#thread;dearly departed

[hijinks-n-lowjinks]

fic recs masterlist pt 2

So here's a part two to my first fic rec list because I thought the first list was too long to add more or I've only read them more recently

Haikyuu!

you're all i see, you're all i need by DailyMelody: iwaoi fic where iwaizumi lies to his family that he and oikawa are dating and he slowly realizes they haven't been faking their feelings, nsfw in the last chapter

Sprout, Bloom, Grow by SpaceJammie: matsuhana and iwaoi fic from the perspective of matsukawa, this is probably my fav hq I'm keeping up with rn, the characterizations and story are so deep and well written, unfinished

Let the Light Out by UhohShouto: post canon kagehina fic where kageyama realizes he's super into hinata and they make a bet that leads to them smooching and doing much more, nsfw

what i really mean by solyn: kuroken fic where they're both sort of clueless about their feelings while everyone else around them knows they're in love, nsfw

it drives you crazy getting old by atsumusbiceps: a sakuatsu 13 Going On 30 au that's absolutely adorable, omi is in love from the beginning but atsumu thinks being angry and attracted to someone is normal

Gray in the Middle. by DeadDrabble (MisakillDatMonkey): crazy good sunaosa fic where suna is a model and osamu is his new assistant, the development of their friendship while osamu slowly gets to see the real suna and coming to see the toxicity of the fashion industry, unfinished, future nsfw

Sakusa Kiyoomi's Short and Unhelpful Guide To Falling In Love by honest_pebble: sakuatsu fic where omi asks for atsumu to kiss one drunken night and they can't seem to keep their hands off each other in the months after

i pretend you're mine, all the damn time by theglitterati: bokuaka high school fic where bokuto is nervous about his lack of experience when a girl asks him out so he asks akaashi to help him learn how to kiss, very cute and silly

sleeping with strangers by starbeyy: kagehina fic where kageyama is a lawyer that's afraid of attachment and only sleeps with strangers until he gets an extremely cute client that makes him less afraid, nsfw in later chapters

Take a hint by badreputation: sunaosa fic where suna doesn't realize osamu is trying to woo him and is just an oblivious dummy

i sing the body electric by viverella: iwaoi getting together fic where iwaizumi beings to realize he doesn't have entirely platonic feelings about his best friend

dearly departed by radiantradish: daisuga ghost au where suga is stuck in limbo while he's in a coma and daichi is a firefighter that keeps dreaming about him

Winter is Red by MeikoAtsushi: technically this is the sunaosa spin-off to their original sakuatsu fic but the premise is that osamu can see the red threads of fate that tie soulmates together but he doesn't have one and falls in love with suna anyway, this fic is fucking PAINFUL because osamu is determined to make his life miserable and try to push suna away but he can never stay away for long, nsfw

the posterior probablity by izayas: sakuatsu au where omi is a professor and atsumu is an m.d. who's taking his class and they fall in love lol

SunKissed by Paintbrushyy_Ducky98: bokuaka fic where akaashi's family's new pool boy is really cute and he sort of seems familiar... nsfw

favor from the boy you can't resist by crossbelladonna: bokuaka fic where bokuto asks akaashi to be his fake boyfriend and things go as well as you'd expect

Miles by lettersinpetals: kuroken post canon/during chapter 402.1 fic where kuroo is very aware of his love for kenma but is convinced kenma doesn't feel the same

Night Moves by fluorophoring: kuroken fic where they just keep hooking up at night without actually dating or discussing their feelings, heavy nsfw

What to Do (to You) by Mooifyourecows: iwaoi fic where matsuhana set them up on a blind date despite already being roommates and having crushes on each other, nsfw

take me the way i am by almostsophie1: kuroken fic where kuroo wants to know if kenma is willing to have sex with him just to "practice", nsfw obviously

spill my guts by wasted: bokuaka fic where akaashi is a massive pining simp and doesn't know what to do about his crush

Legend Has It by sifuhotman: sunaosa crime au??? i literally think about this fic all the time and how it's not finished, such an interesting plot with osamu as a detective and suna is a con artist who has connections to some underground crime syndicates, the last chapter posted legit made me cry, i really identify with osamu in this fic, nsfw in later chapters

Miscellaneous

Apple of Your Eye by Kattythingz: sk8 renga fic but it's if Adam became obsessed with Reki instead of Langa, highkey NUTS how good Adam's characterization is because you want to bash his skull in with a hammer

A Crown of Gems and Gold by Kattythingz: fma edling fic that's basically a rewrite of the entire series but if edling got together soon after their first meeting, the best characterization, action, and dialogue ever utilized in writing, unfinished but ongoing

Always an Angel, Never a God by oktsukki: jjk satosugu au where hidden inventory didn't end as bad as they did in canon, a lot of good healing and characterization

lights out by phollie: hxh killugon fic where killua is just very soft about gon as gon shows him around the island he grew up on

Sword of Damocles by orphan_account: mp100 terumob au fic where teruki asks mob out as a joke but he actually starts to fall for him

[phoebepheebsphibs]

I can actually see misa possibly haunting Mikey, not out of malice of any kind but because she hadn’t been gone for very long and hadn’t instantly moved on when he suddenly showed up. She’d probably feel so guilty that she left him that was and that he had to be the one to find her

Hamato ghostie

Mikey lays on his bed. It is day three. He hasn’t moved.

