#mY UWU SCALE IS BROKEN

[ironwoodprotectionsquad]

Recently I refound a screenshot I took with a post from Twitter that frustrated me and seeing @kitkatopinions post reminded me about it and I kind of sort of ish touched on it in my reblog but I realized it would be a king winding tangent and I should make me own post but the thing that started all of this was the point about so called “irredeemable” characters and the post in question was talking about how we all think Ruby WILL save Salem. Not might or maybe. Not defeat Salem but SAVE her and between that and the comment about irredeemable characters I have thoughts.

As you hopefully know I am not against redemption arcs. I like them a lot. One of my all time favorite arcs is Zuko’s redemption and his reunion with Iroh. It’s an amazing arc amazing storytelling brilliant. However what frustrated me about fans of the show excited to see Ruby “save” Salem is that these same fans insist that their are other characters who are “irredeemable” and that is it “wrong” to even write fanfics that redeem them. And it continually blows my mind that fans can insist that no matter what Salem, the woman who wants to end the entire world and has killed at least thousands and possible more, will be redeemed and in the same breath insist that despite her heinous and vile actions, her victims are somehow WORSE and no matter what CANNOT be saved.

How has the fndm deluded themselves into thinking that if Salem can be redeemed their are characters who are somehow off the table on the whole redemption thing. She has killed so many, manipulated used broken so many people. But somehow, this isn’t a problem for them. It’s not a deal breaker for them while things like robbing stores or making a morally gray decision in the middle of a nightmare scenario….is?

Like if we’re going to be setting hard lines on what makes a person redeemable vs not Salem should be considered someone in the irredeemable category. Especially if we’re going to pretend that characters like James, Adam and Torchwick are irredeemable the person whose done worse and on larger scale bad thing then them should also be cool spidered irredeemable. Her being a uwu sad woman doesn’t erase the horrific things she’s done and the harm she’s caused.

However, if RW/BY wants to be a hopepunk….then it doesn’t make sense for anyone to be considered irredeemable. As I’ve said, what’s more hopeful, you or a loved one forever being doomed to be evil once you make a mistake or knowing that their is hope and goodness inside someone, no matter how buried and hard to find it is, it’s still their if you’re willing to fight for it.

I would much rather have a Ruby who unapologetically declares “I know you think you’re too far gone. I know you think the darkness has swallowed you so deep their is no way the light can even find you. But you’re wrong. I’ll be your light. I’ll guide you out of the darkness and back into the light because I refuse to ever leave anyone behind.” Over one who says “well sorry you passed your amount of evil things you’re allowed to do before I abandon you so…sucks to be you pal you’re forever evil now.

Hopepunks are supposed to be stories that whole feel hopeless, refuse to give up on hope. They are determined to bring hope and joy to the hopeless. Hope in a hopepunk is even an act of rebellion. And what better world to have hope be rebellion then a world torn by war against what feels like and endless army of soulless monsters, where people are so desperate to survive they are willing to compromise their morals in the name of surviving. A world that have given up on kindness meaning anything. Let Ruby’s kindness be rebellion. Let her refusal to give up on hope and kindness show a world shrouded in darkness that they can still be kind and have hope.

One of my all time favorite redemption arcs is Zuko’s, and something about it I adore and gets me emotional every time is the reunion between Zuko and Iroh. At this point, Zuko is sure his uncle can’t and won’t ever forgive him and he’s certain that it’s what he deserves but he still feels he at least owes him an apology so he does. But instead of being angry and rejecting Zuko, Iroh hugs him, he loves him and assures him that he wasn’t angry, just sad he lost his way. And he was so grateful and happy that he found his way again. Imagine a Ruby like that who doesn’t hate those who’ve lost their way, who only wants to help them find their way back if they do get lost. Yes I’m channeling a fair bit of Iroh and Sora in my discussion of how I want Ruby to be but they are such perfect examples of what the show teased us Ruby would be like.

And no, it would not be weak or childish or whatever other insult you want to throw at her for Ruby to be like this. Maybe naive but….isn’t Ruby holding onto her ideals in the face of adversity so much better though? Her seeing the unthinkable and surviving a living nightmare but still having hope and still showing kindness is so powerful. Her offering forgiveness to those who hurt her because she believes in a United world and wants to be the change she so desperately wants to see. We where teased at this Ruby but it just didn’t happen.

The fndms insistence that certain characters aren’t deserving of redemption only serves to weaken Ruby as this simple soul who will save the world. A simple soul doesn’t arbitrarily decide who can be saved and who can’t. They don’t abandon people who need them the most. They just unapologetically help people. They show kindness and compassion to everyone around them. That is the kind of character RW/BY promised with Ruby, not this person who abandons people when it gets hard or who runs away crying and waiting for the solution to just fall into her lap. And I don’t understand why the fndm insists the Ruby we have is even remotely as good as the Ruby we where promised.

Give me a Ruby who believes no one is ever too far gone. Give me a Ruby who truly and unapologetically fights for ever life.

[ask-duotale-b2fc]

I'm not dead (again)! Just had a bit of....wifi issues...(Still having them actually...) Anyway...

Saw these and decided to do em lol. I had to remake this specific one by hand as it wasn't available anywhere... (All of the links were broken and the one personwhy had a blank somehow did not provide a link...) ANYWAY. While doing that, I figured I may as well scale up the size too because it was so small that everything was blurry. (How did you all work with that size????). Translations are below since.. some people have poor handwriting...

★☆𖤐⛥★☆𖤐⛥★☆𖤐⛥★☆𖤐⛥

Name:

Chara

Lucifer

(Batty)

(Also known as Miss Prissypants.)

GENDER:

Female. Duh.

I think?

Personality:

Can go either way.

Awesome!!

← All the way.

Do They Self Harm?

But she always has long sleeves to cover herself... Please don't ask her tho!

Approximate Age:

Older than you.

At least 300. Old lady.

She has like hundreds hahaha!! x3

Miss Prissypants isn't just rude and stuck up, she is also a walking fossil.

Why They Fell:

My parents told me to yeet myself off of a cliff, so I did. ♥︎

She was sad ='(

Did They Love The Dreemurrs?

Ohana means family.

And we all love her!~

Loved ones do not deserve to be killed for your tantrums.

Deep Down They Are:

A Witch's Pet, apparently.

Your Chara is...

A Meme Machine

A narcissistic idiot.

Cute! Cool too!

Before They Fell They Were Dealing With...

..?

She's not depressed, she's just angsty uwu

Fav Romantic/Gen Ships:

She... Doesn't like all kinds of berries ^v^'

[maburito]

I posted 2,564 times in 2022

That's 64 more posts than 2021!

81 posts created (3%)

2,483 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@wizardshark

@gisellasmoonflower

@askweisswolf

@cass-burger

@daily-nicotine

I tagged 1,697 of my posts in 2022

Only 34% of my posts had no tags

#pokemon - 274 posts

#rwby - 151 posts

#fav video - 111 posts

#monochrome - 51 posts

#weiss schnee - 51 posts

#the exile - 50 posts

#burito talk - 43 posts

#puppet history - 39 posts

#blake belladonna - 36 posts

#twc - 32 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#and she went ''why does she play more with other pokemons than me....i'll be super nice and sweet from now on so she'll play more with me!'

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Man Tumblr is truly so much better than Twitter, everytime I go there people complain that Legends Arceus sucks like shut the fuck up, who cares about graphism. It's not even that bad in the first place, yall just keep comparing it to BOTW when the game was made in 1 fucking year compared to BOTW which took 3 years

37 notes - Posted February 1, 2022

#4

I know it's annoying but I'm not done thinking about Pokémon, especially Pokémon Legends Arceus. Like the game is already a breath of fresh air in the franchise but what's really frustrating is that I know it could have been the best pokemon game of all time if capitalism wasn't a thing and the Pokémon company let their developers actual time to make good games, rather than prioritizing the numbers of game coming out in short time.

Like they really really didn't need to have the 9th generation coming out this year, Legends Arceus could have had DLCs and I know people would have been all over it.

More than anything though, if Gamefreak developpers had as much time and means for Legends Arceus as the Legend of Zelda team had for Breath of the Wild, there would have been no need for a 9th generation to come out the following months it would have probably made enormous sales

I would rather wait for a well developed game that take me hours to finish then one that was barely scrapped together so the next one could be produced and so on.

54 notes - Posted August 6, 2022

#3

@gisellasmoonflower gave me the best of birthday gift by making this moodboard for another of my TWC detective Louise Delaunay!! Thank you so much friend :D!

Louise Delaunay, hedgehog lovers, great baker and fascinated by history, she is a real sweetheart. But don't mistake her sweetness for weakness, sass at her and she will sass right back.

Despite her deduction skills and abilities to read people like open books, rose colored glasses can make her blind. A big romantic like herself has gotten her heart broken falling too fast for the wrong people before....

Her little hedgehog friend's name is Spikey uwu

89 notes - Posted September 9, 2022

#2

On a scale of stupidity, are you a "takes a beloved whimsical childhood franchise and make a found footage horror movie out of your own creation" kind of stupid ?

92 notes - Posted April 29, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

If you've got to that moment in the game, you know what I'm talking about

319 notes - Posted February 2, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[alexandriteobscuraarchive]

~"Why hello there little one! My, you certainly are as charming as Bo said you were. What can I do for you?" (for young!Kariom! uwu)

He knew this errand was meant to diffuse things--a clever tactic of Bo's that Flynn was loathe to refuse---and still Kariom rushes along the ruled path with jaw and fists both clenched heedless of any whipping branches or twisting roots as he passed. Things would go back to normal soon and he knew it; it always did, but he still wanted to be angry. Flynn just couldn't understand---no, he wouldn't understand.

Was Flynn extra irritable today because it was the morning before the Tigla-Dera---and not just any Tigla-Dera but his? Bo had even promised him a rather SPECIAL GIFT the night of when the celebration was at its zenith, which made things more nerve wracking than usual for Kariom. He hadn't done anything of note to earn something much less something special...had he?

A branch does catch him then; one large enough and sharp enough that he can't ignore it, the wood scratching against Kariom's cheek making him come to an abrupt halt with a flinch.

".......kh." He pokes gingerly at the scrape and then, after seeing his fingertips come away bloody, swipes the palm of his half gloved hand against the spot a few times. It more annoying rather than painful but at least he'd stopped. ".....Fine, I get it." Slow down. Calm down. You're doing everything right.

Fuming a little less now Kariom makes sure he's completely free from the reaching branches and then continues with the bell affixed to his person jingling at slower and softer rhythm to reflect his calmer pace. Slow down. Calm down. You're doing everything right.

Eventually the youth came to a clearing and within it sat the ruler of the path he'd been set on. A great Sualokin stood upright before him with the majority of it's long serpentine form coiled atop the soft, sun warmed earth. The weight of it was enough that the earth below seemed permanently indented and what light filtered in through the trees accentuated both scale and feather bright enough to make the half blood squint his eyes momentarily. He cranes his neck upwards to look at the immortal's face for a few moments before bowing his head just so.

"I was sent here to retrieve something for Flynn." He keeps his response concise but polite---although a very large part of Kariom wants to defend his stature the kindness in the being's tone is unmistakable. "He neglected to tell me what the thing is, however, so I leave that to your judgement." He could guess---no doubt it was something for his blasted fields---and he can't stop himself from making a faintly sour expression when he's proven correct.

With a genteel air; almost as if the being were afraid of breaking Kariom rather than the thing he was tasked to retrieve, she hands him a slender branch with only some small, fluffy white balls sprouting from the top to differentiate it from the surrounding wood. A veglamb plant, and one ripe for the sowing too.

"Thank you....I'm sure he'll take good care of it." And he was going to sneeze all the way back to his respective clan....great. Kariom pulls the branch close and bows his head again to the other leaning over him but as he's raising his head and preparing to leave the immortal speaks again, her voice ringing out over the top of his head and creating the faintest of drafts.

"I understand that you are to be honored today, little one."

"....Yes....I am." Although I don't know why. I haven't done anything to deserve either the honor or Flynn's irritation or Bo's gifts. I---

"A thousand blessings to you, then, and may the silence be broken in a resounding fashion, mayhap it will be loud enough to rattle the stars."

The stars....?

"....Thank you, your kindness honors me greatly....." Yet another thing I don't understand. And the stars...the stars.... "...I'll be taking my leave now, please excuse me." He needed time to think. He needed time to collect himself before he was unable to, before such necessary things were taken out of his grasp.

[huntertherapyeras]

:O Ramble about your Amphibia Gymnastics AU.

