#there might be some inaccuracies in this

[zodiacoracle7]

DJ# 6: Siren

Age: 26 Blood type: A Born: Los Angeles, USA Likes: Electro House, hot dogs  Character Voice: Hideki Tasaka Born and raised in Los Angeles. A somewhat gaudy American who carefully grooms his beard every morning. He wanted to be an actor in Hollywood, but somehow he ended up playing a supporting role in a drama series in Japan. When he is off-set he works at an English school called "DOVA" as a teacher. Siren is quite popular among his students, and on his time off likes to play IIDX at the arcade to relieve stress from his work. He prefers house music, a popular genre in older releases of the game. At home he lives with the lethargic Nix who was dishonorably discharged from the military (What could have happened?) and Eiri, a biker who was traveling around the country and temporarily forced his way into Siren's home. Nix works alongside Siren as an English teacher at "DOVA" while Eiri work's part-time at a gas station. Despite this, neither ever seem to have enough money to pay for their living expenses. Nix tends to waste the air-conditioning and heating systems by using them at all times and Eiri, a gluttonous eater, enjoys buying strange foods to try at home. Despite the stressful home environment, the three are getting used to living together (and possibly getting along?). Siren also has an interest in Japanese history and culture, such as samurai and ninja, and tends to visit cultural museums with Duel. On the occasional day off, he goes to "ROOTS26" to look for clothes but always feels a chill running down his spine as if he is being watched when he is there. During one instance, while discussing with Hihumi about Japanese culture, one of the store clerks (Lilith) with a rabbit in her arms(?) gifted him a homemade jelly with a suspicious color. However, he has no recollection of what happened after eating it and occasionally wonders what could have happened that day.

Conversation dialogue:   ~One day in Tahata, A main street near the arcade in Shogyo~

Celica: Ugh... What should I do...? Erika: I don't know... You just have to try, yeah? Celica: It's now or never I guess. Ah... Siren: Oh, is that...? Celica: Ah- Teacher, good timing! Did you just come back from DOVA? Siren: Yeah. Ah... are you two returning from the arcade? Erika: We tried, Ms. Nyah was beating Mr. Yuz again. Celica: Yeah, pretty much everyone was there. Siren: I wish I could have been there to see that~. Celica: By the way teacher, do you have time right now? Siren: Sure, I was in charge of class until evening today. Celica: Lucky~ Teacher, please teach me English~! Erika: This girl is going to fail her required English credits. Siren: Ah, it's a college class. Celica: That's right. There was a super mean trick test... I have to take a follow-up exam. Siren: Ah, hmm... Let's do it at my place then. Erika: Are you sure...? Aren't you tired from work...? Siren: Nono, if the lady asks, it's alright. Celica: Wow Thank you, Mr. Ren~! Well then, let's go! Siren: Yes, yes you're invited, I'd be happy to help. Erika: Hmm... Ah, Siren, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll cook dinner today in return for helping Celi. Though I'll need to go shopping first. Siren: Oh-! That would be great! I'm looking forward to it~. Celica: Thanks Eri~! But are you going to be okay by yourself? Erika: Ah, it's okay. I'm sure the arcade would have been a distraction anyways. You go on ahead, you don't have much time. Celica: Uu...... I'll remember this favor... I won't forget this for 3 days~! Farewell...! Erika: Yes, yes. (What a realistic number!) ~20 minutes later at Siren's house~

Siren: (clatter) I'm home. Celica: Good evening. (door closes) Nix, (in a kotatsu): (creeps...) That's...? Eiri: Ah... Celica? Celica: Good evening. Excuse me, I was wondering if Mr. Ren could teach me English. Eiri: Oh, I see. Welcome. Nix: Well, make yourself at home. Do you want to get in the kotatsu? Eiri: Yes, yes! Make yourself at home. Siren: Do... Do you know whose house this is? Nix, Eiri: Tch... Celica: Ahaha... We've both been here for a while now. Sorry, I'll leave you guys alone. Siren: Don't worry about it. Right, we are going to study English seriously now. Both of you, go to the next room, and take the kotatsu with you. Celica: No, it's okay, we can go to the room next door. Sorry for making it feel like I'm kicking you two out. Siren: No can do, you're both in my way. Nix: Ah-, Celica says it's fine so I'll stay put. Hey Celica, do you want some oranges? Celica: It's okay, and don't worry about it. Can I put my things here? Siren: Sure, go ahead... Ah, by the way Nix, aren't you in charge of the evening class for DOVA today...? Nix: (Ack!) Eiri: Skipping. He's skipping today. Nix: Ack! N-No I'm not... See, I have a stomachache... Celica: Oh... You have a stomachache? Then you won't be able to eat Eri's cooking tonight... Siren: Ah, yes, that's right. Nix: Eh- WHAAAT!? ERIKA'S COOKING!? Celica: Huhuhu- It's super yummy~ Eiri: Ah, it's okay, it's okay. I'll just eat his share Siren: That's right, it can't be helped if you have a stomachache. Nix: Oya... Oh..? I was in the kotatsu, and I suddenly feel better? Siren, Eiri, Celica: ............ Wow.

[mochiiniko]

Her heart was beating in her ears like a marching band

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

I’ve been getting back into drawing stuff for Rhythm Doctor again because of the Act 5 hype, so here’s a silly comic based on Mic Check by ReneeDekobora2042!! It was one of the first RD fics I read when I first got into the fandom, and probably one of the best (definitely up there with Clipboard Notes, victor if you’re seeing this hi LOL) so I thought it would be nice to make a short comic of one of my favorite parts. More ramblings & bonus doodles under the cut :]

I started working on this about a month an a half ago, and initially I just wanted to work on this as a small silly wacky fanart project that was supposed to look more like this

So like every sane artist I decided to make it harder for myself

Also some unused sketches based on the Rollerdisco Rumble Reprise custom level by Kabii!

These were my favorite panels during the sketching phase but I had to change the last couple panels to reference 2-3N instead because it made more sense timeline wise. Might render these someday tho because I'm still attached to them lmao

Last but not least shoutout to my discord friends for being there for my slow descent into madness (now if youll excuse me im going to go collapse now thank you for reading)

[v1ntagecassette]

a transcription of vox's silly goose bluescreen message for your viewing pleasure

[rednite-dork]

I had a headcanon ever since I first played Hogwarts Legacy that the Wizarding World was much more open-minded and relaxed compared to the Muggle World in late 1800s.

I mean, it kind of makes sense, too. The wizarding community were hunted by the muggles, being feared and shamed for possessing something they just were born with. They were literally hunted down to be hidden from the Muggle World.

So, it resulted them to have much more relaxed worldview, a very different world compared to the Victorian muggles who obsessed over etiquette and social rules.

Imagine the whiplash muggleborns and some half-bloods had after setting foot to the Wizarding World for the first time.

[tremendouskoalachild]

Transcript (from about 0:27 on) under the cut

I've had a lot of Star Wars fans, and gamers in general, ask some pretty great questions about Bode and his motivations and why he does some of the things he does. So I figured I'd just share a little bit of some of the behind the scenes work that I do for a character like Bode. And let me say right off the bat: I'm a huge Star Wars fan but I don't pretend to be, like, a Star Wars academic – so if you want to come at me with how my headcanon is factually inaccurate, you're welcome to do so, it's not going to bother me, but that's not why I do it. I create these backstories because it gives me an emotional hook, so that Bode's emotional journey is honest, for me.

And I should also say, anything I say now isn't on any of the writers or anyone else on the Survivor team, this is all just my broken dumb brain. So, let's talk today about Ghost Star.

