#father spore spy au

[sporelings-au]

In a reverse au, where Scar is an Eldritch mushroom dude, he’d be called daddy shrooms instead of mother spore.

daddy shrooms omg- 😂😂pls dont say those words ever again haha😂😂😂

anyways, if u want some daddy shrooms father spore content aka scar being the eldritch mushroom dude instead,

here u go :>

[all54321]

A Siblings’ Chat Part 2

I decided to write a Grian’s POV of this scene! I’m going to probably update the lore note for Flower Ranchers stuff. This scene might not up not being canon, but I will probably keep Flower Ranchers in as a ship.

—————

Scar stills suddenly, voice trailing off, “someone’s on our territory.”

Grian immediately tunes into the hivemind, feeling two people on the edge of their territory. “Let’s go and check it out,” he says, standing up. He pauses, “they’re not coming in farther.”

“For a chat?” Scar offers, standing up as well.

“Probably someone from the HEP,” Grian mutters. He supposes it was inevitable for them to come for him. “Let’s go,” he says, starting to heads towards town. Scar nods and follows him. It doesn’t take them too long to reach the edge of the forest, seeing two people standing at the edge of town. Grian’s eyes immediately catch the wings both have and he freezes, “Timmy…?”

Scar pauses next to him, “you know them?”

“That’s Pearl and Timmy, my siblings.”

“Want me to talk to them first?” Scar offers, giving Grian’s shoulder a squeeze. After a moment he nods. “Keep you updated,” Scar murmurs, exiting the woods and approaching their visitors. He keeps his distance from them as they talk.

They say they just want to speak to you. Scar tells him after a moment. What do you say?

Grian sighs, but nods, alright. He can’t not speak to his brother again.

Scar calls to him out loud, “they don’t seem willing to leave, songbird.”

Grian takes a breath, exiting the forest to face his siblings. He stops next to Scar, “Pearl. Tim.”

Jimmy opens his mouth, before quickly closing it. Pearl stares at him for a moment before answering, “Grian…”

“I won’t go back,” Grian says, cutting her off. “I’m not welcome and I have no interest in becoming your lab rat.”

“That’s not what we’re here for,” she insists.

“What are you here for?”

“To talk to you,” Jimmy says, staring at him.

Grian relaxes a little, meeting his eyes with a small smile, “I missed you a lot, Timmy. Unfortunate timing to visit.” He pauses, a thought entering his head, he shares a knowing glance with Scar, “or maybe fortunate.”

Jimmy tenses, “what do you mean?”

Grian carefully takes a step forwards, getting closer, but keeping some distance between them. “Join us, connect to the mycelium and let it care for you. Life is better this way.”

Pearl shakes her head, “no. No way. That’s crazy.”

“Pearl,” he murmurs, before sighing, “I get how it may sounds to you, but what I say is true.” Grian turns to look at Jimmy again, “this isn’t just an invite for you. You can bring Scott and Tango here too.” He looks back at Scar sharing a caring smile with him before facing his brother again, “you can feel connected to them in ways you can never imagine.”

Pearl steps in front of Jimmy, eyes narrowing slightly, “Grian, we are not joining your weird mushroom thing.” Grian makes an offended noise in the back of his throat, but she continues, “we’re worried about you and want to help.”

Grian narrows his eyes in return, and steps back to be next to Scar again, “I don’t need help. My life is perfectly fine, better even since I’ve Connected to the mycelium. This is home, it’s everything I’ve always wanted. The only thing I want now is for you to join me.”

Pearl shakes her head, “Grian, think logically please. We miss you and just want you back.”

He sighs, he should have realized how stubborn she world be, “this conversation will go no where. You’re always welcome to join us.” Grian turns around, “let’s go Scar.”

“Wait, Grian!” Jimmy calls out, causing him to turn around. The other falters when their eyes meet, he looks hesitant. At the silence, Grian turns back around to head back home. Scar follows him after another moment.

They don’t speak until they get into the forest. Grian sighs, “that went about as well as I expected with Pearl. Timmy on the other hand… I might be able to convince him if we talk again, alone at least.”

Scar hums, “that would be nice.” He pauses, “also, he’s dating Tango?”

“Yeah?” Grian gives him a confused glance, “you didn’t know?”

“I didn’t know one was your brother. Do you know Scott as well then?”

“A little bit, what kind of older brother would I be if I didn’t shovel talk them?”

Scar chuckles, “I suppose so.” He hums in thought, “if you can convince him to join us, it wouldn’t be too hard to get Tango as well.”

“Definitely not, Timmy will be able to convince them one way or another.”

“Guess we got a new variable in our plans!” Scar says cheerily.

Grian hums, “indeed we do.”

[bluiex]

I finished part 2 of Grian becoming infected in my Father Spore Spy AU, took a few rewrites to be content with it. Also this is how Grian and Scar officially get together in this AU. Part 3 will come eventually.

—————

Grian slowly wakes up, feeling a comforting warmth surrounding him. As he wakes up more, he starts realizing he can feel a lot more around him than what’s physically touching him. It’s strange, but nice and comforting, it makes him feel safe.

Grian snuggles more into the person beside him, he can fall back asleep like this. They chuckle, hand running through his hair, “hey sleeping beauty.”

“Hm?” He mumbles, opening his eyes. It’s only then when Grian realizes that that he’s basically sitting in Scar’s lap, curled against the other’s chest. He pulls back blushing.

“You were out for a while,” Scar replies, looking unbothered by his embarrassment, amusement in his eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Uh,” he mumbles, “good?”

“That’s good.” He cups the side of Grian’s face, caressing his cheek with his thumb, “just want to make sure you’re adjusting well.”

Grian’s eyes flutter closed, leaning into Scar’s hand. Being fully awake now, he can feel everything around him a lot more now. It’s a connectedness he’s never experienced before. One he never knew he needed until now.

“It’s the hivemind,” Scar murmurs, “it connects you to us, the mycelium. You’re one of us now.”

Grian opens his eyes again, “it’s nice,” he murmurs. He looks around the room, “where are we?” It looks like a normal bedroom, but alive. He’s pretty sure most of the room is made of something living. Scratch that, he’s completely sure, he can feel it around him. Being in a room that’s completely alive isn’t as daunting as he would have expected it to be, it’s comforting, really.

“Home,” Scar answers simply, smiling brightly. “Far from town and anyone who wants to disturb us.”

“I’ve always wondered where you’ve been staying,” Grian murmurs. He’s always figured it was deep in mycelium’s territory, but never knew how deep. Ever since seeing Scar’s abandoned apartment, completely unused since he became Father Spore.

He perks up, “want a tour?”

“Yeah.”

Scar stands up, picking Grian up with him, who lets out a squawk at the sudden movement. He doesn’t seemed phased as he sets the other down, “let’s go.”

“R-right,” he mumbles, a little embarrassed. He reaches up to scratch at his neck, feeling some kind of discomfort there.

Scar catches his hand before he can touch it, “not the best idea.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I think it would be best to remove your sweater.” Scar pauses, blushing lightly, “not- not like that.”

Grian blushes too, hesitating a moment. He eventually decides to do it, since he’s wearing a tank top under it and he’s really curious about what Scar means. It definitely feels a lot more freeing with it off, and he quickly notices what Scar was probably referring to. There are… shelves of mushrooms sprouting out of his upper arm. They start off bigger closer towards his shoulder, getting smaller the lower they go. Grian cautiously runs a finger over one of them, it feels like an extension of his own skin, seamlessly a part of it now. Outside of his skin looking purple along where they connect to his arm. Now aware, he carefully reaches up towards his neck, feeling a few along the crook between his neck and shoulder. It makes sense now, his sweater probably pushed on them awkwardly.

Scar is watching him with some kind of pleased glint in his eyes, “we can get you clothes to accommodate them, if you wish.”

“Ah, yeah, that’d be great,” he replies with a smile.

“Ready to go?” He asks, gesturing towards the door.

Grian nods, tossing his sweater on the back of a chair and following Scar out. The rest of the house is strange as well, considering everything is currently alive. He questions how that works. Scar glances back, giving him a smile as if hearing his thoughts.

Scar opens the front door, gesturing him out first. Grian steps out and immediately freezes as he stares at the surrounding area in awe. It’s something out of a fairy tale, really. There’s a magical vibe to it. Tall and beautiful mushrooms sprouting up around what appears to be a road, or a path really. The trees surrounding the area also hold a unique and beautiful vibe to them. It’s nothing like how he’s seen the forest before. This doesn’t even begin to describe what he thinks are the buildings. Grian never really considered what they live in, let alone what it would be made out of. He should have figured after Scar’s house that the rest would also be made of plant life. Although it does seem a lot more magical and beautiful then he ever could have expected it to be. A lot of the magical feel can probably be contributed to how several of the tall mushrooms are glowing, casting off glowing spores that rain down like glistening stars. They don’t cast a ton of light, but Grian finds himself able to see everything rather clearly in the night anyways.

Scar steps up next to him with a bright smile, “incredible, isn’t it?” Grian nods, at a loss for words. He slowly steps farther out, looking around the small village to appreciate it fully. “This is your home too, now.”

Grian smiles at the other, murmuring an awed, “amazing.” A small part of he does feel a pang of sadness, being so far from his friends.

“Don’t worry, songbird, we’ll bring them all here soon enough. We’ll show them how great it is.”

He blushes at the pet name, nodding along, “yeah, we will.”

Scar grins, eyes glinting with mischief, he steps closer, leaning over Grian. “Like that?” he murmurs, “me calling you songbird? What about darling? Sweetheart? My dear?”

Grian gets increasingly more flustered at each one and at Scar’s close proximity. It quickly reaches a point where it’s getting too much, so he pulls Scar further down into a kiss, instantly shutting him up.

“H- mmph!” Even as startled as he is, he quickly melts into the kiss, stepping closer. He pulls back after a moment, whispering, “you could have just said yes.” Grian huffs and just kisses him again. Their first one did get interrupted, after all. Scar’s lips twitch into a small smile at that thought and Grian comes to a sudden realization that Scar has been replying to his thoughts for a while now.

Scar pulls away again, “ah, right, you aren’t aware.”

He’s definitely reading his thoughts now, “aware of what?”

“The hivemind, it connects all of us together more then you realized,” he answers, seeming a little bashful at reading Grian’s mind now.

“So it lets you read my mind?”

There’s a careful pause before Scar answers, “it’s more like you’re sharing them into it.” Grian senses a lie in that but Scar continues before he can respond, “I assume it’s unintentional, you’ll figure it out soon.”

He decides not to press whatever Scar’s hiding, instead asking, “tell me more about the hivemind.”

Scar nods, gesturing down the path, “let’s walk and talk.”

Grian nods, quickly falling into step beside him, “so, there’s telepathy?”

In a way, Scar’s voice echoes in his head, causing him to stumble in his pace. “It’s not full on telepathy. It’s just we can speak into the hivemind, listening and connecting to the others.”

Grian attempts in keep his thoughts to himself as he considers that who knows how many people could hear him. Considering how Scar doesn’t respond, he succeeded.

“Well, you had,” Scar replies. Grian sighs, causing him to laugh, “you’ll get used to it.” He reaches over and grabs Grian’s hand, lacing their fingers together, he can definitely get used to this. “We communicate mostly with feelings, not words. Especially with the mycelium itself.”

“That’s how you always knew someone was there,” Grian murmurs. He kept receiving reports of how Father Spore immediately appeared any time anyone stepped foot onto the mycelium.

Scar nods, “it told me that someone new was there, wordlessly, of course.”

“That’s… incredible.”

“Yup, as I said before, it’s a new connectedness like you’ve never felt before. You’re Connected to us now, Gri.”

As Grian takes that in, he can feel something almost purring in his mind, he sends a very calm and happy wave over him. It feels safe, like home.

“They like you,” Scar whispers.

“Huh?”

“The mycelium,” he clarifies, “it likes you, a lot. It approves of you, it wants you, just like it did of me.”

Grian thinks he would normally feel a kind of apprehension about that idea, but something inside of him makes him excited about the idea. “Yeah?”

Scar nods eagerly, “yeah! I’ll show you the way!”

Grian smiles at him, “thanks.”

He squeezes his hand, “of course.”

Grian looks down at their intwined hands, voicing a thought before he can stop it, “what are we?”

Scar stops, turning to face him, still holding his hand, “whatever you want us to be.”

Grian hesitates, before whispering, “m- boyfriends?” He quickly corrects himself, pushing his avian instincts to the side for now. That… that can be discussed later.

Scar grins, “I’d love to be your boyfriend!”

“S-Same,” this all feels like a dream come true. Grian never expected this day to ever come. Well, it’s not like his dreams, having not anticipated this happening in a magical mushroom village.

Scar’s eyes shine, changing his grip on Grian’s hand, lifting it up and pressing a kiss to the knuckles, “I couldn’t agree more, songbird.”