FLAPS AT YOU OK SO.....

ok so this is a little less detailed than the toh gymnastics au bc ive had it stewing in the brainscape for less time BUT

basically its an artistic gymnastics au specifically. anne, marcy, and sasha have been doing gymnastics together since they were in kinder classes (so like 4/5)! and they all kind of move up together too, though sasha herself started at 18 months she didnt really like it at all at the beginning and didnt try until marcy and anne came along.

marcy was put in because she was really clumsy and had significantly delayed motor skills as a young child so her parents put her in it to help her coordination. sasha's mom is one of those Gymnast Moms vicariously living thru her child and is deadset on her being the very best (she wants her to go elite). anne's parents put her in it because she was a really hyperactive kid who like climbed all over the furniture and scaled walls and she kept trying to do cartwheels in their house and nearly breaking things so they were like 💀 you gotta get out of this house kid

i would say theyre all hm jo level 8 but they all have different specialties. also theyre all aware that at this point with their ages and ability levels they are Not going to be olympians but despite sasha's mom being in total denial about it they are ok with that! marcy's parents are pretty uninvolved and just happy that shes Active, and anne's parents are extremely supportive but often struggle with tuition and meet fees and the like so its kind of hard for them sometimes esp since theyre small business owners

back onto specialties-

marcy is very good at beam because it takes all of her focus and theyre very flexible (hypermobile in fact - she has hypotonia too) but she really struggles with bars due to not being as strong as their teammates. their lines on floor are also really pretty so her dance is good but she struggles with generating power (im totally projecting mind u). they also get injured all the time because her coordination issues and the fact that their connective tissue is just Not With It. shes the type of person who does a super graceful floor / beam routine and then trips and falls the moment theyve saluted walking off the mat or floor uwu (again. projecting). if you haven't guessed this marcy like all marcys is very autistic and adhd and gymnastics is one of her special interests which is why shes stuck with it so long even with her coordination issues and injuries 💜 marcy is also not very competitive and doesnt particularly enjoy competing but they love the sport and score very well on floor exercise and beam. she hates the way leotards feel and no matter how much she wears them they cant seem to get used to wearing them. oh also she is pretty short height wise and has very long limbs! they dont come out as nonbinary until maybe late high school

anne is a powerhouse! floor tumbling and vault are her specialties! she absolutely hates beam because flexibility and dance isnt her strong suit and she has trouble with focusing and applying herself when she isnt 100% into smth. her form is not immaculate, never has been, because she has trouble paying attention to detail (my girl has severe adhd 😌). bars is not her strongest event but shes much stronger than marcy upper body wise! she's also fairly tall (by gymnast standards - shes only 5'5) and had a growth spurt early on, so she towers over her teammates a little bit. she isnt insecure about her height though and likes that she is Strong and Fast. she isnt a perfectionist and doesnt really mind if she doesnt score as well as expected. most of the time she tends to ignore things that bother her to the point of detriment though, so she has gotten a few injuries - namely a broken arm caused by tumbling that didnt heal right because doctors are racist and didnt think she needed surgery right away. that has made bars a bit harder, but shes super stubborn and tries to not let it get in her way! oh and also shes a trans girl uwu (please let me know if im being stereotypical at all, this is mostly a brain storm and i am tme and dont want to hurt anyone) i am also aware that there are a lot of transphobic rules out there for athletes so i need to do some research as to how this would affect her ability to compete but in 2020 the usag rules changed to allow trans gymnasts to participate inclusively in gymnastics so i might just make it so in the fic that rule was changed earlier. ill think on it.

sasha is extremely talented. this being said, she has a mostly hate relationship with gymnastics. she loves her friends, and his mom wouldnt let her quit even without that, which is why he's stuck with gym so long. she really wants to be a cheerleader, but his mom wont let her do anything but gymnastics :( she also has significant body image issues and does struggle with disordered eating because of the perfectionism forced upon him. she eventually realized hes bigender but it... takes awhile. he actually gets really anxious before and during meets because she knows his mom is Watching and she can be... very easily disappointed. her best event is bars! hes super strong but also fairly flexible. she is also extremely short, like shorter than marcy short, and very Angy about it >:3

still deciding who owns the gym, but anne helps out with pre-k classes and wants to be a coach eventually. she's really good with kids ! sprig is on the boys gymnastics team (level 6 maybe???) and polly is competing jo level 2 this season. shes kind of a Prodigy and at only 5 is the youngest on team (little caveat: she still has super short arms and legs and she struggles with vaulting and tumbling just cuz shes still so small 😭 my tiny baby). oh and im considering making hop pop the team dance teacher bc of his performing arts bg idk....

andrias gets No Rights so he might not appear in this au idk for sure 💜 i dont like him 😌

olivia specializes in coaching beam, bars, and floor, and yunan prefers coaching tumbling and vault!

i think thats all the ideas i have rn... but i will come up with more 😌

[chokemeanakin]

Hi my name’s Maeve! 😇 I write for Anakin and a tiny bit of Obi. 

My inbox is closed! 

Feel free to send me any thoughts you have, but if you send a fic request I can’t promise that I’ll get to it anytime soon. I still love to see your ideas though! 

(ps check out my ongoing fic Give Me Love) 

First Kiss - Anakin treats reader to their first kiss

Drunk - Reader comes home from a party wasted, and Anakin is there to witness it… and maybe make out with…

Anakin Cuddling Hc’s - What it’s like to cuddle with the Best Boy

Anakin with giggly reader Hc’s and Anakin x Jealous/Insecure reader - first half is hc for a giggly reader and second half is a fic where reader gets jealous and insecure and Anakin comforts them

Anakin x Short/Shy/Insecure Reader Hc’s - Just some headcanons of a soft boy

Loving On You - Slight Anakin angst, basically you hold him after a crappy mission

Be My Forever - Anakin proposes with as little words as possible

Anakin Teaches You How To Drive Hc’s- nice car go zoom 🚗💨

Anakin With a Pregnant Reader Hc’s- use protection kids

Anakin x Touch Starved Reader Hc’s - definitely not self indulgent

Touch Starved Anakin x Reader Hc’s - this was actually rlly cute

Playing with his hair imagine - i know i write about this a lot but cmon

Anakin Comforting Reader Hc’s - cue the uwu’s

Distraction - Anakin distracts reader as they study

Walking with Anakin as he does General stuff- small blurb

Domestic Anakin Hc’s - random thoughts I had of him

Giving Anakin a massage - w a tiny hint of smut

Complimenting Anakin - is never talked about enough

Anakin x curvy Reader Hc’s

Anakin x skinny Reader Hc’s

Fluff blurbs! - one, two

Stargazing with Anakin

Wearing Anakin’s Jedi Robes Hc’s

Sleepy moments with Ani Hc’s

Jealous Anakin x Reader Hc’s - mentions of smut

Anakin x Jealous Reader Hc’s - mentions of smut

Patched Up - Reader comes back from a mission all cut up, Anakin helps patch her up

Sick People Should Stay Away from Balconies - Reader is sick and asking for trouble, Anakin deals with her shit

Jelly toast - a request for a reader coming back from a mission all bruised and cut up, Anakin takes care of her

Anakin x Asthmatic Reader Hc’s - how he would act to you having asthma

Bad Dream- Reader has a nightmare during a thunderstorm and goes to Anakin for help

He Kicks Your Ass And Then Lets You Braid His Hair - see title

A Helping Hand (part 1) - Reader hurts her arm during a mission, and Anakin comes to help her (in more ways than one). Whump is in part 1, smut is in part 2 listed under Smut.

Anakin x Reader on her Period heacanons - shark week oofs

Anakin x Sick reader headcanons

Don’t Forget About Me - Reader begs Anakin not to go break up the fight between Mace Windu and Palpatine

I Gave You All - Our war-torn baby just needs a hug

Anakin x Reader w/ Mommy Issues - bro i just 

Night Bus - The Council forces you to leave Anakin

A Reason to Stay - read this at your own risk, deals with severe mental health issues. basically Anakin helps reader through a dark time.

Misunderstandings - angst ending in fluff, Anakin and reader go on a bodyguard mission together and both get jealous.

Anakin crying blurb - give sad boy a hug damnit

Anakin and Reader Take a Shower -basically what the title says. The shower gets heated in more ways than one.

What That Mouth Do Though 👄💦- he eats you out like a champ 💪🏻

Needy Anakin - (you give him a blowie)

Say My Name- jealous Anakin, choking, fucking, you know 🤷🏼‍♀️

First time - Readers first time HAVING SEX with Anakin 🥰

His First Time - The first time Anakin HAS SEX, & it’s with you :)

Welcome Home - Anakin comes home from war and reader welcomes him back with open arms... and open legs 

Save a Spaceship, Ride a Starpilot- Anakin has reader sit on his face and then she fucks him slowly ;)

Giving him a lapdance short - just a lil imagine

Jealousy (part 1) - classic under-the-table action at a high end event

Jealousy (part 2) - he gets his revenge

Master Kink Hc’s - exactly what it sounds like

A Helping Hand (part 2) - Anakin helps Reader out bc she has a broken arm :) very sweet and soft and fluffy to mend y’alls broken hearts. (part 1 is under Whump)

This is what he sounds like when he cums - grab ur headphones

This is what he sounds like in bed - grab ur headphones again lol

Anakin Eating Pussy Hc’s (part 1) - from the top make it drop thats a wap

Anakin Eating Pussy Hc’s (part 2) -  wap wap wap

General Kink blurb - credit goes to @kenobikittens​

Cruel Intentions - holiday smut, this hurt ppl’s feelings for some reason woops. anakin is mad and he’s got a dirty mouth, and also it’s Life Day.

Anakin x fem reader Pregnancy Sex Hc’s - i hate kids but this was cute

NSFW blurbs! - one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty

Sub Anakin Hc’s - good boy ;)

Deepthroating Anakin Hc’s 

Dry Humping Hc’s

A Dream Come True - Anakin helps reader masturbate and cum for the first time

Anakin & size kink hc’s

Anakin is smart - just a post talking about how intelligent our favorite Jedi is

More proof that he’s smart

Anidala Fluff - A request where Anakin and Padme do it in the fields of Naboo for the first time (no smut it’s romantic get ur head out of the gutter John B)

Love at First Sight - Anakin falls in love with you as soon as he sees you

All These Little Things - Padme x Reader / Anakin x Reader Hc’s where reader is romantically interested in Padme until she notices all of Anakin’s little things

Anakin’s hands appreciation post

Anakin’s Cheekbones Appreciation Post - he’s just got em okay

Anakin’s arms appreciation post

Aggressive Negotiations (part one) - Anakin and Reader go to a ball and it doesn’t turn out the way they expect

Aggressive Negotiations (part two) - combines the ‘he sees her dressed up for the first time’, ‘handcuffed together’, and ‘stuck in a closet’ tropes all in one mission gone wrong ;)

When he does the hand-on-cheek thing - *cries*

For people who have freckles

For people who have freckles p2 - not my work but thanks to @haydens-moles​ you guys have to suffer through this post with me

Anakin can sing

Anakin + drinking - some musings about the jedi and booze

Anakin loves rain

Anakin’s Eyelashes Appreciation Post

Random facts about his childhood

Sad Anakin fact

Anakin Reaction Pics

Random Anakin Thoughts - im so disorganized my b

What does his dick look like?

Is he brunette or blonde discourse - spoil alert: it’s neither. see next link

What color is his hair really?

It’s you- Obi Wan x Reader fic where he comes back from a mission planning to break it off with you, but then realizes he can’t let you go

You Can Rest Now - Obiwan x Reader where you take care of him after a mission that’s left him tired and sick

Obi-Wan Hc’s - random thoughts I had about him being in a relationship

What I Imagine The Star Wars Boys Wear For Underwear

What I Imagine The Star War’s Boys Dicks Are Like

Rating the Star Wars Boys Cum Faces on a Scale from 1-10

Kinky R2

The fanart that ended thousands of careers

R2D2 x C3P0 Smut 

You get Acid in your Vagina Hc’s 

Carrot Fun w Anakin - two parter, includes videos

Yoda smut snippet

He gave you a specific order

If Anakin can pull off a butt chin then so can I

How many shots it would take for me to sleep with the stars wars men (part one) (part two)

Anakin w a weave

Which Star Wars Characters Have a Foot Fetish

[ruthlesslistener]

You literally want gender non-conformity erased and medicated out of existence. A feminine male must be a girl! A masculine girl can't use she/her anymore! That girl doesn't want to play with dolls? Better put her on puberty blockers! You enforce traditional gender roles, not the feminists who believe we are defined by our individuality, not gender stereotypes. You also sound just as braindead as those who call ex-Muslims Islamophobic, because your tiny brain cannot wrap itself around the idea that not all atheists are white and organized religion is deserving of criticism.

Lmfaooo lookit this fuckin terf out here in my inbox making a complete and utter clown of themselves.

Okay, apart from the fact that you’re completely ignoring the fact that nonbinary people exist, and that the concept of two genders is a western thing- you do realize that you’re literally fucking contradicting your own shitty ideology, right? You’re literally fucking saying that you want people to be shoved into binary gender roles, while I’m out here saying that people don’t have to fucking conform to ancient-ass behavior rituals just because they were born with a dick or not (which isn’t even coded entirely in your chromosomes, it’s based on a melting pot of different factors and works on a sliding scale). Like, you’re literally fucking enforcing gender roles WHILE claiming that I’m the bad guy here, and also claiming that you’re a ‘real woman’ because you happen to have a pussy and gush blood out of your fucking vagina once a month.

Also, guess who happens to be an ex-Muslim? Guess who happens to not be white? I was born into that religion because my father was an Iranian immigrant, and I quit it, because I frankly hate most of religon and think it’s stupid; hell, my dad himself isn’t really religious, he just acts it out bc the government forced everyone into prayer. Hell, I’ve been to Iran several times, I’ve had to act according to Muslim law, I’ve seen my family grouse about it and tell stories about how they threw away all of their makeup after the Revolution because people who looked like they were wearing it were being thrown in jail! I, of all people, know that religion is the cause of a lot of suffering- but again, that is a form of Islam enforced by a religious extremist group for political purposes, not the religion itself. The religion itself speaks of peace and love and respect for others; it’s the fucking extremists that strayed from Allah, and the vast majority of Muslims aren’t extremists, you piece of dogshit. There’s nothing wrong with it, I just left it because I consider the idea of a benevolent god to be fucking stupid.

(I should also mention that critiquing ‘organized religion’, while alright for christianity and the extremists America put into power, is also fucking antiseminic as hell. Jewish people follow an organized religion and they’ve literally done nothing wrong in history, other than, idk,,,have a culture? Fucking hell your argument is a goddamned mess.)

Also, guess who had to fucking deal with islamaphobia my entire fucking life? Guess who had to deal with racism and shit because of my physical features? Guess whose grasp of Farsi is broken because my dad was terrified I’d be killed if someone heard me speaking in public? (Because, for context, I was babbling mostly Farsi when 9/11 happened, and people are fucking insane). Guess who spent many nights of my life literally crying because I was terrified that my family still in Iran were going to be nuked? Because it wasn’t just scary in January, that happened on and off throughout my life. I bet you’re one of those girls who called me a hairy ape with a unibrow in elementary school and then turned right around and got fucking participation prizes for showing ‘girl power uwu’ during group projects

Keer amo bokhor, terf

[damn-the-dark]

Vampire Damien??? Vampire Damien!!!!!

Yes? Yes!! owo)b I whole-heartedly agree!! 

