroke her cheek. "Please, I hope you can forgive me. What happened in that dream--if you remember it--you should not have had to see that. I am here now and I will not leave you."

//via birthday asks; still accepting!

"I... Don't know what to say. Um, thank you!"

Larcei's face is a reddened mess when she accepts her gift. She is arrogant and she is brash, but she has never been the type to expect someone to remember her birthday. As a kid she always had to share that day with her brother, and that meant eating half a cake, receiving half a gift, reveling in half the joy. But Deirdre has chosen to seek her out at a time when she is alone--whether she intends to touch bases with Scathach or not--and to the Comet, that means the world.

She takes the bouquet with an unsteady hand, ensuring first that her flowers have no thorns before holding them to her chest. They remind her, for a moment, of home. Her caretakers liked these things a normal amount, sure, but there was someone who had always angled her with the intent to shower her in petals. She can't help but think of him when she thinks of flowers, wondering what became of him--if he's even still alive. Though she will always revile the choices he made, as one with a brother she gets it. Sometimes, interacting with Scathach has made her feel like others have chosen him over her.

But that's just a small part of what occupies her mind, the rest mostly consisting of shock and gratitude. An awkward smile creeps up onto her face, its edges more wobbly and sharp than she'd have liked, but it is a smile all the same. When Deirdre's hand touches her cheek, it would feel a fiery kind of warmth.

"Oh, right! The dream."

Calm washes over her, draining some of that crimson back into her system. She has a reason to be confident again and not all gushy and emotional, so she runs with it--quick to focus on the two-legged rat in the room, "Heh, as if I'd let somethin' like that come between us! We're family now, Lady Deirdre. I don't care what kinds of messed up images some nightmare tries to put in my mind--I know the real you."

And that statement carries more merit than she could ever understand, at a time like now. Larcei knows not of the Deirdre that stood before her mother at Belhalla. She hasn't become acquainted with a memory-less husk of a woman, one who had been forced to forget her friends. What she has come to know is Deirdre's kind heart and tender nature, through this gift, through that dream, through their day-to-day lives. And that Deirdre is priceless to her. The older woman receives a quick side-hug from the arm not carrying the bouquet, filled with that wishy-washy adolescent love, trying to be both sincere and cool.

"I'll make this day one to remember!"

[nixie-writes]

I don't know if you've done this already, but what would Alastor be like with a human trapped in hell. Like they either fell in due to a spell gone wrong or stumbled through a portal.

Nope, haven't done this one before, but I like the idea of Alastor with a human stuck in Hell. I decided to do platonic and romantic for this, I feel like it could go either way.

Romantic

Upon initially meeting a human in Hell he's both intrigued and wary. Yes, this could be very interesting but also a trap. He has to make sure this person is human. He has to give them a good sniff; he can differentiate demon scent and human scent. One of the perks of being a cannibal I suppose.

Upon confirming this is, indeed, a human he needs to know how this happened. This human is still very much alive, not another new sinner.

"I tripped into the summoning circle and fell down here." Cue silence and vaguely not-so-amused smile, followed by a less friendly "that's funny, now what's the real reason?" After seeing precisely how it happened he's curious as to if he could do the same and get to the human world but no, it doesn't work that way. This was a one-way portal and it appears this poor human is stuck here for now. His initial idea is to just do his cannibal thing but he decides against it. Instead he'll take them to the hotel, Charlie can either get them back to the living world or have another purpose for them.

Charlie will try her best, she'll even ask her father what she can do about this but he has no answer, this hasn't happened before. So [Y/N] is trapped in Hell and they are fully vulnerable. Alastor, having been the first to find them, feels an immediate responsibility to their safety. Being the second most powerful in the hotel behind Charlie, he offers to look after this "poor little human" to the best of his ability. Vaggie does not trust him but Charlie believes he won't do anything.

His initial plan was to do something but in the time he's gotten to know this human, he's grown attached. It feels foreign but he's attached to such a weak creature. One night he watches them sleep thinking, "this is my chance" but can't act on it. He didn't want to see their face twist in fear and pain, or hear their cries and pleading.