He blushes again at the nickname, before quietly murmuring, “I do like you calling me that.”

Scar, impossibly, brightens more, “well I’m never going to stop!”

“I wouldn’t ask you to.”

His grin suddenly turns mischievous, “since we’re partners now, and I’m Father Spore to them,” his voice drops low, “would you be their Mother Spore?”

Grian’s blush darkens a lot, face heating up. “W-what,” he splutters, shocked. While initially embarrassed at the idea, he can’t say it doesn’t sound appealing.

“Yeah?” Scar murmurs, reminding Grian that Scar can hear his thoughts.

“Y-yeah,” he eventually replies, still blushing heavily. There is an extremely happy and excited feeling in his mind, and his very being, really.

“It approves,” he whispers.

“I can feel it.” There’s a strong humming energy coming from what he assumes is the hivemind, it feels positive. It’s something he has never felt before, and he really believes that he’s been missing it his whole life.

Scar’s grin is dazzling, “let me show you around more!”

“Yeah!”

OOOOH I LOVE THEIR LITTLE HOME- it sounds so cool, I can just imagine it.. Akasjjdf they're so precious. I love them. Ommgg so in love.. Mother and Father Spore finally <333

[jadespeedster17]

Research Purposes

Summary: Cub has been working with HEP for a while now. Trying to help find what this Spore Infestation actually is. As Head of the department, it’s his job to ensure everything is in order and record his findings. Working mostly with those infected in the hopes of finding a cure and how best to combat it. Yet, the more he finds, the more he wonders if ‘in the name of science’ means the death of those he cares about.

Warnings: Body Horror, Mind Control, Unethical Practices, Mentions of Assault.

Notes: Takes place in @all54321 universe of Father Spore Spy AU. Asked them if I could write this and got the okay :D

-

“Recording 10,” Cub spoke as the recorder whirled on in the background. “Given that computers were wiped last time I’ve decided to use an old school method again to keeping records. Best solution I have up until now.” 

Placing down his clip board Cub hummed, “Studies today will mostly consist of blood samples taken from the Infected. Infected individuals don’t seem to require food as a normal human, but do need at least small amounts of shaded sunlight and water. Indicating my theory might be correct, and all Infected are more plant like than before.”

Scribbling down something Cub looked at the board of post-it notes and pinned up papers. “HEP has been asking for more results as of lately, which has required me to take up more of a personal approach. Lucky enough, most ways to ensure not to be infected is through non-skin to skin contact. Very few Infected beings release a cloud of spores, and at best it’s minimum exposure.” 

He huffed looking back at the clip board again. Today he was to work with 3 individuals of different types. “each infected individual seems to embody at least a form of Fungal Types. The most common seem to be Molds, Mushrooms, and Mildews.” a tap of the pen, “however we have started to seem forms of Smuts as well, which are proving to be resistant to frosts and colds.”

“Today I’m working with 3 people to gain what samples I can from the without harm. Two female and one male, all of the Mushroom category. Low level infection rate, only through skin to skin contact. But they have been more than cooperative with me more than others. I do not think I’ll need more than gloves and a lab coat.”

Walking back over tot he recorder Cub looked at it, “I plan to record findings once I get the samples I need. Today is mostly finding out what makes these beings what they are, as though sentient, they are far for human. End of Recording.” he click the tape off again. 

Shaking his head, Cub gather up the things he needed and headed out to the containment area outside in ‘greenhouse’ looking things. The lab itself was much more fortified than the last one that was taken over my Father Spore with the help of Grian. That left a icky feeling, Cub has been susceptive of Grian for some time to be infected, having worked around them as often as he did he noticed the subtle signs, but had opted to think it was nothing. A regret and mistake he’ll have to live with he supposed.

Cub looked at the paper again, three beings who had all been infected early and been captured before they could be fully turned. Now fully changed into ‘Sporelings’ they were connected to what was known as the ‘Hivemind’. From his guesses, it was a connection of which all the Infected being shared. Much like actual shrooms, fascinating. 

Lily McLaren, she was the youngest at only age 16, and had a thin frame. Hers was a mushroom known as the Blue Ink Cap. Parents wanted nothing to do with her now that she was infected unless it was a cure, and had signed over rights to her to the facility. Cub hated to read that, made his stomach curl in knots.

Amber Davis, she was a college student, age 24, and had been studying to be a mechanic. Bigger set woman, who had hurt the last scientist who tried to cut off a part of her skin (fired), whose shrooms were that of the Moral and Fake Moral. One edible, one very poisonous. She had the most strangest changes to her skin and mouth. Cub was hoping to get skin samples from her. 

And finally Mark Clair, his were the most deadly, the Destroying Angel, large white shrooms that were very much not edible. He was also a thin twig boy, big into philosophy and had a retail job before this. Age was 25, and had weird morphs along his hands and eyes. 

Cub decided to try with Mark first, given he was the closet one and said to be the calmest of the three. Preferring to talk your ear off over doing anything. Most found him very annoying, and dislike the large death white shrooms on his shoulders and back.  Opening the area with his keycard, Cub clicked in his time he went in. Safety precautions, to limit exposure and see how long each person was in and out for. The rooms were basic enough, a bed, desk, and place to use the bathroom. Mayor Mumbo wanted at least to make the infected not feel like prisoners. Books on Philosophy were open on the desk and some notes taken here and there. 

Turning to look over, Cub met the dark brown eyes of the infected, the brown glowed in a pool of blackness, bioluminescent almost. Mark smiled brightly, messy, curly brown hair pulled back into a small pony tail. “Hello Cub!” he said cheerfully with a grin. “Wondered when you’d be back, the last guy was not much of a talker at all.” the infected boy said.

Cub gave a pleasant smile, research did find that infect beings liked to be talked to and treated as human beings. “suppose not everyone is looking to ask themselves about the ten second theory.”

Mark cackled laughter at that, rocking where he sat, “that last guy near had a meltdown when I explained it to him.” he grinned widely. Eyes peering at the scientist setting down the bag, “So what we doing today?”

“Just some blood samples again, and hoping to take clipped tables of your shrooms that are falling off.” Cub only ever took the ones on infected beings that were ‘over mature’.  Mark and other infected explained when a shroom reached it’s full maturity it became uncomfortable on their skin. And had to be ‘picked’. To allow new ones to grow. 

Beaming widely Mark let his feet dangle over the edge of the bed, “Sure thing, a few on my back are rather itchy and trying to pull off, but I can’t reach them.” he said holding out his arm for Cub to stick the needle in.  The infected watched Cub work, disinfecting the arms area and carefully taking out the purple blood from him. A week ago Mark’s was a deep red color, and now the infection had fully taken root. 

Sliding out the needle, Cub watched the wound heal rather quickly and not even let out a drop of the purple blood. Another thing they found, Infected Ones were able to heal at a rather fast rate, though still could feel pain. 

“Come close to finding anything?” Mark asked him, the glowing eyes looking at him as he messed with the frills on the tips of his fingers. Mushrooms had gills normally on the bottom of their caps. Mark has some on his fingers and under his chin. Sometimes, when startled, he let out a cloud of spores from his fingers and neck. 

Cub shook his head, “Not much that we don’t already know, you’re siblings have been quiet stubborn about info.” he comments on the off hand.

Mark snickers a bit, “Father Spore and Mother Spore don’t really like snitches.” he said cheerfully, almost in a sing song tone. 

Scar and Grian... Grian they found out much later was Mother Spore. At least Cub won the bet of Scar having ‘asked Grian out’. Even if the circumstances was strange and no one thought it funny... Mumbo at least gave him the 20 bucks he owed. 

“Snitches get stiches.” Cub muttered, remembering Scar used that phrase alot.

“exactly!” Mark chirped, “At least you get it unlike the others.”

Oh he sure did, Scar would often say that to him when teasing him with something he knew and Cub didn’t. It was a game of sorts between the two of them, on who could find out the others ‘secret’. Which was why when a Infected said that to him in the same tone Scar used, it made Cub wondered for a moment if Scar was... well if Scar was playing a ‘game’ with him. 

Far fetched really, Scar was known now as Father Spore. And though findings suggested that willing transformation meant you weren’t mindless. That didn’t mean that the guy that was once Cub’s friend was the ‘Father Spore’ they knew now. 

Shaking off the thought, Cub took out the 3 shrooms that were loose on Mark’s back. Being sure to be careful when touching these deadly shrooms with gloves. And so not to tug or yank on any that weren’t ready to be ‘picked’.  Mark however hummed happily when they were taken off, possibly happy the ‘itch’ was gone on his back. “Hope you do find what you’re looking for Cub.” the guy told him happily.

The smile felt real and genuine from the creature, as Cub bid his goodbye and left Mark’s room. He was in for 18 minuets, no spores were released and Mark was mostly calm. Putting everything in a bag and sending it to the labs for later. 

Next area was Amber’s, aggressive to any who came at her too fast and once force fed one of her shrooms to her attacker. Mans was still in the hospital as the effects of the shrooms growing on people were ten times stronger. Lucky to be alive that idiot was, and he was fired for his actions. 

Cub opened the door, and walked in, “Amber? it’s Dr. Cub.” he said announcing he was there in the dim room. Amber was watching a video on a DVD player of How Thing Work, and looked over at him. 

“Hello Cub.” she said in a calm tone, though she was eyeing him warily and his bag.

Setting it down Cub smiled, “Just here for some skin samples and saliva, nothing painful I promise.” he reassured her getting the things out carefully for her to see. 

He did watch her shoulders relax and she took a moment before nodding. “Alright, but... don’t tug on anything.” Amber near growled, her red hair almost seemed to glow with her anger. Dark green eyes glowing also as she watcher him come over to her at a steady pace, making sure she could see everything he had. 

Cub smiled at her, “The skin sample might hurt a bit, but I promise you’ll be fine.” he reassured her, exposure to her was to be limited. When angry she could let out a spore cloud to confuse people.  Her skin was like that of the fake moral, having reddish patches and winkles and divots in her skin. her tongue was also a deep purple color with gills inside her mouth to expel spores through saliva. 

“Open up.” Cub said holding up the cotton swab, she did so letting him taking some from under her tongue and cheeks. Making a face after as she moved her tongue around not liking the dry feeling.

He got the tool ready needed, “ready?” he asked her as she nodded gripping the chair as he took a sample needed. Normally after stiches were needed, but she healed also at a fast rate as the hole closed.

Amber made a face, “I hate that.” she muttered, “I hate the pain of this.” she rubs the area where he took the top later of skin off.

“I’m sorry Amber,” Cub told her softly, with a sympathetic tone. He knew these tests and people coming for more could get tedious. Some weren’t as kind as him about it.

Shaking her head, Amber sighed, “You’re kinder to me than others Cub, Father Spore says you’re one of the rare few to be nice to us.” she admits thumbing her arm lightly with a frown. 

That caught Cub’s attention, “He does?” he asked her confused, Amber only nodded saying nothing more. No use in trying, once they clamed up they wouldn’t talk for anything. Apparently Father Spore wouldn’t let them talk. 

Sighing, Cub smiled again, “Well that’s all, I’ll leave you to it Amber.” he said, finding Infected beings liked to be called by their names still.

This did etch a smile from her as she watched him go before going back to her movie. Amber wasn’t a bad person, she, like others, was just scared. For good reason, Cub had been finding out and reprimanding those who had been doing more... unethical practices. These beings were still capable of feeling pain adn emotions, and treating them like mindless beasts was a sure way to end up near dead. Which a few had been.

Sometimes, Father Spore would take control of their bodies directly. Something that only recently found out. When Lily, his newest charge, had lashed out at a man who tried to see if she could still experience uh... certain desires. Her eyes had turned a green color, and Father Spore had used her body to rip the man apart. 

He didn’t survive long, not that Cub cared for the scumbag. Lily since then had been jumpy and didn’t trust any male workers besides him. Only female staff could really get her to open up. She was the one who Father Spore talked with the most when people were in the room.  Lily said he comforted her when they were there. He was fatherly to her, or so she says, and is much nicer than her actual dad. 

Cub clocked into the room and walked in to see Lily on the bed, she had already been told he’d be coming. She was playing a game it seemed on a DS that was from her house.  Lily looked over at the door and tensed for a moment, before slowly relaxing. “Hi...” she said shyly, eyes looking far away for a moment before she untensed again. “Cub right?” she asked in a timid tone.

“Yeah,’ Cub said casually with a kind smile, “Just a check up today, you told the last female worker that some of your shrooms were ready to be picked?” he asked her.

A nod as Lily looked upset, “She didn’t trust me enough to do it herself... and well... said she’d get you to do so but...” she messed with her long black hair running her clawed fingers through it.

Cub nodded, “I know, I promise, I won’t touch you anywhere that isn’t your shrooms.” he promised her, which did seem to help reassure her. 

