#idk that's what i'm going to call it

[charlescoded]

“is now a bad time to tell you i’m claustrophobic?” for my claustrophobic ass? 😂 any pairing you want (side eyeing charles/jason for example 👀)

!!! ellie my beloved!!!!! you tempted me to write jason, how can i ever resist that~? can't believe it got this long tho, it took me like 3 hours to write 😅

FORCED PROXIMITY PROMPTS ˗ˏˋ꒰ 🐚 ꒱ -- found here!

“Aha!” Charles quietly celebrates, barely able to slip through the closing doors of the elevator. The rickety old thing would take forever to return to the bottom floor if he'd missed it, so, like he's been a lot lately, he'd made a mad dash to the doors when he saw someone step inside.

He gives himself a moment to catch his breath, flushing slightly when he sees someone looking at him. "Désolé," Charles mutters, and behind the book the guy is holding, he can see his lips quirk up in amusement.

"You're fine." He dismisses, his French slightly accented. Charles briefly wonders if he's from up north.

The elevator creaks as it starts moving and Charles rests his back against the wall, turning his attention to his phone. He barely gets the time to reply to some messages congratulating him on his pole position before the elevator comes to a sudden halt.

Charles frowns when the doors remain closed.

"Are we stuck?" He asks, not really expecting an answer.

"...Might be, try some buttons?"

He moves to the panel and presses the open button. Then the button of the current floor. Then, when nothing seems to work, on the phone. A voice springs up, and to Charles relief, informs them that they're already working on the issue.

"Half an hour of waiting isn't too bad." He says once the call ends, turning back around.

The guy lets out a humourless laugh. "...Is now a bad time to tell you I’m claustrophobic?"

Charles finally looks more closely at the guy. Black hair with a white streak right at the front, sunglasses, a leather jacket, but... his skin looks unnaturally--almost sickly so--pale. Shit. That's not good.

"Uhm," He wrecks his brain trying to figure out what to do. "Distractions help, right?"

The guy smiles, uneven, and shrugs his shoulders. "I'll be fine." Charles isn't entirely sure if that's a lie or not, but he watches as he takes off his sunglasses first, and then his jacket. Charles would consider him quite handsome with his strong cheekbones and startling blue eyes if he didn't look so uncomfortable. Underneath his leather jacket, he's wearing a red sweater with a collared shirt, a stark contrast to the bad boy look he had earlier.

When he sits down, Charles joins him against the back wall. "What's your name?"

"Jason," The guy--Jason--looks at him, but Charles doesn't see any recognition. "Yours?"

"Charles," And to keep the conversation going: "What brings you to Monaco?"

Jason snorts. "What brings most people here? It's a beautiful city." For whatever reason, he sounds sardonic, like he's telling the truth, but there's something more to do it.

"Around this time of the year, most people come for the grand prix."

"To watch you race, yeah, I get that," Charles blinks in surprise. And here he thought Jason didn't know who he was. "Your face is plastered all over the city, it's kinda hard to miss." Jason adds when he sees Charles' questioning look.

"Oh, yes, of course, that makes sense." He rubs the back of his neck. "Do you watch, then?"

Jason shakes his head. "Haven't had the time in years. Alonso was still with Ferrari. I did get to see him take a podium in COTA, back then."

Charles grins at him. "Does that mean you're a Alonso fan, or a Ferrari fan?"

He rolls his eyes, but there's a small smile on his lips anyway. "It was both. Ferrari has always been the team to root for where I grew up," He explains, before switching to Italian, "Forza Ferrari, and all that."

"Your accent is really good," He replies, also in Italian.

"Thanks," Jason smiled a bit bemused. "How about my French accent?"

Charles opens his mouth to reply before shutting it again. What is that supposed to mean? "It is good, also..?"

Jason's eyes light up as he grins. "You thought I was French?"

He curses himself. "Your French is very good! How am I supposed to know?"

"I'm American," He says, in English this time. And when Charles' eyes widen in horror, Jason's grin widens further, delighted, teasing, "Oh that's cute, so you thought I was Italian after that."

Charles groans and rubs his hands over his red face. "I did not realise, okay? Your accent is very believable..."

At least, Charles thinks to himself rather sourly, at least the distraction is working.

"Pretty funny, though," He points out, and then laughs when Charles makes a face at him. "C'mon, it's not that bad. You could have--," The elevator jumps once, and Jason flinches harshly, grabbing hold of Charles' arm without warning.

