#c: Robbie

[void-botanist]

More Martina Stuff

This wip is gonna need a better title than Martina & Dad because it's turning out to be a lot more than that but. Time for picrews from this picrew!

Martina

Daughter of Maggie and Robbie. Runs Commencement on her own. Always wears a white suit. The upward 50s-housewife curl of her hair is actually even more pronounced and it's natural - my hair has done that before when it gets long enough.

Galira

Daughter of Maggie and Joe. Ran the psychopomp half of Commencement very effectively until she left under unknown circumstances quite a while ago. May or may not be older than Martina - nobody remembers anymore.

Magdalena, a.k.a. Maggie

Mother of Martina and Galira, but as far as anyone knows, has no parents of her own. Hates staying in one place and being required to do anything she doesn't feel like doing. Travels the universe with Symena.

Symena

Maggie's brother, though how exactly that's possible with no parents is unclear. A real cool cat but also very selfish. Has a habit of saying "whatever happened to [x person]? I liked them", often about Martina and Galira's dads. Travels the universe with Maggie.

Robert, a.k.a. Robbie

Martina's dad, though he didn't meet her until very recently. A cheerful transvestite who gets along with everyone. Really, really wants Martina to let him in beyond letting him live in her section of Commencement.

Joseph, a.k.a. Joe

Galira's dad, though like Robbie he wasn't even aware of her until very recently. Forest witch kind of guy, lives in the middle of nowhere and is generally self-sufficient. Is able to piece together enough information to attempt to find Galira, something that Martina wouldn't dare to do if he hadn't shown up asking for her help.

[jealous-of-josie]

Sleep was fitful for Josie after Juliet had sent her to bed. She could only focus on the scent of the lysol and blood that seemed to linger in the air... or, more likely, her mind. She'd showered twice adn was certain it was just her paranoia at this point. It was a glorified nap in the end, but she needed to get up, needed to keep busy. She wished she was working today for that sake. Her first action was checking on some of the cubs that she came across. Everyone seemed in better sorts than the night before, but the air in the Pack House was still uneasy. Almost suffocatingly so. And then there was the matter of the older pack members. Juliet was probably sleeping by now. Adam seemed to be avoiding everyone still. Jonathan hadn't returned from the Institute. And Robbie... she searched about for awhile before she found him outside in the truck. The cleaning fumes made her nose scrunch up even from her place on the porch. "Need some help?" She called over.

@robbiethebear

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

NYE Confessions

To say that Poppy had been avoiding Robbie since the hasty Christmas kiss incident was an understatement. She'd already planned to have the week off of work between Christmas and New Years, but had even gone so far as to stay with Magnolia for the bulk of that time. She was quite the sort to panic, which came as no surprise to anyone that knew her well. And her friend hadn't pressed the issue... at least until the afternoon of New Years Eve. She'd been giving Poppy the heads up that she'd be away for the night, and had not so subtly told her to face whatever was bothering her head on so that she could go into the new year with a clear conscience. And, well, Poppy couldn't really argue with that logic.

So she'd moved herself and Cosmo back into her flat, gotten nearly settled in, and then picked up her phone to call Robbie. Only she was remembering him having mentioned bwing open on NYE even despite the day. And that thought was really all it took to send her off on her jaunt to Caledonia Repairs.

It wasn't far, all in all. About a ten minute walk normally. But she hadn't properly looked into the fact that it was about to start snowing about halfway into the journey. So her hair was now faintly damp and dotted with the odd few snowflakes, much like Cosmo's fur on Christmas morning.

She'd nearly started to knock before the door opened into the small office space attached to the garage, revealing a clearly surprised Robbie who seemed to be trying to close up shop. "Hi..."

@robbiethebear

[edenxoconnell]

closed starter: @robbie-becker

where: aurora bay college library's study room

It was embarrassing enough that Eden was struggling in her Spanish class last semester, but it was even worse that she ended up failing it. Eden was a diligent student and she'd never failed a class her entire high school or college career, so to learn she'd failed the entire thing was a huge blow to her confidence. She took a lot of pride and found a lot of her worth in how well she did in school. Truthfully, the main reason Eden had done so poorly last semester was because she spent the first few months of her spring semester worried about her brother, but even knowing how awful of a headspace she was in after finding Arkin when he overdosed, she didn't allow herself any grace for how she was doing in school.