Lily’s blue eyes looked at him and she nodded slowly allowing him closer. “Father says you’re a kind man, and knows you won’t hurt me but... it’s still scary.” she admits looking at her hands. “Understandable that it is, what you went through isn’t okay.” Cub said firmly, and he stood by that. Happy the bastard that made her like this was dead.

A small smile was seen, “He said you’d say that, Father talks about you open to me.” Lily said allowing him to get off the larger blue shrooms that were already starting to wilt. Those had to be very uncomfortable on her skin, from what was explained it’s like something biting you over and over and you can’t scratch it.  Lily had gotten the ones on front but had a hard time with the ones on her back side.

“Does he?’ Cub asked curiously as he was careful and slow making sure not to startle or scare her.

“Uh-huh.” Lily said messing with her nails, “He likes to tell me stories about you two and the things you did. His favorite is when you tried to cook for them both.”

Cub snorted laughter at that, he remembered that one, nearly burnt down Scar’s kitchen, and Jellie ate the good bacon. Jellie had been staying with him since Scar vanished, and missed him dearly. Sitting by the window and seemed ot be waiting for him. 

Laughing lightly Cub shook his head, “It wasn’t that bad,” he commented to her, “Just some smoke was all.” he said finished up the last of the dead shrooms.

“Not that bad?” Cub froze at the voice overlaying Lily’s own. “Cubby it was bad, you burnt and ruined my good pan.” Scar said with a look at him, the blue eyes on the girl now a deep green. The smile on her face was Scar’s own, was Father Spore.

Shifting a bit, Cub schooled his shock, “Father Spore.” he said shortly. Remaining calm, Lily often could be controlled by Father Spore since that time. He didn’t do it though to talk with people before, mostly to protect her from other people. 

“Oh come on now Cub, it’s just an old friend.” Father Spore said with a bright smile, the green eyes gleaming. “No need to be formal with me friend, just wanted to talk to you.”

Making a face Cub walked away, “I’m not here to listen to you try and convince me to join you.” his tone was clipped and to the point.

A huffing whine followed that statement, “Cub, why do you keep insisting to not join?” Father Spore asked him, “My Sporeling adore you, you’re like a favorite uncle to them. They love to chat about you, and want you to join so you can be their uncle.” 

A cold chill at the words, the idea of turning could be scary of a thought. But Cub held back the urge to shiver, “I’m just not interested in becoming a shroom.” he told Father Spore.

“Well, not everyone becomes a shroom, you know that.” his voice teased lightly, “it’s not so bad, makes me wonder what mutation you’ll show!” excitement that was so much like Scar made Cub’s heart hurt.  Father Spore continued, “Grian misses you, he misses Mumbo as well, all his friends. Just wants you guys to know how much he cares.”

A glare at that, “Cares? Scar you killed people in the lab that didn’t want to be turned. They are now mindless as it wasn’t willing and...” he was afraid he’d end up like that. Theory it was, there was still a chance he could lose himself. Dread pooling in his stomach.

The green eyes soften, “Oh Cubby, you’d be so much more than that to me, to Grian. You’re our friend, who cared about me after I lost, who made sure I wasn’t alone for long to my thoughts. Who also took in Jellie, which I thank you for that, I haven’t had time to pick her up as you live so close in town.” the voice was light again, talking about his cat always made Scar smile. 

“How is Jellie doing?” Father Spore asks happily, green eyes gleaming again, trying to get off sad topics.

Shifting again, Cub sighed, “She misses you, sits by the window watching for you.” he tells the other, as the spore creature hums sadly to that.

“I’ll be sure to give her extra love when she’s returned.” Father Spore said firmly, “Jellie deserves nothing less.” the tone was firm on that as a fact. Which did made Cub want to smile at how painfully familiar it was.

Looking away Cub shook his head, he couldn’t let himself feel that though. Scar wasn’t Scar, he was Father Spore. That man who turned people against their will, who has blood on his hands from those he’s killed. The one who was seeking to turn this island into a mushroom and spore infected ‘home’. 

Sighing sadly himself, Father Spore watched him go. “Cubby, please just consider my offer. Joining the Mycelium is a good thing. I’d never lead you astray Cub, we are partners after all was fellow Vex.” he teased lightly.

Cub gripped the keycard in his hand, Vex was what he and Scar called each other when they were kids together. Pranksters who liked to mess with people. Cub felt tears, he missed his friend, “If you really want me, why not tell me anything to convince me? I’m a man science Father Spore, tell me the facts.” he said looking back at Lily’s green eyes.

The smile grew as Father Spore snickered, “Snitches get Stiches, Cubby~!” he said in a sing song voice, one that Scar would use when the game was on. 

Scowling, Cub left the room to Father Spore and Lily’s humming. 

Leaning up against the wall, Cub looked up at the sunny sky and felt some tears fall down. He missed his friend dearly, he missed Scar’s laugh, the others teasing remarks, he missed their plots to mess with people, and Scar’s clear crush on Grian as he talked about the man all night. He missed his friends so much. 

Cub was determined to find a cure, to find any shred of evidence he could on if this was a threat or not. Part of him wanted to take Scar’s word for it. To believe what he offered, that his friend and partner wouldn’t lie to him. But, Scar also was known to have a silver tongue, known to only give half truths. Father Spore was a creature of the mycelium, and thus had Scar’s tendencies to half truth things. 

It hurt to think that Scar would lie to him, infected by fungus like thing. Cub scowled again and brushed away the tears as he sat on the ground to compose himself. 

His resistance was thinning, he knew that much, the ache for his friends grew, and the more cruelty he watched here, the more he wondered if Scar was nicer. Lily believed so, as did Amber and Mark. All promised him that Father Spore was a kind father to his Sporelings, that Mother Spore was protective of them. 

Cub took a breath in and out slowly, Snitches get Stiches. If Scar wanted him to find out, Cub would find out. And pry out the mans secrets to find the truth one way or another. 

[cupidtxt]

tf2 hollow knight au because I fucking said so

-spy is some form of mimic bug (and I mean in the sense of like. a hoverfly mimics a wasp/bee) that resides with the Grimm troupe. he came along willingly to escape both being a father to his son (scout) and the infection. he has no recollection as to those being the reasons he joined

-scout is a dragonfly and tends to run around in the queens gardens, treating the entire place like a playground rather than a dangerous place. hopefully the traitor lord doesn't tempt him or something idk 🤭

-heavy is some sort of beetle but is undecided which one. he has also undergone the effects of the infection due to medic thinking it would be beneficial (it was not)

-speaking of medic, he spends his time locked away in city of tears trying to figure out if there's a solution to the infection after his failure to save heavy

-pyro and soldier tag team colloseum of fools, with soldier firing off projectiles and pyro deflecting them back to create a zone of danger in the middle of the arena . it's the only place solider feels he is respected, and pyro is just there for the fun of it.

-demo spends his time near the mantis village and the fungal wastes, figuring out a way to weaponize the explosive spores alongside the weapons of the mantids. knows engineer!!! likes to come up to dirtmouth every once in a while to chat :)

-sniper is probably the most nomadic, never sticking around in one place. maybe some sort of mosquito idfk

-engineer is the only one who stayed in dirthmouth once the infection set in for the rest of hollownest. runs a little shop and sells cobbled together weapons and trinkets

[crystalirises]

in regards to ur recent post—i have been waiting so so long for someone to mention that song in relation to Fundy and i wanna hear u elaborate on how well it fits cuz ur thoughts are interesting 👀👀

Hello anon! And yeah I tried to explain why the song fits although I might not get some points across since I'm not ver articulate with my thoughts. I also apologize for responding so late since I actually posted my post at like... Past midnight so I wasn't able to respond immediately. But anyway, here's the sort of lyric analysis (??? Is this right lol) of why Not Your Seed is a Fundy song. And I mean Character Fundy not the actual person. So the Fundy mentioned here is the character.

This is long because it's me lol.

TW: brief mention of drugs, brief mention of sex (cause it's literally part of a song lyric and quite honestly I don't even want to talk about that kinda stuff), a lot of parental neglect, insane!Wilbur Soot, and possible cheating (cause Fundywastaken is mentioned). Stay safe everyone and please read the trigger warnings.

I'm not your girl anymore

I'm not that tween that you drove here for

I'm not your girl anymore

I overtook her body with an infectious spore

Okay, first of the first part of the song doesn't make sense out of the context of the musical (obviously). However if we kinda try to look at this in a "metaphorical" sense, it just gives off the message of Fundy not being the person who he used to be. If we were to say that Fundy was a kid during the first war, it's like a way to saying that he's no longer than innocent kid that he used to be. And for the "infectious spore" thing, if taken metaphorically, could mean the bitterness and anger that Fundy feels against the rest of the server (or at least against Wilbur) for the way they've treated him. Those bitter feelings have led him to just doing things that he would have never done (such as the 'blowing up L'Manburg's supply thing before the Doomsday War').

Also AU where Fundy gets infected the red egg and Wilbur gets ressurected I guess.

You left me out of your sight for one second

And look what happens, nightmare time

It's worse than you could imagine

Not sex and not drugs

Just alien invading minds

Okay for the first two lyrics, we all know very well that Wilbur did not look away for a second (he looked away for an entire damn arc is what he did lol). So essentially, from that first line it just implies that Wilbur (and I say Wilbur mostly cause 'Not Your Seed' is literally a daughter singing this to her father song) looked away from Fundy. Except, Wilbur looked away or ignored Fundy for a very long time, enough so that the last time Fundy saw Wilbur alive was Wilbur pretty much calling him a traitor and then promptly ignoring until he can back as Ghostbur. Which then leads to the second line since that neglect left some impressions on Fundy even after Wilbur was gone.

For the next three lines, combining the first two lines together, the usual fears that a parent would have regarding their children are well... Them engaging in sex and drugs (well the drugs is debatable cause Wilbur literally made a drug van so). However, Wilbur's issues regarding were never those matters but instead he had to deal with the aftermath of his emotional neglect that Fundy gained from Wilbur's parenting. As for the last line "Just alien invading minds," again does not make sense out of the context of the musical. However, metaphorically it could be seen as like... "alien" as in "different/outside emotions" that Fundy had never felt before (am I reaching XD). Essentially, negative emotions that Fundy had never felt before (or at least witheld for a very long time) have pretty much engulfed Fundy's mind and kinda led him down a terrible path.

No more family vacays together

'Cause your only daughter's under the weather

And if you actually paid attention to me

Okay, I have to admit that the first two lines are kinda out of the Fundy interpretation thing and I guess if someone wanted to, just alternate the family vacays to family hangouts since... They never took vacays lol. As for the second line, one could interpret it as just well Fundy drifting away from Wilbur... Essentially, he's sick of Wilbur. (This is reaching and I know that XD).

But it's the third line here that's definitely a Fundy line. "And if you actually paid attention to me," is a line that I believe embodies Fundy to an extent. Yes, Wilbur was there for Fundy and one could argue that whe was a doting father but that does not necessarily mean he was a good one. Wilbur was there for Fundy but he never paid attention to him, if anything, he babied Fundy. During the war? Babied him. During the time L'Manburg gained independence? Babied him. During the election arc? Babied him. Wilbur was there but he never listened to Fundy, he never saw Fundy as anything more than a child. There are many ways that a parent could be neglectful towards their children and I believe that though Wilbur was very doting he was not very attentive towards what Fundy had to say (and this is only hitting the beginning, I haven't even gotten to the "I despise you" part of the Pogtopia Arc.)

You'd see, I'm not your seed

I'm not your angsty teen

No matter what you believe

The apple's fallen far from the tree

Alright so for the first two lines, these could easily be equated to the fact that Wilbur, again, babies Fundy. What especially strikes me is the fact that Wilbur refers to Fundy's creation of Coconut 2020 and his sudden change of clothes to Fundy being in his teenage rebellious phase. Wilbur thinks that Fundy is just being rebellious and it's really just Fundy trying to separate himself from just being Wilbur's son and finding a way to make his dad proud via his own accomplishments, essentially finding something to get Wilbur's acknowledgement or approval while also doing something for himself. This line is like Fundy refuting the idea that everything he's done is just him going through an angsty teenage rebellious phase when he wasn't going through one in the first place.

For the third and fourth lines, I honestly think this represents Fundy's way of trying to separate himself as being known as Wilbur's son. He doesn't want to just be acknowledged as that, he wants to be more than his father's son. He wants to be his own person. In all honesty, I'd like to think that this is Fundy actually saying this to himself. He truly wants to believe that he's being independent but at the same time he's still looking for Wilbur's approval. No matter how much he wants to be his own man, he still looks to Wilbur because at the end of the day he wants to prove himself to Wilbur while also wanting to be independent. It's odd but it's kind of understandable. It's difficult to try and step out of somebody's shadow without turning around to see if they actually notice what you're doing. Fundy is like that. At least he was, and probably still is (with Phil before the whole breakdown arc).

