#this is more relavent than ever

[literary-illuminati]

2024 Book Review #18 – Montress Volume 3: Haven by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

I have been reading one volume of this comic a month, in part as a way to force myself to take it a bit slowly and appreciate the issues and volumes as distinct arcs and works in their own right instead of archive binging, and in part because a volume of comic books being more than ~20% of my reading goal for the year feels like cheating. This has accomplished both of those goals splendidly, but it is making it increasingly hard to come up with different ways of talking about the basic premise of the story. So I’m just not going to.

The plot picks up fairly directly where the last plot dropped off – with Maika having escaped the last maratime city-state she’d found refuge in (now wanted fugitive) and settling into the next one. To secure safety for herself and her little crew of misfits (eldritch god-monster her mom bore and raised her to be a host for, adorable fox-child she treats like shit, terrible cat who betrays everyone, improbably hot noble magic assassin whose technically supposed to be murdering her), she’s conscripted by the royal engineer to assist in repairing the ancient magical shield which protected the city during the last war – which, due to her heritage and the aforementioned eldritch god, she might be the only one capable of safely accessing. That (literally) blows up in everyone’s face just about immediately, and the remainder of the arc is spent scrambling to deal.

Dramatically the volume works very well as a self-contained narrative, though a decade of marvel movies have left me kind of incapable of taking a big climax involving an apocalyptic glowing hole in the sky that seriously. Beyond that though, this is definitely a Lore volume, digging deep into the history of the Shaman Empress, her relationship with Zinn, and what the other Montrum are or want. It also, if my memory is right, marks the point where Zinn finishes transitioning from this terrible quasi-unknowable parasite ruining Maika’s life and turning her into a walking atrocity to just, like, Some Guy. They’re a little shit with an improbably amount of flattering amnesia and also murder a bunch of people but like, they’re a character now. They banter with Maika constantly, and also keep fucking up and being wrong about things. Deeply endearing tbh.

This also marks the point where The Doctor and Maika’s paternal family more broadly starts being a lot more plot-relavent which, going to be honest, I’m kind of dreading. Can’t remember any real details but my memories of the whole upcoming arc basically boil down to ‘at least Maika got that badass clockwork prosthetic out of it’.

Kippa and Ren are basically irrelevant to the actual plot this time, which is totally fine because I love them both dearly and would have happily read an entire issue of them going shopping and having a nice day in the market. Kippa, besides being adorable, does actually get some pretty meaty scenes providing the view from the gutter here though – Maika gets scooped up by a scheming vizier engineer as soon as she walks into town, and also hates people, but Kippa is absolutely the sort of person to go wandering through a sprawling refugee camp doing whatever she can to help. Which is both good worldbuilding and characterization and provides some desperately needed grounding to keep the whole story from vanishing entirely into mythic freudian psychodrama.

Speaking of preferring the social and political storytelling – I’m not sure they ever actually matter, but I do love the two bit characters who occasionally get scenes of their desperate heroic spycraft and diplomacy as they try everything they can to prevent another war breaking out. Their little bit in this volume also does a great job illuminating what a broken mess the politics of the Federation is – given the incredibly vague 1930s-East-Asia analogy underlying the story’s geopolitics, I like that the genocidal power about to plunge the world into war is riven with internal contradictions and five minutes away from a coup with the army and navy barely able to stand in the same room without gunfights breaking out).

Anyway yeah, it’s still Monstress. Still good! I probably sound like a broken record saying it at this point, but the character design remains just sublime, even for very thoroughly secondary characters. Speaking of, my favourite one has now shown up!

[abnormalcleric]

Manic T. Hedgehog is Canonically GNC/Nonbinary

Please note that I'm not a Sonic expert and I didn't feel like scrubbing through the whole show for screencaps, so most of these are from the same four episodes.

1. From So This is Basically Sonic the Hedgehog: "The boys wear shoes and the girls wear entire outfits." This is true across pretty much all media. Some characters have goggles, a hat, and/or a bandana, but otherwise everyone follows this rule. Except the drummer. Manic wears half an outfit.