So to ensure she didn't fuck up again, she requested a tutor. When her professor told her it would be Robbie, she nearly backed out entirely, but she knew she needed this. Eden sucked it up and told him to meet her in a study room in the library and hoped he'd show up. Eden sat at the table with her textbooks open, hoping to go ahead and begin studying but she couldn't stop feeling anxious about seeing him again, which would be the first time since they hooked up a few months prior. That in itself was something that occupied Eden's mind more than it should have. She missed him and there was a part of her that still believed he was better off without her in his life, but there was another that wanted him back in it.

Eden heard the door to the study room open and she looked up to see him there, her breath catching in her throat as she quickly moved to stand. "H- hi. um.. thanks for coming."

[thelucexcaldwell]

closed - @robbie-becker

where - hidden gems

Luce had only been working here for a week or two, but in that time she'd seen the boy at least twice, so when she saw him yet again, she headed over with a grin on her lips, nodding towards him. "I'd ask if you need any help finding anything but you may know your way around the store more than I do." She teased. "I feel like they should put you on payroll with how much you seemingly like coming here."

[montevans]

@robbieandreas

As time on the base progressed, Monty found himself starting to get to know the men around him. To be fair, he had grown to like some more than others - but figured getting to know everyone was crucial to his happiness. Being stuck on the moon forever came with social challenges, but he hadn't faced too many of them yet.

When he had noticed a man walking around the base that he hadn't seen before - it piqued Monty's interest. Not just because the man happened to be very attractive, but he also seemed to be keeping to himself whenever Monty would see him. He could take lots of guesses why the man would want to be reserved in the weeks after his arrival, but he also couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Monty tried to make friends with him.

Monty had always been more of a man of action rather than contemplation. Sometimes that got him in trouble, but he thought it might be useful in this situation. When he was walking back to his room from the medical suite late at night and passed by the man in one of the lounges, he let his curiosity get the better of him. He approached him, settling in close enough next to him for him to notice -- but not close enough to be alarming. "Hi," he said, flashing a bright smile at the other man, "I'm Monty. I've seen you around but haven't properly introduced myself, so I thought now would be a good time to do so. Hopefully I'm not interrupting anything too important."

Even if he had been a bit distracting from whatever had the other man occupied, he hoped that he was a welcomed distraction. Having no plans himself for the night, maybe befriending a stranger was a good way to spend it.

[carter-harris]

closed starter: @robbie-becker

where: the reef

Carter had the weekend free and couldn't decide how he wanted to spend it, so he found himself in the reef bar with a drink in one hand as he scanned over the patrons to find someone worth talking to. "You." Carter pointed at a random person who looked to be around his age. "You. Me. Pool. Bets?" He rose a brow as he moved to the pool table, believing the other man would follow.

[garethxsouthgate]

Exactly. Thats why that isn't even going to happen. I wouldn't say worried. Its just been years since I had to do any driving test.

Yeah that would get expensive since you live here now. Are you worried about the driving test itself? I know it can be a bit overwhelming.

[void-botanist]

OCKiss 2025 Day 4: Void

OCs: Martina, director of Commencement, and her father Robbie

Setting: Multiverse, specifically the living quarters of Commencement, where souls from the Worlds of the Multiverse are recycled

Words: 888

Content warnings: none, though it gets a little heavy

Notes: Martina is ten feet tall. Robbie is not. She made him fancy engineered platform shoes to make up the difference.

It was one of those darkness periods where Martina did more staring out the hallway windows than sleeping. She had slept a few hours, then her dreams became vague missions made disturbing by the fact that Galira was there. Well, not really Galira; yet somehow exactly her. A ghost of memory. It shouldn’t upset her to see a harmless mental mirage in the shape of her sister, and yet she was here in the corridor again, hands clasped behind her back.

