#chapter 1 of [redacted]

[corviiids]

based on how i approach plotting ive come to the conclusion that even if i were morally and logically okay with becoming kira i would get the death note and think "okay, im going to make sure i come up with the perfect plan so i can't get caught", spend several months on it, refuse to execute it because it's not foolproof yet, and simply never get around to it. if ethics and reason didn't stop me from becoming kira then sheer procrastination would do the trick

[penumbra-mayhem]

i feel joy and oh how it burns (pt. 2/2)

Tank opens up to Milo about their relationship with Sam.

part 1 // hurt/comfort // 1.1k words

(I hc Tank with a stutter, more on that here.)

——————————————

“Stop hogging the popcorn,” Milo whined, reaching blindly for the bowl with one hand while his eyes remained glued to the screen. 

“St-top t-t-taking all mmmmy kills,” Darlin’ retorted, shielding the bowl from Milo’s grasp with their body.

“Well, if you knew how to aim—”

“Fuck off!” Darlin’ cackled.

Milo beamed at the sound. As he killed two more zombies, he asked, “I’m gonna get something to drink, you want anything?”

Darlin’ shook their head. “N-No, I-I’m g—fucker, that wwwwas mmmmy kill!! ”

He paused the game with a bark of laughter. “Not anymore! Alright, I’m going. There better still be popcorn in that bowl when I get back,” he teased.

As Milo got up, Darlin’ made a playful show of stuffing a handful of popcorn in their mouth. Milo gasped and snatched the bowl from their lap, exclaiming, “Y’know what? I’m taking it with me!”

He scurried into the kitchen with a titter as Darlin’ made popcorn-muffled sounds of protest from the couch. Milo grabbed two bottles of Jarritos: guava for himself and lime for Darlin’ because he knew that if he didn’t as soon as he sat back down Darlin’ would be all puppy eyes and regret and he’d have to get up again.

When he re-entered the living room, though, he found them glued to their phone looking…concerned?

“What’s up?” Milo asked as he set the bottles on coasters and placed the popcorn bowl equally between them.

“N-Nothing,” Darlin’ muttered. They stuffed their phone under their leg, eyes glassy and unable to meet Milo’s scrutinous stare. 

“T, you look…” like you’re about to cry “…upset.”

They waved a hand. “It-It’s n-n-n-nothing, just Sam…”

“Sam?” Milo’s voice hardened, fear flashing in his eyes, “What’d he do?”

Darlin’ looked up at the sudden change in Milo’s tone. They backpedaled as they realized their mistake, “WWWait—”

“Did he hurt you?”

“N-N-N—”

“Don’t lie to me, Tank—”

“I-I’m n-n-n-n-not!” Darlin’ blurted, “N-N-No. Sam wwwwould n-n-n-never.”

Milo sat back, hackles lowering. “Then what is it?”

Darlin’s gaze lowered and they balled their hands, as if the words were inked onto their palms. They couldn’t explain. Milo wouldn’t understand. They barely even understood.

Suddenly, a piece of popcorn hit them square in the face. 

“Hey,” they retorted, glaring at a gleeful Milo. 

He threw another piece. 

“St-top,” Darlin’ whined, throwing a piece in retaliation. 

“Tell me what’s going on and I will,” Milo countered as he pelt Darlin’ with piece after piece of popcorn, “C’mon. C’mon. C’mon. C’mo—”

“Ok-kay!!” Darlin’ exclaimed, hands held up against the savory barrage. They dug their phone back out and pulled up their conversation with Sam. 

“It-It’s just the l-l-l-last mmmessage…” Darlin’ mumbled as they passed the phone to Milo. 

He took it gingerly and read Sam’s most recent text:

Thinking of you, I hope you’re having a good time at Milo’s. I thought maybe later we could get dinner at Finch & Presley’s and then get gelato at that place you like on the corner. Thoughts? No rush, take your time baby. Have fun!

Milo reread it, certain he had missed something. When his third scan still gleaned no clues, he handed their phone back and admitted, “I don’t understand. What’s the problem?”

Darlin’ shoved their phone away again. “He…he’s…so…good.”

“…go on.”