>:3c

(oop almost forgot to tag @boopymooplier ;w;)/ )

Words: 3200

Pairings: Damien x Reader (Y/N the DA)

Warnings: Blood, Blood drinking, Descriptions of death, Cursing, Vampires, Actor being a binch, my writing if it can be called that, sadness, my uwu’s

——

“Wake up, Damien.”

His eyes struggled open, unfocused, searching for the source of the voice. A playful hum came from above him and he strained to tilt his head to see a blurred smile leaning far too close to him.

“Ah there you are my friend, I was beginning to worry you wouldn’t come back.” Damien could only blink and try to clear his vision further…but just by the voice he began to realize…

“Mark?” His own voice was hoarse and dry.

A hand brushed dark locks from his face.

“In the flesh.” Another smile, this time showing his friend’s perfect teeth. A smile for the movies he so liked to star in.

He pushed himself up to an elbow, finding he was in fact at home, in his own bed. His mind searched for a reason…Last night, they’d gone drinking hadn’t they? Did Mark have to bring him in here himself? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Dames had gone too far and had to be driven home, but how had Mark dragged him up to his second story bedroom himself?

He looked around, yes he was still in his day clothes, sans his blazer which was usually discarded for a night on the town anyway.

“Wild last night wasn’t it?” Mark stood upright from where he’d leaned over Damien. He’d have answered if he remembered anything about it.

“What exactly happened? I feel…” How did he feel exactly? Drained? Like he’d been hit by a truck? Air hit the back of his throat like fire with every breath. He must be more dehydrated than normal from the alcohol.

Though strangely, he began to realize, he wasn’t hung-over. Achy? Absolutely. Tired? Sure. But no pounding in his head. No beating migraine…no…

“I feel strange.” He said almost to himself.

“You’ll get used to it my friend, why I bet you’ll be right as rain as soon as we get you something to eat.” He stopped to press the little buzzer above the night stand and spoke into the intercom, “Send up the butler will you please, dear?”

It replied with a staticky ‘right away sir’.

Used to it? Mark was acting about as off as Damien felt. He carefully swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat upright. The curtains were drawn, but he could see soft light filtering in from the window around the edges. Yet, somehow that was too bright. He rubbed his face, yes maybe breakfast would help his condition.

“What kept you here?” He didn’t mean for it to be so direct, but his mayorly political filter wasn’t yet functioning, “Surely you’d have liked to go home and rest yourself.”

“Oh I couldn’t leave you like that! Wouldn’t want you or anyone else to get hurt now would we.” Upbeat as ever, and deflecting. Damien had known this man long enough to see through his ever-present façade. He was withholding something. A prank? That was certainly like him, but Dames couldn’t shake the bristly sensation there was something wrong here…

He breathed in to speak again. It burned.

“Come now Mark, what did you do, slip something in my drink?” He mocked a friendly grin, trying to pry a straight answer from his friend. “You can’t pull the wool over my eyes, you’re up to something.” The words felt like sandpaper.

A knock at the door.

“Ah! Come in please,” The actor chimed, again avoiding Dames’ inquiry, “and, close the door behind you, would you?” His tone lowered.

Gabriel, the butler of 2 years came inside a little hesitantly, but did as he was told. “Good morning sirs, how may I be of service?” With a click, the door slid shut behind him.

Before he received a reply, Gabriel’s eyes grew wide and mouth gaped open in a gasp, “Sir! You’re hurt I-“ He’d only just begun to point in Damien’s direction when Mark…well…appeared behind him and clasped his hand over Gabriel’s mouth, silencing him to mumbles and frantic eyes.

“Shhh shh, that’s quite enough my good fellow.” His tone was dangerously sweet in contrast to his actions. “Don’t spoil it for our mayor. Especially not before his meal.”

Their mayor was just barely even processing what was happening. He jumped up to stand, a little unsteady still, but needing to protect his staff from his suddenly deranged friend.

“What the hell are you doing? Let him go this instant!” His hand began to trail up his torso, searching for what Gabe had been trying to tell him. He touched a spot where his shirt collar clung to his neck and shoulder and rubbed off some of the flaky, dry substance.

In horror, he saw it on his hand. Blood.

“What the fuck did you do Mark?” Shock raised his voice an octave. His heart should’ve been in his ears with panic.

And then he saw it. Mark smiled from behind the struggling butler, in that award winning smile grew long and deadly sharp fangs.

“Why, I’m saving you my dear Damien!” His features took on a feral quality. “I’ve found proverbial fountain of youth, as well as much, much more.” He stroked the butler’s cheek and tightened his impossibly strong hold on him.

“When your sister left me I was broken, I couldn’t bear to go on without her. I tried to die my friend, but you see the world had greater plans for me. I have conquered death itself! This is my gift to you friend, we can go on into eternity, it would be so lonesome without my one true good friend by my side. The only one who didn’t betray me.” The last sentence was barely above a growl.

“So drink up! A toast to our eternal youth!” Before Damien could even react, in a single motion, Gabe’s throat was slit open. Thick red oozing blood spilled from the wound. The man’s choked cries were now desperate gargles.

He wanted to run. To yell, scream, hide, do anything except what he was doing. Staring. Blankly staring at the disgustingly…delicious looking fluid now staining the man’s clothes and dripping onto the floor. The air was thick now in that delightful and disturbing scent. He parted his lips to say something, or yell or scream or…taste the life slowly pooling on the floor. Through those parted lips now peeked freshly grown fangs of his very own.

“Ah, that’s it friend! And I must say what a beautiful and terrifying creature you’ll be!”

Damien could only gag in response, his thoughts were disconnected and wild. He managed to slump over to the wall, unwilling to let himself get any closer. Deep in his chest, he knew. He knew that so much as a step in that direction all rational thought would be lost. He would kill Gabriel. He would gorge himself on his lifeblood and become the monster his good friend so wanted him to be.

His eyes darted around the room. Something. He had to do something. The light from behind the drapes had grown in intensity and hurt to look at.

Wait.

Not sparing a moment to consider the consequence, Damien grabbed hold of the curtain and ripped it from the rod above, unleashing daylight on the room.

The fabric fell on Damien, partially shielding him, but not from the piercing cry of the actor.

“How dare you, after all I’ve done for you.” His voice was a hiss. Damien crawled away from the sound, to the farthest corner of the room. Only then was he brave enough to look back.

Mark, or whatever he’d become, had scaled his wall to another dark corner. Skin was draped off of him, leaving large open wounds on his face and arms. He still clutched the butler, now nearly a corpse. Overpowering light drew a barrier between them.

“Well Damien I won’t waste the food I’ve so graciously prepared for you.” His eyes were black and angry as he lifted the body up to his face and proceeded to ravenously feed from the limp Gabriel. The missing flesh on him began to knit itself back together as he ate.

Damien could only watch in horror. And hunger.

The vampire tossed the body aside, landing with a hollow sound on the floor. “No matter Dames, I’ll return for you later.” His face finished patching itself together. “It seems you’re just a little …lost, take your time, you’ll realize soon enough the favor I’ve done you.” He mused and straightened his dress shirt.

And with that, he was just… gone.

Damien huddled into the corner. Emotions wreaking havoc on him. Fear, anger, confusion, betrayal. A friend. A dear friend. A monster. He clenched his fists, noting the dull color his skin had taken on. He made me a monster.

Gabriel’s glossy eyes gazed into nothing. The smell of blood hung like lead in the room still, but it had soured and offered no more temptation for Damien.

Covering himself in the drapes, he worked his way to the intercom.

“Everyone,” He rasped into the speaker, “Please, go home for today. You’re all excused.” He tried to manage normally. Should they think something were wrong…they might be tempted to check on him. To come in here and walk across the barrier of sun, smelling sweet and decadent and and-

He stopped his thoughts and sank back to the floor.

The mayor didn’t know what to do.

—

You thumbed open the front door lock and stepped inside. Good thing Dames had given you that spare key, you knew he wouldn’t mind if you let yourself in. Often you had to -to retrieve important paperwork from his home office.

The rooms were dark and swathed in the last remnant of the evening sun. You switched on the light in the entryway and noted the servants had apparently left early. Odd, but it wasn’t unlike Dames to give them the evening off, he was always kind to his employees.

You wondered why he hadn’t been in the office today, his secretary said there hadn’t been a call from him this morning. She mentioned he had plans with Markus Iplier, the actor, with whom he’s been friends since elementary school, and didn’t really expect to hear from him. Those two really knew how to party, she’d said.

But you were worried, and decided to check in on your old friend and fellow graduate of the same college. You knew how bad he always feels in the morning after a night of festivity, you’d been with him through quite a few in college.

Never mind the fact that you fancied bringing him gifts at work and followed him around the office when he stopped in. You were just friends, and yet your smile never faded when he was present and heart skipped a beat when he offered to take you to dinner last week. 

Just friends.

You ascended the steps up to his office, usually where you found him when he was working late. The mahogany desk was empty.

Dare you poke your nose into his bedroom? Only after giving a few raps on the door first, of course.

“Damien? You in there?” No response. “I stopped by to check on you. Missed you at the office today.” Silence.

It couldn’t hurt to look in, after all it seemed he wasn’t even home.

The door groaned as you opened it. You peered in. The last rays of light sunk below the horizon and left his room in twilit darkness. The room was in disarray, the curtain rod pulled from the wall and in the dim light, something laying on the floor on the other side of the room.

What in the world had happened here? “Dames! Are you okay?”

Movement in the corner by the intercom. “Please…leave.” Barely above a whisper and full of pain. At that you didn’t hesitate to enter.

“Damien!” You swung the door open and began to rush to him, heart beating fast in your throat, was he hurt? Oh god did you need to phone an ambulance? What-

You stopped in your tracks. You were regarded by the corpse on the floor, Gabe’s eyes had clouded over in death. His neck was coated in thick dry blood. You made a choked noise.

“What the-“

-

“Go! Please!” He whipped around, forcing his cracking, dry voice louder. God why you, out of everyone why had you of all people…

By your terrified look, he could only guess the creature you saw in him. He felt the points poke his tongue when he closed his mouth. The sunlight had gone. There was nothing stopping him from crossing the room, irresistible scent guiding him, the pulse in your veins beckoning beckoning just a taste just a taste just a tas-

“Damien…” The way you said his name was so tender, so caring. He loved the sound of your voice. He loved the way you chatted happily to him when you brought him trinkets from gift shops. He loved how you teased him for his mayorly political-isms. The way you softened when he asked you to dinner. He loved your eyes, your hair, your blush, your beating heart your beating heart your beating heart your-

-

What was momentarily your friend, your quiet love, desperately pleading for you to leave, was no more. He stood from his hunched position on the floor, the normally neat and well kept mayor looked disheveled and wild. His dark hair scattered over one eye, jaw slack and eyes sharply focused. Like a predator. Like a monster.

You stepped back, instinctively. You knew your eyes didn’t deceive you when he flashed his teeth. Sharp. Too sharp. 

An animal growl rolled from his lips, a drawn snarl completing the picture your mind had already begun to piece together.

A vampire.

You had not a moment to care about the how when or why of the matter. You were already in his grasp. 

If there was any conflict about his actions you couldn’t see it. Your darling. Your warm sunny day at the seaside, soft whispers in the study long past curfew, the one your heart beat for…was nowhere in the beast that pinned you to the floor with an iron grip.

Your breath was caught. Unable to sob or scream or beg, tears flowed in their stead. He forced your head to the side, exposing your bare neck to his waiting, hungry lips. The lips you had desperately wanted on you for so long, leaving tender trails of kisses, perhaps maybe, in another life.

But not this one. 

His fangs tore into your flesh easily. You found your breath enough for a yelp of pain that echoed through the room. It didn’t stop him, he greedily drank from your punctured artery, you felt drops and rivulets trace your collarbone. He fed from you sloppily, like a starved animal. Licking and biting at the already open wound.

As your vision began to dance and your struggles grew weak, you didn’t find yourself angry. You knew that this wasn’t who he was. Something had happened to him. He wasn’t to blame. You could never be angry with him. Confusion and heartbreak clouded your thoughts as your surroundings slipped into darkness.

-

Damien was narrowly cognizant of what he was doing, but through a thick haze of bloodlust. You were sweet on his tongue, though not in the way he’d ever wished to be tasting you.

He swallowed hungrily, feasting himself on your delectable essence. In the back of his mind he shuddered at how good it felt. Deplorable…yet natural to his new state of being, he could only continue to feed, helpless to override his new instincts and the sensations they rewarded him with.

When his better, more human senses, slowly began to return to him. He wished they hadn’t, for the sight of you, limp and encrusted with gore was simply too much for his stilled heart.

His screams of agony came from between bloodstained lips. He clutched you close and wailed.

“My, my, I see you’ve come to your senses and ate.” Damien’s head snapped up instantly at the voice. Mark was perched neatly on the window sill. “And it’s that lovely little crush of yours, I’m surprised Damien, I thought you’d have better control of yourself.”

Tears still wet on his face, his features contorted into a snarl, hot red rage boiled in his chest. The intensity of the feeling would have scared him at any other moment. But now, staring at the man who betrayed his trust, the monster that caused him to hurt one he loved so dearly…he let it drown him.

“You. Bastard.” Oh how he would’ve hated to hear the venom in his own voice.

Damien made a move to stand. But the actor motioned for him to stay put. For some reason he did so.

“Now, now,” he tutted, as though scolding a child, “I don’t think you’ve realized the picture I’m putting together here, dear sweet Damien.” Mark leaned casually against the window frame, “Your friend there isn’t quite lost to you forever. If you promise to play nice, I’ll tell you how you can bring them back from the brink.” A pointed devil’s smile graced his lips. “Why, I’ll bet they’ll make a wonderful member of the cast.”

His flash of anger evaporated into confusion. The mayor couldn’t think, what should he do? Agree to whatever sick game his former friend was getting at to bring you back…as a vampire too no doubt. He could just say yes now…just long enough to see the life back in your eyes…he knew that you couldn’t possibly forgive him. Just as he will never forgive Mark. But, maybe there would be a way…to live in dignity with this curse…this disease…

He could only hope. Because even the life of a creature such that he now was would only be bearable with you in it.