Outside the window, everything was still and constant. The soft nebuline splashes of color nestled among the stars felt like places Magdalena and Symena set up camp, birth and death gathering in gaseous expression around their feet, leaving a cradle of stars behind. She had always known Magdalena—her mother—would leave, because she had never really been there. The center of her universe had always been her brother Symena. Once she’d had her fill of daughters and their fathers, once Martina and Galira were enough adult that she no longer had to be the source of authority, she had finally faded back out into the cosmos. She was out there somewhere still, taking on everything outside Commencement like it was hers.

Maybe she’d even found Galira out there.

Not that she really cared. Not like Martina did. She’d never been one of Mara and Gara. It was impossible not to smile a little thinking of them that way. Mara and Gara, almost one word. What they worried about they worried about together. The way Gara smiled, Mara couldn’t not smile back. Yet it got muddled. Martina wasn’t even sure how, anymore. It had been millions of soul cycles, even millions of sleep periods, too long to make sense of. Whose fault it was and why...surely Galira knew it didn’t matter anymore. That whatever had happened, the only thing Martina cared about was her only sister being the first of her kin not to leave her forever. But maybe Gara and Mara had split apart because of Mara, because of something she no longer even remembered doing. Maybe there was something in her that made her toxic. Because the only person who could break Gara beyond repair was the person who had been almost an extension of her: horrible, selfish little Mara.

Martina brought her arms forward, clasping an elbow in each hand like she was suddenly cold. She had long been an adult when Galira left. She should have known better—in fact, she probably had. And yet Galira was gone, and she had been gone longer than she’d ever stayed, and it was unbearable, bearing the knowledge that this was inevitable, because people always left her behind, because she was the dead weight to be dropped, because they couldn’t imagine staying with her even long enough to say goodbye because it was impossible to be in her presence—

She felt something warm and moist flash against her cheek. A dark reflection ran in the glass of the window, and as she turned her head to see what it was, she saw a skirt and a two-foot molded platform shoe disappearing around the corner with a stream of giggles.

The breath pent up inside her escaped in something that wasn’t quite a laugh and wasn’t quite a sigh, pulling some of the tension out of her shoulders. Apparently the only person in the world immune to her poison was that old man. Her father. He wasn’t family like any of her other kin, but he was here like an invasive plant, growing into every inch of her life and blossoming there. And he’d just snuck up on her to—she touched her cheek as though she didn’t already know—give her a kiss. Really, he was getting more brazen by the day.

She turned from the window and stepped around the corner. He was pressed against the wall like that would make him invisible, obviously trying to hold down a grin.

“Hi, Mara,” he whispered, almost laughing again.

“Come here,” she said, her voice low and stern in contrast to the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

He hung his head a little in pretend contrition as he came to stand in front of her for his admonition. And normally she would admonish him—not seriously, perhaps, but not entirely untruthfully—but tonight she slotted her feet in around his platform shoes and hugged him. He smelled like lavender and lighter fluid and she wasn’t going to ask him why. His hands tentatively came up to her back and she held him harder. Her awful, annoying little Papa. Maybe she took after him somehow and that was why she drove everyone away. Everyone but him.

“Mara, are you okay?” he murmured near her ear.

If she told him, would he understand? “I...I’m glad you’re here. It’s good to have family.”

“Oh,” he said, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

She didn’t know how long they stood there embracing. Eventually she let him go.

“I’m going back to my room now,” she said.

“I could make you something warm to drink,” he said. “In my room. If you wanted to stay for a bit?”

If she let him do this she might never hear the end of it. “Okay.”

[edenxoconnell]

where: eden's sister's home

when: late december 2023

featuring: @robbie-becker & eden o'connell

Eden:

It was about a month since Eden found her brother after his overdose, a month since she’d nearly lost him, and a month of her sitting with the idea that if she just hadn’t left for a few hours that day maybe she would’ve noticed something was wrong. Logically, she knew she couldn’t have done anything that would have completely changed the outcome, but she felt responsible in a way. It didn’t help that her mother helped put that in her head either.

It was a little over a month since it happened and Eden was spending Christmas break at her sister’s condo or staying the night with Robbie, but she’d found herself wanting to distance herself from everyone mostly. Eden spent hours of her time searching for answers, wondering if she could’ve done anything different, but she kept coming up empty handed. She tried getting her mind off everything but nothing seemed to help. And maybe she was just in her head about what happened- what her mother had said to her, almost blaming her for what happened, that Eden began to feel like maybe all those awful things her mother had said to her were true.