His family comes in to bring him food at mealtimes.

April tries to get him to go outside, exercise, dance, do something requiring movement.

Karai asks him when he wants to try practicing with his mystic powers again. He always says he’s tired.

‘Phael lets him use his plushies for hugs when he isn’t around.

DvD does his best to talk things over with him, but Mikey rarely talks back.

Leon pesters him the most, trying to get him to eat or move or talk or do something other than wallow and lay in bed and rot away.

But nothing helps.

So Mikey is alone again tonight, three days after Misa’s death.

His dinner is sitting cold on the bedside table. He’s picked at it, but he isn’t hungry. His appetite has shrunken these past few days. Every time he tries to eat, he thinks of the birthday cake he got for her, and his stomach turns.

He hugs his pillow close to his chest, flexing the friendship bracelet he made for his dearly departed sister across his fingers.

“Mikey…”

He doesn’t turn. He doesn’t want another talk about how he can’t let himself waste away… he knows they’re right, but he doesn’t have the energy to do anything right now. He just twirls the braided orange and pink thread between his fingers…

“You gotta get up sometime, buddy.”

“Don’t wanna…” he mumbles. “Too tired.”

“Probably because you haven’t eaten all day,” the voice says, coming closer and messing with the plate. “Come one, just one bite? For me?”

“It’s cold now.”

“I wonder how that happened… Mikey, I’m sorry that you’re feeling this way, but you can’t just—“

“I know!” he argues, pressing his face into the pillow. “I know, I know! She wouldn’t have wanted this, I get it! But… but it… hurts too much…”

“…I’m so sorry, Mikey,” the voice says quietly, as a gentle hand strokes his head. “I never meant to hurt you like this.”

“What do you mean, hurt me—“

Mikey turns over. His eyes pop.

She’s standing there. Here. Now. How? She… she…

She’s all glowing green and stuff. She’s… a Hamato spirit?

“…Misa…?” he asks weakly.

“In the flesh!” she says with a wink. “Except, not really… well, you know what I mean. Oh, hey!”

She reaches over to Mikey’s hand and pulls away the bracelet. It fits over her wrist, slowly glowing green as well.

“Wow, is this for me?” she asks. “It looks just like my old one! Did you make this?”

“I… uh… b-birthday…” is all he can manage.

“Oh,” she says softly, realizing. “…I’m sorry I couldn’t open it before. It’s the perfect gift, Mikey.”

She reaches down and holds him in a gentle embrace. Mikey can feel her. She’s real… she’s… she’s real!

He throws himself onto her, sobbing hysterically as he does all he can to keep her with him.

“Don’t go!” he begs, sobbing so hard he can’t catch his breath. “D-don-n’t l-l-leave me a-ag-g-gain! D-don’t — hic — don’t g-go away — hic — ple-ease!”

“I’ll stay for a little bit,” she promises. “But I’ll have to go eventually.”

“No!” he screams, tightening his grip. “Y-y-you can’t — hic — can’t! You can’t — hic — you can’t leave me again!!”

“Mikey, sunshine,” she coos, rocking him back and forth. “You may not always see me, but I never leave you. You might not always feel me, but I’m with you. Even ghosts have to go home sometimes, too!”

“But n-n-not yet!” he begs, rubbing his face into her shoulders and chest. “Please? Stay?”

“I’ll stay if you eat something and promise to get better,” she compromises. “You don’t want to end up like me just yet, y’know!”

Mikey whimpers and squeezes her even tighter.

“Too soon?” she chuckles nervously.

Mikey manages to finish his plate and talk for a while with Misa before he eventually tuckers out and falls asleep. Misa kisses his head and takes the bracelet before vanishing…

(Previous bit) (art bit)

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

Among the Wildflowers (Part 2)

Kang Haerin x Reader

You can read part 1 here

GENRE: fluff, angst

TYPE: Two-part series

Haerin is older than her actual age in this story

Time weaves its intricate threads through the universe, gathering atoms together and generating the cells in your body, while the rest of them slowly fade and wither away. It ensures balance, ensuring that new life enters the world to fill the void left by those who departed. Goodbyes are always tinged with sadness; perhaps winter embodies the Earth's sorrow, mourning the flowers and life that have departed as leaves transition from green to brown.

Time is an enigma, often slipping through your fingers without leaving a trace, while at other moments, it seems frozen in place, as if the clock's hands have come to a standstill.

Moments spent with Haerin always carried the gentle caress of a spring breeze, imbuing your body with warmth as the days rushed by. But unfortunately, you are situated on the other side of the hospital from where Haerin is, sitting on a hard cold bench, waiting to run another Echocardiogram test.

Fatigue kept you from tending the flowers you cared so dearly about, yet, severe heart pains in your chest kept you awake every night. You shivered in the winter air, wearing nothing but a thin hospital gown, before your name was finally called and you were brought to the testing room down the hallway. 

It was another busy day at the hospital, and Haerin was relieved that her lunch break had finally arrived, even though it was two hours late. Carrying a bag of food you had packed for her the previous day (you insisted on including some leftovers from the dinner you shared, emphasizing the importance of Haerin incorporating vegetables into her diet instead of her usual instant noodles), Haerin proceeded down the east wing of the hospital.