It's not my fault anymore

No more curfews to be late for

It's not my fault anymore

No more being worried and waiting by the door

Again, these four lines are essentially just normal parent-child stuff. Children usually have curfews on when they should be home and parents tend to wait by the doors everytime their kid is a little bit late to arriving home. The thing about this kind of thing tho, if it was something that happened during the L'Manburg war, Fundy would have definitely felt constricted within the walls of L'Manburg. It wouldn't have been easy to just leave the safety of L'Manburg since the enemy could literally be waiting outside to ambush anyone they could. So, if character Fundy were the type of person to occasionally leave L'Manburg (and I believe he would be), he'd definitely feel guilty at times since it would have been very stressful for Wilbur. It's the middle of a war, Wilbur's a general and a father (tho he definitely he focused on one more than the other) and the least Fundy should be doing is to just stay within the walls. So, in a scenario where Fundy occasionally leaves L'Manburg, he would definitely feel guilty and blame himself for adding any unnecessary stress to Wilbur...

Again tho, this is an imagined scenario since this never really occured within the actual storyline... But then again Wilbur did claim the walls as "The wall I built to keep him (Fundy) safe." So it probably did happen and Fundy would have probably felt guilty for just leaving every now and then. Although Wilbur would have a point (it's literally the middle of a war), Fundy would have wanted to see the outside world and not have been forced to stay within the confines of L'Manburg (Fundy would have some slight fault here, that should be noted.)

Like I said, this is more of an imagined scenario that may or may not have occured.

Did you know that I wanted to live with you? (Look what happens, nightmare time)

O-ooh

And when you needed to fight, you gave her that too (aliens invading minds)

Ah-ooh

Alright so the first line really hits me since "live" could almost sound like "leave" (I know they're pronounced different don't @ me). For this piece of line, it sounds like a confrontation between Fundy and insane!Wilbur (Wilbur in Pogtopia Arc). At the very beginning of Schlatt's Administration, Fundy had always made it clear to at least himself (and Eret) that he was a spy on the inside. Fundy - at the beginning - didn't support Schlatt's administration at all. So if one were to think of the line with the word "leave" instead of "live," it gives off the context that Fundy wanted to go with Wilbur and Tommy when they were exiled... But he didn't because he wanted to be a spy for them. Technically, you don't have to change "live" with "leave" cause it essentially means the same thing, it just feels more painful this way cause it implies that Fundy forced himself to stay even if he didn't want to. Tis sad times for Fundy's hidden spy arc.

As for the third line, in the context of the musical this is referring to Bill (the father) essentially giving up custody of his daughter Alice to her mother. Of course in Fundy's case that doesn't work. But if this line were to be though of in a metaphorical way, it could come out as something else. "And when you needed to fight, you gave her that too." Think of it as Wilbur choosing L'Manburg over Fundy. Wilbur never "fought" for Fundy. Pet war? Nope. Tommy publicly disowning him? Nope. People calling Fundy a furry despite him being an anthromorphic fox (and as far as I'm aware, this is canon)? Nope. Schlatt hitting Fundy with a bottle during the November 16th war? Nope. Wilbur never cared enough to defend his son, but he was always ready to fight for L'Manburg.

Did you know mom let Deb sleep over?

And you're right about Deb - she's a hardcore stoner

And if you wonder what led your daughter astray

Well, daddy wasn't here to stay

... listen *gets bonked* Okay, serious interpretation first before I make the crack joke. This line really doesn't work cause this is essentially Alice (the daughter) talking about Deb (her girlfriend) who Bill (the father) does not really like. If anything, I'd like to say that... Change these lines to Fundy admitting that Schlatt is actually doing a great job as president? (Let's all be honest, Fundy at one point did express that he thought Schlatt was a good president). So yeah just Fundy admitting that Schlatt is a good president even though he is an alcoholic.

("Did you know Schlatt let Dre sleep over?

And you were right about Dre - he's a hardcore liar.")

For the last two lines. I imagine this could be said to two versions of Wilbur. If we're talking about insane!Wilbur then this is just a confrontation of how Wilbur pretty much just left Fundy in a hostile country where he was forced to adapt unless he wanted to get executed like Tubbo or imprisoned like Niki. There's a reason why Schlatt asked Fundy about his parentage and his association with Wilbur. As such, Fundy had to learn how to be another person because Wilbur left.

Another way to interpret this is Fundy telling it to Ghostbur. The reason why Fundy is bitter and the way he is is because Wilbur left him... Both emotionally and physically, the man died and they were never able to resolve their issues before Wilbur died. Fundy is the way he is because Wilbur never stayed to resolve their issues. The line "Well, daddy wasn't here to stay" really hits how Fundy is influenced by what Wilbur did, and Fundy is still looking for that one person - the one person - who would stay for him. His dad didn't stay for him, his grandfather stay, Eret did not go to the adoption, and his best friend (Ranboo???) didn't stay... Everyone has left him and that hurts him since that is exactly what Wilbur did and it still continues to haunt him even after Wilbur is dead and gone.

Not your seed

I'm not your perfect teen

I'm fucking sevente-en

At least I was before you left me

With the first two lines, I suppose one could say that this is how Wilbur saw Fundy. "I'm not your perfect teen," is one way that Wilbur could've seen Fundy or at least how he forced himself to see Fundy as. Since the beginning of the L'Manburg War, he regarded Fundy as a child and during the Election Arc he regarded Fundy as a rebellious teenager... But with slight endearment. Like he's honestly amused by Fundy's sudden show of rebellion... It's only when Fundy sides with Quackity that Wilbur begins to realize that Fundy is serious about the whole separating-himself-from-Wilbur thing and even then continues to look at Fundy condescendingly, especially when Fundy ran for presidency. And, although this is my own interpretation, that part of the Election Arc where Fundy wanted to run for the presidency too and Wilbur just allowed it after a moment of awkward silence, feels like a parent who just decided to concede with their child's wishes cause it's amusing and "hey, what's the harm in letting the kid have what he wants?" But... Fundy is not the kid that Wilbur sees him as at all, but Wilbur can't get over that and it even translates over to the way Ghostbur looks and regards Fundy as.

As for the last two lines, there are two ways this could be interpreted as. In the first interpretation, don't look at the age but at the context. Fundy was a kid who was born and grew up in a war-torn country, Wilbur may have been there physically but he had long since emotionally left Fundy since Wilbur was busy with the war effort to really be there for Fundy. Fundy, like Tommy and Tubbo, was forced to grow up because it was a war and they had no choice but to grow if they wanted to survive. The second interpretation is... A bit sadder. I don't really know what Fundy's age is. Like... Is he older than Tommy or Tubbo but how was he born in L'Manburg then??? But confusion aside. If we were to assume that Fundy was 14 during the Election Arc (as Ghostbur said but he's unreliable) or at least Fundy was a teen at that point of time, Wilbur left his son in an enemy country (though of course not any initial fault of his own since he was exiled XD). Fundy - like in the first interpretation - was forced to grow up and adapt because Schlatt could have literally just killed him for being Wilbur's son.

Why does it hurt to love you?

Why am I in pain?

Why does it hurt to know you?

You'll let me down again

If I turned my insides out, would you even know that I was there?

Ah ;-; the lines that make me cry.

Alright so I can definitely say that all of these lines are just relatable to Fundy. "Why does it hurt to love you?" Fundy does probably care a whole lot about Wilbur but with this care and love comes the pain of how Wilbur emotionally neglected and disrespected him. Fundy loves Wilbur. He does. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt. He still recognizes Wilbur as his father to some degree and does love the Wilbur that was his dad, but with everything that's happened, loving Wilbur has become too painful for him to bear. Everytime he tries, it just feels like a stab to the heart since he's reminded of how absent Wilbur truly was in his life.... Even if Ghostbur tried to be there for Fundy, it doesn't erase the pain that Wilbur inflicted when he was alive.

For the second line, "Why am I in pain?" Fundy's character is undeniably one of the most tragic characters (at least from my perspective). The guy has been through a lot and even if this line isn't supported by the first, it still indicates that Fundy has suffered a lot (and yes a lot of characters have suffered too and I am not invalidating any of the other characters). He's hurting. And to be honest, they're all hurting. Everyone has their own ways of coping, and Fundy is honestly quite lost in what he should be doing. He's still reeling from everything, enough so that he canonically took a break and left the DSMP altogether (yes it was canonised that his character had taken a break).

For the following lines, I'd like to think this is directed to Ghostbur. "Why does it hurt to know you?" It feels like Fundy meeting Wilbur - or at least a version of Wilbur - after everything that's happened. He knows the real Wilbur and although Ghostbur reminds him of the father that he used to have, he can't just forget what the real Wilbur did. It hurts to not be able to move on even though he has a second chance with Ghostbur. It hurts because everytime he sees Ghostbur he'll just be reminded that Ghostbur is nothing more than a remnant of a once broken man. He knows Wilbur, he knew the real Wilbur. And it hurts to not be able to move on from the real Wilbur. The reason why it feels like something Fundy would say to Ghostbur is furthe remphasized by the next line in the song.

"You'll let me down again." That is definitely something that Fundy would say or at least feel towards Ghostbur. He wants to get to know this new version of his father, he wants to... But he can't. Cause again there's still that underlying fear of Ghostbur just messing up again and further hurting Fundy. In a way, Ghostbur did in fact hurt Fundy and he did in fact let Fundy down again. The issue with Ghostbur is that he refused to acknowledged the problems that he inflicted to everyone around him. When Fundy confronted him, Ghostbur ignored it. He ran away. So yeah, Fundy couldn't let himself know Ghostbur because Ghostbur would have and did let him down again.

Finally, the last line, "If I turned my insides out, would you even know that I was there?" As we've already seen, Fundy has tried to gain Wilbur's attention and acknowledgement in the past. First, with the running for presidency and secondly, with the spying for Pogtopia thing. Fundy has gone - and would have possibly gone to even worse - to great lengths just to gain Wilbur's approval. This line just shows the desperation that Fundy had just so he could get his father's approval. He tried to be independent, but it didn't work. He tried to help his father against Schlatt, it didn't work. He went so far as to burn the flag down since he wanted to get into Schlatt's good graces so he could be a better spy. He went to great lengths for Wilbur's acknowledgement... But he never got it, at least, not in the way that he wanted to.

Why does it hurt to love you?

Why does it hurt to love?

For the first line, "Why does it hurt to love you?" it just really shows how painful it is for Fundy to try and love a father who was barely even there for him. He does love Wilbur - as I said before - but loving Wilbur comes with a lot of pain (as I'm sure even other characters affiliated with Wilbur can attest). Wilbur went crazy before he died and he wasn't the best father towards Fundy and though Fundy still holds on to some semblance of love for the man he once saw as his dad, he still feels hurt over everything that's happened. Wilbur is a sore and touchy subject for many people within the story, not even just Fundy. They all suffer at the thought of Wilbur... At least, Alivebur.

Ohhhh... Like...this is obvious. The second line is obvious for Fundy XD. Because: his father was barely there, his possible last words to Fundy were "I despise you," and then he died and came back as a ghost who straight up ignores all the problems that he caused when he was alive, his grandfather disowned him, his fiancé broke up and possibly cheated on him (if you consider fwt canon), his best friend called him a coward and left, his home got destroyed thrice, Eret never showed up for the adoption, and he went through a breakdown arc in which it was so bad that he left to take a break from everything that happened. Everything that he's ever loved just finds a way to hurt him.

I'm not your seed (not your girl, not your girl)

Now maybe you'll listen to me (listen to me, listen to me)

Or do you let me bleed? (let me bleed)

Now your daughter's not a girl no more (girl no more, girl no more)

Now that Fundy's gone through a possible recovery arc (since he canonically left the server for one year or was it fours years?), he's probably more well-adjusted to everything else. If Wilbur does indeed get ressurected at some point. This is a way of like showing how Wilbur and Fundy may interact. (Also, I know it could also sound like Villain Fundy but I honestly have moved on from that particular thing and just want Fundy to recover). "Now maybe you'll listen to me," is just Fundy trying to confront Wilbur after everything except this time Fundy has recovered enough to actually speak to Wilbur without getting mad or upset once Wilbur refuses to acknowledge anything's wrong. Still, this is just in the case where Wilbur is ressurected and Fundy is recovered enough to confront Wilbur for everything that's happened.

So for these last lines, I'll only focus on the third line which is "Or do you let me bleed?" If Fundy and ressurected!Wilbur do interact, there are two possible ways for that to go. Wilbur either acknowledges and apologizes for what he did wrong, Fundy apologizes for the things he also did (come on, burning the flag, tearing down the walls, and disowning Wilbur is very painful regardless of what Fundy was trying to accomplish), and they both learn to accept the past and move on so they can beat that stupid egg (red egg, my beloved) and maybe Dream. Or... Wilbur could just ignore Fundy all over again and refuse to acknowledge what he did wrong. Hopefully this time, Fundy would be recovered enough to just realize that Wilbur is never gonna change and that Fundy needs to move on from Wilbur. So, yes. In this possible scenario, Wilbur and Fundy could either make up ("Now maybe you'll listen to me") or Wilbur refuses to acknowledge anything that went wrong and Fundy moves on by himself ("Or do you let me bleed?") Again, this is just a possible scenario.