Not merely blaming her for what happened with Arkin, but all the awful things she’d said about Eden growing up, too. All the ways that she made Eden feel small and insignificant and like she didn’t deserve anyone good. It was all getting in her head and she was starting to believe it. To believe that maybe she wasn’t good enough for Robbie.

More than that, Robbie had been there through everything. He was the first person she’d called when she was at the hospital, he was one of the first to arrive at the hospital, and he’d been there for her since. He held her when she cried, he comforted her after nightmares. But Eden had spent the last week convincing herself that he deserved better than that. What she’d been through and what she’d been told had affected her more than she ever could have imagined it would, and she found herself thinking that he shouldn’t have to put up with her, that he moved to California to get an education, not deal with her family drama and how it affected her. Eden began to think that even if she ever had a chance to meet his parents, they wouldn’t like her. Eden thought of herself as a disappointment, someone broken that no one should have to sacrifice anything to put the pieces back together.

Having taken all these thoughts into consideration, Eden believed it was for the best for Robbie to be able to begin his school year without all of her bullshit. For her to put herself back together before continuing to pursue anything more with him. And god, she wanted something more- she was pretty sure she was in love with him and she’d never been in love before. He was something special to her and that was why she felt it would be best to end things for now. Maybe things could get better before she made him worse.

Eden had asked Robbie to come by Addison’s so she could talk to him while her sister was out. She wanted a break, essentially, but she wasn’t sure how long it would take to be better again- to be something good for herself and for Robbie.

“Hi.” Eden invited him in as she gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She’d cried a few times that day already and she knew she would probably do it again after this. She didn’t want to lose him but she felt like she would no matter what, whether he decided he didn’t want her or she broke it off herself.

Robbie:

"Hey."

His voice is soft when he enters the home, one familiar only for the fact Robbie has passed under this doorframe too many times to count. A second family in some senses, Arkin's overdose had dug deep under his skin in its own ways, but in no way comparable to Eden. Robbie would never dare try to say he harbored the same hurt and fear, at least not in the same sense.

Selfishly, his focus had been on Eden for the last two weeks. Arkin had his family to care after him, but in all their focus of course Eden wasn't of their concern. It's not a fault of theirs, of course it would make sense their time and energy went into Arkin above all else, but Robbie stood behind Eden, arms always outstretched and ready to catch her.

Each.

And.

Every day.

The way she looks dim isn't all that much of a surprise to him when accounting for the torrential storm of emotions from the last two weeks, but it still sits heavy in his gut. Robbie doesn't waste any time to place a chaste kiss to her lips in greeting, but the embrace he pulls her in lingers. "Hey," he repeats, much more softly. Then, he pulls back with his hands still on her shoulders. "How are you doing? How's Arkin, and everyone?"

Eden:

Eden felt a swell of guilt in her chest, aching down to her bones as she thought that she didn't deserve him and the way he would show up no matter what. She wondered if she'd made the right decision to break things off for now, but she knew that the school year was starting soon and she wanted him to focus on himself, not worry about her. The kiss only made that ache worsen and she closed her eyes as she took it in just for a moment before she was being pulled against him. It was something she couldn't help but melt into as she wrapped her own arms around him, her fingers gripping the material of his shirt as he held her before they finally broke away. This wasn't going to be easy.

"He's.. fine. It's a little weird being around him after everything. I'm just glad he's getting help. I, uh… well, I didn't really want to talk about Arkin." Eden knew if she delayed this at all she wouldn't be able to do it.

Robbie:

Ever attentive, Robbie's focus doesn't stray from Eden's face. He listens intently, a smile even twitches at the corners of his mouth. He goes to say something about how he's glad Arkin is getting the help he needs, but there is the hesitance to her voice, and how she concludes that sentence that draws cause for concern.

"Is everything alright?" It's a redundant question, but it's the only thing he can think of when there is a silence lingering too long. Then another moment and he clears his throat. "Do we have to talk about it in the doorway?"

