#does anyone even remember this au anymore? i sure didn't.

[yuri-is-online]

Soap Operatic Symphony (A Fyuuture Kid AU ft. Scarabia, Pomefiore, Ignihyde, and Diasomnia)

While camping in the mountains during Camp Vargas, you encounter a monster exactly like the one you fought off with Ace and Deuce at the beginning of the year. While trying to fight it off again, a strange portal opens up in the mine and a person jumps out of it to your rescue. He says he doesn't remember much, but it's clear when you bring him to Crowley that this boy is also from your world, despite being a mage, and until the headmage can think of a better solution, he assigns "Yutu" to your dorm.

Something a certain someone has an opinion about.

notes: yeah I have nothing to say for myself, I have other stuff I am supposed to be writing but this wrote itself ok? ok. Anyway this is a future kid au where your son has come back in time to try and prevent the end of the world but mostly to make sure you don't die. You can see this ask for a detailed explanation of what's up with Yuu and my masterlist for other fic. Oh and the other dorms can be found here.

Scarabia

In general, Jamil is going to be torn between being deeply suspicious of the entire situation and feeling like it's none of his business while Kalim is excited to meet a potential new friend.  How they act on those feelings changes depending on who Yutu is trying to interact with.

Kalim- anyone trying to get close to Kalim has to be watched obsessively by Jamil, and Yutu is no exception.  If anything the surveillance is worse due to the strange way he showed up, and Kalim doesn't like it but he understands.  For Yutu's part he seems really receptive to Kalim's efforts to befriend him, which is the furthest Kalim is going to think about it for a while, but he also notices the strange nostalgia and grief Yutu seems to feel when interacting with you and he really wants to help.  He's sure if Yutu would just talk about it, he could give him some good advice.  They get along really well!  But Yutu seems really reluctant to give out personal information… which Jamil really doesn't like. Kalim's sure he doesn't mean anything by it because of how apologetic he is! But he does sort of wonder if he's done something to make Yutu not feel safe around him... it makes him sort of sad.

Jamil- Once he got a look at that portal, Jamil realized that he didn't actually know what it looked like when you arrived at NRC.  He certainly remembers the mess Grim made, but not much about you beyond how confused you looked.  He'll have to ask about it sometime but for now, he's got questions.  Number one: who the fuck is this guy really?  His name isn't Yutu, he sure as shit isn't from your world, otherwise he couldn't be a mage, and his attitude towards you is just suspicious.  He has got to want something, and Jamil is torn between protectiveness of you and his adamant refusal to give himself anymore work.  It doesn't help that Yutu seems very apologetic to him specifically, he swears the kid seems to be apologizing for his entire existence.  It's weird, and he tells him to knock it off because it's not like he's his dad.  For some reason that just makes it worse.

Pomefiore

Vil- Epel is the one to tell him about the monster attack, the portal, and the strange protectiveness Yutu has towards Yuu.  That last thing doesn't bother him as much as you might expect, as soon as he learns that you're from the same world he thinks it's perfectly natural.  Admirable even.  The fake name and desire for privacy doesn't bother him either, as an actor both things seem normal to him.  What worries him is the idea that something very wrong is happening in the background that he doesn't know about, which he makes very clear to Yutu after sending Rook to distract you.  Yutu seems hesitant to trust him, and only offers vague warnings about making sure Yuu stays safe and keeping an eye on Grim.  Well now, they can both agree on that, and wouldn't it be easier if Yutu cooperated with him?  He's not going to take no for an answer.

Rook- Oh?  Ramshackle Dorm has a new member?  What a charming surprise!  He's sure this will lead to many new beautiful experiences.  And he's right!  Yutu is very beautiful, but there's something oddly familiar and yet… wrong about him.  Like he doesn't quite belong here, and not in the same way that you don't belong here.  He looks haunted, his interactions with you scream that he possesses (or to be more accurate used to possess) a relationship that can only have been built over several years.  But you clearly don't remember him, and there's a painful aura of grief in his interactions with you.  He also notices, with a great deal of joy, that the same grief is present when the little one speaks to him.  Just what could that mean? The hunter is in no rush, he'll find out what that means in time, for now he'll keep dropping in unannounced to test Yutu's reflexes. 

Side note: I don't speak French so I don't know if this would be the correct way to say it, but I like the idea of Rook's nickname for Yutu being Monsieur Caneton (Monsieur Duckling), because of how he follows Yuu around. Floyd's nickname I reserve the right to change depending on who Yutu's father is.

Epel- He starts off a hater, I am not going to lie.  Protecting you is something Epel takes a great deal of pride in; he wants to be seen as manly, as the protector, as someone who you think of as cool and trusts to provide for you.  So for a giant portal to open in the sky and drop a new guy determined to protect you from the monsters?  He hates it, he really does, and that's BEFORE Yutu starts living in Ramshackle Dorm.  He's determined to ignore him and not let him into the friend group, which proves impossible because of how Yutu follows you around so fine.  He can sit with you but ONLY IF he accepts that Epel was there first.  Something he's really surprised to see him do?  He should be more suspicious of why Yutu is constantly asking him for advice or acting like he's cool for being so possessive over you but well.  It's Epel he really wants to be seen as cool so he's just not going to think about it.

Ignihyde

Ortho- Ortho wasn't there to see the portal so he can't analyze it, but he can analyze Yutu!  And he immediately finds the Shroud family curse.  How curious, is this something he should tell his brother immediately?  Or should he skip the line and talk to their parents… decisions decisions but he doesn't have to wait for too long for an explanation.  Yutu explains himself pretty quickly when called out and Ortho is beyond excited to learn he's an uncle.  Less excited to learn about the impending apocalypse but he's sure they can fix it if they work together.  Now to double his efforts to get you and Idia together…

Idia- a second person has been isekaid to the NRC oh no.  Whatever will he do?  Well he intended to do nothing but Ortho isn't letting him.  For some reason he seems really determined to get him to hang out with you, almost like he knows about his crush he's been so good at hiding.  He can't complain too much, talking with you is weirdly soothing and much easier than he'd anticipated.  And Yutu's there too he guesses.  Sometimes they parallel play while Idia hangs out with you and that's nice.  It's sort of weird how in tune Yutu is with him though, sometimes he swears they could be related. A thought that Ortho is weirdly determined to encourage, and refuses to explain why... maybe he should be more worried about what anime little bro has been watching recently.

Diasomnia

Right so dragon biology is weird and our knowledge of half fae is very limited.  From how Sebek looks and how Malleus’s birth is discussed, I assume the eggs produced by love is exclusive to dragon fae and other species just get babies in the normal way.  All of that to say:

Malleus- Yutu is an oddity from the jump.  He looks very young, but insists he's around the same age as Yuu, and Malleus swears he feels his own magic is a part of him.  It's like a precious stone has grown some legs and started walking around and talking back to him.  He's a little bit in love, not the same way he's in love with Yuu, but much like a parent would think of a child… perhaps if they get closer he can offer him the night's blessing.  He does seem to be lacking it and that just won't do, something inside him says that needs to be fixed immediately.  Lilia questions him on whether or not he's jealous of how close the little one is to Yuu, which surprises him greatly.  Why would he be- well.  He does wish he could spend more time with Yuu but that sort of envy applies to everyone, not just Yutu.  And none of those guys are so unafraid of him to have made him a friendship bracelet so there. 

Lilia- a mage?  From Yuu's world?  How exciting!  He's very pleased to see how well he gets along with his boys and takes Sebek’s shouting in stride.  It's inspirational how quick he picks up on how gullible Sebek is and immediately starts telling-  well Lilia supposes he doesn't know they're outright lies but the scolding he gets from Yuu certainly suggests they are.  It's all very cute, and something he really wishes he could be a part of, but he knows his time is limited.  He'll just have to treasure these experiences while he's allowed them, something Yutu is very willing to help him do!  What a good kid, he'll have to tell him how proud his parents must be of him.

Silver- A portal, a monster, and a new mysterious person… it's concerning.  Something dangerous has got to be happening with how worried over you this new person is, his name is Yutu?  Weird but then his name is Silver so who is he to judge.  Anyway he introduces himself to Yutu and he asks why he came through the portal and… isn't really satisfied with his answers.  He doesn't think Yutu is a threat, not to Malleus anyway, but there's just something off about this whole thing and it's his task as a knight to make sure the people he loves are safe.  What's that?  Well of course you are one of those people.  You're very important and- why is Yutu looking at him like that.  He's telling the truth, what does he mean that makes it worse? Is it his face?

Sebek- Oh look another perfectly average human who is ok.  He guesses.  Not that he's thought extensively about you personally, only as a precaution to make sure you aren't disrespecting Lord Malleus, you get that right?  Him cornering Yutu with a strained look on his face and shouting at him about how to properly respect Lord Malleus is something he would do to anybody.  It has nothing to do with him assuming that if this person respects Lord Malleus they will be safe for "that human" to be around.  Unfortunately, Yutu is not just anybody and immediately starts yelling back accusing him of disrespecting you.  It's like there's two of them now, just with different biases, rip everyone's eardrums.

[rubywonu]

𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝘅𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗼

summary: in which minghao flirted with a woman at an art exhibition without realizing that she was the artist.

pairing: xu minghao x fem!reader

genre: meet cute, museum au!.

warnings: talks about struggles people face in life, kinds sad?

w/c: 0.9k

nia’s notes: i do not know where i was going with this, it may be rushed, idek anymore. but enjoy!!

this is part of cutetober!

if anyone knew minghao it was because of his crazy love for paintings and art museums. so it didn't come as a surprise when minghao decided to spend an entire day at the 'everything falls' art exhibition by yn.

even if someone was slightly interested in art, they knew of yn. so when the opportunity to visit one of your exhibitions minghao rushed to the museum. it always amused him how everyone knew of your name but not your face.

minghao walked inside the museum and just by seeing the hue of orange and brown in his peripheral view, he was sure that today was going to be amazing.

minghao slowly walked over to the first painting, basking in all the emotions. the first painting showed leaves falling from the sky, each of them more dry than the previous one. minghao took a look at the name of the painting, 'as time flies'. it was obvious what the painting was conveying but the way it portrayed the message intrigued minghao.

minghao walked to the next painting and his mouth was wide open. painted on the canvas, was a woman, her back bare as she stared at multiple mirrors, each being broken in different ways and the women in the mirrors being older or younger than another.

now minghao had gone to his share of muesems and exhibitions but they never had such a mind-blowing way to convey one's emotions.

"failed and flawed." minghao turned his head to the woman walking towards him. "it's my favorite painting." it was an understatement to say that the woman walking towards minghao was pretty, in his eyes that woman was drop-dead gorgeous.

"i haven't seen any more of them but this has to be the best one so far." minghao turned back to the canvas and each time he looked at it, a new meaning behind it evoked in him. "what's your interpretation?"

"my interpretation is that this young woman looks at herself through different eras of her life and she remembers all her failed attempts in life and how her life was flawed but they calm down after she realizes the beauty of the falls in her life." you finished still looking at the painting in front of you, minghao's eyes never left you though.

he never thought about it like that and it made so much more sense now that he understood yet another version of it. "it makes so much more sense after having a beautiful woman explain it to me."

if minghao could, he wanted to slap his face. he didn't know why he said that and more importantly he was worried how you would take the spontaneous flirting. to his surprise, you laughed and played along. "i hope so, i don't explain my thoughts about my paintings to anyone, you know."

just as minghao was going to continue, he stopped right in his tracks. "my paintings? what does that mean."

you smiled and turned towards minghao, putting your hand out for him to shake. "im yn, the artist of the 'everything fall' collection."

minghao's mouth for the second time that day was wide open. "oh my god." he rushed to shake your hand.

"you're yn? that's amazing. i love your work. and about the flirting im so sorry. minghao what were you thinking?" minghao started to ramble and it added to your entertainment as you laughed.

"it's alright. i actually enjoyed it, to be honest." you smiled at him, and minghao felt like the world was going to end. you looked like you deserved your own painting, you were stunning.

"if it's alright to ask you, what was your inspiration for such an intriguing collection." minghao asked you the question you tried to avoid for the evening but you wanted to spill it all out to him, he felt comfortable.

"it's ok, just don't sell it to a publisher." you joked around and minghao cracked a smile at your answer. "last year, i took a trip around the country and visited a bunch of villages. during my stay, i met a group of women from different places who told me about their lives and the lessons they learned during their time on this planet. they told me about incidents that changed the trajectory of their lives either for the better or worse. that's why i chose to paint this, i chose to express their grief in brush strokes and paint, i guess while listening to them, i found out about the struggles in my life as well, either i didn't want to confront them or i never knew they existed."

"if you look at all the paintings you can see how mellow the messages behind the paintings get. it starts off rough and dark but as you walk by the pictures you can the gradual calm settling in, it shows the emotions that people feel when negativity strikes their lives. it shows the way people deal with those emotions." you finished your little speech and minghao was awestruck.

you talked about your paintings and minghao felt like he could listen to them forever. although it was your first meeting, minghao felt like the two of you met a long time back, it felt like the two of you shared the same soul.

you didn't realize then but for the rest of your life, you and minghao would go on for hours about your interpretation of paintings. the only thing that changed was that instead of being strangers, the both of you would be soulmates, and the both of you would fall deep in love all because of some paintings.

taglist: @caratlibrary . @caratsland . @kflixnet . @jyiiscool . @readingaddict420 . @pixieskie . @@anemoiant . @horanghae8 . @boooooseun . @wonwooz1 . @xomingyu . @bangchansbae .@weird-bookworm .

[musings-of-a-rose]

I Don't Want to See Tomorrow (Unless I See It With You) - Chapter 2

Pairing: Benny Miller x f!reader nicknamed "Juni"

Word Count: 3200+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: I've had this idea in my head for well over a year and with the Fallout show being dropped (and absolutely AMAZING), I figured now was the time to post it! So this is a Triple Frontier/Fallout crossover au. Huge shoutout to @mermaidxatxheart for listening to probably hours of audio at this point of me talking myself through this fic. And to @deathbecomesnerds for listening to me prattle on about video game fics and giving me her own advice.

