#listen this is another fic where like

[essektheylyss]

“Your delinquent child is outside, and I have assured him that he is very, very grounded.”

Between Yeza and the campers still waiting for their parents to arrive from around the coast to collect them, Veth wasn’t sure any of them saw her move between the dining room and the foyer before she’d thrown the front door open.

Outside, Caleb held Luc by the back of the vest, neither of them looking any worse for wear. Behind them, Jester and Fjord looked a bit sheepish, though not nearly as sheepish as her son, who had almost curled into himself beneath the venomous look she’d given him.

“I thought you were dead! You're never leaving this house again! I couldn't get in contact with anyone and I thought you were fucking dead!” she screeched, before any of them could move, but Luc almost kept pace with her, slipping from his godfather’s grasp and, to her surprise, likely to the others’ surprise as well, threw his arms around her.

“I’m sorry, Mom, I should’ve listened to you, I’ll stay grounded for as long as you want—“

Veth spluttered for a moment, though her arms wrapped around him in return. This had not been how he’d returned under Kingsley’s grasp, caught by the ear and cursing up a storm.

It took a long moment to realize that Luc was trembling beneath her grasp. Very faintly, but definitely trembling.

She looked over his shoulder at Caleb, then Fjord and Jester. “There have been… several lessons learned in the past thirty-six hours,” Caleb said, his tone even stonier than his expression.

Fjord nodded slightly in agreement, carrying the weight of agreement. Her grasp on her son tightened, and she kissed his hair. Her sharp tone felt empty and hollow even to her own ears.

“Don’t you ever run away again— Don’t you know what I’d do if you were killed—“

“I know, Mom,” Luc interrupted, and for the first time in weeks— months— a long fucking time— he didn’t sound petulant.

He sounded like her boy.

“I kept him safe,” Caleb said flatly, also without any defensiveness. There was, even for Caleb, a dark flame behind his eyes. It felt like a spark she hadn’t seen in quite a few years.

“He was very particular about it,” Jester agreed, and then, in a poorly-disguised whisper, “Trent.”

Veth’s grip tightened, and she pulled Luc aside, away from the doorway. “Come in, tell me all about it—“ she pulled back and checked him over as Caleb nodded and passed inside. “You’re all in one piece, you’re alright—?”

“Yeah, Mom,” he agreed, with exhaustion. “Uncle Deuce made sure we were all in one piece.”

Jester pouted as she passed. “I also made sure you were okay, alright, but Caduceus is so helpful, you know, and honestly, in the end, it wasn’t even that bad— we saved most of the town, and we had a great party, and—“

She stopped her rambling in the middle of the doorway and clapped both hands to her mouth as Luc ducked under both of them into the house.

“Oh. My. Gods, Veth, you will not believe— Fjord proposed to me—“

With the number of things Jester had just imparted to her, it was honestly a testament to her own intelligence that Veth managed to process them in time to turn to Fjord just as he started up the steps, stopping him in his tracks.

“You what? And I missed it—?!”

"You know, Jester, I think we can let Caleb debrief the Brenatto family alone—"

She had him by the ear before he could move, which was an impressive feat considering he was over half her height, but he was almost as slippery of a bastard as she was.

Within an instant, he'd turned to mist in her grasp and vanished to the other side of the street, Jester complaining behind her all the while. Veth shrieked after him. "You piece of shit!"

In response, he yelled, "That's soon-to-be Admiral Tusktooth-Lavorre to you!"

[sysig]

You're still standing off to the side. Somehow, center stage has shifted from under your feet without you realizing, and you're standing in the wings, performing to no one.

Starring Role (Patreon)

[fumifooms]

My life’s been a lie. I need to know where the misconception that Mickbell & Kuro open a noodle shop post-canon comes from

Kuro and Mickbell’s profiles both talk about it as if it’s a store that sells a bit of everything. A variety store, なんでも屋。

Mickbell’s sentence on the topic is 現在はクロとともに、なんでも屋を営んでいる。 And Kuro’s is 現在もミックベルにこき使われつつ、いっしょになんでも屋を営む。 No mention of noodles whatsoever. "Currently running an all-purpose shop with Kuro." "He is still being worked hard by Mickbell, and together they run a store that sells everything."

I thought maybe the confusion was because Mithrun’s profile had a similar wording that made people think it was the same thing, but Mithrun’s line straight up doesn’t mention anything about a store or noodles either, so. The assumption that Mithrun opens a noodle shop is fully from the comic about Fleki asking Mithrun to be pardoned, where really he only says offhandedly he’ll try making some.

Mick and Kuro’s Knicks Knacks!! It does suit them real well. I just wonder where they get their stock…

[dreamingthroughwords]

sometimes xie lian wakes up frequently a bit warmer than normal because his body has been through a lot so he gets mild fevers and hua cheng will wake up with a very hot feeling on his chest and of course it’s coming from xie lian’s forehead which is tucked nearly against his chest as he sleeps. hua cheng will frown because he gets so concerned when this happens and of course xie lian will wave it off. but they talked about not ignoring the other’s pain and so hua cheng will start by cooling him off with cool flows of spiritual energy and gentle massages of his butterflies to ease the ache in xie lian’s muscles. after this happens multiple times it’s routine and xie lian will wake up so cared for and content and always mumbles sleepy and fevered thank yous and hua cheng will store his hair gently as they wait for the fever to die down, and it’s part of their routine to just be with each other and care for each other and simply let the other slow down and be cared for. and whenever hua cheng ends up being the fevered one, (not as often, but still, it happens!) xie lian will return the doting and fretting and even though hua cheng is not as good a patient as him, hua cheng let’s him take care of him all the same, because now they take care of each other, which is so different from before when they only had themselves. but now they’ll never be sick or hurt alone again - forever with their husband to ease the pain, together.