Eden:

"Shit. No, sorry." Eden shook her head and invited him to step farther into the condo as she closed the door. She didn't want to delay the conversation but that didn't mean she had to rush it. Robbie was so important to her and she didn't want to completely ruin things between them. It wouldn't be like ripping a bandage off, this needed to be handled delicately.

"Not really." She finally answered his question as she moved to the couch to sit down, wanting him to follow suit. "I just need to talk to you. About… well, about us."

Robbie:

There’s a wave of relief that washes over him when there is at least the invitation in. To do it standing on the ‘welcome mat’ area, per se, would feel off. Damning, in a way, as though he’d have to run out the door. The pressure lifts when he follows after, but there is still worry and confusion that fills his head.

“Not good,” Robbie chuckles softly despite the grim notion that Eden is not alright. “What can I do to help?” Is the question that follows when he sits beside her. He begins to feel a bit unnerved then though, because Eden seems different. Her head swirling with thoughts he can’t take a peak at, or as though she’s holding on some secret.

Then she says us, and his brows furrow, but he still has a subtle smile. “What? Alright, why? You’re not breaking up with me, are you?” It’s meant as a joke, signaled by the way he shortly laughs after, this soft, mirthless sound because the tension begins to set in his shoulders again. “Right?”

Eden:

Eden couldn’t laugh with him because he thought it was so unlikely to be the reason she’d asked him here he made a joke of it. She just watched him, her lips parting as she tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.

“Robbie,” Eden began softly and she took his hand in hers and laced their fingers together on her lap. “You mean the world to me. You do. There’s no question about that whatsoever, but…” Eden trailed off, unsure how she was supposed to do this. “I was thinking that maybe… maybe time a part would be good for us. For you. Not forever. Just… a while.”

Robbie:

What had been a joke quickly is affirmed as reality, but slowly it takes to register. Robbie searches Eden’s face, his mouth parted slightly as he searches for words to say, but really… what is there to say? Quick and succinct, the purpose of Eden calling him over very much so was about what he made joke of, and a pit forms in his stomach.

“You’re breaking up with me…”

He says, his voice quieter as it’s said more to himself to really let it click.

“W-wait - hold up. Why? Did I do something? Because we don’t need time apart. I can fix whatever, just tell me what it is-“ he hopes, because right now he is stunned and clueless about what even brought this on. “We don’t need a break. Everything’s been good between us?” Said with a question as now Robbie, for the first time in their relationship, feels so utterly and hopelessly uncertain.

Eden:

Eden knew this wouldn’t be easy but nothing prepared her for the look on Robbie’s face or the hurt in his voice. She gave his hand a squeeze as she shook her head. “Nothing! You did nothing wrong. I- I just…” Feel like I’m holding you back. Not good enough for you or anyone else. I’m completely falling apart and I’m scared I’m going to take you with me. “You’ve been nothing but amazing to me, especially since…” Eden’s voice trailed off, she didn’t like talking about it at all because she was ridden with guilt and brought back into those moments of panic. “It’s been really hard on me a- and I know it’s affecting you because it’s affecting me, but the school year is about to start. You shouldn’t have to worry about me when you should be worried about your future.” And as far as Eden was concerned, even if they took a break, she believed that they were both still in each other’s futures. “It doesn’t seem fair to ask you to stick around when literally everything’s…” Eden paused and let out a humorless laugh. “Everything’s fucked. My family is fucked.”

Robbie:

It's an odd thing. Feelings he can't quite decipher beyond the blow he feels to his gut. Metaphorical, of course, but the assurance that it wasn't at all his fault in any way feels like a solid punch right in his stomach. It almost sucks the air out of him, and he falls silent, mouth parted slightly as though he wants to say something but nothing manages to come out. The only thing grounding him to his moment is the hold Eden has on his hand.

Then, as she concludes, he rips his own away almost as if he'd just touched fire.

He snaps, "That's not for you to decide. What affects me, or doesn't, that's my issue to deal with. Not yours."