Her customary break spot was the rooftop on the opposite side of the hospital, as it was the only place where she could find peace and quiet (and finally have the opportunity to smile as she texted you, free from Hanni's playful teasing). Although you two were not officially a couple, it felt as if you were already in a long-term relationship, minus the physical affection and formal label. Haerin, however, was actively working on changing that, working on planning the perfect date and eventually asking you to be her girlfriend (or asking you to elope with her, but she felt that it would be too soon for you).

She missed you every second when you were not there with her, so when she saw you leaving one of the rooms of the hospital made her double take, unsure whether it was really you or just a figment of her imagination for missing you too much at work. 

“Y/N?” Her voice reached out, urging her steps to hasten, closing the distance between you two. 

Your heart jumped when you heard your name spoken by your favorite voice. Under usual circumstances, you would've already locked gazes with her soft brown eyes or pulled her into an embrace. Yet, in this vacant hospital corridor, your instinct was to vanish, to merge with the cold marble beneath, erasing the present.

You paused, inhaling deeply before pivoting to meet Haerin's gaze.

A feeble smile graced your lips. "Hey, Rinnie."

"Why are you here?" Concern etched her features, her fingers lightly grasping your arm. Her eyes flicked to the door you had exited, realization dawning. It was her father's office.

"Why are you seeing a Cardiologist?" Anxiety tightened her voice, her mind racing, thinking of the worst-case scenarios.

 A sigh escaped as you observed Haerin's thoughts whirl, her brow furrowing with worry. This, precisely, was why you had hesitated to tell her about your condition.

“Is there somewhere we can talk?” 

Haerin took you to the rooftop of a building. The view wasn't much to write home about – just plain wooden boards and an empty dirt area posing as a garden. A small shack, probably for storing cleaning supplies, sat nearby. A bench adorned with cushions and blankets stood beside it. On a table nearby, a small frog plushie and a few books were neatly arranged. You couldn't help but smile at the sight; it seemed to be Haerin's secret hideout, and she had clearly tried her best to make it cozy.

She gently nudged you to sit on the bench, wrapping you in a thick woolen blanket before settling down beside you. Her furrowed eyebrows had been a constant during the conversation, and her worry was starting to bother you.

“I’m fine, Rinnie. Really.” Your fingers brushed her mocha-colored bangs aside, smoothing away the furrow between her eyebrows.

Her eyes fluttered shut, leaning into your touch. “Tell me, please.” she whispered. 

"I was born with a defect in my heart.” You admitted, “The hole is getting bigger, so my parents had me move to Seoul for a higher chance of getting a donor. I’ve been waiting on the list ever since.”

“Do you know how many more people are before you?”

You nodded, “Yeah, it’s quite a long list.”

Before Haerin could offer her suggestions or propose alternate treatments, you gently placed your forefinger against her cupid's bow-shaped lips, effectively silencing her.

“I’m okay, Haerin, please stop worrying.” You giggled at the way a faint blush crept onto her cheeks at the feeling of your finger on her lips. “What you should be worrying about is that sorrowful garden sitting there.” 

“I’m really bad at keeping plants alive.” Haerin shrugged and grinned her catlike smile at you, appreciating your effort in lighting the mood. “Plus, it’s the middle of November.” 

As she enveloped you in a warm embrace, you nestled into her, feeling the softness of her breath on your cheek as her face nestled against your temple. In her embrace, time seemed to shift, pushed by a magical force as Haerin summoned the essence of spring during the midst of winter.

“Maybe we should plant something when it gets warmer.” You said, “If I recall correctly, an adorable cat with glasses mentioned something about planting me a sea of blossoms.”

At your teasing, Haerin blushed a deep shade of red. She didn't quite understand how she had let such a mushy statement escape her lips; she decided to attribute it to her love for you.

“Wait and see.” She braved herself and pressed her lips to your temple. “I’ll get that blossom garden to you in no time.”

The sensation of her lips against your skin felt electric, sending shockwaves through your already erratic heartbeat, leaving a sense of warmth as your heart raced. You turned around to face the girl that you adored so much, your emotions nearly overwhelming you. 

"Let's start with something simpler." Leaning closer, you planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. "Especially since I've seen how you managed to 'take care' of my cacti." (They all died a tragic death)

Haerin's long fluttered as her eyes closed, an image of the prettiest butterfly. “What would you like me to plant for you then? I’ll start planting them as soon as spring is here.”

“Wildflowers.”

“Why?” She whispered, leaning closer to you. 

“Because they have this simple beauty that is only noticeable when you look closer. They also symbolize the beauty of living in the moment, and…love.”

“Love, huh?” Haerin asked, her breath mingling with yours in their proximity.

“Love.” You confirmed, lost in the soft depths of her affectionate brown eyes.

Unable to resist any longer, Haerin bridged the remaining space between your lips. After months of longing, she finally felt as close to you as she had ever hoped. Reveling in the softness of your kiss, she closed her eyes, pulling you onto her lap and wrapping her arms around your waist. Your hands found their way to her shoulders, fingers tangling in her hair as your breaths intertwined and your tongues met.

As the need for air grew more pressing, you reluctantly broke away, your faces still mere inches apart. You chuckled softly at her dazed expression, your fingers grazing her slightly swollen lips.

"And also, wildflowers are incredibly low-maintenance. It's hard to kill something that thrives even in the harshest conditions."

Haerin threw you over her shoulder and ran around the open space at your taunt, making you scream in laughter before nearly throwing up.