Before Charles has the time to say anything, Jason lets go off him, the colour that had been returning to his face draining away again. "Sorry," He mumbles, voice slightly shaky.

"Hey, it's fine," He shifts closer until their shoulders are touching. "We're going to okay, you know this, right?"

Jason leans his head back against the wall. "Yeah, I know... Still don't like it, though. But," He clears his throat. "I'm glad I'm not alone."

Charles gives him a weak smile. "Will you be fine, once we're out?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll just need a moment. Drink something--Eat something too, that's even more important."

"Are you staying nearby?" He doesn't have anything food-related with him, but once the doors open, he can get something from his apartment if he needs to.

Jason nods slowly. "I'm staying in an apartment here, 8th floor. I'll grab a small snack and then cook a late dinner."

At the reminder that he hasn't eaten dinner either, Charles' stomach grumbles, and he lets out a soft groan of embarrassment. "Yeah, I should do that too."

The elevator creaks again, and this time, Charles offers his arm for Jason to grab hold off. The sound keeps going for a little bit, and then finally, finally, the elevator starts moving again.

"Oh thank fuck," Jason breathing out, and Charles lets out a startled laugh in response. The relief was palpable.

He gets up and offers his hand, which Jason takes, and he helps him up as well. Jason gives him a grateful smile in return.

When the doors open on their floor, Jason says something under his breath that sounds suspiciously similar to 'at least it's not as dramatic as bursting open a coffin' and they get out.

"Didn't take as long as they said," He comments, when he looks at the time on his phone.

"Thank the heavens for that." Jason grins at him, and he's still looking a bit pale, and now a bit tired as well, but it's better, much better than before. "Hey, how can I thank you?"

Charles blinks. "Thank me? I was just trying to help."

"How about I cook for both of us?" He offers.

"Oh, really, you don't have to do anything for me." Charles gives him a smile, not entirely sure why he'd want to.

Jason looks at him, his blue eyes scrutinising. "Well, I know that, but I'd really like to thank you for helping me, Charles, to show you my appreciation. That, and I'm a pretty good cook."

And oh. Is he flirting with Charles? He's not entirely sure, but he can't exactly say no to good food either.

"I'll be the judge of that," He says cheekily. "But fine, if you give me the time to go home and shower, I will come over after."

"Fine with me," Jason agrees easily. "I'm staying in 816, so I'll see you in a bit."

Charles smiles in return. "See you soon."

Huh. Maybe that rickety old elevator isn't so bad after all.

[wikiangela]

several sentence sunday

tagged by @hippolotamus

sooo bucktommy won me over, i couldn't resist anymore 🙈 so here's a bit of them after their date lol just to be clear, im still 10000% about buddie but im gonna enjoy this while it lasts bc I feel like this is exactly what buck needs rn lol I just wanna write him be giddy and stupid and flustered about a boy even if that's not eddie haha (also, I didn't get the Tommy hype before but after seeing him everywhere for two days... I get it now 🥵)

___

"(...) We should do this again.” Tommy says, turning fully towards Buck, and Buck’s eyes immediately find his lips. He can’t wait to kiss him again, and this would be the time, at the end of the date, wouldn’t it?

“We should.” Buck nods, licks his lips, eyes darting up to Tommy’s eyes. He’s smiling softly, just looking at Buck. “I-” he starts, and then thinks, fuck it, and this time he makes a move, as he leans across the console to grab Tommy’s chin, like he did Buck’s in his kitchen, and bring him in for a kiss. Tommy immediately reciprocates, and Buck melts against him, and then when Tommy’s calloused hand covers his cheek, it just feels so- so different, in the best way possible. This kiss lasts longer than the first one, each of them constantly coming back for more, but it’s as gentle and tender as that one. Buck loves it, and can’t help smiling into it. He wants more. “Hey.” Buck says, finally pulling away, licks his spit-covered lips nervously. “Do you- do you maybe wanna come in for a beer?” he asks shyly, and at Tommy’s surprised expression and raised eyebrow he realizes it might sound like he’s inviting him for more than a beer, and he panics again. “I- I- I mean, just a beer. And maybe- maybe more of this.” he pecks Tommy’s lips again, not able to resist a smile. “But just a beer. I don’t think I’m- But who knows, maybe-” he stumbles over his words, because the truth is, he wants Tommy, he wants… he wants so much, he wants to experience so much for the first time – it’s just that he’s not sure if it’s not too quick for this relationship, and for him.