Somehow he can attach a shadow to this human and he does so, enabling him to always know what they're up to and if they're okay. No demon has the balls to attempt an attack on the hotel knowing Alastor is VP of it and has certainly enchanted it. However he has to be on the safe side.

Getting with this human happens on its own, there isn't some fancy confession on either side, the two just become so close they may as well be a couple. When they admit they're fine with the idea of being him he'll grow more comfortable with the idea. It gives him more excuses to keep them safe.

Platonic

Upon meeting this little creature in Hell Alastor is, once again, guarded. He's curious and upon confirmation this is a human, his initial plan is still just cannibal things. However he knows Charlie will have his ass if he straight up ate a good opportunity for her so instead, he'll take them to the hotel and give them over to her. He initially doesn't want them as a responsibility but Charlie insists that he found them first, they likely feel more comfortable with him than anyone else in the hotel, and caring for someone so defenseless is a redeeming quality. He begrudgingly agrees just to get her off his case.

Initially he isn't too happy about this. He only found them why does he have to be stuck with them? They may try to start a conversation with him but he'll push them away. It's when they distance themselves from him he'll notice how quiet it is without them.

Apparently they'd rather chat with Husk or Angel about something he considers meaningless. He didn't realize that this human catching his hints would leave him this lonely. He didn't see potential for a friendship until they were off laughing with Angel or kicking Husk's ass in poker.

This is when he'll try to be friendlier when they're around him. Maybe discuss something they have interest in or try to make them laugh, either with his own jokes or jokes in topics similar to those that made them laugh. He's trying his best.

He hopes to make them warm up to him again. He's fine with them talking to others in the hotel but their safety is his priority and even his attached shadow isn't a guarantee. He's concerned for his friend.

[adlbeay]

I wanted to talk about the themes in the Walk in the Dust event. The story of Arknights has always had a high level of thematic consistency, but it’s especially prominent in this event. I feel like a lot of the discussion of the story in certain places comes down to “lore” and surface-level plot details, so I wanted to get this out there somewhere.

The two big ideas that are covered in Walk in the Dust are that of revenge and the homeland. Let's talk about revenge first. Long post and story spoilers under the cut.

In the beginning, we are introduced to Elliot, aka Passenger, who by the time we meet him, is an aimless husk of a man. He is utterly empty inside despite being the most powerful figure in the Reefsteep black  market, with vast wealth and political influence under his thumb. Having completed his decades-long quest to slay everyone who was involved in betraying his teacher, he has no more goals for his life. After killing  the Lord Ameer of Ibut, the last of his targets, he realizes that the revenge he had been pursuing was ultimately empty, that the weapons he built and the schemes he engineered to that end no longer moved him. Even the death of the Lord Ameer didn't matter one bit in the political landscape of Sargon.

As for the Sargon army... We live in different times now. The ruling  Padishahs simply care not about what is happening here in this barren  wasteland. My guess is that it matters not to them whether it's the  father or the son that's in charge. Actually, to tell the truth, it  hardly matters to me either.

Ultimately, no one cared if the Lord Ameer was murdered or simply  died in an accident, not even Elliot himself. Sargon continues to be exploited by the Columbian military and the ruling Lords. Professor Thorne remains dead. His research, once entrusted to Elliot to prevent  it from becoming a weapon of war, has nonetheless been used by Elliot  himself to bring even more death. Now, 22 years later, Passenger sees  finding Kal'tsit as his only path to salvation, so that she can once  again give him a purpose like she did when she rescued him the first time.