Not at all your seed!

Cause I'm not your girl anymore

Just, well, further emphasis that Fundy isn't the same person he used to be and he never will be again. Like everyone else, he's gone through a lot. He's different, he's changed.

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

So yeah... I am so sorry to the anon if this is just so confusing or me rambling and I'm pretty sure you didn't ask for a damn essay. But ye... Have this... Sorry if it’s not the analysis you wanted tho ;-;

Apologies tho if this seems confusing and I would gladly clear things up if there's some points that are confusing.

So...ye... Have fun with this

(what do I tag this as, pls help—)

[unfortunate-stranger-losers]

Six Baudelaires AU, Part Three {AO3} {Masterlist} {Part One} {Part Two}

Chapter Seventeen → in which Violet doodles

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR TODAY’S CHAPTER

TRIGGER WARNING - Another implied panic attack happens in this chapter, and while self-harming behavior is not shown onscreen, it is made very clear that a character is self-harming by scratching. Proceed with caution, and stay safe! 

“Well,” Solitude said, “Fuck.” 

The children backed up, with Klaus picking up Solitude as they moved. “Fiona, do you think we’ve been poisoned already?” he asked. 

“No.” Fiona said. “The spores shouldn’t reach us here. As long as we stay on the far end of the cavern, and the mushrooms stop advancing, we should be safe.” 

“They do seem to have stopped advancing.” Lilac said, watching the line of gray mushrooms, which did, indeed, seem to stop getting closer. 

“We’re lucky the mycelium has only grown that far.” Fiona said. 

“I don’t feel lucky.” Klaus said. “How are we going to get out?” 

“If we go through the mushrooms, we’ll be poisoned.” Fiona said. “I could find a cure in my mycological library, but we don’t want to take that chance.” 

“We could climb out that passage.” Lilac said, turning to the side. “Wait, no, it could be miles to the surface.” 

“We can’t go out that way anyway.” Fiona said. “If we don’t return to the Queequeg, someone will have to go investigate.” 

Lilac flinched. “And I feel like your stepfather would send our siblings right into the poisonous fungus.” 

Fiona bit her lip. “He might come instead-” 

“Fiona,” Klaus said, “Your book said the mushroom waxes and wanes, right? So we’ll wait until it wanes, and then run to the water and swim back.” 

“But I don’t know how long until it starts waning.” Fiona said. “It could be a few minutes, or a few hours, or a few days.” 

“In a few days, we’ll miss the VFD gathering.” Solitude said, worried. 

“In a few days, Violet, Nick and Sunny will have ripped apart the Queequeg.” Klaus muttered under his breath. 

“It’s our only choice.” Fiona said. 

“It’s a Hobson’s choice.” Lilac sighed, sitting down on a chest. Klaus sat beside her, giggling slightly. 

“What’s that?” Fiona asked. 

Klaus smiled. “Thomas Hobson lived in Britain in the seventeenth century. He was in charge of a stable, and according to legend, he always told his customers they had a choice: they could take the horse closest to the door, or no horse at all.” 

“That’s not really a choice.” Fiona said. 

“Precisely.” Lilac said. “It’s something that’s not a choice at all. Our Mother used to give us Hobson’s Choices. She’d say, ‘Lilac, you can dust the furniture, or I can play polka music all night.’” 

“You can do the dishes,” Klaus remembered, “Or read the poetry of Edgar Guest.” 

“Eat your dinner or stay in the chair.” Solitude said. 

“She’d do that with the others, too.” Lilac recalled. “Violet could clean her room or we’d stand in the doorway and sing Row Your Boat, and Nick could be nice to guests or be made to read that third book about those kids in a maze, and Sunny could have a bath or a pink dress.” 

Fiona smiled. “Did your mother always joke around like that? Mine would get mad if I didn’t clean my room.” 

“Our mother would get mad, too.” Klaus said quietly. “One night, Violet and I left the window of the library open, and that night it rained.” 

“She really flew off the handle.” Lilac sighed. 

“We spoiled an atlas that she said was irreplaceable.” 

“Our father came down from his study to see what was the matter, and then he started yelling, too.” 

The Baudelaires looked at each other uncomfortably. They were silent for a long moment, remembering that, yes, there were times their parents weren’t perfect, and times they hated, and memories from before the fire that they didn’t want. 

That wasn’t a feeling they liked. 

“My brother used to get angry, too.” Fiona said quietly. “Before he disappeared, when they thought I was asleep, he’d have awful fights with my stepfather.” 

“Your stepfather didn’t mention that.” Lilac said. “He said your brother was charming.” 

“Maybe he only remembers the charming parts.” Fiona replied. “Maybe he doesn’t want to remember everything. Or keep some things secret.” 

“Do you think your stepfather knew about this place?” Klaus asked, glancing around. “He mentioned we might find a place to take off our diving helmets.” 

“Maybe that was just another secret he was keeping.” Lilac said. “Like the Sugar Bowl.” 

“Which we should look for.” Solitude sighed. 

They stood up, and took distant positions in the sand, careful not to step any closer to the Medusoid Mycelium. For several hours, they dug through the sand, but no matter how many objects the children found, no matter how much junk they dug through, there was no Sugar Bowl to be found. 

“Nick! Nick!” 

Violet pounded on the door that led to the dorms. She had to have been standing out there for two hours, but even after she gave him several minutes to himself, and then went back to knocking and shouting, her brother didn’t open the door. She’d debated running off to find Sunny, but she knew Nick would want to show his emotions even less around their baby sister, and Sunny was probably fine in the kitchen with Phil. 

“Nick Liam Baudelaire, you will open the goddamn door right now, or I’m kicking it down!” 

No response, again. Violet sighed, tying her hair back, and then she backed up down the hall. She took a running start, and then slammed her weight against the door. The submarine, as old and broken as it was, was not prepared for the full force of an angry older sister, so the door lock slid away, and Violet barely managed to keep her footing as she stumbled into the room. 

Nick was sitting on a bottom bunk, curled up around a pillow. Whether he had been screaming or crying into it, Violet wasn’t sure, but she knew that she definitely didn’t want anyone else to come in and bother them. She closed the door behind them, before moving to sit on the other edge of the bunk. “Hey.” she said gently. 

No response. 

“Hey, listen, Widdershit’s wrong.” Violet assured him. “It wasn’t your fault.” 

He mumbled something into the pillow that she didn’t quite catch. 

“Nick, listen. Whatever you need to tell me, you can. I’ll listen, and- and I won’t judge, or- or get upset. I won’t even react if you don’t want me to. I won’t cry. I won’t tell the others if you don’t want them to know yet.” 

He mumbled something else. 

“Nick, I can’t understand you.” 

Nick pulled the pillow away, and Violet struggled very hard not to react, like she’d said she would. Her brother’s face was red, and she thought she could still see tears falling. 

“I said go away.” 

“Well, that’s not happening.” Violet moved a little on the bed so she could get closer to her brother and still face him. “If you want, we can just sit here in silence.” 

“I don’t want people around me.” 

“And I’m not leaving you alone.” 

Nick shut his eyes. “You didn’t have a problem leaving Sunny alone.” 

She knew instantly that he wasn’t talking about Sunny being in the kitchen with Phil. “She wasn’t hurt, and she wanted to spy. You, right now, need someone.” 

“I don’t need you!” Nick threw the pillow at Violet, who swiftly caught it- she’d been in enough pillow fights to have fast reflexes. 

“Now, Nick,” Violet tossed the pillow aside, “Listen, I-” 

“You weren’t there! No one was there!” Nick screamed, throwing his hands over his face. “Widdershit doesn’t- he knew! He knew what they were doing to me! And he didn’t care! He wouldn’t have cared if they got any of you!” 

“Nick-” 

“He told me!” Nick screamed, staring ahead blankly, almost as if he couldn’t see Violet, as if he was just yelling to himself, he just had to get it out. “He told me too much! Widdershins keeps- keeps talking about secrets too- too terrible for young- young people to know- I know too much! I felt too much! I- I- I know too much and I can’t-” 

Violet reached forwards, but Nick pushed himself back. “Do you know what he did, Violet? Do you have a fucking clue?” 

Violet bit her lip. “I have… a few guesses.” 

“I- I tried to escape. In the woods. In the-” he shut his eyes. “Third or fourth time. Or maybe sixth. Maybe first. I can’t remember. I can’t even remember if I tried six times, Vi. Something’s wrong with me.” 

“No-” 

“He wouldn’t- he wouldn’t stop-” 

“Nick-” 

“He- he said-” Nick shut his eyes, trying and failing to stop the sobs. “He said if I kept trying to- to run- he’d take someone else. He- he said- he told me what he’d do, Violet! He told me exactly what he’d do to each of you!” 

Violet gasped, and Nick started rocking. “He told- he showed- he said- he said he’d pick a sibling and- and- and I’d have to watch, and then he’d kill me. Vi, he was going to kill me…”  

“Nick…” 

“He was going to kill me- kill me, slowly, long enough so- so he knew I knew I was leaving you alone-” 

Violet didn’t know what to say. 

“I know- I know what he- what he wanted- what he and what she… what would happen to you, and to Lilac or Klaus or Soli or Sunny- and- and I want it out!” He slammed his fist onto the wall, not even flinching at the pain. “Vi, I want it out! I want it out of my head!” 

“Nick-” 

“I want it out! What he could’ve done! What he did! What they did! What everyone has done! All this bullshit, I want it gone!” 

Violet reached to hug him, but he backed up some more. “I want it gone… Vi, I can’t… I want to forget. I want it all gone.” He was crying softly now, not looking her in the eye. 

She opened her mouth to speak again, and then stared down at his arms; his sleeves had been pushed up. 

Oh no. “Nick…” she began. 

Nick saw where she was looking and flinched back again, but Violet just leaned forwards, grabbing his forearms. 

“These, um… your skin’s getting pretty red.” she said quietly, trying very hard to remain calm after what she’d heard. “I don’t… I don’t know what itches, but I’d suggest you stop bothering it for a while. You scratch your arms any more and you could cause damage. Maybe break skin if…” 

Nick didn’t say anything. 

Violet bit her lip. “Nick. Does something itch?” 

Slowly, very slowly, he shook his head. 

She ran a hand over her ponytail, and then she said, “Nick, I will be right back, but you have to promise not to lock the door.” 

“I don’t-” 

“I won’t tell anyone, promise. Nothing you just said leaves this room. But leave the door open, and don’t scratch any more.” 

He didn’t look at her directly, as tears still streamed down his face. Slowly, Violet got up, and ran out of the room. 

As soon as she was out of Nick’s sightline, she buried her head in her hands, struggling to remain calm. Don’t freak out. Don’t freak out. Help him now, freak out later. You need to help, Vi. Just keep moving. She shut her eyes tight, took a deep breath, and then started running again. 

It took a moment to navigate the halls of the submarine, but she eventually found the kitchen. She peered in, seeing Sunny shaking a jar of sprinkles. “Sunny-” 

“No come in!” Sunny shouted. “Surprise!” 

“Sorry.” Violet covered her eyes. “Sorry, but… do you know where there are pens or markers? I was going to ask Phil, but- where is he?” 

“Nodnaba,” Sunny said, and Violet heard her sliding from the counter. “He and Widdershins stepped out a moment; they’ll be back soon.” 

“Okay. Well, um, pens? Markers?” 

“Crayola,” Sunny said, which meant, “There’s a whole box of markers right here, for writing labels on cannisters. Can you bring them back when you’re done?” 

“Honestly, I can’t make any promises.” 

“Alzatadispalle,” Sunny said, which meant, “Eh, fine, I don’t care about this submarine much anyway.” 

“Thank you, Sunshine.” Violet said, stepping back and out of the kitchen. 

After a moment, Sunny dropped a box of markers at her feet, and then said, “Surprise later. Go now!” 

“Alright, alright.” Violet nodded, picking up the markers. “See you in a bit.” 

As soon as Sunny closed the kitchen door, though, Violet raced back to the dorms. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the door was still open, and she knocked a little before entering, to let Nick know she was coming in. 

He’d retrieved the pillow and had buried his face against it again. Violet sat beside him, and said, “Hey, can we ditch that for a sec?” 

Nick sighed and tossed the pillow against the wall, glaring over at her. “What?” 

Violet slowly took his arm again, holding it out and trying to ignore the thumping in her chest when she saw the red skin. Then, slowly, she took a marker from the box, and started to draw on his arm. 

“What are you-” 

“Shh.” Violet said. “Hold on a moment.” 

