#i know i have posted starter calls and i never answer them.

[a-shadowedvales]

so, what if this was a small starter call, and y’all liked it? 👀

[austerulous]

Rules have been updated.  You’ll find the gist of what’s been tweaked in the tags. I’m gaming tonight but I’ve got tomorrow free, so I’ll be around then. ♡

[marleyybluu]

Truth or Drink 2

Pedro x fem!reader

WC: 1.4k

omg not her posting another Pedro one after she said she wouldn't for a while... not sorry

Same spots. Same interview but under different circumstances. The makeup artist added the finishing touches to your face. Pedro was in awe of you as usual like a smitten kitten, love was written all over his face. You could feel it, you didn't even have to ask if he was looking at you. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" He innocently shrugged. You rolled your eyes.

The two of you were invited back for another segment of Truth or Drink but this time it was no movie promotion, though you two had separate projects going on, this was about your blossoming relationship. Since the last interview, you and Pedro had finally confessed your feelings to each other and it'd been a blissful ride ever since.

A whole year of surprise dates, endless compliments and kisses, whenever he touched you it made bumps form on your skin as if every time was the first. You too had never loved anyone the way you loved Pedro, you would do anything for him and you made sure he knew that. The makeup was done and soon it was time to record, you were a bit more nervous for this one because the crew had told you guys these questions would be different.

"You guys ready?"

"As always," Pedro answered. The cameraman counted down and pointed for you two to begin, but neither of you said anything. "Am I doing it first this time?" You asked. "By all means."

You blushed and looked at the camera. "Hello, I am YN YLN and this is my... boyfriend Pedro Pascal-" He uttered a giggle and covered his mouth soon after. You laughed hiding behind your hands, this interview might be more chaotic than the last one.

"What do you guys notice about this interview?"

"We didn't have to write our own questions." You answered. "We have pulled questions from various sources. Instagram, Twitter and even people you two are close to."

Pedro playfully frowned. "Shit."

"Same rules apply. You ask, you either say the truth or drink, and you can go ahead with a starter shot."

Pedro picked the drink this time, pouring his and about to pour yours until you stopped him. "Can I have this one, please? I asked them to get me this one." You politely informed pointing to the bottle in the middle. He shrugged pouring your shot and closing back the bottle before placing it back with the others, just like the last time you raised your glasses with a little nod and, "Salud." Once your drinks were down you asked the first question. "Where did you take me on our first date?"

Easy.

He became giggly all over again. "So, you've always said that you hate restaurants as a first date, too bland, too formal, so I booked out an entire arcade for the both of us and we were in there for hours."

You proudly nodded. "Best date ever."

"Good, I'm glad." He blushed. It was his turn to ask. He cleared his throat. "Do we have any pet names for each other?"

You winked. "You love my pet names. I call you Pedrito, Pookie, baby, love... papi Pascal." And judging by his reaction, that might be his favourite one. "My names for her are in Spanish though. So I'll call her mi amor, mi corazon, bébé... I think I'm missing one."

"Cariño." You added. "Oh yeah, she's my cariño."

You leaned back in your chair reading the next question. "What do you like about me, physically? Oh lord." Pedro rubbed his hands together and laughed menacingly, you hid behind your cards knowing he'll say the obvious answer. "Your boobs."

"Alright, interview over."

"No, no, no... relaaax." He played along. "I mean I do like your boobs, but, your eyes do it for me. They're so big and pretty and wondrous, they allow me to look into such a kind loving soul that puts up with me and my antics."

You pouted. "Aww,"

"Boobs are a close second though." He added. "I love your smile the most. When you smile or laugh your eyes close and it's the cutest fucking thing, your entire face lights up too and I could just squish you." You cooed.

You two continued your string of questions, so far nothing was asked that made you want to drink but you still took shots in between for entertainment and the fact that it's free liquor who was passing that up? The first round of questions, you were informed, were mostly from fans and that this round was from close friends and family so it was definitely about to get risqué. You sighed. "Do you think we have enough sex?"

Pedro beamed. "I think we may have too much for people with such busy schedules."

"Are you guys saying you do it whenever and wherever you can?"

You two nodded. "Have you ever done it at a movie premiere or something?"

He reached for the bottle and poured, both of your attempts at keeping a straight face were slowly failing, until you let out a snort that triggered Pedro's. You clinked glasses before taking the shot. "Do you think we'd last if we got married?" Pedro asked. You scrunched up your face, what a ridiculous question. "Of course. You are the most caring and kind person I've ever met, the way you treat me is insane, I've never had anyone love me the way you do," Your voice broke and your eyes burned, you fanned your face and giggled nervously. "Got me crying on camera and shit."

Pedro reached over grabbing your free hand, soothing you by caressing the back of your hand with his thumb. "You know I love you, mama."

"I know." You pouted. "I love you so much."

"I love you so much more." You rolled your eyes gently hitting his arm with the cards, he always had to get the last 'I love you.' He flashed that cute smile that made you melt 100 times over. "Come here," You didn't take even a second thought before getting up to sit on his lap, you rested your head on top of his while he held you close. "How long did it take you guys to say I love you?" One of the crew asked. "Three months," Pedro chuckled. "Truthfully I wanted to say it sooner."

You nodded. "Me too."

Last question. You had a surprise that came with this one. "Are you excited to be a new dad?"

The question didn't really register just yet. "Of course I am. I can't wait for us to start a family one day, and to have another cute face to wake up to. I mean I think maybe I'd wait until I could take a break and then that way I could spend all my time taking care of... wait."

It hit. "Am I excited to be a new dad? But we don't... you're not..."

Pedro bit his lip. "Are you pregnant?"

You reached into your back pocket and pulled out a folded picture of your first ultrasound. He broke. "YN... you're joking."

"I am not," You leaned in and pointed to the little dot. "That little peanut is ours."

Pedro sat speechless which was a rare occasion for him, he took the picture in his hand really trying to comprehend that he assisted in creating another life, that in just nine short months he'd get the one thing he deeply craved, that he yearned for. His own family.

He smiled as a tear slipped from his eye. You wiped it away kissing his temple. "Wait, so what have you been drinking?"

"Diluted apple juice," You answered, you turned the camera and pointed. "Which fucking sucks by the way so my faces were real."

The crew laughed. Pedro still stared at the photo, you rested your head on top of his. "You didn't answer my question. Truth or drink, are you excited to be a dad?"

"Of course, I'm fucking excited," He looked up at you, you pecked his lips. "Thank you," He whispered. "I love you." You whispered back.

"I love you more," He turned to the crew. "I guess the next time you see us we'll have another drinker in the mix." He joked. "Last time we ended this video as a potential couple and this one we are soon to be parents."

"When we come back we'll be married. I promise you that." He hinted. The cameras cut, the crew applauded and congratulated you two. Pedro grabbed your stuff and held them for you as you walked off-set. It's weird to think one little interview that involved a few shots would lead you to where you are now completely and utterly in love.

yes i made him a dad again. yes i warned yall i do this

if you liked this fic, feel free to like this fic. Comments and reblogs are appreciated. peace and love

tags @skyesthebomb

[shurislover]

Private But Not A Secret

Letitia x Black Reader

a lil soft launch , been in my drafts forever

warnings : none just Tish talking bout her baby 🥺

“ Alright so now we have the Wakanda Forever questions out the way. Let’s talk about your personal life, what do you enjoy doing on your free time ?”- The interviewer questioned

“ Aw man I really enjoy being out with my friends , I used to be such a homebody and now i’m trying to go out and have some fun. “

“ A night out with friends is always fun. I recently seen you were out in Jamaica. How was that ?”

“ Jamaica is so nice , I absolutely love being there. I definitely will be making plans to go there again this year. Have you been to Jamaica? “ - Letitia questioned

“ I’m actually going in 2 weeks , i’ve never been so i’m very excited to go“

“ You’re going to absolutely love it, and make sure try the KFC there , it’s so much better “- Letitia smiled

“ Definitely will be trying that . Now you know you have some very nosy fans as soon as they heard they could leave me questions to ask you they blew up my comments. I’m gonna ask you the main three I kept seeing. Is Ms Letitia Wright in a relationship?”

Letitia laughed and shook her head

“ Y’all so nosy “ - She laughed. Letitia felt her cheeks get hot as she started thinking about you.

“ Hmm. Should I tell you guys ? You know what, I’m gonna spill the beans, it’s been long enough I’ve been with my beautiful girlfriend for 2 years and she’s my everything. Crazy because our anniversary is today “- Letitia nodded

“For starters happy anniversary you two. Could you tell us more about her? What is she like ? Will we get to see her any time soon ?”

“ She’s the love of my life. I honestly cant imagine life without her. That woman is everything to me. We actually were childhood best friends, I lost contact with her once I moved to the UK. Then at the first Black Panther Premiere we ran into each other and honestly the rest is history. Two years ago today I asked her to be my girlfriend. It was such a nice set up, took her to Paris and asked her to be my girlfriend under the Eiffel Tower. And to answer the last question I will be keeping my baby private.

“ How come ?”-

“ I’m a very private person when it comes to my personal life. I want my baby to have a normal life. I want to make sure she’s safe when she’s not around me. I don’t want my nosy fans in her DMs or making her comments all about me since she does her little thing with TikTok , Youtube & Instagram. It was a mutual decision to keep it private and honestly keeping it private has been so nice, nobody bothering us or tagging us in each others posts and what not. I really love it. “

“ I get that 100 % , sometimes fans take it too far and it just ruins everything. I’m so glad you found someone who truly makes you happy. Where do you guys see yourselves in 5 years ?”

“ Married for sure , I can’t wait to marry her . Everyday she gives me a reason why I need to put a ring on her finger now. Hmm in 5 years maybe a baby. I believe she’d be a good mom, she’s amazing with my little sister, everytime I see them interact my heart jumps. Besides that I would love more roles in movies “

“ So what i’m hearing is the next time I interview you , Ms. Letitia Wright will be married with a baby on the way ?”

“ Depends on when you interview me but yes married and a baby on the way. “

“ Cant wait to see that and I’m wishing you and your girlfriend the best. Next question , did you ever expect to blow up on tiktok ?”

“ Honestly no , it was a shock to me. The whole world is crushing on me, you got everyone calling me their girlfriend or wife I think it’s cute. I don’t mind them at all, i really appreciate them. So many fans take so much time making edits and things like that I love them “

“ These fans really love you , okay so last question , can we expect anything new for you after Wakanda Forever ?”

“ Yes of course I can’t really tell you guys much I have two movies dropping soon and I’m very excited for everyone to watch. One movie i filmed a while back and this new movie is something new and I think you’ll love it.”

“ Cant wait to see your new projects , thank you so much for being here today and sharing everything with us. Hope to see you soon and enjoy your anniversary.

“ Thank you and I will be seeing you soon showing you wedding pictures and sonograms” - Letitia laughed

—-

babyboo 💍

you did amazing in your interview baby, come home soon i got dinner planned. i love you and travel safely

mi amor 🤭

love u so much baby, i’m in the uber on the way home. I picked you up a surprise. see you when I get home

letitiawright posted a video !

liked by dominiquethorne and 18,765 others

letitiawright my first love 😮‍💨

dreyamac finally !! been waiting for this

ayrastarr happy for you tish , cant wait to meet her

im.angelabassett miss you both

lupitanyongo oh ? so this is who you were blushing about on facetime ?

michaelbjordan happy for you lil sis

view all 98 comments



[red-riding-wood]

I’m so sorry about what happened to you and so many others. Disgusting misogynistic behavior. You all deserve so much better ):.

Also sending this bc I do believe he has made two new accounts. Drcranessweetestdoe and monsterfromthewoods. I have no proof these are him ,but it just strikes an absurd resemblance to his writing and he seemed to interact with both of them a few weeks ago. The first one hasn’t blogged in weeks either. Just seems strange. Once again though, I could be wrong. Just something for everyone to stay weary about. Stay safe ❤️

Thank you for the well wishes, anon! I really do appreciate you reaching out. <3

From my conversations with @drcranessweetestdoe, she does not behave like Kill (nor does her writing style compare to his), and I am pretty positive he is incapable (or at least very bad) at taking on different personalities since I believe I witnessed his attempt with the second account you mentioned. Aurora is very sweet, and she used to be a fan of Kill's writing and mine. I don't want people to be suspecting her of foul play because I do believe she is genuine. Kill has a pattern of reblogging fics as a way of seeing what victims he can latch onto and I see that as a coincidence with his reblog of Monster's.

As for @monsterfromthewoods... I was hesitant to make a callout, mainly because no one has actual solid proof that he is Kill. But, there is too much evidence for me to ignore, and I wanted to give my honest opinion and observations. Monster, if you are not this person, feel free to reach out and vouch for yourself, and if I am wrong, I am deeply sorry.

Fuck that. As I was typing this message up, I decided to check my DMs and noticed that my friend had said that he gave her the same name that, as of this morning, was revealed to me as his actual name along with his real picture and Facebook profile. That really sealed the deal for me. Here is the rest of my evidence to prove that this is "Kill":

Monster followed my friend around the same time that she blocked Kill.

Monster followed me the same day that I sent Kill a confrontational message, calling him out for his lies and pleading with him one last time for medical treatment and answers.

From the posts on Monster's account, and the one comment I know he made on my friend's post, his personality exactly fits Kill's. This is why I said I do not think he is capable or likely to be able to craft a believable persona.

Monster made a post about suicide, and a pro-Palestine post, the former of which Kill discussed with me a lot and the latter my friend pointed out as suspicious since Kill was also very strongly pro-Palestine. Seeing as Monster doesn't have that many posts yet on his blog, this isn't irrefutable evidence but it is very coincidental.

Lastly, I actually did my best to analyse and compare Kill and Monster's writing, since I had recalled a few things that stuck out to me when I read Kill's writing. Him and Monster share many similarities with their writing habits/consistencies. They are as follows (the examples listed are from 18+ content so please do not view if you are a minor):

Use periods and exclamation marks -- but never commas -- as punctuation to end dialogue tags.

Starter dialogue tag always facing outward. Like: ”So... Tight”

Tend to each use a snapshot style of writing, favouring incomplete sentences with frequent use of periods. Examples: K: "His mind, usually so sharp. Focused and organized like the most expensive machines. A killing machine, that worked in perpetual motion, living off killing, adrenaline used like a drug." M: "Your dear, understanding doctor. Doctor Jonathan Crane, who laughed out loud suddenly a couple moments ago. The dark colour covering his exotic looking eyes as he revealed his real nature to you."