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Benny Miller Masterlist

I Don’t Want to See Tomorrow (Unless I See It With You) Masterlist

As my brain starts to wake up, the first thing I notice is that I'm cold. Like, really cold. The aches in my body feel like when you fall asleep and don't move the entire night, your muscles and bones stiff from a few hours of inactivity. How long does decontamination normally take? And why is it so cold?

Slowly, I pry my eyes open, blinking as rapidly as I can, feeling little icicles on my eyelashes. My head had been slumped to the side, the slight crick in my neck making itself known, the ache radiating down into my shoulder. I gasp, my lungs burning like they hadn't had a good breath in a long while. What the fuck was happening?

Slowly, I start to feel my limbs so I give my toes and fingers a little wiggle, managing to make them move. Then I work my way up my body. The more I can move, the more I start to panic. There's nowhere to move in this metal box. I weakly move my hand into a fist, pounding pathetically on the glass window in front of me. Oh God, what if it doesn't open? Isn't there someone who will open it?

Before I can spiral further, the door in front of me hisses and opens up with a loud groan, metal grinding against metal. I fall out, my hands coming up just in time to slow my fall as I slam against the hard floors. I cough, gasping for fresh air as my body starts to warm up. I manage to get up and sit on my knees, chest still heaving as I take in gulps of air. Where are the labcoats? Surely they didn't forget about us?

My eyes start to focus and I stare at a point in front of me until my vision clears. I blink hard a few times before looking around, a nervous tension starting to ball itself up in my stomach. The room is dark, save for some emergency lighting. The paint on the walls is chipped, dust covering some of the machinery that I remember being bright and shiny. I look around, slowly standing to my feet when it hits me.

It's completely silent.

No hissing of the machinery, no beeping, no sounds of people. Nothing. I take a tentative step towards the machine next to mine, catching myself on the little computer panel as I stumble. Glancing up into the pod, I see someone in there, eyes closed, still, and silent. I tap a few buttons on the panel but nothing happens. I reach out and knock on the window but the person inside doesn't move. I repeat this process on every pod in the room and get the same results, my heart thumping, the rate increasing rapidly with every pod. No one is awake and judging by the lack of sound, I'm not sure they're even alive. Not anymore.

I shake my limbs out, working some of the final stiffness out of them. Where is everyone? Why hasn’t anyone come around to check on people? Surely there are systems in place for this? I cautiously approach the door to the room. To my surprise, it's already open. I pop my head out and look in the hallway. Completely empty. I find another 5 rooms like the one I was in, every one exactly like mine. My body is fully awake by the last room, my breaths coming out quick and shallow to match my racing heart, panicked tears falling down my cheeks that I furiously try to wipe away. Am I the only one left alive?

Through my increasing panic, I finally find a computer not attached to a pod and somehow, it's still on. I sit in the chair and wipe at my eyes with my sleeve. I click around and am surprised it wasn't better locked down. The scientist that used it kept a very detailed journal of what happened. I read all of the entries, my heart sinking and blood boiling with every new one.

Apparently, they were not decontamination chambers but cryo ones. As in they froze us. Which would explain why it had been so cold. They were going to keep us under for varying degrees of time, to test the effects of cryo sleep on humans. Test? What the fuck? But they had only planned to be down here about 10 years or so. When it was reaching the end of those 10 years, rations started to dwindle and there was no communication with Vault-Tech outside of the vault they were in. People started to lose it. There was a mutiny and the Overseer was...wait did I read that right? Killed and fed to everyone still here? Eventually, it looks like everyone died and the generators were to continue on running until they couldn’t. The logs all say there was a malfunction in life support. So I was right - everyone except me is dead.

The feeling of being alone, completely alone, closes in on me, and oh my God what if I can’t get out of here? There’s no one here to let me out. I sit back in the chair, absolutely stunned at what I just read, my mind starting to spiral down a dark path. But...wait. If they froze us, and the mutiny had happened within 10 years...what year was it now?

I lean forward, clicking around to find the slot for a new entry and hit automatic date.

June 10th, 2277

That can't be right. I tap the button again.

June 10th, 2277.

I stare at the date. It's not the months that bother me but the year. 200 years have passed? This has to be a malfunction of the computer. There's no way that's the correct date. But something in the back of my mind tingles, a new feeling of dread deep in my gut. Benny. If it really has been 200 years, then even if he got to a vault and survived, there’s no way he’d be alive. Bile threatens to spill from me and I swallow, trying to prevent it. The computer is wrong, though. Benny is alive still. He has to be. 

I stand up and look down at the skeleton with a labcoat on the ground, wondering if that was the same man who had smiled creepily at me as I got into that frozen coffin. The bones are twisted into an inhuman shape, the arm bent at an odd angle. Right before I look away, I see it. The small computer wrapped around the skeleton’s arm. I kneel down, hesitating for a moment before reaching over, trying to pry the Pip Boy computer from around its forearm. It's like it's stuck on the bones and I gag a little as I slam the arm down, the hand bones scattering. But the Pip Boy slides right off.

I pick it up, dust it off a little with my hand and slide it onto my arm, feeling the slight pinch of the sensors embedding themselves into my skin. I turn a few buttons, having used one at the university when I was studying, and the screen lights up, my face washed in the familiar green glow, giving me some small bit of comfort in its familiarity. I navigate to the map section and it shows me the layout of the vault. Using the little light on the side of the Pip Boy, I follow the map towards the front of the vault, slowly making my way past debris and other corpses, some in very violent positions. One of them has their boney fingers wrapped around a large knife. A machete. Holding back another gag, I manage to pry it from the person's death grip, shifting it from hand to hand. I hold it in the opposite hand from the Pip Boy, just in case I need to swing. But surely nothing is down here, right? The vaults are sealed shut. So I should be safe. I think…I hope.

Everything is so fucking quiet it's almost deafening. I feel like the walls are closing in on me, trying to lock me away forever in this tomb, just like my fellow vault occupants. What was Vault Tec thinking?

I make it to the front entrance, the giant, heavy metal vault door securely closed. My eyes scan the room and land on a small control panel, more skeletons in labcoats scattered around it. I walk over to it, staring down at the simple panel. How the fuck does this work? I smash the big button but nothing happens. There's a round slot on the left side and I remember the Pip Boy has a sensor module. I pop out the sensor cord and plug it in, the panel lights immediately light up. A small sigh of relief escapes me. Thank God there's power! My Pip Boy lights up, telling me the remote door access is ready. But I hesitate before hitting the button again. Assuming this door opens, all I have is a machete. And if that computer is anywhere close to being right, I have no idea what the surface will even look like.

I unplug the Pip Boy and look around again, spotting a room off to the side labeled SECURITY. Thankfully, the door opens to a small room with a couple of desks and several lockers. A few of them don't open but others do and I'm quickly furnished with some sort of hand gun, a shot gun that I sling over my back, and some ammo. I also score a couple cans of purified water, some Fancy Lads Snack Cakes, a Salisbury Steak, and some Yum Yum Deviled Eggs. It's not much, but I'm better than I was. I just won't think about how old this food is, even if the computer is wrong. One of the dead security guards was holding a backpack. I take it, shake off some dust and find more ammo inside and another purified water. I put all the food and ammo into the bag and secure it, sliding it around my back, and moving the shotgun to my arm.

I decide to do one last sweep of the small vault before heading back to the main access vault door. I find a small blanket and an axe, along with another couple of boxes of food, half-eaten, and some old comics. Grognak the Barbarian. Benny loved these. Tears well in my eyes, that bile rising in the back of my throat at the idea of him being gone. I shake my head, pushing the intrusive thoughts aside, and slide the comics into my backpack. 

I repeat the process at the panel, with no hesitation in pressing the large, red button this time. The heavy metal of the round vault door groans, sparks flying from some of the unused gears helping the vault door to spin open, revealing the elevator we came down on. My mind flashes back to that moment, just barely escaping with our lives. It was mere minutes ago to me and I haven't really had a moment to process it. Any of this. I just need to get somewhere safe. Or at least familiar, to get my bearings.

I head down the walkway and hesitate for a moment before stepping onto the platform. I punch the button on the cage wall surrounding me and the gate door I came through closes. Slowly and with creaks and groans, the floor starts to rise, leaving the cage and vault behind. Again, I'm thrust into darkness for a short bit, my breath coming out in heavy pants. I'm not even sure if it's safe up here, but if I'd stayed down there I'd have died anyway so what does it matter?

Pure, blinding light breaks the darkness as I'm lifted up, the platform settling onto its original spot and locking in place. I lift my hand to shield my eyes from the bright sun, momentarily blinded by it. I blink rapidly, squinting a bit more before things come into focus and now I have to blink back tears.

Destruction. Everything is sort of grey and leveled, some occasional muted green popping up in weird angles, like weeds coming through a sidewalk. I can see the skyline of Boston in the distance, the buildings mostly gone into piles of rubble or mostly rubble. Some still stand, like broken scraggly fingers that were too stubborn to fully fall. Benny had been there and if he survived, he was buried underneath all of that.

I tear my eyes away from the horror and turn to head back down the path that will lead me to my parent's home where I had been when....no. I can't think about that until I'm in a safe place. A faint, high-pitched squeak brings me from my dark thoughts and I turn just in time to see something fly at me. I react on instinct, trying to dodge but fall, the thing managing to clip my shoulder as it comes at me. I grip the machete tight in my hand and bring it up just as the world's biggest fucking roach jumps on me, its pinchers at least the length of my fingers, its body easily half the length of me. Its legs scramble as it screams, my machete having ripped through it. I yell as I push with all I can to move it off me, tossing it to the side as I scramble backward as fast as I can manage. What the fuck is that thing? It's still moving so I stand up and promptly kick its head in with my boot several times, continuing to do so long after it had stopped moving. My skin crawls as I look at the size of this thing.

Of course. Everything would've been radiated. Deer with two heads, giant fucking bugs, apparently. Weren’t roaches supposed to outlive us all, especially in the case of nuclear war? It only makes sense that mutations would've happened. But if this happened to roaches, what else has happened?

My body shudders at the thought and I tuck that one away for later. I yank my machete out of the giant fucking roach, flinging off its gooey guts and wiping it off in the dirt before starting back down the path. Fortunately, no other wildlife crosses my path as I step back onto the street that runs past my parent's house.

The neighborhood is...gone. Most of the houses are either completely destroyed or half crumbling, the previously perfectly manicured yards no longer exist. New plants have taken over, their foreign petals and colors intriguing the scientist side of me, but I keep my distance, not knowing what fresh hell they could bring upon humans.  Besides, that's not what I'm here for.

I turn and walk slowly down the street, my eyes sweeping from side to side. I spot movement and as my eyes focus on it, I nearly scream with excitement. I start to run towards it, almost crashing into the Mr. Handy robot that had been my family's.

"Hawthorne?" I gasp, my eyes wide with wonder.

His large metal head spins towards me, his round metal eye widening as he takes me in. "Ma'am? Miss Juni?"

I can't help but cry tears of joy. Something, someone that remembers me! For the first time since I woke in that vault turned tomb, I don’t feel alone.

"It's me! I can't believe you're still here!"

Hawthorne launches into a retelling of his time here, how the bombs pretty much destroyed most of Boston, how our fellow neighbors that didn't have a spot in the vaults died within hours of the initial blasts, although some took a few days. Others...I'm not sure what he's talking about. Ghouls? I’ll have to ask him more about that later. But then he's on another topic, discussing how hard it is to maintain the property for the last 200 years and how lonely he's been waiting for us and- wait. What?

"Hawthorne?"

"Ma'am?"

"I...I am sorry you had to deal with all of this alone."

"Thank you, ma'am. I do understand that humans are fragile things and had you remained with me, you would not have survived. I am very glad you did not die."

"Thank you, Hawthorne. I'm glad you're here too. But.. to confirm, did you say 200 years?

"Yes ma'am."

"200 years… since what?"

"Since the bombs fell, ma'am."

I can feel the blood drain from my face. "What's the date?"

"June 10th, 2277."

My legs start to wobble and I slump to the ground, putting my head in my hands as I rest my elbows on my bent legs. 200 years? I thought the computer had malfunctioned. But it all makes sense. The state of the vault, the way things look, that radroach thing...I feel my breathing picking up, hyperventilating as realization dawns on me.

I was right before. It doesn't matter if Benny made it to a vault. He would've lived a full life and died a long time ago.

The scream erupting from my throat is the last thing I remember before my vision fades to black.

When I wake, I'm in a bed. Well, on a mattress anyway. I look around without moving and realize I'm in my old bedroom, the one my parents never quite remade into anything else. Most of the walls are intact, only the one with the window is missing half the panels. And the roof only has a few holes in it. Nothing that Benny and I can't-

Benny.

I turn to my side just in time, throwing up whatever was in my stomach for the last 200 years onto the floor. But that's nothing compared to the hole in my chest, the one that ripped itself open at the realization that I would have to face this new, broken world without my other half, my anchor. My stomach doesn't settle, still churning at the thought, the tears pouring from my eyes as I curl into myself. I don't even say anything to Hawthorne as he comes in and cleans the mess, setting down one of the bottles of purified water and some snacks from my backpack on the cracked nightstand.

What's even the point of going on if I don't have him with me?

Unless….

General Taglist:

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[u3pxx]

disco meshi au rambling below major spoilers for both disco elysium and dungeon meshi (only up until chapter 62)

BARKS anyways i was suddenly hit with a pang of "extremely normal about harry du bois" and thinking about the idea of harry being a former dungeon lord in this au

i'll copy-paste a bit of the rambling i did in tags (and clean them up) to catch you all up to speed

- ok so maybe harry + kim won't go dungeoneering on their own but maybe they were sent to investigate dangerous dungeons and sent to make sure those aren't threats anymore (kind of like the canaries) - maybe harry had become a dungeon master at some point and the part of him that was eaten was his memories. - GODD dungeon master harry is kind of giving me grief though. can you imagine what he would count as his perfect life. can you imagine when the illusion starts to fall apart and he's accepted that he will be consumed? but he doesn't get to die. that's his curse.

i have like several ideas on what things would be fun to explore in the au and one of those ideas is harry and kim being assigned to maintain the safety of a dungeon which just so happens to be: the dungeon that harry used to control.