[grandwretch]

Eddie is used to shouting. Its maybe not the healthiest way to deal with his frustration, but it comes naturally-- Sometimes he does it without even noticing; The end of his sentences echoing around him. He's just a loud person by nature, really. Wayne is used to it, and they squabble together. Dustin and Mike and Erica all yell back, even with smiles on their faces. No one pays much mind to it, no one's feelings are hurt. Eddie is just loud.

Except---

Steve shuts down. Every time. It doesn't matter whether Eddie is obviously joking or actually upset, the moment Eddie shouts, Steve goes quiet. He'll mumble back a few bitchy comebacks, but the longer it goes, the quieter he gets. It gets worse, when they start dating-- Steve is more inclined to just give in, agree with whatever Eddie is saying with a blank face and a clenched jaw. Which only serves to make Eddie more upset, because he doesn't get why his passionate, opinionated boyfriend has been replaced with a robot.

For months, Eddie just doesn't get it. Because it's not that Steve hates loud voices; He and Robin and all the kids have been in epic yelling matches. Eddie has seen them, usually on long car rides. Steve never flinches.

Eddie honestly thinks it might be a him problem, which is worrying, considering Eddie has kind of planned on sticking around, but one day Hopper yells-- not even at Steve, at Dustin and Mike for breaking something of Jonathan's --and Steve just leaves. Just stands up and leaves, not just the room but the house entirely. Eddie watches Jonathan and Steve sit on the front porch for half an hour, neither of them saying a word.

He never really gets to the bottom of it. He can make some assumptions, based off the little Steve has told him about growing up as a Harrington and Eddie's own childhood. So, yeah, there are theories, but nothing he can ever prove. He tries to ask Steve, once, and Steve refuses to say much of anything except that he isn't afraid of men, Eddie, don't be ridiculous.

(Except he follows it up with, "I'm just tired of it, Ed," his eyes lined with pain, and that might be worse. Eddie feels sick for the rest of the night.)

So Eddie tries. He tries not to choose angry over scared, every time his heart whispers, 'this is when he leaves you'. He tries to tell Steve what scares him before it gets to that point. Tries to be honest about what pisses him off. Learns the kids are more afraid of whispered threats, anyway.

And its weird, you know, because Eddie always promised himself that he would never stop being loud. Not for anyone. He was proud of being loud, safe and protected behind a wall of obnoxiousness. But when Steve rolls his eyes at Eddie's polite request that they please listen to something that Casey Kasem didn't personally sign off on, please, Stevie, baby, please-- Maybe this wasn't a surrender.

[elvisabutler]

"I think I'm in love with you," he whispers the words out in a rush as he struggles to remember to breathe. He's said he loves her before and she's told him she loves him but if there's one thing Elvis and Elaine have taught Jack with remarkable clarity it's that it's one thing to love someone but another entirely to be in love with someone. His eyes focus on her startled face that quickly seems to be shuttering right before his eyes. "You- Victoria- You don't have to say it back. I- I'm- I just- I'm in love with you." "Were you drinking?" The question slips from her lips like she means it as a joke but it's not. "Have you been drinking?"

don't you want to sleep with someone normal? ♫

[radioisntdead]

Y'ALL WISH ME LUCK IT'S DEER Squishmellow HUNTING SEASON

[eternally-tired-cryptid]

on one hand I wanna write my fic ideas wherein my marvel oc gets sent to the alternate universe of Gotham and hijinks ensue whilst she tries to survive and get back and the batfam and such slowly learn more info abt her world and how it's being threatened atm and she needs to go back and help and whatnot.

But on the other hand, the readers wouldn't know the marvel related backstory of this OC and would have. No context for her going in

But ALSO then the readers would know abt as much abt this mysterious figure as the batcrew do, and get to learn via flash backs and her slowly revealing info to them as safety allows

Then there's also just a general. Idk if there's any sort of oc etiquette when it comes to writing oc centered fics? My brain goes so hogwild when I read anything that I usually avoid oc fics other people write just bc I usually read and enjoy fics at face value but I also go "now what would happen if this OC was here?" And that gets real complicated when other people's ocs are involved

[fiendishartist2]

eaten from the core and out to the skin– mp100

Reigen strutted through the halls of Salt Middle School, passing empty classrooms and bustling club rooms at a brisk pace. As he turned an unfamiliar corner, he schooled his worried expression to something closer to irritation. Reigen was on a mission and he couldn't let any weakness show. He came upon the door he was directed to by the woman in the main office.

He entered with a hand on his hip, suit bunching up at the action. Reigen surveyed the small office, eyes catching on the cheesy inspirational posters and self-help books. He wrinkled his nose, ah, a guidance counsellor. Oh god, Mob, what kind of trouble did you get yourself in this time. Speaking of Mob– Reigen spotted his student sitting in the only other chair in the cramped office. His shoulders were brought far up to his ears and his head was hung low. Whatever they called him in for, Mob sure was taking it seriously.

Whatever, Reigen thought confidently, we'll be out of here in no time if I have anything to say about it.

The woman that had called him in sat at a cluttered desk that took up about a third of the small room. She smiled widely, brushing back her black bob behind her ear. Her elbow nudged against one of the many stacks of paper littering her desk.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Reigen. Please, take a seat." He obliged, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. He tapped his foot impatiently.

"Would you mind telling me why I was dragged out of work to be here?" Mob hiked his shoulders higher, curling in on himself. His flat fringe cast a dark shadow over his face, covering his expression. Reigen thought he could see his lip wobble out of the corner of his eye, however.