“Fine then…just tell me.”

A dastardly look. “Good boy.” He brought his wrist to his face and made a biting motion at it, “simply open a vein, you’ll find that your blood can work miracles on the recently drained if you offer some of yours in return.” He stated whimsically.

“I’ll be seeing you Damien,” Mark turned as if to go, then paused to look back, “And, you should leave your hair down like that more, it really gives me the ‘brooding villainous creature of the night’ sort of vibes.” His parting laugh echoed across the room and rattled into Damien’s very core.

He didn’t have time to think about what the hell Mark was blathering about, his only thought was of you.

He did as Mark had said, feeling stupid and selfish and upset that he wanted you back so badly. Biting his own wrist offered very little pain. His own dark colored blood slithered out of the wound, as if the night itself had taken up residence in his arteries.

Drip. Drip. Each drop fell into your mouth, and the burn of his fresh tears rolled down next to them.

Damien cradled your body, waiting in the cold silence. In that silence he vowed, the red burning fury briefly returning, Mark will regret the day he made him immortal. Because he will use every day into eternity to find him and make him feel every ounce of pain he felt here tonight.

That was a promise.

It could’ve been half a decade, or only after a few minutes, the body in his arms stirred.

He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t beg your forgiveness, he couldn’t do anything but give you the truth. Damien could only hope as your eyes opened, reborn in death, that you could somehow understand.

[mythvoiced]

Instructions: Always repost with the rules, answer the 11 random questions left for you and leave 11 more for the people you tag!

TAGGED BY: @rubiesintherough TYSM ♥

TAGGING (you don’t have to if you don’t wanna!): @wantedformanysins @enchcntd @intergalacticxmisfits @theimpalpable @irrwicht @ovcrdramatiic @repetiita @killypool @sabotagcd @vulpesse @vixxrd & YOU if you’d like ♥

QUESTIONS I AM ANSWERING

1. if you have pets, what are their names and how are they doing?

I have a bunch! I have one cat who I raised myself, his name is Ares, and I currently don’t know where he is which means he’s upstairs vibing.

2. what song best describes your muse?  ( muse of your choice if a multi )

How silly would it be for me to say I sat on this question for two days? And how stupid that I still don’t know. I’m never satisfied with my answer to the song question, it’s really ever-changing.

3. what’s your favorite urban legend / ghost story?

Okay, here’s the thing, I know a bunch but none of the ones I can remember on two feet like this are ones I’d pick as my favourite, and I’m too easily scared at this hour (it’s 11pm) to go look them up, so I’ll cheat and say I think the Gashadokuro evoke such an odd sensation within me, something between primordial fear and morbid fascination as well as a misplaced sense of ‘yeah, this is right’, so I think they’re neat.

4. if you could visit anywhere in the world for free, where would it be?

I don’t really want to move to be honest, I’d like to visit a green place that makes me feel good and doesn’t... suck too much politics-wise, which is Switzerland but I’m not going back there for trauma reasons so... South Korea? I love nature in the US, but just... don’t vibe with the US.

5. what setting is your muse most comfortable in, ie. city, forest, ect?

Most of my muses prefer the forest over the city, nature in general, and are usually most comfortable there. Either because they don’t like the city and choose the alternative as a result, or because the find being in the countryside, for example, less stressful. Some of my muses, like Taejoo, have grown so used to living in a city that living outside of one would feel odd at first.

6. have you drank enough water today?

I’ve been trying to drink more, again! My skin went into self-destruction mode and you would not like to look at it, so I decided clearly I haven’t been drinking enough.

7. what’s something that always helps brighten your day?

It depends. Sometimes the usual stuff doesn’t work. Sometimes I avoid things that usually work to not give them negative associations. But you know what never fails to make me smile? Trying to imitate that one Animal Crossing song, you have to go real squeaky and uwu and it makes me go very uwu as a result. Hearing people laugh (so long as they aren’t laughing over someone else’s plight) is also awesome.

8. favorite snack when watching movies?

Anything that’s salty, I like to munch on salty things. And maybe spicy?

9. what’s one headcanon about your muse ( or muse of choice if multi ) that you haven’t shared, yet?

I don’t share sexual headcanons, usually, so I thought maybe I’ll drop a tidbit on a muse’s sex life or preferences, so here’s one on Junghoon: Junghoon is very much a ‘I’m having sex because I like you and want to share this level of intimacy with you’. He doesn’t see sex as a necessity and is absolutely and instantly willing to not partake in it at all within a relationship, but if he’s dating someone who can/wants to have sex, then it’s much more about the emotions at play than the physical act. He likes to share jokes during sex, even silly ones, can sometimes get distracted and wouldn’t want it to be a problem, but rather as perhaps source for an inside joke, he wants to be free and open and sentimental and cuddly. It’s about love.

So yeah, uh... I have some of those headcanons. Hidden. Somewhere. Usually.

10. can you play an instrument? is there an instrument you want to learn?

I can play maybe the scale on an acoustic guitar, one or two melodies (the intro to Kaleo’s Broken Bones is something I learnt at one point), and I can play the recorder and play songs by ear on it, because I had to play it in middle school. I don’t know if playing on an instrument is really my thing, to be honest? I’d like to learn the piano and actually the guitar, but I’m not deeply passionate about it. I prefer singing!

11. are you doing okay?

I would say so? I’ve had a bit more meh moments lately and anxiety spikes, but nothing I won’t shoot in the face with some hearty positivity and unhealthy amounts of escapism >:3

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU

1. What are your top 3 comfort characters and, if you feel comfortable sharing, why? 2. Do you prefer working/studying/writing in silence or with some sort of background noise/music? 3. Favourite dream you’ve had (as in, while sleeping)? 4. Guilty pleasure movie? 5. If you could rule the world for one day, what would you do? 6. Among all the characters you’ve written, which one do you think you clicked with the most/felt the closest to (past or current)? 7. How are you doing right now and are you being patient with yourself? 8. Comfort drink (not alcoholic)? 9. Least favourite type of phone background/desktop wallpaper? 10. While hugging, do you hug from below (arms around waist/torso) or from above (arms around neck/shoulders)? 11. Are you taking enough time for yourself to recharge?

[forever-more-never-again]

Scales and Scars (Part Three)

Aizawa-Yamada [Y/n] - Given quirks through experimentation, thus their quirks are ‘Artificial’ and not considered ‘true’ quirks

First Quirk: Shadow Manipulation

Uses: Shadow manipulation allows the user to travel almost like teleportation from shadow to shadow by ‘sensing’ the shadows around the user. User is able to control the shadows and form objects. User can change the density of shadows. user also has excellent night vision.

Drawbacks: User experiences flashes of coldness from the presence of shadows, and if holds onto a shadow for too long will begin to develop frost bite.

a/n: That’s one of your quirks explained but there’s more to come! Also...another love interest to be introduced soon!

Word Count: 1302

Pairings: Eraserhead(AIzawa) X PresentMic(Hizashi), Reader X Class1A (Will have multiple endings for pairings)

Warnings: violence against robots

Prologue / Part One / Part Two

Masterlist

Shinso doubted you when you said to stay near the back of the pack of kids crowding the gates. But he stayed by your side.

“Alright. So when they start, I’m going to grab you and shadow travel. It’s a little disorientating the first time, but you’ll get used to it,” You shake your hands out as you scanned the crowd of potential UA students, “Then I’ll use my shadows to restrain several robots, You need to find a weak point, tear some wiring out or find an off switch.”

From an outsider's perspective it would look like Shinso was not paying attention and was bored, body slouched, hands in his pockets and his eyes shuttered, lowered, on the cusp of closing.

But you were standing close enough to see that glint in his lavender eyes, showing that he was absorbing every word you said.

“So shadow manipulation? Powerful Quirk. You sure you want to help me out?” 

You snorted, ignoring the guilt rolling in your stomach from not telling the whole truth to someone who was your first friend outside of the Iida family. 

“I want to help you. And yes. It’s pretty self explanatory, but I can travel through shadows, solidify them into weapons or restraints and I also have excellent night vision as an extra perk.”

You very purposeful kept your tone light, the wisps of memories and nightmares encroaching your thoughts. Threatening to sink you into a horror better left forgotten.

“START!”

You and Shinso both startled a little at Present Mic’s loud voice. But then a feral grin overtook your face as you jumped on the balls of your feet.

Turning to look up at Shinso, you held out your hand, stepping into his shadow so that you could use your quirk, “Ready?”

Shinso smirked, his lips twitching up and you fought a blush at the tingle you got from it, “Let’s go Shadow Dancer.”

A giggle escaped as you clasped his hand in yours and in a rush of inky blackness, you sensed a large shadow a few miles away.

Dropping into it, you let go of his hand and stepped out of the shadow, scanning the street.

Shinso stumbled after you, a hand scratching the back of his neck as he looked dazedly at you, “That was..”

You jumped away from him, and he could only watch in awe as you called shadows to you, the blackness wrapping around your arms and then extending into two long swords. Your hair flying in the wind behind you, your eyes filled with an entensity he couldn’t get enough of.

You landed on a two pointer, and with a scream, plunged the swords into the metal, causing the robot to short circuit and die.

Wiping some sweat off your forehead, you took another quick glance around and turned your shadows into a lasso and stopped a rampaging three pointer from getting away.

“Shinso! Now!”

Shinso started, realizing you were waiting for him to take down the robot.

Noticing the slight strain you were experiencing from keeping your shadows in some aspect of permanence, he quickly began looking over the robot. Lighting up a little when he saw a tiny metal cover underneath one of the arms on the robot. Prying it off revealed a bunch of wires.

Throwing caution to the wind, he reached in, grabbed a fistful and proceeded to rip them out.

Jumping backwards, Shinso avoided being blown up as the robot fried and a small explosion came from where he ripped the wires out.

The lasso faded, the shadows slinking back to where they were next to buildings and robots.

You ran up to Shinso with a giant grin on your face, “That was awesome! Let’s go!” And without waiting, you stepped into the shadow of the now dead three pointer and whisked you and Shinso away to the next large shadow.

Unbeknownst to you both, your strategic teaming was not unnoticed. Up in the School viewing room, Aizawa and Present Mic sat tense, watching you and a purple haired kid take down robot after robot, splitting the points between you and also helping other test takers from dangerous situations.

“Isn’t your kid applying this year Aizawa?” Vlad King spoke up from where he was jotting notes on various kids he had his eyes on.

Aizawa sunk further into his scarf, his eyes betraying none of the nervousness he felt inside, “Yeah. They’re in battle center H.”

Present Mic jumped up with a victory yell as he watched you collapse a three pointer by changing the density matter of the shadows between it’s joints.

“It seems the pool this year of potential candidates is very diverse. I’m assuming you will be taking Yamada [Y/n], Vlad King?” Nedzu asked, his beady black eyes sparkling with malice and mischief.

Before Vlad King could say anything, Aizawa spoke up, “No. They will be in my classroom. They aren’t using their full potential, stuck in the past. I will make them use their quirks...all of them.”

Nedzu hummed, as Present Mic looked worriedly at his husband, “Are you sure there won’t be a conflict of interest or any show of favoritism having your kid in your classroom Aizawa-Kun?”

Aizawa rolled his eyes at the Rat/Bear/Mouse principle before answering with a sigh, his voice tired and gravelly, “No. I treat every student the same. And if they don’t show potential, I will expel them.” His dark eyes went back to the screen that zoomed in to show your determined face as you took down another Robot, “Even my own if it comes to that.”

Down in the battle center, you and Shinso were helping another candidate take down a one pointer that had backed them into a tight corner when Present Mic’s voice rang out again, “Five Minutes Remaining!”

Wiping dust, metal and sweat off your face, you looked over at Shinso, “How many points do you have?”

Shinso paused from checking the other kids ankle, making sure it wasn't broken. He squinted at you, pulling his bottom lip in with his teeth as he thought, “I think about 45 points.”

You nodded tiredly, “And I have 41 last time I counted. We should be good, but let’s see if we can’t get a few more.” Your grin was bright with determination.

Shinso couldn’t help but feel energized under it’s brilliance.

Standing back up, after the kid thanked them profusely, they walked down the street, taking their time but on the lookout for any stray robots.

And then the ground shook.

Stumbling, you clung to Shinso’s arm as you looked around, “What’s happening!?”

Shinso’s eyes widened and he simply raised a hand to point to a few streets over.

You gaped, your breath leaving you as you stare at the zero pointer. It was huge, towering over the skyscrapers that littered the training ground.

“That’s the Zero Pointer!? Is UA trying to kill us!?” You screamed, watching the other kids run away from the massive robot as it began moving, buildings collapsing as it went right through them.

Your legs were weak, barely holding you up as Shinso wrapped an arm around your waist to steady your hold on him.

“Let’s go. You said it yourself, we should have enough to pass. Thanks for that...by the way.”

You managed to smirk at the purplenette, “Us villainous heroes have to stick together, right?”

That got a whisper of a laugh from Shinso as he began walking with you towards the entrance.

As you walked in the shadows of a partially collapsed building, you felt a call for help through them.

“Someone needs help!” And without taking Shinso, without another word, you traveled through the darkness...right towards the zero pointer and the carnage it was wrecking. 