(note: i do not remember that well what happens to a dungeon after the dungeon lord has been dethroned. iirc it does still stay there so OOF. imagine traversing to a dungeon and seeing things that should be familiar to you but you just cannot remember anything. it hurts when you look at it, but what did it mean to you?)

i just think that harry after being left, now an even more broken man than he ever was, being granted this false escape from his situation in the form of his deal with this demon. the kingdom he's built inside the dungeon, what if it was just a home. what if it was just a home, like any other home on the surface. surrounded by trees bearing apricots. what if it was a humble home for him, his wife, and their unborn children. what then huh orz

and then i thought: "hey now, didn't dolores have a line that LITERALLY had the words, "i will eat your mind"?" and then --

Dolores Dei: "... it was *a hundred million years ago*. I was someone else then -- filled to the brim with love for you. Hanging on your every word. Oh Harry, you were the *coolest*... But I am no longer that person. This..." She points to herself. "... has taken her place. It will devour you. Harry -- I will eat your mind."

COME ON. MAN. DO I EVEN HAVE TO DO ANYTHING HERE ORZ

thinking about. the demon manifesting as this monstrous amalgamation. if i think of a better animal than lamb that symbolizes what dolores dei represents then i'll change it but MAN.

anyways. thinking about this comic ryoko kui wrote and thinking about the dungeon as a metaphor for addiction. thinking about a demon that devours and feasts on a person's desires until there is nothing left of that person and thinking about the pale that slowly grows and expands and turns everything into nothing at all. MY BRAIN ISN'T WORKING ANYMORE SO I'M SORRY IF I CAN'T EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS MORE COHERENTLY. HELLO CAN ANYONE HEAR ME DFGDHJK

also, i think dora is an elf from a wealthy family in the au. just another layer of arghhhhgghgh to add above everything else. another reason why her family doesn't like harry is because he's from a short-lived race.

[dandylovesturtles]

@theplacewhereidumpmyinterests I can't talk about most of them because they're part of an AU verse I want to keep secret until I have the first fic that's part of it written, and idk when that will be (by summer?? HOPEFULLY??), but I guess I can talk about the other one because idk if/when I will write a fic for him (I'd like to but like I am only human)

"more AUs Dandy?" LISTEN all I do is sit around and think about "what if"s, okay?

ok so this started as me being like, hm, we see Lou Jitsu with a rotating door of women, so many he doesn't seem to remember all their names, so it's not totally out there to think he might have gotten one of them pregnant, right?

and thus Marcus (middle name Kyle) was born! literally!

so the story for this is, Lou Jitsu had a fling with a woman in the early 90s, pre-Big Mama. they were both in agreement that the whole thing was casual and it didn't last very long, but oopsie-daisy about six weeks after their last night together she finds out she's pregnant.

she debates what to do for a bit, because, as established, Lou Jitsu is kinda a fuckboi and she doesn't really want a relationship with him. But once she decides she's definitely keeping the baby she feels like she can't just not tell him, right? so she tries!

...unfortunately he's dating Big Mama by that point and she interferes to make sure that Lou Jitsu never meets with the woman and never finds out, because she knows this would get in the way of her plans.

she takes never hearing back from LJ as a sign he just isn't interested in the kid and resolves to single-motherhood. which she is the best at, btw.

she's still considering trying to introduce Marcus to his dad at some point, but unfortunately her kid isn't even 5 before Lou Jitsu suddenly goes missing, with his teary fiancée telling a sob story to the cops. assuming, same as everyone else, that he's dead, she lets the whole thing go, though she does tell Marcus who his dad is once he's old enough to understand everything.

Marcus goes through periods of being obsessed with Lou Jitsu, watching all his movies and consuming every piece of media about him that he can find, and periods where he can't stand to even hear the name. it's up and down. from his perspective, LJ abandoned him and his mom, but he's also dead, so it's not like he can have closure on this ever, right? so it's just a thing he has to deal with on his own.

but he's fine! he's alright. he gets through high school, then college, then accepted into vet school just fine.

then... his mom gets sick and dies.

yeah, that's a hard blow.

but he's alright! he has a few buddies from college he still sees now and then, and he's started his zoo vet residency at the Bronx Zoo (with a particularly special interest in reptiles), so lots of new people to meet that way! he's doing great! he's not lonely at all!

(a few months ago, he was suddenly woken up by a surge of something, like dozens of voices were crying out to him for help, tugging him toward something, saying his family needs him...

yeah, no idea what that was about. he doesn't have any family anymore.)

then the sky opens up and aliens come out.

Marcus is at work, because of course aliens would attack at the beginning of his shift. he spends the day ushering survivors into safe zones within the zoo, using his medical knowledge to handle first aid, and just trying to stay sane as the whole world turns upside down.

and then just as suddenly as it all started... it stops.

in the aftermath, everyone around him is just trying to get home, desperately calling their loved ones and praying for the best. Marcus starts trying to figure out how he's going to get home, because the trains definitely aren't running, and as he looks as his phone for a spark of inspiration, he realizes... no one has tried to call him. his coworkers' phones have been going off all day, whenever they can get signal, as loved ones try to reach them, but... he doesn't have anyone trying to reach him. and as he sits there he realizes he doesn't know who he should be calling, either.

so. that's pretty depressing.

and as he's sitting there, thinking about his life and what led him here, in a now empty vet clinic outside the bronx zoo... he hears a noise. and then, voices.

ah great. looters.

at first, Marcus tries to call 911 - but obviously the call center is swamped. so he decides to take care of the problem himself, going to see who's there and get rid of them...

wait, who is he kidding? he's definitely not paid enough to confront potentially armed looters! he's going to get out of here.

but just as he starts to leave, he hears the voices again - coming from one of the surgery rooms this time. and they're talking about IVs... scalpels... anesthesia...

suddenly he realizes that these aren't looters - they're here to try and treat somebody.

and like hell is he going to let some idiot kill someone trying to do DIY surgery.

so he turns back around and bursts into the room... on two humans, a rat that counts as giant even for New York, and four very big, very injured turtles.

one of whom immediately points a gun in his face. to be fair, that's what he thought would happen.

"Donnie!" yells the biggest one, and, oh, they can talk. huh.

"Relax, it's just a tranquilizer!"

"Donatello!" that's the rat. there's a sound like a whip cracking and the one with the gun makes a startled noise and drops it.

now the rat is in front of him. he's looking up at Marcus imploringly. "Do you work here?" he asks.

"Y-yeah. I'm a vet."

the rat bows very politely. "my sons are seriously hurt, and I don't have the supplies to help them at home. I understand it is a lot to ask, but... we must use your supplies. please, if you could just look the other way."

Marcus looks around at the turtles, especially the one on the table, the one worst off. he looks mangled. he won't live long if he isn't properly treated.

a rat, two humans who look like teenagers, and the turtles. who the rat called "sons". now that he's noticing, they're all pretty short, other than the big one. are they also teenagers?

"...Are any of you doctors?" he asks. the littlest one starts to raise a hand, but the girl grabs it and forces it back down.

everyone else has left by now. he's the only doctor here.

alright. guess he's doing this.

"...okay, everyone make some room. let me get sterilized, and I'll see what we're working with here."

and that's how the son Lou Jitsu didn't know he had becomes primary care doctor to his teenage mutant ninja half-brothers. ^^

(and then a bunch of other stuff happens)

[madaboutmunson]

And I'm sorry you were thinking I would steal your fire

Ao3 Link

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Link to fic overview and all parts

Chapter Summary: The morning after where Steve attempts to process the night before

Author Notes: Songs that were inspirational whilst writing this chapter:

Heart In A Cage - The Strokes Lovefool - The Cardigans

Tags/Warnings for whole fic: rockstar!AU; band; touring; music industry; alternate universe; drug usage; alcohol abuse; performing; enemies to lovers; road trip; stobin; platonic stobin; platonic with a capital P; canon typical violence; angst; masochism; fist fight; smut; fluff;

Word Count: 6.3K

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Steve attempts to open his eyes and manages one. The other is shut tight and stings. In fact, the more he becomes conscious, the more his entire body aches. He makes a mental note to call down for some painkillers. 

As he becomes more aware of his body and his eyes adjust to his surroundings, he finds himself not laid out on his back as usual but curled up on his side. For the first time in maybe half a decade, no one is touching him, draped across him, or snoring in his ear. It's just him and the soft cotton sheets beneath. He shifts his legs slightly and feels a little burn in his thighs but welcomes moving to the cooler area of the bedding.

His mind does a violently quick slideshow of last night. His finger subconsciously runs over his lips, and there is a slight sting when he accidentally brushes over a cut. Mine, he thinks to himself. Though he knows it was probably just heat of the moment, cock-drunk words, alone he allows himself to hold them closer than he should. He knows Eddie could never feel like that about him, not after all the trouble he caused. 

And doesn't that just fucking land the most brutal blow of all?

Steve rolls onto his back and stares up at the ceiling. His reflection is not staring right back for a change, and he can't pick out all his imperfections, but he didn't need a mirror for that game. Most of them weren't visible anyway. At least today, his outsides match his insides. 

Sure, he built Eddie into something he wasn't. He'd ruined Eddie's life and couldn't pursue anything anyway. Not with everything hanging in the balance. But fuck if he wouldn't leap at the chance if he had it. Eddie was right. When he'd walked through the door to that meeting, he'd stopped him in his tracks entirely. Steve didn't really believe in love at first anything, not anymore, but he knew a hot guy when he saw one. Not only hot but talented and passionate about what he does. The way he talked about his ex, he probably loves ferociously, as evident from last night, rage-fuelled or not, he can definitely fuck ferociously, not that Steve had anything to compare him to, only women and the odd blow or hand job from a guy. He can already tell that sitting down anywhere would be interesting today but fucking worth it, he smiles to himself.

He'd never imagined it could be so good. The first orgasm was incredible, but that second time, he actually thought he'd died, completely lost himself for a few seconds, utterly checked out. That feeling was dangerous, addictive, even. Because if there is a sensation Steve enjoyed most, it is not being trapped in reality. This was different, though. The way his body felt so charged, then that blip of absolute stillness, then after how his skin felt like it was humming, and his head was full of cotton candy, and then all he could see, think or comprehend was Eddie.

Maybe that's what made him reach out for him? Like he was a lifesaver that Steve so desperately needed. So he'd copied him, made Eddie taste how he'd ruined him, and called him his own because he wanted it so badly right then and there.

For those final moments to last forever, so neither of them would ever have to go back to before, remember why they were fighting, or have to deal with the aftermath between them or anyone else.

He is struggling to put into words for himself what he's feeling. It's not love. He doesn't even know Eddie, not that that's ever stopped Steve from immediately thinking he was in love before, but he's had his fingers burned many times now. He knows it doesn't work that way, but he knows he wants him. Wants him over and over, more than a drink, more than a line, more than a pill, more than a fat pay cheque. But it's also more than just want. That's too crude, and it's more precious than purely some wanton lust.

And then there was after. When Eddie lay back on him, catching his breath, he looked so beautiful. He completely collapsed in Steve's arms, like he was free of everything weighing him down for a minute. Steve would have loved to have stayed longer in that bubble, but he was afraid of saying something ridiculous and genuinely worried about covering up as much as he could.

A manly fight he could get away with, but a manly fuck, no way. He'd save that thought for Robin later. She might find that funny if she wasn't pissed at him too.

Steve worries he'd show too much of his soft underbelly to Eddie. Showering with him, getting him a warm towel, asking him to stay. Maybe the positive side of that could be he wouldn't have to pretend so much around him? Well, for however long that might be. He just didn't want to be too far from him, that was all, and not in a possessive or horny way, but almost like he needed Eddie near for a little longer. Like Steve had moulted his shell, and he needed Eddie to protect his vulnerable state until a new one grew back. He usually didn't want to wake up alone purely for his ego's needs, for adoration, not safety.

He turns his head to the side, and the bed is empty. He trails his hand over the bedding where he would have slept. He picks up a pillow and sniffs at it, but it doesn't smell anything like him, not a trace of that musky, metallic, woody, leathery scent from sex, violence and cologne. The pillow just reeks of the shared products in the shower.

He holds it against himself anyway and stares up at the ceiling. He hears footsteps approaching and prepares himself for the incoming lecture from someone, slowly shuts his eyes and braces for impact.

"Ah, you're awake. Any idea where the coffee machine is?" Eddie asks, and Steve's stomach drops so hard he feels like the mattress swallows him up and spits him back out.

"What are you doing here?" Steve blurts out, even though he knows that's not what he means. He's trying to get over the fact Eddie actually stayed.

Eddie looks awkwardly around the room, adorably screws up his face, "You, um, you kinda asked me too. You don't remember?" He asks, starting to look a little worried.

Steve swallows nervously and quickly plays it off, "Of course, wasn't gonna make you walk past Buckley on your own, now was I?" He adds an extra detail, an innocent one, to ease Eddie's concerns about him being out of it or high or something. He remembered he asked about him taking anything last night. He hadn't. He was just having the fucking time of his life. 

Steve wonders if it would have mattered how he'd answered that question? If he'd said yes, would Eddie have tried to get away with something wholly debauched, or would he have stopped all proceedings. That thought makes his mouth dry, but he can't decide if the nervousness is from fear, excitement or both.

Steve tries to sit up quickly and immediately regrets it because the pain is incredible, and he's sore in places he never thought he could be. Still, he tries not to show it, just bites his lips together, "We don't make the coffee," and checks the time. It's like five in the morning. The trolley wouldn't be outside yet, but he could call it earlier. "We call for it." He smiles, dials the front desk, requests some painkillers and relays Eddie's order, "Shouldn't be long. They're really the best staff here." Steve enthuses, but his smile fades slightly when he sees the darkened bruising on Eddie's face and neck.