"Ah- apologies, it was at Shigeo's request. I'm sure he didn't mean to interrupt." Mob asked for me instead of his parents? Reigen narrowed his eyes, lips pursing in thought. Mob never asked Reigen to pick him up from school unless something was really wrong. Last time this happened, Mob was trying not to blow up over the black eye some kid gave him. That day, Reigen had to keep reminding himself that a 26 year old man beating up a 12 year old middle schooler was definitely illegal. Now, seeing the way Mob's face was painfully schooled, like he was just barely holding it together, Reigen felt the same urge to hunt down whoever had done this.

He took a steadying breath, cracking a placating smile, "No, it's alright." Some of Mob's tension dissolved, "But, I do want to know why you called me." He tried, making sure to keep a pleasant tone. The last thing he wanted was to get Mob all worked up about whatever it was he did.

The guidance counsellor smiled, although it was fake just like Reigen's. Just a gesture meant to put the other at ease. She cleared her throat politely, picking up a file from under her elbow and sliding it across the table to Reigen. He leaned forwards, eyes scanning the page.

He landed on a few scribblings in pen that read 'lunch hour', 'truancy', and 'physical altercation' before she interrupted him.

"Shigeo was absent from all of his classes today and was seen by another student loitering in a club room during second period mathematics. As well as-" she picked up the paper, reading with a light hum, "-Ah, here– during lunch hour, Shigeo pushed a classmate, resulting in a dislocated shoulder." She read it off so stiffly, like a judge reading a list of crimes out to a jury. Reigen resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her seriousness. That's what Mob was in here looking like he was on the verge of breaking down for? Skipping class and pushing a kid? Reigen had done much, much worse in his school days– this was practically nothing.

Holding in a scoff, Reigen hummed sympathetically.

The counsellor sighed and put the paperwork down. She levelled Reigen with a tired stare, "As this is the first time I've had to discuss Shigeo's behaviour with a parent or guardian, I'm not going to punish him." Reigen's face softened before he could stop himself and she pounced on the opening, pressing her lips into a thin line. Or maybe this game of social chess was all in Reigen's head and she was just emoting like a normal person. Either way, she continued, "However, due to school policy, I still need to come to an understanding with Shigeo."

Reigen nodded, "Of course," he went on the attack, "I'm sure Mob didn't mean anything by his actions. Sometimes he just gets overwhelmed and-" his good natured smile slipped as Mob joined the conversation.

"I meant to push him. I'm sorry…" He whispered, hands twisting around each other. C'mon, Mob! I'm trying to vouch for you here, just don't say anything and I can get you out of this scot-free! he screamed internally. Unfortunately, Mob never had figured out telepathy, so Reigen's pleas went unheard.

"I skipped my classes too, on purpose." He continued in his soft voice. His warbly confession felt wrong, twisting itself around Reigen's stomach. This was all too serious, why was Mob getting so worked up over nothing?

Reigen swallowed the questions that crawled up his throat in favour of clawing the conversation back to normalcy. He patted Mob's shoulder forcefully, nervous laughter bubbling out of him.

"Such an honest student I have! As you can see, he's much too well behaved for trouble-making. So really, we should just let this whole thing blow over, huh?" Reigen boasted in his salesman voice. Despite directly contrasting Mob's incriminating words, he hoped she would believe him over his student by confidence alone. Judging by her unamused expression, it wasn't working.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Reigen, but multiple students admitted to seeing the fight at lunch. Now, Shigeo," she turned her attention to him. Mob didn't even look up from his lap.

"Why don't you explain to me why you were absent from class?" Reigen crossed his arms, turning to his student as well; he obviously wasn't getting them out of there any time soon. And, he was actually kind of curious about that too. Mob wasn't a perfect student by any measure, but he hated getting scolded and was too polite to break any rules anyways. It was really out of character for Mob to skip a whole day of classes.

Mob didn't react. Reigen couldn't be sure he even heard the counsellor's question at all. The boy sat so still he might have even been holding his breath.

Just as she got ready to try another approach, Mob sucked in a sharp breath, "...I don't know." His voice shuddered. Reigen's mood curdled instantly– Mob was definitely lying to them. There was nothing to lie about in the first place; sure, skipping class was against the rules but it wasn't egregious and it certainly wasn't uncommon. A bead of sweat rolled down Reigen's temple.

"Were you bored in class? Maybe you wanted to meet up with friends or get an early lunch?" She listed off the most common excuses bolder delinquents gave her. She hummed, leaning her chin on her entwined fingers, "How about an emotional reason? Did you feel upset in class and needed to take a walk?" She probed gently.

Mob curled imperceptibly inwards, holding his shoulders tighter to avoid reacting. But, Reigen spotted his clear sign of guilt: Mob's hands were gripping his knees with white knuckles.

"I'm sorry. I don't know." He replied robotically, voice getting flatter as Mob's distress grew. Uh oh, Reigen realised suddenly, this is bad. Mob really doesn't want to talk. He rubbed his clammy hands on his thighs, readying himself to step in and stop this situation from escalating any further.

Before the counsellor could say another word, Reigen went on damage control.

He hummed in surprise, drawing his phone from his suit pocket. In one fluid motion, he flipped it open and pressed it to his ear. He made a show of clicking the 'answer call' button.

"Spirit's and Such Consultation Office. Reigen Arataka, greatest psychic of the 21st century speaking. How can I help you?" He nodded along to the silent client on the other end of his fake call, "Hmm… an important job, you say? Please, calm down sir, of course I can handle it."

As he dialled the theatrics to 10, Mob spared his mentor a glance. Reigen trained his eyes on the wall, only so that he wouldn't break character once he spotted the dried tear tracks running down his student's red cheeks. Reigen widened his eyes dramatically, letting his mouth fall slack in mock horror. His imaginary client was describing quite the gruesome scene.

"Oh wow, that is very serious." He mumbled just loud enough for the counsellor to catch it. Reigen held back a smirk as she let out a worried hum.