Folinic's mom, Lillia, also shares the same kind of story. Her husband was killed in Chernobog when the count decided to purge the researchers working on the sarcophagus device. Among the children of the families broken up by this incident are Lyudmila (later Crownslayer), Alex and Misha (later Skullshatterer), and Luisa (later Folinic). Lillia finds Kal'tsit after months of searching, intending to take revenge on  Grand Duke Vanya not just for her husband, but also for Luisa, who never got to know her father because of it. Kal'tsit tries to talk her out of  it, even during the final phases of the plan, but Lillia's mind is set.  She entrusts Kal'tsit with taking care of both Luisa and Lyudmila, as  she knows she won't be able to come back to live a normal life after  this. And... she succeeds. Although it is Kal'tsit who ultimately administered the poison, their plan works flawlessly and Duke Vanya is finally dead.

Except it still ended up being completely meaningless. The Grand Duke was in a glorified nursing home already near the end of his life, and if Kal'tsit didn't kill him then some other conspirator from the Ursus  political backstage would have done it anyway. He was already crippled and blind, and as we find out during the confrontation with the Emperor's Blade, even Kal'tsit only agreed to Lillia's plan because it  defused the conspiracies of other powerful figures who would have used  the Duke's death to spark another rebellion. The only thing that Lillia ended up accomplishing was making sure that Louisa would grow up without both a mother and a father, and Lyudmila would never get the answers she really wanted about her family's death. And, although she ended up not doing it, she was even also planning to go back to Chernobog to kill  Sergei, Alex and Misha's father, for his betrayal.

And this carries on through the future outside the event. Crownslayer ends up joining Reunion because she thinks it will give her the answers  she wants and avenge her father. Folinic almost lets her anger at Atro's death get her into a confrontation with Wolumonde. In the end, Crownslayer is stopped by Kal'tsit and Folinic is calmed down by  Suzuran, but we might be able to imagine what would have happened if  they managed to carry out their vengeance.

The theme of homeland is one that's intrinsically tied to Kal'tsit and has at least a bit of relation to the broader story outside of the event. It's harder to talk about since it's not clearly  split into individual stories like previously, but there's at least one character that exemplifies this theme the most: Old Isin.

Old Isin is appropriately to his name, old as rocks. He remembers being a servant to some lord of a long-lost city that very few even know once existed, and spends his time telling fortunes while trying to seek out people who, like him, also share that past. According to Kal'tsit, the city's people were scattered when it was destroyed, and now only Isin even remembers the origin of the name "Reefsteep". Even then, Isin only has vague memories, and believes it to be his unforgivable sin that  he has forgotten so much about the city.

Old Isin originally helps Kal'tsit and Elliot because he hopes that  she can help him remember about the lost city, and thus absolve his  "unforgivable sin". And Kal'tsit indeed does help him. Isin begins to recall the conquests of armies a thousand years ago, something even with  his age he should not have been a part of, much less remembered.  Kal'tsit dispels the illusions clouding his memory, and reveals that  what Isin remembers is only the stories that the padishah recounted to  him, that the glory of his old city was only a memory of another memory. In truth, the city in Old Isin's memory was merely a stepping stone for the padishah's ambition to conquer the uncharted deserts, and was abandoned just as easily when that campaign failed. His homeland's glory was just an illusion created in his mind by the padishah's charisma.

Which brings us to the Emperor's Blade. Wherever he stands is the dominion of the Empire of Ursus. Whatever he does carries out the Ursus Emperor's will. Or at least, that's how the Royal Guards imagine themselves, single-handedly carrying out their homeland's legacy. Kal'tsit lays it out clearly:

Kal'tsit: Tell me, what does the current Ursus Emperor think of the Pine Valley affair? Or do you mean to tell me the seeds of that uprising, the origins of the crisis were all the will of the Emperor? Feel free to keep deceiving yourself, but the truth is the young emperor is unaware of the events that transpired there. You believe he has no  need to know. You... all of you seek a bygone era. You are just caught up in the former emperor's grand vision!

As does Patriot in Chapter 8:

Patriot: I fought with your fathers. Your strength and tactical acumen are no less impressive than theirs. But you look at the Ursus of those times with rose-colored glasses. What you see is nothing more than your wild fantasies.