FOREVER Taglist:

@sxph-t @mialeelavellan @rainydaysrnevergrey  @platonic-plots @sociallyawkwardcircus-freak-hi @ayyidkeither @queenbbarnes @mythixmagic @chas-z @thefridgeismybestie @strangersstranger @princess-evans-addict @rororo06 @timelordhunterandmysterysolver

Scales and Scars (BNHA) Taglist:

@multi-fandom-trash-uwu @darkfaethedestroyer @foxinaforestofstars

[randomikemendegen]

Choco:"Hunny! don't tie yourself in a chair why dont you tie yourself in my embrace!?Ah wait,didnt come to flurt,what was I want to do?Oh yeah!"-pushes Ban to the front.Ban:-growls in annoyance-Choco:"So since hes been doing horrible at asks,ill ask myself for him,Do any of you 3(counting your ocs) have a certain battle style and from my question,would you attend my tea party?Pretty please?Tho!I want you to tell me your favorite sweets!"♡

Me: HUN I’D TIE MYSELF TO YOU ANYDAY HAHAH-

Me: *crosses arms* Battle styles, hmm?  I’m just going to assume you meant the way we fight and whatnot(if not then call me a moron haha), then if so…

I guess I’m going to be in the heat of battle and stuff like that. I say that I’d rather be a support type or using a fighting style that puts me at a distance ‘cause I’m actually rather lazy and shit like that, although based on from the tactics I use in video games and the like…. I mostly prefer to overwhelm opponents with strength and whatnot; yes I’m bit of a brute like that hahahaha…. *sweatdrops*

My specialty: Close-quarters and Mid-range combat, support powers, wind and fire magic

My weapon: Sword(YEAH YEAH I’M PREDICTABLE DONT @ ME QwQ)

Since Quin and Sei are both busy with their own things, I’ll be answering for them!

Quin’s mostly a support type if he’s in a battle, I say that because he’s not exactly one for fighting and would prefer to run away instead but if push comes to shove and if his loved ones are in danger then he’ll bring his A-game magic…. Mostly still defensive though. Granted he isn’t exactly physically weak, but if we’re putting him on a scale then he’d be average to below average…. *sweatdrops, coughs* His specialty is cartomancy, plant/earth magic, summoning and taming of magical beasts, potions, barrier magic, healing magic, and portal creation(although because I DON’T want most of these to be too broken, limits will be noted down sooner or later when I feel like it hhhh).

His weapon: Magical beasts and longbow(will change in the future hhhh)

Sei, on the other hand, likes to implement either trickery or flashy attacks and styles… let me explain. On the one hand he really really likes showing off for others simply for entertainment value, that and because he’s really fucking carefree, so he mostly uses his magic and skills to cause a huge scene when in battle, but he CAN be really sneaky and prone to fucking around with your head— either for laughs/wants to or because he needed to. His specialty is shapeshifting, fire magic, lightning magic, physical, and teleportation(again, because I DON’T want most of these to be too broken, limits will be noted down sooner or later when I feel like it hhhhadaslkd).

His weapon: Will use anything as a weapon rly but he mostly uses knives and daggers

Me: As for that tea party, I’d love to attend~! uwu Anytime, at all! As for sweets, hmmmm~…. *thinking* I have a lot really ahaha, so much so that if I try to list all of it I would take forever(I have a disastrous sweet tooth lmao). But if I have to pick then I would have to say: ice cream(cookies and cream flavoured) and by extension, banana sundae, cookies, egg pies, glazed doughnuts, ube jam, leche flan, and pastillas~!

[thunderbringer-a]

@glittervcins​ said : ❛ Oh my God, we’re going to do this again, aren’t we? ❜ ( from valkyrie uwu ) romance sentence starters

           this might be on the upper scale of dumb ideas but if the first time worked then why would it fail them a second time ? ❝ why do you sound so shocked ??  ❞ he likes to think that even his most spontaneous of plans aren’t completely foolish and they do tend to work , despite possibly not going accordingly . ❝  i’m shocked you sound so uncertain in the fact that this will work . as the mortals say , if its not broken don’t fix it . or something like that i believe . all these metaphors ,  ❞

[fullmetalscullyy]

OK, I want everything 😏but I have to cut it down. So 3. Don't walk out that door for Royai. And/or 81: It's cold you should take my jacket.

ok uhhhh don’t hate me for like 6k words worth of angst lmaoooo enjoy

thank you aoife for this gem i’m glad i could turn it ointo another chapter of this au bc i love it so much uwu

@puppybek - your angst is my command

@jekra - feel free to hate me/call the cops

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

“Pleasedon’t walk out of that door.” // “It’s cold, you should take my jacket.” 

“Roy?”Riza asked, her voice small and defeated. He faltered, stopping in front of thedoor of the apartment. He cursed himself internally, eyes closing as he foughtoff the rising tears. It hurt to swallow around the lump in his throat.

Thingshad all been going so well recently. When had it reached this point?

Lookingback Roy couldn’t even pinpoint where it had all gone wrong. It had obviouslyhappened slowly, but he had been oblivious to it. Ignorance is bliss, as theysay, and it had been fucking bliss. Roy had been so happy he’d been turnedblind.

Hadhe all imagined it? The holidays, the date nights, the time they spent togetherintimately… Had Roy thought it was so much more than it was?

Apparently,he had.

“Pleasedon’t walk out that door,” Riza choked out.

That’swhen the anger made itself known.

Here shewas, begging him to stop, when shehad been the one who’d initiated this, not him. She didn’t get to turn theblame on him. No fucking way.

Roywhirled around, eyes shining, only to come face to face with her desolate self.But he was too angry to care. He had given fiveyears, his whole self – heart, body, and soul – to her, and Roy had gottenpaid in dirt.

“I’mgoing home.”

“This is your home,” she stressed.

“Notwith you in it. Not now.”

Ithurt to say. Riza winced as he said it.

Butit was the truth.

“Please–”

“Don’task me to stay,” he spat out. “You’ve made your feelings known. Don’t beselfish.”

“Ionly want to explain –”

“Explainwhat, exactly?” he rounded on her. “That this was all a sham? That you’re nowterrified because this was getting out of hand and now you’ve been caught?” Royran his hands through his hair. He was throwing baseless accusations in her face,but his mind was running a mile a minute after his heart had been crushed underthe heel of Riza’s shoe. He was desperately trying to pinpoint where he’dfailed to notice what was going on, but there was nothing.

They’dbeen happy… Hadn’t they?

“I’mleaving.”

“Roy,wait –”

“No.”

Withoutanother word he closed the apartment door. The slam resonated throughout theentire hallway. Keeping his eyes on the carpet so he wouldn’t see her oldapartment door. It just reminded him of how far they had both come in the lastfive years.

Andit had all been for nought.

Whenwalking down the stairs – his feet landing heavily with every step – he dialledRebecca’s number on his phone.

“Roy!”Rebecca greeted cheerily. “So, how’s the infamous date night going?” Shelaughed. “That bad you needed to call me?” she asked, joking.

“Riza’sin our apartment,” he stated, numb.

“Roy?”

“She– She needs someone right now. Can you go and see her?”

Therewas a pause on the other end of the line before Catalina spoke.

“Whatdid you do?” she asked fiercely.

Roylaughed to himself, but the sound was flat, dead.

“Loveher unconditionally.”

*          *          *

Rizasat on the couch in Roy’s apartment – it was back to his now, not theirs –completely numb.

It washis because she’d screwed it all up.

Someonebanged on the door loudly. The following creaked stopped the pounding as thedoor swung open. She hadn’t closed the apartment door properly in her daze.

“Riza?”a worried voice called.

Oh, shit. Rebecca.

“Whathappened?” Rebecca asked fiercely, seeing Riza’s current state. She seemed seton the warpath, no doubt to kick Roy’s ass, but he’d done nothing wrong.

He’ddone nothing but love her and look where that had gotten him.

“Riza?”she asked, giving her shoulders a squeeze to try and drag her back to thepresent. “Roy called saying you needed someone right now. What happened?”

Herhead snapped up at that. He had called Rebecca… To come and look after her…

Rizaburst into tears.

*          *          *

Royslammed down the shot glass on the table miserably.

“Oh,Roy boy,” Chris sighed, as if to say, “whatam I going to do with you?”. “I’m sorry, kid.”

“Soam I,” he replied gruffly. Sorry he had wasted his time.

Chriswordlessly offered him another drink. This was a dangerous game but if hisfoster mother was offering them on the house then he wasn’t going to say no.

“I’velost her, Chris,” he warbled, unable to hold back any longer. “I’ve lost her,and I don’t know how to get her back.”

Chrisvoice was soft, and dread pooled in his stomach because that never happened.

Thisreally was it.

“Thenmaybe you aren’t meant to. Maybe not in this case. Not if she doesn’t want it.”It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but it wasthe truth. He wouldn’t force her into marriage, into having kids. He wasn’t amonster.

Hewished he could take back that stupid joke about marriage and then thefollowing question asking her opinion on it.

“What would you say if I asked you to marryme right now?” he had grinned, half joking, half truly interested in herresponse.

Insteadhe received a punch in the gut.

Rizahad looked panicked, face stricken. “No,”she had said.

Hishead hit the top of the bar with a dull thud.

*          *          *

“You…!You!” Rebecca stuttered, her anger boiling underneath her skin. She had everyright to be angry. Riza had hurt one of her closest friends in such a horribleway that whatever onslaught was coming Riza’s way, she would accept itwholeheartedly because it was what she deserved.

“Don’thold back, Rebecca,” Riza interjected, tone monotonous. “You never havebefore.”

“Youare a moron,” she stated, slapping ahand to her forehead. “How could you do thatto him.”

“I’ma bad person,” Riza replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“Don’tyou dare act so nonchalant aboutthis,” Rebecca spat. But Riza couldn’t help it. She had shut down, so lost inher grief, that her emotions were unable to pierce through that gate. Her wholelife she had found it difficult to be open about her emotions. Roy had been –

Herbreath caught in her throat, a shudder running through her entire body as shetook a gasping breath.

Royhad been the one to help with that. His love, laughter, care, and joy hadhelped Riza draw her feelings out from deep within herself. For the first timein a relationship she had truly felt happy with her partner and it was allbecause of Roy. Not only was he her lover, but her best friend, and shecouldn’t picture a future – or a life – without him in it, even now.

Whydid she have to panic? Seize up? Deny him – deny them both – the one thing that would make them both the happiest peopleon the planet?

Shejust thought back to Dan and her previous relationships and how they’d all beentyre fires. She’d been hurt so many times in every case that when Roy offeredher the next step, she turned it down. It was only because it was so huge, she fearedbeing hurt on such a grand scale. Because, in her mind, Roy would hurt her likeevery other relationship she had shared. Her father, her previous boyfriends…They had all hurt her, scarred her. Roy would be no different.

So,when he asked her to marry him, she turned him down because she panicked. She didn’twant to be hurt when she’d already committed herself to him for life. It wouldonly hurt even more. Doing it now was a kindness to herself.

That’swhat Riza told herself.

Coward.Liar. A sham.

Shehad panicked, pure a simple. These were just excuses she was using to try andjustify it.

Becausethat was the thing though, wasn’t it? Roy was nothing like those other men in her life. He had shown her nothingbut love and support, even when they were friends. There was no guarantee he would hurt her. Riza, subconsciously,knew for a fact that he wouldn’t.

Butshe was scared.

Evenafter everything with Dan, he’d been nothing but understanding and concernedfor her welfare. He never pushed her into anything. He offered her shelter inher time of need. Their relationship was just a happy accident – one she hadaccepted wholeheartedly because Roy Mustang was, and always had been, a hugesource of comfort in her life. He was warmth, safety, joy.

Sowhy had she burned that to ash?

“Whatdo you want me to say?” Riza whispered.

“Doyou know just how much he changed foryou?” Rebecca demanded.

Riza’seyes lazily found hers. “I never asked him to –”

“Ohno, I know you never. He was an asshole before he met you. A friend, but anasshole. He slept around, had a really poor attitude towards life and otherpeople, but all that changed when you popped up. It was like he was trying toimpress you. And when I saw it was more than just that, that’s when I knew.”

“Rebecca–” Riza whispered, desperate for her to stop. Tears were already falling freelydown her face.

“Iknew the minute he met you that heliked you. Watching that grow into love was a wonderful thing, because I knewit was genuine. He would always get so broken up when you were with other men.I told him time and time again to ask you out, but do you know what he toldme?”

Rizashook her head, face crumpling as her head bowed, shoulder hunching, backrounding as she gasped for breath. Her body was curling in on itself, a naturalreaction to the pain throbbing in her chest. “Rebecca, please.”

“Hetold me he didn’t think he was good enough for you.” The following silenceallowed those words to ring in Riza’s head painfully. She gasped as she sobbed,but Rebecca didn’t let up, even when her own voice wobbled. “He told me hedidn’t want to fuck up what you both shared already because you meant so muchto him.”

“Stop–”

“WhenDan showed up Roy knew there was something fishy about him. He found out aboutsome of the weird behaviour and I watched him almost worry himself into anearly grave as he paced in Havoc’s and I’s living room, waiting for a replyfrom you to say you were home, safe.

“Henever said anything because he didn’t want you to think he was jealous – heabsolutely was – and was out to ruin your relationships. He respected you andyour choice. He was your best friend, Riza,” Rebecca finally finished,reminding her painfully.

“Please.”

“Youdon’t get to ask me to stop,” Rebecca whispered, her own voice thick withemotion. “Because you’ve hurt that poor man. He gave you everything. And at the first sign of moving forward you back out.”

“Rebecca,stop!” she cried, her sobs fillingthe apartment. They wracked her body harshly, her form shaking uncontrollably.

“No.”Riza’s eyes popped open, coming face to face with her knees.

No more, please.

Butit was what she deserved.

“Iknow,” Riza sniffed. “I deserve all of this. But please, don’t. I already… I…”

“I know,”she murmured but offered her no further comfort.

“I –I don’t know why you’re still here.”

“Becauseyou’re my friend.” A pair of arms circled around Riza and she whimpered, unableto stop herself from leaning into Rebecca’s comfort. “You’re my friend, I loveyou, but Roy is my friend too.”

“Iknow,” Riza whispered.

“I don’tapprove of what you did, and I’m quite angry about it, however everyone needssomebody. I won’t abandon you, especially when I can see how broken up youare.”

“I’velost him,” she sobbed.

“So, what the fuck are you doing sittinghere?”

“I… Ican’t –”

“You can,” Rebecca stressed, giving her shouldersa squeeze. “You love that man and you’ve been with him for over five years. Youmost certainly can because you owe him that much.”