Similarly, they both tend to avoid using possessive pronouns and determiners. Examples: K: "_ Pale, little pussy peaked from between her thighs." M: "The scars covering _ man's pale skin," _ = absence of "her, that, the," etc.

Often use adverbs after verbs in a way that feels out of place.

Capitalise after ellipses, always.

"Y/n" always has a lowercase "n".

Sometimes use three ellipses, often use only two.

Use "pants" but never "trousers".

Yeah, so, I may have spent way too much time on this. And I think most of this is redundant, now, especially after the name revelation, but still, I put work into it and didn't want it to go to complete waste lmao. I also had no idea until I was tagged today that apparently there are programs that do this sort of thing for you. Oops.

[rorimoon9597]

Lance has always been obsessed with Keith's hair for some reason. He didn't know why at first, but as time went on, it became so clear that he wanted to run his hands though it and feel it on his fingers.

He made comments about it being an ugly mullet to hide that fact. It didn't work, especially not when he confessed to Keith before he left for the Blade.

What? He was going to lose the chance to say anything anyway! And he was so happy when Keith kissed him to shut him up and told Lance that his feelings were reciprocated, he felt as if he were on cloud nine.

Since coming back from his fight with Shiro's clone (who they're forever going to refer to as Kuro as in 'Operation Kurone'), Keith has experienced some changes.

For starters, his eyes were more purple. Before they'd been a grey colour with purple undertones, but now they were properly purple. Then his canines were sharper, practically fangs, and his eyes would sometimes change. When he was angry, his irises would become slits and the sclera of his eyes would become yellow. It was hot, in Lance's humble opinion (Pidge called him an alien fucker when he said that at first. Lance said that Keith's dad was the true alien fucker. Shiro sprayed the water he was drinking everywhere and choked when he said that).

The most noticeable change happened to Keith's hair though. The ends of it lightened, until they were purple. It looked so cool, and it connected Keith to Krolia more. His hair stayed black, but now when it gets out it was purple.

Keith... Didn't think the same way as everyone else.

"I feel like I'm losing my dad. I've only ever looked like my mom, and the one thing that has ever connected me to my dad was my hair." The team had stopped on a planet for a rest, and Keith and Lance had gone off together to hunt down some meat and gather fruit and vegetables.

Lance stopped and grabbed Keith's wrist, forcing him to stop and turn to face him.

"You're still connected to your dad, Keith. It's just not entirely in your appearance," he said. Keith frowned.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Lance hummed.

"You said that he'd go head first into danger, right?"

"Yeah..?"

"And that he was a hero?"

"Where are you going with this?"

"According to your mom, your dad was kind, and reckless, and a hero and someone she loved enough to leave to keep safe."

"Mom said that?" Keith asked, sounding surprised. Lance nodded. "Where are you going with this anyway?"

"Because those are some things that you have in common with your dad," Lance answered. Keith opened his mouth, then closed it.

"... You're right," he eventually said. Keith reached up to his hair and fiddled with a purple end. "That stuff... Does connect me to my dad..."

"I'm never wrong about people things," Lance said, confidently. Keith smiled down at him (that had happened during the two year time dilation that Keith and Krolia went through, and Lance found that he liked having to look up over looking down).

"You know more about people than I do," he agreed. He pressed a kiss to Lance's forehead. "Thank you."

"Anything for you," Lance said. He pressed a kiss to Keith's lips. "Now, let's go catch something that Hunk can make into a good meal."

"Alright."

They worked quickly, and made their way back to the campsite with food that all of them could eat. Hunk was quick to take care of the food, Krolia helping him while Romelle stayed by Allura's side.

Lance sat on a log, and Keith settled himself between his legs. Kosmo flopped down with them.

Lance ran his hands through Keith's hair, smiling as Keith joked with the others and treated Shiro and Romelle like Lance treated his siblings - by annoying the hell out of them out of love.

Lance leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Keith's head.

"I love you," he whispered. Keith hummed, tilting his head to look up at him. There was a smile on his face reserved just for Lance.

"I love you too," he replied.

_______________________________________

Based off of this post I made

[bookished]

( a collection of sentence starters. adjust phrasing as necessary.) feel free to make edits to better suit your muse, but please don’t edit or add on to the original post 💛

"It doesn't feel so monstrous after a while. I was being killed slowly, drowning in all the things I needed and how little anyone seemed to care. Unlike them, I'm a professional. I make it quick. Survival, THRIVING, isn't a sin. Why should I fear the light of day? It was the dark that held me in the night."

"I was once a man, a human just like you. I killed for my Lord. Sacrificed my all. Now, look at me. Look at us. Fighting against each other. Me for myself, and you for those who once employed me."

"I have found as much beauty in the Dark as I have in the Light"

“I must say, I am… surprised, you found it so easily.”

“One might think you had been to my house before.”

“Do I… occupy your thoughts?”

“I will make a new contract with you. I will give you any reward you desire, within my power to grant, if answer me that one question. Otherwise, punishment is in order for violating a term of our contract and betraying my trust.”

"If this is really the last time we're seeing each other, don't you have anything to say?"

“You can’t. You can’t kill me, love. It’s okay, I already know.”

"Why do you suddenly want to dance?" "It feels like a good opportunity to hold you close"

"Don't call me a monster when you're the one who made me into one."

"I am no sinner and you are no saint. Darling, tell me, what are we?"

"Don't worry, you'll be back to pushing me away and hissing threats in no time."

"Miss me already?"

"For someone that hates me, you sure stare at me a lot."

‘‘This isn’t how you avenge someone, darling. Make me fall for you deep and hard, have me totally swept by your tides, have me head over heels for you and then crumple up my feelings like they are made of paper, make me take you to all my favorite spots and make you listen to my private playlist. Leave your marks on everything I treasure before leaving me so that I never get over you even after you’ve done me the worst. And finally, when I am at my highest, shatter me into pieces and scatter me like powdered glass.’’

[damnfandomproblems]

5168:

You made some good points, but the tone of your post (angry and full of swears) made it very hard to read. Your post also made me realise that a lot of people don't know what "AI" is.

For starters, AI doesn't exist. What people have been calling AI are black box programs where a digital neural network is given an input and trained to give a desired output. They have been used in tonnes of stuff you interact with every day for years (social media algoritms, for example), it's just that "AI" is a buzzword so that's what everyones calling it now. It's also a very misleading name, because it implies there's a level of intelligence in the machine, when there isn't. There is no way to know why a black box program gives a particular output without getting experts to experiment with it until they find out.

Another thing people don't seem to realise (at leased in fandom spaces) is that "AI" has a lot of practical uses. In fandom spaces anything you hear about AI is likely about it being used to replace artists. This is of course bad. What you don't hear about is all of the useful things that neural networks can do in scientific fields. If you have a bunch of images that you need classified, unless you want a person to sit down and do all of them, training a neural network to do it is very useful. You do have to keep in mind that due to not being intelligent if a neural network doesn't know something it will just lie, but that's why you always have a human somewhere in the process.

I'm not really going to respond to your post because reading it again would frustrate me, so I'll simply say that I think "AI" in fandom spaces is a lot less black and white than a lot of people make it out to be. Not disclosing it was made by a neural network is obviously bad, and so is using it to replace actual artists in a situation where they would be paid, but there's a lot of grey areas. What if the options for someone are either using it or not having art for something? What about someone's personal roleplay that they never post anywhere? I don't have a definitive answer, because it's complicated and based on someones personal viewpoint. I think the arguments that say "AI is bad and no one should use it" miss a lot of the nuance that exists in the world. If you want to say you think all "AI" in fandom spaces is bad that's fine by me, but you need to understand that other people have different opinions and that they're not necissarily wrong. Angrily stating one side in a complicated issue will never make you look like the right person in a debate, and I know "calm debates about complicated topics" isn't exactlythe poin of a fandom vent blog, but when you post a stance on a complicated issue people are going to dissagree with you.

This ended up way longer than I thought it would, sorry!

Posting as a response to a previous problem.

[id-rather-be-an-outsider]

Fanboys

chapter 2: making friends

summary: follow y/n through her first day of the quarter!

word count: 1932

a/n: hehe I was very happy to make this chapter! I hope you enjoy! comment on the masterlist, send me a message or comment on this post to be added to the taglist!

When y/n’s alarm woke her up for the first day of Fall Quarter, she could already smell something heavenly cooking in the kitchen. As she dragged herself out of bed, she noticed it felt more like floating than dragging. Maybe this is why cartoon characters hover when they smell good food, she thought to herself, and she picked out her fit for the day.

Y/n figured that nothing could go wrong with lavender Nikes, an oversized lavender tank top tucked into pale gray sweats and a cute half up half down hairstyle with a scrunchy. She completed her look with a simple silver chain and matching hoop earrings, and of course she laid her edges, gelled her brows, and used some highlighter, opting to wait on lipgloss until she’d eaten breakfast.

She heard a knock on her door, and Nobara’s voice followed. “Y/n! Want to try my famous breakfast sandwich?” Before y/n could answer, Nobara opened the door, gasping. She eyed y/n up and down, then said, “I think I’m going to steal your style, because how have I never thought of pastels before?!”

Y/n felt her face heat up and she laughed. “If you can fit my clothes, feel free to borrow them whenever you want! But what’s this about a famous breakfast sandwich?”

Nobara blushed. “Actually, it’s not really mine. It’s our friend Toge’s recipe, but I stole it because it’s really good. But come try it!” She leaned forward and grabbed y/n’s wrist, dragging her out of her room and over to the kitchen counter, where Maki was already seated and chowing down, and two plated sandwiches were waiting to be devoured. Nobara sat in the middle seat, and turned to y/n. “Okay, get this. So, for starters, you toast these sourdough bread rounds, right? Then, you put mayo on each bread slice. Then, you put a piece of this super melty cheese on one of the slices. Then you make an egg over easy, so there’s still runny yolk in it, and add that. Finally, you put your lunch meat in the pan just to heat it up a smidge and put that on top, put your other slice of bread on top, and squish the egg so the yolk drips onto your plate and acts as a dipping sauce. I added seasonings to ours, but I didn’t know what you wanted on yours, so I left it plain and figured you’d tell me what you wanted next time. Now take a bite!” Nobara exclaimed, and y/n couldn’t help but see her as an excited golden retriever waiting to be called a good dog.

Y/n bit into it, and it tasted… “Good,” She said, “Way better than any Starbucks sandwich I’ve ever had. Thanks for making me food.”

Nobara beamed. “I like cooking, but I like eating Toge’s cooking more than anything. He’s just a genius at that stuff!” She sighed, seemingly day dreaming. I wonder if she likes that guy, y/n mused. Whoever he was.

In the middle of her morning class – a college success class – y/n’s phone dinged, and she mentally cursed herself for not turning it on silent beforehand. The few heads that swiveled in the sea of students quickly refocused their attention on the professor when he cleared his throat, and y/n mouthed a ‘sorry’ as she silenced it. Who was texting her this early?

When she checked, she noticed the name “tHe GwOrLz ChAt” in her text messages. That’s new, she thought to herself, and when she opened her phone, she hid a smile. It was her roommates.

Somehow, y/n couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous when the other students in her class started gathering their things. She felt butterflies in her stomach, her hands felt shaky, and she felt self-conscious, as if everyone in the room was watching her. Sure, maybe one or two students looked her way, but she wasn’t that famous. Not Lil Nas X famous, not even Em Beihold famous. She was more like… Avenue Beat famous, where she popped off with one song, and then got a steady enough following from that to be alright if she never went viral again.

Were these feelings first day jitters? Hardly. She knew what it really was. She wanted Nobara and Maki’s friends to like her, and if they didn’t? She stood the chance of losing her two new friends, and if their friends only saw y/n for her internet fame? She’d end up distancing herself and lose out on opportunities to spend time with the girls, because that’s what drove her out of her hometown in the first place.

As she made her way down the stairs, her shoes sounded like bricks on the floor to her ears, thudding almost as loud as her heart in her chest. She was so focused on her nerves, staring at her feet all the while, that she almost toppled over when she crashed into someone at the door of the classroom.

“O-oh!” Her voice cracked, “I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” She asked the guy, and thanked her lucky stars she’d finished her sentence before seeing his face, because… wow.

Long, jet-black hair, melty dark chocolate colored eyes, and a handsome smile to match, along with a completely unfazed demeanor. When he smiled at y/n, she experienced a blank mind for the first time in her life. “I’m perfectly fine. Are you okay? You seem a little out of it.”

Y/n squeezed her eyes shut and opened them back up, confirming for herself that what she was experiencing was real and that she was, in fact, okay. “No, yea! I’m all good. Just wasn’t watching where I was going. Sorry again.”

He smiled at her again, and this time, she noticed crinkles in the corners of his eyes. Somehow, a normal human feature for literally everyone was only sexy on him. “You’re okay,” he said. “See you around.” And walked away. He’s fine as fuck, y/n thought as she stood there, under a spell.

When he was out of sight, she finally remembered she was supposed to meet up with her friends. She hurried down the hall and out of the building, heading straight to the cafeteria, knowing she’d either spot them outside, or they’d spot her first.

“Y/n!” She heard her name being called, and turned to the right to see her two friends, and a group of guys — all ridiculously hot guys. She recognized each of them based on their descriptions. Yuta had his arm thrown around Maki’s neck and was giving her heart eyes, Toge was sitting next to them eating something, Nobara and Megumi were sitting next to each other sullenly, and Yuuji and Gojo were standing behind them, running around and laughing. From where y/n was standing, it looked like Gojo and Yuuji were the cause of Nobara and Megumi’s soured moods. Maki was waving to her, and Nobara looked up and over to y/n, her scowl being replaced with a smile of relief.

Y/n jogged over to all of them, and said, “Hey, guys! Where should I sit?”

“Oh! Sit right–”

“You can sit next to me, cutie. You know, I really like your music, but I’ve never gotten a tweet back. It breaks my heart, honestly.” Gojo cut Nobara off, tugging y/n by the wrist to sit down right next to him. As soon as y/n had come over, he’d quit his fooling around and had peered at her over his sunglasses, but she’d been too focused on the group as a whole to pay it mind – normally it would’ve left her flustered, but right then, all she was worried about was not making the entire group hate her.

“Oh, really?” Y/n asked him, “I see a lot of tweets from people, so I’m not super great about responding to fans on that account. Maybe uh, maybe I could retweet you?”