She continued to draw, no set idea on what she was doodling in mind. But she swirled the marker- a light blue color- around her brother’s arm, until there was just a jumble of color. Then, an idea finally coming to her, she took a black marker and drew some squiggles above it, mirroring the shape of their Uncle’s prized snake, the Incredibly Deadly Viper. It felt like a lifetime since they’d seen him. 

“Now, Nick,” she said quietly, finally releasing his arm. He lifted it up, staring at the drawing. “How was that?” 

“Huh?” he sniffled. 

“Did that… help?” 

He glanced down. “It… it kept me… grounded. Yeah.” 

Violet took his hands, squeezing them softly. “When you feel… feel like you want to scratch without an itch, I want you to take these markers and draw where you… where you want to hurt. Do that instead. It should help. And if it doesn’t, I want you to tell me, okay?” 

Nick narrowed his eyes. “I can keep the markers?” 

“Yeah.” 

“I, um. I’m not an artist.” 

“Just draw squiggles. It’s not like we’re submitting it to an art show.” 

A smile flickered briefly across Nick’s face- not for long, but enough that Violet felt relief course through her. 

“Where, um…” he paused, hesitant. “Where’d you get this idea?” 

Violet waited until he met her eyes, and she admitted, “About two years ago, I asked Father why he had pen drawings on his arm.” 

Nick’s eyes widened. “He- Dad?” 

Violet nodded. “And he said if I ever felt this way… well, now you have an outlet that doesn’t involve hurting yourself.” 

Nick bit his lip. “I… I’m sorry-” 

“No. No, it’s not your fault.” Violet said, almost sternly. “None of this is your fault, do you understand?” She waited until he nodded to continue. “Do you want me to keep this to myself? Or do you want me to tell the others?” 

“Just… quiet. Please.” he said. 

“Okay. Just let me know if you change your mind, or if you need anything else.” 

Nick looked up at her, and then he threw himself at her, clutching her very tight. Violet hugged him back, and he whispered, “I love you.” 

“I love you, too, baby bro.” 

She hadn’t called him that since he was four. But she could tell he didn’t mind.

[squirenonny]

Okay, so I just finished Voltron Season 2 and: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Short, spoiler-free version: I have a few things to take issue with, but as a whole I absolutely LOVED this season. *screeching* !!!

Long, spoilery version under the cut

Starting with my three big complaints before this devolves into excited screaming:

1. They’re still going with the Hunk food jokes. Like. Please. The mall cop episode (which was fantastic, by the way) did Chef Hunk right--he’s competent, he knows what he’s doing, he’s cooking in a way that obviously a large number of people like, AND he actually taught Sal how to cook?? Like oh my god, Hunk is the best space Gordon Ramsey, yes! A lot of the other episodes, though, are more of the same old tired fat jokes. Hunk’s always hungry. He’s always talking about food. He’s always making shallow food metaphors. We get it. I’m really hoping the writers cut it out in season 3, or at the very least continue to shift the focus toward other aspects of his personality.

2. I’m more than a little salty that we didn’t see half the team’s reactions to Keith being Galra. Like... I didn’t need a “reveal scene” (we got that with Shiro, and I loved that it was a shock that immediately turned into a non-issue.) What I wanted was the kind of thing we got with Hunk--the aftermath, and the other paladins figuring out how they feel. Hunk’s stuff was great, tbh, and Allura’s was pretty good (a little disappointing that she was so harsh with Keith, but I get it. She’s lost a lot to the Galra and all very recently.) I just wanted...something. Something with Pidge and Lance, at least. Some interaction that wasn’t in the middle of a battle anytime after the reveal. Maybe that was supposed to be because they were all so rushed trying to put their plan into action, they didn’t have time to process. Maybe we’ll get Lance, Pidge, and Coran’s responses in season 3 (god I hope we do). I just wanted more emotional fallout from the reveal (or support. Support would be good too. Somebody give my son a hug.)

3. Everything else can basically be summed up with, “Why isn’t season three here yet??” I wanted more of a lot of things, and I get that you can only fit so much into thirteen episodes, especially when the plot was so BIG. Holy shit you guys, so much happened in this season. So, yeah, I really wanted more Lance development (more Hunk, too). Klance? Shallura or Shatt development?? Keith and Pidge??????? The team was split up for so much of the season, and fighting battles the rest of the time, that a lot of relationships got shafted. I’m not overly bitter about that, but I am hoping we get that relationship development in season three.

Okay. There’s my salt, now time for the screaming: (Sorry, intermittent caps lock because I couldn’t control myself.)

AAAAHHHHHH OH MY GOD GALRA KEITH!!!! I have never been so alive! Fuck. I’m so happy (lack of fallout with Lance and Pidge aside. Dark Voltron season 3, give me an episode specifically dedicated to Pidge’s reaction to Keith being from the same race that took her family.) I’m choosing to imagine that Pidge has bottled up any reaction she may have had, and that it won’t come out till things have calmed down (or she’s stuck alone with Keith) and that Lance considers it such a non-issue that he had no reaction, and for him to be surprised when Keith is wary around him after that last battle.

ALSO????? I’m so happy that Keith’s mom is apparently the Galra??? I jsut?? YES??????

MATT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my GOD Matt! Matt’s out! Matt’s with rebels! REBEL MATT HOLT HOLY FUCK! I need season three like yesterday, and it had better have Matt Holt, Rebel soldier/spy/hacker/medic/literally anything. I’m so freaking happy Pidge actually got a chance to search for her family--and FOUND SOMETHING! Ahhhh!!!

HAGGAR’S ALTEAN! HAGGAR’S ALTEAN!! HAGGAR’S CANONICALLY ALTEAN!!!!! I so called this, and I could not be happier!! Augh!! I screamed! I screamed so much holy fuck

DRUID ALLURA????????? What???? I need more of this. What happened? Is she using magic or just redirecting it?? How?? Why???? Is she going to learn more???? Allura being badass with that staff was awesome, but imagine Allura charging into battle with her staff a deadly blur and a lightning storm swelling around her oh my GOD MY QUEEN!

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO SHIRO????? I’m so scared for him, oh my god?? But, like, in the best possible way. He’s not dead (I hope????? Don’t kill Space Dad, Dreamworks, PLEEEEEASE!) But we can still have Black Paladin Allura in season 3?? And maybe even Matt Holt, Rebel (TM) saving his boyfriend???

SHIRO AND KEITH OH MY QUIZNAK! “You’re like a brother” haaaaa Okay, I’m dead. “My live would have turned out a lot different without you” *screeches* I still want more (mentor at the Garrison? Foster brother?? How??? do you know each other?????) ((Presumably not forever, because Shiro didn’t know anything about Keith having a knife, but still???????))

ALLURA CALLING CORAN A SECOND FATHER AUUUUGH JUST KILL MY NOW MY HEART x.x

The heITH in that one episode?? Or like... at all??? Keith joking? Hunk making Galra Keith jokes? THem workibng togethera and thanking eachother and Hunk standing up for Keith when Allura’s tyring to ingore him???????? AUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH

Klance Emperor’s New Groove AU???? Oh. My god. Like. We didn’t get much Klance this season, but we got them cliMBING UP AN ELEVATOR SHAFT like pros?? I die.

KEITH’S FRIEND FROM THE TEASER? Who are you?? Are you Matt? Are you WITH Matt’s rebels?? What did you need the Weblum secretion whatever for?? Why aren’t you talking??? Are you mute?? Are you a lady rebel?? Please be a lady rebel! (Mute or nonverbal lady rebel, y/y?????) *whispers* season threeeeee

Space spore snowball fight!!!! I’m so happy!!!! Lookit my son Shiro being a kid!!!!!!! Lookit Keith and Lance flirting with glowy space goop. :)

Pidge/Tech continues to be my otp

Shiro? Getting pushed past his limit by what’s his name. Slav? W/e. I died. Even Space Dad’s patience isn’t infinite.

When Keith was asking Coran about whether Galra have ever been to earth and Lance is RIGHT THERE? LIke??? You’re in the middle of your facial regimen, Lance, what happened? Did you hear Keith’s voice and  immediately sprint to the door??

Pidge having a gay squish on Alan Turing??

Ryner??? Is??????? So great?????? My biologist daughter????????? Also she came so close to the “we’re all made of star stuff” quote and I just? Die??? hONESTLY, season three needs to bring back her, Shay, and Nyma and let them be badasses.

FORM BLAZING SWORD!!!!!

asdfghjkl;

There’s tons more I’m sure, but my brain is on complete overload right now and I just. I can’t. Frick.

EDIT: I cannot believe I forgot: Pidge is SO NOT CIS!! Like! Frick! The bathrooms! Which were conveniently color-coded in a way that’s consistent with Earth bathrooms. In a way that Keith didn’t even stop to think about. But Pidge??? Is at the very least much more aware than Keith that the gender binary is a social construct--and you could very easily make the argument that she was debating whether aliens have the same biases as humans. Should she risk using the girl’s bathroom? Does she pass by alien standards? What even ARE alien standards for gender conformity? All this to the point that she’d rather just hold it.

(On that same note: trans Hunk? y/y)

((On a closely related note, rewatching the mall episode: Keith pulling Hunk onto the cow is weirdly adorable?? This season is gonna make me ship Heith more than ever, frick.))

I think I need to rewatch this for character/ship tags now, kthanx. Feel free to yell at me about anything!

[all54321]

AU/Fic Masterpost

Since I’m sharing more AU’s I’ve decided to make a pinned post about each of these. I’m going to list each au by their current tag name, the link will take you to a post giving the base summery of the au.

Except the father spore au, that link will go the masterpost for it.

Some of these names will be changed.

father spore spy au

superhero au

Soul Bound and Closer Then Ever

yandere au

They Remain

Last Two Standing

A True Game

Double Life Aftermath AU

A Watcher Amidst

married scarian au

Trauma Bonded

Secret Life Task Master List

Other tags I use:

all speaks: any time I post something that isn’t writing, drawing, or an ask.

answered ask: On any ask I answer

my writing: for anything I write

my drawings: anything I draw

my snippets: a snippet of something I wrote

the logs: Things that I wrote before I started posted stuff on Tumblr that got cleaned up/lightly edited to post here.

au info: Posts talking about stuff for aus

no au: Anything I write that has no au attached to it. Tagged so I can find and change it easily.

I also post stuff on AO3

[all54321]

A ‘Chance’ Encounter

Finished part 1 of Grian being infected! I will either reblog or post parts 2 and 3 once they’re done. Each part is of a different moment but are completely back to back.

—————

Grian walks through the park, enjoying the peaceful nature. While the long way home, he really does need a moment of peace. Everything has been just getting more stressful the more the mycelium spreads. There’s no one else in the park either, which Grian also appreciates.

Until he catches sight of someone sitting on a bench. Someone who Grian can recognize in a heartbeat. Of course, it’s the last person he’d want to run into all alone. He goes to take a step back, to sneak away, but he’s already been seen.

Scar stands up with a dazzling grin, “Grian! Just the avian I wanted to see.”

Grian’s heart aches at that smile, it’s so familiar and incredible, but feels so twisted with how Scar looks now. It’s the first time he’s seen the other since this all started, but he’s heard plenty of descriptions before. He does immediately notice one discrepancy, that the cloud of spores that surrounds him is currently barely visible. It does give Grian pause, he’s heard about how Scar can increase it, so does that mean he can decrease it as well?

Grian decides that he doesn’t exactly want to find out and takes another step back, which is immediately noticed.

“I’m just here to talk,” Scar says, not moving away from the bench, despite the distance between them.

Grian hesitates, considering. He’s pretty confident that with the current distance between them, he’d be able to fly away if Scar tries to infect him. “What about?” He finally says.

Scar beams, happy that Grian agreed to stay. He’s not sure if it hurts more like this, not when it reminds him so much of how things used to be. “I’m sure you’re aware of what’s been happening.”

“Obviously,” Grian deadpans.

Scar continues, ignoring Grian’s response, “and I wanted to ask you to join me.”

“Join you,” Grian echoes, somehow surprised. Everyone who survives an encounter with Father Spore all say he tried to get them to join him and the rest he’s turned. With Scar’s silver tongue, Grian isn’t surprised that he’s succeeded before.

“Yes!” The other confirms, “it’s so much better like this!”

“To be infected by mushrooms?”

“It’s not that simple, Gri,” he insists, “connecting to us, being a part of the mycelium is incredible in so many ways. I never realized how empty my life was until I connected with them.”

“That- you do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?” Grian asks, watching Scar closely.

“It’s not ridiculous Gri, it’s amazing. It’s freeing, it’s the best thing ever.”

The avian shifts, quietly murmuring, “I don’t even know if I can trust you.”

Scar’s smile immediately falls, a sad look taking place, “w-why not?”

Grian tries not to feel guilty about it, “are you even you anymore?”

Scar takes a step forwards, before rethinking and stepping back again, “of course I’m me.”

Grian really shouldn’t believe him, he’d probably say anything to get Grian to agree, but he just sounds so honest. Grian bites his lip, thinking about this way more then he should. “I still don’t understand how… becoming this spore thing is a good idea.”