The Royal Guards are described in not too unclear words as soldiers  who probably believed too much of their own grandiose affect. They are unparalleled fighters, to be sure, but it isn't hard to infer that those words about executing Ursus's will and each Royal Guard being his own nation are words intended to strike fear into their enemies rather than  statements of any real truth. Indeed, if you know anything about the internal politics of Ursus, the idea of "Ursus's own will" can be seen as more of a nostalgia at a bygone era when Ursus was, or at least seemed, united in conquest under the previous Emperor. The perceived glory of their homeland is what motivates the Emperor's Blade, but like with Old Isin, the truth behind it is shaky at best.

We also have the contrast between the retired veteran at Pine Valley  and Grand Duke Vanya. While talking to Witte, the veteran cuts off one of his own fingers, claiming that the scars he has suffered in Ursus's wars, once considered symbols of his glory and honor, were ultimately meaningless, and he wants this self-inflicted wound to be his only legacy to Ursus. At the same time, the Grand Duke is postulating about how the seeds he had sown in the winter would give birth to beautiful flowers. Even though his actions and the crimes he committed never bore fruition, he is convinced even in death that Ursus's soil will bloom.

The issue of a real or imagined homeland, and its loss, is also  shared by the Sarkaz as a whole not only in this story but in the main story and many other events. It's even arguable that Rhodes Island's mission to help the Infected was originally inherited from Babel's goal of establishing a stable homeland for the Sarkaz. After all, as pointed  out in many places, the Infected and Sarkaz share much of the same discrimination.

Sarkaz Mercenary: Home...? How could us devils... us Infected possibly have one... Kal'tsit: The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild 'Kazdel', their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded. Everyone has a different idea as to what the term 'homeland' means, but as it stands right now,  Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning.

And in Twilight of Wolumonde:

Armed Infected: We’re going home? To what home?

Mudrock: Kazdel. There may be no place for Sarkaz outside of Kazdel.  But in Kazdel, there is a place for you. Not because of tolerance. But because there is... nothing there. Kazdel... is where the homeless go. A land of rootless people.

So what does all this have to do with Kal'tsit?

In the ending cutscene, Passenger asks Kal'tsit whether this "Rhodes  Island" is yet another passing persona to be used to accomplish a goal and discarded when it's complete. Like the persona of the Trusted  Advisor, or the Servant, or the Laterano Cleric, will she abandon Rhodes  Island as well? Kal'tsit initially puts up a front saying he has no  right to ask, then bluffs about having thousands of answers, but is pushed by Passenger saying he'll even accept a lie. In one of the only times we get to see Kal'tsit faltering, she actually has no answer to this.

Unlike the other characters we see throughout the story, Kal'tsit has no homeland. No matter how fake or illusory it is, Old Isin and the Royal Guard have something to believe about a place where they can belong. The nobles in Victoria, as incompetent as they appear from the outside, are dedicated to defending the peace of their home despite having no ruler. Even the ostracized Sarkaz can ultimately go back to Kazdel, as unpleasant as that might be. But while Kal'tsit wanders the earth to keep the homelands of others from falling into chaos, she has no homeland of her own to go back to.

In one of the trailers for Chapter 9, we hear a recording from Theresa, addressed to Kal'tsit: "I hope this Rhodes Island can be a place to call home, a place you can always return to."

[q-gorgeous]

Ghost Farm

fanfiction

ao3

The GIW need ghost samples to conduct experiments. Why capture ghosts when you can make your own? prompt by @mystyrust

word count: 2609

warning: offscreen character death

gosh this prompt

Danny yawned as he walked into the school. He walked up to Sam and Tucker and was just about to greet them when heard Paulina sobbing into Dash’s chest by her locker.

“Woah.” He said. “What’s happening?”

“Star’s still missing.” Sam whispered.

“It’s been a week since her parents filed that report and no one’s seen any sign of her since then.” Tucker looked at his PDA. “No one has anything new to report online. I think it's starting to really wear on Paulina.”