Riza buriedher face in one of her hands as best she could, her limbs partially trapped byRebecca’s embrace.

She wasa fucking coward. No wonder she’d never had a successful relationship before –disregarding the fact that she sure knew how to pick all the weirdos. She was ascared child masquerading as a woman.

Achild who was so scared of getting hurt she pushed away everyone who ever gotclose to her because she “knew” they would leave or hurt her eventually. It wasa defence mechanism, nothing more.

Whydid she have to be like that?

Roydidn’t deserve that.

*          *          *

“Whereis he?” a quiet voice pleased in the room behind him.

Hefroze in his chair, eyes stuck on the amber liquid in his shot glass. Slightlyterrified, he lifted his eyes to his aunt, whose eyes were on the door. Herexpression was sour as she sucked on her teeth in disapproval. Without a wordshe rounded the bar and approached Vanessa.

“Sorry,”Vanessa replied coolly. “But –”

“I’lltake it from here, Vanessa,” his aunt stated.

“Ofcourse, Madame.”

Royheard nothing more for a while, but Vanessa squeezed his shoulder and offeredhim a small smile as she walked through the back of the bar.

“Riza,”Chris greeted. Her tone could match the temperature of ice.

“Whereis he?” Riza repeated. “I need to –”

“Youdon’t need to do anything,” Chrisreplied. “I think you’ve done enough.”

Royclosed his eyes. He didn’t want to deal with this right now. He wanted to beleft alone. However, if he dealt withthis conversation now, it would be over with, and he could continue to wallowin his grief in peace.

“Chris.”He announced his presence quietly, but it was enough. He almost gasped when hesaw the state of Riza. Her hair was sticking up haphazardly in place and lookedwet. She was shivering, wearing nothing but the t-shirt and jeans she had beenwearing when Roy left her. Had she walked all the way here like that?

His suspicionswere cleared when he saw a car parked outside the door, Rebecca looking upontheir conversation from within. She nodded at Roy once before indicating topull away onto the street. It was against the law to park right outside the door,so she had to drive away to find somewhere to park while she waited.

“Whatdo you want?” he asked, hollow, once Chris had left them to enter the backroom. Roy escorted Riza into the empty bar front.

“I’msorry.” The sound of her voice matched his. He offered her nothing, simplywaiting for her to say her piece and then go. “Can… Can you say something?” shebegged to his silence. “Please?”

“Whatmore do you want from me, Riza?” Roy asked tiredly. “Please, tell me, becauseI’m struggling here. I gave you everything, and you want nothing more.”

“Iknow you did,” she sniffed, wiping away a tear. “I don’t want anything else. I–”

“Wellthen, why are you here?” he asked,his frustration finally showing. He had misunderstood her, but Roy was unawareof it. He never even gave her a chance to correct herself, but then again, Rizanever tried to amend herself. “Haven’t you don’t enough already? Your feelingswere made clear. Why drag this out for longer than necessary?”

Silencefilled the bar. The door to the back room opened slowly and Chris stood in thedoorway, a reminder that Riza better not toy with his emotions anymore, andcertainly not in here.

“That’sfine,” she whispered, defeated. There was a certainty to her tone that Royreally didn’t want to hear, but there was no future for them now. Not after shedeclined his offer of marriage. He wanted it, he wanted to start a family, butRiza didn’t.

AndRoy didn’t want to do it with anyone else. He wanted to do it with her.

Thatimage of the house in the suburbs, the picket fence, the children and dogsrunning around the garden shattered like his heart, the dust of both theirremains settling uncomfortably in his stomach.

Itwas time they split.

Fiveyears wasted. Just like that.

Royclosed his eyes briefly as a tear escaped.

“I’llgo,” she whispered.

Itwas like a dagger in his chest.

“Yes,I think you should.”

Whenthe door opened, he noticed the relentless pounding of the rain. He would havelaughed if he wasn’t so upset at the appropriate weather for tonight. He alsonoticed that Riza was stepping outside into the winter wind howling outsidewearing nothing but a t-shirt.

“Riza,”he called back, cursing himself. Because despite her not wanting to be withhim, Roy still loved her with his whole heart and would hate to see her suffering.“It’s cold outside,” he muttered. He lifted his jacket off the peg by the door,handing it to her with sad eyes. “You should take my jacket.”

Hisaunt sniffed in disapproval behind him. Riza’s eyes flicked over at the sound,face stricken when she saw the look on his adoptive mother’s face, which Roydidn’t doubt looked like the thunder raging above them outside.

“Thankyou,” she whispered. He draped it over her shoulders, telling himself this wasthe last thing he would do for her.

Butwhat was the point in lying to himself?

He’dgive her the moon, still, if she asked for it.

“Thatwill fade with time,” Chris told him once he took up his place at the baragain.

“Iwouldn’t be so sure,” he smiled sadly. Before it could wobble and fall off hisface, Roy lifted his glass and took another shot, the burn replacing the one inhis chest.

*          *          *

Shehad tried.

Rizahad tried to explain herself, and rightly so, Roy turned her down. He didn’twant to get hurt again.

Oh,Riza knew all about that.

Thatwas what this whole dumb situation she had created was based on, wasn’t it?

Rebeccadropped her off then returned home after Riza convinced her she would be fine.

ButRiza would never be fine again.

Inher fear of getting hurt she had harmed the one person she had ever been inlove with. The one person she never wanted to.

Thewalls closed in on her, suffocating her.

Shecouldn’t stay here anymore. She needed out. This was where it had all happened.The first time they slept together, their mornings spent quietly enjoyingbreakfast and reading the paper, their evenings spent curled on the couch ineach other’s arms, watching television.

Apain tore through her chest. It was so painful she doubled over, gasping astears fell down her face. This was Roy’s apartment. She didn’t need to tainthis life anymore than she already had.

Rizadidn’t deserve Roy Mustang, and she supposed she never had.

Sheclosed the apartment door, locked it, and fled the building.

*          *          *

“CanI talk to Riza?” Roy asked tiredly. He hadn’t slept at all the night before. Orthe night before that. He knew Riza probably wouldn’t have wanted to stay inhis apartment any longer, and Catalina drove her home the night before, so Royknew she must be at Catalina’s apartment instead.

Havocand Catalina shared a look. “We… We don’t know where she is.”

Confused,Roy squinted up at them both, seeing the worry on their faces. “What do youmean, you don’t know?”

“Roy,she’s not picking up her phone. We’ve tried the apartment. The door’s lockedand there’s no answer.”

“What?”His head pounded, matching the raging beat of his heart. “Wh – What?” herepeated.

Catalinalet her true emotions show for the first time since Roy showed up at her door.She looked worried. Really worried.Dread pooled in her stomach, clenching it tightly. He fought off the urge tovomit.

“We’vebeen searching, all day yesterday and all morning,” Catalina replied, herdesperation shining through. “Roy, I don’t know what to do. She’s nowhere to befound.” Havoc wrapped an arm around her shoulders in comfort.

“Whydidn’t you tell me?” he asked, outraged.

“Wephoned the bar, but your Aunt declined to comment.”

Royfelt anger flash through him. He understood Chris was looking out for him, butthis was serious. Then again, she might not have known Riza was missing.

Royalmost choked as he thought of the word.

“We’vetried everywhere,” Havoc cut in, sensing his wife was unable to carry on anylonger. “Hughes’, her work, your aunt’s house, everywhere. The boys helped too– Breda and Falman searched the city but came up with nothing. Fuery looked inpublic buildings like the library and the museum, but nothing. Do you… Do youknow anywhere she might go?”

No,he didn’t. Shy of where Havoc had already mentioned, their home, the Hughes’,and Catalina’s, Roy wasn’t sure where else she would flee to in a moment likethis.

Therewas one place…

Itwas a long shot, but maybe, just maybe…

“There’sone place,” he began slowly, wondering is he should let them know. It had beentold to him in confidence and it had been such a sacred moment to Riza, hedidn’t know if her best friends already knew about it.

East,in her hometown. She might be there. Riza did say the old house was stillstanding and she held the deed to it but hadn’t been able to return there afterher father died. Her mother’s grave was out there, and Roy remembered Rizatelling him how she would seek out the grave to talk to her mother when thingsbecame too much with her father in the house.

Maybe…

“Outeast,” Roy stated, gauging their reactions. Understanding dawned on them andboth shared a look. They had an inkling of what he was talking about, which wasgood. He wouldn’t have to explain it all.

Especiallywhen there was already no time.

*          *          *

Rizashivered on the cold ground, the winter wind whipping around her body as shesat on the stone path before her mother’s grave. This was the second day shehad spent here. There was something comforting about being in a graveyard whenshe had turned her world to hell.

Thehotel in town was cheap and would do until she could find a place of her own. Atleast out here no one would find her. An exiling of her own choice. Well, Roymight, if he remembered. Riza hoped he wouldn’t but hoped he would at the sametime.

She’dspent all day yesterday sitting here just talking to her mother. There was acomfort in it, Riza thought. One of the people who’d meant the most to Rizabrought her comfort in her time of need. It was a shame that she was no longer inthe land of the living and the only person she wanted to comfort her no longer wantedanything to do with her.

Roy’sjacket brought her some warmth, but every time she shifted his scent shrouded her,bringing forth a fresh seat of tears. By this point she should be fresh out,but sure enough, they fell as she begun to speak.

“I’velost him, Mum,” Riza whispered to the cold stone. “I did it. I told him I didn’twant to marry him, but I do, I reallydo. I’m just so scared because everyone in life has left me. My brain isconvinced this will be no different. I panicked.”

“Oh, Riza…”

Herback stiffened as Roy whispered her name from behind her.

No.

Anyone but him.

Shestood silently, resigned to the upcoming conversation. The world was silentaround them, save for the howling winter wind. She shivered. May as well get itover and done with.

Because she only wanted him.

“Riza,”Roy breathed, gathering her in his arms tightly. Riza froze, blinking insurprise. What? He kissed the top ofher head and Riza simply stood there, stunned. “You’re all right.” He adjustedher grip, hugging her against him even tighter. “Here, take my jacket, you’re freezing.”

Stillin shock, Riza simply stood as Roy wrapped her in his jacket like a doll. Ofcourse, that left him in just a hoodie. Instantly she was surrounded in more ofhis scent and warmth which kicked her brain into gear. Before she could react,she was pulled into his embrace once more. Riza felt the tears well in hereyes.

“Ithought we’d lost you,” he whispered.

You already did, thanks to me.

Shepulled away and Roy looked surprised, his outstretched arms falling limp at hissides. His face questioned her, silently asking her why?

“Whyare you here?” she asked, voice holding that same monotonous quality since thelast time he’d seen her.

“Riza…You went missing. What were youthinking?” he asked, his frustration creeping into his tone.

Good. Anger is good. You can workwith that.

“I’msurprised anyone cared.”

Roy’seyes flashed but Riza missed it, unable to meet them.

“Whatare you doing, Riza? Are you insane?”

“I’m trying to get on with my life. You madeit clear you wanted us to.”

“Notby disappearing off the face of the earth with no explanation, no note to saywhere you’ve gone,” he replied angrily. “I get it if you don’t want me to know,but Catalina? Havoc? Hughes? Do theynot deserve to know?” he spat, angry that she had worried their friends so.“They had nothing to do with this, so cut the shit.”

“Don’tgive me that,” she fired back. “You made perfectly clear you wanted to move onso I came out here to give you that chance.”

“Bystaying in a cheap hotel? With no cash? No clothes? No concern for those you left behind?” he snarled.

Hewas right to be angry about that. Her fight or flight response had kicked in.She fought when she went to his aunt’s place to see him. She fought to try andexplain herself, but that had failed. She was a failure who couldn’t even keepone person close to her. Catalina, Havoc, and the rest were her friends, ofcourse they were, but there was always the element of keeping them at arm’slength. Just in case.

Herflight response kicked in when she arrived back in their – Roy’s – apartment. She had to escape and get away. Mostly to tryand escape the pain, but also because she knewshe had fucked up big time and wanted to flee from the responsibility ofdealing with it. Growing up had been lonely so she’d never had to deal withconflict, had never learned of a healthy way to deal with it. Disappearing offthe face of the Earth seemed like a good idea because then no one back homewould have to deal with her and her shit anymore.

“Theonly reason I wanted to get on withmy life,” Roy shouted. “Was because youturned me down, Riza, not the otherway around. Don’t you fucking daretry to blame this on me!”

“Ionly did it because I know you’re the same as all of them,” she spat, beingincredibly unfair. She just needed him to leave.He deserved better than anything Riza could give him. She was protecting him,she told herself.

“Andhow is that?”

“Becauseyou will just leave like the rest of them.” Her voice was as cold as herexpression.

Shewatched as he barked a laugh of disbelief, feeling doubt creep into her mind.

“Doyou honestly think I would do that toyou?” He laughed again, but there was nothing funny. He raked a hand throughhis hair. “I fucking asked you to marry me, Riza,” he hissed. “Why would Ileave you after doing that?”

“Becauseeveryone else has!” she yelled back, finally letting out all her fears. “Everysingle person in my life has turned against me and I’m just waiting for therest of you to do the same,” she raged, the tears falling thick and fast now. Thiswas revealing too much. Too much to Roy, and too much to herself. She didn’twant to admit it because if she did, she might crack. “I’m so unable to be loved by anyonethat it was only a matter of time before it happened. Every day,” she chokedout. “Every day I live with the fear that something will go wrong. I’ve beencomplacent recently, but it’s still there. I’m trying to protect you –”

“By pushingme away like this?” he interrupted,unable to believe what he was hearing. Riza knew it would sound ridiculous butthat was only because they didn’t understand. None of them did.

“Yes!” She was breathing heavily, theyboth were, too angry to continue their conversation. Riza begun to storm offbut was stopped by a hand on her wrist.

“Whatdo you think –?”

Shewas crushed in Roy’s arms.