So, the song Ghost Star was introduced by one of the writers, Danny – mad genius Danny – pretty late in the sequence of things, and then brought to beautiful life by Tajinae, who plays Kata and is ridiculously talented. I'm very jealous. So, Danny had asked me in a session, would you feel comfortable singing a song as Bode? I don't sing, which may have become quite apparent if you play the game, but any chance for me to show and share more of who Bode is, stuff that you don't get to see in all the missions, I'm grateful for. So I was like, hell yeah. And I got this song titled Ghost Star, so the first thing I did was look up "ghost star", specifically looking for anything revolving around astronomy.

I don't know if this was Danny's thought from the get-go, I have never talked to him about it, but in my research I found that there is a theory being postulated that when you're looking up at the night sky and you see the sky just covered in stars, that there's actually a lot of astral bodies you're not seeing. Among them being ghost stars, which are stars with dark matter cores. Dark matter has gravity but never undergoes nuclear fission the way a normal star does, and therefore emits no light. So there are stars out there with tremendous gravity that are essentially invisible to the naked eye.

And I thought that was really beautiful and poetic, in a way, and then I started thinking about Bode and a question that arises a lot, which is: why does Bode not get found out by Cal, or Cere, or Cordova, these incredibly powerful Jedi?

That's a really good question, and it made me wonder if perhaps there is a rare contingent of individuals who have the ability to tap into the Force but don't emit a Force resonance like most people do – which is how a Jedi is able to tell that someone else is able to manipulate the Force. I mean, Emperor Palpatine is a perfect example of an incredibly powerful Force user who is literally standing right in front of Master Yoda and all the Masters on the Jedi Council, and they never know. So, maybe this is a rare trait that they share.

And that got me thinking, that would probably be something that you'd pick up on very early at the Jedi Academy as a youngling. And one of the things that Bode shares with Cal is that before Order 66 he worked in intelligence.

It would be a very powerful asset to be able to take an operative and insert them into situations where they can watch over Force users without that target knowing that he can manipulate the Force. Where would that be useful? Intelligence gathering, obviously, but also the Jedi equivalent of internal affairs. Jedi are incredibly powerful. And power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And if anyone's seen The Clone Wars, you know that there are very powerful “Jedi” that are not good. Pong Krell being a great example. I want to punch him, repeatedly.

So perhaps operatives like Bode were sent to gather intel and make sure that the Jedi out there were doing what they're supposed to be doing. One example. And, perhaps, his operative name was Ghost Star.

Order 66 happens, all hell breaks loose, everything that Bode has known burns to ash. He's on the run and somewhere on his journey he meets a wonderful woman named Tayala.

When you have to run and hide and constantly change locations for fear of being found, that's not something you can do with a significant other and not let them know what you're doing and why. So I'm sure Bode shares his past with Tayala. And then a while later, Kata is born.

Anytime Bode gets an inkling that Imperial intelligence has been sniffing around, or forbid an inquisitor makes their presence known anywhere nearby, I think Bode leaves his family behind, travels to distant parts of the Galaxy and very subtly makes himself known, so that he attracts the attention of intelligence or the inquisitors and draws that focus away from his family.

And Kata's so young and doesn't understand why her father has to leave for weeks or months at a time, and so Tayala sings her a lullaby called Ghost Star, which brings Kata comfort while she waits for her father to come home. And it's also for Tayala, perhaps a silent prayer that her husband comes back safely.

And they survive like this, constantly moving, constantly on the run. And then one day Bode is out with Kata. They're coming home and as they're getting closer to the house, he hears Tayala singing Ghost Star, which is a song she never sings if he's home. And he knows that something's gone terribly, terribly wrong.

And he flees with Kata, and the inquisitor that was waiting for him at home in their anger strikes down Tayala, knowing that, somehow, she gave them away.

So, a lot of things happen. Bode makes some very difficult, very terrible choices in the pursuit of keeping Kata safe, and now sings Ghost Star as a way to make sure that Kata's memories of her mother stay as fresh as they can; and just because it brings him comfort, but it also is a poignant reminder of a terrible, terrible day and the fact that he left his wife behind and that his wife paid the price for Bode being who he is.

And I think in his time as a dog for the Empire Bode has done some terrible, terrible things. I think he's often sent to hunt down Jedi that are that are in hiding, especially if it seems like they're trying to rally up resistance, because he can come in and his target will never see him coming. I think he's an assassin, and I think every time he does it a little piece of Bode chips off.

And I think Bode hates himself for it, and I think a lot of times, especially if it's a mission where he's gotten to know his target to any degree, that makes it that much harder to do what he knows he has to do. And in those moments he uses Ghost Star as his anchor. He sings it to himself when he's alone, as a way to remind himself of why he's doing the terrible things he's doing, that there is a greater purpose, which is making sure that his daughter stays safe and that Tayala’s sacrifice is never in vain.

And then he meets Cal, and I think finds the brother he never had. And in the crew of the Mantis the family he's lost, a family that would allow Kata to live a normal life. And he really struggles with what to do, and tries desperately to make it work. And when it becomes clear that Cal is going to share the information on Tanalorr and turn it into essentially an access point, Bode is devastated, because the Empire has already found Cal, Cal just doesn't know it yet. And if they found him now they'll definitely find them again, if this turns into essentially a way station. And Bode makes an impossible choice.

And he tries to use Ghost Star the way it's always worked in the past, to kind of remind him of what's important, and I think it fails him, and I think it breaks him.

[puhpandas]

You Stress Me Out

(4,135 words)

Gregory shows up at Evan's house during a storm with a wood carving knife stuck in his stomach. It may not be that bad of a wound, but that doesn't mean having a knife sticking out of you is any less scary. Or that Evan will freak out any less.

warnings: blood, mentions of a fistfight, an unsafe home environment, stitches, and of course, a blade being stuck inside flesh

Evans incredibly on edge right now. Which, nothing new here. But this time, it's less of his normal state and more of a genuine, rational kind of edge.

First off; a storm is on it's way. Not only does a storm mean that outside is a no-go, meaning that Evan is trapped inside his house with no way to leave, but hes absolutely terrified of thunder.

Which is why as soon as he'd heard about the bad weather, when his fathers back was turned and Michael had been focusing on something other than messing with him, he'd snuck to the kitchen, grabbed all the snacks and water he could need, and took them to his hidden stash in his bedroom.

This way, he didnt have to leave his room. And he could do his old trick of blocking the door leading from the shortest route to his room with his dresser, which could give him enough time to shut Michael out if he decides to persist on the other side.

Unlockable doors. The bane of Evan's existence.

The other reason hes on edge isnt because of himself, even though his body is locked up and sense, waiting for the thunder to start booming outside and send him flying off of his bed from how hard he flinches. Its because of Gregory.

Evan's brows furrow from his place on his bed, curtains drawn, but just open enough to see the rain start so he can brace himself. He takes one look at the gray clouds and white sky and frowns deeply.

Evan knows all about his friends... situation. Honestly, after being friends for almost a year, you'd think he would have known sooner, but nope. Evan had just been giving Gregory the benefit of the doubt too much. when Gregory'd refuse to let Evan go to his house, he'd assume he had parents like his, who he didnt want Gregory to have to see either, which was why he had been asking. When Gregory would have new bruises and cuts and rips in his clothing the next time Evan would see him, he would deliberately choose not to pry, or wonder, because he would think maybe it was worse than he thought.

But Evan had figured it out eventually, and he'd understood why Gregory kept it from him so long. Evan wouldnt want Gregory to see him differently for being a certain way.

But like Gregory, Evan had made it clear he didnt. He understands, really. Like he understands that with the knowledge comes the worry.

Evan knows Gregory doesnt always have stable shelter. The city and it's people arent so kind to homeless people like Gregory, even when hes outside and theres about to be a hurricane. Which is why Evan is hoping, wishing, praying that Gregory will come to Evan, this time.

It's why he's reading a book, sitting on his bed next to his window instead of on his phone like usual. Evan's on edge because he cant stop thinking about what would happen to Gregory if he didn't come, and if he does, will Evan hear him to let him in.

Evans room is on the ground floor, which makes it very easy for Gregory to come and go as he pleases (also for Evan to make an escape when he needs to. It's not rare for Evan to ditch his room to flee to the city with Cassidy, sometimes).

Evan's eyes trail over the words on the pages, but he isnt taking them in. He huffs, letting the book drop to his lap, and tries to ignore how cold-but-on-fire his stomach feels. He can't focus. Not when Gregory's supposed to trust Evan enough to come to him when he needs help and he hasnt yet.

Evan only waits a while longer, foot tapping on the side of his comforter and fingers drumming. When the first few thick drops of water land on his window, he goes for his phone.

Gregory said to never call him unless it's important. But right now, with how much Evan's stomach swims with nausea over uncertainty about Gregory's safety, Evan thinks this is important enough.

Evan only has enough time to enter his fifteen digit pin and tap the phone app before the sound hes been waiting for rings out by his window.

Evan can feel his shoulders drop when the familiar jingle of a Fazbear song is knocked on his window. He smiles, hurrying over to his window and almost ripping the curtains off the wall with how fast he opens them.

When Evan reaches to open the window, Gregory's there, if not a bit weary, if his half lidded eyes and the cut on his cheekbone are any indication, but Evan doesnt worry too much. Just unclicking the locks on his window and helping Gregory step inside when its apparent he needs help.

He has a hand clutching at his stomach, which is worrying, but Gregory looks like hes okay. Not about to die, which is what Evan's thoughts always end up going to, so he thinks that's a good thing.

Evan shuts the window and locks it just as the rain starts to drop harder, and he shuts the curtains, sending a glance at his door (the one not covered up with a dresser) out of paranoia. When his father doesnt burst in and send Gregory away like Evan's imagining, he turns his attention back to Gregory.

Hes huffing, like he cant catch his breath, which makes Evan furrow his brows. Gregory's bent over, like when you have a stomach cramp and try to curl in on yourself as much as possible. If Evan looks hard enough, he can see the inklings of bruises on Gregory's knuckles.

Evan frowns. Okay, probably a fight, but it wouldnt be the first time he would have to pull out the first aid kit.

"Gregory." Evan catches his attention. Gregory's eyes dart up to him, and he offers a shaky smile. "Hey. You had me worried sick."

"Me too." Gregory says, but it sounds strained. He still has that hand pressed firmly over a spot on his stomach, and when he looks pained, Evan guides him over to his bed, letting him sit down. "I know you don't like thunder and stuff. A-And you'd be stuck with Michael.

Evan crosses his arms, trying to look stern but coming off as incredibly worried instead. "Gregory. You're acting weird." He points out. "Listen, I know you're hurt. You know I've seen you get into fights before. Can you just tell me what's wrong?"

Gregory, suspiciously, looks away, focused on one of Evan's toys hes had since he was younger that he never bothered to put away. "Um. I-I dont think this is like those times, though."

Well. If Gregory can be this difficult, he cant be feeling too bad. Doesnt do anything for the anxiety digging a hole in Evan's stomach, though. "No matter what it is, you need help, okay? I wont judge. Just let me patch you up."

Gregory doesnt respond for a moment, then, "Promise not to freak out."

"What?"

"Promise not to wig out." Gregory meets his eyes, looking pained. "This is gonna make you freak. I know it. Just... try to stay calm. It's not that bad, I swear."

"Just show me already!" Evan presses, getting jittery from nerves. "You saying that is already making me freak out!"

"Okay! Jeez." Gregory huffs, and takes a deep breath. "Just dont look at it too hard."

"Gregory!" Evan yells.

"Okay, okay!" Gregory says placatingly. He doesnt say anything else, just takes his hand off of his stomach like ripping off a bandaid.

Evan's eyes blow wide, and his legs turn cold. "Oh my god."

"There it is." Gregory sighs.

"Gregory." Evan says, just above a whisper, because he cant manage anything louder at that moment. He stares at Gregory's stomach, feeling a pit in his own stomach when he cant tear his eyes away. "Gregory!"

"I told you you'd freak out." Gregory mutters, like he doesnt have a literal knife sticking out of his flesh.

"Why would I not freak out?!" Evan whisper yells, because wow he does not need his father or Michael to walk in right now. He gestures wildly, trying to put all of his emotions I into the single movement. "You have a knife in you!"

Despite what Gregory said not to do, Evan looks hard at it anyway. It isnt super deep; it's one of those really tiny pocket knives, like what you would use to carve wood with. He can still see some of the blade sticking out, which means the inch and a half long blade isnt plundged very deep.

"I know." Gregory says. "Can you help me get it out?"

Evan gapes. "Help you--" He giggles maniacally. "Gregory, if I pull it out, I'll have no clue how to make it so you wont bleed out."

"Well," Gregory glances away. "I cant really go to the hospital, and I cant just leave it in." He says. "You're my best bet. Besides, I promise it isnt that bad. It could have been way worse. I dont need a hospital."

Wow. No pressure, or anything. Evan implodes, shaking his hands out and doing laps around the room. "I'm gonna have to pull a knife out of you."

"Okay. Stay calm, remember?" Gregory repeats, and when Evan's facing Gregory's direction again after another lap, he can see him wincing. "Look, I know you're wigging out, but I really dont want this knife to me stuck inside me anymore."

"I would assume so!" Evan hisses, coming to a stop in the middle of his room and wringing his hands through his sweater sleeves. "Gregory--"

"Okay, listen." Gregory sounds strained, and Evan takes a moment to pause, worry taking ahold of his stomach like a giant hand and squeezing. "You have a phone, don't you? I need you to Google what to do, and pull this stupid knife out of my stomach."

Evan gets queasy just thinking about it. "Gregory."

"I know." He says. "But, look. I'm not gonna be awake much longer, since I pretty much ran from the city to here while I was bleeding, and the guy who attacked me had already beat me up a bit before stabbing me."

Evan's heart seizes at that. He returns to Gregory's side, sitting down with him. "But, isnt it not good if you're unconscious--"

"I dont know." He interrupts, eyes squeezed shut. "Look, I'm feeling kinda woozy, so I dont know how much longer I have left, but I'll try to stay awake."

Evan frowns. "You're acting like you're gonna die or something." He jokes, but his hand shake at the thought. "...Okay. Come here."

Gregory perks up, sitting up with great effort and putting an arm around Evan's neck when he gestures to. "We're doing this?"

"Yeah." Evan says shakily. He supports Gregory as he leads him lay down, pressed up against the wall, where if the door opened, hed be hidden behind it. Evan grabs a few of the towels he hides in his room to always have a clean one, -since he can never rely on laundry being done in his house-, and lays them under Gregory to soak up any blood. His father would kill Evan if he got the carpet stained with blood.

Evan grabs the first aid kit he always has hidden under his bed, and clicks it open, settling on his knees in front of Gregory's slack form on the floor with hovering hands as he glances at each of the kits contends uncertainly.

He grabs his phone, fingers trembling and pressing all the wrong buttons. Gregorys harsh breathing doesnt help.

"How did this even happen?" Evan asks as he desperately types in 'how to pull a wood carving knife out of your stomach at home' into the search bar. "Like-- I know you get into fights sometimes, but this?"

"Okay okay." Gregory coughs a bit. "Ill tell you. So, you know how it's about to storm?"

Evan glances at the crack through the curtains just enough to see the dark gray clouds swirling. "Yeah."

"So, I wasnt at my usual spot, but it was really close to starting to pour. And getting sick is like, the worst case scenario." Gregory says while Evan reads the random article he found at the speed of light. "So, I had to find some other place closer to where I was to wait out the storm, because I couldnt travel that far in the rain."

Evan pauses in reading, frowning and looking at Gregory's face. "You know you can always come here, right?"

Gregory frowns, looking away. "Yeah, but..." He trails off. "Its not fair to dump my problems on you like that."

Evan scoffs, breathing out a light chuckle. "Like you didnt dump your problems on me right now. And even then, I dont mind. I would much rather you come to me then be in pain somewhere else. Okay?"

Evan doesnt look at Gregory's face, too busy looking down at the article he has pulled up on his phone in his trembling hand, but he can tell hes smiling.

"Also, don't act like you don't make my problems your own, too. Im allowed to do the same as well, you know."

"Okay, okay." Gregory huffs. "I get it. I'll come to you right away next time. Happy?"

"Yes." Evan says, and he really is. Knowing that Gregory is sure to come to Evan when the weather gets bad, or something happens that makes the city unsafe, Evan will be able to sleep soundly knowing Gregory will either be safe with him, or he will be if need be. "You never finished telling me how you ended up with a pocket knife stuck in you, though."

"Right." Gregory chuckles. "So, I find this kind of hidden away spot, right? And I'm thinking I got really lucky, and set my stuff down. But then this other older kid shows up, and its obvious hes like me. But he gets really mad that I'm in his spot and starts yelling at me to get out."

"Jerk." Evan says, pulling the things he needs out of the first aid kit. "You should help eachother out, not fight. I'm sure he could have lended you some space."

"I'm sure you would have." Gregory chuckles. "But anyway, I'm packing up my stuff to leave, because this guy hurting me is a bigger concern than the weather at this point, and I dont want to mess with him."

Evan nods along, and goes to begin, but pauses when the first step is to take out the knife. Nausea curls in his gut, and he winces, glancing at Gregory.

"Hey." He cuts Gregory off in his story, and tries to look as apologetic as possible. "I, um. Have to take the knife out."

Gregory's eyes blow wide, and he frowns. "Oh."

Evan fidgets, having no idea how to make this better for Gregory. "Do you want me to count to three, or...?"

"Just do it." Gregory puts that steely exterior on. "I can handle it. Just do what you need to do."

Evan feels awful; this must suck for Gregory. Even if the knife is small and not very deep, having something sharp ripped out of your flesh cant be fun. "If you're sure."

He props himself on his knees, getting as close to Gregory as possible, and wraps a hand firmly around the small handle of the wood carving knife.

He can see it in Gregory's eyes. Neither of them want to do this.

"Keep telling your story." Evan says softly. Maybe itll distract Gregory from it, even a little bit. And Evan, as well. He can already feel bile working it's way up his throat at the thought.

Gregory nods minutely, jaw locked and tense. He breathes out a bit. "...Kay. So, I'm trying to tell him that I'll leave if he let's me get my stuff, but hes really impatient, and when I dont leave right away, he tries to scare me away faster by beating me."

Evan winces, pointedly twisting his neck away from the knife, as he tightens his grip, anticipation sending lightning through his veins. "That explains the bruises." He says shakily.

Gregory pauses, waiting for something that doesn't come. "...Yeah. He uh, he got me pretty good... but he didnt leave unscathed either. But, I think I got it worse."

"Definitely." Evan agrees ghastily, his stomach rolling when he feels the cold handle of the knife pressing idents in his skin. "Keep going."

Gregory gives him a look, but continues. "...So when I start fighting back, even though I'm smaller, he took that as a bad thing, apparently, and wanted me gone so he didnt get hurt. So what does he do?"

Evan doesn't respond, just squeezing his eyes shut, biting his tongue, and ripping off the bandaid.

Evan rips the knife out with a quick flick of his shoulder, and gags when it makes a fleeting metal-on-flesh sound as its removed. Gregory lurches lightly next to him, making a garbled, suprised sound, and when it's over, just lays flat on the floor.

"G-God." Gregory coughs, stuttering. "Okay, that wasnt that bad. I guess."

"I'm sorry." Evan frets, flinching and dropping the knife on the towel when some of Gregory's blood drips down his fingers. "I'm sorry, Gregory."

"You didnt do it." Gregory chuckles, his face white as a sheet. He brings up an arm to clutch at a spot just above the wound on his chest. "Jesus."

"I'll fix you up." Evan says softly, setting a hand on Gregory's own and taking it away just as quickly when he rushes to go wash his hands. "Okay? It might hurt, but you'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."

"...Kay." Is all Gregory says, and Evan rushes faster when he just let's his head fall against the floor.

When Evan comes back, he all but dives onto the floor, grabbing the things he layed out on the carpet and beginning. "Gregory, hey!"

"What?" Gregory asks, and Evan sinks in relief when hes still awake. He rolls up Gregory's shirt, inspecting the wound, and he finds it looks more like just a deep cut than anything. "I know you're trying to stay awake, but I'm probably gonna have to find a way to close this cut, so you might want to go ahead and go to sleep."

Gregory pales. "Like, stitches?"

"Probably." Evan shudders. A wave of sickness washes over his body when he realizes hes probably gonna have to find a needle and thread, and stitch Gregory's flesh closed, even if the cut is only an inch or so long. "Better safe than sorry. And I really dont think having a wood carving knife stabbed into you, even if it wasnt that deep, is okay to just put a bandaid over."

"...Alright." Gregory sighs, and his head rolls against the floor, his body relaxing. "I don't want to be awake for that."

"Me neither." Evan huffs, and Gregory breathes the air of a laugh through his nose. "But I think you'll be okay. Just sleep, and you'll be patched up when you wake up."

Gregory sighs a deep sigh, and Evan thinks it sounds like deep relief just settled. "Okay. Thank you, Evan."

"Of course." Evan replies, and when Gregory shuts his eyes and no doubt falls asleep pretty quick, Evan glances around his room, and realizes hes gonna have to go on a scavenger hunt for a needle and thread.

He sighs, hoping and wishing that he wont run into his father or Michael when he has to venture out of the safety of his room, but he relaxes at the moment, taking in a deep breath and reaching for some supplies.

First, he has to clean the wound.

🐻

When Gregory creaks his eyes open, it's not to Evan's carpeted floor like he had expected. Well, he is on the floor, he finds when he finally takes in his surroundings. But he isnt laying down completely. Some pillows and blankets have been posed and laid around him, like a nest, and Evan is sitting next to him in the middle, scrolling and watching something on his phone.

Gregory twists his neck and puts pressure in his arm, trying to prop himself up. He yawns, and Evan startles, taking out the crappy Walmart earbuds he'd bought. "Gregory!"

"Hi." Gregory groans, feeling the effects of his fistfight and intense sprint take hold, his body groaning and aching with soreness at his movement. He feels warm; which is something he wasnt expecting when he'd initially thought he'd spend the span of the storm outside in it. "Ugh."

Evan shuts his phone off lays it and his earbuds on the blanket, twisting his torso and shimmying in his spot laying against a pillow against the wall and legs covered with a throw blanket to face him. "You probably dont feel too good."

"Like crap." Gregory agrees. When he shifts again, back and head cushioned against two pillows without cases on them, he can feel the sore sort of throbbing pain of whatever stitches Evan had sewn in him. He wrinkles his nose at the thought, feeling guilty on Evan's behalf. "But... the stitches feel secure. I'm sorry you had to do that, it must have sucked really hard."

"It did." Evan shudders, but chuckles at the same time. "You know, I had to go in my Moms room to get the needle and thread and steal the pills from my Dad."

Gregory quirks a brow. "What pills?" He asks at the same time Evan hands him a small bottle of Advil. "Oh."

Evan hands him some snacks, too. A water bottle and some crackers. He smiles softly and takes them, taking two Advil with a swig of the water bottle. "You did all that for me?" Gregory asks, voice small. "...I know you hate your Dad, and your parents would get mad at you if they saw you snooping."

"I know." Evan says, fidgeting with one of the blankets and laying his head on the pillow propped against the wall. "But I wanted you to feel better more than I was scared of my parents."

Theres a short stretch of silence after that, only the harsh rain and wind against the house being heard. Gregory stays silent, turning over Evan's words in his head.

His eyes burn slightly, but he pushes it down with precise practice. "Thank you" Is all he can find in him to say. Theres too many feelings, too many emotions he has to put them into words.

But Evan knows him, and Gregory knows he understands when he nods, and smiles that small, kind smile that just screams 'and I'd do it again'. "Of course." Evan insists, and looks away for a moment. "I want you to trust me, okay? I want to show you that if you come to me because you need help, I'll be here, and I wont discount you, or-- or shrug you off."

Gregory doesn't smile, but he feels warmth spread through his chest at that. Gregory knows Evan, so he knows exactly why he would want Gregory to feel that way. He knows exactly why Evan holds himself to that, even though Gregorys confident a lot of it has to do with just the kindness in Evan's own heart.

"I-I know." Gregory whispers. "I came here because I do trust you. I came here because I know that."

It's really hard for Gregory to say that, and he knows Evan understands, because he doesnt comment, just nods, relief sagging his shoulders.

Theres a short burst of silence for a moment, the two of them just soaking up the atmosphere of being warm and comfortable, despite the circumstances.

"You're staying here, by the way." Evan's voice rips him out of his thoughts suddenly, and Gregory snaps to attention to see Evan looking at him sternly, but worriedly. "I know you're gonna try to say something stupid about how you're fine to go back into the rain. You arent going anywhere near the city, alright? I don't care if the storm lasts a week. I'll find a way to hide you so Michael or my father dont find you, okay?"

Gregory snorts at Evan's intense voice, but his heart bursts all the same. "Okay, Evan. I promise."

"Good." Evan sounds appeased. He twists his body, reaching for something, and grabs his phone, putting one earbud in and giving Gregory the other. He opens YouTube, handing the phone to Gregory. "You can pick. Honor of the patient."

Gregory grins, giggling. "Thanks, Doctor Evan."

ao3 link

[hazbinpage]

My interpretation of human Alastor! Aka a doodle that got away from me lol

[theletterwsartflap]

So I posted this drawing on Reddit as well, and someone made a comment on it that’s been stewing in my brain ever since.

While I haven’t the faintest idea of who the villain could be, the idea was just too good to pass up. This is a rougher drawing since the holiday season has been so busy, but I just had to get the idea out!

and yeah I still refuse to accept Kingambit sitting all the time.

[sctir]

sctirs my friend sctirs i have a question. do you have a favorite jinjae interaction

hai koipalm my beloved friend koipalm i think that time they had a kid together is pretty up there on the list (<- biased cause i like gyeolie as well) and also the time they slept in the same bed and then didn't talk about it ever again and the tour guide/tourist roleplay was very. and then when they were fighting in the dungeon against riette + those other two s-classes or whatever and shj was like "do you know how to dance" and hyj was like "what the fuck are you talking about" (he did not say that). also that time shj tried to drown hyj in a fish tank. both times that shj said that he would fall for hyj /romantic. hyj convincing shj that they know each other by listing off their shenanigans together and shj was like "are you saying that i fell in love" (related to the fish tank). and when they conned the japanese amaterasu guild members together (related: shj knowing hyjs coffee order better than hyj) and also when shj did aegyo at the pool because he can't act his age. and of course we can't forget the #insanegirl conversation they had at the flooded dungeon gate about being close for a week, and when shj hugged yj after everyone came out of the weird dungeons safely and of course the cleaning should be water cleaning chapters ft. shj handing over the coat to yerimie to protect her. and him being cranky about meeting the fake yoojin during the fog chapters. and we're not there yet but when hyj was being kidnapped again and shj wouldn't [redacted] even though he Should have. :) :) :) :). also "hyunjae-hyung". and also when hyj's fear resistance got lowered and shj tried to intimidate him but yoojin called him a cunt and lied about green onions (<- related to the kid they have together)

BUT my top #jinjae moment is sung hyunjae's birthday party for sure. yeah the whole thing. yoojin throwing a tantrum because he didn't get an invite. the fucking pink yarn. sung hyunjae blowing up the cruise ship and yoojin desperately trying to minimise the damage beforehand because he just KNEW that shj was gonna try something. sopping wet pathetic meowmeow of a man sung hyunjae crawling out of the ocean and not knowing how to eat convenience store kimbap. hyj getting him a piece of cake and singing happy birthday. becoming partners (in business). "it felt like the first time i saw sung hyunjae as a person" <- THIS. AND THEN THIS CONVO -> "please don't laugh, i might become fond" "hadn't you been quite so, already" "absolutely not" "i've already become so, you see."

in conclusion, sung hyunjae fell first. thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[thyandrawrites]

Any genshin fans here? Please tell me he's recognizable 😂 I tried very hard to get as many pieces of his outfit down, but genshin guys sure have a lot of difficult details to reproduce. Still, this was a fun challenge!

[baezdylan]

sometimes we forget how much of a light house is in cuddy’s life that her PERSON!!!

this is exactly what i needed in my inbox for personal reasons so thank you :") but yeah... they're both weird!!! is the thing!!!! and house is so loud about it because that's how he avoids being accused of anything and cuddy tries to undermine her weirdness because that's how she avoids being accused of anything, but both of those mechanisms are a way of not being one's true self to the fullest. because if you are determined not to do what you consider to be the things only other people can do and you believe in this because it was proven to you time and time again that you don't exactly fit in, you might miss out on the simplicity you're unexpectedly able to appreciate and engage in. and if you're constantly trying to meet everyone's expectations, where is the space for you to be you? and house IS a light in cuddy's life in this very unexpected, unusual way because he somehow still preserves while living in a way that's completely against the idea of what life should or is supposed to be. something cuddy struggles with throughout the entire show almost... even the things she wants that fit the perfect life narrative she tries to make herself want them more. i am instantly brought to tears thinking about her wish to have a kid which seemed more real to me than her attempts to find a romantic partner... because i really feel like she wanted to have someone who would at least hear her if not be like her -> that's why wilson is so significant to her. he's wilson! he hears what nobody else can hear... but she also wanted somebody to love without worrying about whether she was doing it right. so the fact that she admits not to feel what she thought she would feel towards rachel makes such compelling character drama... because the most crucial thing that cuddy does wrong is the fact that she thinks not to fit within the realm of supposed and should is to fail. and that brings me back to house because he does not care about the supposeds and the shoulds and he is a great doctor, maybe even because of this very thing more than anything else. and yes that does disrupt cuddy's whole worldview, but it's also hopeful i think. because if not sticking to the rulebook works for someone else, maybe she's not doing anything wrong when she's not married with kids by the time her mother deems appropriate. maybe she's not doing anything wrong it she gets overwhelmed by how much work she has to deal with. this is EXACTLY why house is the one to help out in that cuddy centric episode. because that's what he is to her. he jumps out of the ordinary and makes it work. so it's okay for cuddy to be cuddy. so there's no right way to feel something. and it's pretty fascinating because that same thing is what easily turns into one of house's greatest flaws (the fact that he won't let himself do or god forbid enjoy something ordinary or boring), but to cuddy it's inspirational. (the horror on her face when he admits that he values her over his work comes to mind) and there is something very human about all that which is mainly why theirs is my favourite relationship on the show. humans do that! we see something in someone and find light in it, but to that person to believe that something they've been called crazy for (by others or themselves) or have felt bad about to the point of it becoming an integral part of their very being and simultaneously an inevitable source of some kind of twisted, survival-rooted pride can be viewed in a different way is world-changing and on the edge of world-ending. that's the main conflict between these 2 characters i think. the fact that the very thing that they're inspired by in one another is what terrifies them when they get too close to each other. loving the other one is easy. it's loving themselves enough to be a person with them that's paralysing.

[morawcrumb]

Buses.

[tkpuke]

No Shame in Running

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Word count: 3,830

In which you’ve always wanted to get your hands on the fantasy game your parents strictly banned in your household because of their beliefs of teenagers gaining a satanic/demonic worship. You soon realize there’s one person in Hawkins High who runs a club campaign around the game. You see this as your only chance.

(HEAVILY inspired by @sugars-fluffy-escapes ler!Eddie hcs. Go check her blog out!)

This is a tickle fic. Please do not read if that’s not your thing.

You, who’s barely surviving senior year, can’t place your finger on where exactly this sudden bravery came from. You had countless nights standing in the mirror, going over your lines, on how to persuade the leader of Hellfire club to let you join them without making it obvious this is your first time ever playing.

Your lunch table was near his, ears always picking up their discussions on the next campaign night or Eddie slamming down another news article about concerned parents believing their children are doing satanic rituals in their basement all due to the fantasy roleplaying game. You knew members of Hellfire club all had one thing in common. Labeled freaks or outsiders.

A clique you’re far from, thanks to the sports you’ve forced yourself into to make many friends as possible so you wouldn’t end up with a reputation of a lost sheep. You aren’t what Eddie typically scouts out for when it comes to new members. Loyalty, you’ve heard, is also a big part when it comes to campaign nights. You’ve seen more than once Eddie never takes excuses where you can’t make it tonight so lightly.

You would turn down every game with zero hesitation if it means getting to play Dungeons & Dragons until night falls.

So here you are now, clinging your sports bag a little too tightly from nervousness, because you tugged on his jacket to grab his attention and now his eyes are meeting yours, confused. It’s not everyday Eddie gets stopped heading home by a chick who walks down the halls with the title “Princess of Hawkins”. Being a goody two shoes and passing tests with flying colors gets a little exhausting over time. Thanks to your strict religious parents, you won’t be making much changes to that reputation anytime soon.

“Hello, can I—uh maybe uhm—talk to you for a minute or so..?” Oh god, you already feel the lump in your throat forming. You sense it all going downhill from here. You watch him cross his arms, leaning against the car but you still felt a bit intimidated on how easily he looms over you. To be honest, all metal-heads you’ve come across whether it’s at school or Starcourt mall, they’ve all looked too terrifying to approach. If you ever admitted that, your parents would never shut up on how they’re always right and to always listen to them.

“Uh, sure. Okay. I don’t see why not.” He says ever so casually which does not ease your worry, because you know from here you’ll continue to stumble over your words and take forever to get straight to the point. You don’t remember when you started fiddling with your sleeves, but it’ll be another nervous habit added to the list.

“The uh—y’know the uh—Game? The Dungeons and Dragons game? Of course you know—“ Eddie deserves a medal for being so patient, you thought. Whenever you seem to have trouble finding the right words to your question, your friends half the time finish for you. Frustrating, to say the least.

“Well, I’ve been thinking..” you let yourself continue, releasing a held back sigh. Kicking a pebble around keeps you busy from not letting your eyes hold his stare for more than five seconds.

Oh, just rip the bandaid off!

And so you did. You told him you want to play, told him no, you can’t go buy the game yourself because your parents would kill you if they ever found out, and how he’s your only chance. Or so you see it. You may have fell on the more dramatic path of persuading, telling him it’s been your dream to indulge in the fantasy worlds the game holds and how you stay up on school nights writing away about your potential characters, and if he declines for whatever reason you will die on the spot. Maybe. Possibly.

Jesus Christ, you sound like a big nerd right now. Hence explains you checking your surroundings every few seconds to be clear your teammates aren’t searching for you on why you haven’t showed up to practice yet.

It’s because you’re trying to plead your way into Hellfire club with their leader Eddie “The Freak” Munson.

Who, you now realizing, hasn’t said a single word after your rushed explanation. You finally bring your eyes to his, a chuckle spilling out which is the last reaction you were expecting. Well, being laughed at was something you imagined. You wouldn’t take yourself seriously either.

“Pinch me if I’m dreaming, but did the Y/N L/N just ask what I thought she asked?”

“I don’t think I need to repeat myself.” You stand up a little straighter, trying to show off the little confidence you can find in you. You blame your parents for having such strict rules on you and being told what’s the essence of evil and what isn’t. The do’s and don’ts you’ve been following since you were a child gotten you into shit like this. Brought more curiosity and fascination to you than anything, something your parents are trying to steer away from. You truly believe this is your biggest interest, rather than the common curricular activities parents hope their children take apart in. Anything but getting together with a few close friends in a hideout, spreading the game apart on a table, and become heroes in a fantasy land which turns out to be all fake in the end.

Heaven forbid that.

“You sure the demons, ohh the orcs, the monsters,” Eddie wiggles his fingers high in the air, slowly bringing them close to your face in mock of a so-called monster about to capture you, of course morphing a petrifying face for special effects. “Won’t scare your socks off?”

You all but scoff at his little theatric. “Is it suppose to?” You were tempted to pull out your sketchbook right then and there. The sketchbook you never dared to show anybody, pages filled with pencil drawings of creatures you spent hours on. To the smallest ogre to the biggest dragon. The absolute joy it fuels you up with is unexplainable.

So then your Tuesday afternoon just got a little better after you parted your ways. Eddie suggested next Friday at the trailer he lives, where it’ll be you two together where he has a starter set for newcomers. You were a bit surprised it’s possible to play the game as a duet, Eddie assuring a player and a dungeon master would do just fine. I guess it’s best to start off easy than immediately being embarrassed by the group with your zero knowledge on how to play.

Although, your interactions with him didn’t end there. You spent the following days before next Friday rolled around the corner by making small talk. Those small talks turned into full conversations after school, letting him walk you to practice. To passing notes in history class you share with him, trying to get you to laugh which ends up you getting a stern look from the teacher.

You couldn’t wrap your head on how well you were getting along with Eddie Munson, sharing a few common interests. If you would’ve known the labeled Hawkins High freak isn’t mean and scary like everyone’s description of him, approaching the guy wouldn’t have been so hard for you. Hated by those who don’t understand him, but become so lovable once you do. You kind of acknowledge his dislike towards the popular cliques, feeling quite thankful he saw you weren’t a copy and paste of their stuck up personalities.

Friday finally arrived. You were fired up all throughout the day. Your assignment scores were most likely affected by how distracted your mind was, leg bouncing in all classes from eagerness. The minute the last bell rang, you sprang out of your chair, slightly startling those around you. Being the first one in your locker row, having few seconds of trouble when picking the combination code. You collected all your stuff, shoved them into your blue Jansport backpack that looks to be on it’s last life, then closed your lock—

“Boo!” Fingers suddenly squeezed your sides ever so lightly, but apparently with enough pressure to pull a giggly squeal from your lips.

It does not get unnoticed by him.

You can only guess who would be amused by seeing you jump unexpectedly, quickly turning around to land a soft slap on Eddie’s shoulder. His stupid grin is what you’re mostly glaring at because of how much it overtakes his facial features. “Tonight’s your night, Y/N.” He says while giving your shoulders a few victorious shoves. You lend him your bag to help carry, the fifteen pound books causing a strain on your poor back.

“My parents think I’m going over a friend’s house to help tutor.” You tell him as you hop into the passenger seat, grabbing the seatbelt. You do tutor often, so the excuse didn’t rise any suspicious questions from them. As long as you’re back home before dinner, you’ll be all good.

“Little do they know…” He begins with one of the many impressions he does when putting on a dramatic act, this one sounding deep and groggily. “Their daughter will be participating in a satanic ritual! Losing her soul to the dying king of VECNA!” You almost burst out laughing by how ridiculous he looks, shaking your head in disbelief.

Don’t be fooled to think his theatrics end so soon, for he is now faking a wholehearted sob which almost causes a double take from you. “My poor daughter, she’s now ruined. This game is killing her, oh please, my poor sweet daughter!” Couldn’t be more obvious Eddie is doing a perfect imitation of how your parents would react if they ever found out your real whereabouts. Even clutching his heart, you rate the acting five stars, a little too well done.

“You’re an idiot, Munson.”

You watch him set up the game on the kitchen table, not sure on what else to do besides stare. You slowly circle around to view photo frames on the walls, judge on the decor designs, and the choice of coloring in the living room. You heard chairs being pulled apart, seeing Eddie pat one to signal you to sit and let the fun begin.

In doing so, your opened backpack spilled out two cassette tapes by the force of carelessly slinging it off your shoulders. Before you had the time to quickly bend down and pick them up, Eddie has already beaten you to it.

“Tears for Fears? Abba? How cute.” He couldn’t resist but tease, gladly letting you snatch them from his hold as your cheeks are a tint of pink thanks to embarrassment.

“Shut up, let’s just start.”

So far, you’d be happy to say the amount of enjoyment your having has caused you to lose track of time. The street lights turning on which is your cue to head back home for dinner, but the game was far from being over.

You slayed every villain who dared to cross your young hero’s path, Kaliope Darkwalker. Class? Half-elf. Eddie once brought up it’s no fun to go the basic route of choosing your first character to be pure human or pure elf, so you settled with a bit of everything. Your charisma and wisdom levels aren’t complain worthy, overall patting yourself on the back for how great you’re doing. Eddie occasionally breaking character to acknowledge your small success.

Handed success tends to reveal a cocky side, though.

“This the best beasts this module can bring to the table? I call this light work.” You mindlessly say, not catching the swift demeanor change from Eddie in the corner of your eye. The smirk itching on his face speaks volumes, whipping out a character and slamming it in front of yours without warning.

You eye the figurine, painted red from head to toe with horns being on every place on his body. Wings spread out, claws looking like they get sharpened every five minutes. Buff to the core, making your character look like a total joke compared to this spawn of Satan.

“W..who’s this?” You meekly ask, seeing the future of you calling quits on this battle. Eddie seems thrilled you ask, standing a little to tower over you so he can earn some horror points. His eyes don’t blink once when his gaze falls upon yours, but you on the other hand tells a different story.

“Your most gruesome battle yet.” Eddie starts off, startling you by completely standing to wander agonizingly slow behind you. “This evil overlord has a not so pretty history of his victims. Mercy does not exist in his world, you’d be a fool to believe he’ll ever make this a fair fight.” The hairs on your arms rise up from his low whispers close to your ear, cursing mentally to yourself on how terrifyingly great Eddie is in being in character. Or maybe you’re just a wimp, one of the two.

Before you had the time to ask what exactly are his most effective attacks, Eddie’s introduction speech hasn’t come to an end. “Do you know what replenishes his mana?” A question, but Eddie answers before you even registered it.

“Laughter.”

Well, that’s a new one. You’re not sure if you heard him correctly, but Eddie flat out doesn’t flinch by your puzzled expression settling in. You decide to call him out on his bullshit. “You’re making this up. This guy came out of nowhere, I was heading to visit a merchant. What’s his deal?”

A d20 and d4 dice rolls to your direction, hesitantly picking the two up. You look up to see him lay back in his chair, releasing a relaxed sigh. “What are you waiting for? Place your attack.” You must’ve looked like you were waiting for his permission, but in all honesty you didn’t felt the need to try knowing how this fight would end. There’s no way in hell the total roll would equal or exceed this beast’s armor class.

Eddie’s aware. Of course he is, that little shit.

“You know I won’t win.” Eddie tsked, resting his elbows on his knees to level more with you. “Now, you won’t with that attitude.” His chair scoots in a little closer, ready to be fueled of entertainment on your poor attempts. Your poor, poor attempts where it’ll lead you nowhere. “Best hope luck is on your side, Y/N.”

Needless to say, you found yourself seconds after covering your face in loss, head hanging low in disappointment. You weren’t dumb. This outcome was seen miles away, but there wasn’t a door to escape. You slump defeatedly in your chair, blowing a couple of hair strands away from your face. Your attention goes back to Eddie, seeing him stand before rounding the table in a questionable stance.

Almost like he’s about to pounce.

“A very unfortunate turn of events on this young hero. Kaliope watches in terror the monster cornering her, fingers wiggling high above the half-elf, prepared to deliver his own brutal attack.” You got to your feet quick as lightning, putting distance between you and those goddamn wiggly fingers you have no interest in finding out where they’ll land.

“You’re kidding, right?” You say in hopes he reassures everything is for the sake of dramatic effect. Well, sorry, but he doesn’t. Instead gifts you a grin, that stupid grin you can’t help but notice a dimple poking out. You also can’t help but notice your heart fluttering whenever he does that. Huh.

“There is no shame, in running.”

You did not need to be told twice. There’s really nowhere to run off to, betting you’ll get caught in a minute. All you know is the trailer is not fit for a full on chase, so you end up outside. You thought participating in track your freshman year would help you out at a time like this, but arms wrapped around your torso and soon your feet weren’t touching the ground anymore.

Eddie plopped himself down on the couch, your back against his chest. You felt fingers crawl in position on the top set of your ribs, going straight for the kill and he doesn’t even know it yet. “Ready to face the consequences of your actions?”

“You literally told me to ru—WAHAIT!” A ear piercing screech immediately ripped from your throat, Eddie halting his moves because he seriously couldn’t debate whether he just accidentally hurt you or it tickled badly. “Don’t tell me I found your killer spot? So soon?” There is no need to confirm, but his growing smirk caused you to panic by the second.

“Eddie plehehease, let’s taHAHALK!” A new strong wave of laughter interrupted your sentence, squirming left to right as fingers danced around your rib cage like he’s playing some sort of guitar. Your laughs are the tunes, sweet music to his ears. “Sorry, what? I didn’t catch what you said.” He leans over to hint at you to repeat yourself, and you gladly would if he didn’t fucking stop switching the paces of his squeezes to leave you going crazy.