“Maybe when we patrol later we should check up on some other places rather than just the ghost hot spots.” Danny said, looking back at Paulina. “Maybe we’ll be able to find something while we’re out.”

“Maybe.” Sam said. The first bell rang and they started heading to class. “But if we’re being realistic, a week is a long time with this kind of thing. She could be long gone out of Amity Park by now. Or, you know.” She whispered that last part.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try looking around though.”

The three of them walked into Lancer’s class. The empty desk next to Paulina felt like it took up the entire room and many of their classmates were trying not to look at it. The final bell rang and Mr. Lancer turned from where he was writing on the board. 

“Alright, class.” He said somberly. “Let’s get started.”

QQQQQ

“We’re having no luck down here, Danny. What about you?” Tucker called through the Fenton phones. 

Danny flew past the arcade and an ice cream shop and stopped, floating in front of an alley. “Nothing here. I think we can call it for-”

Danny’s head whipped towards the sound of trash cans crashing around. He floated into the alley slowly, looking around. When he came out the other end there was no one there. 

“Are you okay, Danny?”

He turned back around. “Yeah, I think some cat was getting into one of the garbage cans over here or something.” He flew back out of the alley.

“Okay, well then-”

Danny stopped listening to her when he saw something laying on the ground. He touched down on the concrete and bent over to pick up a pink clip.

“Hey Sam.” Danny asked. “Dash and Kwan were talking about taking Paulina for ice cream, right?”

“Yeah?” She said, confused. “Why?”

“I found Paulina’s hair clip on the ground.”

A heavy silence settled between the three of them.

“She probably left with them, right?” Danny asked. “They wouldn’t have left her alone here?”

“There’s no way they’d just leave her there. Not with Star missing.” Tucker said. 

Silence hovered over them again for a few seconds before Danny spoke. “You guys go home. I’m gonna fly up and down the streets over here again.”

“Are you sure?” Sam asked.

“Yeah.” Danny took off, flying above the buildings and scanning the ground below him. “Be careful getting home and let me know when you get there.”

They both gave him affirmatives and he looked up and down each street. In fifteen minutes he got notice that Sam was home and ten minutes after that so was Tucker.

He let out a deep breath, a bit more relaxed now that he knew Sam and Tucker were safely at home. He had a bad feeling, but he hadn’t seen anything suspicious along the streets or in the alley, so maybe Paulina did leave with Kwan and Dash and she just dropped her hair clip. 

He turned around to start heading back home. He dropped down in between his house and the neighbor’s and transformed. Before heading inside, he let Sam and Tucker know he was home and he turned off the Fenton Phones and put them in his pocket. 

Danny opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind him. He greeted his parents who sat waiting on the couch, his mom reading the paper and his dad cross stitching something. He yawned and started heading upstairs to get ready for bed.

After brushing his teeth and changing in the bathroom, Danny crossed the hall into his room, closing the door and turning off the light. He flopped down onto his bed and pulled the covers over himself.

He hoped Paulina was doing better tomorrow. 

QQQQQ

Paulina was missing. 

She had never come home last night and her parents called all her friends, asking if they knew where she was. No one had seen her since yesterday, and her parents filed a missing person report. It spread like wildfire through the school.

Dash and Kwan in particular looked horrified and close to hysterics throughout the day. They didn’t talk to anyone, didn’t even really look in anyone’s direction when their names were called. 

It took until lunch, but soon word spread that one of the underclassmen was missing too. One of the band kids. No one had seen him since last night either and he just happened to live in the area that the ice cream shop was in. 

It didn’t stop there either. Day after day, more and more kids were disappearing. Mikey, Dale, Sarah, more underclassmen. It was getting to the point where they cancelled school until someone had some answers. 

That didn’t stop Sam from going out and searching for any clue she could find though. The first time Danny had seen her when he was patrolling on his own, he scooped her right up and took her home, scolding her. 

When his mom got a panicked phone call from Sam’s hysteric mom, his heart dropped into his stomach. His hands went numb and he stared at his mom until she got off the phone and walked over to where he sat on the couch.