He pouted his lower lip. “Not even a follow back? After all I’ve done for you?”

Nobara cuts in. “All you’ve done for her is obsessively like and retweet all of her stuff and then invade her space bubble without introducing yourself, like the heathen you are.”

Gojo scoffed. “That’s called being a true fan. And anyways, I was about to tell you that my name is Gojo Satoru, but you can just call me Satoru. Am I allowed to call you by your real name, or do I have to call you Emile?”

Y/n felt Nobara’s glare and remembered what Nobara said. Never call him Satoru. “You can call me y/n, I’d rather that less people connected my face to my stage name.”

The pink haired boy sat down on y/n’s other side and said, “I’m Yuuji. I always wanted to know, what inspired you to start making music?” When y/n looked into his soft brown eyes, he looked like a sad puppy begging for a treat.

She laughed as she said, “Well, that’s a long story, but music’s always been there for me, and I’ve always connected with it emotionally.”

Yuuji’s face looked like it was buffering as he processed what she said. “I don’t know exactly what that means, but I think I understand half of it?”

Nobara rolled her eyes and chided him. “Then why did you ask her a complicated question if you weren’t gonna understand the complicated answer?”

Megumi said, “You’re expecting too much, Nobara.” His face softened a bit as he said, “I’m Megumi, by the way.” Y/n nodded at him, taking in his words at the same time that she took in his eyes being a deep, dark blue. They looked beautiful.

“And I’m Yuta! I hope we can become good friends.” Yuta said, planting a kiss on Maki’s cheek. “It’s what Maki wants, so it’s what I want, too.”

Maki furrowed her brows and lightly shoved him away. “Don’t say it like that! It sounds like you only care because I do.”

Yuta’s face reflected confusion. “What? I’m just saying that anything that matters to you matters equally to me. That’s not a crime!”

Y/n hid a smile. She knew what he meant, but it was sweet of Maki to worry about her feelings. “I think it’s nice, to have someone who values the same things as you.” She glanced over at the only person who hadn’t introduced himself yet, and her heart skipped a beat. It must be Toge.

He appears to perk up when their eyes meet. “I’m Toge. Nice to meet you.”

Y/n could feel in her bones that she would not be able to address them individually, so she said, “It’s nice to meet all of you, too.” She spotted that beautiful, raven-haired man from earlier heading through the cafeteria doors, and decided that was her cue to get up and grab food from the cafeteria. “I’m hungry. I’ll be back in a few!”

Everybody said their goodbyes, and when y/n entered the cafeteria, she gave a sigh of relief. She couldn’t believe she made it through that without embarrassing herself, especially after her mishap in her morning class. She was disappointed that she couldn’t see her gorgeous classmate, but she was not disappointed at the smell of seasoned food cooking in the kitchens. As she stepped into line and grabbed a tray, only one thought was on her mind:

This year is going to be very interesting.

chapter 1 << masterlist >> chapter 3

taglist: @kfmcykdy

[pengweng-quack]

Being a Witch with Vampires

Carlisle Cullen x Witch!OC

Summary: Stella (A witch) and Carlisle (A vampire), and how they blossomed from roommates to friends(?) to partners

Chapter 2/7

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Notes:

This was inspired by this fanfic on tumblr by lis-likes-fics titled "In My Defense, I Was Left Unsupervised"

This is also on Ao3 under the same title and same username too if you'd like to read it there (https://archiveofourown.org/works/53448940)

Posting is random lol, hope you guys enjoy this story

Word Count: 4609 words

TW for this chapter: SA mentions, blood mentions

Timeline: First Twilight to Start of New Moon

Masterlist

~2005~

“So, you’re telling me that Edward saved this girl, showing his vampiric speed to her? And his first thought into not revealing the Cullens was to gaslight her into thinking that it’s not true?” Stella asked Carlisle as he reads more about what happened in the report

“According to Alice, that’s what happened.” Carlisle calmly answered as the confident witch with him started thinking of ways to back Edward up on that one

“You think Edward did that due to other reasons?” Stella asked as she rested her head on Carlisle’s chair, reading the report behind her vegetarian vampire

“What are you thinking?” Carlisle asked her

“I don’t know, the possibility that the girl is Edward’s mate maybe.” Stella suggested, earning an understanding nod from Carlisle “It’s not the first time that a human was deemed to be a vampire mate. What’s your term for that, blood singer?”

“Edward will deny that, we have to ask Alice for a vision.” Carlisle agreed with her “And yes, you’re called blood singers.”

“Me included?” Stella asked, resting her hand on the chair to play with his hair

“Anyone that has a beating heart can be a vampire’s blood singer. That includes you.” Carlisle answered plainly, getting a whiff of Stella’s blood despite holding his breath

‘She’s so close.’

‘Very intoxicating.’

‘So, so, perfect.’

His thoughts were yelling at him, no amount of holding his breath could help when his blood singer was just behind him. She was addictive, and Carlisle had to do everything in him to stop his desires from taking her and offering her to be his mate then and there.

“So, like, if a vampire found their blood singer, does that make the blood singer the vampire’s mate?” Stella asked curiously

“Always.” Carlisle answered “Though it doesn’t work like that for witches though.”

“How’d you know?” Stella teased “Considered me to be your blood singer?”

Stella knew that her question was dangerous. Of course, she was Carlisle’s blood singer, there was a reason why he was so devoted to her despite thousands of humans and vampires alike that were throwing themselves to him. How he managed to have lived with her for so long despite being his blood singer still baffles her.

Would she have to change to a vampire for him?

Would he have to change into a witch for her?

She didn’t know.

“Well, for starters.” Carlisle pondered before answering her question “Your blood only leads to three scenarios; first, it could drive the vampire mad. The second one is that you will calm them, and you’ve seen how your blood calms us. The third one is rare, no one has lived to tell the tale, or so I’ve heard.”

“What is it?” Stella asked

“The vampire offers the witch to be their mate.” Carlisle answered “No one has ever told a story where the witch accepts the vampire’s offering. They always end in the vampire’s demise.”

“Where do you lie then?” Stella asked quietly, so quiet that if Carlisle didn’t have his vampiric senses, he wouldn’t have heard her

“For what it’s worth.” Carlisle answered in the same quiet tone “I would never pressure you into being my mate.”

At that moment, Stella wanted nothing more but for Carlisle to be lying. She wasn’t gonna be his demise.

She was gonna accept it with her whole heart.

She was gonna accept him with her whole heart.

She’s accepted him with her whole heart.

“You’re really smart, have I told you that?” Carlisle asked after a long silence, moving his head to the side and looking at her

He was so close to her face, he acknowledged to himself. One move and his lips would be touching hers…not that he wants that, right? His mind was confused, Carlisle knew that if he had a heart at that time, it would be thumping hard.

“Oh my god.” Stella said, rolling her eyes at him “You always tell me whenever I get any idea.”

“Well, all of your ideas are smart anyways.” Carlisle teased, leaving a small peck on Stella’s temple as a sense of assurance

~~

“Edward’s having Bella over today.” Alice announced. Stella and Carlisle exchanged glances, acknowledging that there was a good chance they were correct with their assumptions about the reasons why Edward had done what he had done for Bella.

“Then we must prepare something.” Carlisle invited to everyone “About time that someone else other than dear Stella over here uses the kitchen.”

“Not my fault that I’m the only one that could cook.” Stella said with a fake frown on her face

“Not our fault that we really don’t need to eat.” Carlisle said back, mocking the fake frown on Stella’s face

“Will they just date already?” Jasper whined quietly; it would be a shock if the two hadn’t heard what he said “We’ve dealt with this for far too long now.”

“Imagine what me and Edward had to deal with?” Rosalie asked him, rolling her eyes at their two coven leaders

“No wonder Edward is desperate for a mate.” Emmett joked

“Come on, enough with the teasing.” Stella lightly scolded to everyone “Anyone willing to go to the store to get some ingredients?”

“For what?” Jasper asked

“Is Bella Italian?” Stella asked, which was answered with shrugs from everyone “She’s Italian now. We’re cooking Carbonara.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Carlisle teased, mocking a salute at her

“You love me.” Stella teased, blowing a kiss at him

Stella was certain that everyone was hearing how hard her heart was beating. Part of her didn’t enjoy it when Carlisle flirted with her, it panics her because she fears that Carlisle has figured out what she feels for him. Though, some part in her enjoys when he’s flirty with her, it gives her some hope that maybe things would be like that for them in the future.

~~

“Rosie, stay here.” Stella ordered to Rosalie, who nodded in agreement as she quickly flees away from the Swan’s house. She had just gotten a call from James, and that he had Bella held hostage already.

With the help of her magic, she quickly made it to where Bella was. She was confident with her skills, but there was a high chance that she was outnumbered. So, she prepared for the worst

“And the witch came.” James taunted, seeing as she gets so defensive, preparing her magic

“Drop your defenses and I’ll let the girl go.” He added, his grip on Bella’s hair was painfully tight. With one gulp, one sign of her nervousness, she lowered her hands. She watched as James threw Bella in a further distance and moved to her with his speed

“I’ve always wondered what a witch would taste like, and now I have the chance to know.” He taunted. And just as he was to attack her, Stella casted a protection spell, throwing him a distance away from both him and Bella

“Bella, run!” Stella ordered, blasting spells at James and keeping him knocked down on the floor

It all happened too fast, James had gotten to Bella, biting her with the intention of drinking all her blood. But before he could even get a full taste, he was tackled down by Edward

“I’ll handle him!” Stella told Edward, using her magic to hold him back “Go get Bella!”

“You know I can’t—

James had used his speed to attack Stella, knocking the both of them down the wooden floor. And before Edward could tackle him away from her, Stella used all her strength to yell at Edward to attend Bella instead of helping her.

If she was bitten by a vampire, she would live, but it would weaken her at the time, maybe even causing her to pass out. She understood the stake of the venom being left in her body, but she also knew that if Bella was left alone, she would change. And the prospect of being transformed without Bella’s permission was bound to haunt Stella. Especially when she made the attempt to save her.

(TW: SA Mentions)

She was using all her physical strength to push James away off her. James did a bite on her neck, and another on her shoulder, and another on her arm, and another on her thighs. She felt the venom in her blood, causing her to yelp out in pain. James kept biting her, feeding on his desire to feast on a witch’s blood. She was trying to push James off her, tears starting to stream down her face as he continued to rip off parts of her clothes just to feed off her.

“So much for being the savior.” James taunted, ripping her top off fully before going and biting her again, this time, doing much deeper bites to where blood was dripping out of Stella’s body every time James pulls away “Now, you’ve just granted me to be the first to taste a witch and live to tell the tale.”

“You get close to her and I will feed off your human, go make your decision.” James quickly yelled, noticing that Edward was gonna rush him

“Edward, stay there!” Stella yelled at him; it was obvious that he was having a conflict in his thoughts “Bella needs you more!”

Stella lost count on how many bites James did on her, her head was spinning from all the venom in her. She was growing weaker, she felt that already. She couldn’t use her magic to help Edward and Bella as she was using it to keep herself awake from passing out

She felt at ease when James’ weight was removed of hers, she could faintly see Carlisle’s figure near her. She could see from her peripheral vision that Jasper and Emmett were dealing with James and Alice was with Bella and Edward, trying to see what she could help with

“Stella.” Carlisle called, shaking her lightly, removing his scarf and covering her bloodied torso

Carlisle’s dead heart broke when he saw Stella so bruised and battered up. He was internally panicking, seeing his confident witch crying in pain from what a monster like him did to her

Her whole torso had some sort of bite marks in it, some deeper than the others. James focused by her chest, where her heart rested. Some of her pants were ripped too, bite marks evident on her legs. James violated her, in more ways than one. He took his time on her, feasting on her as if she was a full-course meal.

And for that, he deserves a place deeper than hell.

(End of SA Mentions)

“Attend Bella.” She muttered, gathering strength to continue talking as Carlisle removed his coat to cover more of Stella’s bloodied body “N-needs its m-more.”

Carlisle wanted to argue, but he could only see one thing in Stella’s pleading eyes: Bella’s human, I’m not.

“Emmett, look out for her.” Carlisle ordered, knowing that if she didn’t listen to Stella’s order that it could lead to Bella’s end as human

Stella couldn’t fully understand the next few events as she too was struggling to keep her yells lowered. She was hearing Bella moan in pain, and Carlisle trying to help Edward find the will to stop from sucking Bella’s blood. She felt Emmett move her body to rest her in his lap. He was playing with her hair, whispers of ‘you’re so strong’ and ‘don’t give up’ was coming out of his mouth.

“Carlisle, you have to attend Stella now!” Emmett yelled, not knowing what to do with Stella’s cries of pain

“Stella, dear, are you hearing me right now?” Carlisle called, shaking her lightly, he rested her hand on her cheek, trying to shake her to get some kind of response from her

She could feel him shake her body, but the pain was too much to let out any way of response.

Carlisle felt Stella’s eyes on him. He looked back, her eyes said nothing other than pleading. She was pleading, no, begging, him to make the pain stop.

“You have to suck the venom out. You’re the most capable of keeping your control among all of us.” Jasper said, sensing the pain in Stella’s feelings “There’s too much venom in her; you have to act now.”

Stella couldn’t formulate words, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she felt the anguish. Carlisle's lips were on her neck in an instant, attempting to suck out all the venom that had flowed through her veins, which frightened her. When Carlisle knew that it became too much for Stella, his hands made their way to hers.

Carlisle backed away after he had a tiny taste of Stella's blood, telling him that all of the venom had been drained out. He felt in peace that he got to stop, only to find his confident witch unconscious. The image made his lifeless heart skip a beat. He quickly rested his head on her chest, seeking to hear some kind of heartbeat, even if it was a feeble one, to hold on and believe that she’s still alive. He started doing chest compressions on her, hoping that it will be enough to at least get her heart to start again

“She survives, Carlisle.” Alice assured him instantly “We have to take them both to the hospital, now.”

They quickly took both Bella and Stella to the hospital, Carlisle not once wanting to be separated from Stella. Emmett has called Rosalie as well and told her what happened, causing an angry Rosalie barging into Stella’s room.

“She’s resting.” Carlisle warned her

“And she’s acting reckless!” Rosalie argued. Rosalie and Stella had formed an unbreakable friendship as a result of her being the lady who helped her with her vengeance years ago.

“You think I haven’t acknowledged that?” Carlisle asked calmly. Rosalie, on the other hand, noticed that he was just as frightened as she was, if not more so.