.

.

.

.

Time is both a cure and a curse. 

For those in pain, time is a cure, mending wounded hearts and stitching together fragmented souls. The hurt is carried away by the clock, just as the first spring rain washes away the chill of winter. The agony fades, to be replaced by the soothing embrace of passing moments.

Time, however, becomes a harsh conjurer of longing for those in love. Lovers long for the capacity to stop time, to relish every shared smile, every whispered word. But time, unyielding and uncaring, quickens its pace whenever happiness enters their lives, passing in a flash and leaving only a wistful trace.

Winter used to be a season of disappointment for you, when wildflowers faded and the beauty of snow escaped you. You didn't see the allure of chilly winds nipping at your cheeks and staining your nose crimson growing up in the country. 

But with Haerin by your side, winter is warm. 

Winter is now filled with her warm body snuggling you under the covers, with the mugs of hot chocolate she would make for you before your movie marathons, with her hot breath mingling with yours as your lips meet, and with her arms encircling your shoulders as you take late-night strolls down the bustling streets of Seoul.

Life was better with Haerin by your side, but to say everything was better would be a lie. 

Although you tried to hide it, Haerin could tell that your condition was getting worse as the days pass by. She knew it would go against your intentions, but she found herself breaking down in front of her father, tears flowing as she begged him to find a way to improve your health, to expedite the search for a donor. She was desperate, worried that she would lose you just when she spent her whole life looking for you. 

You could no longer take care of the flowers in the greenhouse. You claimed it was because the flowers had trouble growing in the greenhouse due to the cold, but Haerin knew that your heart could no longer keep up, struggling to pump blood through your veins as it fought with failure. So she did everything she could to keep you happy; she learned everything she could to keep your precious flowers flourishing, tending the garden for you after her long work shifts. She would choose the prettiest flower that bloomed every time and bring it back to you, dramatically declaring her love to you along with another frog fact of the day to make you giggle.

The sunlight spilled into the room and onto Haerin’s face, stirring her awake. She turned around on the bed to pull you closer into her arms, watching your sleeping face in content. After pressing a soft kiss on your forehead, the young doctor got up to get ready for a long shift. She had another surgery scheduled for later in the evening, which would probably last until midnight if everything was successful.

On the upside, she had three days off after the surgery and was planning to go on a romantic camping trip with you to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Spring was just around the corner, and the weather was slowly beginning to warm up. Smiling at the thought of cuddling with you next to a campfire and roasting marshmallows, Haerin made her way towards the hospital.

The familiar feeling of your heart skipping a few beats before restarting its pace woke you up with a start. Despite the slightly painful awakening, you felt better. In fact, this was the most energetic in months. Deciding to take advantage of this feeling, you headed towards your second favorite place in the world, the greenhouse (the first being in Haerin’s arms). 

It’s been a while since you last stepped foot into the glass garden, and you were amazed at how well the older girl took care of your plants and flowers. You knew the girl had been overworking herself just to keep the flowers you loved so dearly healthy, watching countless YouTube videos to learn how to take care of each kind of flower. She really loved you, as you loved her. 

Checking the time, you hurried towards the market to buy a few supplies. You had decided to cook dinner and bring it to the hospital for Haerin. It’s been a while since you had the strength to cook, and you were worried that the girl would go back to her habits of eating a few pieces of junk food or skipping food altogether. You decided to cook her favorite, smoked salmon with lemon, and shrimp fried rice; taking note of how Haerin was really like a cat, enjoying seafood over anything. 

After stopping in front of one of the other flower shops in the city, you made your way to the hospital in light steps. The setting sun painted the world in a breathtaking display of orange-red hues, casting your elongated shadow across the road.  Despite the walk to the hospital taking longer than anticipated, requiring occasional breaks to catch your breath and steady your irregular heartbeat, the excitement of seeing your favorite person in the world continued to course through your veins. 

"Y/N? Baby, what are you doing here?" Haerin's voice carried a mixture of surprise and concern as she encountered your presence. Her brow furrowed in worry. "Are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

A soft giggle escaped your lips, finding the concern etched across Haerin's face adorable. Her unwavering care for you never failed to touch your heart, always leaving you with a warm sensation. "I'm perfectly fine, Rinnie. I just wanted to bring you dinner. And flowers – I got you flowers."

Haerin’s gaze softened and her face broke into a smile, happy to see you feeling better. “Thank you, love.” She wrapped her arms around you and pulled you into a kiss. “What flowers did you get me?”

“My favorite wildflower, Forget-Me-Nots.” You said, giving her the bouquet of baby blue flowers. 

Haerin chuckled, a brief kiss landing on your lips before she examined the flowers. "You're always on my mind, baby. Forgetting about you? Impossible."

"Still, you should keep them in your office," you suggested, unwrapping the paper and arranging the flowers in a vase on Haerin's desk. "So that when a beautiful patient tries to flirt, you'll glance at them and remember I'm here, waiting for you."

The doctor playfully flicked your forehead, a snort escaping her. "Feeling a little jealous, are we?" Her tone was affectionate. "I only have eyes for you."

"Good," you whispered, your lips brushing against hers.