She pulled him into her arms tightly and whispered into his hair.

“Sam’s missing.”

QQQQQ

“Come on, Danny!” Tucker yelled through the computer. “You can’t just walk around waiting to be kidnapped! If you get kidnapped how are we gonna fix this?”

“What we’ve been doing hasn’t been working, Tucker!” Danny yelled back. “I can only cover so much ground when I don’t know what I’m looking for and you can’t be out there. I can barely do any patrols as it is, my parents are always coming up to my room to check on me. I don’t see any other way to do this.”

“What if you don’t come back either?”

Danny paused. “I have to come back. If I don’t come back then neither does Sam.”

Tucker sighed. “Just. Be careful.”

“I’ll try to be as careful as I can while being kidnapped.”

Tucker made a face at him just before Danny logged off. Transforming, Danny jumped into the air and flew out the window. He flew around town a bit before dropping off into the alleyway he found Paulina’s hair clip in. The areas that the kids were last seen in seemed to be all over town, but he couldn’t shake the sound that the garbage cans had made that day out of his head.

Pressing his back against the wall, Danny transformed and strolled out, walking down the street. There weren’t many people out most days now. Most of them were too afraid of going outside and getting snatched up like all the teenagers. 

He’d been walking for fifteen minutes before he heard the crunch of gravel underneath tires behind him. He didn’t turn around and kept walking forward. Footsteps rapidly approached him and suddenly a bag was over his head.

“Hey!” He shouted. 

“Are you sure we should take this one? What about his parents?”

Someone else scoffed. “They’re too dumb to do anything about it. They won’t even know where to find him. Just help me get him in the car.”

They picked Danny up and hauled him back towards the car. He heard the trunk open and they tied his wrists together before shutting the trunk heavily above him. Soon the vehicle was moving and driving away. 

Well, he accomplished what he sent out to do. It wasn’t very comfortable though. 

They must’ve been driving for at least an hour because by the time they stopped, both of Danny’s legs were asleep. The trunk popped open and he could feel the cold air rushing in. They pulled him out and placed him on the ground, yanking him back up after he almost collapsed from the pins and needles feeling in his legs. 

They walked him to an entrance where he could hear key cards being scanned at multiple points. They led him through squeaky hallways until they stopped and were suddenly lifting him up onto a bed? No, a stretcher. They strapped him down and once he was tightly bound they ripped the bag off of his head. 

Danny scrunched his eyes up at the white light bouncing off the bright white walls. Looking around, he saw two faces staring down at him. Agent K and Agent O. 

“The GIW?” Danny said. “What the fuck? Why are you kidnapping humans?”

They ignored him and started pushing him down a very long hallway. 

Rolling down the long hallway, Danny can hear the moans and groans, most of them coming from ghosts. He looks around and sees room upon room, windows letting him see the people inside each of them. 

His heart drops when he sees Star. She’s floating inside her room, a small husk of a ghost. When she sees him, her eyes immediately light up with rage and sparks fly off of her as she bounces all over the room. 

In the next room is Paulina. It doesn’t look like she’s a ghost, but it looks like she’s sick with ghost powers again. She’s pressed tightly against the wall she shares with Star. She hiccups and a ghost sense floats out of her mouth. 

As they push him by, he sees everyone. Mikey, Dale, Sarah. All of the underclassmen that went missing. Even Dash was there. Each one various levels of dead, alive, and sick.

They reach the end of the hallway and his pulse is spiking, his heart hammering in his chest. He hasn’t seen Sam anywhere.

He clears his throat. “So, uh, wanna share what you guys are doing here?”

“Ghost studies.” Agent K clips out.

“Right. Why are you kidnapping humans then?”

“It’s easier to make ghosts than to catch them.”

“What-” Danny stops and his eyes widen. They can’t be serious. Making ghosts? His thoughts go back to Star, bouncing around her room like a comet and his blood runs cold.