“What happened?” Rosalie asked, calmer than how she was earlier

“She must have used herself as bait to allow Edward to save Bella.” Carlisle guessed

“Emmett told me—

“She forced me to attend to Bella’s aid first.” Carlisle continued “She begged me to.”

“Why did you listen to her?” Rosalie hissed angrily

“Vampire blood reacts differently with witch's blood. It wouldn't turn her into a vampire since the venom in a witch’s blood is stronger than a vampire’s venom. Vampire venom just makes her weak, but she's our strong witch, and we'll have her back in no time.” Carlisle said. Rosalie could see that he wasn't saying it to console her, but rather to persuade himself

“We’ll have her back.” Rosalie agreed, before sitting in silence with him

“Can I ask a question?” Rosalie asked after few minutes of silence

“I’m listening.” Carlisle answered

“Did she— did she suffer the same way that I did before you turned me?” Rosalie asked quietly

Carlisle kept quiet; he did not know how to respond, Rosalie’s death before being a vampire was a sensitive topic. Carlisle’s silence itself was an answer for Rosalie.

“Why— why did you let her?” Rosalie asked, a betrayed look on her face “I thought James wanted Bella, what changed?”

“James also wanted Bella at first.” Carlisle answered, vividly remembering how violated Stella looked after James has taken his time in feasting her

“Had a change of plans. Stella instructed Edward through mind that whatever happens, to not leave Bella because she was much more fragile than she was.” He continued as Rosalie covered her mouth in shock and disgust from what James did “Thought he would be able to be the first one to taste a witch’s blood and live to tell the tale.”

“Stella’s kind were considered myths among vampires, no one has lived to tell the tale of what a witch tastes like.” Carlisle said, opening another story to Rosalie

“Or the tale of being a witch’s mate, all witches have denied a vampire. Stella said that she’d denied multiple before being with me.” He continued

“What happens when a witch denies a vampire?” Rosalie asked

“It’s like a ritual, fully offering yourself to a witch.” Carlisle explained “When a witch denies a vampire, their magic takes all of the vampire. An exchange, as what she’ll say.”

“Has anyone ever lived to know what happens if a witch does accept the offering?” She asked quietly

“No one knows, all the vampires that we’re courageous enough to pursue a witch were all denied.” He answered

“No one except you.” Rosalie corrected “You’ll live to know because she’s your blood singer. And you know she’ll accept you if you ever ask.”

“How’d you know?” Carlisle asked quietly

“No one needed telepathy to know that you two were mates.” Rosalie answered cooly

“Rosie, you know what a witch’s blood could do to us.” Carlisle said back quietly

“You said that the third one was up to the witch.” Rosalie immediately argued “How sure are you that Stella would not accept your offering?”

“How sure are you that I would be able to offer?” Carlisle asked her “Anyone who knows how to offer could offer to be her mate, especially the Volturi.”

“But she has to accept the offering.” She argued, acting as if she knew everything about what it means to being a witch

“She will accept yours wholeheartedly, Carlisle. You two didn’t spend 300 years for nothing.” Rosalie added

‘She made a great point’ Carlisle thought to himself. Stella could decline anyone’s offer to be their mate and it would be like nothing for her too.

So, what difference did he have from the others for Rosalie to think that Stella will wholeheartedly accept him?

~~

It was Bella’s birthday. Everyone was indulging Alice into throwing a party for her. It made Stella giggle that even Bella wasn’t into the idea of it.

“Do we have to join?” Rosalie asked as she was getting ready

“Oh hush,” Stella scolded lightly “It’s just a day. And I promised to get you that new car that you’ve been eyeing.”

“She doesn’t want this just as much as I do.” Rosalie whined quietly, looking at herself at mirror in Stella and Carlisle’s room.

Why do they have such a wonderful room when only one of them needed to sleep? Rosalie questions

“You ready girls?” Carlisle asked, knocking softly and opening the door

“Yeah, about to go out now.” Rosalie answered “And for the love of god, please get Stella to dress you up.”

“I know, I know.” Carlisle said, throwing his hands up in the air in defeat as Rosalie leaves the room

“She doesn’t want to join the party, does she?” Carlisle asked, getting ready as Stella stays in the room to accompany him

“She’ll warm up.” Stella said with a soft smile “She just needs time.”

“Do I look good?” Carlisle asked, facing Stella

“You always do, don’t listen to the kids.” Stella answered earnestly

‘You’re the most divine being that has graced this world.’ She wanted to say. She knew that Carlisle was scared of even thinking that they were mates in fear that she would deny him if he ever offered.

Not once has she thought of denying his offer.

The party looked wonderful, Rosalie gifted Bella a necklace (though it was actually Alice, she just wanted her sister to look good to Bella), Emmett gifted her a sound system for her truck. While Stella and Carlisle gifted her plane tickets, teasing that she’s turned a bit paler.

All hell broke loose when Bella opened the (unofficial) couple’s gift, having gotten a papercut, which triggered Jasper. Edward pushed Bella to the wall, causing her to get a deeper wound and trigger Jasper some more

Watching all of this, Stella broke one of the vases near her and wounded herself on her palm, causing the room to calm down because of her blood.

“Take Jasper out,” Carlisle ordered to Emmett, soon everyone followed the two

“Stay,” Carlisle asked to Stella who was following behind Edward “Let me just wrap up Bella.”

“I’ll be just fine,” Stella comforted “The kids need me outside.”

Stella didn’t hear what Carlisle said next, having walked outside to where the others were.

“You’ll have to patch that up.” Edward quietly pointed out as Rosalie rips off the edge of her dress as a makeshift bandage, passing the cloth to Edward for him to do the wrapping

“I’ll be fine.” Stella comforted them “Are you alright?”

“I didn’t see this in my vision,” Alice said with a frown, she was beating herself up because she hadn’t look long enough to see that something like that would happen

“Don’t do this Alice,” Rosalie comforted “You’re not to blame here.”

“I-I think I can handle now.” Jasper stuttered out, getting Emmett to slowly remove his hand off Jasper

“Let’s go hunt, I think you need it.” Emmett invited, pulling Jasper with him. Alice followed slowly behind while Stella, Edward, and Rosalie stayed by the house

“What now?” Rosalie asked “I told you—

“No one expected this. Do not even think of blaming Bella.” Edward answered almost immediately, the tension was increasing between the two, with Rosalie’s resentment of Bella and Edward being overly protective of her clashing

“Rosie,” Stella called “Go join the others, I’ll go check on them.”

Rosalie begrudgingly stood up and went to catch up where the others are. Stella went inside the house and to Carlisle’s office.

Bella was clutching Carlisle’s shirt by his waist. The sight itself made Stella’s blood boil in jealousy. She stayed just outside the room, her bandaged hand balled up in a fist as she listens to the two of them

“Carlisle, you couldn’t be damned.” Bella argued to Carlisle “You couldn’t. It’s impossible.”

“Thank you, Bella.” Carlisle answered, Stella hated how such a simple interaction Carlisle had with Bella had such a big effect on her “You’ve always been very…gracious about us.”

‘Of course, she would be, you’re stitching her up right now’ Stella thought to herself. She was tuning Bella and Carlisle out, listening more to her thoughts. She saw how Carlisle softly pinched Bella’s chin.

That was her last straw. She wanted to blast Bella’s head then and there. Stella knew that Bella’s loyalty was with Edward, yet her jealousy was blinding her from thinking straight. She had to leave.

Stella walked out the house, but not before grabbing another vase and throwing it to the floor but this time with frustration. Stella knew Carlisle heard that, anyone near the house would have, but she couldn’t be damned. Her jealousy was blinding her thoughts, she knows that her squeezing her hand was forcing more blood to come out, but she couldn’t care less.

“Stella! How dare you think of that?!” Edward yelled. Stella knew she was fucked, her jealousy was overwhelming his thoughts, and it consisted of her antagonizing Bella too

“How dare you yell at her like that?!” Rosalie yelled, rushing to be in front of Stella in a protective sense. Emmett, Alice, and Jasper were behind, confused with the sudden outburst between the two

“Go on,” Edward taunted, an amused yet demented smile on his face “Tell her what you were filling your thoughts with. Tell them.”

“Rosie,” Stella hushed quietly “Drop it. Edward has every right to get mad at me.”

“Doesn’t mean he could yell at you like that.” Rosalie said back, glaring at Edward “Frankly, it’s his fault for continuing to listen to your thoughts.”

“Drop it.” Stella repeated, Rosalie let out a huff before going to be next to Emmett, not before glaring at Edward

“Just—

“Your jealousy is too overwhelming. What happened?” Jasper asked, hinting what has gotten Edward so riled up. Stella had forgotten that Jasper could feel emotions, now she was deeply fucked

“J-just drop it. Edward has every right to get mad at me.” Stella assured to everyone, sending an apologetic look to Edward

“Stella?” Carlisle called from inside the house, Bella behind him like a lost child “Come, let me check that out. Edward, she’s all patched up, take her home.”

“I’m fine.” Stella answered, not having the confidence to face Carlisle. He knew.

Of course, he knew.

“Please.” Carlisle pleaded, walking out to where she was. Edward grabbed Bella and left without bidding a goodbye to anyone, he was furious.

“Edward and Rosie did good with patching me up. I’ll be fine.” Stella denied again, her heart pounding heavily

“Let me just check, please?” Carlisle asked again, softly holding her bandaged hand with such gentleness that Stella felt worse than how she did earlier

Stella didn’t answer with words. And Carlisle took that as an answer, pulling her to his office with such care that she was getting more guilty with every step.

“What happened?” Carlisle asked, unwrapping the bandage on her hand

“You heard it.” Stella murmured quietly, not having the guts to look at Carlisle in the eyes

“I know.” He answered, softly grabbing Stella’s face for her to face him “I want to hear it from you.”

“Why?” She asked him, watching as he prepares what he needs to patch her up

“I’ve been with you for 300 years; you’ve welcomed them all with open arms. Not once have the kids, especially Edward, been that angry towards you.” Carlisle answered in a matter-of-fact tone “Annoyed? Probably. But never that angry. Add the part that your blood is out in the open as he was mad at you. It meant that he was furious.”

“Never mind that.” Stella answered quietly “Edward has every right to be mad at me.”

“I would like to hear what happened from you.” He said, his tone was gentle yet firm

“I was just infuriated.” She lied. Carlisle grabbed her chin, softly making her face him

“With what?” Carlisle asked “With how close Bella was to me earlier?”

Stella didn’t say a word in response. He had caught her, and she did not want to deal with whatever he will say next.

Carlisle let out a chuckle, shaking his head and finding the situation amusing. Stella was jealous of her son’s mate because of how close Bella had been to him.

“You have nothing to worry about, mi amor.” Carlisle whispered lowly, moving his face closer to hers “Bella is with Edward. Just as I’m yours.”

Carlisle didn’t let her say another word, but instead left a soft kiss on her forehead, before burning the makeshift bandage and cottons.

“You know,” Carlisle said, a teasing smile on his face “You’ll have to pay for the vase that you broke.”

“Fuck off.” Stella said, hiding the smile forming on her face “You don’t get the kids to pay when they break anything.”

“Well, they are our kids.” Carlisle replied, the same teasing smile from earlier.

“But you, my dear wife, still needs to pay for the damages. No matter how tempting it is to give you a pass.” He continued, pinching her chin lightly

Stella figured out what Carlisle was doing. He was trying to calm her down with little jokes. There was a glint of happiness in Carlisle’s eyes, it was working good on her. His efforts made her blush, all anger she had from earlier disappearing into thin air.

“Damn, don’t they say ‘happy wife, happy life’ anymore?” She teased him back, a smile on her face

Carlisle was happy that his little jokes was working on her like a charm. He didn’t understand what had gotten her so riled up with him patching Bella up earlier. But all he cared now was that she was smiling and giggling again

Happy wife, happy life indeed.

[rockinrpmemes]

I'm starting completely fresh in the Tumblr RPC. I'm from Discord and Amino to try looking for people willing to be CCs/Canon Character muses against my OCs. How exactly do I go about looking for that? How does searching for RP work here? I genuinely just have so many questions bc everything is really confusing to me. 🙇‍♀️

Hmmmm...I feel your frustration, as a someone that has been on this site since 2011, and in the Tumblr RPC since 2012, I can attest it's way harder now to get into rp than it did even 4 years ago. I'm going to answer this for anyone, not just your case, because I feel OC and Canon players of all kinds are trapped in this same problem!!!

The 2 major causes to difficulty connecting in the RPC:

People here have gotten way more prickly and cold and have 100 red flags and objections in their rules that make seeking out a partnership flimsy at best. (Dangerous to your mental health at worst.) If you see someone like this, don't bother trying to win them over. Chances are they are going to whine about everything you ask of them, think anything you do is offensive, or it's a huge "honor" to be even considered a mutual. RUN away from these types, and don't waste your time. They don't want partners, they want an audience to their personal drama, and will probably be an asshole to you OOC, and make you look like the bad guy to their sycophants. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

People here have also gotten way more FLAKEY and don't reach out and engage the way they used to. They post memes all day and beg for starters, but don't answer them once you have managed to snag them. They make 100 muses but never rp any of them except the one you don't want. Attention spans on here have gotten shorter than a fly's.

It seems daunting, but fortunately, the old ways to find partners still work....

Use the search function, for "RP STARTERS" and the like, BUT!! Don't reply to the starter until you've looked at the OP's blog. Read their rules. They may only post starters for mutuals, or selective fandom affliates. If you find you like that blogger, and decide to follow, it's a way in.

Post a "call out" for your blog. Make a Promo of some kind, but tag it: "RP BLOG" ; "OC RP" ; "RPC PROMO" ; "(genre name) RP," If your OC is affiliated to any fandoms, or could fit into desired fandoms, tag as such IE: "LOTR RP". Even if your OC is not fandom affiliated, you should tag it into popular fandoms you know would work with your muse. It at least gets views. And if someone happens to like or reblog your promo post, it gives you a window into more blogs.

Another "sneaky" but very effective way is to go into the notes of memes and starters and look at the likes/reblogs. Hit up those icons/urls, do some research on partners that may be a future choice. Again, read their rules, scroll through their posts, see if you think it's a good match for your character AND your writing style. For me, this is the best way to look for new blogs to interact with. It's living proof that there are STILL A LOT OF WRITERS LOOKING FOR INTERACTION!

Don't be afraid to tag yourself into things!!!! Remember, the first 5 tags get the most hits. Just don't spam tags that have nothing to do with your blog, as a courtesy.