Standing from his seat, Reigen straightened his tie, nodding again, "Stay calm and get to safety. My disciple and I will be there as soon as possible. How many victims did you say this spirit claimed already?" As he spouted a bunch of concerning nonsense, Reigen gestured for Mob to follow him. He scrambled out of his seat, thankfully used to Reigen's antics enough to understand the scheme he was pulling.

"Oh my-! Is something wrong?" Reigen flicked his eyes to the counsellor rising from her desk, a hand on her chest. This time, he let his satisfied smirk free, facing the door. Dramatically, he clicked his phone shut. In his grimest voice he could muster, Reigen put the final nail in the coffin.

"Yes. I've just gotten a call about a violent spirit terrorising innocent civilians. It's serious- life or death, you see." He reached for the door handle, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cut this meeting short. I'm sure you understand." With that, Reigen threw the door open, steering Mob out of the school briskly. Sure, it was one of his more reliable lies, but it didn't fool everyone and Reigen would rather be caught dead than have to own up to lying straight to someone's face.

Once they were outside the school, he relaxed. Reigen clapped his freed student's shoulder with a relieved grin.

"Alright, Mob, let's get out of here. What do you say to an early dinner? On me." Of course, that would mean Mob's paycheck would be lighter tomorrow, but it's the thought that counts. Money doesn't grow on trees after all.

Reigen stopped his stroll when he realised Mob wasn't following. Instead of falling into step with him, Mob was still standing in front of the school, his face buried in his hands as his shoulders jumped up and down sharply.

Reigen rushed over to him, hovering around his crying student. He floundered; Mob hadn't cried in front of him in what must have been years. He hadn't cried in front of anyone else in much longer.

To his surprise, Mob tipped forward until his forehead rested on Reigen's chest. Reigen froze before placing a tentative hand on the top of his student's head. Gently, he patted down his shiny black hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. Mob mulled it over for a few minutes. Reigen didn't mind; he knew that Mob needed time to think about what he was going to say. Mob had always been a quiet kid and when he wasn't lost in thought, he was speaking his mind– even if the things that came out of his mouth were terribly blunt. So, in the middle of the day outside of the school they had just ran out of mid-conversation, Reigen and Mob stood as Mob collected his thoughts. Reigen really hoped no one would spot them.

"He poured milk on my head." Is what eventually wrestled it's way out of Mob's throat. It was mumbled, like he was both scared and ashamed of the admission.

Reigen didn't understand the gravity he was giving it, but sometimes Mob was just sensitive about violence. No matter how tame or justified.

"The kid you pushed?" Reigen prompted. Mob just nodded, "Well then, I think he deserved it. Serves him right for being a jerk."

He thought that would be the end of it; Mob would wipe his eyes and give Reigen a faint, grateful smile, and then they would be off eating mediocre ramen at the cheapest place in the city. Instead, Mob unfurled a bit, grabbing Reigen by the front of his blazer and burying his face in his chest as he choked and sputtered.

"Woah, kid!" Reigen wrapped him up in a real hug, confused at Mob's sudden clinginess, "Mob, calm down, you're hyperventilating." He struggled to keep the panic out of his tone. Mob shook his head frantically.

"Okay! Okay, Mob, just breathe," Reigen shushed, rocking them back and forth slightly in their hug. He hoped it was comforting, he wasn't very well versed in hugs. Mob wasn't usually touchy like this.

He felt a few teardrops soak into his shirt before he collected himself.

He ran a hand through the back of Mob's bowl cut, "It looks like you got most of it out, but you probably want to get properly cleaned up, huh? How about I walk you home and-" Mob shook his head again.

"You don't want to go home?" Reigen took the resounding silence as a yes, "And you probably don't want to go to the office, right?" Nope, alright, last resort, "Okay, what about my apartment, then? You can get cleaned up and I'll order takeout." He sweetened the deal, "And we can watch those action shows you like?"

Mob thought about it; it had been a while since he had been to Reigen's apartment, but he remembers it being pretty cozy. He liked hanging out there when he was younger and his parents needed his boss to act as his pseudo-babysitter. Reigen always tried to make his few stays there fun. And although 'free' dinners were regular with Reigen, Mob was really hungry from missing lunch to hide in the Telepathy Club room. Takeout sounded like a dream at this point.

"Mhm." Mob hummed.

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

Reigen gathered his haphazardly folded pyjamas, placing them in Mob's arms. He shot the boy a smile, but Mob's eyes were glued to the ground, glazed over with a distant frown on his face. He took the clothes with a quiet thank you, padding into Reigen's small bathroom. The door clicked behind him loudly in the silence.

Reigen sighed, scrubbing his face with a hand. Maybe he should get into something comfier as well.

The shower started as Reigen dug around for anything remotely wearable. I hope I didn't give Mob the last of my clean laundry… Just then, Reigen pulled a crumpled sage green ('barf green' a particular spiky haired kid jeered in his mind) tracksuit from under his bed. It didn't have any obvious smells or stains so it was passable in Reigen's book.

He jumped into bed, relaxing into the pillows and dragging his laptop towards himself. As he sent out emails and filled out his calender with upcoming appointments, he heard the shower shut off. A few minutes later, Mob shuffled out of the bathroom, wet hair plastered to his forehead and cheeks red from the hot water (or from crying, his brain supplied unhelpfully). He was fiddling with the hem of the oversized sweatshirt Reigen gave him. It went past his hips and the sleeves pooled at his wrists. The pyjama pants he wore had to be rolled up at his ankles and cinched tight around his waist. Reigen didn't like he frail he looked.

Reigen pulled out his phone, rummaging through all of the random papers in his desk for a takeout menu. Just as he sat up to move to his couch, the mattress dipped next to him as Mob settled on the bed. He pulled his knees to his chest. Wordlessly, Reigen handed him the menu.

Once they had their food ordered, Reigen pulled up a new tab in Mobgle, quickly searching through suspicious websites for good quality rips of Mob's favourite shows.

"Cover your eyes, I don't know what kinda ads will pop up." He reminded Mob, chuckling. His student just hid his face in his knees.

Soon, they were huddled around Reigen's laptop, eating their dinners and watching TV. The show was in pretty good quality, but even then, Reigen had no idea what was happening. As he watched the flashy fight scenes, he wondered why kids even liked this stuff. It was just guys yelling at each other and blowing shit up with magic. He realised that might be a bit hypocritical, remembering the magical girl cartoons of his childhood. Kids like to watch other kids wear colourful outfits and fight with superpowers.

Reigen cringed; after seeing what that mentality did to real children, he couldn't watch the show without feeling a bit sick to his stomach. Or maybe it was the two bowls of ramen he ate…

The credits played softly, some woman singing about friendship over quiet piano. Reigen collected their leftover bowls and chopsticks, taking a quick three-step trip to the kitchen to throw out their trash. He stretched, wincing at the way his back popped way too loud to be healthy. As he made his way back, he realised Mob had paused their show.

Reigen hesitated at the side of his bed, before perching on the edge of it next to Mob. He reached out and patted his knee, silently imploring him to talk.

"Shishou-" Mob started, face crumpled in a way that looked painful, "I'm sorry for bothering you." He bowed, "I caused so much trouble today for no reason. I made you come to my school when you could have been working."

Reigen shook his head harshly, "No, no! No, Mob, you didn't bother me. You needed my help back there. What kinda shishou would I be if I didn't get you out of trouble, anyways? Besides," he cracked a smile, ruffling Mob's hair, "I don't blame you for skipping class after what that jerk did."

Mob ducked his head down, wrapping his arms around his knees.

"That's not… why I skipped." He whispered. Reigen stilled.

"No?"

Once again, Mob was tense. He was pulled so taught, he was shaking. The room held its breath for a minute or two as Mob collected his thoughts.

"I wasn't feeling well this morning. I had a nightmare- uhm- about school."

Reigen hummed softly, not wanting to break whatever spell made his student want to talk about what was bothering him.

Unfortunately, Mob held his tongue, falling silent again.

"What happened in your dream, Mob? You can talk to me, you know." Reigen prompted. Mob's face was blank, but his breathing came out in short bursts, revealing the emotions boiling just beneath the surface.

"Do you remember when we had to- to help that possesed girl?" It didn't make sense; why did Mob look so scared?

Reigen nodded. Of course he remembered that awful job; he remembered how he had to sit and watch his disciple put himself in danger while he could do absolutely nothing. He remembered getting in a cab to go home and how Mob refused to look him in the eye the whole ride, but glued himself to Reigen's side. He remembered how jumpy he was and how unstable Mob's powers were for a whole week after. Now, three weeks later, Reigen was just glad they got out of there without incident and they could put the whole thing behind them.

"Asagiri? Yeah, what about it?" Reigen replied flippantly.

Mob flinched.

"When I was in her mind with…" He was staring at his feet, gaze worryingly distant. It looked like he wasn't even present in their conversation– like he was only talking through himself from somewhere else.

"With Mogami," he mumbled the psychic's name, "I was in there for a long time. I think it was longer for me than it was for you."

Reigen stayed silent, rubbing small circles on Mob's knee with his thumb. He hoped his small reassurances were enough to clear that fog from Mob's eyes.

"Um- it was months, actually." He confessed. Months?! How could he have been there for months? It took only half an hour at most for Mob to exorcise Mogami. Reigen barely bit back his questions.

"That world I was in, it was…" he paused, struggling to find his words, "Shishou, you didn't exist and my family didn't either a-and-!" His grip around himself tightened. As his aura spiked, his hair started to float, revealing wide, scared eyes underneath.

"Everyone hated me– Minori hated me and Ritsu didn't care about me and all of my classmates thought I was awful-" Mob couldn't breathe. All he could see as he squeezed his eyes shut was Minori's malicious smile. The smile she gave him when she picked on him, called him names, cornered him in the halls, poured milk over his head. Cold sweat dripped down his face and it was like he was back there, his own blood gushing from his head and over his cheeks. It felt like dying.

Meanwhile, Reigen was getting more confused with each confession; what was this other world Mob was talking about? What does he mean he didn't exist? Were they still talking about Mob's dream? What does this have to do with Mob skipping class?

"I'm sorry, Mob, but I don't really get what you're trying to say?" Reigen said gently. Mob's eyes opened and he startled like he forgot Reigen was even there.

"M-Mogami," again he said it in a hushed tone, "He made a world in Minori's mind. It was like my life here but- but none of my friends were there. And I think my family wasn't either because... I lived alone." He didn't mention how Mogami took away his powers. He didn't know what he would do if Reigen found out what he did once he got them back.

"Minori…" Mob scrubbed his palms over his eyes, drying the tears springing up against his will "She always targeted me at school." 'And everywhere else,' was left unsaid.

"I don't know why, um– why she hated me so much, actually. One time…" His hands twisted in his borrowed sweatshirt, right above his stomach, "She spilled a carton of milk on me. On purpose." He confessed in a hushed voice.

Reigen's heart clenched. So that's what he's so upset about, he thought, relief flooding through him. Just as he started to make up a speech about how that job was over and he was safe, Mob continued speaking.

"A-and I was scared of going to class because…" The cups and plates in Reigen's cupboards started to rattle, "Be-because-" he flinched as a something shattered in the distance, phantom pains sparking on the skin of his cheek. Reigen paid the ruined dish no mind. He barely ate out of them anyways.

"My teachers they would- uh. If I got a-a question wrong… they hit me. Um- hard." Mob's words oozed shame. He hung his head, cheeks flush with humiliation.