They roll through a set of double doors and when they open they’re in an operating room. His thoughts are buzzing and he can hear the click and ping of metal objects being placed on the counter. They’re just about to roll a utensil cart over to his stretcher when he hears a scream that fills his veins with fire. 

Without even thinking about it, Danny rips his wrists out of the restraints and punches Agent O in the face. He falls into the cart and all of the tools clatter to the ground. Danny shoots an ectoblast at each belt binding his ankles to the stretcher and hops off the bed, facing Agent K, glaring at him, hands filled with ectoplasm.

“You’re a ghost!” Agent K exclaims before Danny kicks him in the stomach. 

“And you’re scum.” Danny snarls. He shoots an ectoblast into the side of Agent K’s head, knocking him unconscious. 

Transforming, Danny jumps up into the air and starts flying from room to room, looking for Sam. He finally finds her in another room in a different hallway, another agent sticking a needle full of ectoplasm into her arm. She screams again. 

As the agent is reaching for something else from a tray, Danny picks up the tray, sending its contents flying, and smashes it into his face. The agent tumbles to the ground and Danny grabs his keycard. Picking Sam up, Danny phases them out of the room, locking the agent inside. 

“Sam! Sam, are you okay?” Danny asks shakily. 

She shakes her head. “We can’t worry about me right now. We have to get your parents and the cops.”

“But-”

Sam shakes her head again. “Some of these kids won’t make it long enough for you to patch me up. They’ve been sick for too long.”

He looks at her for a few seconds before nodding. He shoots up into the air, holding Sam close to his chest as he flew as fast as he could back home. 

He flew straight into the living room, halting abruptly when he saw his parents standing there. They stared with wide eyes at Sam in his arms and started reaching for their guns.

“Wait!” He shook his head. “We need your help! I found out where all the kids are!”

Maddie’s gun clattered to the ground. “Where are they? Was Danny with them?”

“Danny’s fine, he’s not there.” He said hurriedly. “They’re in a GIW compound outside of town. We need to hurry.”

“Let me just-” Maddie started reaching for Sam.

“No! We can’t waste any time.” His grip tightened on Sam. “She said she’ll be fine for now but there are kids who won’t make it much longer. They need our help more right now.”

“Okay. Okay, Jack. Get the keys for the van and a couple of bazookas. You take Sam to the van and direct us to the compound. I’m going to get in touch with the police.”

They all piled into the van and Danny directed them toward the compound. Danny kept a close eye on Sam and Maddie stayed on the phone until they reached the compound, giving the police the address. The van slammed through the brick wall surrounding the compound and straight into the front wall of the building. 

They all jumped out, Danny still carrying Sam, and he keycarded them through all the locked doors until they got to the wing full of students. Maddie covered her mouth as she looked at them. 

Soon the police got there and they began to cart out the agents that remained in the building. Paramedics came in to take care of the kids who were still alive while Jack and Maddie worked on calming Star and the other ghosts down. 

Danny let go of Sam’s hand slowly as the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance. He turned around and flew back into the building where he found his parents trying to comfort a distraught Star. 

He floated up to her and held a hand out. She looked at it and her eyes darted up to his face, recognition flashing through them. Tears welled up in her eyes and she stood, wrapping her arms around him as she sobbed. 

He loosely wrapped his arms back around her and waited with her until she was ready to go.

QQQQQ

Danny, Sam, and Tucker sat closely together on top of Danny’s bed. They had just gotten back from the memorial held for all the kids that died inside the compound. Danny and Tucker each held one of Sam’s hands, gripping them tightly. 

Sam took a deep breath and let it out shakily, her fingers twitching and going through Danny’s hand before settling back in place. 

Danny hoped to whatever deity there might be that this would never happen again. No matter what anyone thought of the ghosts in Amity Park, they had never stooped low enough to kill someone. They weren’t collecting humans for a ghost farm. 

He glanced up at the window, looking at the night sky. A ghost flew through the night, sparking brightly like a comet.