After a quick dinner and numerous kisses, you gently urged Haerin towards the surgery room. Promising to be there when she returned, you watched her leave. As you headed back home, weariness, which you had been fighting off, began to seep back into your body. Your steps grew slower, breaths a touch shallower. The chest pains resurfaced, a gradual burn coursing through your veins, winding its way back to your heart. Perhaps a quick nap would help, you reasoned. Yielding to your heavy eyelids, you settled onto the bed, nuzzling into Haerin's pillow. Inhaling her scent, the persistent ache within your chest began to wane with the slowing of your beating heart.

The surgery went without a hitch, with the team successfully completing it within the originally estimated time. Despite her fatigue, Haerin was in a fantastic mood, eagerly anticipating going home and spending the remaining few days with you.

Observing you today, radiating happiness and good health, Haerin felt a renewed sense of hope. Her father had reached out to her before the surgery to inform her that you were now next in line for a healthy heart, and she was overjoyed to share this news with you.

"Baby?" Haerin's voice echoed through the house as she stepped in through the front door. No response greeted her.

Assuming you had dozed off while waiting, she walked softly down the hallway, eventually entering the shared bedroom. A small laugh escaped her lips at the sight of you nestled against her pillow, lost in peaceful slumber, still wearing the clothes you went out in. 

“Baby.” She called again, “Y/N. Let’s get you changed.” 

That’s when she knew something was wrong. You were still. Too still. 

"Y/N?" Panic laced her voice as she rushed to shake your shoulders. "Please, wake up."

The body she had always nestled close to for warmth was now cold. Her beloved pair of eyes were forever concealed beneath your eyelids, no longer capable of providing her with solace and affection. You were gone. 

A searing pain ripped through Haerin's heart, shattering it into shards of agony, crashing like relentless waves against the unyielding rocks of her being, leaving only a mist of shattered thoughts behind.

Was this the agony you felt? Had the hole in your heart inflicted you the same torment that losing you was doing to Haerin? If she could, she would have given you her heart just to keep you at her side. Yet it seemed that love alone lacked the power to keep someone from slipping away.

"I don't think I could ever forget you," Haerin sobbed, her entire body convulsing with grief as she curled up beside you. She hoped that you would remember her, in the afterlife and in your next one.

.

.

.

.

Time, Haerin decided, was neither a curse nor a cure. Time was only the canvas on which fate's intricate designs were created. She was fated to love you, and was fated to lose you. The ache in her heart did not fade with the passing of time, nor did her love.

She wondered if this constant ache would serve as a poignant reminder of your existence for the rest of her life. And if it meant keeping you closer to her, she'd embrace that gentle simmer within her heart.

Lowering herself, Haerin gently placed your favorite necklace onto the soft freshly watered dirt. Stepping back, she nodded her head in approval. You would’ve been proud of her.  The once dusty and barren hospital rooftop had undergone a metamorphosis, transforming into a vibrant sea of wildflowers, as she had promised.

The spring breeze danced through the blue forget-me-nots and swayed the white daisies, before caressing Haerin's face, leaving behind a subtle trace of the sweet, familiar floral scent – your scent.

“A sea of wildflowers, for you to remember me by.” Haerin whispered, a few drops of tears escaping her eyes,

“and for me to never forget you.” 

As the sun set below the horizon, throwing a warm glow over the blossoms, Haerin remained there, her heart heavy but comforted by the idea that your memory would bloom eternally among the wildflowers.

And that's it 👀 Hopefully, this meets your expectations of angst.

[coveholdenmyluv]

R. Braun - Honey Soaked Promises

synopsis. In which you reminisce on your quest for revenge, irrigated with broken promises and fermented with betrayal, allowing you to act as the judge between life or death for yourself and the viper dressed in the skin of the love of your life.

— or alternatively, in which you make the stupid decision to fall in love with the wrong person on your journey to freedom...

Oh well, you'll just have to kill him now.

series masterlist

chapter warnings. slight manga/ending spoilers, foreshadowing, fluff

chapter synopsis. During your very first look into your past, you plan your escape from your personal hell with Stefan and Cielo. Was that your biggest mistake yet?

I| Trepidation. 10.5k words.

"You ain't gonna die, you sappy girl, I won't let him harm you both. I promise, no bullets will be goin' into either of your heads."

Oh, Stefan. He always keeps his promises… Can you?

Honey; such a sweet and savory essence. Seemingly everlasting on the tongue, for even if doused in a reservoir, the stubborn residuum remains.

Honey is entirely what you descried, from the age of ten to however much longer the gods above will allow your heart to beat. It's all you ever saw and all you ever want to see; you realize.

Honey is what you see right now. His eyes, albeit drained and tainted with Titan marks, stare directly into your own. They beg and plead for you to save yourself, for he could not bear to let the sole person that kept him from ending his own life, depart from this cruel world. Because as cruel and bloodcurdling as it may be, the world can be beautiful and altruistic. He's seen it himself. And he knows, he can feel that all the war and carnage will soon come to an end. Scars, emotional and physical, will remain but allow for mending and tranquility. He wants that, yearns to finally conclude the great torment that he's endured since childhood but more than anything, he wishes that for you.

He wants you to let go, and the irony isn't lost in him as he recalls the fact of how laboriously he prayed for anything but that, just four years in the past. He knows that you haven't had the courage to, that you've held onto every memory, every feeling and every touch you've shared with each other, no matter how hard you tried for the opposite. He knows because he too has clutched them just as close. The only difference was that unlike yourself, he never once attempted or even wanted to forget.