“Evan.” Tommy interrupts, bringing his other hand up, now cradling Buck’s face in both, thumbs moving soothingly along Buck’s cheeks. “Your pace, remember? No pressure, no rush.”

“You’re really cool, you know that?” Buck whispers.

“So I keep hearing.” Tommy chuckles, and it’s adorable. He kisses Buck again, and the butterflies in Buck’s stomach go crazy. Fuck, he doesn't remember the last time he felt this giddy and excited and just light. “I’d love to come in for a beer.”

___

no pressure tags: @elvensorceress @thebravebitch @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @watchyourbuck @eowon @loserdiaz @evanbegins @ladydorian05 @wildlife4life @diazpatcher @lover-of-mine @monsterrae1 @thewolvesof1998 @neverevan @weewootruck @loveyouanyway @spagheddiediaz @rainbow-nerdss @epicbuddieficrecs @pirrusstuff @spotsandsocks @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @nmcggg @rogerzsteven @giddyupbuck @sunshinediaz @honestlydarkprincess @underwater-ninja-13 @exhuastedpigeon @911-on-abc @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @theotherbuckley @buddieswhvre @dangerpronebuddie @diazsdimples @daffi-990 @bidisasterbuckdiaz @fortheloveofbuddie @hoodie-buck @tizniz @your-catfish-friend

[ultimateinferno]

Kaladin says god hates him , but I'm going to be fucking honest, I'm certain he's actually Honor's special boy.

[winepresswrath]

sudden yearning for time travelling teen jiang fengmian lands at lotus pier fic that winds up being about a perfectly nice kid having a varying series of "oh no. i don't like that. that's a lot" reactions.

[agapeeternal]

Glen Powell at the Premiere of Netflix's “Hit Man”

[catastrofiend]

los diablos's saddest telepath

[fractiflos]

AFO & Yoichi have the best "back in my day" stories

I mean -

Izuku: Man, I wish the hot water worked.

Yoichi: BACK IN MY DAY WE DIDN'T HAVE HOT WATER! ONLY THE RAIN AND THE RIVER BANK WE WERE BORN BY! AND SOMETIMES THE WATER WAS DIRTY-

-

Izuku: Traffic was terrible.

AFO: BACK IN MY DAY WE DELT WITH HORDES OF METAPOWER EXTERMINATORS ON THE STREETS, FOUGHT OFF FERAL RATS, AND YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT TRAFFIC? WE HAD TO-

[mattodore]

pretty girl (who has clawed her way through multiple chest cavities)

[tiredsurvivoronmain]

Waking up the Chris-bear for breakfast

[alliseaisfandom]

Look.

I'm not saying I've seen this film before.

BUT

I'VE SEEN

THIS FILM

BEFORE

(and I fucking hated the ending)

[r0semultiverse]

Digital Circus AMA Notes

Digital Circus is getting a season 1 at some point!!!!

#webcore aesthetic board for the series design

Pomni was going to be a frog originally. 🐸

90s toys Zooble inspo

Caine is an antagonist, but not by active choice, he doesn't know he's not helping. He doesn't feel a whole spectrum of human emotions (he's an AI).

"Caine canonically just lets things happen if he thinks it's funny."

Characters eat like Chao in Chao garden in Sonic. The characters can eat the food, but they can't digest it.

Jax's favorite food is spaghetti.

Pomni likes salmon.

Q "Was the ending a 'Last Supper' reference?" A "in a very superficial kinda way yeah." Religious stuff is sometimes just used for the funny.

Gooseworx tumblr sketches MAY or MAY NOT be canon to the series, so it's up in the air for every single one.

People can abstract from feeling too much pain if it breaks their mind from it being too much. Characters feel pain from things, but not as intensely as they would in real life.

Zooble is gonna swap parts every episode (implying they have spare parts) except their body & head.

Jax chose his own name & gooseworx likes to think he chose Gangle's name.

Ragatha was named "Emmy" originally.

They (the cast of characters trapped in the circus) can't change their clothes but Caine can. It's part of their skin sorta kinda.

There's empty space under Pomni's hat because video game model physics.

Spamton was partially inspo for Caine, Caine's VA did Spamton dubs.

Gangle only has 2 masks. Why's it (her hapiness mask) break all the time? Mental state, but the "real her" is "harder to break."

Kaumfo was gonna be part of the main cast originally before Jax.

Kaufmo's model has nothing below the waist at this time, but was made for that promotional image on twitter.