"Eddie, can I just say something?" He asks but doesn't wait for Eddie's permission. He needs to get this out, "I don't expect forgiveness or anything. I just wanna say I'm sorry." He turns his back to Eddie as he talks, "I got obsessed with the photo, and I should never have posted my frustrations publically, but believe me when I say I was stupid enough not to understand the implications of that, and no one told me anything had happened to your business after. I just thought you were busy being successful, like me, and I couldn't work out why you continually didn't want to work with me again. I'm just an idiot, Eddie. I didn't mean any malice." He wraps his arms around himself, "And yesterday, when you said the photo was meaningless, I just lost my mind. I can't explain too much, and this also isn't me trying to make an excuse. I just wanted to give some context. It was just all I had at points. The hope that one person in the universe really saw me. Even though they were a stranger, I had the evidence in print, or so I thought." 

He turns his head to look back at Eddie, who's sitting on the other side of the bed, his back turned to him, too, "I'm sorry, I got that wrong, and if I can in any way repair anything I did, please give me a chance to do that. I know we're not gonna be buddies, but if you're happy to and they let us, maybe we can at least finish these projects civilly? Then we can both leave with something; if not, I have connections. I've got more money than I know what to do with," he laughs awkwardly and, in a panic, quickly adds, "N-not like in a charity way. Not like that at all. I just want to…If you're happy with it, try and fix what I broke."

For a while, there is quiet.

"You think they'll let us?" Eddie asks. Steve can't read Eddie's tone if he's hopeful or wants the label to give him an easy way out of this whole thing. His heart stirs groggily in its cage anyway.

"I don't know, honestly. I think there is enough contractual red tape to make it not worth their time to sift through, but, you know, at least we got some shots, and we did a bit for your book on the plane, right? It's not like we don't have anything at all." Steve forces a laugh, trying to make light of everything, even though he feels like he's collapsing inside, enduring the longest goodbye.

"Yeah. You're right." Eddie agrees. There is another patch of silence, and Steve loathes it because his thoughts are so loud. He really needs to shut off, but he doesn't have anything. He can feel himself get antsy at the prospect.

Steve gingerly shifts his position on the bed to turn to see him. "I don't mind doing a little more now if you like?" Eddie's head snaps to the side, looking slightly alarmed. Steve quickly realises how his words might be misunderstood and turns his head away. "Of the-the interview, I mean, for the book. Your book." he stumbles awkwardly over his words, a little embarrassed.

"You sure?" Eddie asks.

Steve, eager to regain any crumb of his rockstar cred that he can, snorts out a laugh, "Yeah, man, I pretty much have interviews all the time. It's part of the job, you know? Though I'm assuming you don't have any thirst tweets for me to read out?" Steve tries a little humour, and it works.

"Unfortunately not, Ha-Steve. Unfortunately not," Eddie chuckles, and Steve's heart wrestles at its bars because it didn't miss how he'd corrected himself over his name. "Could you maybe go for some background questions? Or is that too personal? I can keep it to just music if you prefer?" 

Steve's brain does prefer that. Stick to now. The music. That's what it said the project was about. It's not an autobiography. They already have two people lined up for that. But, whilst Steve knows all of that is correct, he is completely distracted by his feral withered heart gnawing at its prison, foaming at the mouth to tell Eddie anything, everything, let him know you, see you. 

"Background is fine, but there are some things that I can't tell you, ok? It's label stuff, and I dunno if someone found your tape and leaked it, it could have some real dire consequences for many people." Steve tries to sound business-like, as his mom taught him to do in stressful situations.

There is a gentle knock at the door, and Eddie jumps up to get it, and Steve has to painfully chase him down, "You aren't supposed to be here," he whispers, catching his breath, resists marginally from touching Eddie's shoulder to make him step back, but they both look at his hand braced to do so. Steve briskly turns to the door to open it. 

A uniformed young lady stands on the other side of the trolley. Fuck he should have waited. He leans in the doorway, pops his hip out, turns up the Harrington, lowers his tone and volume, and slows down. "Mornin', sugar," he drawls," Thanks for bringing this up early." He beams brightly and watches her eyes widen, her phone clutched in one hand. He gestures to it. "Do you mind if we don't? Not looking my best." He laughs charmingly, and the girl relaxes. He pulls the trolley into the room but keeps his attention on her, "You got anything for me to sign, honey?" Without tearing her eyes from his, she rolls up her sleeve and extends her inner forearm to him, "Sure thing…." 

"Angela!" She says quickly.

"Oh well, at least that's an easy one for me. You're mostly Angel, right?" He laughs at his own joke and raises an eyebrow, and the nervous, wild giggle that spills out of her is hilarious.

He takes the pen and gently holds her arm. He knows the line enough to get them all excited, not enough that it makes him look like a skeevy letch. He writes her name and repeats it for her again as he signs her skin. That's the kind of thing they like to hear. "There you go, honey. Actually, wait a second," she's busy gawping at her arm, tracing it with her finger. He quickly heads to one of the boxes in the room. He comes back with some merch, "Here you go. Hot off the press program, which is already signed, with some exclusive fan club stuff and a T-shirt they haven't released yet. Not on sale until the first show," She's beaming for a second, but her eyes trace over him again.

"Are you sure everything is ok, Mr Harrington? I could get one of the on-site medical staff?" She asks meekly.

A concern sweeps over him. Pictures will be taken of him and Eddie, both with bruises, and it will be hard to cover up, but he could attempt to get in first. He looks around, his voice falling to a whisper, and he leans in towards her, "Listen, just between you and me. I ran into some people who didn't like me very much. It got a bit physical, but my friend got me out of there, even though they suffered for that too."

"Robin Buckley?" She says excitedly, and that's when Steve knows he's got a real fan on his hands.

"Unfortunately not, if Robin had been there. I know they wouldn't have even gotten one punch in," he gives her another dazzling smile, and she nods affirmatively. "Anyway, I better get these painkillers down me. It was so lovely to meet you, Angela. Hope to see you at the show." He beams and waits for her to walk away before closing the door.

Only to be immediately confronted with Eddie, and he nearly jumps out of his skin, "What happened to I'm not supposed to be here?" he says, worry etched on his face.

"I know, and you aren't, but the thing is, she saw me, and if what you said about my fans is true, that they don't like you, and they see you fucked up too, which they will by the way because this place will be crawling with photographers tonight, then they are gonna put two and two together. Whereas now, we've got in first. So, there will be at least two sides to it. She'll post about all of this now, and it'll go viral. She'll love the attention. She'll get haters and people on her side," Steve says reassuringly, "One side will think you saved me," Steve says, accidentally searching Eddie's eyes for a second before quickly turning to the trolley and pushing it through to another small seating area, that didn't contain his last night events staged area. "Go get your stuff, dude," Steve says, trying to sound impatient, but he doesn't look at Eddie except to watch him leave the room.

Steve takes the opportunity to ease himself into an armchair and grab a coffee and some painkillers. He looks at the breakfast spread of actual food. He can't remember the last time he actually ate breakfast. He pours a coffee for himself and ignores it all for now. He hadn't meant to say it like that, not saved me . He meant stepped in or got me out of there. He thinks about the choice of words and wonders if that is a subconscious thing. Does he feel saved, or at least is he starting to?

Eddie barrels back into the room. With a small notepad and dictaphone at the ready, he gets totally distracted by the trolley and nearly trips over the coffee table. "Jesus, dude, watch where you're going!" Steve exclaims, quickly reaching out and grabbing the back of his t-shirt, stopping him just in time.

They both look at where Steve is holding onto him, and he lets go, "Help yourself to whatever, man. Just don't brain yourself in the process." Steve says it like he's reprimanding a kid. A tingling sensation rushes from his hand that had been bunched in the material up his arm, and his mind flashes to how he'd wound Eddie's T-shirts around his fingers to pull him closer last night. He quickly shakes it off and wraps his hands around his coffee mug instead, waiting for his insides to stop backflipping.

"You not hungry?" Eddie asks, piling some food on a plate, and though he tries not to look, he feels compelled to, like if he doesn't, it might be the end of the world. He shakes his head in a no and then watches Eddie do something entirely mundane, but Steve is completely transfixed, taking in every detail he can, like Eddie's moving in slow motion. 

Steve's watching Eddie's dexterous fingers selectively pick apart the breakfast trolley, like he'd plucked at the worn ties holding Steve together last night, watches him taste small samples with that mouth that trailed over him, made him bend to its will, swallowed up his sounds of ecstasy for its own, and he's desperately trying not to watch it work around a fresh strawberry. Eddie wields his weapons like he doesn't know they're lethal.

"You sure you aren't hungry, man? Is it-Is it because someone normally fixes you a plate?" Eddie looks at him, a little confused, "Do you need me to fix you a plate?"

"Huh? No, um, I don't normally eat breakfast. Buckley usually brings me my breakfast , but it's a little early." Steve says with an awkward smile, air quoting around breakfast. 

Eddie's nose scrunches up, and it's impossibly cute, "Then why do you order the….ohhhh got it. For your guests," Eddie laughs, then goes a little quiet, sits on the floor next to the coffee table and begins wolfing down his food, almost at an alarming rate.

Steve laughs, "Are you worried someone's gonna steal it, or is it just that good?" he teases.

"No!" Eddie says with his mouth full, then dabs his mouth, finishes his mouthful and starts over, "No. I'm just in a hurry because I wanna ask you more stuff, but I'm also so hungry I could eat a mammoth." His hands and arms animate his words, his eyes are wide with exuberance, and Steve adores that completely. Is this him? Is he seeing a genuine part of Eddie now? He tries to keep hold of the moment.

"How about we put the recorder nearer me? You ask your questions, and I can still answer if you're eating. Rather that than you choke to death on….what is that?" Steve says, confused, looking at his plate.

"Well, it's, er, you know, a half pancake, half-waffle, bacon, hash brown, strawberry and maple syrup taco-thing, of course" he pushes out a fake laugh like Steve should know what this is.

"A what now?" Steve says, even more confused.

"It's a piggy-spud-berry breakfast taco," he says with a grin, taking a much smaller nibble.

"Well, first of all, wow, that sounds insane, and second of all, this is all vegan, so it's a non-piggy-spud-berry breakfast taco." Steve corrects, still with a bit of concern in his voice.

"We'll colour me impressed because I did not know this was fake, and the only insane thing about this marvellous creation is the taste. Flavour town population me!" He takes another bite but stops with a smile, "Wanna try it?"

"No!" Steve replies like it's the most ridiculous thing he's ever been asked. He watches the mischief spread over Eddie's smile.

"Oh my god, you so do wanna try it!" He laughs.

"I'm quite happy with my coffee, thanks." Steve frowns and shakes his head.

"Ok, ok. Fine." He presses record on the dictaphone and pushes it in front of Steve, "So I know you were born in Indiana like me, but where did you grow up?"

"Hawkins," Steve answers, and Eddie's head snaps towards him. He frowns at first and then shakes his head.

"No. Not possible," he says, turning back to his breakfast monstrosity.

"What do you mean? Not possible. I was born in Hawkins. I left my first junior year of high school." Steve laughs at Eddie's audacity in telling him his own history was impossible.

Eddie turns to him again, "Because I lived in Hawkins, too! Moved in with my uncle in middle school. Left when I graduated. First time, I might add, which no one saw coming" Eddie raises his eyebrows at Steve, "So you can't be from Hawkins. Otherwise, I would have known you. I had my own metal band. We would have been friends, acquaintances for sure!" He laughs.

"A metal band in Hawkins? How old are you?" Steve asks quickly.

"I'm a year older than you, dude," Eddie answers, "Anyway, I'm interviewing you, so tell me where you really grew up."

"In Hawkins! I just told you that. Wait, wait. We're you in…uh…. don't tell me….Constricted Coffin?" Steve says, wracking his brain.

"Corroded, and how the fuck did you know that?" Eddie says, turning to him again.

"Because I was there! There was a cheer performance, and when we moved up to high school, they would be our cheer squad possibly, so we over dramatically decided all of us had to go to support them because eventually, they'd be supporting us or some bullshit like that" Steve says cringing a little.

"Wait…us… were you a fucking Jock?" Eddie says, his mouth wide open in surprise.

"Yeah, well, kinda, I guess co-swim captain, played basketball," he shrugs.

"Holy shit!" Eddie says, staring at Steve and taking a bite from his breakfast taco, "So ok, now we've established this is absolutely insane. Why did you leave?"

"I got scouted by a modelling agency whilst drowning my sorrows." 

"In your junior year?"

"Yes! I was seeing this girl, she went a bit weird on me," Steve lies, but it's not Eddie's business, that is top secret shit, "I wanted to apologise, climbed up to her window and she was already trying to get it on with this other guy. I'm an idiot, so I stomped to my car and told my friends. They tried to wind me up about fighting with this guy, and then they suggested going out, and the rest is history."

"So you were underage drinking, and a modelling agency picked you up?"

"Yep. That's about it."

"You were a very young man in a bar, and someone much older than you said, 'Hey, wanna be a model?' And you were like, 'Yeah', and they emitted some evil laugh, I suppose and dragged you into the night? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" Eddie asks sarcastically.

"Well, it didn't quite go like that. I got their card, called them the next day, and got signed up," Steve shrugs.

Eddie narrows his eyes and pinches the thumb and forefinger of his hand together tightly, "Do you have any idea how dangerous that could have been? Hmmm? That could have been some rapist maniac serial killer." Steve just laughs. 

"Well, they weren't. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, now would I? I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself," Steve says, laughing at Eddie's concern for his past self.

"Says the big boy who won't eat his breakfast," Eddie shakes his head. Now, when he said big boy, that sounded a lot different, at least to Steve's ears and heart rate anyway.

"God, you're such a fucking nag!" Steve pretends to be annoyed and leans towards the plate again, "Go on then, let's try this culinary horror show." Steve makes a show of rolling his eyes, but his heart is pounding being this close again. He hopes it doesn't show. Eddie excitedly starts cutting him up a piece, making sure there is a little of everything and stabs it with a fork.

"Here we go," Eddie says with a huge toothy grin as he moves the fork towards Steve's mouth as if he is going to feed it to him. Steve looks a little confused, and Eddie seems a little nervous.

Steve gently takes the fork from his hand, brushes their fingers together minimally and feeds the mouthful to himself. Eddie watches him the entire time.

"Well? The verdict?"