So as you hang upside down, with one hand grasping his tighter than ever before, your fingers reminiscent of interlacing threads of fate. Your tresses falling into view and drifting in every which direction the wind sways it, and the wire that tethers you to the enormous bones that assemble Eren Jaeger's final Titan, straining. You realize that you're being given a choice.

Will you let go of the only man you've ever truly loved? That man that has been the core cause of the vast anguish that has plagued not only your life but the lives of those you adore dearly and leave a place for inside of your heart. The man with cavernous honeysuckle pools for eyes and short but soft sandy blonde strands of hair. The only man you've ever kissed.

The only man you ever want to kiss.

Or will you let yourself fall with him? Fall into the depths of you don't even know what it is that you'd fall into; all you know is that you'd be falling with him. Sink into his arms before the angel of death embraced you both just as tightly.

Will you let go or will you fall with him?

But before you make that choice, let's take a look at the journey that has lead you to this very moment, shall we?

Year 845, The Underground City. 

The second underground city located within the interior of Wall Maria, or more specifically, beneath. A crowded old city where the rats laid, never to catch sight of or feel the burn of the suns rays or the fresh breeze carding through their hair. Buildings stacked upon buildings and the only source of light being fire, whether originating from lanterns or arbitrary flames ensued by citizens in their fits of rage.

You could've considered it a tight knit community wherein everyone knew of everyone. Some would greet in passing and some simply wouldn't. It was not abnormal to see brawls on the cobblestone streets, it's not as if anyone was there to put a stop to them.

Otherwise, known as home.

Being so close to the outer wall and underground seemed to have deemed the population a lost cause in the eyes of authority, if any, in the underground.

You couldn't have fretted over that fact too much. It's what had allowed you to live as long as you did, in the absence of parental figures. The only person that even came close to a caregiver, was Stefan.

Twelve year old Stefan, whose face was embellished with radiant forest green pearls and shaggy, dirty blonde hair that caressed his forehead. He too was in the absence of parental guidance and resorted to taking the burden upon himself.

The burden of raising six year old, Cielo. A pale skinned boy with a small button nose, deep mercury eyes, and equally as dark hair that was a black bordering blue.

Along with ten year old you. With short, blunt, H/C hair that had barely reached the lobes of your ears. The older boy had the idea of sustaining your short length due to the hassle that maintaining proper care for your soft tufts, came with for everyone involved, considering your living situation. Every month there was to be a day dedicated to Stefan, being the only one trusted, to wield his blade and put it to proper use on all three of you.

That is where your story began. In the abandoned building you used as a safeguard for as early as you could remember. Sat in an old and creepy wooden chair that Cielo had spotted on the outskirts, not too long before that day. A makeshift mirror was before you, consisting of jagged pieces of broken glass that Stefan had somehow assembled. How he always managed to scavenge a way to make things work in your favor was beyond you.

No matter the situation, Stefan had a solution. You wished to any unknown god, if there was one, that you in some way or shape or form had taken after him. That Cielo had seen you even in the slightest light, the same as you had gazed at Stefan.

"Why're you starin' at me, ya creep?" Came Stefan's silken but teasing voice. The corner of his lips was upturned to convey his failure in masking his amusement.

His question had effectively pulled you from your dream like stare. You wondered how he even knew of your unwavering eyes, for he hadn't given you a spare glance. "'M not staring at you, I was looking at the terrible job you're doing today." You had lied, obviously, all the while hastily shifting your head towards the ground in an effort to hide your embarrassment of being caught in the act of exactly what you had denied.

A loud hiss came from behind you, presumably emitted by the blonde, "I told ya not to move, idiot!" He exclaimed as he crouched on the ground and clutched his palm to his chest.

The millisecond his knees hit the cold ground, you were beside him in a panic, "Shit, I'm so sorry Stef! I swear, I didn't mean to! Do you need me to grab something to clean you off-" A muffled snort cut your hysteria short. You hadn't previously paid it heed but his body was shaking from the struggle to retain his quiet giggles.

He was fucking with you.

"I hate you." -you didn't mean that.

"You don't mean that," He stated as he lifted his head and allowed you to see how flushed his cheeks had grown from the strain he endured in order to fool you. "That should teach you to stay still while I have a knife in my hand."

"Whatever. Are ya done, or are you gonna take another two hundred years ruining my hair?"

He stood and mussed your head, causing your hair to grow more tortuous than it had already been from the way he had repeatedly combed his slender fingers through it during the chopping process. "Perfection takes time, and I think I'm as perfect as it gets when comin' to making you look like a little boy. But yes, I'm done." He satirized.

Mimicking his signature accent, you quipped, "Gee thanks, ya want me ta get Ciel' now or are ya gonna let the poor fella sleep in a while longer?" You pointed a small finger to the petite boy snoozing in the corner of the room. He was leaned against the wall with Stefan's jacket thrown over his form for comfort. Finding the abandoned building and being allowed to stay was a miracle in of itself, so you never fretted over not owning any sort of bed or bedding.

"Nah, if I don't wake him now he won't want to sleep through the night. Why don't cha' go and see if you can snag us some dinner? Anythin' will do for today, s'long we eat somethin'." He said, ignoring your attempt at mocking him in favor of gliding over to the boy in topic.

"Kay, I'll be back in a bit. I'll see if I can get us some bread this time!" You exclaimed, already having the door swung open.