It's not everything, Mob knew. It would probably never be everything, if he was being totally honest. Six months of pent up frustration at the world, crushing loneliness, and a hopelessness so all encompassing he thought he would choke on it every day couldn't be voiced in a single conversation. All Reigen needed was context right now, Mob told himself. There was no need to worry his shishou with details of box cutters and cats and the cackling laugh of high schoolers.

He threaded his fingers in his flowing bangs, "I know it's not real," he reassured himself, "But it's still so- it makes me feel so-" he floundered, mouth popping open and closed.

"Scared?" Reigen supplied weakly. This whole conversation made him feel like that, actually; scared and weak.

Mob finally looked him in the eyes and the open desperation could have made him cry. He opened his arms and Mob fell into him.

“I had a dream about it last night…” he croaked, “I co-couldn’t calm down all day. I was scared of hurting anyone s-so I hid in the club room instead of going to class.” Mob’s voice broke, “I’m sorry.” He whispered. Whether Mob was apologising for breaking the rules or for keeping this a secret from Reigen, he couldn’t tell.

Reigen tucked the boy's head under his chin, wrapping his arms around his small back. Small because he's a child. A child you failed to protect. He counted with Mob, trying to get his breathing under control. Reigen tried to stay present but his own distress was mounting by the second, stirring in his chest and making his heart race.

How long did Mob say he spent in that hellish world? Months? Reigen tightened their hug with shaking hands. Mob was trapped in Mogami’s manipulative illusion for so long with no one to turn to– not even himself it sounded like. Reigen was almost glad for it; he didn’t want to know how Mogami would have twisted their relationship. He didn’t want to think about what kind of irreparable harm he could have caused.

The thought of himself raising a hand to Mob in the same way his teachers had was enough to make him nauseous.

After what could have been hours of hushed voices and panicked sobs, Mob’s aura calmed down and Reigen’s apartment was finally still. Reigen held his student long past the sun setting, no matter how much his back protested the action. He rubbed circles in Mob’s back, talking about anything and everything until he slumped against his chest, fast asleep.

He was in the middle of a rant about the proper way to season pork when the peace was broken by his ringtone. It was muffled, tangled in the comforter they both sat on. He rifled through the blanket's folds, digging out his phone and flipping it open. The time blinked back at him.

"9:13 already?" He mused under his breath, hitting the answer button.

Before he could start up his customer service greeting, the woman on the line cut in.

"Reigen?" Mrs. Kageyama demanded, relief lacing her concern. Reigen's eyebrows rose.

"Oh, hey, Mrs. Kageyama." Reigen answered dumbly. She forewent her usual correction of the formality and rushed into the reason why she called.

"Is Shige with you? He was supposed to be home hours ago and he hasn't been answering his phone." Her tone was scolding but the frantic pace she spoke with gave away her anxiety. Reigen looked down at Mob's slowly rising and falling back as the boy dozed. He still clung to Reigen's middle in a tight grip, sitting up despite his exaustion.

"He's with me. Sorry for worrying you, I didn't see the time." He pinched between his eyes, "It's been a long day, if I'm being honest. Shigeo's asleep right now, but I can get him a cab or something if you need him home."

Mrs. Kageyama answered slowly, a warning just under her words, "Did something happen?"

Reigen winced.

Lying to Mob's parents wasn't something he loved doing- they already put so much trust in him with their son and violating that trust made his skin crawl. They could also be pretty intimidating when they wanted to be, especially his strict mother. What had happened on the Asagiri job was horrible and keeping that from Mob's parents didn't sit right with him.

On the other hand, Mob seemingly hadn't told anyone else about it yet. If his student wasn't comfortable telling his parents about Mogami, then Reigen had no place doing it for him.

"Nothing drastic. Just a bad night's sleep, I think," he stretched the truth. "He's hanging out at my place." Reigen let out a hollow laugh, "Don't worry, he's been fed. We were just eating ramen and watching TV before you called."

"I wasn't criticising you, Reigen." He could hear the smile in her voice as she teased him, "I'm sure you boys had lots of fun. Just make sure he hasn't been cursed or whatever it's called."

His smile strained. Sure, Mob hadn't been cursed by a spirit, but another kind of heavy presence hung over him. This was something they couldn't just exorcise in a second– something that would follow him around for the foreseeable future.

"I'll have you know, Mrs. Kageyama, I'll be 30 soon. I wouldn't exactly call myself a 'boy' anymore." Reigen joked weakly. It was hard to keep his festering guilt out of his voice.

She hummed sarcastically, "Goodnight, Reigen. Let me know when Shige wakes up." Reigen agreed and quickly hung up. He snapped his phone shut as quietly as possible, letting out a sigh into the remaining silence.

Judging by the time and the heavy weight of Mob's head on his shoulder as the boy slept soundly, Reigen was sure he wouldn't be getting back to Mrs. Kageyama anytime soon. He shot her a text saying just as much.

Gently, Mob's fists were released from the sides of his tracksuit. Reigen tucked him in, slipping off of the squeaky mattress. He nabbed his laptop from where it lay forgotten next to Mob's head, settling onto his couch and resting it on his stomach. The couch was way too small for Reigen to sleep on, but he could handle his ankles dangling off the arm for one night if it meant Mob would sleep peacefully in turn. He reached around under his coffee table, finding a thin fleece blanket with a triumphant smirk he didn't really feel. It also didn't cover his feet.

Reigen fell into a restless sleep, passing out in the early hours of the morning with his clunky laptop pressing into his gut uncomfortably.

The only solace from his endless nightmares, was the soft, steady snores of his student filling the air in his apartment. Everytime he woke, stomach roiling and berating himself over how badly he had failed Mob, he was comforted by that noise.