Steve has been chewing over the sickeningly sweet morsel with the occasional blast of bacon flavour and the odd texture combination tumbling over in his mouth. But his face doesn't show a modicum of disgust because not a metre from his face is a wide-eyed, encouraging, beaming, handsome man making his imprisoned heart pound so hard in his chest it is bending the cage bars with each one. Steve doesn't want to peel his eyes away, but he also can't stare blankly like a maniac, so he pretends to mull over the flavours, pulling faces of thoughtfulness, surprise, alarm, confusion, whatever he can think of, and each one seems to make Eddie smile more until he laughs, and with his prize won Steve settles back in his armchair. 

"I think it might be an acquired taste." Steve smiles into his coffee cup with his secrets, and there is a quiet patch. Steve hates it. He wants to say so many things, wants to ask so many things, none of which he can permit himself to, of course. He hears a click, and his eyes shoot to Eddie's hand on the voice recorder.

"Wanna get our story straight?" Eddie asks, not looking at him. Steve almost blushes and laughs at his wording because whatever they hope to hide with this story, it sure as hell is not straight. 

"Is the interview over, then?" Steve questions carefully. Keeping to the subject at hand, but that isn't really what he's asking.

Eddie pushes the remaining food around his plate and replies, "I figure if we don't fuck up the cover story, they'll believe us, maybe? Then this doesn't have to be over, does it?"

Steve's brain knows Eddie is talking about their respective projects, but his rabid heart is bending back the bars of its cell now, trying to squeeze itself through, clawing at the air towards Eddie, but it can't quite make it. It tuckers itself out and is left panting on the floor of its cage.

"I guess the easiest thing to go for is sports, right? Drunk people fight about the stupidest things. Maybe you slated The Bulls or something?" Steve suggests with a shrug, and Eddie looks at him wide-eyed like he's trying his very best not to burst out laughing but folds his arms instead.

"What could I have said about your precious Bulls that would have instigated a physical fight between us?" he asks with a smile.

"That they were shit last season," Steve says matter-of-factly, and that pulls a low hearty chuckle from Eddie.

"No one is gonna buy that, dude," he laughs, waving his hands in front of himself.

"Eddie, I've been playing this game of hide and very little seek with the label, the fans, and the media for some time. The simpler, the better. Trust me," 

"And what if they grill me on that, huh? Then what?"

"You frown at them like they're complete weirdos and say, I don't fucking know, I was drunk," Steve smiles broadly and quickly turns it down a few levels.

"You seem well-practised," Eddie says, returning to his food. Steve detects a hint of something, surely not jealousy, resentment maybe.

"At lying to people that hate what I am, yeah, at tidying up hotel rooms only to stage a mess, no," that gets him a side glance from Eddie. He leans over and clicks to start recording again.

"So your modelling career is fairly well documented already, but how did you jump ship into music? Has it always been something you enjoyed?" Eddie asks in his best news anchor voice, and Steve ducks his head down to hide his smile before replying.

"Well, here's an exclusive for you. They asked me to join a boyband first," Steve chuckles, and he looks over to see Eddie's mouth dropped wide open in shock.

"No fucking way. There is no way that's true!" Eddie folds his arms, but a colossal smile erupts on his face.

"I swear, dude. I swear." Steve can't help but mirror him this time, and the laughter is spilling out of them both now, and it feels so good. Almost like friends. Almost like two guys that hadn't tried to knock one another out less than twelve hours ago.

"I just can't imagine it, you all like," Eddie makes some vague, robot arm movements, and Steve can't hold back any longer. The laugh that bursts from him is loud, unashamed and unreserved.

"Please do not tell me that is what you think dancing is," he manages to say between laughs, trying to catch his breath, clutching his sides.

"You don't like my moves? Consider me crushed!" Eddie clasps his hands together and punches himself in the chest.

He's a jester, Steve thinks as he barely holds on to his mask. The smile of fondness warming his cheeks, the giggles threatening just behind the surface that he is sure his heart might use as a crowbar if he lets them happen. He swallows them down and clears his throat, quickly turning away from Eddie's newly trailing gaze and pleased smirk.

Clearly, he likes to entertain as much as the next person in his own way. "Insults aside, Steve, what happened with the boyband?" 

"I think they went with someone else in my place after I turned down the opportunity. I can't say too much because of NDAs and the like, but all I'm saying is they've done very well for themselves!" Steve sips his coffee and notices Eddie looking at him with wide wonder. If he'd been on a seat, he'd be on the edge of it right now.

"And then what happened?" Eddie bores the question into Steve's eyes with his own gorgeous, huge brown ones. He'd think they almost looked innocent if he didn't know the truth. It makes him feel unusual as if he has something to lure Eddie in with now.

Steve reclines more in his seat, "And then, they left me alone for a while. Got invited to some awards show I had no business being at. The red carpet question was about secret talents. I said I could play the guitar, and my agent's phone blew up as soon as it aired. So, it's not really the hard work playing dive joints that most rockstars go through. I asked you to, you know, but the money wasn't there, I guess? I know that fucking pisses people off too, but I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere until the fans, like you said, move onto the new thing."

He sees Eddie's expression fall to something like regret, and he knows he's said the wrong thing.

"Eddie, I didn't mean to bring that up like that. I just meant that's just how it goes in the public eye. You ride the wave of popularity as long as you can before you fall into obscurity, and then, if you're lucky, someone uses one of your old tracks in a cover, show, movie, or social media trend, and you get a renewed interest in your stuff and can get back on the surfboard for a while. So many artists have been through it now. It would be madness to think it wouldn't happen to anyone."

Eddie doesn't seem won over by his words, but before he can apologise, there is a click at the door, and Steve freezes in his chair.

"Mr H?" Buckley's voice rings out, and he instantly relaxes.

"Yeah, come in, Buckley," Steve says, and Eddie quickly scurries to standing. He looks terrified, so he lets his old instincts win and moves to stand in front of him, but Buckley glares around him intensely.

"Still here, I see?" She sneers at Eddie.

"Stand down, Buckley. It's ok. It was pretty even. Look at us," He gestures between himself and Eddie, and he doesn't miss the tiny twitch at the corner of Eddie's mouth when their eyes meet for a fleeting moment. Maybe he hadn't totally blown it.

"Yeah, well, it makes me look shit at my job, so forgive me a little annoyance!" She says, setting down the small case that instinctively makes Steve brush the end of his nose and lick his lips discreetly.

He thinks he can already feel the judgement from Eddie, and Buckley is already pissed, luckily most of it seems to be directed at Eddie, so he tries something to appease them both, "Might save that until after we get hauled in, Buckley. I had some actual breakfast this morning," he awkwardly laughs and hopes for the best, as Buckley stops in her tracks.

As she turns, she looks between them, and her expression softens before returning to something tougher again, "Sure thing, Mr H."

"Hey, I should get going," Eddie says, quickly gathering up his things and almost stumbling over the furniture as he retrieves his bag from the other room.

Robin waits until he's fussing out of sight. She gestures after him and whispers, "He stayed? I thought you'd snuck him out somehow."

Steve looks bashfully at the floor and then back up at her, "I asked him to," he says quietly.

"Steve, what is going on? What happened? Oh my god, did it happen? Like it?" She's still whispering but much more animated and getting closer. Steve cannot bring himself to look at her, but the jingle of Eddie's wallet chain breaks him out of his embarrassment and makes her retreat from him into her military stance.

Eddie comes into view, backpack on top of his jacket, and looks between them, "Ah, so yeah, um, I, er, gonna go," he juts his thumb at the door.

Steve notices the cut-up t-shirt in his hand, and something like envy rises in him. Yes, it's Eddie's T-shirt, but he wants it. He made it what it is. He should be allowed one keepsake. It should be his. He can still see clearly in his mind how the blade sliced through it so effortlessly, fell open to reveal the man underneath it, and lost in thought, he finally catches himself staring at it. 

He looks up into Eddie's eyes. He can feel this is goodbye in his bones, which must be what emboldens him because he soon finds himself stepping towards Eddie and taking the t-shirt out of his hands, "I can take care of that for you, man. Don't want anyone getting a shot of you leaving here with that, you know? You said it wasn't sentimental, right?" Steve asks, knowing, or at least hoping, his words send Eddie back to that moment.

Eddie nods and rubs the back of his neck, "Yeah. Thanks. Saves me dealing with it," he half-smiles, "I'll, um, get yours back to you," he looks up at Buckley, "somehow." and with that, he turns to leave, and Steve grips the cotton in his hand tightly, until it hurts, because he needs to put his feelings about this heart-cracking goodbye somewhere. Eddie opens the door but stops dead in his tracks just before stepping through it. He looks over his shoulder at Steve, "I'm sorry," he says and leaves.

Robin closes the door, waits a little while until Eddie's footsteps can no longer be heard, and then turns to Steve. He looks him up and down, "How bad of a situation are we in?"

"Oh really fuckin' bad," Steve says with a half smile as Robin wraps him in a hug.

[minty-mumbles]

LU Avatar AU

I was planning on writing an Avatar AU with a short snippet about each Link and how they felt about bending each element. (Set in Hyrule, but people can bend the elements and the hero is the avatar, who can bend all four elements.)

I decided I didn't like the idea enough to devote anymore time to it, but you guys can have what I've finished

~~~

To Wild, airbending is as instinctual and effortless as breathing. Even more so, perhaps. Zelda had told him she couldn’t recall what element he had been born into. He was sure that if she did remember, she would tell him that he'd been born under the watchful gaze of the air spirits.

He was constantly airbending, so much so that his feet floated more than they touched the solid ground.

He floats in his sleep sometimes. The other avatars don’t mention it, but he knows they’re baffled by it. Everyone always is, when he sleeps somewhere someone will see him. 

Wild- and everyone else- had assumed it was an avatar thing, to be able to control the elements even when you were unconscious. But none of the other avatars could bend while they were asleep. 

~~~

Wild can barely move pebbles when he tries to earthbend. Zelda says that it’s because he’s a free spirit and doesn’t like to be grounded, but Wild doubts that. Hyrule didn’t seem to have any issue with earth bending, and he was as much of a free spirit as Wild was. 

And it’s not like Wild doesn’t try. He does. He trains daily, even if it’s just for a short while. He knows how important earth bending is. But no matter how hard he tried, the solid rock beneath his feet never wanted to move for him. 

~~~

When Wild firebends, he dances. 

When he woke from the shine, all his bending masters were dead and he had no one to teach him. So he taught himself, using scraps of memories of the champions’ lessons and his own accidental discoveries. That led to some of his bending styles being a bit unique, fire bending most of all. The closest he’s ever seen was the fire dances that the Gerudo did sometimes, in the privacy of their town.

But he’s never seen anyone dance like that during combat, not like he does. 

He supposes it doesn’t matter. As long as he’s as deadly with his flames as anyone else, and he is. 

~~~

Wild has a hard time waterbending too. He’s better at it than earthbending- at least he could move water around. But it’s never fast, and it's never forceful, so his waterbending is all but useless in combat. This, Wild thinks, is mostly his fault. He could force the water to be more deadly if he tried harder. It’s not like earth bending, where he tries but doesn’t succeed. 

Water is a free element. It goes where it wants, when it wants to, and frankly, he’s loath to make it do anything it doesn’t want to. So he never tries very hard to bend it to his will.

~~~

Four had kept the gift quiet, even in his own era. He hadn’t planned on telling the other avatars at all, but he would need something even more precise than his smithing to try and forge an unbreakable sword for the champion.

Metal bending was an extremely rare gift, even for an avatar, and he didn’t like the attention it brought to him when people knew. He was getting that attention now, whether he liked it or not. He could feel the other avatars’ gaze on him. He swore Wind’s star-filled admiring eyes were burning a hole into his back. 

He ignored them, focusing all his attention on the metal floating in front of him, slowly taking the form of a sword. 

~~~

Wind was born a water bender, as most Hylians on the Great Sea were. He’d never felt more at home than he did when he was standing on the seashore, listening to the waves and feeling the water lap at his bare feet.

There was a comfort in it, knowing the sea would never hurt him. Could never hurt him, even if it tried.

[angelofthepage]

Okay, so lately I've been seeing a lot of mixed feelings (namely on Twitter) about the announcement of Bendy: Dreams Come to Life getting a graphic novel iteration. There is a LOT to talk about when it comes to this thing, and maybe I'll discuss it more another time, but today I wanna talk about the thing I've been hearing the most: strong feelings about having canonical designs for the human versions of some of our favorite characters.

In Dreams Come to Life, we have physical appearances from the following BATIM characters (that I can remember off the top of my head, I may be missing some):

Joey Drew

Sammy Lawrence

Norman Polk

Thomas Connor

Allison Pendle

Bertrum Piedmont

Wally Franks (this one I'm unsure on, it's been a hot minute)

This means that for the first time, we're gonna know what all of them look like as humans in the minds of the game developers, since, let's be real, if they're doing this thoughtfully, there is likely a lot of communication with the artist they got for this book. Making sure these characters fit their vision is a very probable priority.

In this fandom, we have had the freedom to design whatever the heck we want for the human versions of these characters. And that has been so much fun. You've had all sorts of takes, from characters mirroring their voice actors to completely original things that you never would have expected. Some things would pop up consistently in fan designs, and others would be an occasional pleasant surprise. We've seen a lot of things tweaked over the years, sometimes because we latch onto designs we like from artists we've met in the fandom and incorporate them into our own. Sometimes it's because we get new information in the canon, like Sammy confirmed to be blonde in The Illusion of Living (EDIT: I was extremely wrong on this, he is not confirmed blonde in this book, but he does have long and floppy hair that Joey thought should be slicked back more, and also Jack had some wild fashion), Allison is platinum blonde in DCTL, Wally having a hat as of his YouTube audiolog, Shawn and Tom wearing belts as of Boris and the Dark Survival, Tom being a wall of a man, Bertrum being a bear of a guy, etc. But even before Wally was confirmed to have a hat, a lot of us gave him a hat anyway, because the idea of him with a hat is fun! Bertrum being large, Tom being really tough! Heck, I saw a number of blonde Susies and Allisons before we got that bit on Allison, because it's fun to contrast their looks with that of Alice. That's the spirit of all of this, we make these designs because it's fun! You have characters all across the board in terms of race, sexuality, gender identity, age, body types, etc, because it's fun to imagine the possibilities for all of them with this cast that we love (and sometimes connect with them on a personal level), regardless of what's "canon" or not.

One of the things I'm hearing a lot is that some people don't want canon designs, and it sounds like it stems from a fear that they can't make their own designs anymore. And for those people, I'd like to ask, when has that ever stopped us? I mean that as a genuine question, I'm not here to mock anyone. Like, my first big fandom experience was over with Sonic as a teenager, and I never dreamed of deviating from the canon because I just, did not have any experience with that at the time. Bendy was really good for showing me that there's a LOT of ways the fandom experience can go, especially on this front. When Bendy and the Dark Revival came out, and we got two really major reveals for character designs: Memory Joey and Henry Stein. Henry, a character fans have been designing for YEARS, a character shrouded in mystery, finally got a confirmed design, and you know what happened? We started drawing this new design, but we didn't stop drawing our fan designs just because we got this new one. BATDR Henry has kind of been adopted into the fandom the same way we do designs for AUs, he's just another AU guy that happens to be canon to the sequel game. Heck, I love seeing art where fandom takes on Henry are interacting with BATDR Henry, it's really sweet honestly.

And that's exactly the attitude I have towards this graphic novel. It does not matter how these characters are designed, we are still valid and allowed to make whatever the heck we want. And if people really try to gatekeep it and scream that you're only allowed to draw the canon, I think that says more about them than it does anything else. Go draw what makes you happy (so long as it's not hurting anyone, obviously there is some nuance here but that is a whole other can of worms)! The only thing that this actually changes (or at least, what I'm guessing will change) is what's gonna fly when it comes to stuff like the fan art contests and challenges/what the devs might choose to retweet in terms of fan art. But that's only one part of the fan art scene. Otherwise, go fandom your way! No one is stopping you, draw what makes YOU happy. I am still going to draw a pointy blonde disaster of a music director however I please, even after we see Sammy in canon. Because darn it I like my Sammy, he is my strawberry blonde (depending on the world, sometimes it's more ashy) buffoon, and one new version of a book doesn't change my love for that.

That said, I am really curious how the teams behind this series imagine these characters. I feel the same way about it that I do my fellow fan artists. To me this really is just another AU, the DCTL AU. I think I'm less curious about the game characters and more about the characters native to this book, and that's got more to do with, well, I don't see a lot of people designing them! There's some, but they're not flooding my timeline like the game characters do. Like, I've designed the DCTL art department before for a Sims game, but I haven't gone much farther than that. I wanna know what Abby looks like, give me her fashion! I wanna see Buddy, Dot, and Jacob! I'm still keeping my Jacob design regardless, I love playing with him, but gosh do I wanna know what Jacob looks like in canon. Same with Dot. I have a lot of hopes for both of them, and I'm trying to lower my expectations so as not to be disappointed if it doesn't turn out that way. Like Dot has potential to be our first plus sized Bendy character given how she's described (also the first to wear glasses), of COURSE I want to see that! She's my writer girl that's super sus and incredibly interesting to me personally, I love her! And then I have more information to consider when I go to design my dolls (because believe you me, dolls based on the books have been on my list for a LONG time). I'm curious how much input Adrienne Kress will have here as the author, like I would love to know what's going on in her mind with these characters!

Whatever happens next, the most important thing to remember is that you're free to create whatever you like. Go make things that make you happy. That's all the devs are doing in the end, and if it's good enough for them, it's more than good enough for us. Bendy is made the way it is (hopefully) because that's what they wanted to make. Like why make an indie project that makes you miserable, you know? I don't know what to think of this new graphic novel, but whatever happens, I'm gonna take it with a grain of salt and keep doing what I always do: make my own fun out of what we're given. That's what fandom is, a place to enjoy a piece of media. And everyone enjoys this sort of thing differently. Find what works for you.

[welcomehomewendydear]

What should Wendy's role be?

I am trying to figure out what role should Wendy have in the main story of Welcome Home?

I like the idea that Wendy was a character who was around for one season, but was later scrapped because the producers didn't see any need for her since they already have a character that does music. "She's just a waste of money," is what they thought of her.

So in the Welcome Home universe, Wendy suddenly doesn't exist anymore and no one, not even Eddie Dear her older brother, remembers her. Everyone except Wally, who has to pretend everything is okay when he knows it isn't.

Her character page can be found on the website, but it's hidden. You have to go looking for it. When you do find it, the page looks glitched, the text is hard to read, and Wendy's image doesn't look right. Like, something is off about it. The only text that you can read are the words "I'M STILL HERE."

Wendy does not wish to harm the viewer or anyone. She just wants to get out and be with her friends again.

While I do like this idea, I'm not sure if this would work for the main story. Mostly because I'm still unsure what exactly the story is about.

I'm going to wait a bit longer, or maybe wait until the story is done, to figure out how Wendy fits into this.

Maybe I'll use this story idea for an AU.

[plumsaffron]

Cherry Crimson Brine Part 1 (1/2):

Where or When You Lost 

(Sucks there’s 4096 word block limit so seems this and the remain three parts of this AU or Whatever thing will be partitioned.

Also this is a dare I’m completing for some Ladyinred so… Lets get it)

*update I realize that’s not what it meany so I didn’t have to.

However, still did cause this story is long lol*

Link to all parts here Otherwise, go on and start.

A common day in the Vegetation Paris

People around town are really enjoying this place. Some just simply like starring at the plant life all around them. May even start fiddling around with the plants. Many people love the new school system. They never felt this kind of freedom before. Everyone was happy Well… Almost ???: (Where did you go? It’s been so long. You said you would get back soon. But now…) (You haven’t given me any signs of your whereabouts) (What can I do? You still haven’t been found. No leads either. Please be okay.) (The last thing I remember was that smile on your face. But after that, you never returned) (Did I…)

Tomorrow Adrien: What’s up? Marinette: Nothing much. Just been moving around the town. Walking or jogging around town. Adrien: I see that. It’s just you looked- Marinette: What?! Is there Something Wrong With My Face? It’s not supposed to- Uh I checked and my face should be clear. Adrien: Oh no. I didn’t mean your appearance. I meant your expression. You look like there’s something on your mind that’s bothering you Marinette's face starts shrieking Marinette: (Does he know? Is this about his father? No, it can’t be? I’m not ready (Even though I made 51 charts of how to deal with this day). He shouldn’t know. Adrien-)

Adrien: Marinette She stops zoning out in her confused paranoid thoughts of secrecy Adrien: Just talk about your day. Well if you feel like it. Did you see anything interesting? Make some more friends? Marinette: Mostly the same people waving and saying hi to me. And then... Adrien: (Her state changed to how she was before I said she looked-) Marinette: There was this woman from afar. 

I couldn't really tell. 

She reminds me of a girl I saw. Well that woman looked sad. 

It confused me because it's like she couldn't talk. I didn't know what to do. 

Why would anyone be unhappy in this paradise? Everyone I seen has been at peace. 

Our former teacher and the people have been improving the world. Adrien: Hmm…can't talk.  

Do you know what she looks like 

or can you draw a picture of what you remember? Marinette: I would have to see her again (or that girl that looks like a mini version of her). I'll keep that in mind. Adrien: So… Wanna play a video game? Marinette: SURE Adrien: (Good. She's no longer upset anymore.) Some Another Day Adrien walking around town Adrien: (I wonder… Who that woman was that Marinette was feeling bad of-uh I mean um… for) Hears some music playing Adrien: I guess I could go for a listen. Life has been pretty good with Nathalie, my aunt, and my guard. In fact, he’s quite more relaxed than I remember months ago. He’s still kind of very protective and will check up on me. (What am I doing? It might end soon.) He walks closer to where the tune is playing After Adrien: (That was… emotional.) (I believe. I’ve seen her before. She’s a fashion worker or modeler. She said it was dedicated to her baby girl) sitting somewhere now Her mood reminds me of what Marinette was describing but that’s not the same person. end of Part 1 (1/2)

Advance To 2/2

[curse-04]

Written for @hinnyfest

Prompt 6: "You are speaking about my future Hisband/Wife. Be more respectful."

A/N: Remember that After the War Fic I talked about in Prompt 1? Yeah, this one's from that too. Again, it's not based on the prompt entirely, but it does fit the requirements.

It's an AU though, so keep that in mind while reading this.

-------

It was over.

After three years of hard work, duels, sleepless nights, and a lot of travelling, it was finally over. All the Death Eaters had been caught, Sebastian Greengrass being the last of them.

Harry and Ginny could finally be free now. She was free to pursue her career as a Quidditch player in the Holyhead Harpies, well, she would have to apply, try out, and then get selected first, but really, anyone would have to have been dropped on the head as a baby to not choose her.

He would be comfortable as a Professor, he thought. Being an Auror wasn't for those who wanted to start a family. Maybe he could have done well as a Hit Wizard, dealing with low level murders and robberies, but being an Auror wasn't for him anymore. He'd had his share of Dark Wizards thank you very much.

"You've got the resignation papers?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Harry said absently, double checking to see if they had missed anything.

"I'll miss this," Ginny said, sighing. "Us working together."

"Yeah," Harry said. He'd miss it too, there was a different charm in working with her as he'd come to find out over the past few years. She'd been offered the Charms position at Hogwarts, but she wanted to be a Quidditch player, and as amazing as it would be to keep working with her, he would rather she fulfill her dreams first.

"I might take the Charms post if I don't make it," Ginny said, hugging him from behind.

"You'll make it," he said, turning around in her arms. "I'll train with you if you want."

She smiled into his chest. "You, my love, are a shit keeper," she pointed out.

"I am a decent Chaser, though," he said, not bothering to argue with her point. Even a baby could score a goal if Harry was the Keeper.

"True," she acknowledged. "Maybe we can kidnap Ron and make him practise Keeper with us."

He laughed. "Why do you always insist on kidnapping him instead of just asking?"

"He's my brother," she said, as though that explained everything. "Why else do you think?"

He just shook his head. Ron and Ginny's relationship wasn't something he'd understand anytime soon. One minute they were at each other's throats, the other saw them laughing like they were the closest siblings to have ever been born.

"Guess we should go," she said, letting him go.

"Yep," he replied, getting ready to stand up.

Just then, the door opened, and their boss, or rather, their ex-boss, walked in. "Potter, Weasley," Robards said. "I have a mission for you. Briefing is at five."

"Actually, we're quitting," Harry said, eager to get this over with. Really, if this wasn't a sign from Magic itself that they should quit, he didn't know what was.

"Sorry?" Robards asked, blinking.

"We're quitting," Ginny repeated. "We already told you, once the Death Eaters are caught, we're moving on to other things."

"Like what?" Robards asked, furrowing his brow.

"Gin's trying out for the Harpies, and I'm going to be the Defence Professor at Hogwarts," Harry replied stiffly.

Robards barked an incredulous laugh. "You're telling me that you're going to become a jock," he said, pointing at Ginny. "And you want to be a washed up Professor?" He asked, pointing at Harry.

"Careful there," Ginny said, an edge to her tone that sent shivers down even his spine. "You are speaking about my future husband. Be more respectful."

"Of course," Robards said mockingly, holding his hands up in defence. "I don't know what came over me. Have your letters at my desk before long. Honestly, it's a shame you're leaving, you could have been the best."

"Maybe," Harry said.

"But we wouldn't have been happy, that's for sure," Ginny continued.

"And what's the point of living if you aren't?" Harry asked rhetorically, handing Robards the papers as the man left.

"The nerve of him!" Ginny raged a moment after he left. Harry had already made sure to put up a good Silencing Charm.

"Thanks for that, by the way," Harry replied with a smile, while also trying to distract her from thoughts of Robards.

"For what?" She asked.

"The 'be more respectful' part," he said, smiling wider as Ginny blushed.

"It wasn't that much," she protested with an embarrassed laugh.

"It was to me," Harry said, placing his arms around her waist.

Ginny bit her lip. "Well, I know a way you can repay me," she said, placing her arms around his shoulders with a grin on her face.

"Oh?" He asked, leaning down with parted lips.

"Mhm," she said, kissing him and moving to whisper in his ear. "You can make me a chocolate cake when we get home."

With that, she pulled back and made her way out of the office- probably to say goodbye to the others like they'd planned before- as Harry just gaped after her with a smile. He caught up with her shortly after she left.

"Witch," he muttered, throwing an arm around her shoulders as she smiled.

"You're about to be married, love," she said, tutting at him disapprovingly. "Whatever would your wife think?"

"Oh she'd encourage this, I'm sure," he replied, shaking his head in amusement as she laughed.

Harry was suddenly struck with the thought that this was his life now- this banter with Ginny, Sunday Dinners at the Burrow after a Quidditch Game, Teddy… it was all his life, not someone else's like it felt to him all those years ago, and he couldn't help but pull her a little closer to him.

"Alright, love?" She asked as they were about to enter the Auror Headquarters.

He kissed the top of her head. "Never been better, Gin," he said, smiling at her. "Never been better."

[charkyzombicorn]

High school au-

Luffy and his friend aren't popular but Luffy's brothers are.

Angsty but- all of Luffy's friends have to move back due to family matters.

Luffy's alone.

He watches his brothers being popular.

Luffy felt alone, he barely knew his brothers now and they barely talked to him since they moved out.

He didn't know who his own brothers were anymore.

He didn't even know how to talk to them anymore either.

I guess..? Idk how that would fit with Luffy's character, though, Luffy has a habit of making friends where he goes whether they want to be friends or not. I feel like the angst your going for would be better after Luffy graduates, wouldn't it? Once all his friends have either moved away or are busy with university, Ace is always busy now that hes getting his law degree and Sabo's busy with his job that's very vague, suddenly those biweekly visits Garp makes are just Luffy alone in that tiny apartment making macaroni and waiting for Garp to start yelling at him, suddenly whenever Luffy tries to make conversation with a stranger they leave without a word or ignore him, suddenly he wonders if maybe if he'd handed in more of those crumpled assignments he could be at school with his friends still - the people that already got past the annoying and loved him anyway. He still does side jobs to pay the rent but suddenly he starts hearing when his bosses reprimand him, call him annoying, loud, stupid, attention-seeking, useless. Luffy knew he was useless, that's why he had so many friends with so many talents - he wouldn't make it on his own. He isn't making it on his own. He starts leaving people alone because it's useless to bother them and they'll never be his little gang he had in highschool when the future didn't matter because today was so bright.

Luffy almost considers enlisting. Almost.

But now he's just pathetic. Someone who peaked in highschool finally coming down, who's useless and doesn't remember how he managed to get anyone to tolerate him, and all thats left are those monthly visits from Sabo or Ace but never both because they're off living their lives like they're supposed to, leaving Luffy behind like they should.

Luffy was stuck anyway, back when he was useless but it didn't matter because he was loved - but just existing isn't enough anymore and Luffy isn't sure why

[welldonebeca]

Simple and Plain

Summary: “I don’t want to talk cause it makes me feel bad. But I understand you’ve come to shake my hand.” Daemon tries to talk with Rhaenyra about their past. She isn’t ready yet. (Also, Rhaenyra and Laenor doing bedtime with the boys). WC: 2.1k words Warnings: Angst. Fluff. Hurt/Comfort. Family fluff. Modern AU with the Targaryens. Singing.

Masterlist  

Rhaenyra breathed in deep, grateful for the silence in the dining room as she felt the eyes right on her back. This wasn't her house anymore, she couldn't stop people from walking around. But at least everyone was respecting her request for a silent hour, and she was grateful as she brushed Jace's hair back as her son drew a picture, sitting on her lap.

Daemon was watching them from the living room.

"That's a nice picture, Jacaerys," she heard by her side.

She raised her eyes, finding him sitting on the seat next to her on the table.

He'd been following her for nearly the whole day now, eyes so heavy she was surprised no one had come to ask them about it. It wasn't like anyone knew the truth, she had only told Laenor.

They had yet to talk alone. Not that Rhaenyra wanted to talk to him, no. She wasn't bitter, but she wasn't happy.

He had left her, and the past was in the past. Why bring it up?

What else was there to say?

"It's mama," Jace pointed at the stick figure with white blonde hair. "And this is daddy. And me. And Luke."

She smiled, kissing his temple.

It was their calm-down time. The boys went to bed early every night, so as soon as 7 pm rolled in, she and Laenor started a calming routine. No TV, not much music... just cuddling and doing slow things. She had already bathed her oldest, and Laenor was doing so to Luke then.

"Do you think I could keep it?" Daemon asked. "You know, your cousins always ask a lot about you two. They like you very much, I think they would love to have a picture of everyone."

Jace lit up, looking at him very excitedly. He loved Baela and Rhaena, all four of the kids were so close.

"Of course!" he exclaimed. "Can I write my name on it too?"

Daemon nodded.

"I think you should," he told him. "Then we can know it was you who made this gorgeous picture."

He smiled, taking the orange crayon, slowly writing his name.

"Ja-cae-" he spoke slowly. "Rys. With an A and a E."

She smiled.

"Yes."

Jace looked at Daemon.

"Because Luke's name doesn't have an A," he explained to him. "Only mine does."

Her uncle nodded, either feigning interest or genuinely caring about it.

"I will remember that," he told him.

They fell into silence again as Jace added the Targaryen and Velaryon surnames after his name, breaking them when he ran out of her space in the paper.

Undashed. Two kids in, and Rhaenyra and Laenor were still discussing that bit.

"Where are the girls and Laena?" she asked.

Why wasn't he with them?

Daemon looked at her.

"Laena is bathing them. I told her I wanted a minute to talk to you. We haven't had a moment to ourselves since your wedding rehearsal."

Rhaenyra buried her nose in Jace's hair.

Yes, they hadn't talked since then.

She remembered the night very clearly, how he said he wouldn't run away with her. That he couldn't.

Rhaenyra remembered how he had kissed her and left, and Laenor was the one who found her, broken as she cried and sobbed like she hadn't since her mother's death.

Her mother was dead, her best friend was married to her father, and the only person she thought loved her had left!

Laenor was the only one she had. Her only friend, the only one she could count on. They were a team.

"We have nothing to talk about," she decided.

But Daemon didn't even move.

"No, I think we have a lot to talk about."

She glared at him, ready to correct him once more, but she could see Laenor emerging from the corridor.

"Alright, my loves," he looked at her. "It’s 8 pm."

Rhaenyra relaxed and Jace pouted on her lap.

"Eight already, daddy?" he asked, half-whining. "Are you sure?"

Laenor shrugged.

"Sorry, love. I don't control the time. But you can check for yourself. Do you happen to have a watch, Daemon?"

Her uncle turned to look at him, and showed off his wrist to Jace. It was digital, thankfully. Her boy couldn't quite read analytical clocks.

"He's right," he told him. "8h01."

Jace pouted, but sighed.

"Alright," he agreed, setting his crayons down. "Good night, Uncle Daemon."

Daemon smiled back at him.

"Good night, Jace."

Her son stood, and she stood along with him.

Laenor was the one who brushed their teeth at night, but she couldn't stay there with him.

"Rhaenyra," Daemon called.

"Good night, uncle," she looked at him. "I need to put my sons to bed."

He sighed behind her.

"Ñuha dāria," he spoke softly.

The nickname made her throat knot up, but she just continued walking after Laenor.

Her husband took her hand without even thinking about it, the two walking together up the stairs to the family wing.

"Are you alright?" Laenor asked softly. "Do you want me to put him back into his place?"

She chuckled.

Laenor putting Daemon into his place?

She couldn't quite see that. Her husband was too sweet for that.

"Thank you," she rubbed his arm. "But I'm alright. Don't worry."

Laenor simply nodded, walking to the bathroom, and she chuckled when she found Luke sat on the toiled, kicking his legs and humming a little song to himself.

"Daddy!" he looked at them, sounding very happy. "Mama!"

"Luke!" she giggled back.

He clapped.

"I'm done," he told them.

Laenor just raised his eyebrows at her and Rhaenyra chuckled.

Motherly duties.

Ten minutes later, the boys were cleaned, Jace had used the bathroom and everyone’s teeth - including Rhaenyra's and Laenor's - were brushed.

"Daddy," Jace called as Laenor was about to leave the room. "Can you be the one to snuggle me?"

He stopped for a moment. Rhaenyra was the one who usually put the kids to bed, her schedule meant that she would leave the house too early before they were awake, and Laenor took over it.

But they were both free the whole week, they could both do bedtime and wake-up time.

"Of course," he agreed. "Do you want me to lay in bed with you or sit on the floor?"

"On the bed, please."

At home, the boys each had their room. Luke would go to bed a little earlier, at seven-thirty, and Jace at eight-thirty, but this wasn't their home. The boys were put in a single bedroom together, and Luke would certainly wake up if they went through the sleep routine with Jace. So, they had to find a common ground. Luke would have an extra half an hour, Jace would get some extra snuggles… everyone could sleep in, too, if they wanted to.

Laenor lay down, and Rhaenyra couldn't resist Luke when he made some grabby hands at her, asking for cuddles.

"Mama, can I have a tiny bit of milk?" he asked, giving her big pleading eyes. "To sleep."

She sighed. No chance of weaning that one any time soon.

"Of course, honey. Do you want to lay on me a little?"

He nodded, and Laenor chuckled from his bed.

"I told you we would use the pump," he hummed, brushing Jace's hair softly.

He had packed it up, saying she would absolutely need it.

Luke had a strong preference for her right side. He always left the other one aching and full once he was fast asleep.

"Thank you," she pulled her top down, and her son threw himself on her.

The room fell a little into silence, and she could hear the distant sound of very soft steps.

Father's steps were heavy, Alicent's were careless, and Laena's were very relaxed.

This was Daemon.

She sighed. Gods, he wouldn't give up without a fight?

"Mama?" Jace called, getting her attention to him. "Can you sing now?"

She smiled a little.

"What do you want me to sing?" she asked him.

Her son shrugged, yawning.

"I like your sad songs," he spoke softly, putting his face in Laenor's neck.

She chuckled a little. Oh, she had many sad songs.

Rhaenyra always sang for them, since they were babies. It made them sleep very quickly.

"I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through," she moved her fingers to Luke's hair. "Though it's hurting me, now it's history."

Jace smiled into his father's chest, and Laenor rested his head on the pillow, curled around him in the small bed.

"I played all my cards, and that's what you've done too," she smiled at Luke, who still had his eyes wide open. "Nothing more to say, no more ace to play."

She was surprised when Laenor sang the chorus before she did.

"The winner takes it all, the loser standing small," he hummed. "Beside the victory, that's her destiny."

Rhaenyra breathed in deeply, seeing the slight shadow by the door, tall and stiff.

Daemon.

"I was in your arms thinking I belonged there," she looked at Jace, hidden in Laenor's chest. "I figured it made sense, building me a fence."

She brushed Luke's curls, breathing in his scent again, the lyrics just stinging her.

Gods, when father said she was to marry Laenor and she had no way out without being cut off, Rhaenyra was just lost. She thought she could run away, she thought she would run away.

Daemon had a life in Valyria, he had his own money and they were so close. He gave her everything, he told her all the right things and said he loved her.

He said he wanted to marry her, but when he had to choose between her and her father, Daemon chose him!

'Viserys is my brother,' he had said. 'I've been away from him for too long, our relationship just got back to what it was before. If we run away he won't ever want to see me again.'

"Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there. But I was a fool, playing by the rules..." she sighed.

Alicent had chosen her father for the security marrying him brought her, or at least it was what she had told Rhaenyra.

And she expected her to be happy about it, that she had found a man she wanted to marry her and could give her the life she deserved.

As if he was just that, a man who she felt attracted to and could marry for his money and position, and not the father of her best friend!

When her mother had died, Rhaenyra had clung to her.

When Alicent then turned her away, she had clung to Daemon.

And then Daemon turned her away when she thought she had found safety and security.

"The gods may throw the dice, their minds are cold as ice, and someone way down here loses someone dear," Laenor sang and she closed her eyes, trying to bury the memories again. "The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall. It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain?"

They fell into silence, and she hoped the boys had fallen asleep, but Luke squeezed her shirt, and Jace moved from his father's chest to look at her. They were sleepy but very much awake.

"But tell me, does she kiss," she felt a single tear in the corner of her eye, sliding down her cheek. "Like I used to kiss you. Does it feel the same when she calls your name?"

She heard the little take in of breath, and the shadow moved the smallest bit.

Rhaenyra would never dare to put herself against Laena. She loved Laena so much.

Daemon knew that.

"Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you," she squeezed Luke, smiling through it. "But what can I say? Rules must be obeyed."

"The judges will decide," Laenor took over. "Their likes of me abide. Spectators of the show always staying low. The game is on again, a lover of a friend. A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all."

Rhaenyra looked down, finding Luke's eyes closed and his mouth open.

Asleep, at last.

"I don't wanna talk," she looked at the door, the message as clear as she could give it. "Cause it makes me feel sad. But I understand you've come to shake my hand."

Silence.

They didn't continue the song.

Laenor pulled himself away slowly, covering Jace as she did the same to Luke, and she adjusted her clothes as her husband crossed the room, opening the door very slowly.

Their bedroom was right in front of this one. It used to be her bedroom, and the boys' room was her study room. Her father had asked her to redo it, so she could stay there with Laenor and have the boys near, but still a door away - as to not disturb romance or something. They were the only rooms Alicent couldn't touch at all.

Her husband walked into the room before she did, and Rhaenyra turned to her side to find Daemon far from the light, watching her, quiet.

She braced herself, waiting for him to come after her. It was still early, still another two hours until the hour she usually took to bed. Alicent and Laena could be drinking wine and eating cheese somewhere, but she had no energy for that now.

But Daemon didn't approach her, turning away and to the stairs, her message understood, at last.

Rhaenyra walked into the bedroom, at last, relaxing.

"Do you want to watch something?" Laenor offered. "You look like you could some cuddles, and I got Mamma Mia.”

She chuckled. Oh, how fitting.

He always knew what to do, didn’t he?

"I do," she agreed. "I could use some love and Meryl Streep."

He smiled, digging through their things and pulling the blue rays he'd packed for them, knowing too well they would be in this situation, and took her pump too.

She sighed, sitting on the bed, and watched him as he set the things up as the machine worked on what was left of her milk.

Laenor changed and took the bottle from her to put in the small fridge by the bed as she dressed up. They would use it to make Luke's breakfast, or Jace’s. Or Laenor's too; he didn't quite mind adding breastmilk into his diet once they had two kids under 18 months old in the house.

They were in their sleeping clothes when they went to bed, and she was grateful when his arms wrapped around her as the light of the TV lit up the room.

"Ready?" he asked softly, squeezing her tightly.

"Yeah," she rested on his shoulder. "You can start it."

[choco-cherry-chunk]

I have an expansion/AU for my AU (https://choco-cherry-chunk.tumblr.com/post/686338631776993281/au-where-norman-doesnt-die-the-first-time-in). This also requires a bit of AU history in that, while Otto is locked up for his crimes/having his neural implant fixed, same-sex marriage is legalized in New York. Harry is working along with Peter to fix the implant (it takes longer to fix than it did in NWH because the tech is like two decades older). Harry tells Otto this news to help lift his spirits, and gives him a copy of the newspaper with the headline on the front page.

Later that day, Norman comes to visit Otto. Otto has to stay in like this cell until his actuators are under control, and no matter how much money and excuses Norman gives (mainly that the actuators won't hurt him), the guards won't budge, so he and Otto have to talk through a glass wall (kind of like what Hannibal Lecter was in, which pisses off Norman to no end because Otto isn't dangerous or a monster, but Otto feels better being kept away from anyone his actuators might attack until his implant can be repaired; there's a lot of potential for angst there).

So Norman is grinning for once when he sees Otto and Otto instantly knows what's got him so happy.

Norman: "I have some fantastic news, honey."

Otto: "Oh I already know. Harry told me."

Norman (face falling in disappointment): "He did?"

Otto: "Don't be mad at him, Norman, I think he was just excited. Plus I was having a particularly rough day and I think he knew it would cheer me up."