“I cahan’t! ihihit TICKLES!” A squeal spills out whenever Eddie scratches dangerously close to your navel, catching onto this discovery. A fake gasp escapes his lips, a mock of sympathy lacing his tone. “Are you serious? Shit, I’m sorry.” The sweet spot around your stomach area was then greeted by ten fingers pinching and prodding on every place of skin they found. Your cackles shot an octave higher, gripping onto his wrists to pull them apart with all the strength you could muster up, but they never budged. In response to your failed attempt, Eddie began to crept his way up to your underarms.

“NO! Noho! Don’t you fucking dare you big—“ whatever insult you were about to hit him got thrown out the window by his blunt nails going to town on your underarms, getting trapped by your arms snapping down to your sides. “No no, finish that sentence. I’m a big what?”

You completely went ballistics. Eddie joined your laughter, but for your over the top hilarious reactions because of a little tickling. In your opinion, you surely don’t consider this a little tickling. Your first wheeze came out, after that your laughs became hoarse. He took this as his cue to stop, for now, watching you suck in air greedily. “Anywhere buhut there..” you told him like he wasn’t already aware you couldn’t handle being tickled at that deadly spot.

“Well, you see, I would go somewhere else but my hands seem to be stuck.” Eddie wiggled his fingers for a few seconds, as if he’s attempting to pull them out. You giggled hard, but quickly raised your arms up to free his hands. You were fooled to believe it ended there, climbing off but to only be pushed back down on his lap by a curious tweak of your hips.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Eddie asked then placed rapid squeezes on your hipbone, catching you off guard that you snorted. A sound that makes you want to die on the spot. Eddie removed his fingers from your hips, seeing you crumble in a heap of leftover giggles by his side. “Wow, I’ll save that type of fun for another time.” He raises his hands up in surrender, softly smiling down at you to let you know he’s done. No more surprise attacks.

You rub the ticklish sensation off your sides, taking a cold glass of water from Eddie and thanking him. This wasn’t something you imagined how this night would go, but you couldn’t lie to yourself. You had fun. A type of fun you don’t normally have with your lunch table friends. A fun where you truly could express who you are without worrying about judgmental eyes falling on you.

“You’re such an asshole.” You broke the silence, shaking your head, but he knew you meant it in a playful manner. You raised an eyebrow, eyeing him up and down before speaking. “I wonder if you’re just as ticklish as me.”

Eddie backed away with his hands held up defensively, giving you a stern look. “Calm down, let’s not do something you’ll regret.” You scoffed as you trailed your eyes outside, seeing the stars scattered around the dark sky. A beautiful full moon to be adored.

Hold on. How long have you been here?

You jump up from the couch, running to the kitchen to snatch your backpack. The urgency got Eddie to chuckle, opening the door for you to run out. “I’m assuming your dinner is now cold?” You nod frantically, cursing to yourself mentally for not keeping an eye on how fast the time went. Your parents are definitely gonna bombard you with questions the minute you step inside the house.

You insisted on walking home since Forest Hills trailer park isn’t far from your neighborhood, but he wasn’t having it. After a couple seconds of bickering, you eventually climbed into the passenger seat. You weren’t really looking forward on walking home in the chilly darkness, anyways.

He parked next to the curb, tossing you your backpack once you were fully out. You waved a goodbye, making your way to the front porch. Eddie stayed to make sure you got inside safely, but before you searched for your house key you glanced behind you.

“I’ll see you next Friday, maybe?” You asked, both of you sharing a smile as he shoots you a thumbs up. You tiptoed to grab a plate of the leftovers your family had, heading up to your room to continue on the history flash cards you made yesterday for your upcoming exam. Feeling blessed your parents are already in bed when you arrived, so you didn’t have to frantically find an excuse on why you’re an hour late.

In the end, you have gotten what you wanted. Playing the game of your dreams, experiencing the thrill you knew it would give you. You may have also made a new friend along the way, a person you never thought you would get along with. Someone who you’ve been told to stay away from. Although, the more time you spent with the guy who had his name bounced around in negative conversations, you did not see what half of Hawkins high are seeing. You did not see a freak, or someone mean and scary. Eddie Munson is any ordinary guy trying to get through high school like the rest of the attended students, the one difference being having a hobby that isn’t art or sports.

It’s the love for a innocent fantasy game. The love of creating your own campaign with your friends who are more than happy to get together and go on countless adventures, never guessing how it’ll end. The game brings the best imagination out of the people you play with, and that is something you truly admire about your new friend, Eddie Munson.

[archaeos]

Trying to write anything on the colonisation of North America is just the constant recognition that it's racism all the way down...

[owlsdrawinglair]

Ok so I just had a tought, so you know how in the first movie Grace dies while being transferred to her Avatar body, ok so my tought is, what if Eywa didn't want her to die? Like, she tried her best to give her another chance to live in her Avatar body but she simply couldn't cos Grace was too weak, but she still saw and felt all the good stuff Grace did and somehow still wanted her to live and do even more good stuff. So she decided to give her a child, maybe she couldn't save her but she could make someone who can carry one her legacy, aka Kiri. I mean, that would explain why those gold fish would constantly follow her, why she could hold her breath longer then anybody and why those plant thingies listened to her during the RDA battle scene when she has to defend herself, Ao'nung and Roxto (+ that scene while they were still in the jungle when she "fell asleep" and it started moving). It would also explain why she could hear Eywas heartbeat and why she had a seizure when she was connected to the underwater Tree of souls when she asked Grace who is her father (Eywa probably tought she can't know yet). In conclusion,

KIRI IS A LITERAL CHILD OF EYWA

[xylocope]

AAAAAAAAAA I ALSO HAD A STRAY X RAIN WORLD AU IDEA LIKE THE DAY AFTER STRAY CAME OUT or it was the exact day, can't remember exactly , either way please tell me more about the au! I like learning about other people's aus and comparing them to mine :)

YOOO!!

I love that people had the same thought I did.. Stray and Rain World would just work so well with each other!!

I might rewrite some aspects or make another version that's more focused on ALL of the aspects of Rain World..

Admittedly, my current AU is a LOT more Iterator-companion focused!

Info under the cut!

Basically, Sliverists in THIS au are Outsiders! Same for majority of Iterators. Sliver of Straw was a Companion who escaped, resulting in small groups of Companions that want to follow in her footsteps.

For the cast of the current AU, the local group of Iterators are the main focus. They live in Midtown!

Pebbles starts getting pretty edgy in his beliefs on how to escape the city, and when Moon reaches out in concern, an argument sparks up.

Eventually, their argument turns to Pebbles calling for sentinels and accusing her of attempted escape, resulting in Moon getting taken away.

The others in the local group are devastated, and Pebbles is shunned for the most part (save for Suns and Grey, who still try to reach out)

NSH begins to isolate..

Until he finds a red cat. This is where the Hunter comes in.

He creates a backpack with a sort of drone/mini robot known as an Overseer (this idea came from copperyourcrow!) which replaces B12.

He sends the Hunter into the prison to assist in Moon's escape.

It's discovered though that she was unfortunately rebooted, and so the local Iterators who live in Midtown have to help her as she's forgotten a LOT of stuff.

More models of the backpacks are created by more Outsiders, and eventually two OTHER cats, Survivor and Monk, fall into the city and happen upon these, eventually finding the Midtown Iterators and going on to open the city with Hunter.

I'm still working on what the rot is in this au, where every character will be, and so on!

This AU will be added to when Downpour comes out, along with if any more ideas are given! I'm very happy to hear that people are interested in my AUs!

I plan to make a fic on this in the future, but for now I'm writing a crossover fic where the Iterators meet the Companions!

I'd love to answer anymore questions about the AU if you have them, or read and think on any ideas you may have! :0