Rizafought him, pushing and hitting his chest to get out of his hold, but shecouldn’t do it well enough. Her arms were trapped in between their bodies soshe could barely move. Her tears continued to fall as she snarled at him, buteventually that anger just turned to sobs. They were loud, so loud. It filled the air in the cemetery as Riza finally let goof all the emotions she had pent up her whole life. She wailed as she clung tothe only man who had loved her. Her body crumpled, knees buckling, but Roy heldher up. He loved her enough to seek her out when he thought she was missingdespite the fact she’d turned down his marriage proposal. She’d hurt himunimaginably and he still worried and looked for her. Still fought for them even though Riza had turned theminto a lost cause.

“I –I panicked,” she sobbed, body shaking against him. The wind threatened to stealher words, but Roy pulled her tighter against him. “I panicked because no onehas ever loved me like you have. Everyone has left me. My mother, my father,even my grandfather twenty years ago. All gone.

“ThenDan did – he did that. And all theothers before lost interest,” she whispered, the last sentence finallyshattering her heart as she admitted to herself how she really felt.

Thewind was the only sound in the cemetery as Roy held her and Riza cried.

“I love you,” he replied fiercely. Hisvoice wobbled and Riza felt his tears hit the top of her head. “Rebecca loves you. Havoc loves you. The whole Hughes family, the boys, they all do, Riza.” She cried harder. “Don’tpush us away. You don’t think you’re good enough for me, but you are the best person for me.” She sniffled,shaking her head in disagreement. Her face rubbed against his chest and shecringed when she thought she’d probably gotten snot all over it.

Whata nice parting gift.

“BeforeI met you,” Roy began, dropping all the anger from his voice. “I was anasshole. I didn’t treat those around me as well as I should have. Chris waspissed because she didn’t raise such a disrespectful person, and she was right,she didn’t, but for some reason I couldn’t be bothered by it. After my parents diedeverything didn’t mean much anymore.

“Thenyou came in.” Riza closed her eyes tightly, trying to calm herself down but itwasn’t working. So, she clung to him as he spun his tale. “They died about sixmonths before I met you. Those six months were awful, then I met you and webecame friends very quickly. I saw you and thought “wow, she is really beautiful”. But there was no way you would datesomeone like me,” he chuckled. “I was like a frat boy trapped in an grown assman’s body but when I spent time with you I didn’t want to be that personanymore, so I bucked up my ideas and strived to be better, just in case therewas a chance. I never dreamed there would be,” he chuckled.

“Otherguys came and went, and I was happy for you. I wasn’t happy when they broke upwith you, but there wasn’t much I could do. It hurt like hell to watch you sufferthrough every break up but I kept my distance.”

Buthe hadn’t though. Riza remembered now, thinking back. After every single break up, Roy had beenthere first to comfort her. He’d sat as sometimes she cried – holding her tight– and he’d laughed with her as she said good riddance, raising a toast with herand the rest of their friends.

He’dnever left.

Roychuckled to himself. “Remember Steve?” Riza nodded, mute. She held her breathin anticipation for what he was going to say. “I saw red when Rebecca told mewhat had happened.” He had hit Riza. Just the once. They’d been dating forabout eight months and there had been no other incident of abuse. He’d beenreally drunk, and they’d been arguing. “The next thing I knew I was at his doorready to beat him to a bloody pulp.”

“Why?”was all she asked.

“BecauseI’ve loved you for years, Riza, and have been in love with you for about the same amount of time. You deservedthe world, but you never got it. So, I vowed to better myself in case my timecame so I could give it to you. Doing it as a friend wasn’t enough – I wantedto do more – but if that was all I could get, that’s what I would take.”

Newtears fell, her quiet sobs all she could hear.

“Letit all out, Riza. I’ve got you and I’m not going anywhere. I get your scared,but I swear on my life that I’m not goingto leave you. Unless, of course, you ask me to.” Barely a second later sheshook her head vigorously. “All right then.” Riza felt his chest deflate underher head and her hands as he quietly let out a sigh of relief. “Just… let itall out. Let go. I’ve got you.”

Andso, she did.

Roynever left or pushed here away, just like he said.

“Hey,I found her.”

Rizasat numb in his car as he called their friends.

“She’s…She needs some time, and some space.” Even Riza didn’t know how to answer thatquestion, yet Roy articulated it correctly. He always could tell how she wasfeeling. “I’m going to take her home.”

Oncehome Riza felt herself stiffen as they approached their apartment door.

“Here,sit down.” Roy ushered her onto the couch. She followed his order, feelingashamed of herself and her actions, and embarrassed. “I’ll get you a glass ofwater.”

Itappeared in front of her and Riza stared as the air bubbles popped on thesurface, unable to bring herself from reaching forward and quench her thirst.

Onthis very couch was where she had lied and turned down his proposal.

Roywrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her body close to his as they laythere in silence. Riza placed a hand under her head, fingers splaying acrosshis chest.

“I’mso sorry,” she whispered.

“Riza,it’s okay.” His hand rubbed up and down her upper arm before finally settlingon her shoulder to give it a squeeze. “You don’t need to –”

He wasstill making excuses for her.

“No,”she whispered. “I do. I’m so sorry.You deserve more.”

“Ideserve you,” he countered. “If you will let me.”

“Ishouldn’t,” she whispered. “I hurt you.”

“Becauseyou were scared. You lashed out. Now I finally understand – and knowing yourpast – I can see how you came to that conclusion. Everyone you’ve gotten closeto in life has hurt you, except your current friends. I understand your apprehension.”

“I shouldn’thave. I should’ve been smarter about it –”

“Riza,”Roy stated, suddenly sounding very exhausted. “We could be at this all day. Iforgive you, okay?” She froze. “I really do. I just want you to be happy. Iwant to make you happy. I’m fine withputting this behind us because I don’t want to upset you even more. Iunderstand why you did what you did, and I will make it my life’s mission toprevent it from happening again.”

“Butit wasn’t your fault though, it was mine,” she whispered fearfully.

“Iknow,” he nodded. “But the point still stands. I aim to make sure you neverfeel like this again. Ever. I promise that to you.”

Whatdid she ever do to deserve him?

Anothertear escaped her but, like Roy, she was tired of all this.

“Getsome rest,” Roy murmured, kissing the top of her head and shifting on the couchto find a more comfortable position. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

Rizanodded and buried her face into him, closing her eyes to finally rest.

*          *          *

Butterfliesfluttered in Riza’s stomach as she walked. Too many people were looking at her.She’d never been one to appreciate or want all the attention in the roomfocussed on her. When she told Rebecca, her friend had scoffed.

“Well,get used to it,” she’d stated, fluffing up Riza’s hair at the back so it satnicer. “It’s your wedding day and you look stunning.People are going to stare.”

However,her eyes focussed on the back of Roy’s head as she and Havoc walked down theaisle and a calm washed over her. Once at the front of the procession –Rebecca, Gracia Hughes, and little Elicia watching her with smiles on theirfaces, the two former bridesmaids with tears in their eyes – Havoc kissed her cheekand took up his place at Roy’s right as one of the groomsmen.

Royturned to face her eagerly, a silly grin on his face. Riza matched his smile astheir hands entwined. He was unable to take his eyes off her and Riza felt thesame way. He was incredibly handsome in his suit with his hair slicked back. A fewstray strands had fallen forward over his forehead and she itched to brush themaway.

Theman before them begun to welcome the party to the wedding but Riza never hearda word.

Roygave her the brightest smile and gave her hand a squeeze. His expressionsilently asked her one thing.

Ready?

Rizanodded, resisting the urge to lean over and kiss him then because it wouldn’t beproper in the ceremony. The next best thing was a nod and quick squeeze of hishand.

Of course.

[nennechus]

how do you class someone as a kboo btw? is it just being overly into kpop???? i have no clue

im going to preface this by saying that im white, so my experience with kboos is limited to just like. witnessing them in the wild as opposed to actually being on the other end of the fetishization and generalization of koreans that they perpetuate. im not the best person to be giving their opinion on this, and if anyone with real experience at the hands of kboos has any input or corrections, pls listen to them over me.

but in short, listening to kpop and watching kdramas and learning korean and enjoying korean food do not automatically make u a kboo. being a fan of korean owl players does not automatically make u a kboo. dating a korean person does not automatically make u a kboo.

so. what i think makes someone a kboo is when they take this appreciation of korean culture and language and turn it into an obsession.

examples of this include a. rejecting their own culture and in favor of korean culture, b. rejecting their own (obviously non-korean) ethnicity and claiming to be korean, c. using (typically broken and poorly pronounced) korean in their sentences when there’s absolutely no reason or context for it, d. infantilizing  and woobifying koreans (honestly typically men from what i’ve seen) as these uwu owo widdle babies who can’t do anything wrong (an example of this that comes to mind is when geguri once used the word “fuck” or whatever, and ppl reacted by going “oh no how does geguri know such a bad word D:” as if geguri is a child and not a grown ass woman AND a gamer), and e. (what actually prompted my “some owl fans r kboos” post) expressing attraction solely towards koreans when u r not a korean person

and while these things r generally seen within the kpop fandom, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist elsewhere (obviously lmao), and while it doesn’t appear to be on as wide of a scale or as prevalent, that doesn’t make owl kboos any better than kpop kboos. a kboo is a kboo is a kboo u feel

[pumpkinmutual]

50qs tag!

I was tagged by the lovely @parkseonghwa , @prettyseonghwa , and my baby @helloicarus for the 50 questions tag!

1.       What takes up too much of your time?

 School/Work, both of which are important, but lately they’ve been making me question what kind of person I’m shaping up to be

 2.       What makes your day better?

 Maggie!! She’s my beautiful angel~ also my friends, both here and irl – and my cats! A lot of things make my day just a little bit better~

 3.       What’s the best thing that happened to you today?

 Maggie~ also we had a random blackout at my work and it was kinda cool tbh

 4.       What fictional place would you like to go?

Hm,,, potentially Gravity Falls just because it’d be super cool to see all the weird stuff, but also Asgard via a la Thor franchise

5.       Are you good at giving advice?

 I try my very best! Sometimes I don’t know what to say and I always feel bad about it though :/

 6.       Do you have any mental illness?

 Mild (as of the last few years) depression, severe generalized/social anxiety

 7.       Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis?

 No, and I hope to never experience it.

 8.       What musician inspired you the most?

 Hayley Williams. She still does.

 9.       Have you ever fallen in love?

 Absolutely! Very recently too, very, very happily~ and I wouldn’t change a thing because she’s the most amazing, wonderful angel!

 10.   What’s your dream date?

 A lazy day spent indoors together, watching movies and cuddling!

11.   What do other people notice about you?

 I’m very quiet

 12.  What is the annoying habit you have?

 I apologize a lot

 13.  Do you still talk to your first love?

 No, and that’s honestly for the best.

 14.  How many ex’s do you have?

 Um,,,8, I think.

 15.  How many songs are on your playlist?

 1, 217!

 16.  What instruments can you play?

 Piano, and currently trying to get into properly learning the ukulele.

 17.  Who do you have the most pictures of?

 My cats, gifs of different biases

 18.  Where would you like to go before you die?

 Not to copy Maggie, but truly anywhere as long as it’s with her.

 19.  What is your zodiac?

 Capricorn!

 20.  Do you relate to it?

 Not really? My rising sign is Virgo and someone read it to me and wow,,,it called me out

 21.  What is happiness to you?

Loving and being loved in return.

 22.  Are you going through anything right now?

 Uh,,,juggling the demands of being an adult but other than that, not really

 23.  What is the worst decision you’ve ever made?

 Letting certain people in my life take a lot more than they should have ever been able to.

 24.  What is your favourite store?

 David’s Tea! I love tea,,,and the bookstore!

 25.  What is your opinion on abortion?

 Not my body, not my choice/ My body/my choice.

 26.  Do you have a bucket list?

 Yes I do!

 27.  Do you have a favourite album at the moment?

 Cle: Miroh, and Ateez Treasure EP 2

 28.  What do you want for your birthday?

 Maggie!

 29.  What are most people’s first impression of you?

 That I’m quiet but nice, I think.

30.  What are do you seem according to most people?

 About where I am now, mid 20s.

 31.  Where do you keep your phone while you’re sleeping?

 On my bed, near my head so I’ll wake up

 32.  What word do you say the most?

 Sorry

 33.  What’s the oldest age you would date?

 Um,,,probably 35-40?

 34.  What’s the youngest age you would date?

 20-21.

 35.  What job/career do most people say would suit you?

 Librarian!

 36.  What’s your favourite music genre?

 Indie

 37.  If you could live in any country in the world, where would it be?

 Preferably Japan, New Zealand, or Italy

 38.  What is your current favourite song?

 HALA HALA

 39.  How long have you had this blog for?

 Since October of last year, so about six months!

 40.  What are you excited for?

 I want to see Maggie!! And graduating (finally!!)

 41.  Are you a better talker or listener?

 Listener

42.  What is the last productive thing you did?

 Went to Lowe’s to grab a lightbulb for my parents

 43.  What do you want for Christmas?

 I have absolutely no idea tbh (I’ll be turning 26,,,ew)

 44.  What class do you get the best grades in?

 English/science based classes.

 45.  On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling?

 6?

 46.  What can you see yourself doing in 10 years?

 Hopefully somewhere where I can have house plants and a garden, spend early mornings curled up in bed with the love of my life~ along with our cats of course uwu

 47.  When did you get your first heart broken?

 Highschool. It wasn’t,,,a good relationship and the fallout was even worse tbh.

 48.  At what age do you want to get married?

 Whenever myself and the right person find it financially do-able, there’s no real rush?

 49.  What career did you want to have as a child?

 Geologist/ Marine Biologist

 50.  What do you crave right now?

 Cuddles with Maggie, sleep

tagging: @softmingis, @theviewfromthebirdsnest, @sassy-kpop-glitter, @leeknw, @woo-jinn, @visualgiggles, @angeljaem, @mingictzen, @honeyboyhyunjin, @honeyjoongie, @allyourbitchesbrokenhearts, @confused--being

[darkcirclestars]

undersides chap 1

summary/notes: a good old undertale/sanders side fic! heres the first chap uwu

pairing(s): past/implied moceit, parental thomas/patton

trigger(s): tagged in the fic! for those who don’t click the ao3 link: Additional Tags: abusive/neglectful parents, depression, attempted suicide, injury, swearing, food

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18350858/chapters/43446887

fic under cut!