Darlin’ chewed at their inner cheek. “He mmmmakes mmme hap-p-py,” they admitted, “MMMore than I-I thought I-I c-could b-b-b-be.”

“And that’s bad?”

They nodded. 

“How come?”

Darlin’ looked away, shutting themself down again.  

Milo raised his hand slowly in response, popcorn at the ready. 

Catching the movement out of the corner of their eye, Darlin’ sighed in surrender, “WWWhat if I-I don’t mmmake him hap-p-py?”

Milo’s popcorn-loaded hand lowered in confusion. “What?”

Darlin’ shrugged; it was stupid, they were being stupid.

“Hold on,” Milo said, tossing his unthrown popcorn into his mouth before fishing his phone from his pocket. As he searched his screen, he explained sheepishly, “I uh…I like to take candids of the people in my life…and then I keep them, just for me to look at—where is, ah! here we go.”

He thrust his phone into Darlin’s hands.

They were met with a photo of them and Sam on the first night of the Solstice, laughing together in a corner. Darlin’ glanced back up at Milo.

“Go on,” he insisted, “I’ve only met him a couple of times, so I just have a few, but I think you’ll get the idea.”

Darlin’ furrowed their brow but acquiesced.

Sam and Darlin’ at the Solstice the following evening, snuggled together by a fireplace. Sam and Darlin’ on a double date with Milo and Sweetheart, discussing appetizers. Sam and Darlin’ at the most recent pack meeting, chatting with Asher.

They looked back up at Milo, their face and ears a pale pink. Milo secretly took some delight in Darlin's flustered appearance. It was a pleasant change from their usual scowl or worried frown.

“You know what all of those have in common?”

Darlin' shook their head. 

“Sam is smiling. In every single one.”

Scrolling back through, they found that Milo was right. In each photo, Sam had his eyes on Darlin’ and a smile on his face. Sometimes it was small and soft. Sometimes he was beaming, his whole face crinkled in joy. The pale pink deepened to red.

“Sam doesn’t look like that when you’re not in the room. You make him so happy,” Milo murmured, “And for what it’s worth, you make me happy, too.”

Darlin’ handed Milo back his phone and quickly rubbed at their eyes, hoping Milo wouldn’t notice. But, of course, he did. 

“Hey,” he whispered, scooching closer. 

“S-Sorry…” Darlin’ sniffled, wiping the tears from their flushed cheeks in growing frustration.

“You don’t need to apologize, T. You’re allowed to…” be weak “...show how you’re feeling.” 

Milo moved the popcorn bowl and cooed, “C’mere.”

Darlin’ lifted their head to see Milo’s arms stretched out towards them. They hesitated. Milo was sure they’d reject the offer, but then Darlin’ surprised them both as they crawled into his embrace.

Burying their face in his shirt, they whimpered, “WWWhy d-does it-it hurt?”

Milo sagged. In a sense, he’d been right. Sam was hurting them, but it was the one kind of pain Milo would allow. And the only kind he didn’t know how to ease. He tightened his hold on Darlin’, taking a moment to breathe before answering:

“Warmth can sometimes feel like burning when you’ve been cold for long enough. I think maybe it’s the same with joy. But it’ll get easier. It’ll hurt less, eventually. Just give it time.”

[striped-sweater-wearer]

EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS GASTER

Drawing without text and valentine because I worked hard on it

Yeah the tree was a challenge

[jtl-fics]

smithy for wipw!

1/8/25 WIP Wednesday (CLOSED) | Fluent Freshman

“Interesting.” Nicky hums to himself as he looks it over. He sets it on the coffee table and leans back, contemplating why it bothers him so much that Smithy ran out. It’s when he finds another scrap of paper filled with writing that he’s starting to recognize as Russian and dutifully eats it so that there is no chance that either Andrew or Neil could possibly see it that he realizes the reason he’s bothered.

Smithy is keeping a secret, which isn’t shocking but what is shocking is that he’s keeping a secret from Nicky.

Smithy is a naturally private person who doesn’t like to air things out but Nicky knows all of the unfortunate ins and outs of Smithy’s daily life. He knows that Smith has a least favorite staircase because that’s where the people with the mission statements and clipboard hang out. He knows that Smith is terrified to take Mandarin because he doesn’t want to become more appealing of a hire for Ichirou Moriyama. He knows that Smithy has read SAW fan fiction that Jeremy Knox sent him since the two are apparently kind of friends now.