That's shoes and gloves (gender-conforming boys mostly have gloves, too) but also bracelets, earrings, a bag, and a vest. I'm not going to count jewelry, but no other masc-aligned character covers that much skin in thier regular outfit. The earrings seem to be unique among Sonic characters, though. It's worth noting, but not immediately relavent, that he has a double helix in his left ear.

While we're on the subject of clothing preferences, let's talk about Wedding Bell Blues. Now, it's possible he could be secure enough in his masculinity to be Little Bo Peep, but that doesn't explain the attitude or how quickly he suggested disguising himself as his own mother in the first place.

Look at the elation in those eyes. The disgust at being thrown to the ground. The poise and grace. The fact that apparently both ears are pierced, but he only wears the two earrings most of the time. And he didn't have to go all the way. The lipstick isn't necessary for the disguise. But it is a good segue to point two.

2. You know how Sonia wears mascara (or at least has eyelashes)? And Sonic just has eyelids?

Sonic's eyelids always stop before the edge of his eye. Even when they draw the line a little thicker, it never extends outside of the eye itself. Manic's frequently (not always) flicks out at the end when he blinks. You'd think it would happen equally to both of them if it was just a mistake. And while I have these pictures here, I need you to stop and look at how fucking cute Manic is. This hedgehog slays.

3. Sonia's voice is "girl", Sonic's voice is "boy", and Manic's voice is "sassy". I want to describe it as valley girl/surfer dude. They could have had a Brooklyn accent or used different slang and filler words, but they, like, always go for "like." That's way more valley girl than it ever was surfer dude. You'll notice that they use "dude" as a descriptor and an interjection, but they usually reserve "bro" for when they're actually referring to Sonic. It's not just the dialect, either, because that could be a learned behavior they picked up in the streets. Half of it is their tone. Even Sonic, who is famous for being snarky, doesn't swing his hips and strut the way Manic does.

4. Look at the way this hedgehog stands, especially as compared to Sonic in the same situations.

The confidence.

The attitude.

The lean back.

The dainty way they hold their hands. That's not a traditional drummer's grip. That's a sassy drummer's grip.

5. There are no gender lines in punk. Sonic is basic, Sonia is posh, and Manic dresses like someone who would flip Sleet off for calling them a slur. Not that Sleet would. Look at that cape.

6. Sonic's hair goes back. Sonia's hair goes forward. Trevor's hair goes back and down. Manic's hair goes up and forward.

It looks like Sonia's hair, but spiky.

7. In general, masculine and feminine characters in the Sonic franchise have roughly the same shoe size. In Underground, feminine, dainty characters like Sonia and Bartleby have smaller feet.

Manic's feet look smaller than Sonic's, but only by a hair. It's actually mostly an illusion. Their feet are the same proportion of their bodies and are drawn to be the same size when they're standing on the same plane. But something about them makes Manic's shoes look smaller in most shots.

Now, you might notice that some of these trends remind you of another Sonic character. Full outfit, smaller feet, overdramatic stance, highly expressive tone and word choice...

[joesmemes]

THINGS SAID IN THE GROUP CHAT SENTENCE STARTERS

Assembled by @sheenathehyena.

I gave you a beach house now be normal

It's just so fucking ridiculous it circles back around to being poignant

I'm fine but what an inconsiderate toolbox

the fucking white boi who is trying to "find himself" that you meet all of once at the beginning

Yeah you want me to shoot my baby batter all over you cover you with almost - children

YOUR PLANET'S HOPE IS SONIC THE HEDGEHOG'S TRANS ASSHOLE

Not sure how to feel about talking to actual fucking yakuza members for entertainment purposes

On a scale of Balan Wonderworld to Silent Hill, how are you dealing with your trauma?

Roses are red, violets are blue, singular they is older than singular you

Concerned Ape noises

You ever think about the fact that [name] really said "the birds work for the bourgeoisie" & they were right

My patience for slipping over improperly spilled blood has run out.

If you can see the bones of your whipped pupil, you failed.

You know the healer's oath: Only do moderate harm to those who cross you.

Man I don't know if lack of shame is a blessing or a curse.

Parsooth m'lady but would you be so kind as to partake of the exquisite past time of role playing?

So they aren't DENYING the piss kink

uhm you need to be more of a doormat…..your boundaries are making me uncomfy 😦

That's HARLEQUIN NOVEL descriptors of sex

where is my mouse arrow? where is it holy fuck

fetishize urself ig

It's always people with feet fetishes or fat fetishes that be so open about it

Look at this unhinged mother fucker

Fuck you I hope your pice of shit family burn in a dumpster fire

Sorry you had to overshare about a tough time with some random chick in school but it's not relavent to my cat at all.

We're at a sword store and it's full of exactly what you'd expect.

Nobody was reading Lemony Snicket going "teehee they made Count Olaf bitch sauce"

Wikipedia I love you but your donation pleas sound like a lying teenager begging for money online

There's no right way to look at the guy that tossed his baby off a cliff and say "I think he needs to look cool for a minute there" is all I'm saying

Okay, wonderful. GREAT, take them all. Please leave immediately

one time I ran a server and I was being weird so I changed literally everyone's nickname to Frank

AKGHDLK I'm gonna SOB they asked if they could share their ticklefics

heavy meals always make me HONK MIMIMIMIMI

I found a fucking book of Mormon lmafo

lemme go take a dump and ill set it up

THREE. THREE TIMES. HE'S BEEN ARRESTED FOR INSIDER TRADEING THREE FUCKING TIMES.

tell her it was you who farted, establish dominance

I have been hoarding vidya games for the three of us to play like a dragon

Nearly had a heart attack because I was poopin and saw blood but realized it was my period

Ok we need to get a big cardboard box and a vaguely feminine scarecrow dressed as a boyfriendless girl

Puts my head in your lap like a cat

Some Filipinos wanna buy your titty mousepads

the chris chan trials are about to be the depp vs heard trial for people who had unrestricted internet access at a young age

Now u will screenshot us talking shit and put it in the callout 😭

GUYS I NEED PROOF THAT [name] IS GAY TO STICK IT TO A 19 YEAR OLD ALT RIGHT IDIOT

🙂 our fursona is gonna b friends with sonic

I both love and hate [name]’s writing. How they go from ancient purple prose to “oh shit oh fuck”

i guess you could say…. this was a triumph

[star-and-space-ace]

Canada: Write MP for a ceasefire + support

Though the campaign hasn't updated since December 15 2023, it is still highly relavant. Please sign and share if you can.

[supersoakerfullofblood]

so. this can come across as more of a ramble than an ask; still, i genuinely wanna hear ur take on it.

why is it 'normalized' that female characters in fiction never get their periods or have to shave or do like the mundane crap 'females' do?

Like.. yes, in some novels the writer could mention the woman shaving/being shaved.. but only when the context allows for it. Same thing with periods. We'd only ever bring it up if it pertains to the story, otherwise... what? is it just a given, sth the reader should simply know?

By extension, what happens in scenarios when say, the woman is kidnapped or kept in a dungeon. If the writer chooses to ignore that she gets her period/hasn't shaved (not wanting to deal with how her kidnapper would deal with that, for ex., or maybe they felt it's not necessary to the story), wouldn't that be a plothole? wouldn't smb ask: uh, she's been there for like 3 months, what about her period?

The same concept I'm bringing up here can be said about other human functions, like peeing, pooping, morning wood (just as normal and common as periods) ... etc.

So what is this? Is this willing suspension of belief or sth else? Is there a consensus on how we approach this fiction idk about?

P. S. Sorry for the awfully long ask. I appreciate the time you put into answering it and helping us out (surely I'm not the only one to bring this up lol)

You hit the nail on the head—it really is just a matter of only including things that are relavant to the text and letting the reader suspend their disbelief about everything else. It's the same reason you don't talk about what characters eat for every meal, and it's the same reason you don't write about all of your character's thoughts, feeings, passions, and desires. You can't include everything, because that book would have infinite pages, so you have to carefully choose elements that build a narrative: the series of events A -> B -> C -> etc. wherein one or a few aspects of a character change. For most narratives, something like shaving or periods wouldn't constitute meaningful character change. But if, say, in your narrative, your character changes by wrestling with their sex/gender identity, then yes, shaving and periods would be a great place to build the narrative!

So I don't think this is an issue at all, and I'm not sure this phenomenon is as gendered as it might appear. I don't really read about men going through mundane routines/morning rituals either, though that is kind of a trope in television (the man shaving at the mirror). It'd be interesting to take a wide survey and see how gendered this phenomenon actually is. I don't doubt there's something there, just that when you're writing, it really is just a matter of narrative cohesion and not bias.

Would be interesting to write a hyper-realist text that tries to include as many of these bodily functions and daily rituals as possible. Don't know what that'd look like, but there's probably something there in the right hands!

As for plot holes, they're kinda not real, especially with something this minor. A good rule of thumb is that if you're gotten your reader to suspend their disbelief enough to where they don't notice something (and in the case of bodily functions, the reader is already starting the text with those suspended), then it doesn't damage the text. It's fiction! The whole point is that it's a lie and we're tricking the reader!!

[st-just]

Wrath of the Righteous Thoughts

Because @self-loving-vampire asked and I can't sleep, scattered and incoherent because it's like 3am

I would have liked this game significantly better if it was somehow a visual novel - started lowering the difficulty in the final dungeon because all the tough-but-contextless demon fights just got tedious

But I did like it! And at 128 hours of playtime for like $40 I really don't have much room to complain tbh

Companions were mostly actually good! To the extent that I'm tempted to ever replay this game, it's to play less of a robotic merciless bitch and get closer to the ones I mostly ignored/ended up killing

Ember and Aru probably had the best personal plots, with the best writing and most, like, relevance. Daeran's seems like it would have been great if I'd really used him at all. Laan and Seelah's arcs were well executed but super generic. Camellia is such an edgy bitch I'm half tempted to do an evil playthrough next entirely to see hers through to the end. Regil and Greybor's companion quests seem to exist entirely because they're expected, and neither really seemed to actually have any sort of arc at all. I don't care about cleric dude or his brother enough to have an opinion on theirs.

Oh also autistic foxgirl wizard was fun but I'm not doing any quest that involves hunting for random masks across the entire map so I can remember to double back and complete an elaborate puzzle, sorry. Hope her plot was cool, though

Generally, I appreciate there must be an audience for all the puzzles strewn around everywhere. I am not one of them. Every time you actually needed to complete one I used a guide, and every other time I ignored them.

Actually a pretty big fan of the crusade managment, but wish it had more depth? And wasn't so trivial - by the time I got any of my cool endgame mythic units, I'd already cleared the entire map with my deathstack of marksmen, signifiers and hellknights. The 'final boss' such as it was - the 15 strength champions of the abyss from hitting mil level 8 - was just kind of pathetic. The level up choices were fun, though!

Wish my being an Aeon had come up more in that area, though - in the acutal plot it was gratifyingly relavent pretty often, but in the NPC interactions in the citadel it was barely ever mentioned. Even after exiling all the failiable corrupt humans form my city and importing axiomites and inevitables to replace them.

Aeon quest was a real highlight generally, tbh, even though it was totally at odds with how the mythic spark was treated by the narrative - demonic corruption, etc, etc - generally. Feel like demon or angel would fit more naturally in the narrative. Not that I'm ever going to do either of those.

Like I can't emphasize enough how there was literally 2-5x more fights than were at all fun or interesting, and I deserve compensation for every time I had to rest and then reapply buffs

My understanding of the actual main plot should probably not be given too much consideration because the game outright scolded me for missing the main villain's backstory exposition in her secret lab and Iz but as a general high fantasy power fantasy thing it was fine? Like, the character writing is the selling point here, not the actual overall plot tbc, but it was well executed and hit the important beats of the genre imo.

It's legitimately hilarious and incredible stupid how many places you can - and indeed often have to - just set up a tent and get a good night's sleep in the middle of raiding some demon lair or enemy fortress with a trail of bloody carnage behind you and just, no one ever has any problem with this. The demons always wait patiently for you to have breakfast and put the ten away before continuing to slaughter them.

[letstalkhockey]

maybe they arent even friends with her having a bf just last month. Maybe they arent even talking again. Or maybe they are and are just friends. Maybe they never were anything more than that. We will never know. For me it seems shes trying to keep the connection to hin abd be relavant in that term but he isnt someone to post anything at all after his ex gf so i guess we will never know anything unless the gf whoever this will be gets a wag jacket or hangs with the wags during games or during their wag parties but i dint think we will ever get a confirmation from nico but a claim from the girl. You know what i mean

I totally agree with you! Yes, Leyla has been seen to be at a game, etc; yet, that’s not something just girlfriends do. So many people enjoy the sport, and it’s an NHL team. So it’s no suprise she’d be at a game, unless otherwise of course! You’re right, unless there is solid evidence, we won’t have an exact awnser.🩵

[woolblossom-archive]

This is an archive of all of my artwork! If you don't know who I am my name is Laine, and I'm an illustrator who runs an online art shop, linked here, fulltime!

My main tumblr is @woolblossom

I've been drawing my whole life, and in this world where social medias come and go- but also where if you want to see a creator's whole work, or want to find something specific even, it's near impossible- I decided to try and use this as a solution! Should Tumblr ever go away, I still have all of the files myself, but this was a more effective way to search things than say a Google Drive folder.

I'll be posting things in SOMEwhat chronological order, and the tagging system will really be the golden ticket here in trying to find anything specific! Each piece will be tagged with: Medium, Subjects, Approximate Year, Approximate Age, and anything else I find relavent! :)

HERE is where you can find an on going list of tags <3 (not available yet !)

[theackerwitch]

@keith-shadis mentioned you on a post “he placed a flower in his hair and smiled. "there....”:

@theackerwitch "you deserve it." said keith, stroking a strand behind her ear with his knuckles. "after all the pain i've caused you. you deserve to smile again."

​Will he ever stop condemning himself for it?

Kuchel could see how much all of this was still gnawing at him. She had hoped that he would slowly have forgiven himself, just as she had forgiven him.

She needed some time, but after many sleepless nights, Kuchel could finally understand him. She understood why he lashed out like he did. His words hurt, a lot, but she felt that they came from a place of frustration, helplessness, and most importantly, anger directed at himself. In the end, she felt more empathy for him than anything else.

And she felt as if she could've done more to prevent this.

Keith never was an easy man to date. No one of the Survey Corps is. Faced with difficult decisions, opposition, and mockery every day, how could he not be frustrated? And when she realized that, Kuchel began to question if there wasn´t anything she could´ve done to help him more. Then he would feel as loved and supported as he truly needed. And he wouldn´t let harmful words bother him.

Kuchel pressed his hand to her cheek. I'm sorry, she thought, that I couldn't make you feel loved enough. If I only showed you how precious you are to me, perhaps ... none of this would have happened.

"Stop this, okay? Stop reminding yourself of what´s long over" she said softly, trying to reassure him. Please stop reminding me too.

She sat up and cupped his face in her hands. Her gray-silver eyes fixed on his. "No pain you have caused me can be greater than the affection I feel for you. That's for sure." She sealed her words with a kiss on the forehead, which, Kuchel thought, was the most intimate kiss between lovers. It's like relaving each other's worries.

[wispstalk]

I feel like you probably know as much about my OCs as I do by now 😅 But still.

Let's go with favourite tipples:

Rin - some disgustingly healthy concoction only an alchemist would drink (if she was in a modern AU, she'd be the one who wakes at dawn to drink "green" smoothies and do yoga)

Rowan - Beer. Nothing fancy, whatever's on tap. Mead, maybe, if xe's feeling flush.

Kicks - Wine. He's very fond of the fancy ones that come with the Fighters Stronghold DLC.

Tanis - Beer, the lighter the better.

Aderyn - Vodka. Bottom-shelf stuff, labelled something disarming like "TESCO's finest" which you could use to strip paint.

SCREAM that's so on brand for aderyn. Martin plotting to pour it down the drain and get her something nicer and Baurus is like "do you want to get dead? Messing with aderyns liquor is like picking a fight with a pack of coyotes. I will not be party to this." And Rin's fhdkdjd...i have a relavant little microfic about gross alchemist concoctions that I need to finish.

Coradri is not much of a drinker, and rarely ever allows herself to get more than a buzz, but she likes ciders and she likes mulled wine. Only after Tanis appoints himself the temple's Chief Wine Muller though....he brings good spices up from Nibenay and will not tolerate any less.

[fanofmanyrelatablechick]

Parents will NEVER understand that life isnt about them anymore and what happend in "their time" is not relavent for downplaying their teens feelings. Sometimes assuming things saves you. We arent rude for assuming someone doesnt like us just becuase we dont walk up to them and say "do you hate me?". Parents of gen-z please your kids are expeirencing more pain than u will ever know.

[justignoremedontlookatme]

The Tortured Poets Department Track Predictions

Side D

I Can Do It With a Broken Heart 3:38 (Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff)

The title is giving Louis Tomlinson, especially 'my heart might be broken but I won't be broken down.' reminds me of her time interview where she said she would keep performing on tour so matter what happenned. Sad but hopeful, maybe giving a saturdays by louis tomlinson kinda vibe, but i really have no clue.

Especially with the track length and co-writers knowledge, it's really giving yoyok energy. Both production-wise and thematically. she's telling herself to keep going because it will get better. She's on her own, always has been.

***The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived 4:05 (Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner)

My third and final claim. I just think its funny to think about taylor writing a song about joe having a small dick. I think it will be about how she is a shining diamond, enthusiastic, positive, larger than life kinda person, and he is the opposite and they are incompatible for that reason. This also means that she is ultimately so much happier as a person as she doesn't try to act 'cool' and doesn't pretend to be anyone else, and more successful too. I think it will be a bit belitteling, in the best way.

A taylor/aaron co-write? this will be cutting. Kind of getting would've could've should've energy from this song, sonically at least. Idk, I'm very excited for this song.

The Alchemy 3:16 (Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff)

Alchemy involves turning base metals into gold and was used as a cure for basically anything. This might have something to do with the victim/saviour thing that happened in their relationship where he saved her. She thought that he would make everything perfect (she/he is an alchemist, going from the worst point in her life to hopefully the best), but as it turns out alchemy is bullshit. He can't do that. The relationship worked for a bit, but this is not the way to build a healthy relationship. This may be her realising that it really was doomed from the start. Also maybe her being angry about the time she wasted when in hindsight it's so clear that it could never work out forever, no matter how much she wanted it to.

This could also be her turning over a new leaf, like a begin again kinda moment. Although I think that a tayvis song on this album is unlikely, if there were one it would be the alchemy. Ignore all the bullshit I wrote above, this song is giving very strong begin again energy to me. This song seems midtempo. watch me be so wrong. (Side note: these predicitons are so stupid, like I'm literally just lying a bunch: "this song will be about her moving on" I just told a lie. It's so humiliating writing these things. i know I will cringe reading them back, I'm already cringing writing them)

Clara Bow 3:36 (Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner)

The Last Great American Dynasty. There are so many parallels between clara bow and taylor, so this may be song where she compares their lives and the parallels between them. Taylor may talk about her struggles with fame, how she has to keep constantly reinventing herself and changing the way she releases music etc to stay relavent, struggling with being someone people look up to for everything (never take advice from someone whose falling apart), the media's portrayal of her (blank space). Clara had a husband who didnt like the idea of 'showing herself off' (bejewelled -- a diamond's gotta shine). People talked more about the gossip surrounding her -- her looks, false rumours, etc -- than talking about her talent and achievements (sound familiar?). There was apparently a rumor that she slept with the entire USC football team -- no i do not think there will be a song about or referencing travis though. It's clear to see why Taylor would be intrigued by Clara Bow, and there are so many similarities and direct parallels between their lives that. The song could be about their relationships, going the bejewelled route, or it could go the mysoginistic route, giving a blank space/the man kinda song. The sound i think will be soft and wistful though, which would fit with the old-timey vibe.

I basically said it all. The content seems to be pretty self-explanatory. A closing track comparing herself to clara bow, saying that her fame makes it difficult for her to maintain relationships, maybe? Calling her life a tragedy... maybe not that far, but it seems to be a somewhat melancholy ending. i concur that it will be soft and wistful. i mean, its an aaron co-write. ... guys c'mon... It seems to be a fitting conclusion to the album -- to all the stuff I just made up about the album, at least. we'll never know. Well... in 23 hours I will.

Side A / Side B / Side C / Side D / Bonus Tracks / Ranking / Lyrics

[kittehexpress]

*PWK posts anything on Instagram*

Me: Wow think of all the content you could actually use if you didn’t act like he never had 3 children and two wives before you!

[clownsnake]

Lars: wow you’re so mature for your age

Steven: thanks its the trauma

[crunchy--milk]

Obligatory bringing back jude telling Jon "the audience is only safe when the story isn't about them"

[dabiboy]

It came out a little long, but here it is. Sick dad!Hawks. Hope you guys like it 🥺

Sick Bird

Hawks had to leave the agency as soon as he got there, his eyebags, red nose, and the vomit were enough to send him back home. Thankfully, he was home alone. You were at your agency, and Haru was still at school, and according to Hawks's calculations for the time Haru was going to be home, he was going to feel better.

Big lie.

Hours moved on, and he started feeling worse. And then, the door opened. Damned school transport and their puctuality, he cursed. Hawks got up fast enough, washed his face and made his way to the living room, smiling wide at the sight of his baby boy.

"Chicken nugget!" Hawks chirped, happy but weak at the same time.

"Daddy!" Haru dropped his bag and ran towards Keigo, holding onto his leg. "Why are you here?"

"I could leave early today, I-" cough. A very ugly cough.

"Are you ok, dad?" Haru asked, voice full with concern.

"Shit" He cursed under his breath "I'm fine, I just feel a little sick, that's all" before he could smile at the golden eyed boy, Hawks felt the shivers running down his spine, and cold sweat covering the body under the tank top. Fever, awesome.

Haru was about to speak, but Hawks went as fast as possible to the bathroom, he had dignity and he was not throwing up in front of his child. But to his misfortune, Haru was standing right outside the bathroom, a panicked expression on his face.

"Daddy?"

"I'm ok chicken wing, just wait outside k'?" Hawks said before starting throwing up again.

And he did as told, Haru waited until Hawks had washed his mouth and had brushed his teeth, the older gave a tired smile to the little one.

"Do we go to see the doctor?" Haru asked, fidgeting with his fingers.

"Nah, I'm fine. Is just something I ate. Wanna go play something?" Keigo rested a hand on Haru's shoulder, but right there he felt like vanishing.

A dizzy sensation took over him, making him close his eyes and fall. Luckily, the bed was right there and he ended up sitting there.

"Dad!" His little wings puffed, but Hawks was... Asleep? Passed out?  Using his wings and what he had learnt so far, he flapped his wings to fly above the bed, using all of his strength to drag Hawks and put him in a comfortable position, puting a blanket on him. Hawks opened his tired eyes, smiling at him.

"Did you just fly? I heard your wings flapping, buddy. Gimme fi-h" his voice was low but full with proud, and then his eyes closed again.

Haru tried to calm down, was his dad ok? What was he supposed to do? He went to the kitchen to get his dad a glass of water. Should he get pills? But what kind? And then it hit him. Hawks's phone.

Instintively, he looked through all the contacts and called the one saved as "babybird🥰" the emoji and nickname he usually called you at home were the perfect hint. After a few rings, you picked up. But Haru spoke faster.