Hope that helps! If anyone has any more tips, feel free to add in comments, etc.

[youhideastar]

The U.S. legal profession and the OTW: a few thoughts

I don't feel that I have a ton of value to add to the conversation currently taking place about structural/organizational problems with the OTW and the way that those affect the well-being of fans in general and OTW volunteers in particular. But given that it appears some of those problems are (correctly, in my view) attributed to the Legal Committee and given that I am a real, live practicing U.S. lawyer, I thought a few comments about the legal profession and how that might be affecting the Legal Committee could perhaps offer a little value. To be clear, I am not now and never have been an OTW volunteer of any kind, let alone for the Legal Committee (a thing I really regret now!), and I do not know the current or former composition of the Committee beyond what is general fandom knowledge. I'm also super uncomfortable purporting to speak for the entire legal profession, but to keep this post to a manageable length, I'm going to leave out all the caveats and "on the other hand"s that I would normally include. Please forgive my presumption and feel free to add on or take issue!

The OTW website says the Committee is "[m]ostly comprised of legal professionals." My understanding is that it is almost entirely comprised of U.S. attorneys. This has demographic implications. To become an attorney here, you must be at least ~26 years old, for starters (you need an undergraduate degree, a 3-year graduate law degree, and then you need to pass the bar exam), and most new lawyers feel very wet-behind-the-ears and would be hesitant to volunteer alongside more experienced lawyers (much less to challenge them) for years thereafter. This means that Committee members are likely to be the fandom old guard - they remember Strikethrough and were probably around for the founding of the OTW itself. Additionally, the legal profession is disproportionately white, male, and wealthy.

The legal profession is incredibly hierarchical and credential/status-obsessed. To a degree that outsiders would probably find hard to believe. You can practice law for 30 years and people will still want to know where you went to law school and where you clerked afterward (and will still take you less seriously if your answers aren't "a top-14 school" and "a federal court"). In this pecking order, law professors are very, very high. Second only to judges. And no professor ranks higher than a professor at Harvard freaking Law, such as, e.g., Rebecca Tushnet. Even a professor at a low-ranked law school, like Betsy Rosenblatt, gets a lot of deference.

Lawyers do not take non-lawyers seriously. We go through this grueling law school admissions process, followed by 3+ years of hazing (that leaves a demographically unremarkable group of law school admittees with shocking rates of mental illness and substance use problems) teaching us that only we have the keys to understand this hugely important system of rules that governs every aspect of human interaction, stuffing our minds with a whole new language of "attractive nuisance" and "expressio unius," and then we're unleashed on a world in which people are constantly doing stupid shit that's going to get them sued, and it breeds both unhealthy insularity and a hell of a God complex. It makes us think we can do anything (like write public statements without input from a professional communications team...).

Lawyers are pathologically risk-averse. First, we self-select for that - most law students are kids who were damn good writers but scared of trying to make a living writing fiction/screenplays/whatever. And second, law school trains us for precisely that: the exams test, not primarily for knowledge of legal rules, but for a skill called "issue-spotting," which is basically "looking at a set of facts and figuring out all the million ways the people in that scenario could get sued." For many practicing lawyers, figuring out how to spot shit that their clients are doing that could get them sued and then telling them to stop it is their whole job. And it can be exhausting, because people/organizations love doing shit that could get them sued. It's like parenting a toddler - constant vigilance to keep the client from sticking their fingers in a metaphorical wall socket or running out into the metaphorical street. (See how I fell there into #3, framing non-lawyers as children who need the lawyer-parent to keep them out of trouble? It comes so naturally.) The Committee has managed to keep the OTW from being sued for 16 years (to my knowledge) and counting, despite the fact that the org's projects, especially AO3, engage in incredibly legally risky activities. To give the Committee their due, that is a hell of a track record. You can see how that might feed the God complex.

There are also, to be clear, many good things about the legal profession and a legal education. But the goal here is to give fans who are outside of this very specific and insular subculture a few pieces of information that might help them understand why this body of people is acting the way it's acting - not to excuse it, but rather to help folks understand what might need to change both within and around the OTW's Legal Committee to create the better OTW that many in fandom, including me, really, really want to see.

Please feel free to ask questions and to correct anything I got wrong! And apologies again for generalizing at such a high level.

[jaxt0y]

-- 𝙃𝙀𝙔, 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔𝘽𝙊𝘿𝙔, let's all take a peek at the 𝕋𝔸𝕃𝕃, ℙ𝕌ℝℙ𝕃𝔼 𝔽ℝ𝔼𝔸𝕂 - he's the jerk with the ＪＯＫＥ of the week . . . 𝑾𝑯𝑶 𝑵𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑺 𝑯𝑰𝑴 ?

[ 1 ] :   INTRO.  hi! my name is mae, i'm 25, i use she/her pronouns & i go by est. this is my semi - selective, low activity rp blog for jax of "the amazing digital circus." icon border & psd are both by jessources. all graphics here are made by me unless stated otherwise.

[ 2 ] :   ETIQUETTE.  you know the rules.  no godmodding, bigotry, racism, forcing ships, or hate of any kind . jax is an ass who loves to mess with others for the fun of it, it's literally nothing personal against your muse, but i will never godmod. just be a decent person i don't do well with drama & i dislike callout culture & i won't be participating in it in any way. of course i want to know who to avoid, but i would prefer these things to be handled & discussed privately & maturely. do not follow if you are a minor or if you use/support: amber heard, gina carano, evan peters, chris pratt or scarlett johanson. if any drama occurs or has occurred with someone i know, i am open to discussing it calmly & in private.

[ 3 ] :   FOLLOWING.  if i follow you,  it means i want to write with you! . if not, it's likely because i can't see our muses clicking well or that i am unfamiliar with the fandom. i will soft block if you don't make an effort to interact with me ooc or ic for some time. i will block you if you break any of my rules.

[ 4 ] :   TRIGGERS & NSFW. triggers you might find on this blog include: themes of existentialism, dissociation, & some violent behavior. i will be tagging triggers as: "trigger cw" & will happily tag anything if asked. my own triggers include: dissociation/depersonalization/derealization, body horror, trypophobia, & eye gore. i'm happy to write nsfw themes so long as we've spoken beforehand!

[ 5 ] :   ACTIVITY & FORMATTING.  my activity is typically sporadic no matter the blog. i do have a life outside of rp & my own mental health to look after. sometimes i'm able to write many replies a day, others only one or none at all. patience in regards to replies is much appreciated & expected. my lengths are usually multi para but they can be shorter or longer depending. never be afraid to send random asks, multiple memes, or turn answers into threads! i love collecting a variety of prompts, but i’m privy to deleting them if they’ve been sitting for awhile or if i can’t think of anything good enough, same goes for threads. sometimes i’ll post one-liner starter calls, but you never have to match my length exactly but i do expect something to go off of. i use small, bold, & italic text. you also do not have to match my formatting & i implore you to tell me if you need it changed for accessibility purposes. my eyesight is not the best, so i ask you to please avoid screenshot-ed replies or using too much fancy text.

[ 6 ] :   SHIPPING. i love shipping with all my heart, exploring dynamics no matter what they may entail is my favorite thing, especially with a complicated guy like jax. he's very closed off & not the most in tune with his emotions, so good luck if you do want to explore a relationship with him (just be sure to talk to me first!). lastly, i ship funnybunny & bunnydoll, but if you write pomni or ragatha i will never expect you to ship with me unless, yet again, we've talked about it. i see jax as panromantic & pansexual.

[ 7 ] :   PORTRAYAL. since tadc is ongoing, my portrayal is subject to change as episodes are released. i know that jax is a jerkwad, but i love to see what makes characters tick, & as of now i don't see him as this irredeemable asshole, just someone who relies on self preservation to survive.

AFFILIATES: @pomniegranate

[confessionsofa-roleplayer]

I think a lot of people on here could benefit from some self-reflection when they’re complaining about not getting interactions. Ask yourself: Have you ever… “Lost” a starter call? Not answered all of the likes you got on it, regardless of how many there are? How many people were “new followers” to you (i.e. people you have zero interactions with) when you did the above? (if you did?) How many of those types of people (“new followers/new mutuals”) sent you memes that you’ve yet to answer (and it’s been more than 2 weeks since they sent it)? How often do you like mutuals’ posts? Even just their OOC posts? How much do you comment on them and interact with them? Do you like their starter calls or plot calls? Have they sent you starters, and have you answered them? Conversely, if they’ve messaged you to plot… did you respond to that message (within a 2-week time frame)? How often do you send them memes? Are you sending more than just IC memes (ex. mun memes, headcanon memes, etc)? Do you tag them in dash games (if you do them)? Do you respond to ones they’ve tagged you in (if they have)? How often do you post OOC/how frequently? How much of it is actually related to your blog and muses, and how much of it is just you shooting things off into the void? In relation to the above… how much of it is NEGATIVITY? Do you constantly post your negative thoughts on dash? If you, as a mun, are answering yes to a lot of the above… then the problem is probably you, not the people you write with. While yes, people have lives… I do think, in some cases, taking more than a week to answer an IM or a message, especially for a plot call that you liked, is just poor taste. If you post things and never reach out to people, why would they want to continue to put that effort in? You have to ask yourself… Am I following through on the things I post? There needs to be a fine line between “i want new stuff so i’ll reblog this meme/post a new starter call” and “i just want new things in my inbox that will sit there with the rest”. If you never follow through, then why would people want to write with you? Not following through makes it pretty obvious sending you anything or writing anything for you is a waste of time, because the other mun gets nothing out of it. Writers in the RPC nowadays need to learn to follow through on things, and make a diligent effort to do so. I’d rather wait a year for someone I can confidently know is going to follow through because they’re not treating me like a ghost on their dash (i.e. they’re interacting with me in other ways, even if they can’t answer me IC) as opposed to the person I’ve sent ten things that hasn’t bothered to acknowledge my presence in the slightest.

[lostonehero]

I have too much time on my hands off from work so uh another wip self indulgent breekon and hope adopt Martin

This was suppose to be crack but it's bow too long to post fully here so uh have a preview till I finish it and put it on a03

Gertrude stared at the two delivery men. She was well acquainted with the pair who call themselves Breekon and Hope. However, she didn't think she was due for a delivery, especially considering she was planning on traveling to disrupt a ritual in America, taking Micheal with her. "What do I owe the pleasure?" She replies dryly.

Breekon smiles, unsettling to look at. "Evening Archivist, we appear to need your help."

"We've run into an issue with a delivery." Hope finishes.

Gertrude raised a brow, intrigued. "And why would you need my help?" She steps back as a child reveals themselves from behind Breekon. She honestly couldn't tell if it was a little boy or girl, but it wasn't a stranger, just a normal human.

"We tried to return it..." Breekon trails off.

Hope continued. "The things mother refused it."

The small child clings to Breekon, looking up at Gertrude. They were small, malnourished, and filthy. They had matted red hair and freckles or dirt she couldn't tell. Their clothes were hastily stitched together, and she had a feeling the mother had just left the kid for dead without clothing. The kid couldn't be more than 2 generous. She didn't want to think about the fact she knew that was a lie.

Gertrude blinks. "I'm not taking the child. Just send them to an orphanage or police."

The two strangers look at each other and frown.

"I reckon we help you." Breekon grabs the child's shoulder who doesn't seem startled more confused.

"Then you help us. We ain't fans of Nikola and that circus." Hope smiles.

"We tell you how to stop the unknowing." Breekon matches the smile.

"You tell us about human children." Hope finishes.

Gertrude can't help but have a shocked look on her features. She wouldn't pass up on an opportunity like this. "I suppose I can give advice on a child's needs and wants."

"Perfect"

"Glad we have a deal."

The child just stared at Gertrude.

......

Gertrude learned about the unknowing and how to stop it. She was shocked, to say the least, that they were so forth coming with information.

Breekon narrowed his gaze, and Gertrude wasn't sure that was possible. "You're end of the deal."

Hope adjusts the child on his lap. "Teach us."

Gertrude leans back. "For starters, how old is the child, and are they a boy or a girl?"

The two starters exchange a look then look back to Gertrude.

Gertrude sighs and rubs her temples. This was going to take a while. "Ok, to start, do they talk?"

"The child has not said a word." Breekon gives a look to his partner then to the child.

Hope nods. "They have tried, but no sound comes out. It appears the child has damaged parts."

The child looks between them and decides to yawn silently and curl up in Hope's lap.

Gertrude sighs. "Before you ask, humans need sleep, and it appears the child trusts you enough to sleep in your lap. Humans need sleep to function." She sighs and gets up. "You two can read, right?" The two strangers nod. "Good, I'll be back. I'll have books on human health and biology and parenting books that will have all the information for you."

The two strangers watch the archivist leave.

"The human is defenseless." Breekon points at the small child.

"I don't think it understands it should be scared." Hope points at the sleeping child.

"Too small, I reckon." Breekon tilts his head.

"I don't understand why I desire to protect it." Hope rests his hand on the child's back.

"To raise for the stranger like the desolation?" Breekon responds for an answer, but it sounds like a question like they don't believe it.

"Never been human." Hope pauses.

"Don't think that matters now." Breekon reaches out a hand to the child.

"Is this fear?" Hope sounded quiet.

"I don't know." Breekon matched the quiet voice.

......

Gertrude sets down the large stack of books down. "Read these, and I'll get the child as clean as I can using the archives supplies." She approaches Hope to retrieve the child, and to her surprise, he pulls the kid closer to him. "Now don't do that, humans have to get clean or they get sick you know of the corruption. Good now, I'm going to clean them and tell you if they are a boy or girl, yes, it matters for human development due to hormones." She picks up the child who wakes up, but they don't cry. "An odd thing, aren't you." She watches the two strangers reach for the books and begin to read.

The small child waves goodbye to the strangers as Gertrude carries them off to a bathroom outfitted with a shower and, thankfully, a towel.

Gertrude places the child down and takes a breath. "I wish I knew your age and if you understood me. Alright, I'm going to unclothed you and wash you to the best of my ability."

The child blinks as Gertrude strips them.

"Ok diapers, you're quite little then, and ah, you're a boy. Ok, I can work with this." Gertrude sighs as she watches the boy, and it is freckles, not just dirt. She shaved the boy's hair with the buzzer she understood why they had due to an incident with the Leitner. Thankfully, one of the librarians brought a diaper bag with them rather than a normal purse, and she managed to get a diaper, which again thankfully matched the boy's needs. Overall, he was still too skinny and small, but he looked better.