Q "What kinda person was Kaufmo?" A "He was the same as Ragatha in a sense, goofy & cheery, sometimes toxic levels of positivity."

I'm paraphrasing for the sake of note taking in real time, go watch the stream playback for more context & details if you want.

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Chapter 110 is 13 pages long welcome to hell!!! so in a lot of ways this is just more fuel for a theory that I've had for a few weeks now, that's only gotten stronger with each recent season 5 episode, which is that the last episode of the season is gonna end on 110, and that Asagiri/Harukawa and Bones have been collaborating to make this happen, specifically because it's a major turning point that would be the only good place to end the season on.

When we started getting especially long chapters again (like from 25-35ish pages, with the exception of 107.5, the last two being some of the longest we've ever had), at first I just assumed that Asagiri/Harukawa got freed up from some other obligations they'd been having to cause the extremely short/half chapters, like promotional stuff for the anime/Beast movie, or working on light novels. But then 109 happened, with the "supposed" death of Dazai, and heavy emphasis at the end on how literally everyone is at their lowest point right now, and I got to thinking. 11 episodes is a strangely specific number for an anime season -- why not 12, or 13, or even 10, like you'd usually see? Why have we gotten suddenly gotten two 35 page chapters out of nowhere, that's almost unheard of at this point? They're both beautiful chapters, don't get me wrong (as always), and maybe A/H simply just didn't want to cut them in halves because they felt like the full emotional impact wouldn't hit/that there were no good cutoff points in them, but you can't deny that it's surprising, after all the shorter chapters we've been getting. Why has the anime been going at such insanely breakneck pacing for the most part ever since around the Sunday Tragedy chapters, even more so than it has in the past? So much so that it feels dangerously close to overtaking the manga?

Well, maybe, just maybe, it's because..... Asagiri decided a long time ago that whatever happens in 110 is the only point that feels "season finale"-worthy enough, in an arc that still isn't anywhere close to being completely wrapped up, and so both the manga and the anime have been specifically coordinated to reach that part within 2 and a half weeks of each other?

I've seen a lot of people now think season 5 will end with 109, and as much as my sadistic side would find that hilarious, I honestly don't think they'd do that and realistically don't want it to happen; it'd be so cruel to cliffhanger the anime for years like that, and just doesn't feel like a season cliffhanger BSD would do, a series that is ultimately hopeful and uplifting. Seasons 2 and 3 had a positive, conclusive ending; the only reasons seasons 1 and 4 didn't was because they're technically not really full seasons of their own, and are more like the first cour of another "season" that also came out that same year (seasons 1 and 2 both aired in 2016, so they're more like one big season, and seasons 4 and 5 have both aired this year, so they're also more like one big season, again taking into account how episodes 12 and 50 are not satisfying finales like episodes 24, 37, and hypothetically, 61, are). I really can't see season 5 ending with Dazai and Fukuzawa's supposed deaths, Sigma being unconscious and maybe close to death, Atsushi being vulnerable and limbless again, everyone we love still vampires, and the entire world being basically doomed; that's just too depressing and not like BSD at all. However, having said that, if it doesn't end there, there really isn't any good place to end the season before that, either, that feels in any way satisfying or like a finale at all. And so, to me, that only leaves after 109: chapter 110.

I think things are really gonna turn around next chapter. Like I said, everyone is at their lowest point right now, it cannot possibly get any worse, the framing of Dazai, Fukuzawa, and sskk at the end of 109 is telling us that; this is the time for the heroes to finally start winning again, with Aya being so close to pulling out the sword, and for all the thematic reasons other people have talked about to death that I don't need to go into here again. This upcoming chapter being so short again makes a part of me wary of 110 being "the one", so to speak, I won't lie, but at the same time, it's very possible that it needs to be that short because that's all the final episode of the season will be able to reasonably fit in, since it's already gonna be VERY close if they do make it all the way to 109. And at the end of the day, I don't doubt at all that Asagiri and Harukawa can make these the most monumental and game-changing mere 13 pages ever if they wanted to; a chapter does not at all need to be extremely long in order to be an important and impactful one, even if short ones we've gotten in the past haven't felt the most important.

An additional thought I've had, though this is much more crack territory than all this already is, is that since we know from Anime Expo that a Stormbringer movie at some point is highly likely (judging from Asagiri's reaction when someone brought it up), it's possible that chapter 110 and thus the final episode will involve the long-anticipated return of Verlaine and/or Adam, or at least some other major reference to Stormbringer, that would naturally and smoothly lead into a Stormbringer movie to explain things to people who haven't read the novel. It would make a lot of sense, especially since the s4 OP has the Old World sign behind Chuuya, which might be a hint that this has been in the works ever since seasons 4/5 were first in planning with Asagiri. We also know that Dazai and Chuuya's voice actors apparently struggled to record their lines together this season, which probably relates to 101 and possibly 109, but it could be 110 too.... I could be very wrong, as I'm no expert on this kind of thing, but I kinda doubt they would bring Chuuya's actor in for just the vampire growls, and Asagiri placing heavy emphasis on Chuuya's importance this season in that one interview gives me the impression that he's talking about much more than just 101/109. But that's the least solid evidence I have, that's just mostly based on vibes I get.

So basically, I think a lot of factors -- the unusual episode count, how close the anime is to catching up to the manga with three whole episodes left, the seemingly arbitrary recent chapter lengths, and the climactic events of 109 -- can tell us that 110 might be a very, VERY big deal. Again, there's of course no way this arc is anywhere near close to being finished, with so much left to address and resolve, but since it is currently incomplete in the manga, unlike the previously adapted arcs, if the anime was going to adapt it at all, they'd have to find a place that feels satisfying enough to end this season, knowing there won't be more anime for a long time after this, and so I think they specifically planned for that, from both Bones' and A/H's sides. 10 episodes might not have been enough to reach that point, but 12 or 13 might have been too many it wouldn't have been if Bones actually decided to slow down and let the story breathe the way it needs to, but this post isn't meant to criticize the anime, so maybe 11 was just right. And maybe Asagiri and Harukawa specifically pushed to make recent chapters longer than usual, in order to make sure that the manga reached the story content in 110 the monthly release right before season 5 was to end.

Is this just copium? Absolutely. Am I going to look like an absolute clown in two days when this post ages like milk? Probably. But the evidence is There, so let me just enjoy my delusions until Sunday, okay 🥂🫡

[iknowwhereyousnoozeatnight]

light found misa’s bra (wip that i’m not going to finish)

[tblsomedoodles]

Donnie's Visions (apocalypse Seer Twins comic) Part 5 (complete!)

Start - Previous

I should wait until tomorrow to post this so i can make sure i didn't miss anything. But i don't particularly want to wait. It's the last part and i just really want this to be fully complete (post and all.)

anyways, i hope you enjoyed this comic! I am very glad to get to check one thing off my to-do list.

[hailsatanacab]

@the-ghost-trader - ooooh, i love this! it has the potential to be so incredibly sad, too, like poor Damian just trying to carve out something normal for himself only for it blow up in his face

BUT, shockingly, i'm not about the angst today! not yet anyway 😇

---

“So, how was your day?”

Despite his answering groan, Damian likes this. This. This whole… thing he has with Danielle. With Ellie. 

And, yeah, he’s not exactly told any of the others yet, but can you blame him? For wanting to keep something, anything, to himself. Wanting to keep this small little slice of goodness he’s managed to carve out, untouched and unmarred by his family, by their other lives, by the rogues, the vigilantes, the assassins, everyone.

“That bad, huh?”

Being with Ellie is freeing. That’s the best way to describe it.

She knows. Damian surprised even himself when he told her—not about the others, mind, but he supposes it’s not hard to put two and two together and Dani has always been smarter than most—but it’s the best decision he’s ever made, and no matter what the niggling little voice in the back of his head says (the one that sounds suspiciously like Father), he can’t bring himself to regret it.

He won’t. Because having Ellie know gives him freedom.

She’s a safe place, a hand to hold, a warm, welcoming presence when things inevitably turn ugly. It’s the freedom to just be normal when everything else in his life spirals into stranger and more stressful missions.

“Richard is being insufferable again. I do not understand his incessant need to know everything about my life.”

“Oh? What’s he done now?” 

“I was subjected to an hour long interrogation about my love life, like it’s any of his business. It’s infuriating!”

“Ugh, tell me about it. I get the same thing from Jazz, constantly. It can be suffocating.” Ellie says as she curls herself tighter into his side. “But it’s just how they show they care.”

“Yes, well, sometimes I wish he wouldn’t—”

“Hey!” Ellie pushes herself up to glare at him, punctuating her shout with a soft whack to his arm for good measure. “What have I said about using that word?”

“Yes, yes,” he placates with a roll of his eyes, “‘Be careful what you wish for.’ I apologise, it won't happen again.”

“Damn straight it won't.”

She maintains eye contact with him for a second longer before tucking herself back into his side, squirming around with a long, contented hum that Damian can feel rumble through him. He smiles and doesn’t complain even when he has to shift to give her more room after a particularly strong elbow jabs him in the ribs. It means leaving the warm patch on the couch, but he’s rewarded with another long, happy moan as she settles and Damian can’t bring himself to mind.

Ellie constantly makes noises. Little mews and hums and laughs and songs known only to her. It reminds him of a cat, sometimes. He likes it. It calms him down; it means she’s happy, so he's happy.

They settle back into the cushions and Damian lets the subject drop, not wanting to spoil the moment. Outside, the wind changes direction and from where he’s laying he can watch as the snow starts to come down thick and heavy. Hopefully it’ll mean a quiet night's patrol.

“Is that why you haven’t introduced me yet?”

“What?” He can't help it, he stiffens at the thought of losing his secret, of the scrutiny he'll be inviting if he lets anyone know.

“Are you worried I’ll embarrass you?”

Damian’s eyes snap down quick to reassure her, only to see her light, teasing grin. He lets out a breath of relief. It figures she wouldn't worry about that.

“Of course not, don’t be absurd. You could never embarrass me.”

“I don’t know,” she muses, her voice taking on a dangerous lilt, “that sounds like a challenge.”

“Believe me, having been subjected to Father’s Brucie persona at every gala I’ve been to, it would take a lot to embarrass me.”

“Alright, bet. I’ll get you, just you wait.”

“You’ve already got me.”

She flicks him on the nose. “You’re such a sap.”

He hums his agreement, enjoying the tinkling sound of her laughter. And then, before he can think otherwise, he asks, “Is that why you haven’t introduced me?”

“That’s different,” she scowls. “You know how hard it is to get there, there’s no signal, and Danny only gets a break like—oh, Ancients!”

Damian gets another elbow to the ribs as she bolts upright, a manic grin on her face that has him laughing.

“What is it?”

“It’s the holidays! It’s nearly Truce Day! You know I said I had a family thing around Christmas?”

“Yes?” 

“Well, do you want to come to it? I can introduce you then! I mean, it’s going to be a bit formal and you’ll have to meet everyone, not just family. There’s going to be some banquets, you’ll have to sit through some long speeches and you have to be on your best behaviour at all times, okay? Absolutely no fighting, it’s called Truce Day for a reason!”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’ll be perfect! I think Jazz is going in a couple days earlier to help with the preparations, so I’ll get her to let Danny know—and fair warning, he will try to give you the shovel talk, but this is great! It’s Truce Day, so he can’t actually do anything about it!”

“I’m sorry, but you're going to have to explain a bit.”

“Yeah, I know, it’s a bit much—but that’s family, right? Danny can get pretty protective over me, which is why going on Truce Day is the best time to do it! He can’t even command the Fright Knight to stab you! It’s genius!”

“Ellie, what?”

“Like, yeah, sure, he’s the king, but even he has to obey the rules of Truce Day—and then once you’ve spent all day with him, he’ll see that you’re a fantastic, wonderful, kind, brilliant, smart, strong, capable person and he’ll get over himself and everything will be good!"

Damian collapses down onto the couch, the wind knocked out of him. This is… He had not expected anything like this at all. For all that Ellie talked about her family, she had never mentioned this.

“Did you… did you say your brother is a king?”

“Yeah! High King Phantom, have I…” The manic grin slips off her face as she turns round and notices Damian. “Have I not mentioned that before?”

“No. No, you have not.”

“Ah. Sorry. Probably should clarify that I’m also a princess.”

“Right. Yes, that follows.”

“And I’m not really his sister, I’m his clone.”

“What?”

Damian blinks and tries to say more, but he has no idea what he’s meant to do with… any of this information. 

Normal. He thought she was meant to be his normal. Nothing could have prepared him for this.

Not that it changed anything, of course, of that he was certain. It’s just… a lot to take in. Overwhelming. But it's okay! He takes a deep breath, and another, and a sense of calm washes over him. Ellie makes one of her little hums as she cocks her head to the side to consider him and he can't help but relax at the normalcy of the sound. It'll be okay, he's dealt with stranger and he can deal with this.

“I’ve, uh… I’ve told you that we’re half ghosts, though, right?”

“What?”

[agapeeternal]

Joe tonight at New Heights Show live in Cincinnati