"Mom, daddy's sick and now he's not opening eyes, and and I don't know what to do"

"Baby? Ok, relax, take a breath. Was he hit by a quirk? Wait a minute, where are you?"

"He was here when I got home from school, and then he throw up, and then he fell asleep and I- I'm scared"

"I see, but take it easy my boy, ok? He's probably just sick, I'm on my way, I should be there in a few minutes"

And those twenty minutes felt like hours. Haru remembered those times when he was sick, and how you put wet towels on his forehead, arms, and belly to reduce the temperature. And so he did. He damped some towels in wet and cold water, it was hard to put them because Hawks was laying on his side thanks the wings, and even his wings looked down. Then, he remembered that he had to drink lots of water, but Hawks wasn't drinking any. Apparently the glass wasn't working, so he went back to the kitchen and grabbed his juice sip bottle, pouring some water in it. Once back with Keigo, he put the bottle neae his lips, and he smiled when Keigo unconsciously took a sip.

You opened the door, feeling worried at the uncommon silence, because every time it was just Haru and Keigo, it was chaotic.

"Baby?" You called, and when you entered to the room, Haru got down quickly as ever and ran towards you, pulling your jeans.

"He is sleeping all day, and I don't know what to do" you could swear tears were forming in his eyes. Haru loved his dad, he was always strong, laughing, playing with him, fighting the bad guys, and now? Laying there, pale as ever, and looking tired.

"Take it easy, I'm sure he's just sick. He'll be fine" you look at the damped towels, his tiny bottle filled with water, and of course his dino plushie. He had been next to Keigo all the time. "You did amazing little chick, you're truly a hero" you encouraged him and kissed Haru's forehead.

"Can you help him?" Haru almost plead, his dad being more important than being praised.

"Yes, let's get to work"

Quickly, you got some medicine so you could wake him up and got him something to eat. "Kei, baby wake up" you caressed his locks "you need to take some medicine" slowly, he opened his eyes and smile weakly at you.

"Hey there you beautiful" and then, his eyes went to Haru "Hey buddy"

"Dad! Are you ok?" He got to the side of the bed quicky.

"Yes champ, I'm good" He used his hand to caress Haru's cheek. "Sorry you had to take care or your old man" Keigo tried to laugh, but ended up coughing "But thank you, you're my little hero" A smile.

"You... You're not dying, aren't you?" A single tear rolled down his face, finally relaving all of his concerns.

"No way, I'm sticking here for a long while" Keigo wiped Haru's tear with his thumb, but you noticed something odd in Hawks.

"Haru, can you go and take the veggies out of the fridge so I can make some soup?"

"Yes!" He nodded, clean the rest of his tears and ran to the kitchen.

"He was here all the time" you said, helping Keigo to sit down on the bed so he could take the medication "you ok?" You asked

"Yeah, I tried to stay strong but guess I failed" low chuckle "me? Yes, I..." He looked away, feeling pressure inside his chest "I just remembered when I was around Haru's age, my parents would tell me that I was just a bother, and now... Now he took care of me, you came too and..." A single tear fell down his cheek "My five year old me wouldn't believe me If I told him how lucky I got" he laughed, in a kind of sad way as he cleaned his cheek with the side of his hand. You hugged him, and his arms embrace you immediately.

"You'll always have us, I promise you that" you whispered, kissing his temple.

"Thank-"

"Daddy?" Haru looked from the door, feeling worried when he saw his father's puffy eyes.

"Hey bud" Hawks smiled, cleaning his tears again "C'mere" he called him, and pulled him in his arms so he could sit on his lap.

"Why are you crying? Is he ok mommy?" Haru looked at you, but you let Hawks speak.

"Yes, and yes. I'm just happy and thankful for having both of you, thank you for being with my today, my chicken wing" Keigo smiled and hugged Haru too, kissing his temple. "I love you, so much" then, his eyes went your way "And I love you too, angel"

Hawks couldn't believe the fact, that now he had everything he ever wanted. Everything.