The boy was wrapped in a fluffy towel since Gertrude didn't have clean clothes to put him in.

"Hopefully, the time it took to clean you, they have gotten through at least one book." Gertrude picks up the small boy. "Maybe I can get some food in you. I'm sure they don't understand the concept of food."

The boy blinks his impossibly blue eyes at her.

Gertrude sighs. "I'm not cut out to be a parent."

.....

"He's a boy." Gertrude places the boy down on her desk with a plate of cut-up bananas. "By the amount of teeth in his mouth, I hazard a guess that he's nearly two or approaching 2 years of age. I hope you both got some of the reading done while I cleaned and gave him food."

The boy was eating the cut-up bananas as he waved again at the two strangers.

"We've finished the books." Breekon tilts his head.

"We understand what has to be done." Hope hums.

Gertrude pinched her brow. "Don't kill the child."

The two strangers looked offended.

The boy continues to eat quietly.

.......

A rough knock on a yellow door. The door creeks open, and a man that is tall, unsettling, and hair that seems to curl unnaturally. Hands longs and sharp clawed.

"Evening." Breekon tips his hat.

"We reckon we can leave him with you." Hope nods as well adjusting his hat.

A small boy looking healthier and bigger stares up at the twisted tall man.

"Excuse me?" The man from the yellow door stares at the strangers.

"You were human.... once" Breekon laughs.

Hope nods.

"I, yes?" The spiral tilts their head.

"We have work and can't bring him." Hope mutters.

"The archivist is unavailable." Breekon sighs, pushing the boy forward.

The boy waves.

The spiral man matches the movement.

"The boy is Martin." Hope continues. "He is 4 and can't be left at school. Humans have tried to steal him."

"His mother has harmed him when we tried to return him. We request help on watching him as we work. The boy doesn't speak." Breekon pulls his hat down.

"Don't harm the boy, and we will help with any request." Hope crossed his arms.

The spiral nods, but it is a more confused reaction.

"Good." Breekon smiles.

"Well, be back tomorrow." Hope hands a bag to the boy.

The boy stared up at the spiral man.

The spiral stared at the boy as the strangers left. "Hello."

The boy waves and holds up his lunch box with a cow on it. He grabs a clawed finger and smiles.

"Micheal.... I'm Micheal." The spiral felt sanity bleed into his mind as a sense of self returned like an infection.

The boy tilted his head, watching him return to his tall human form.

"Martin?" Micheal watched the boy nod. "Ok, how about lunch? Although I don't think time really exists but a boy needs food like you."

Martin nods and hugs Micheal's leg.

Micheal blinks and realizes he is now both the spiral and Micheal. Has this ever happened before? He didn't know or care he was an uncle now, and he also now had a bond with the stranger. That was good he thinks he wasn't used to coherent thoughts.

Martin tugged on Micheal's arm and held up a candy bar Micheal could not recognize.

"Do you want me to open it for you?" Micheal stared down at the bow who shook his head. Martin pushed the bar into his hand. "Ah.... thank you."

Martin grins and follows Micheal through the yellow door.

......

Micheal scowls, and he forgot he was capable of anything but a smile. "Do I have to?"

"We finished our job." Breekon holds his hand out, and Martin takes it and waves at Micheal.

"What is the payment you like?" Hope shows off teeth that shouldn't exist in his mouth.

Micheal blinks, grabbing his yellow door. "I would like to watch Martin again." He can feel himself grow taller and more twisted.

The two strangers share a look and a silent conversation.

"Humans call it babysitting." Breekon picks up Martin on his hip.

"You want to watch the human child? He is ours." Hope brushed a curl out of Martin's face.

"Yes, that is agreeable." Micheal smiles. "I won't keep him if you agree."

The two strangers nod.

......

"The act of babysitting requires the guardians to not be available to care for the child." Breekon seems to narrow his gaze with eyes he doesn't have.

"We are home to care for the child. You shouldn't be here." Hope adds matching a scowl.

Micheal laughs, and it echoes unnaturally around the room. "I see no harm in visiting...." He shifts back to looking like a normal human as he looks around. "This is a very sterile apartment."

Martin wasn't paying attention following a spider around who led him to one of his "toys," which were crude plastic mannequin parts and a blanket that he wrapped around a plastic arm.

Micheal frowns. "I uh huh you two are doing ok..."

The two strangers glare at the spiral avatar.

"Ok, so I have experience raising my siblings and making me babysit has given me back my humanity kind of? I'll help you guys. Have you've even enrolled him into school yet?" The blank stared answered Micheal's questions.

.......

"I reckon we understand." Breekon has grabbed Martin and placed him on his lap.

"Very informative to train a human." Hope nods.

"Not train." Micheal can feel his hair grow out and spiral. "Raise. Now I don't know how you got a phone, and I'm not one to ask questions anymore, but calling around, I got Martin registered for classes next year. Having friends is important, and I set him up with a doctor about the talking thing and general health examination. Also, he needs normal toys unless you want people to get suspicious, and yes, you can feed on the fears of other parents if they upset Martin."

Breekon nods. "So Martin is set?"

"We don't want to hurt the little guy." Hope fusses with Martin's hair and finds a spider who he places gentlely on Martin's shoulder.

"Not hurting him. Just to avoid suspicion from normal human people. Martin, do you like the strangers?" Micheal leans over to face Martin.

Martin puffs out his cheeks. "Not strangers." His voice was quiet, and the three men stared at the boy stunned. He points to Breekon as he sits in his lap. "Breekon." He then points to Hope. "Hope." He furrows his brows pointing to Micheal. "Mik- Mike - Micheal?" He was having a hard time producing Micheal.

Micheal blinks. "Ye-yeah, I'm Micheal."

"I'm never going to change my name again." Breekon and Hope say at the same time as they embrace Martin.

Martin smiles.

.......

The teacher sat nervously at her desk. It was a normal meeting it had to be a normal meeting. She swore she saw a yellow door in the corner of the room, and she knew she didn't have yellow doors in her classroom. The two men that sat in front of her desk they were unnatural. They wore the same uniform, but that's the only normal thing she can see on them.

The larger man with straight black hair and a frown, maybe she couldn't tell it didn't look natural on the pale skin even if the color of his lips was wrong. "What are we here?" His accent sounded fake, but she was terrified to ask or even comment.

"I reckon the boy has done nothing wrong." The smaller man had lighter hair, and it curled, but it also didn't. His eyes were purple, but like as if his eyes were doll eyes.

The teacher laughs nervously. "I uh nothing is wrong." She stiffens as a creak of a door is heard. "I just wanted to share some concerns I had... nothing bad." She swallows her fear the best she could. "Martin is excelling at his schoolwork and already reading books made for kids older than him. He really likes spiders and dolls, but uh he hasn't been talking to any of the other children, which is concerning. A boy his age should be more. Have you had him tested if he's on the spectrum?" The door that shouldn't exist was open and what.... she let out a breath of relief.

A tall blonde man rushed between the two other men. "Hey, sorry, I'm Micheal. I'm helping these two with Martin."

She didn't care what their relationship was he looked normal and she could breathe again. "R-right."

"Get the boy tested for what?" The larger man growls.

"Our boy is healthy." The smaller one adds.

Micheal smiles. "Not that kind of tested. No, no, it's fine ma'am, he just started talking last year, and the doctors are aware of it. He loves his books on spiders and dolls. I'm sure Martin will come out of his shell."

The teacher nods. "Great, and that's really great, but that's all I needed to speak about. He's a very smart and sweet boy. Just needs to be a bit more social, that's all for healthy development." She sighs in relief, watching the blonde man guide them out through the yellow door.

"You can't scare that woman to death. Martin likes her." She chose to ivory that from Micheal and how his voice started to echo. She needed to warn the teachers for older students.

.......

Martin waves as the yellow door creeks open as the three step out. He gets up and shoves a drawing into Hope. "Present!"

Hope held up the drawing and showed it to Breekon. It was a crayon drawing of the two, and Martin has written their names. "Reckon our boy is an artist."

"We will hang it up." Breekon smiles as Martin giggles.

Micheal sighs, returning to a more human look. "Martin, have you made any friends?" The two strangers glare at him.

Martin shakes his head. "The other kids think I'm weird."

Micheal sighs. "You'll find friends who appreciate the weird."

Martin shrugs and looks down.

.......

"You're weird." A blonde boy sits next to Martin. "You don't have any weird fleshy tendrils around you."

Martin blinks and tilts his head. "What?"

"I see them in my dreams." The blonde boy huffs, pulling out red crayons. "You're a mystery. Mommy says they don't mean anything, but they do. I swear they do."

"What do they do?" Martin watched him draw.

"They give me dates and time, dunno what that means yet, but I think it's important." The boy was drawing red tendrils.

Martin pauses, Uncle Micheal told him to make friends. "I'm Martin."

"Oliver." The boy smiles, holding out his hand. He was cold like Hope was he wasn't good at keeping himself warm like Breekon was.

"Are you a stranger?" Martin blinks his blue eyes at the blonde boy who looked confused.

"No, you know my name." Oliver hums.

Martin hums. "Breekon and Hope are strangers, and I know their names."

"Then what does stranger mean?" Oliver hums raising his brow.

"Dunno Micheal won't tell me, and neither will Breekon or Hope." Martin shrugs.

"Huh, do you think they know what these are?" Oliver holds up his drawing.

"Wanna ask after school?" Martin smiles.

Oliver matches his smile. "Yeah! Wanna be friends, the other kids don't like me."

Martin nods excitedly. "Yeah, I wanna be friends."

........

"Uncle Micheal!" Martin ran out holding the hand of another boy as they approached.

Micheal smiles and forces himself to look even more human. "Martin, did you make a friend?"

"I'm Oliver. Do you know what these are?" He shoves a drawing up at Micheal. "Mommy says dreams don't mean anything, but they give me a date and times for the people I see in them with the tendrils. Martin doesn't have them."

Micheal takes the picture, and he can smell something off about the boy. It hit him suddenly that the smell reminded him of a mourge, and he knew what that meant. The End took a child avatar. Is everyone copying the Desolation? "This is important. You should tell everyone their date and time."

Oliver eyes widen. "Thank you, mister Micheal. Oh wait, can I hang out with Martin this weekend? I wanna meet his pet spider." He stops. "I have to ask my mommy though..."

"Oliver!" A woman huffs as she made her way over.

"Hi, Mommy!" Oliver smiles, holding up Martin's hand. "I made a friend. Can we hand out this weekend?"

The woman sighs and smiles. "You made a friend?"

"Hi, I'm Martin, and that's my uncle." Martin points up to Micheal, who smiles nervously, adjusting his glasses. "My mommy doesn't like me. Breekon and Hope tried to bring me back, and she threw a knife at me."

The woman stared at Micheal. "Go talk to your friend for a moment, Oliver." She watches the two boys run by the odd yellow door. "I uh..."

"Everything is fine, legally speaking Breekon and Hope didn't adopt Martin, but everything they tried to return him to his biological mother er she responds with violence. However, Martin has a safe home with them, and I help out when I can." Micheal gives a nervous smile.

"Geez, I thought my situation was shit." The woman chuckles. "You can call me Kat. My husband died recently, so it's just been us, so I'm glad he's making friends. Uh, how about the park this weekend? I have time off on the weekend thanks to my government job, and I'm sure it will help Oliver to have a friend." Kat smiles.

Micheal nods. "Oh, that sounds lovely. Martin hasn't been the best with other kids since they single him out. Did you guys just move here?"

Kat nods. "Is it that obvious? Yeah, we did, but we have to get home." She sighs. "Oliver, come here it's time to go home."

Oliver runs up to his mom. "Yes."

Martin runs behind him. "Cannwe hang out?"

Kat nods. "Yeah, this weekend the park is a nice place, and I can meet uh Breekon and Hope?"

"Life partners." Micheal raised his brow, gauging her reaction.

"Oh huh, I understand the adoption problems. Ah, no worries, I'm sure they are doing great. He seems like a good kid." Kat waves and picks up Oliver.

Micheal smiles and feels his hair curl. "You made a friend."

"I made a friend that isn't a spider." Martin corrects.

"Of course, little Mr. Web avatar. I don't know why Breekon and Hope encourage that. Please warn me when you grow new eyes." Micheal sighs, holding his hand out.

"I got new teeth?" Martin opens his mouth to show fangs.

"Don't bite anyone." Micheal smiles. "Unless it's a nasty adult."

"Ok." Martin smiles and follows him into a yellow door.

......

Kat freezes as the two men approach her. She puts her son behind her and swallows. The taller man she didn't think he had eyes but she couldn't see through his hair. The smaller man was smiling, but it looked all wrong. "Can I help you?"

The larger man smiles, and it somehow looks worse than the smaller man. "I'm Breekon."

"And I'm Hope." The smaller one finishes, and their accents sounded so fake and unnatural.

Kat gkes to speak before a boy pops out from between them.

"Hi!" The small red head covered in freckles relaxed Kat.

Oliver ran in front of his mom. "Hi Martin!"

"Hi Oliver!" Martin points to the larger one. "That's Breekon." He points to the smaller man. "That's Hope. They help care for me. They are strangers."

"Are they strangers because they look weird?" Oliver tilts his head they didn't look right, and he couldn't place why.

"Dunno." Martin shrugs.

"Wanna watch me tell people dates and times like your uncle said I should?" Oliver smiles.

Martin nods. "Yeah! I wanna help you." Oliver grabs his hand, and they run off.

Kat relaxes slightly. "Boys, you know. I, uh, mean well kids, they tend to grow up fast." She gives a nervous smile but doesn't feel the fear like last time. "Right, my name is Kate, but I go by Kat. It must be hard raising a boy like that all by yourself, poor thing rejected by his mother. I'm sure he cares about you both deeply."

Breekon raised his brow, but Kat wasn't entirely sure. "We were told having him form a bond with his mother would help."

"She doesn't seem to want him, but he's a good lad." Hope finishes and grabs Breekon's hand.

Kat smiles at the pair. They were probably nervous, probably the first public outing as a couple. "How long have you've been together?"

"Ages." Breekon hums.

Hope smiles.

"I miss that. My husband passed recently, but I'm glad you both have each other." Kat hums. "How did you guys adopt Martin? I know there isn't anything official, but I won't tell the boy is happier with you two. Oh, where are my manners? There's a bench off to the side. We can sit and watch them play. I don't like being out in the open either." She leads the pair to a bench where they sit, and she sits in between them. "I apologize if this is forward, but I don't want anyone giving you guys dirty looks. People aren't too kind to those like you both. This way, we can keep talking and not separate you two."