If it has in any way, it's Robbie's attention being so focused on Eden. He cares about her more than he ever thought he'd care about a person who isn't family. Love is such a silly thing in concept, but when he said it, he meant it. She filled him with joy, she filled him with exhilaration, and at times, she filled him with fear. All of the things that come in tandem with such an emotion, one he so contently held for through all the hard parts of it, the good parts outweighed them.

"And you think it's fair to just assume that?" On reflex, Robbie stands so he can take a few unaimed steps, then spins back to face her. His nervous energy feels like it's bunching up and springing into his limbs. "I want to stick around, Eden. What's so wrong with that? I want to be there for you, isn't that what a relationship is about? Sometimes you can only give twenty or ten, but that's alright. I can give ninety percent until you're okay. I'm willing to do that." (edited)

Eden:

Eden waited for what felt like an eternity for him to respond, her focus was entirely on him as she watched herself hurt one of the people she loved the most. She was worried that maybe she’d gotten this wrong, that maybe this was a huge mistake.

Robbie snatching his hand was made Eden flinch and her eyes widened as she looked up at him. She hadn’t exactly considered that it wasn’t her choice, really, but she believed she was doing the right thing. This was her taking care of him, right?

Eden was standing now too, her hands wrenching as she nearly paced in front of him as she spoke

“I- it doesn’t. It doesn’t seem fair for you to have sleepless nights and hear me cry over the things going on in my life a-and I… I don’t know. Robbie, I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how to make things right or to be fair to you. I haven’t been myself lately and I’m scared that—“ That you’re going to leave. “I’m scared I won’t ever be the same. There’s nothing wrong with you staying with me, I just… I feel like you…” Eden trailed off, trying to decide if she should quit holding back her feelings and thoughts on the matter. “I feel like you deserve better than me. Someone who can give you more than twenty percent, someone who can actually take care of you.” Because heaven knows she couldn’t take care of her brother. “I don’t want this to be forever- being apart, I mean. Just until I can be okay enough to give you more than that twenty.” Eden stopped then, her hands clenched in fists at her sides as she faced him, her eyes searching his through the tears that pooled in them.

Robbie:

“So you think this is fair?”

Robbie looks at her, and at first, he thinks the expression she wears is completely alien.

Except, no, maybe he’s wrong. It takes him a minute, but he recognizes it that instant. As she speaks, her vulnerabilities are laid bare. It’s been two weeks to him, but it feels that much more to her, doesn’t it? Every minute is a day, every hour a month, sifting and navigating through the mess left in the wake of Arkin’s overdose.

For the first time ever, Robbie thinks he hates him.

That thought is rescinded the moment it crosses the forefront of his mind. He knows better. Addiction isn’t a person, it’s a disease, and with a shuddering breath he stuffs that feeling deep down into a dark place never to be touched again.

“What? What do you mean until you can- what the fuck, Eden?” Robbie winces and gives her a sharp look. “You can’t just put me on a shelf until you’re ready to pick me back up again.” The tears he previously wished to kiss away do nothing but stab anger through his heart, and he still can’t make sense of it. “I can give more than fifty until you can! That’s the point. You find someone - okay, you find a person who cares about you and lifts you up when you’re down, even through all of the hard shit.”

Right?

Robbie shakes his head and throws his hands up until they fall to his side in a light swing, and he looks at Eden for a long moment. Quiet, eyes dulled with a wetness clinging to the corners of them. His expression otherwise remains stoic as he says, “This is it, Eden. If you want to end things because you’re throwing a pity party by yourself, we’re done. Either we work through it, together, or we’re done.”

His voice trembles at the last part, his throat runs dry, and he finishes with,

“That’s my stipulation. All or nothing. I’m not going to sit around and wait until you're good and ready again. Not for a maybe.”

Eden:

Eden didn’t know what to think anymore. In her mind, through all the fog and hurt and anxiety, she believed this was the right thing. All that bullshit about loving someone so much that you let them go was turning out to be just that- bullshit. Was it really fair to let him carry her through her hurt when it wasn’t his fault? It wasn’t Robbie’s fault that Arkin had overdosed or that Eden was the one who found him. It wasn’t his fault that her mother shoved lies and ideas down her throat that it was her fault and she should’ve seen the signs and she should’ve understood just how bad Arkin’s addiction was. Eden was with him that week after all, so why didn’t she notice it? Why did she leave that day when she did? If she just hadn’t left or she’d been a bit more attentive, would things be different?

Eden wasn’t even sure if there were signs that could’ve led her to realizing what was going to happen. Addiction was what made her hide in her books as a child. It was her mother who would drink herself into oblivion and when she wasn’t passed out, her words spewed out like poison. Eden hid from it all and she never paid close attention apart from how to keep some form of peace in their home. What not to do to provoke the beast.

And now? Now Eden, who’d successfully spent years away from her mother and out of that toxic hell hole the O’Connells once called home, she had been met with her mother’s verbal abuse once more. With her constant blame for bad things that happened to them. It was easier to believe those were just lies for a while- a way for her mother to feel better about herself and make sense of terrible things by putting Eden down and making her take the blame for it, but after a while it was hard not to believe it.

To Eden, she was never enough and it took her years to heal enough to understand that wasn’t true, but past decades of horrible words she’d heard had come back. And at times she wondered if Arkin blamed her for what happened too. She wondered if he was hurt that she hadn’t realized just how bad things were for him. It was going to be difficult to even face him again without that image of him when she had to call an ambulance for him and that constant worry that he’d resent her and they’d never be the same again. She worried Robbie maybe believed those things too and it was partially that insecurity that led her to making the decision to take a break.

Eden had never heard Robbie speak this way before and she hated that it was because of her and the hurt she was putting him through. She opened her mouth to speak, to explain herself more and in a way that hopefully made sense to them both, but Robbie referring to her feelings as a pity party was enough to leave her speechless. She’d been gaslighting herself for weeks, wondering if she even had a right to feel the way she had about all of this and that felt like confirmation that she didn’t. Eden closed her mouth and didn’t say another word.

Robbie:

The silence is shuttering. Robbie stands there, his eyes trained on her face. A year and a half is slipping through his fingers. The person he thought he could experience more of life with beside him is shutting him out. But what else can be done? Or even said? He swallows the lump in his throat.

'Well?' sits on his tongue, wanting to come out and try and prompt something. Robbie remains wordless, Eden's silence louder than anything.

No answer is answer enough.

He sniffs and nods, still standing in place, his eyes dropping to the floor. The only thing that comes out of his mouth is a quiet, succinct, "Okay." An inhalation of air to steady himself, a quick clearing of his throat and another, "Okay." He doesn't even bother to look her in the face again when he turns to head to the door, and the only thing that signals his departure is the click of the lock and then the door shutting behind him.

[soranatus]

The End of Barbie By Steph C, an illustrator & visual development artist

[secure-with-j-lockhart]

"Thank you." Jonathan wasn't really one to fight his logic or his corner in that sense, but it was nice to think that his point could be recognized by his packmate... hopefully Adam would be the same whenever they spoke of the ordeal and its aftermath. "Can't really blame him for that. It would rattle anyone in some form or fashion. I'll check in on him later though, and to give him the same update." He offered Robbie a smile then, fighting back a yawn that threatened to release. "Something like that. I hope you're able to get more rest later too, we all need it after that ordeal."

“Ok, I can see that,” he conceded. It had been a delicate situation, still was really. He might have liked leaving their Second their alone but he could understand now that under the circumstances it had been the best course of action. Robbie smiled at little at Jonathan’s response to what his sister had done. “He definitely had a large amount of probably nervous energy last night, couldn’t sit still the whole way home. Saw him heading out on a run when I came in just now, so hopefully that’ll help him some.” Robbie hummed, considering this. “Well all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed I suppose. I should leave you, let you get some sleep while you can,”

[vapidlemon]

This is his favourite coffee drinking spot, but he also happens to have some tea (if you'd care for some) ...

Hey did you know it's the fourth anniversary of the For Good cover?

[chernobog13]

A fantastic poster for Forbidden Planet (1956) by Robert Bertie.

[frankienoel]

Seriously?! You're 36? I would never have guessed that. You really look younger. And for sure, if you still feel 25, you're doing great. Never lose touch with that younger you inside of you.