“It’s more that that, Grian, it’s a whole lot more,” Scar insists.

Grian really shouldn’t even entertain the thought of letting Scar infect him, but he’s always been too curious for his own good, “alright, explain it to me then.”

Scar perks up at that, grin returning fully, “gladly! It’s so much more then looking like this, even if most of you think it is. Like this we’re all connected, all together. Life before this, life not being connected, is so empty and boring. Joining us, connecting to the mycelium, makes everything better. There’s nothing to worry about, being with us.”

Scar pausing is what snaps Grian out of his trance, realizing he was approaching Scar unconscious. He takes a half a step back, digging his talons into the ground to steady himself, the other’s smile falters slightly. “I think there’s definitely things to worry about.”

“The only thing to really worry about is those guys in the HEP,” Scar says, gaze unwavering.

“You know that I’m a part of the HEP too, right?” Grian asks without thinking.

“I’m aware,” Scar replies, “you all are. And you all need to understand that connecting with us is better then resisting it.” Grian shifts, not answering. Scar takes a few steps closer to Grian, closing even more distance between them. He’s still far enough away to be safe, but Scar can close the remaining distance rather easily. “C’mon Gri,” he whispers, voice oh so gentle. “Come with me, I miss you.”

What does it say about Grian that Scar’s tone alone is nearly enough for him to give in? His words hold so much weight to them, and Grian so desperately wishes they’re true. If he agrees, he can get what he’s wanted for a while now, but… it can also be a trap. Scar holds his hand out, an offer, silent and unmoving.

Grian stares at it, he can leave if he wants to, and Scar hasn’t tried to turn him forcefully. Does this mean he’s being honest? Is it worth the risk? Well, if he isn’t, then he’d be a mindless drone then. Probably. They seem mindless. He won’t have to live in fear either way.

“Does… will it hurt?” He whispers eventually.

Scar gives him a gentle smile, “I’d never hurt you.”

Grian shouldn’t, he really shouldn’t, but is it really so bad if he wants to? He meets Scar’s eyes again, so full of love. It’s a lot easier then it should be to close the distance between them and take Father Spore’s hand. An agreement. To what terms, Grian isn’t fully sure. This close he can feel the spores.

The moment he grabs Scar’s hand, he’s yanked forwards, Scar’s other hand cradling his head to pull him into a kiss. Grian gasps as their lips meet, very quickly melting into it. He drops Scar’s hand to wrap both arms around his shoulders, drawing him closer. He can feel the spores tickle his lungs with every inhale through his nose. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant.

Grian eagerly parts his lips when he feels Scar lick them. While he expects a lot of strange things about Scar post his… change, nothing could have prepared Grian for his saliva to have the consistency and taste of nectar. The avian shudders as their tongues curl against each other’s, he considers this a massive improvement. Not that kissing Scar would’ve been bad before this, he just thinks it would be better now.

Despite how amazing it feels, Grian pulls back, suddenly feeling extremely dizzy, mind foggy. He struggles to think of the cause for the sudden dizziness, his mind is lagging too much to do so. Scar runs his hands along Grian’s arms before pulling him in close, letting Grian lean against him. “It’s okay, songbird, go to sleep,” he murmurs. “You’ll feel better in the morning… way, way, better.”

With Scar’s soothing voice in his ear, Grian lets himself fall asleep in the other’s arms, trusting him completely.

[all54321]

Mother Spore!?

Some time ago I wrote a scene of Pearl and Cub learning about Mother Spore. I scrapped the scene but I do like the idea of it still. So here’s (most of) HEP’s reaction to it. I might rewrite that first part later, unsure right now.

—————

Grian twirls the pen in his hand as they wait to connect. Only part of the HEP is present, due to how urgent Cub and Pearl’s message was. It’s a good amount of them still for being last minute. The pair had been the heads of the research into the mycelium, which makes Grian worry about what they want. Of course it could also be good news for them. Grian can feel how present Scar is in his mind.

The screen lights up as the video call connects. Pearl and Cub taking up most of the screen. Pearl is holding a clipboard in her hands, tapping her own pen in her hands.

“We got as many people as we could under short notice,” Mumbo starts. “What’s up?”

Cub grimaces, “nothing good.”

Grian stills his movements, “what happened?”

“We were talking to one of the infected,” Pearl gestures her clipboard, “when they said something interesting.”

Cub nods and continues, “towards the end of the talk, they mentioned a Mother Spore.”

Grian completely drops his pen in shock, Mumbo also seems too stunned to speak. Bdubs, of course, isn’t, “Mother Spore!?”

Pearl nods, “they refused to tell us anything about this Mother Spore, but they seem to be seen in as high of regard as Father Spore is.”

Mumbo swallows, “so there’s another leader?”

“It seems that way,” Cub agrees.

“Did this… infected say anything else besides about them existing?” Grian asks, trying to hide his nerves as best as he can. He’s not worried about his sporeling outing him, but the HEP being aware of him isn’t ideal.

“Unfortunately, no. They just kept repeating that their ‘Mother and Father’ would like to speak to us themselves. They refused to say anything else.”

Grian hums, he should have expected that. Grian might not want to talk to them, but Scar definitely does. It makes sense that their sporeling would start only responding with deflecting things to them since they would never disobey him and Scar. This does worry Grian about what they’ve been asking them though. How far did they push?

“There are a few ways we can take this Mother Spore’s silence,” Pearl continues. “The two most likely options are that they’re either plotting their next move or possible appearance, or that they’re just running whatever place all the infected are staying at while Father Spore ‘recruits.’”

Both are wrong~ Scar sing-songs, almost smugly.

Mhm, Grian replies, a little bit relieved. They’re not onto him quite yet.

Of course not, songbird.

“This is rather bad news,” Xisuma agrees.

“So we have absolutely no information?” Mumbo asks, worry obvious.

Cub nods, “I’ll try asking them more later, but it’s unlikely we’ll get a different response. You’ll have to tread more cautiously from now on.”

“Including keeping this on the down low,” Pearl adds. “If Mother Spore is as strong as Father Spore, then they can be a kind of trump card. Something up the resistance’s sleeves to use in an emergency. We can use us knowing already to our advantage in that case.”

That might have worked, Scar comments, If only they weren’t talking directly to you, my dear Mother Spore.

Grian tries to keep his blush down, yeah.

—————

Sorry for the sudden end, I wasn’t sure how to continue it past here.

[all54321]

A Siblings’ Chat

After struggling with part 2 of “A ‘Chance’ Encounter,” I decided to write a possible scenario. I’m not sure if it will be canon in the end, but I had the idea. This takes place soon after Grian is outed as a spy, which is far into this AU’s timeline.

In this AU, Grian, Pearl, and Jimmy are all siblings, and are also avians. Grian has parrot wings, Pearl has owl wings, and Jimmy has canary wings. Grian lived on this island for a while now, Pearl moved when things started getting serious and started helping Cub, and Jimmy just came in after hearing about Grian. Also Flower Ranchers is canon in this AU.

—————

Pearl stares past the quarantine police lines, at the mycelium and mushrooms growing out of the road, sidewalk, around and even through buildings. It’s done a number one the places it’s reached and spreading farther every day. She supposes that having someone on the inside helped stall a lot of their progress in keeping it from spreading, not that she enjoys thinking about it that way.

“Pearl!” A voice calls to her, a strange mix of cheery and mournful.

She turns to face her brother, “hey Jimmy.” Pearl wishes she can have more enthusiasm at seeing her brother again after so long, but it’s hard in this situation.

He walks up beside her, staring past the border, “I didn’t expect it to be this bad.” A pause, “it’s great to see you again, I wish it was in a better situation.”

“Yeah,” Pearl murmurs, unsure what else to say.

After hesitating, Jimmy quietly asks, “Grian’s out there?”

She nods, “after we found out he was infected, he bolted very quickly. Gone before any of us could say anything.” She sighs, “we haven’t seen him since.”

“Do you know where out there?”

Pearl shakes her head, “nope. No one’s brave enough to venture into that forest to find their camp. Especially since stepping foot on the mycelium immediately alerts Father Spore. No one has even gotten close to the forest before he arrives, either infecting them or chasing them off.”

Jimmy stares towards the trees in thought, “would Grian come?”

“Maybe,” she murmurs, “but is it really worth the risk to try? The area itself is rather infectious.” Pearl frowns in thought, “if we stay on the edge, we might be safe, but it’s unlikely they’d come out to speak with us unless we go farther out.”

Jimmy sighs, “I suppose so, it was worth a try at least. I’ll help you however I can, to get our brother back.”

Pearl’s only half listening now, thinking on Jimmy’s suggestion. She’s been studying this stuff for a long time now, she knows a lot about it. Her and Cub also have theories that would be interesting to figure out. Mostly, she’s just hoping to see her brother again.

Without a word, she ducks under the police tape and steps onto the mycelium’s territory. Only standing at the edge of it, firmly inside, but close enough to the edge to flee to safety.

“Pearl!?” Jimmy exclaims in confusion, joining her after a bit of hesitation. He looks around at the area nervously.

“It’s safe if we don’t stray far inside,” she murmurs, “but if we can get Grian’s attention… it’s worth every chance to speak to him.” Jimmy nods, looking hesitant.

It doesn’t take too long for a figure to exit the woods, approaching them carefully. He stops a decent ways away, both hands on his cane as he studies them. “What brings you here on this fine day?”

“We’re here for our brother,” Pearl says, staring him down.

Scar doesn’t seem bothered, “Grian is home now, he doesn’t want to go back.”

“We just want to talk to him,” Jimmy presses, looking at the mushroom covered man nervously.

After staring at them in silence for a minute, he turns around partially and glances into the woods, “they don’t seem willing to leave, songbird.”

Immediately after he finishes speaking, Grian himself emerges from the forest, joining Scar and staring at them carefully, “Pearl. Tim.”

Jimmy opens his mouth, before quickly closing it. Pearl studies her brother, taking in the full effect of his infection. Mushrooms sprouted from his lower neck, dropping down under his collar. Several are also spread along his arms and legs. How had they not noticed before? Probably because of his careful outfit choice. He’s now wearing a lower collar T-shirt in comparison to his usual turtleneck sweater. Pearl can only guess it’s to let the mushrooms on him breath. Same for the shorts he now wears and lack of gloves.

“Grian,” Pearl starts, suddenly unsure.

“I won’t go back,” Grian says, cutting any possible response off. “I’m not welcome and I have no interest in becoming your lab rat.”

“That’s not what we’re here for.”

“What are you here for?”

“To talk to you,” Jimmy says, eyes focused of their brother.

Grian softens a little, “I missed you a lot, Timmy. Unfortunate timing to visit.” He pauses, sharing a glance with Scar, “or maybe fortunate.”

He tenses, “what do you mean?”

Grian takes a cautious step forwards, closer but still a safe distance away. “Join us, connect to the mycelium and let it care for you. Life is better this way.”

Pearl shakes her head, “no. No way. That’s crazy.”

“Pearl,” he whispers, before sighing, “I get how it may sounds to you, but what I say is true.” He turns to look at Jimmy again, “this isn’t just an invite for you. You can bring Scott and Tango here too.” He looks back at Scar briefly, “you can feel connected to them in ways you can never imagine.”

Pearl steps in between them before he can continue, “Grian, we are not joining your weird mushroom thing.” He makes an offended noise but Pearl continues, “we’re worried about you and want to help.”

Grian’s expression suddenly turns steely as he steps back to stand beside Scar again, “I don’t need help. My life is perfectly fine, better even, since I’ve connected to the mycelium. This is home, it’s everything I’ve always wanted. The only thing I want now is for you to join me.”

Pearl shakes her head, “Grian, think logically please. We miss you and just want you back.”

He sighs, “this conversation will go no where. You’re always welcome to join us.” Grian turns around, “let’s go Scar.”

“Wait, Grian!” Jimmy calls, stepping around Pearl, but he falters when Grian looks back at him.

At his silence, he continues to walk away. After studying them for a few more seconds, Scar turns and follows him away.

Pearl can’t help but feel disappointed at the conversation and herself. She had so many things to say to her brother, but could barely get anything out. He’s not a lost cause, she just needs to work harder. Pearl will save him, no matter the cost. She places a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly, “we’ll get him back, no matter what.”

—————

Edit: Forgot to mention that during the brief moment Scar was silent at the start was him talking to Grian through the hivemind. Him calling to Grian out loud was just to cover up that they can do that. They’re not interested in sharing that they can telepathically communicate via a hivemind to those not willing to join it. They vaguely refer to it, but not in detail.

[all54321]

Father Spore Sneak Peak!

One thing I’ve always struggled with in this AU is how the other hermits join and who are the first few. I suddenly got an idea for a scene and had to write it. This will how things will go in the full book, but since it’s still a while away it might be very different.

Since Stress quite literally fell into the Mycelium Resistance HQ in canon, why not have her find their base here!