Part of Reigen knew that it was probably because the boy was exhausted after the day he's had, but a smaller, softer part of him wanted to believe he put the boy's dreams at ease. The thought that Mob felt safe and cared for, at least for now, in his presence warmed his heart– no matter how much he tried to deny it.

Reigen dialled Salt Middle School the next morning, calling his student in sick. He and Mob spent the day walking through parks and eating mochi, instead. They don't talk about their conversation last night, but Mob leans into his space more than usual and Reigen makes sure to smile at his student more; when they part for dinner, Reigen ruffles his hair and Mob huffs out a faint laugh, not bothering to duck away from his hand.

[the-faultofdaedalus]

i am. way too fucking pedantic about the im1-im2-a1 timeline every time a fic does anything that does not fit (what i believe to be) the Correct Timeline i need to tab out for a second and argue at myself

[shadowbrightshine]

Heartbreaking exchange I just thought of between two Hatchetfield ocs.

Opal (who you've seen) and Daniela her first and only friend from Clivesdale when Dan comes to visit. This is the Starry eyed revival au (and the reformed -mostly- Lords stuck in Hatchetfield from @marvelmaniac715 s fic au as well)

For context Opal doesn't "have a birthday" but she's under age 10. Her birth parents are absolutely terrible people and she ran away and ended up homeless in Hatchetfield after hiding on a boat from Clivesdale.

Ok scrolling back up heavy heavy warnings for child abuse I should save this for a proper fic but it's too late now. Holy crap I didn't think the whole thing would fall out of me. I promise most of my ocs aren't this heavily traumatized.

It's a little rough compared to my usual handling and I may take it down if you guys are really upset by it. I usually plan out my depictions of abuse more carefully but I do think this is still acceptable for my standards.

Saying it again.

Warnings for child abuse I didn't realize how heavy this was until reading it back.

The Waylon place was slightly fuller than usual, it was still less than the full member list, but Sapphire and Zelda and Nate were here today along with the usuals.

.......

"I don't know how to dance!" She protested.

Opal paused and then grinned. "I do! Sapphire gave me lessons! Just follow my lead."

Sapphire herself, who was sitting next to Pokey on an extremely rare visit to the new revival, called out. "I did not! I've been making you stay away from my ritualistic dances."

Opal froze. "I...uh...um..." She drooped. "Yeah...I know."

Sapphire blinked. "Why'd you lie? You don't follow Pokotho." Pokotho himself was eyeing Daniela (and...Opal?) with a strange amount of distain. An...abnormally high amount of distain actually what- her train of thought was paused and resumed from before it started. "Why'd you lie?" Sapphire unknowingly repeated.

The tiny girl kicked her leg. "You and your wife are the best dancers ever so I'd be cooler that way."

She smiled at the earnest complement but pointed out. "But your friend doesn't know me. My name means nothing to her and everyone else already knows I don't let you near my practices."

Opal looked even more embarrassed and wilted under the eye of the God currently sitting in the house with her. "Oh."

Daniela broke out of her semi stupor. "Hey! We promised not to lie to each other!"

Opal became even smaller. "I-I oh no...I forgot." She said in horror. "I forgot about our promise! I'm so sorry!!" Tears formed in her eyes.

Daniela quickly hugged her. "No no it's ok! Really, I thought you were dead anyways so it's like all our promises reset. We just have to make a new one. I forgive you."

"Really?" She sniffed.

"Yeah, really." The girls dried Opal's eyes together and nodded. They put an arm on each other's shoulders.

"Promise!!!" They both headbutted each other and fell on the ground with cries of pain. The other members of the group looked at them. Tim set down Webby's butterfly plushie and the patch he was sewing onto it.

"Uh... why did you do that?" Tim asked, a little concerned and glancing around to make sure Reed wasn't there to fawn over his adoptive daughter. Now wasn't the time.

Opal held her head. "When you break a promise you hurt yourself too."

Daniela nodded. "Opal taught me it. It's like an extra important promise."

Tim felt uneasy about those words. The sentiment itself was fine, in fact it was strangely mature for her age. Something else was off. "Opal, who taught you to hurt yourself for promises?" It shouldn't have been so worrying, and his wording might be too assumptive...But Tim's new sense of people that was developing alongside his involvement with Wiggly told him this wasn't good.

Opal scratched at the spot on her arm that raised alarm bells for everyone else. Otto quietly scooted closer, trying not to let his hoof skin hybrid feet make too much noise. "When Mother-" Otto tensed. "Made me promise things she'd hit me. Because if I broke my promise she'd make it hurt ten times worse." She sounded so normal about it.

Daniela nodded, she clearly didn't like her friend being hit. "When we became friends we wanted to change it."

Opal nodded emphatically. "I would Never hit Daniela! Never ever, not once!" She paused. "Except the ones where you go bap." She very lightly tapped her own arm. "Those are ok."

"Or head patting!" Daniela started the gesture on Opal but she flinched and made a pained noise. "What happened? I didn't do it hard!"

"You hit the sore part."

"Sorry!!"

"I forgive you."

"Ok!"

Otto spoke up. "Opal, mom's aren't allowed to hit people for breaking promises."

"They can't hit you for that either?" Opal asked cluelessly. "How many things did she do that are illegal?" This set something off in her friend.

Daniela, who clearly had been holding something back for some time blurted out. "Everything they did was illegal! You ate dog food and lived where your dog pooped and peed and didn't go to school! That's bad! It's really really bad! No one else had that happen!" Most of the kids that hadn't stuck out when the heavy conversation started flinched.

Sapphire made a mental note to buy Reed some wine and groceries. He was doing God's work for that girl. (Also Noelle needed food and it was her turn to help pay anyways). Otto moved away from them, trying to process the statement.

Opal was shocked. "Wait...no one? I thought it was normal for Cli-" she caught herself. "For people back at my old home. I thought Hatchetfield was just special."