"You be careful now. If your bum ain't back in twenty, I'll drag you back m'self." He warned as he referred to your habit of conjuring trouble with, anyone really. Well, more trouble than thieving already placed you in.

"Alright, promise I'll be careful." You reassured as you waltzed out into the street and shut the door.

You began your journey into the center of the city, not too far from home, pulling your brown hood over your head. Stefan had encountered the sweater somewhere, when he was on a previous supply run. It hung off your body too loosely then, but you had begun to fill it well.

From the minuscule amount of memories you had gathered at that point in your life, you concluded that Stefan and you had found each other when you were about Cielo's age; just a year younger and Stefan two years older.

He had lived with his dad before he was murdered by Military Police once they found him attempting to escape to the surface. Why the military police were roaming the city was unknown to you at the time, but they'd always seemed to show themselves when they were needed the least. Stefan's father never planned on taking him along, he planned on leaving his seven year old son to rot whilst he got to live out his fantasies. You couldn't recall Stefan ever speaking about it. The only words he would utter were 'good riddance', but you knew it affected him more than he led on. You'd caught him crying on some nights, and unfortunately there wasn't much you thought you could do. So you simply allowed him to hold you while you pretended you were still asleep.

Two years after you two had decided to stick together, three year old Cielo had quite literally ran into you both as you were on your way back home from gathering dinner. He was wailing hysterically and frantically pointed to the small building he had called home.

You had seen him in passing before, and while he always stuck close to his mother, he never failed to wave back at you two. When you arrived at his home, you had already guessed what you would find before you even opened the door. The air reeked of death, more than usual, and you wondered just how long little Cielo had endured living with a dead mother. It was a miracle he hadn't caught whatever it was that had stolen her life but that never mattered to the small boy. His sweet mother was gone and didn't seem to ever be returning.

He moved in that day and while he had always been the quiet type, after that incident he hadn't uttered a single word. You had longed for the day he would allow you to hear his soft voice again, and it pained both you and Stefan that he had to experience such trauma so young.

That wasn't to say he was all gloomy either. The boy would still be seen smiling and if you looked real close, at times you swore you could see a teasing grin on his face when he'd done something mischievous, like hiding Stefan's shoes.

They were all you knew. You had no memory of any parent or family. All you could recall was wandering alone until you had found Stefan. He had insisted you pick out your own name.

You formed your own found family. Stefan was the reliable oldest child, you were the curious one that had no qualms with starting or ending fights with the people that aimed to wrong you or the boys, and Cielo was the baby brother who stuck to you two like glue.

You were content... mostly. Theonly addition you could've thought to wish for was-

Sharp chirping had snapped you out of your stupor. Letting your ears guide your irises, you noticed a tiny winged friend had been trying to garner your attention.

Brows furrowing, you thought to yourself, 'What's a bird doing here in the underground?'

Squatting to the ground, you reached a hesitant hand out to the young animal. It didn't cower in fear, so in return, you didn't withdraw. You can still remember how velvety their feathers had felt on the pads of your fingers. Placing it onto your palm, you noticed it was missing a leg, the singular one twitching in your hand. Nothing seemed wrong with the wings so you had wondered why it didn't make use of them to flee.

You knew that if you had attained wings, you would have escaped your pit of hell and never looked back.

That was a lie. You'd do so, but only to procure a certain pair of boys.

"What's wrong, hun?" You spoke gently, "You don't seem afraid, so why don't I take you back with me? Show you to Ciel, I bet he'd like that." You grinned softly.

The bird made no objections, so you placed your new friend in the confines of your pocket, made sure they didn't suffocate and quickly continued your way to the center of the city where the stalls had stood. To any other person who had walked by, it looked as though you were simply taking a leisurely stroll. What they had failed to realize was that you had swiftly swiped a couple of stale loafs of bread, along with a few apples.

What you had failed to realize was that you had done that far too many times for the stall runners not to be familiar with your game of 'catch me if you can'.

"Don't try to be sneaky kid, I saw that! You better be planning on paying for those!" The man hollered.

You took that as your cue to book it before he could've begun to chase you.

Once you had arrived at your home and entered the building, you saw Cielo perched on the seat you had previously occupied. Stefan's jacket was still wrapped around his form, and his eyes were droopy as if he still hadn't fully awoken.

"Back so soon? Aw, did'ja miss me that bad?" Stefan had drawled from behind the ravenette.

"Stef, shut it for once and look!" You squealed as you bounded up to the two boys, hand retrieving the animal that rested in your sweater pocket.

"The hell is that?"

"A bird, you idiot. I found it on my way to get dinner!" Your statement had piqued Cielo's interest and caused him to hop off the chair to take a look into your hand.

Gesturing dubiously to the animal in your palm, Stefan conveyed his thoughts, "Y'know, when I said dinner... I meant somethin' we didn't have'ta cook, right?"

Eyeing the sharp weapon in his grasp that he had gestured with, you scolded, "Careful with that, Stefanie," you teased him with the nickname you knew he hated, "and don't be stupid, I brought bread and apples for dinner." You retorted.

"Ew, don't call me that, you nuisance."

"Look, Ciel. It's a baby bird. Tiny, just like you." You told the boy as you brought it to his eye level with one hand and booped his nose with the other.