"You're a kind one." Breekon pauses.

"I think it would be beneficial to keep in contact." Hope nods at Breekon.

"Oh, that's great. So how long have you two been guardians?" Kat smiles, waving at her boy in the sandpit with Martin.

"He was 2 when his mother left him with us." Breekon hums. "Wouldn't let go of Hope's leg."

"You wouldn't put him down after you wrapped him up in a blanket." Hope smirks.

Kat smiles. "A sweet little thing. I'm glad you both found him."

The two strangers have a silent agreement to protect this human. They made a friend like Martin. It was a lot less messy than using actual parts like they thought was needed.

......

Kat was worried, which was an understatement, Oliver just turned 13 a little over a week ago, and that's when the problems started. She just thought his complaining was just normal teen stuff she knows she annoyed her parents. Then, she started to find bloody handprints around her home. She knew Oliver and was complaining about his hands hurting, but she brushed him off, explaining that he would see the doctor for his physical soon.

Oliver wasn't fast enough to hide his hands when his mother burst into his room. "I uh..."

Kat covered her mouth, staring at her son. His hands were bloody, and his skin seemed to slough off. She swallows her work isn't supposed to follow her home, let alone affect her own son. She knew her son's friend Martin, his adopted parents weren't human, but they seemed harmless, but she knew better than to go to work for help, and they seemed to understand the inhuman nature of things. "Oliver, are you ok?"

Oliver was crying. Blonde hair fell in front of his eyes as he got up and ran to his mom. He clung to his mom. "I couldn't stop it, and it hurts so much. Am I dying?"

"Not if I can help it." Kat hugs her son. "Alright, we're going to visit Martin, and I'm going to ask his guardians for some advice. Now, don't argue with me. I'm going to get you some gloves and I'm sure they can help."

"Did i... did I get Martin sick?" Oliver hugs his chest.

"No, sweetheart. Well, I hope this isn't contagious. However, his guardians can help. I just know it, so let's head over there." Kat smiles.

......

Breekon answered the door, Kat only knew this because he was the bigger of the two she couldn't tell you any stand-out features. She made it a point to not stare at them she knew it made them uncomfortable. "Kat and Oliver. What brings you to our humble flat?" He gave a smile that didn't look right.

Kat smiles back. "Look, I know I've never brought it up, but I know you two aren't human, and uh... where's Hope?" She shakes her head. "Not important, but I don't think I should ask my place of work for help. Oliver, please take off your gloves."

Oliver nods, and flesh comes off with the glove along with blood sluggishly seeping out of the wound.

Breekon's lips thin to a neutral expression." Aite, come in. Don't touch anything living, Oliver."

Kate pushes her son inside and follows behind him. "I apologize for the sudden interruption as well. Do you know what's happening?"

Breekon turns to his side as if he was waiting for Hope to answer, but he wasn't here. He grimaced. "Martin is going through the same...." He bites his lip with mismatched human and animal teeth. "Different patron.... preparing their bodies for becoming fully fledged avatars not..." He huffs, crossing his arms.

"You can stop. I know it's hard without your other half." Kat smiles softly. "Oliver, go find Martin."

Oliver nods and dissapears deeper into the flat.

"You serve the stranger?" Kat knew it was true, but the nod eased her suspicion. "Are yes and no questions ok while Hope isn't here?"

Breekon nods as tension drains from his shoulders. "We didn't want to leave Martin alone..... the Web never made a fully fledged avatar before. Let alone so young."

"You don't have to talk without your partner. You're probably curious why I'm not freaking out more. It's uh complicated." Kat smiles and follows him to the couch. "I work for the government never lied about that, but it's a secret branch, and thankfully, there are more safeguards than the Magnus Institute or just the normal police. I don't want to lose my son but I have a feeling that the End chose him."

Breekon nods, sitting next to her.

"I mean, I didn't think they would start going after children. It's pretty clear these fears enjoy adults more than kids. Uh, no offense, but uh, Martin is a different patron than you." Kat pauses at the small nod. "I see you didn't want him to be like you?"

Breekon frowns. ".... He wouldn't be our Martin anymore..... we didn't want him to be a Stranger like us..... no, that isn't right." He swallows. "We were never human to begin with."

Kat reaches out and holds Breekon's hand. "Don't force yourself to speak without him. It's ok to be stressed. You both are basically Martin's fathers. He's changing just like my boy is just different gods?" She smiles at the nod. "I'll keep your secret. Of course, if you promise, you'll help keep my boy safe."

Breekon nods eagerly.

"Good now, do you need to eat....?" Kat pauses at the odd hand movement. "Ok, wrong question." A nod. "Do you want to eat?" Anotger odd hand movement. She sighs. "If I make food, will you eat?" That earned her a nod. "Ok I can work with that."

Breekon pauses for a moment before deciding it was ok to speak again. "We don't have to eat like humans.... we can eat like humans... we feed on fear to sustain us."

"Ah OK that makes so much more sense than the theories we had at work. I assume all of the other types feed on different fears, then? OK, good going to have to figure out how to help my Ollie, but that's a future problem. Right now, I'm going to make them some food, and could you check on the boys?" Kat, let's Breekon's hand go and get up.

Breekon nods. "You are a good human..... we uh Hope will be happy to hear."

"Maybe it would be better if you both got cellphones." Kat pauses. "You don't know what that is.... ok, check on the boys, and I will explain it to you they are still kind of new."

Breekon nods and gets up to head to Martin's room.

......

Martin was shirtless laying on his bed with his arms up. He had four open sores, two on each side of his body. "You're lucky."

"How? I'm a freak look at my hands." Oliver huffs, sticking his hands back in his gloves. "I can still feel them."

Martin raised his brow. "Breekon and Hope said I'm getting new arms."

"That's cool, though." Oliver sighs, looking over. He makes a face. "Er, well, it doesn't look cool now."

"I don't really understand it, but apparently, the female voice I've been hearing is the mother of Puppets and the spiders, but uh, technically, they are the same thing, kind of. I dunno." Martin sits up. "My actual mom is a lot meener than her."

"Really?" Oliver frowns. "You don't talk about your mom."

"She doesn't like me. Breekon and Hope try to bring me to her at least once a year, and it doesn't go well. I don't tell them to stop because maybe one year she'll be happy to see me." Martin hisses in pain as he puts his arms down. "Ugh, can't I just get the new arms already?"

"I don't think it works like that." Oliver holds up his bloody hands. "You know I started to hear a voice too, but I can't tell if it's a boy or a girl. My god seems weird. Yours is at least a mother."

"I just think that's a title. They're known as the Web." Martin shrugs. "I like spiders, though."

"I like spiders too. Why can't I be a spider creature?" Oliver hisses and pulls up his shirt, showing off a rash starting on his chest. "I probably should tell my mom."

"I've got a rash on my back and legs if that makes you feel better." Martin sighs, looking up seeing Breekon in his doorframe. "I uh nothing I said nothing."

Breekon chuckles softly. "It's too be expected both of you are the first....." He huffs. "The first fully fledged avatars of your patrons who picked you...... we will help you hide after you're done.... Kat is making food...."

Martin smiles. "Thank you, Breekon."

"Can you help us?" Oliver can feel his glove slip off with a wet splat on the floor. "Sorry...."

Breekon shakes his head.

Martin smiles. "It's ok, Oliver. It's just blood and flesh."

"Still kind of gross." Oliver frowns.

.......

The front door opened, and nobody made a comment on how Breekon rushed for the man who entered. "Deliveries went well?"

"As well as it can without you." Hope smiles as they share a kiss. "Is Martin ok?"

"Bleeding is sluggish. Kat is here." Breekon locks his arm with Hope, and they relax in each other's presence. He led his other half into the kitchen where the two boys were eating, and Kat was getting then their third helpings.

"Welcome back. I kind of stormed in earlier, but Breekon insists it's ok. It's probably better if Oliver stays while he is changing, or at the very least, he stops visibly bleeding and losing flesh." Kat smiles. "I also made you both some food you guys don't have to eat, but the offer is there."

"Kat has been very understanding." Breekon smiles unnaturally wide.

"We are in your debt." Hope tilts his hat at her.

"Right well again, I'm cashing that in. Please look after my son. I don't want to alert anyone at work that something is amiss, and he will be safer here because of you two." Kat sighs. "And Oliver insisted that freaks stay together."

Oliver nods and so does Martin.

Breekon and Hope share a laugh. "We would happily look after him with Martin." They speak in unison.

.......

Martin pulls his hood over his head. Kids were awful, and he knew he was only 16, but the statement held up. They always had a comment on how he looked or just his stutter or his shy behavior. Oliver doesn't live near him anymore his mom had to move due to work they still hang out during the weekends, but now that meant he was alone at school. It didn't help that he was big and tall and he was still growing.

A short teen bumped into him. "... can't you see with those glasses." He had a bright blue scarf and was trying to hide a scar on his cheek that seemed to travel down extensively to his body.

Martin stopped. "....cool scar." He covered his mouth and turned on his heel and tried to walk away when the boy reached out and grabbed his hand. He had impossibly green eyes that seemed to have a ring of sky blue around them.

"What did you say about it?" He scowls, and Martin didn't recognize him. He stepped back, and Martin knew why.

Martin blinks and covers his face. "I'm sorry!"

The teen raised his brow. "Who are you?"

"Martin Blackwood, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to point out the scar. I just thought it looked cool, and I don't know."

"Mike Crew." Mike shakes Martin's hand he was already holding. "You like falling?"

"I uh... huh." Martin tilts his head. "You've been claimed by a fear, haven't you?"

Mike let go and furrowed his brows. "No, I was struck by lightning."

"Same thing, I think. Uh, my guardians have been trying to teach me about all of them. I can tell you if you want?" Martin shifts nervously.

Mike nods. "Yeah, my dad doesn't really care what I do after school. I just have to be home before sundown."

"Ok, yeah. Is the library a good place?" Martin smiles as the other boy nods.

......

A yellow door creeks open, and a blonde teen jumps out. "Martin!"

Martin places a finger over his lips. "Shhhhh, we're in a library."

"Not fair. I can't sneak up on you anymore." Oliver huffs and stops raising his brow. "Oh, uh hi...."

Mike looked over his chair. "You another fear freak?"

"Mike!" Martin huffs.

Oliver raised his brow. "You've got weird eyes, and... no time... huh, then yes, I am. Did you figure out what?"

Martin shakes his head.

Mike rolls his eyes. "You've got dumb blonde hair."

"Rude." Oliver hops in a chair next to Mike. "Anyway, have you narrowed it down?"

"Yeah." Martin holds up the list. "Obviously not the dark since he can still see, and not the corruption because he isn't dirty and invested with any sort of bug. Not the web, Mother would have told me, and I would be able to see strings he also doesn't have extra arms."

"You've got more than two arms?" Mike smirks. "Show me."

Martin pulls up his sweater to show the two pairs of arms wrapped around his chest and stomach. "I have to wear baggy clothes, can't really hide them like my spider half, or extra eyes or mandible. Oliver just needs gloves because he can use hide with normal clothes."

"I'm mostly just a spooky skeleton." Oliver chuckles as Martin pulls down his sweater.

"I wonder if I'll get anything cool." Mike hums grabbing the paper.

"Well, we got to figure out what picked you first." Oliver takes the paper from Mike. "Maybe the Desolation."

"He hasn't set anything on fire." Martin puffs out his cheeks.

"I need a lighter." Mike raised his brow as it's crossed out.

"Ok, that answers that...." Martin stops as a elderly man approaches them.

"Huh, I thought it was just rumors from the stranger from all things. The desolation should have just waited for their God to pick than." He chuckles, adjusting his glasses. "Now, now, no need to stop on my account, or I can solve this little conundrum for you three."

The three teens stay quiet.

"Now, now I won't bite." The old man laughs. "I'm Simon Fairchild, and I believe your friend developing the blue eyes has been picked by my patron."

"Who do you follow?" Oliver was the one to speak up.

"Oh my dear boy, I would show you, but I'm not one to pick fights with the other patrons. I am part of the great Vast." Simkn smiles and lowers his glasses to show off impossibly blue eyes.

"But don't people get a choice?" Martin frowns. "We didn't get a choice in this."

"Aha, that's right, you three are complete anomalies. Never happened before, the patrons don't exactly choose, but you three are the exception to the rule, old Jonah will be pissed, well he already is dealing with his own anomaly. Anyway, enough of that, I'll be your teacher and show you the best ways to feed our lovely patron. You know feed them before they feed on you." Simon chuckles and hands a card over. "Call me when you start feeling peckish."

Mike hesitated but took the card with a number on it. "Do you guys feed on people?"

"Kind of? I don't really need to scare people about death. I did accidently kill a few animals before I figured out that I can't touch them without gloves." Oliver frowns.

"People tell me their deepest secrets, or I can control them. I really don't enjoy controlling people, though, but sharing facts about spiders and showing them off seems to work, too." Martin hums. "I can make webs too."

"All I'm able to do is tell people how and when they will die." Oliver huffs.

"Deaths touch seems pretty cool." Mike hums.

"Only on my hands." Oliver sighs.

"I mean, it's pretty obvious. I meant hands you don't touch with your foot." Mike snickers.

Simon chuckles. "Oh, the folly of youth. I'll see you guys again." He seems to vanish as he looks through the open window.

"Whoa... do you think I'll be able to do that?" Mike gasps.

"You guys get all the cool shit." Oliver huffs crossing his arms.

"You have all the medical knowledge on like everything." Martin smiles.

"Maybe I'll be a doctor. Easy to feed the End that way." Oliver shrugs.

"That seems a bit on the nose." Mike raised his brow.

"Oh fuck you." Oliver huffs.

"I would say you can, but you can't seem to use your hands." Mike smirks leaning forward.

Oliver blushes a deep red. "I uh... well I...."

Martin looks away, trying to ignore the red thread between the two.

......

A eerie voice echoes around as it laughs. "You're new." A long crooked finger points till it glitches and looks normal. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you."

Mike steps back from the yellow door and the blonde man.

Martin waves. "Hi Micheal, what brings you over?"

"You made a new friend." Micheal smiles. "I apologize then for scaring you again uh..."

"Mike." Mike gives a nervous smile.

"He's the spiral, but also Micheal." Martin smiles.