Smithy should not have a secret that he feels like he can’t tell Nicky.

Check out ALL of this week's WIP Wednesday options: HERE

[fadeaway-comic]

[Arc 1 Chapter 2 - Page 110 , 111] - "Evanesce Haven"

Prev // Next // First

You feel something watching.

[deus-ex-mona]

sometimes, i think about how ☝︎this rando☝︎ from the [redacted] anime inspired me to tl idol sengen out of spite for her butchered characterisation

[illarian-rambling]

Damn, what if I reworked Starbreaker to be exclusively in Anarac's pov instead of trying to balance 5 new povs in one book?

Thoughts?

[every-sanji]

[shoopsthereitis]

[redacted] was told don’t talk to strangers who you might fall in love with [redacted] tried to be good is [redacted] no good is [redacted] no good with [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] he just wanted to be yourssss

[astramachina]

could a sane person do THIS?

maybe idk anyway

His father is a household name and his mother is a business tycoon. His brother is serving in the war and his sister is too young to take over the family business. He's just an aspiring animator trying to make a name for himself, but blood is thicker than the ink in his well.

Following the death of his father, Henry must take up the mantle of manager of Fredbear's Singing Show, a responsibility he does not need that comes tied to an inheritance he does not want: the old Jack-In-The-Box his father liked to call "his sacred muse".

The best Henry can do is find a happy middle, and the answer to his unspoken prayers might come in the form of an Englishman with a secret much more scandalous than his own.

You can read The House of the Setting Sun (aka The Fall Fest Fic) on AO3.

[burning-thistles-bt]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

THE PARALLELS BETWEEN FIREHEART + LONGTAIL AND CREEKFLOWER + CHERRYFUR IN THE BTR AU IS INSANE

i havent finished the sketch page yet but vbksdjfskjdfskjfs

THE WAY THAT CREEKFLOWER SAVED CHERRYFUR AND NOW THEY'RE BESTIES VERSUS THE WAY THAT FIREHEART FAILED TO SAVE [REDACTED] AND NOW THEY'RE ENEMIES

[jamiesfootball]

🌹🌹

He'd never had Jamie over before. Not properly. Only in passing, on their way to or from training, a quick, Stand there while I grab Phoebe’s bag. Don’t touch my key bowl. Quit making eyes at the Deliveroo driver — it ain’t for you. He regretted that now. He’d put it off so long that it both seemed like it shouldn’t be a big deal and also felt like a massively huge fucking deal, when all it should’ve been was him telling Jamie, “Take your shoes off first.”

[jtl-fics]

can i ask for smithy for my first wipw ask of the year? also ily happy new year! <333

1/1/25 WIP Wednesday (CLOSED) | Fluent Freshman

If Smith cannot see Captain Neil’s icy blue eyes staring into his soul then he will not be bewitched into agreeing.

“Smith,” Captain Neil’s voice has a pleading quality to it and Smith can’t help but open his eyes to look at his captain, even knowing that it would make declining all the harder. “You treated Jackson like his own person, not like a Gordon timebomb.” 

“He is his own person.” Smith returns quickly, trying to look at Captain Neil and also through Captain Neil. Maybe if he focuses hard enough he can just see the airport behind Captain Neil. He can’t though, he can’t and he needs to look Captain Neil in the eye when he says this, “I do not want to be the Vice-Captain of the Foxes.” he says, managing to keep his voice even as he stares his hero in the eyes and disappoint him on purpose.

It’s sad that it’s also probably the bravest thing that Smith’s done in his entire life. He’s including the sex alley in that tally. He almost wants to get on the phone and call Betsy about it.

He manages to refrain, if only because Captain Neil is still looking right at him with those big blue eyes.

Check out this week's options: HERE

[sforzesco]

Do you have a Cassius agenda or Trebonius agenda 🤔

one could even say that my Trebonius agenda has been a part of my Cassius agenda this whole time

[deus-ex-mona]

she’s so proud of herself…