Since this AU hasn’t gotten an update in a while, I decided to post a part of this.

—————

“This is a horrible idea,” Grian says, fidgeting with his oxygen tank.

“Well, we’re not getting anything done sitting around,” Stress replies.

He turns around to meet her eyes, “walking into the heat of doesn’t seem like the best idea still.

Careful songbird, Scar says, don’t discourage her too much.

If I don’t try, it will be suspicious, Grian counters. Scar just hums in response.

“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“I’m not just going to let you go in alone,” Grian tells her, forcing a type of resignation into his tone. “I can’t tell if not telling anyone is a good or bad idea,” he mutters.

“Elaborate?” Stress answers, turning around to do final checks on her oxygen tank.

“Good since if others knew they would definitely stop us, bad since if something happens no one would know,” Grian explains, although the bad is actually very good here. Stress disappearing but Grian not would cause too many suspicions since they were last together.

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure nothing happens,” she puts on the tank and easily secures it, “are you all set?”

“Yup,” Grian replies, putting on his own very sabotaged air tank. The idea of breathing in very filtered air does not appeal to him. He may not breath out spores like Scar does, but breathing in extremely filtered air still isn’t comfortable to him. “Let’s get this over quickly.”

“Yup,” Stress replies, leading them straight towards mycelium territory. Grian follows after her silently. Having been right beside it, it doesn’t take them too long to reach the main forest they reside it. Only a few steps inside she breaks the silence, “mask on.”

“Yeah,” Grian quickly puts on his mask and turns on the now nearly empty air tank, cringing as he breathes in the air. He takes out the notepad and pen he brought along, writing out the observations Stress is making. He doesn’t make any observations himself, knowing this place inside and out.

Grian stays completely silent as he follows Stress, not really focusing on the surrounding area. He’s also zoning out from the hivemind since it’s mostly just Scar keeping everyone out of sight from Stress for now. Until Scar himself decides to join them, at some point in time.

Grian doesn’t notice where they’re going until Stress stops and trails off, “…woah.”

Grian looks up a makes a noise in surprise, staring around at a very familiar area. Stress walked straight into their home camp.

Finally realized, dear? Scar murmurs into his mind.

What’s your plan here? Grian replies, still in shock.

Just wait, he replies.

Grian huffs mentally and follows Stress further in, who is looking around in awe. “This place looks incredible,” she says.

“Yeah,” he whispers, mimicking the tone he had when he first saw the place.

Stress doesn’t look back at him, continuing on forwards, “I had no idea that a place like this could even exist.” She turns a corner and immediately screams.

Grian hurries to catch up, but stops when he sees Scar standing in front of them, a wide grin spread across his face, “why hello there.”

She takes a step back, “you- Father Spore-“

“The one and only,” he replies cheerfully, taking a step closer to them.

Stress goes to take another step back, but Grian puts a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She looks behind her, eyes wide, “Grian?”

He grins, “we can’t have you leaving just yet.” As if to solidify where he stands, he removes his mask and drops the air tank. “Since you’re here, why don’t we have a chat?”

[all54321]

I’ve decided to turn the Father Spore Spy AU one shots into a full book. I’ll still make one shots/snippets, but I’ll also be making full chapters.

For story updates, I’ll post the link to AO3 chapter and then put the chapter under the cut here, since each chapter should be longer then the one shots.

Scar stares at the pair, surprised, of course that’s nothing compared to the shock on their faces. It makes sense, considering how this whole time Mumbo and Grian didn’t seem like they expected to win. He found it strange for them to put so much effort into this but not expect to win. Yet here they are now with Mumbo as their newly elected mayor.

Scar watches Mumbo give his speech for a while, before deciding to leave. They’re going to be busy for a while, he’ll congratulate them later. He could use a walk anyways. Scar easily slips past the crowd, none of them paying him much attention.

It doesn’t take him too long to reach where the town borders a forest, to reach one of the few trails in it. It’s a nice day out, at the very least. He lets his mind wander as he follows the familiar path, pondering what to do next. He spent so much time trying to win the election, he’s not sure what to do next.

Scar gets abruptly pulled from his thoughts when he trips over a root, barely managing to catch himself from falling. He frowns as he looks around, he was so certain he knew where he was going, but he has no idea where he is now. If he continues straight he should reach the end of the island and reorient himself that way.

Scar continues forwards, looking around for any sign of the initial “trail,” or the ocean, as he goes. He’s so distracted trying to find his bearings, he doesn’t notice the sagging earth until he steps on it. It immediately gives in under his weight, and he falls with a shout. He yells again in pain when he lands.

It wasn’t that far of a drop and the ground wasn’t that hard, but he definitely didn’t land correctly. Scar pushes himself into a sitting position, wincing lightly. He looks around the place he fell into, noticing that it’s some kind of small cave. There are patches of mushrooms everywhere, of all different kinds. Scar only recognizes some of them.

He looks up, sighing at the distance. It wasn’t too long of a fall, but definitely far enough that he can’t climb out again. Scar looks to the only other direction he can go, into the complete darkness. He really doesn’t like his options here. There’s an unfortunately slim chance that any of his friends will find him here, so waiting isn’t a hopeful outlook. Walking farther into a dark cave also doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Scar carefully stands up, wincing again, he really hopes he didn’t get too hurt from the fall. As he contemplates what to do, he notices the earthy scent to the air. It’s incredibly strong and… thick? Something tells Scar not to breath it in, but… he doesn’t understand why, it smells rather pleasant. There is something off about it, something he can’t place.

As he tries to figure it out, the dark tunnel starts glowing. Scar stares in surprise as some of the mushrooms along the walls and floor start glowing in a beautiful blue color. It feels inviting.

Come to us.

Scar starts walking before he can even think if this is a good idea or not. The glow is very enticing after all. He follows the mushrooms in a near complete daze. It only shatters when he notices a fork in the path. The part of him insisting that something is wrong here urges him to go down the pitch black path. Scar considers listening to it this time, but… he turns to look down the other path, faintly lit by the mushrooms. Why go through the darkness when he can continue to follow the mushrooms? Especially with how they encourage him to follow them.

Scar continues to follow them, fully trusting in whatever beckons him closer. It’s not much farther when he reaches another dead end, but this time the whole room is covered in mushrooms and mycelium. Mushrooms bigger then Scar has ever seen before. He looks around in amazement. He walks more into the room, looking around at everything, faintly illuminated with the few glowing mushrooms.

Touch me.

He curiously reaches a hand out, resting it against one of the biggest mushrooms. It feels like nothing he’s ever felt before. Scar covers his mouth as he coughs, fully snapping out of his daze and realizing how dense the air is. He needs to find open air again. He pulls his hand back and turns around.

Scar doesn’t even take a full step before he starts to feel extremely dizzy. He staggers before falling to the ground, which is a lot softer then what he fell on earlier. He should probably feel more panic, but something is whispering in his head, something comforting.

When Scar opens his eyes again, he can only feel ease. He can also feel a lot more then just himself. He sits up, only feeling slightly sore now. The mushrooms are no longer glowing, but he can see perfectly fine in the dark. He feels a purring in his mind and turns to the collection of giant and… strange mushrooms.

“You called me here,” he murmurs, somewhat awed.

He feels some kind of hum in his very being, he takes that for confirmation.

“What do you want from me?”

Flickers of mushrooms and mycelium spreading through and out of the forest flash through his mind.

His blinks the imagines out of his eyes, “you want me to help spread mycelium?”

Another affirmative hum.

Scar takes a moment to think about that. Takes a moment to think of why he didn’t immediately think of that. He carefully stands up, fully. “Of course I’ll help. I’ll help you spread your reach across the entire island.”

He feels a shiver throughout his entire body as the mycelium hums again. Something tingly, but also pleasant. Scar really wants to do what this thing wants, he feels like only good things will come from this.

“I’ll begin now,” Scar murmurs.

[all54321]

A Father Spore Teaser

Since I’m struggling with Chapter 5, and I have ideas for Chapter 6, here’s something that may appear in it.

Earlier in the chapter Scar returned to the Clubhouse. He has also regained full control over himself and his actions.

—————

Scar stands on the edge of his territory, staring out into the city. There isn’t anyone nearby, which is both surprising and not. He isn’t going to lie about the strong longing in him, it’s not new after all. Different now, but it was always there.

He sighs, Grian is probably at Mumbo’s side, like he often is, especially now that Mumbo is mayor. It’s impossible for Scar to contact him at the moment. Not without going into the city, at least. Which is an extreme risk at this point in time.

Scar reaches into his pocket and pulls out the note Grian left for him. He unfolds it and runs a thumb across the letters. What he wouldn’t do to speak to him. Scar looks back into the town, well, if he’s cautious he can probably track down Grian.

The true issue is convincing Grian to join him. There is one possible way to at least help his chances. Or ruin them completely. He’s going to need to come up with a more solid plan before talking to Grian if he wants to succeed.

He turns around and returns to the forest. Scar has a lot of planning to do, both with Grian and his goal to take over the island.

[all54321]

A sneak peak at the next part I’m working on. It’s going to be longer, but I’m struggling to write some parts of it. So here’s a sneak peak of just after Grian joins the hivemind (the full scene has before and after this). Also, main focus Scarian finally?

—————

When Grian starts waking up, the first thing he notices, is that he’s laying on something very warm and comforting. Next is that there’s a strong earthy sent around him, it’s pleasant. He snuggles back into the warmth, it’s nice. He hears a quiet laugh when he does.

The realization that he’s not alone startles him into wakefulness. When Grian’s mind is no longer half asleep, he realizes that he’s not exactly alone in there either. He can feel a strong connection to the world around him. He can feel it in his very being. Weird.

Scar laughs again at that, causing Grian to open his eyes and look up at the other. Scar is staring down at him lovingly, combing through his hair gently with a hand. “Welcome back, sleeping beauty.”

“Huh?” Grian mumbles, head still feeling somewhat foggy.

“You passed out. It’s a side effect, don’t worry,” Scar assures before he can ask.

“Ah,” Grian mumbles, the details coming back to him. He buries his face back into the crook of Scar’s neck, “things are still foggy.”

“It’s probably because you just became connected to the hivemind, it has been busy lately.”

“Hive what now?” Grian mumbles.

This. Scar’s voice echoes in his head.

Grian jolts away from the other, “what was that!?”

“The hivemind,” Scar replies simply. He gestures around them, “everything here is connected. The more the mycelium spreads, the farther the hivemind reaches.”

Grian takes this moment to look around where they are. It looks to be a normal bedroom, except with tons of mushrooms and other plant life growing everywhere.

“This is where I’ve been living,” he explains, noticing Grian looking around.

He takes in the room again, this time focusing on the hivemind, intrigued by it. He can feel the room around them. Everything about it, really.

“Most parts of this house are made with some kind of plant life,” Scar explains.

Grian quickly snaps his head over to look at him, “are you reading my mind!?”

He looks a little sheepish, “yeah… you’re unconsciously letting them seep into the hivemind.”

“Oh,” Grian murmurs.

“You’ll get used to it,” Scar says with a smile.

“How long?”

He shrugs, “not sure, it wasn’t big when I first connected, so it’ll be different.”

“Huh,” Grian murmurs, getting lost in his thoughts about everything that he ‘learned’ from their research. They figured that Scar can communicate with everything somehow, but an entire hivemind? It’s a little overwhelming, but nice. Grian doesn’t think he’ll mind adjusting to this.

“Good,” Scar murmurs, grabbing his hands and lacing their fingers together, “because I want you to help me control it.”

“What!?” Grian stares at his… at Scar in shock.

Scar squeezes his hands, “Gri, I love you, have for a while now, I’ve wanted you to join us this whole time. If I could have anyone join me with this, it would be you.”

“I- Scar-“ Grian stammers, at a loss for words. “I-I love you too, but…”

“I’ll teach you everything you need to know,” Scar promises, seeming to understand his worries, probably hearing his thoughts.

Grian can feel something intense from the hivemind, some feeling that he can’t place, but it feels good. He wants to know more, learn everything about this.

Scar gives him a dazzling smile, “it wants you, they want you.”

The avian swallows nervously, that’s suddenly a lot of pressure, from something he barely understands. Yet he doesn’t even want to think about saying no. Why was it even a consideration before? Why would he ever deny what the hivemind wants?

—————

Btw, Scar is not the one who is convincing Grian to say yes. It’s the source of the mycelium and hivemind. It sees the same potential in Grian that it did Scar, so it’s making him want to agree. It may not have primary control anymore, but it still holds a lot.

Grian did willingly let Scar infect him, but it doesn’t mean he’s prepared for what comes with it. He’s calm about most of this because the hivemind made him consider this as normal. So he’s naturally calm about this.

On the reading minds bit, it is possible to stop that from happening, with practice. While this stops passive listening, if Scar chooses to listen to someone’s thoughts, he can do it. The person willing or not.