Thomas gave a tired groan, sitting up against the small flower bed he he fallen into. The fourteen year old boy paused, pushing little petals out of his hair and onto the bed beneath him. After checking that nothing on his person was broken, he stood, blinking hard for a few moments before brushing the other petals off his body. He assumed they were buttercups by the looks of them, tiny in his hands. Once he was mostly clean, he pulled at the sleeves of his shirt and brushed off his scraped knees. Nothing a bandaid couldn’t heal, he thought to himself, before taking in a steadying breath to remember how and when he had gotten here. It all came back to him quickly, so he sat again (away from the flowers, he didn’t want to risk hurting them) and went through them thought by thought.

Dad had yelled again, he knew. Yelled at mom, who screamed back and threw a plate, aiming to hit Dad but that got closer to Thomas than anything. He had spent almost an hour in the bathroom, trying to not break down again. The last time he had his dad had hurt him, and he knew that wasn’t right. When things quieted down, he had slipped outside through the window and started to walk, ignoring the fact that he wasn’t dressed in any way to be climbing a mountain and practically trying to off himself. He’d walked through town like nothing was wrong, smiling at people as he passed, none of them knowing where he was going. He’d scaled the mountain surprisingly easily, he’d admit to himself later, and let himself drop off the edge of the giant hole inside even easier. But that was it. That was where he stopped remembering.

This was probably because nothing else had happened, admittedly. He had fallen and probably knocked himself the hell out, before waking up and living what he had just lived. He glanced at the wad of bandages around his arm, now dirtied but still in tact, before sighing. Fine, he’d live down here. In the bottom of the dumbass mountain that held all those dumbass rumors of monsters and magic. Everyone knew that’s what they were. Rumors. Well, maybe not the magic part, it lingered in every human in little ways, like how his dad always managed to evade his mom’s attempts at hurting him, or how his mom always managed to know when Thomas was upset (it was obvious, though, he just went non-verbal, not that they knew he was ever non-verbal away from home), or how Thomas himself had just lived through a drop of over one hundred feet and only got a few scratches to the knees and a slight headache.

It was unrealistic, but still not just luck. He stood again, deciding that looking around could aid him somehow. He combed his fingers gently through his hair, replacing the small barrette to pin it back before glancing around. The big area lead to a smaller area, a thinner almost hallway area, which then lead into another open area like the one before. In the middle sat a small… flower? This one was bigger than the buttercups of the other room and appeared to tilt upward at his entrance into the room. He hummed gently, dismissing it as his seeing things. He moved to keep looking around the room, until he heard something clear its throat. He turned quickly toward the flower, which was… grinning at him? He shifted from foot to foot before slowly walking toward the flower. It leaned forward, prompting the teen to kneel.

God tell me I'm just having some weird ass lucid dream… He thought to himself, before poking gently at one of its petals. The flower shifted back quickly, grin dropping for a moment before returning.

“Hi, kid! I'm Ezekiel, Ezekiel the flower! You look new around here, is that right?” It asked, Thomas pausing for a long moment before nodding. It seemed to hesitate at the lack of a verbal answer, but continued anyway.

“Well, I should show you the ropes, shouldn't I?” It asked, receiving another hesitant nod from the teen. He stood, brushing off his knees before a familiar tugging at his chest made him pause. He almost didn't focus on the flower's words, busy staring at the bright red SOUL in front of him. He reached out to cup it gently, knowing fully well what this meant. A fight of some sort was about to go down, it'd depend on if it would get physical or not, but Thomas had seen his fair share of SOULs, from his parents and school mates and really most people. He slowly focused back in when he realized he hadn’t been listening.

“So, all you have to do is catch all the, uh, the friendliness pellets!” It was saying, and Thomas stared at it quizzically. That made no sense, not logically at least. SOULs didn’t appear outside of battles, injuries, and times of strong emotions, so why else would it be out now? He listened anyway, not wanting to risk getting in trouble somehow by this flower-thing that was throwing white “friendliness pellets” at him. He let one hit his SOUL, and immediately felt himself flinch back away from the pain. It spread through his body, probably more painful than anything he’d felt before. Falling to his knees, he looked up onto to see the flower grin at him. It taunted him briefly, before he found himself surrounded by over twenty of the pellet things. Swirling, closing in around him until-

“Ah!” He looked up quickly, watching the flower as it dropped into the ground, a small ball of fire jumping over it briefly.

“Oh, dear. Are you alright, child?” The voice was gentle, and Thomas looked toward it quickly. Was that a… bipedal goat? He watched as they stepped over where the flower once was, brushing aside the pellets like they were nothing and kneeling in front of him. “Have you suffered any injuries?” They were reaching out to touch Thomas, now, hands (paws?) hovering just a bit away as if they were asking permission. He nodded gently, letting them gently cup his face with one hand and look him over gently. They stood after a moment, before pausing like they remembered something. “Oh, right! I’m Patton, I live down here. Come with me, we can get you all cleaned up.” They offered, and much to his own surprise he found himself being gently helped up. Patton lead him around quietly for a while, gently explaining the mechanics of puzzles and making sure Thomas understood even though Thomas was firmly not speaking. After a little while, Patton paused, sucking in a breath and turning to Thomas.

“Kiddo, I need to ask you to do something, alright?” They seemed almost nervous upon asking, which lead to a ping of anxiety in his own chest. He nodded anyway, gripping his hands gently. “I'm gonna go down there and you need to come find me, okay?” Thomas nodded again, the anxiety lessening. Oh, that was it? He watched the goat person move to the end of the area, hiding behind a pillar, before moving after them. Holding back a soft snicker, he followed the goat's path, hands pushed absentmindedly into his pockets. He reached the pillar rather quickly, even despite his simple stroll. He peeked behind Patton's pillar, who was quick to smile gently at him. “You did great, kiddo, but I need you to know that what you just did was a test of your ability to be alone for a period of time.” They kneeled in front of Thomas for more than the first time that day, resting their big paw hands on their knee. “I’m going to give you something, because I’m going to have to go away for a while. I’m gonna want you to stay right here, though, okay?”

Thomas nodded again, shifting from foot to foot until he noticed Patton pull out a small flip phone. He immediately shook his head at the sight, pushing it away the second Patton tried to offer it out to him. The other’s face twisted into a gentle frown. “No? Kiddo, I need some way to contact you when I’m gone.” He pressed gently, holding the phone out toward Thomas again. He quickly shoved it back at Patton, nearly stumbling back. There was a slight pause, before Patton nodded gently. “I wasn’t going to ask, kiddo, but can you speak?” Another pause, before Thomas worked his vocal chords for the first time since the week prior.

“I-I can I just…” He swallowed hard, and Patton saw the brief flash of panic in his eyes.

“Oh… Okay, buddy, you don’t have to talk again until you’re comfortable, okay?” They murmured, setting their hand on Thomas’s shoulder. He sighed, thinking for a short moment before nodding. “Do you want to come with or wait here until I come get you? Because either would work, I suppose.” The question wasn’t much, but caused Thomas to smile a little bit. He paused, before gently pointing to where he was standing. Staying sounded better, almost safer if he’d admit it to himself. Patton nodded gently, offering Thomas a little smile before humming. “Now, I need you to answer a few questions before I go.”

They weren’t hard, just preference questions and careful questions about any allergies he may have had. It wasn’t long before Patton was up and leaving, and Thomas was sitting quietly on the ground and tracing little patterns into the ground. It was a while until Patton returned, though, and Thomas, having relaxed quite a bit, gave a soft hum when the other returned.

“Pronouns?” He found himself asking as they walked, catching Patton’s eye as he looked up. The other paused.

“You mean my own?” A nod. “Well, I don’t really care much! My own children called me dad, though, if that helps at all.” The conversation was left there, Thomas feeling a bit more satisfied at knowing the little piece of information. It was a rather quiet walk, Patton pointing out little tricks to solving puzzles and reactivating a few for Thomas to try. Few monsters came up to bother them, most of them causing accidental battles that caused Thomas's SOUL to appear. He apologized to them softly, mostly because the fights only began from Thomas bumping into them on accident. Patton seemed to smile a bit more each time Thomas spoke, the teen clearly beginning to get comfortable in Patton's presence. By the time they reached Patton’s home, a quick conversation with a ghost named Salem and a few stops for Thomas to do a puzzle of his own later, the two were having a hushed conversation. Granted, a lot of Thomas’s replies were still short or had a few stutters in them, but Patton didn’t seem to mind. The other just smiled patiently when he got stuck on a word or continued a previous thought of theirs when Thomas didn’t know how to answer a question. They smiled gently as the pair reached their house, placing a gentle hand on Thomas’s shoulder.

“We’re here!” They announced happily, Thomas pausing and looking at the small home in front of them. It looked cozy, a lot nicer than his home above the surface. He nodded, a bit excited, as Patton gently lead him inside. He smiled at the smell of something baking, and glanced around as he stepped inside. Patton laughed softly as he did, watching the teen as he peeked into the living room. “This is it. I’m sorry that it isn’t much-”

“It’s perfect.” Thomas paused after he interrupted, about to apologize until he finally noticed Patton’s smile.

“I’m glad you like it. Come on, I have one more surprise for you.” They offered up a hand, and Thomas found himself taking it quickly, quite enjoying being treated like a child. The two of them walked together down a hall to the right of the door, Patton stopping just one door down. They glanced at Thomas and smiled widely, watching as the teen took a hesitant step forward and let his hand rest on the doorknob. He looked over to them again briefly, and at their encouraging nod, pushed the door open gently. He couldn’t help his small, surprised gasp as he glanced inside. It was a bedroom, one much nicer than his own above the surface. There was a bed tucked in the opposite corner of the door, a small toy box next to it. A few stuffed animals rested against the wall near it as well, and he almost found himself lunging at them as he walked over and tentatively lifted one into the air. It was soft and warm, worn as well but not to an unusable point. He put it down again, almost sadly, before looking around the rest of the room. A few drawings were hung on the walls, done in crayon seemingly by children. He heard a soft sigh from Patton when his eyes rested on them, and quickly turned his gaze. A toy box sat in another corner, by a small desk with a chair and a half finished drawing laying on it. He smiled a little at the sight, wondering who had drawn it before looking at the remainder of the room. A dresser, a sleeve of a shirt peeking out, a few more toys, and Patton still standing in the doorframe. They looked a bit upset, but their gentle turn rose into a smile as Thomas looked at them. “This room is for you. There should be clothing in the closet that fits you if you want to change. If you need me I’ll be in the living room or in the kitchen, which is just behind the living room, or you can give me a holler if you feel comfortable.” They rested a gentle hand on Thomas’s shoulder as they stepped inside, face still turned into a gentle smile. He nodded, and they did the same, rising again and ruffling his hair before slipping out of the room and nearly shutting the door behind them. He watched as they left, turning again. He stepped toward the closet, pulling out a red striped shirt and a pair of shorts similar in color to the ones he had on. He stared at them for a long moment, before setting them down on the desk and climbing into the bed after kicking off his shoes. He was quick to fall asleep, head hitting the pillow and eyes dropping shut.

When he woke up there was this sort of warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest. He blinked a few times more, sitting upright in the bed slowly before looking down to his lap. A little, red heart was suspended in air there, and he paused to stare. Oh yeah, his SOUL. He blinked for a moment, before standing from the bed and watching as it faded away into nothingness, presumably back into his chest where it probably belonged. After a long moment of just sitting he looked around the room, surprised that he hadn’t noticed it was dark now. The door was open just a crack, revealing a small plate of cookies in front of it. He felt his face turn into a soft smile, thoughts providing earlier with Patton and his careful way of going over allergies with Thomas before he had left. He stood slowly, spotting the small pile of clothes he had left out for himself to change into, and did so quietly, before picking up the plate of cookies and grabbing one, setting the rest on his bed and wandering, barefoot, to go find Patton. He glanced to the left once he left his room, noticing another door a way down but deciding to leave it be, turning to the right instead and heading toward the living room.He focused in on Patton after a moment, sitting in a rocking chair and knitting something, the soft sound of the needles hitting each other while a fire crackled behind them filling the silence. Thomas took a little bite out of his cookie before wandering up to Patton. The goat looked up, and smiled past their glasses, setting their project down. Thomas hummed, smiling a little bit after swallowing his bite of cookie. “Hello, kiddo. How'd you sleep?”

“Mmh.” Thomas hummed, dropping himself into Patton’s lap quietly and grabbing the knitting project from where Patton had set it, pushing it back into their hands and curling up. Patton hummed, before smiling and cuddling Thomas gently as they went back to knitting. “Thank you…” Thomas murmured, pulling a surprised noise from Patton.

“Of course, kiddo.”

“Thomas.”

“Of course, Thomas.” They corrected gently, smiling a bit. They hadn't learned his name yet, and hearing it made a warm fuzzy feeling spread in their chest. He cuddled into them, nuzzling his face into the warm fabric of their robes. The two sat like that for a while, Thomas comfortably cuddled into Patton while the monster knitted quietly, until Thomas shifted a bit in Patton's lap.

“I wanna go and explore.” He mumbled softly, glancing up at Patton who had paused.

“I… suppose you can. Do you want me to stay here while you go?”

“Mmhm. I'll be back in a little bit.” He slipped out of their lap, hurring off to his room to grab his shoes, pulling them on and glancing briefly toward the staircase leading presumably to a basement of sorts. He hesitated, before going down them, glancing around curiously. He hadn't gone far before Patton's voice from above scared him.

“Thomas? Are you down here?” They sounded worried, and he couldn't do anything but turn and head back upstairs.

“Sorry. I was curious.” He mumbled as he passed Patton, who gave him a soft sigh and patted his shoulder.

“Why don’t you go play outside for a bit, alright?”

“Okay.”

taglist: