#like ghost martyn n cleo

[alienssstufff]

*taps you on the shoulder* Pst a YCAO spin off fic just dropped

answering to say www my yiss I saw -I read it the night it was published ^^

read it all in one sitting oi did - then proceeded to walk outside my house and have an existential lie on the grass at 4am …. Whwhwh it was really good ><

[ LINK ]

[frozenjokes]

Signing Back In, Apparently - 18

Prev/Next

TWs for this chapter: gun violence, nasty injuries (not described in graphic detail), suicide threats

“Sausage, Martyn,” Cleo kept their voice level, but there was no hiding the shock in her expression. This.. well, she didn’t blame them, and she certainly wasn’t going to fight them. Cleo looked over her shoulder to the ouija board. Poor things. “I won’t get in your way, but you could wait and see if Scar learns anything from his ghosts. They might have a solution.”

“That ship has sailed,” Sausage sighed, “I’m no fool. I know this is a dangerous bridge to burn. If I step back, it’ll get out of control. I am sorry, Scar, I don’t take any joy in this.”

“No, I understand,” Scar’s tone was light, almost casual, but his eyes were dark, “Though, please, humor me for a minute, won’t you? I have a question.”

“If it helps you make your peace, go ahead,” Sausage’s gaze hardened, his grip on his gun tightening.

“Great! You said you were sorry, Sausage, sorry about what happened to me on that island. You took partial responsibility because you sent me to Cleo. You didn’t have any idea of knowing what might happen, but still, you were sorry. That was kind. Well, Cub, the one who did this to me, he wanted to know what would happen if he combined the living and the dead, smashing the two things together to see if they stuck. It’s lunacy, it is, but whatever he did to me, it’s deeper than just aesthetics,” The wings, as if on cue, flapped lightly. Scar gave them a small side eye, an expression Cleo couldn’t read crossing his face, “I’m not alone in my body anymore. I can feel it, Sausage, something eager, something hungry , inside me.” Scar tilted his head back into Sausage’s gun, just enough so he could look him in the eyes, “Long winded explanation, I know, one of my many flaws. I only meant..” Scar paused, humming, “How sorry will you be if that bullet in my head doesn’t kill me?”

“That’s enough, Scar,” Sausage growled, and Cleo closed their eyes as his finger tightened on the trigger. The whirr of something whipping through the air sounded at nearly the same time as the shot. The following chorus of yells was swallowed by the bang and when Cleo opened her eyes, Scar and Sausage were on the floor wrestling in such a tight knot, Martyn was struggling to intervene. Scar’s dark hair was stained red, enough to make Cleo wonder if Sausage hadn’t missed. If whatever Cub had done had really kept him alive. It was a moment later she realized she should help, but in the next another shot was fired, and this time, it was clearly Sausage that screamed. Martyn leapt on top of Scar, but he rolled, throwing the other man off and staggering to his feet with Sausage’s pistol. The left side of his head was coated in blood, a separate gash under his right eye split open and bleeding. Cleo had never seen anyone look so crazed.

“ FUCK , Grian, you really never miss with that thing, do you? Couldn’t have tried to hit Sausage, no?” Scar kicked the planchette in the doorway beside him with a massive heave, its dull point speckled with blood. Oh. That made sense. Scar gave Sausage a sour look as Martyn kneeled over him, struggling to stop the blood spilling from his hip. Sausage met Scar’s gaze, stiff.

“ Scar,” Cleo moved forward, slow and methodical, “Let’s take a step back, alright? We can get out of here. Get Merlin out of here.”

Scar whipped his head to meet her eyes, expression twisted in a tight grin. “You don’t want me to kill them. You can say it. Tell me what you think, Cleo, I don’t mind,” Scar spoke, frighteningly level. He moved robotically as he stepped into the tavern and closed the distance between them, every step a threat with the gun fastened in his grip. A challenge, maybe, but Cleo had never known themself to back down.

“I don’t. You know their reason was sound.”

“So you were happy to sit there, watching as I got put down like a sick dog?”

“Not happy. I’ve told you where I stand, Scar. Whether or not you believe me is your own choice, but I promise you, I won’t stand idly if you raise that gun again. Let them go.”

“Bold.”

“I’ve been told so, yeah. Let’s pack it up and get out of here. You can chat with your ghosts on the way.”

Scar gave Sausage and Martyn one last venomous look before turning away, melting into a more relaxed stance. Cleo couldn’t help but notice how manufactured it looked. “Guess we’re even. An eye for an eye, whatever, whatever. I’m taking your fucking gun.”

“Aye,” Sausage grunted, closing his eyes. Martyn looked like he might leap on Scar while his back was turned, but backed down at a shriveling look from Cleo. She couldn’t save Martyn’s sorry ass a second time if he did something stupid. Martyn fumed but turned away, heaving to help Sausage out of the doorway and supporting most of his weight as they walked away. Cleo watched them go. Martyn never sheathed his sword.

Scar tucked the ouija board under his arm, snatching up the planchette he had kicked and stalking out of the door without another word. Cleo followed him to his boat, trying to puzzle out the extent of the damage. There were very few spots on Scar’s body that weren’t bleeding, his head being the worst example, blood dripping off the long strands of his hair.

“Did..” Cleo trailed off, biting their lip, “Did Sausage get you? Really get you I mean. Should you be dead right now?”

Scar didn’t turn around or even give any indication he heard. His pace was fast, hands tucked firmly in his pockets. The silence was long before he spoke. “Don’t think so. Might not have an ear anymore, though. It’s hard to tell, everything feels like it’s on fire. Well, it also feels a bit numb. I’m not going to think too hard about it. I’ve got a mirror on the boat, I’ll take a look.”

“Let me, it’ll be easier, and you won’t be able to accurately wrap that shit up anyway. Besides, you’ve got ghosts to talk to.” Cleo quickened her pace to catch up when Scar didn’t answer, only catching the frown on his face for a moment before he gave a weak smile. Cleo rolled their eyes, slipping one of her many flasks from her jacket and slamming it into Scar’s stomach. He keeled over with a yelp and Cleo walked ahead, smirking. “Something to numb the pain, hm?”

“Asshole.”

“You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Cleo let Scar get his mirror and first aid while she readied the boat, starting a slow sail. From her understanding, the ghosts would be forced to follow soon after they left dock, so it would be best to take care of Scar’s business before they were being pursued. Cleo had always been more squeamish than most pirates, a trait about themself which they loathed, but anyone would have squirmed looking at the side of Scar’s head. At the very least Cleo could take a small amount of solace in the fact the bullet had clearly grazed him, not entered his head completely. Any remaining relief promptly dissolved when she recognized the mangled state of his ear. Cleo bit down hard on their tongue to keep from wretching. Scar downed the last of the flask as she tied his hair back, working quickly to curb the bleeding before he started to complain.

Cleo couldn’t help but notice how quickly she was able to slow the blood flow despite the severity of this injury. It was hard not to think about Cub, to think about how easily what had happened to Scar could have happened to them. To think about Scar’s threat. Scar, unsurprisingly, did not tell about what was happening to him willingly, and the details he had given before today were vague; he had only wanted help hiding the wings and figured Cleo would have known best. She was pleased by that, but she couldn’t help Scar hide them; she couldn’t even touch them. But before now, this wasn’t something to be taken very seriously. Scar hadn’t made it seem like something deeper. Maybe he hadn’t known, but if he had, he would have lied anyway. Well, from now on, she’d be sticking a little closer to Joe.

As Cleo bent down to get some bandages, she let out a long, triumphant breath. This wasn’t too bad! Sure, her stomach was churning, but she hadn’t even made a sound or done anything else to set Scar off. He was fun to talk to, but christ , he could be so sensitive sometimes, particularly when it came to injuries.

“This should do,” Cleo said, Scar wincing as they tightened his bandages. “At least until we can get you to an actual doctor.”

“A doctor?” Scar laughed, his smile looking more real, “Where the hell am I gonna find a doctor that doesn’t want to cut me open and poke at my organs? You’re not implying I go back to the Faction Isles, are you? Somehow, I don’t think they’d take me.”

“Well the ghosts have different prices for their services, but I’m sure you could find some shiny rocks to persuade them with. Although, this late in the season, you might not have much luck.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Scar shrugged, laying right down on the deck, “Thanks, Cleo,” he mumbled the last bit, looking hard at the ground.

“Well, well! The booze turning you soft, is it?” Cleo stalked back over, leaning over Scar in such a way that all her curly hair swung over his face. She grinned at his flushed face, chuckling as he covered it with his arms. “Well, Scar, you are very welcome. Now pick yourself up off the floor and get talking to your ghosts.”

Scar groaned, massaging his forehead. “I don’t wanna. They’ve been so annoying ever since we got on the boat, all in my face and everything.” Cleo put her hands on her hips. Scar threw up his hands. “You don’t get it! They’re the worst!”

“You’re the worst, stop bitching and start solving the problems you caused.”

“Technically, this wasn’t really my-” Scar stopped short at a distant roar, its heavy sound rippling across the water.

“Time to speed up I take it? I’ll handle the boat, you get your shit in order.”

“I could use another drink.”

“Scar, I am not getting you drunk while we run away from a giant ghost monster that wants you dead. Be happy you’re tipsy.” The distant look in Scar’s eye made him look a little further gone than ‘just tipsy,’ but they’d have to work with this. At least he wasn’t complaining about the pain. Scar grumbled in response, but he sat up, getting the ouija board in working order. Cleo couldn’t help but smile as Scar argued with his ghosts, mostly yelling at Grian for sitting when he wanted to speak to Impulse. There was a lot of fumbling before Scar finally assented, putting his hands on the planchette.

Grian’s form flickered to life, his body appearing in splotched colors and his eyes a focused blue; Cleo had never seen anything like it. Even the ghosts on The Haunted Island were monochrome, their eyes empty. She was even more surprised to hear Grian speak, although his voice was fuzzy and quiet.

“ Fuck you.” Grian took his hands off the planchette, promptly disappearing.

Scar turned back to Cleo, an exasperated look across his face. “Guess what he just said to me. Ugh, this is a complete waste of time.”

“I heard him, actually. I could see him too, a little.”

“Really?” Scar did not look overly pleased to learn this.

“That’s great!” Impulse chimed, making Scar jump, “I’d much rather talk with you, Cleo, but I don’t think the ouija board will work the same with you and I. Wow , this is so odd. Mumbo was right, you do kinda feel alive don’t you?” Impulse turned to someone else as he spoke, presumably Grian.

“Oh you have no idea ,” Scar leaned forward, teasing, his eyes narrowed in Grian’s direction. He laughed, clearly seeing something Cleo couldn’t. “It’s so easy to work him up!” Scar turned back, sighing contentedly.

Impulse didn’t look impressed. “Right, Scar. If we could get back on track here, that would be great. What’s happening with Mumbo and Pearl is more serious than what happened with Grian before. As far as I can tell, Merlin doesn’t recognize either of us given-”

“Merlin! You called it Merlin! Do you like the name?” Scar lit up like a puppy, and if he had a tail it would surely be wagging.

“I- Scar , it’s- no. I don’t like it. It’s just convenient,” Impulse looked away, brows furrowing.

“Liar! You like it!”

Impulse flushed, a frankly odd thing to see happen to a ghost, “Can we just focus please? Mumbo and Pearl did not recognize us when we approached them, we were attacked just like everything else in their way. When we found Grian, he was hostile, but we were able to subdue him and calm him down. Grian and I can’t do that here, Merlin is too dangerous, not to mention, huge.”

“Well what do you want me to do, apologize? Mumbo already knows I’m not sorry. Not about the big picture anyway.”

“ We know .” Impulse’s tone was venomous, “I don’t think any of us are looking for apologies anyway, even if you had any to give. No, I’m just concerned about your plan to bring Merlin to The Haunted Island. If I had to guess, their top two priorities are destroying shit and killing you, and that doesn’t lend itself very well to an island full of beautiful architecture and like, other mind bendingly cool shit.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that,” Scar mused, and Impulse’s unamused ‘I know’ was swallowed by Scar calling back to Cleo, “Hey, is that going to be a problem?”

“Well, once we get in range I’m going to ask over the walkie,” Cleo pulled the device from one of her pockets, wiggling it before setting it back, “I’m going to need the ghosts to keep talking though, so I know when. Though, we might have to navigate some dangerous water while I wait for a bunch of dithering ghosts to come to an answer.”

“But how could this ever be okay?” Impulse stressed, fingers tight on the planchette, “That island is like- historic- we can’t just risk destroying it all, especially not if everyone isn’t on board. I mean, just thinking about purposefully bringing Merlin there is kind of making my head spin.” Impulse and Scar’s eyes were drawn to empty space, Grian most likely. There was a long pause before Impulse spoke again. “I know,” he sighed, distress showing in every crevice of his face. “I know we don’t.. We will have to try, Grian. Keep distracting them, getting in their face. Something will click. It has to.”

Scar scowled, “Please, I’d rather just drown myself than pilot this ship around for days while you two play house with Merlin.”

“You won’t. ” Impulse hissed, painting a smirk across Scar’s face.

“Oh really? How are you going to stop me?”

“Come on, Scar, knock it off!” Cleo snapped, turning completely from the wheel to face them. The panicked look on Impulse’s face was heart wrenching, the ghost disappearing from view a second later as he removed his hands from the planchette. Scar winced as Impulse left, drawing a hand to his throat before quickly pulling it away. “What happened to being nice to your ghosts, Scar? How many times will this bite you in the ass before you learn?”

“I told you, I don’t fear consequences.”

“Come on, Scar. Seriously.”

Scar’s breathing swelled in a deep anger, his eye alight with a fire. He opened his mouth to speak, but it seems the words were burned away, because he shut it so hard Cleo heard his teeth clench before turning violently away. Fine. Scar could throw as many fits as he wanted, none of it would change a thing. Cleo turned back to the wheel, uninteresting in listening to him mumble to himself. Fucking pirates, man. She jumped as Grian’s voice broke through behind them.

“-pathetic. Seriously, he gets challenged one time for being an asshole, and he just crumbles! What the hell changed, that’s what I want to know. Did anything? Did he just tremble in his room like a little dog whenever anything didn’t go his way? Thank fucking god he’s too far gone to even hide it anymore, now everyone knows just how much of a-”

“ Grian .” Impulse cut in, saying his name and grabbing his sweater when he didn’t slow down, “Grian, stop, he can hear you.” Scar was, indeed, frozen in place, every part of his body rigid as he stared. Cleo could almost see the heat emanating from him. Grian startled for a moment, but his surprise didn’t last long, melting back into a sneer.

“What? Did I hurt your feelings?” Grian bounced on his toes, a look of wild joy crossing his face, “Does it hurt, that everyone knows you’re falling apart? Well, falling apart implies some amount of,” Grian gestured vaguely, “Semblance. You’ve been in pieces for a long time, and it’s just as visible as each of our scars. You try and pick yourself back together, but one little push and it all comes crumbling down, and you’re reduced to this.”

“Grian!” Impulse pulled harder on his sweater, panic in his eyes, “We really don’t want to provoke him right now!”

“What’s he gonna do? Oh, now that’s familiar.” Something deep and angry burned through Grian as he bent down on one knee, meeting Scar face to face. “ What are you going to do?” Something electric burst between them, those words holding a deeper meaning than Cleo understood. Scar stood straight up, gaze fixed on Grian. He drew his sword, turning the blade inwards.

“I’ll take everything away.”

[impulstor]

explanations behind my song choice for my 3lsmp playlist under the read more! keep in mind, some of these songs don't really have a reason beyond just... vibes. and that some ideas have changed over time. anyway!

playlist here

anti-hero — originally added as an etho song, and still applies. with him being prepared to fight & kill for ren + the rest of the red army. also, he tends to be a bit unpredictable and has a very different moral standing from someone like, say, martyn.

kill the sun — fits with the series as a whole, with shifting alliances and friendships, and with people killing and being killed by one another.

special — this ones for all the mfs who didn't pick a side until really late, or were bouncing between factions for a while 💪. especially for tango, as an example, making friends with someone who he can also consider his enemy, and being completely unsure where he stands in any group, though he wants to have their faith.

villain — this song is just really good for making a mental amv for lmao. it's good for demonstrating differing alliances n sides, n of course that applies here.

oh, death — not a lot of specific thoughts for this, just. yknow, death, vibes, dying for someone, watching your friend die, etc.

6up 5oh cop-out — first of all, I'm just a slut for will wood sometimes. second, a lot of the lyrics on their own could 100% be applied to events in the series (I mean I did use some from it for my etho n tango drawing for funsies) so. it's a strange song but the vibes fit well, in my opinion :]

kill of the night — a bit self explanatory, I think. in a series about trying to outlive, and to eventually kill your friends? no doubt you're going to end up hunting certain people down, hmmm? revenge, n all that. works well for multiple characters, really.

you're gonna go far, kid — impulse. just like. tango, or maybe etho, at impulse. "with a thousand lies and a good disguise, hit em right between the eyes" I meaaan 🤔 how is it NOT impulse lmao

kill the lights — once again, killing, death, murder, yknow. good vibes. also people lying and betraying one another, and watching as their friends and enemies die in front of them, people being changed by the events that transpire.. also technically they ARE actors sooo. kill the actor, yknow

mad IQs — mostly this song just slaps (thank you eexer 🙏) but also the lyrics fit well with the events! death, murder, killing your friends, burning. there is a lot of fire.

go get your gun — works very well for the whole war goin on. one side vs another, fighting and losing allies, fighting to win for their fallen allies, cheating fate if they DO win. also the line "when this is over, we'll raise a glass straight up to the sun" could be seen as like. everyone coming together to be friends once it's all over bc they are!

c'est la vie — it fits well. bad things happen, you lose people, you hurt, karma kicks your ass, but that's just life, and that's the game. c'est la vie.

i'm gonna win — fits for how they're all fighting to be the last one standing. and also with having to work through literally dying and to not give up, if you want to win.

mr capgras... — once again, I just like will wood. also fits well with people fighting each other, mostly with the chorus. "you'll never take me alive" / "you better pray that I die" likjkeeeee 👀 you could make art fitting those lyrics tbh

curses — red & green duos (at least. when they were intact :/) sticking together, taking care of one another when everything is going to hell, people are dying, and it's getting intense. they trust each other, at least.

under the pressure — don't really have something specific, it just fits well, with the lyrics. honestly this one fits well as a skizz song, now that I'm thinking about it. he went from trying to be friends with a lotta people to taking two out for good and went out in a blaze of glory. yea. that's what I got lol

everybody wants to rule the world — I dont think I really need an explanation for this one. it just fits well with everyone trying to win the whole game, and with everything slowly ramping up in intensity

rebels — for scar and grian being crime bros for the first while :] everything IS burning, good for them!

outrunning karma — impulse once again. playing everyone, playing to everyones good sides as much as he could, until the act didnt matter anymore. but karma might really kick him in the ass, if he ends up as one of the last survivors, and others turn on him for betraying everyone earlier on.

you're nobody til somebody wants you dead — shrug emoji. just fits well mostly. friends fighting eachother, betrayal, yadda yadda.

thanks i hate it — mmm,, tango? idk, im just a tango enjoyer, and he has spent quite a bit of effort trying to please certain groups to like. no avail. especially team crastle. like tbh he was solidly on board with em for a while, and mightve gone back to them on his own. but cleo blackmailed him anyway. rip tango.

the riddle — ALL OF IT. the whole series. it fits

crazy = genius — i dont rly like brendan urie like at all. so i might remove it from the playlist at some point. but it does fit with scar and grian being villains.

icarus — mmm fits well with grian. with the wing imagery, and with the fact that he made SO many enemies by working with scar. and he never reaallllyyyyy apologized, did he? he's walking a dangerous line, with few allies,

cradles — idk lmao. vibes only.

wolf in sheeps clothing — impulse again mostly lol. sung by skizz or etho probably. betrayal <3

how villains are made — again, for those neutral parties that had to choose a side. its about being torn between two sides & having to choose. honestly, I could see it fitting bigb, if he does some funky villain stuff next session. he deserves it I think <3

killing butterflies — trauma, ouchie, angst, murder your friends. everything hurts.

king — ren!! that's it.

little lion man — bruh if ren dies and leaves martyn alone.... ghost ren to martyn.... ouch.

gives you hell — red army @ sand people. specifically etho and ren get to be petty at scar i think

wine red — [gestures vaguely] all of it

i bet my life — red and green duos again. though it could be after some of them permadie.

miss missing you — (thanks again eexer this one also slaps <3) ouch impulse and tango angst. or impulse and etho angst. OR etho and tango angst. THEM. :(

youth — all of it but like. after it's over. just like going back and looking at how it all went down.

a gorey demise — i just think it would be fun to animate everyone's different deaths to this song tbh

another one bites the dust — they are once again Dying. but it's not angsty and dramatic this time.

god rest ye merry gentlemen — 😔 the whole thing again. pain