"What the fuck..." River whispered, horrified at the idea of a mother doing anything other than spoil her kids. They were working on him but he had a right to be terrified this time.

The slightly older girl continued. "No, it's weird and very bad. That's why I told you to live with me instead. Why didn't you? I waited for so long and you never came back..." Daniela's eyes got watery and she asked quietly. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

Opal sat on the floor and dug her nails into the spot on her arm. "..." She swallowed. "Old dad found out I'd left to visit you at school, and told me if I didnt tell him who you were he'd make me." She stared at one of the deep scars on her pointer finger.

"He wanted to make you disappear so I disappeared instead and ran out of the house, and kept running and running and I hid on the boat. I wasn't making myself invisible for most of the run, so I was scared he'd find me and follow me." Opal looked her best friend in the eye, voice quiet. "He was gonna hit you until you died and leave you in the basement with me forever. He told me so."

Daniela was speechless.

"I wanted to say goodbye!" Opal was crying now. "I really really wanted to but I was so scared! I didn't want you down there with me! You live in the sunlight and I live in the basement and that's how it is and if you're in the basement too than everything is wrong."

She sniffed and her eyes glazed over. "If you're dead we can't play games anymore. Old dad said he won't feed us until we eat you instead and I don't want to eat people! Sprinkles is a good dog and she'd never do that, so I'd have to do it so she could get food again and I don't want to do it!" Opal covered her face. "I don't want to!"

There was a heavy silence. Daniela crawled over to the sobbing child. "You don't gotta. See? I'm alive right here. I've never been in the basement before. See? This is the cool clubhouse you told me about."

Opal didn't answer, grabbing her and hugging her as tightly as she could. The room erupted into movement. Some people running over to comfort Opal, some running out to throw up or just get away, and Otto was grabbing River by the arm to fire up his golf cart and go find Reed in town. Tim started praying to God. Both of them, though he didn't realize Wiggly was able to hear all his prayers.

Pokotho didn't look upset at all. Sapphire stopped noticing that and leaned over to touch Trent's arm. "You should go upstairs for a bit, ok?" He nodded mutely and headed for the stairs. Daniela stared down the others with a protective gaze and they stopped coming closer.

Daniela held onto Opal. "It's ok. You were super awesome. You saved me and I'm not ever gonna be mad about it ever again. I forgive you times a million gazillion. We can dance tomorrow ok? I'm gonna be here for two whole weeks so it's all ok now."

"I don't wanna see you die..."

"You won't! I'm gonna live as long as you do! Best friends die at the same time. I read about it in Dad's book, it said if you love someone enough you'll die with them and I love you so much!"

"Really?"

"I think so! So that means we just have to not die and we can be best friends forever, but for real! Friends are forever."

"Friends are forever." Opal repeated quietly, relaxing. "And ever, and ever, and ever."

"Mhm. See? You're parents didn't do anything different after you left. They don't care you're gone so they're not gonna look for you. You're safe now."

That soothed Opal more than anything previously. "You're safe too. Just forget me at home so we don't get in trouble ok?"

Daniela argued indignantly. "I'm not gonna forget my best friend! I'll just not talk about you at school."

"...Ok..." She looked drained and was getting limper in her friends arms by the second. "Promise you're not mad at me anymore? I don't wanna be mad..."

"Promise. I promise with a super hard headbutt that I am always gonna be your best friend and that I'm not mad at you for running away anymore."

Opal smiled. "I promise it back too."

Daniela lightly tapped both of them and her friend fell asleep on the floor as she usually did.

........

Ok I originally intended this scene to be briefer and then go into Pokotho explaining he didn't like Opal because he'd already made the mistake of using her in an apotheosis once and never again but uh.

Nope I'm leaving it here. Holy crap.

[theinfinitedivides]

hi!! it’s the my dearest anon again did u see the new part 2 preview omg it’s so sad they’re abt to break my heart into pieces

for the uninitiated, i am linking the preview in question here but wouldn't it be funny if they wanted us to suffer. that's not their plan right. right it can't be we went through too much in part one to go for a second round surely they'll have some mercy on us this time

(narrator voice: they did not, in fact, have mercy on us)

[peachpitmp3]

as a society i think we need to talk less about eddie munson

[alteredphoenix]

There’s a part of me that wants to do a W*W/Danny Phantom multi-chaptered fic that’s set in Shadowlands but via Vlad’s POV, where the Veil between Reality gets torn apart and the Ghost Zone starts to get subsumed by the presence of the Maw and the Army of the Endless. (This being a very vague idea, just imagine some shit happens to Danny, or Vlad, or both, and they just get caught up in the whole thing.)

Also Vlad takes one look at Sylvanas and realizes that there’s someone just as pathetic and cowardly than he is, if not more so, and while it might not give him a complete Change of Heart it does make him Think.

[theflyingfeeling]

For some reason I was thinking about BC’s Fuck marry kill and how everyone else joked around but Joel was all serious about his ”I’d fuck Olli because he’s the most handsome” -answer 😭 like yes we been knew you’re sexually attracted to him (him filming him half naked doing yoga and all that) but. really?? 😭

(and for legal reasons this is a joke)

Joeeeeeellll your bisexuality is showing agaaiiinn 🙄

I mean, I'm convinced the whole fucking band is sexually attracted to Olli (who's completely oblivious to it and think the others are just messing with him) because who woudn't be, honestly?

Tommi commenting how Olli always looks good?

Niko saying Olli is the most handsome in the band?

Joonas having a whole-ass sexual awakening watching Olli paint a broccoli shamrock on his chest? (Yes, I may have stared at a gif of this for unreasonably long yesterday)

To conlcude, they all a little gay for Olli 💕

[potatoesandsunshine]

i just know wastelanders are out there forming parasocial relationships with mr. new vegas