I'm not tech-savvy, but I am good at other things.

Oh that is extremely kind of you, add 11 to that and you've got it. Most days I guess I do still feel 25, though, so maybe I'm not doing too bad.

At the very least, it's good to know that I'm not alone, and that's just a valuable help.

[void-botanist]

The Martina Post

@vacantgodling wanted to hear more about the wip that Void comes from so let's go! Void is actually the only actually written part of this wip so far and a lot of it is vague vibes instead of plot but here's what I can tell you about the lore.

The Realms, where immortals live/are from in the Multiverse, are loosely divided by types of magic. Celestia (angels and demons) represent ether magic; the Commencement-related folks like Martina represent soul magic. They're responsible for putting a spark of life into the Worlds, where mortals live, and creating some of the species that exist there. But they're really not paying attention to the lives of individual mortals. Martina runs Commencement, which is in charge of recycling souls that come in from the Worlds and sending them back out. On occasion they also recycle souls from the Realms, because immortals aren't 100% unkillable, but that's rare.

In old canon, Martina was Martin and he and his brother (my ex's oc) ran Commencement and Dispatch, respectively. Dispatch picked up the souls from the worlds; Commencement put them back out. All of this is now rolled into Commencement but I haven't figured out the details. Martin and his brother had different fathers but their mother was Magdalena, who represented creation. She was functionally stuck in the abyss creating stuff for Destructo (honestly not sure what his real name was) to destroy.

In the current canon, Martina and her sister Galira are both Magdalena's kids with different fathers. Said fathers were not allowed to interact with them - honestly I'm not sure they knew they were fathers at all because that was just kinda how Maggie rolled. Magdalena doesn't strictly represent creation and her brother Symena doesn't strictly represent destruction but they do kind of have that vibe - the painter and the goth, if you will (not that goths can't be painters but you get the idea). Magdalena had her kids for whatever reason but she was always antsy to get back out there with Symena. Symena was a nice uncle, not that invested in his nieces but willing to do stuff with them sometimes and also do whatever the equivalent of sneaking them quarters for the gumball machine was.

As for what happened with Martina and Galira, I don't know yet. It may well be Martina's fault. But two things happened after Galira left: Martina got so lonely and bored (because Commencement basically runs itself; what is she supposed to be doing?) that she made two guys, Corius Lanthanide and Teluos Amabilia, with some junk soulstuff and odds and ends she had around, and some guy named Robert showed up claiming to be her father. Unfortunately for her, Robert Robbie was in fact her father, and a particularly off-putting one at that. It's not that she has a Problem with cheerful, flamboyant transvestites; it's just that if she were to select a father figure, she would prefer one that is neat and fastidious and perhaps wears a white suit all the time like she does. But of course she would never turn away family, so now he lives at Commencement with her, but in his own room and so on. He remembers Maggie and Symena, but he never met Galira, and he has no idea who Galira's father might be. Much to Martina's chagrin but not surprise he gets along famously with Lanthanide and Tel. He also seems to be in her business all the time - suddenly she has business, she's definitely not still bored and feigning occupation so he'll leave her alone to her empty brooding. But as much as she complains she is secretly fond of him and did craft him two-foot platform shoes so he wouldn't be so short next to her (she's ten feet tall; he's only like seven). They get into a lot of goofy situations as Straight Man and Comedian.

She doesn't entirely consider Lanthanide and Tel family (she did make them not look like her pretty human-looking family on purpose, to keep them from reminding her of her family) but also no one is allowed to be mean to them, as though anyone could be mean to them, they're so cute? Anyway it's an open secret between them that she made them because she missed her sister so bad. They take turns going with her to Board meetings as her second, though Robbie desperately wants to also be second sometimes. It's possible Martina and Tel or Lanthanide will show up in Fallen when major administrative things go down. Ultimately Lanthanide and Tel also ended up being prototypes for species that Martina put down in the Worlds.

One other thing about old canon: Magdalena created and/or birthed a lot of immortals, and while I'm not sure they're going to get ported it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Magdalena and Symena each had more children out there...

If you made it this far feel to ask me stuff. If I don't know the answer I can make one :3