Norman (nods, smile returning): "Okay, that makes sense...so...what do you think?"

Otto: "About the news? I'm ecstatic!"

Norman: "I thought you would be!"

Otto: "I just wish it had happened sooner."

Norman (a little confused): "I didn't even know it was something you wanted. Why didn't you tell me?"

Otto: "Well I didn't want you thinking I wasn't happy with what we already had, with our little family the way it was."

Norman: "Oh honey, I wouldn't have thought that."

Otto: "So...did you have a date in mind?"

Norman (confusion returning): "Um...I think sometime in May?"

Otto: "Oh that's perfect."

Norman (chuckles): "I'm glad you approve."

Otto: "It really won't change our day-to-day lives, but it will be a nice addition." (at this, Norman furrows his brow in confusion) "This will probably involve a lot of paperwork."

Norman: "I...suppose? There wasn't with the other two."

Otto: "You mean with Emily and Rosie? You didn't have a lot of paperwork with Emily? I mean, Rosie and I had to sign some forms, but I figured with Oscorp in the mix, you'd need a lot of legal work-"

Norman (holds up a hand, realizing something): "Otto, what do you think we're talking about?"

Otto (tilts his head in confusion, then reaches over and grabs the paper Harry gave him and holds it up to the glass, front page visible to Norman: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK; realization dawns on Norman's face and he starts laughing)

Otto: "...is something funny? What am I missing?"

Norman: "Honey, first of all, I will absolutely marry you. Of course I will. You're already my husband in every way anyway." (He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an envelope, removes a picture, and holds the picture up to the glass for Otto to see) "This is what I was talking about."

(The image is an ultrasound scan. Otto does a double-take, then tears up; Norman is sure Otto is happy but it still kills him that he isn't able to wrap his arms around Otto to comfort him)

Otto (softly, almost to himself): "I didn't think it was possible." (he looks up at Norman, tears trickling down his face, but he has the biggest smile) "I thought...after the accident...I mean, I was amazed I was even alive..."

Norman (heart breaking a little; remembering all that Otto's been through in the past few months): "You thought we wouldn't be able to have anymore children? Oh Otto..." (he leans his head against the glass, and Otto follows suit so all that separates their foreheads is the glass) 

Otto: "I should be out before May, but if I'm not-"

Norman: "If you're not, I will pay to have an operating centre built right in front of this cell." (He grins)

Otto (laughs again, tears drying): "That's not what I was going to say dear, but I won't try to stop you. Is Rosie excited about the baby?"

Norman: "Oh she's thrilled." (he puts the photo back up on the glass) "But Otto...look at the picture again. Closely."

(Confused, Otto takes a closer step towards the glass and peers at the picture. It's then he notices there are not one, but two blurry shapes in the image)

Norman: "Not baby; babies. Twins, Otto."

[mileapokp1677]

Three Steps to Win You (Intermission)

Title: Three Steps to Win You

Rating: M

Pairing: Daddy Chan/Tankhun, Kinn/Porsche, Vegas/Pete

Category: M/M, AU Nerd-Jock

Summary: Accidentally, scientist Tankhun Theerapanyakul embarrassed footballer Captain Chan "Daddy" Knight in front of his coach, teammates and fans. He had to fulfill three tasks from the captain before his apology was accepted.

Intermission 

(Tankhun POV)

Saturday Evening -- Theerapanyakul Residence

Ding!

A new message notification rang on Tankhun's cell phone, and he checked it as fast as lightning. Frankly, Tankhun had been waiting for news since the BSFC match this afternoon ended. 

New Message from Caramello. 

Tankhun squealed and sat up on his bed in an instant while holding his cellphone to his chest.

For god’s sake, Tankhun Theerapanyakul, have some dignity!  

Tankhun glanced at the full body mirror located right beside his bedroom door -- well , he had to make sure he looked perfect before leaving the room, anyone got a problem with that!? -- and his reflection there showed that his face looked as pink as a flamingo. He did have a pair of long legs like one, for sure, but that didn't mean he had to match their colors every time he was in a situation involving the BSFC’s Captain, right? 

Wrong.  

Apparently, Tankhun’s predicament wasn't over yet, because right at this moment his heart was starting to beat faster. 

Over a message? Seriously!? 

It was a good thing, really, that he was alone in his room at the moment. Just imagine if Kim were here… Tankhun snorted. The universe really had a way of making someone repay one’s actions in the past, and it seems that now they were retaliating for the way he treated his friends in middle school, high school, and university. Tankhun was the one who always laughed at their silly antics whenever they received messages, calls, or even post-it notes from their crush. Look at him now! How the mighty have fallen.

Hey, self… SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

Tankhun took a deep breath to calm himself before checking the message from the Captain. 

[Caramello]

Me and the boys have safely arrived back in Bangkok. We waited for the team bus to take us from the airport to the training ground stadium, most of us parked our car there.

Tankhun smiled as he read Chan's message and rubbed his cellphone’s screen gently. He didn’t need anyone to tell him he looked silly because he knew for sure that he looked like one for feeling so happy due to something so trivial. 

Last Tuesday Chan informed him that the BSFC will travel to two opposing home grounds in provinces that are quite far from Bangkok, and they will only be back in the city Saturday evening, immediately after the second match. The Captain must have been busy with pre-match practice and stuff, so communication between them had been minimal these past five days. There was no use denying it to himself anymore, Tankhun missed him, like mad.

[Tankhun T]

Too bad for the draw result for today's match but hey... you guys won the previous match.

[Caramello]

The super busy scientist makes time to watch our game? I must say I'm flattered.

[Tankhun T]

Kim is the one who’s watching, I just happen to be there as well.

He was such a liar, but no way in hell he'll admit to Chan that he purposely came home early from the lab and had an early dinner, so he could watch the BSFC Wednesday night’s match. Or deliberately emptying his schedule this weekend just to watch this afternoon match and tomorrow night he’ll even plan to-

Ding!

Another message from Chan. 

[Caramello]

If you say so ;-) I must say, getting 4 points for two away games that were just two days apart was not a bad result at all. But of course, 6 points better ;D

[Tankhun T]

You have something called emoji on your phone, you know that, right? Stop acting so old, Captain.

[Caramello]

Hey, sometimes, classic is better.

[Tankhun T]

Oh please… 🙄

[Caramello]

Okay, what does that emoji even mean? There are too many and I swear to God, I can’t never manage to remember them T.T

Oh My God, Chan, stop being so adorable!

[Tankhun T]

You’re hopeless, Chan. 

Same as you, Tankhun Theerapanyakul! 

This time he wasn't going to deny his inner self, because Tankhun really was acting like a teenager who was hopelessly in love. He rolled over on his bed, even stamped his feet on the bed. Nothing can save him now. 

[Caramello]

So, are you free tomorrow night? Porsche and Kinn invited me to a theme party at the Moonlight, I’m sure you already know about it. Wanna come?

[Tankhun T]

Yes, I knew all about it and already told Porsche and Kinn that I’m coming. 

[Caramello]

What time should I come to pick you up? 

[Tankhun T]

Can we just meet at the Moonlight? I have something to do beforehand.

[Caramello]

Are you sure? I can wait for you, no problem.

[Tankhun T]

I'm certain.

[Caramello]

Ah, the bus is here. I'll see you tomorrow night.

[Tankhun T]

Okay. Night, Chan.

[Caramello]

G'night, baby. Sweet dreams.

Tankhun was so close to kissing his phone screen (shameless!), but it seems like there's still a little bit of his pride left, so he held back.

Thank God! 

His inner self might urge him to kill himself if he really did that. Tankhun put his cellphone on his chest and then closed his eyes. He smiled. 

TBC

Sorry for the late update. I have a severe writer's block. A lot of things happened in RL, I feel tired all the time. So this is a super short one, I don't even call it a chapter, let's just call it an intermission or a filler (hopefully this is the correct term). I think writing something is better than nothing.

I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this story.

[a018233]

--౨ৎ. Rent-A-Gf/Bf x Yandere Andrew

𐙚. Summary : Andrew is feeling more lonesome than usual until he downloads a rent-a-partner app .

𐙚. Content warning : yandere content, gn reader, Andrew has a wet dream about you. nsfw content, delusional Andrew. Modern au.

𐙚. A/n : I wanna do more rent-a-partner but idk who haha, I already have Joseph down... mhfhg..

ᡣ𐭩 Andrew is already 24, and he has never been on a date. He hasn't even kissed anyone, nor has he been kissed by someone.

ᡣ𐭩 He can't be bothered to make friends when he struggles to keep the ones he already has.

ᡣ𐭩 Andrew can't help his brooding nature that scares people off. Even if they managed to look past that, the way he speaks makes them skadaddle off.

ᡣ𐭩 He's always been that way, it's a miracle he managed to keep the current friend group he has now.

ᡣ𐭩 He's tired of the dating talk, he doesn't bother trying anymore. It's not like he had interest in the first place.

ᡣ𐭩 That is until he came across a Rent-A-Partner ad. It spikes his curiosity a little. The next thing he knows, he downloaded it and already made an account.

ᡣ𐭩 It's not like he's *actually* going to do it. He's just scrolling through profiles out of curiosity.

ᡣ𐭩 Until he comes across your profile, oh. You're so cute.. maybe a one-time rental date shouldn't hurt. It's not like he has other things planned..

ᡣ𐭩 The progress is not complicated at all, pay the rental fee, meet up and go on the date, and that's it. He's nervous leading up to the date, what the fuck was he thinking? Was he that lonely that he succumbed to this?

ᡣ𐭩 He feels embarrassed that he made sure to shower and dress nice prior to showing up. He debated leaving and canceling until he felt a gentle tug on his arm.

ᡣ𐭩 "Excuse me? Are you Andrew?" You ask, tilting your head to the side.

ᡣ𐭩 Andrew can't help but swallow thickly, nodding. He could feel himself tensing up. He tries not to stare, but the way you dressed was.. adorable.

ᡣ𐭩 He prays you don't notice how sweaty his hands are. Who is he kidding? Of course you noticed.

ᡣ𐭩 Yet not a complaint. If anything, you hold his hand a little tighter, like a kite on a string you didn't wanna let go of.

ᡣ𐭩 God, you're such an angel. The way you hold his hand without disgust. The way you wait with a soft smile when he keeps stuttering over his words.

ᡣ𐭩 Andrew wasn't sure where to take you. So he ended up taking you on a simple date such as the movies.

ᡣ𐭩 He was originally going to take you out on a cafe date and then walk around through a park. But he could barely mumble a word out before awkwardly guiding you to the movies.

ᡣ𐭩 He doesn't remember what movie you two had seen. All he could think about was how your hands intertwined. He hopes you don't mind how rough, calloused, and sweaty his hands were.

ᡣ𐭩 The way you were making him feel, he might as well go in cardiac arrest.

ᡣ𐭩 When the movie ends, you have about 30 minutes left to the date. So he settles for taking you out to a nearby cafe to talk about the movie and whatnot.

ᡣ𐭩 He finally manages to choke out a few sentences. He knows he looks stupid. He feels as if his face is on fire when he talks to you.

ᡣ𐭩 Normally, people would've found a way to end a conversation quickly when they talk to him. He wouldn't have blamed you if you decided to end the date early. But you didn't.

ᡣ𐭩 You're such a doll, listening to everything he has to say while you sip on your sweet tea. You even ask follow-up questions.

ᡣ𐭩 So when the date does end, he feels his heart tighten. You bid your goodbye, giving him a cheek kiss. A little something to end the date.

ᡣ𐭩 The night he goes home, he has a little pep in his step. Randomly giggling to himself as he's reminded of the date. The way you leaned against him, or how you held his hand tightly. Even his roommates are put off by him, more so than usual.

ᡣ𐭩 He's still giddy when he turns down for the night. His mind is filled with you. The way your hands felt like against his is something that will play on repeat for him, so soft.

4:47 am, and it's not that surprising when Andrew wakes up in a hot sweat. He was dreaming about you and your hands. He groans, feeling his briefs get tighter.

He grimaces once he realized he had a wet dream about you, he feels ashamed and gross. He tries to sleep it off only to no avail.

He finds himself yanking his sweatpants and boxers down to his ankles. Watching his angry tip throbbing for release.

Instead of using his dominate hand, he uses his left. It's a little sloppy and uncoordinated but that way he can pretend it's your hand instead of his.

He pumps himself slowly, whimpering and cursing softly under his breath. He shouldn't be doing this, he's aware of that. But he's so helpless. His mind is filled with lewd thoughts and 'what ifs' of you.

He tries not to make any noises to wake his poor roommates, imagining it's your hand that's jerking him off.

Would you be disgusted with him if you found out he was acting so degenerate? Or would you guide him? Maybe even praise him. You would, right? Since you're so nice and pretty..

His breath quickens and so does his pumping, it doesn't take long before Andrew ends up cumming all over his sheets.

Andrew sighs, shaking his head. He knows he should change his sheets and take a shower, but he feels so worn out. He settles for laying back down. Trying to fall asleep once more while he thinks of other places he can take you next time.. maybe something like an anaquarium or an indoor ice-skating ring.

ᡣ𐭩 You don't have regulars often, but lately, you've been getting them a lot more. Andrew also happens to be one of them.

ᡣ𐭩 Andrew books you at least once a week. He can't help but sulk knowing you go on a date with others.

ᡣ𐭩 You felt it too, didn't you? So why are you going on a date with others?

ᡣ𐭩 At this point, he actively believes you two are dating. He also believes you're cheating on him.

ᡣ𐭩 It makes him want to pull his hair out when he stalks you out on your little affairs. He's grinding his teeth when he sees you kisses their cheek like you do his.

ᡣ𐭩 Oh, but he's not mad at you. He could never be upset with you for too long. You simply don't know any better.

ᡣ𐭩 Don't worry, he forgives you. And as a good boyfriend, he'll make sure you don't have other distractions. You are just misguided after all.

ᡣ𐭩 Even if it means showing up to your little date with bloodied and bruised knuckles. No more regulars means more time slots for him to book you, and more time to spoil you. And maybe this time, you won't lead astray.