Micheal nods. "That is correct, I just wanted to pop in and say Breekon and Hope are out on delivery and won't be back till next week. Nikola is giving them problems, and they don't want them to find out about you."

"Oh, alright." Martin frowns and looks away.

Micheal frowns and looks over to Mike who just shrugs.

Mike nudges Martin. "What's wrong?"

"My adoption day is in three days, I just I dunno I wanted them there." Martin sighs. "It's fine."

Mike frowns. "Maybe next year will be better this Nikola sounds like a bitch."

Micheal's frown deepens.

"It's whatever. I'm getting too old for that stuff, right, so I'll be fine. I'll uh head to the store to pick up food and stuff for the next week or so don't know how long they will be. I'll see you later, Mike."

Mike holds his hand out watching Martin go. "I wouldn't if I was you. He doesn't want us to interfere." He sighs. "He talks about them, Breekon and Hope like they're his dad's yaknow. I haven't met them yet, and Simon tells me I should be careful, but if they are the ones to raise him, I don't see why I should be worried. He's probably the best influence I've got left."

Micheal crosses his arms. "I helped raise him too."

"I don't think it's a competition." Mike sighs. "It's nice to meet you, though, for what it's worth."

Micheal watches Mike walk away as well. He was going to find the two strangers and rip them a new one.

......

It took Micheal three months to find the pair. His voice was twisted and angry, echoing off nothing. "Where the fu- oh... ah, " He seeming poofs into a normal human form in an instant.

An older teen boy and a preteen boy hide behind Breekon and Hope.

"Why do you have two kids?" Micheal tilts his head, trying to get a better view.

"Younger kid found Nikola exploring..."

".... we handled breaking him from the mark....."

"...older lad wouldn't leave..."

"....followed the boy..."

"....Nikola thinks we ate them...."

"..... we didn't...."

"... we had to hide..."

"... we have to return them...."

Micheal holds his hand up, stopping them. He knew they were panicking their voices completely identical to each other. "You both. .. you both changed...." He adjusts his glasses, walking around the pair. He doesn't even look at the two boys. "You two are changing."

Breekon and Hope grip each other hands tighter.

Micheal smiles softly, and his door opens. "Time to go home, and you boys are coming too. Martin will forgive you both, and I'm sure we can find some clothes for the two of you that aren't dirty."

.......

The creek of a yellow didn't distract Martin from his work. He started to knit and crochet, having multiple arms helpful for his new hobby, and Micheal got him a lot of yarn. He hoped that when Breekon and Hope came back, they wouldn't be too upset. He wasn't mad at them he's worried and trying to distract himself. He wants to tell them about Mike and that Oliver was moving back closer.

Two pairs of strong arms wrap around Martin. "We're sorry for abandoning you."

Martin gasps and shakes tears falling down his cheeks. "Dads?"

The embrace is tighter.

Micheal clears his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but Martin, can you spare some clothes?"

Martin pulls away and turns around. "I uh oh new people hi I can make tea." He drops his needles and yarn. He hugs two pairs of arms to his chest and forces his extra eyes to close. "I uh, I'm sorry."

The younger boy approached eyes wide as he got close to Martin. "Are those real?"

"Danny!" The older boy hissed.

Martin blushes and nods. "Y-yeah, most people are scared of them."

"Can I touch them?" Danny looked up at him.

"If you want to. They're just normal arms. They even have my dumb freckles." Martin gasps softly as the boy touches them.

"That's so cool." Danny smiles and waves to the other boy. "Tim, come on, he isn't going to bite you!"

Tim, the older teen, walks cautiously over. "I'm sorry, my brother can be a bit touchy, and I uh..."

Martin blushes a bright red, spotting a red string around the older boys wrist, and it connects to him. He stumbles back. "It's fine. You're probably scared it's fine. That's normal. I heard Nikola is quite nasty right, yeah. I'm going to make some tea, uh, right clothes, uh, the dryer, the dryer has some stuff, too." He rushed out to the kitchen.

"Tim, you scared him!" Danny crossed his arms. "His dad's saved us, and you scared him."

Tim sputters. "I did not scare him." He huffs. "You probably scared him since you rushed at him."

"I did not! I asked him first." Danny pouts.

Breekon grabs both of their shoulders, pushing them together. "That's enough, lads."

Hope smiles. "One of you shower I'll get you clean clothes."

Micheal laughs. "Boy wasn't scared." He slips back through his door, and it vanishes.

......

Martin pauses watching Tim from the doorway. He was looking into some history books about Robert Smirke, Breekon, and Hope, who said he was the first human to categorize the fears into separate entities, and he was right. Tim was odd he was the opposite of himself, outgoing and loud. He was strong and athletic. He had that red string too, and he was honest when he finally had the courage he told him, then ran away.

Tim waves spotting Martin. "Hey Martin, still fighting fate?"

"N-no, you deserve a choice." Martin stutters but approaches. "I uh are you ok?"

"Danny is fine, and I'm ok. Just because Breekon and Hope are strangers, they are nicer than the clown." Tim shuts his book. "Can I ask you something?"

"I uh, I have no control over the red strings. Mother can't even control them. You know, I thought it was only fear and secrets we fed on, but it's connections too, and I uh...." Martin stops. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

Tim shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. I uh wanted to ask about the avatar thing."

"Oh, uh... ok?" Martin crosses all his arms. "I didn't have a choice in it."

"How did you know? I mean, did it just happen? Was it a slow change over time? I uh..." Tim adjusts his glasses. "I uh dunno I feel off since the theater."

Martin frowns and sits down next to Tim. "You don't look different."

"I feel different." Tim frowns. "I don't want to accidently hurt Danny."

"Ok, well, I think I can help." Martin smiles softly, reaching one hand out.

Tim sighs in relief. "Thank you. I just I don't know."

"Well, what are the things that are different?" Martin tilts his head. "You look normal, and I suppose I do too. People are born with extra limbs."

"Well, I mean, once the lights are off, I'm different." Tim frowns. "That's the dark, right? But I'm not a little kid, and I mean I'm not even afraid of the dark."

"I'm not afraid of the spiders that the web controls, and I'm still an avatar of the Web." Martin tilts his head. "I don't exactly think being afraid is a prerequisite."

"If that was true, I would be a stranger." Tim shudders. "No offense to Breekon or Hope. They seem pretty cool, all things considered, and they did save our lives."

"You're changing?" Danny poked his head through the door.

"Danny!" Tim huffs. "How many times have I told you not to spy on me?"

"Doesn't matter. Are you going to get extra harms like Martin? Can you feed on my fear? Oh, oh, do you get a weird pocket dimension like Micheal? It's like a video game fast travel!" Danny rushed into the room, dropping himself down next to his brother.

Tim sighs. "Danny, I don't even know if I am. What about you? I'm not going to feed on your fear."

"But that would be so cool." Danny huffs.

Martin chuckles.

"Don't encourage him." Tim huffs but was smiling.

"Well, we have 14 choices to get through." Danny was practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh, once we figure it out, you could be like a fear superhero."

"That is the opposite of what the fears are... uh... wait." Martin pauses. "Being more well known could get more food and stuff, and maybe fear could evolve into a different emotion to feed on, but I dunno."

Tim smiles softly, staring at Martin. "Well, once we figure it out and I get a handle on it, we can go home, and then well, I can protect you guys."

"See superhero fear avatar." Danny smirks.

Tim rolls his eyes. "You read too many comic books."

......

A yellow door creaks open slowly, and Micheal steps out. Well, he tries before a hand grabs him and drags him out.

"Explain away this then!" It was Kat she looked annoyed and Micheal didn't exactly know where he was.

"I must say the dramatics are excellent look at his costume." A dirty blonde hair woman crossed her arms. "You really think I'm that gullible to believe that? It's almost as absurd as my brother being the head of an institute."

"Uh..." Micheal glitches to look human. "Um Kat, what am I doing here?"

The dirty blonde hair woman steps back.

"Two things, one to prove to Miss Bouchard that there is actual meaning behind what we organize. Secondly, why do Breekon and Hope have Diane's kids with them?" Kate huffs.

"Two boys...? You know where Diane's boys are?!" The dirty blonde haired woman growls. "That woman has been breaking down for the past 4 months."

Micheal pauses and in a soft voice. "Uhhh, Breekon and Hope stopped the boys from being killed from Nikola, and it doesn't matter Elias has a sister?"

"You know Eli, too? Don't tell me you also say he's the head of an institute. Last time I've talked to him, he left after college and worked in artifact storage. That man is not built to run anything except a drug deal if I'm being generous, which I'm not."

"Gwen shut up for a second. What do you mean the boys were almost killed?" Kat crossed her arms. "I thought I asked you guys not to involve my coworkers if I didn't ask."

"Ok, first off, technically, they aren't your coworkers they are your co-workers' children. Secondly, the two stumbled upon where Nikola was by exploring and would have been killed, and there parts used for the stranger if Breekon and Hope didn't interfere. Tim is becoming an avatar for the Dark, so they are waiting until he has some control until they come back." Micheal frowns. "You already knew the second bit."

"Oliver told me, but I'm glad you've also confirmed it." Kat smiles. "Also, thank you again. See, I told you! I swear what we go through the actual accounts and things are connected to fear creatures. Also, I really don't believe the bit about your brother, though. You've decided him as a pot head."

Micheal waves his hand. "Wait, wait, wait. Again, I can not stress this enough. You're Elias's sister?"

"He's ten years older than me and has a different mom." Gwen raised her brow.

"Time isn't real." Micheal says automatically. "I used to work with him, well we worked on the same building. I was in the archives, and he was in artifact storage and then the head of the institute."

"Bullshit." Gwen throws her hands up. "You show me proof of other avatars, and in exchanged I can tell you stories about Elias, and you'll understand how now qualified he is."

"Please." Micheal's door opens automatically.

"We have to pick up my son first." Kat sighs. "And probably Diane."

"Sure, sure tell me about Elias, though." Micheal drags them through.

.......

"TIMOTHY, DANIEL!" A woman rushed out of the yellow door, tackling her two sons. "My baby boys." She checks over both of them.

[secondhandskoot]

How I think the Quody dynamic works

Note: I got an anonymous ask on my blog, secondhandskootur (which Tumblr nuked suddenly and with no explanation why a few days ago), regarding my thoughts on how the dynamic between Quint and Brody would work. I never got the chance to actually post it so I've decided to go ahead and answer it over here, just in case I'm never able get that other blog up and running again. Like many of my longer posts, this is moderately ramble-y.

In the majority of my headcanons and fanon-fueled scenarios, Quint and Brody are just platonic friends who hang out every once in a while, mostly because I actually really like Brody with Ellen, and I've also been liking Brody/Meadows as of late. Additionally, I'm a total Quooper trooper, so that also factors in to why I don't often pair Quint and Brody together romantically. However, I do occasionally enjoy romantic Quody shipping as well so I'll discuss my thoughts on their dynamic in regards to how I usually view it, and also in a romantic/more-than-friends way.

Overall, I'd say the Quody dynamic is somewhat the opposite of Quooper. It's more mature, less chaotic, and generally just a lot calmer. It's arguably more boring, but from an objective, irl stand point, Quody is also probably a healthier relationship than Quooper is. Quint does push Brody's buttons and pick on him, but not nearly as much as he does with Hooper mainly because Brody isn't super reactive to what Quint says. Generally, at most, Quint will just say really dumb shit with a serious tone of voice and get Brody to fall for it.

I'll go into detail about how I typically view Quint and Brody's dynamic first: in a purely platonic, sittin'-side-by-side-crackin'-open-a-beer-and-not-sayin-a-got-damn-thing way.

Usually when Quint and Brody hang out, it isn't just the two of them. I have a whole headcanon that Hendricks and Meadows are Brody's best friends so whenever he has any kind of hang out/event going on, there's a good chance that they'll be there. If Hooper is in town then there's a decent chance he'll come along too, oftentimes being the one to bring Quint with him. Furthermore, Quint and Brody are both introverts so neither of them are typically conversation starters in a group setting. Having all of this in mind, it's much quieter on the occasions when they are alone together. They absolutely do have conversations -- with Moby Dick references/jokes included -- but they tend to be far and few between. And that's pretty much the gist of how their dynamic usually goes in my mind: two introverted guys who hang out and enjoy a nice silence together.

Now, in a romantic/more-than-friends scenario, there's two ways I could see Quint and Brody's dynamic working and it depends on whether or not Ellen is also in the picture -- and yes it does matter and does change the dynamic in my opinion. In both scenarios though, Quint is usually making the first moves and he knows what to say/do to get Brody flustered. He's also just a flirt in general.

In Scenario A -- where Ellen is in the picture -- I think Quint and Brody would most likely be friends with benefits. I prefer to view Brody and Ellen's marriage as an open relationship where both parties are happy and love eachother. Because of that, I think Quint and Brody would have a typical fwb relationship and remain fairly casual. So yeah they smooch, but it isn't romantic here. Quint's also super flirty Quint also hooks up exclusively with Brody because I just can't imagine any timeline where Quint and Ellen are anything more than friends. If you're 18+, see the ao3 fanfic called Ramrod for more on how I view the Scenario A dynamic to work (and also because it's great).

In Scenario B -- where Ellen isn't in the picture (she either divorced Brody or just literally doesn't exist) -- I could see Quint and Brody being moderately domestic. I say moderately because no relationship involving Quint is ever going to be really and truly domestic or conventional. This is the scenario where I could see Quint and Brody actually having a standard romantic relationship and I also have more to say about it than I do Scenario A. Quint would probably move in with Brody, but he'd still keep the shack as a workshop. They'd also both be breadwinners; I can't really see either of them being a trophy/househusband. Brody would have his day job and do his reading & writing as a hobby, while Quint would make his money primarily from boat chartering and/or making alcohol (he quits shark hunting post-jaws incident). I like to imagine that Quint would frequently come up behind Brody and wrap his arms around his waist. He'll also mumble things into Brody's ear, but it's a 50/50 chance that he'll either say something really sweet and heartfelt, or something so utterly stupid and goofy that Brody starts immediately cracking up. It's also not uncommon for Brody to come home first and then get so immersed in a book or his writing that he won't notice Quint coming home until he actually physically comes up behind him and wraps his arms around him. They do occasionally bicker and have arguments, but most of the disagreements/problems they do have get solved fairly quickly.

Anyway, this is the majority of my thoughts on Quody, and to the anon who sent me that ask on my old blog: may this answer find your feed.