Cielo's eyes had sparkled like a million different crystals as he took in the appearance of a bird. He had firstly admired the feathers and beak, hesitatingly reaching a small finger to its head, allowing it to slide down the slope as silk morphed into the bill. As they made contact, Cielo's eyes had begun to grow misty and his lower lip trembled.

Alarmed, you retracted the animal from his sight and begun to panic, "What's wrong, Ciel? Why're you crying? Did it hurt your finger? Let me see." You said and hastily grabbed his finger to inspect.

"Great, now ya made baby Ciel cry. Nice goin', N/N." Stefan scolded lightheartedly. It was quite obvious to him why Cielo had begun to cry but he could tell that you hadn't caught on just yet.

Turning to glance at the blonde, you defended yourself, "I-I didn't mean to, I swear it!" Focusing your attention back onto the boy before you, you offered, "I'll take the thing out if that's what you want, Ciel. I promise."

The child simply shook his head quickly and rapidly blinked in an attempt to dispel his tears. It didn't work. He reached for the bird and cradled it in his small hands, gazing at it with a fond smile as brand new tears dribbled down his chubby cheeks.

Stefan knelt beside him and placed a hand atop his shoulder, "I don't think those tears mean what ya think they do, N/N." he uttered.

"Hm? Why else would he be crying?" You inquired.

"My guess? They're happy tears." He explained, a soft smile peeking at the main attraction in the younger boys hands.

"Happy... tears?" You repeated, the words had felt foreign as they slipped off of your tongue.

"Mhm, now I wonder why such a free thing like this one would show up here of all places. 'S it hurt?" He asked and you shook your head in response. "Hm, weird. I reckon this lil' guy is yearnin' to go on home. Out onto the surface, that is." He stated as he stood back up.

Cielo's eyes had widened dramatically and he placed the bird gently back into your hold. Latching onto the taller boys sleeve, he had begun to hop frantically.

"Nuh-uh, I know what yer tryna say and the answer is and will always be, no. We're not goin' to the surface, baby Ciel." Stefan said sternly, his head only furthered his point as he shook it.

"The surface? You want to go to the surface, Ciel?" You'd beamed, heart accelerating at the mere thought. The boy bobbed his head enthusiastically as the twinkle in his eyes grew so intense, you almost shielded your own at the sight. His smile had been huge and scintillating.

You remembered that you had asked yourself, 'Is this what the people on the surface feel when they look at the sun?'

"Y'knowhow I feel about that, Y/N, don't ya dare encourage him." Stefan reminded and you knew immediately what he referred to.

It wasn't that Stefan hadn't dreamt of journeying to the land above, everyone down there did. The difference with Stefan, was that that dream was forever tainted by the mistakes of his father.

"You know, I heard about some people from the first underground city that escaped and got to the surface. Apparently they joined the military or something? Anyway, I bet they're enjoying the sun right now." You informed him softly, before you gently nudged your shoulder with his and continued, "Planting flowers?" You said pointedly, knowing the boys fascination with the blossoms.

In the scarce amount of books you were able to acquire, the way in which Stefan's eyes would linger and brighten when you read or admired pictures of anything floral, never escaped you. He was nowhere near an expert on chrysanthemums, dahlias or anything of the like but that didn't mean his enchantment was any less impassioned.

"Oh yeah? Good for them. Unfortunately, we aren't as lucky. As much fun as that sounds, it's way too risky. If the bird doesn't go back on its own, then I'm afraid it'll have to stay with us for the time bein'. "

Cielo's eyes grew with worry and he gestured to the animal still in your hands. "Ciel is right, it'll die down here, Stef!" You pleaded.

You had never actually believed that it would, it was simply an excuse to allow Stefan to spare another thought about venturing outside. You knew that, Cielo knew that, and Stefan knew that. Still, as weak as the excuse was, it was enough to force the boy to ponder.

"Even if we would, how would we even do such a thing?" He asked exasperatedly. As much as he had loathed the idea, that didn't mean he didn't want to step foot on the surface. He had wished for it more than anything. Dead father be damned, his heart yearned to take you both to see the sun set and the moon light the sky.

"The supply carts! They always come around midnight, and once they arrive, the guards switch shifts. Maybe we can find an opening and hitch a ride out of here!"

"That sounds way too easy. I'm sure the guards expect people to do exactly that, so I doubt they'd be so lenient. They probably double check the carts for stowaways." He explained as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Except, the guards that work the supply carts are the same ones that have run them for years. No one has escaped since I can remember, everyone has given up. Those guards are lazy and hate their jobs, I doubt they properly double check. But even if they did, we could bring something to cover ourselves with. It's a foul proof plan Stef, c'mon!"

It wasn't a foul proof plan. It was full of flaws and risks. Anyone with a right mind in their head could tell so. But you were a kid, so that fact was lost on you. And unfortunately for the three of you, Stefan was also a kid. No matter how wise the boy may have been, Stefan was twelve years old. A traumatized little boy with a grand amount of baggage on his shoulders and a curious heart in his chest. So the mere possibility of escaping his very own prison, blinded him of the fact that maybe it wasn't such a good idea, but instead, a life altering cataclysm.

Curiosity killed the cat.

The blanket of silence fell over you three, uncomfortably- for different reasons. It felt uncomfortable for you and Cielo because you could almost see the way Stefan's mind had gone haywire as he mulled over your proposition. It felt uncomfortable for Stefan, because now that the excuse of escaping had presented itself, he felt even more trapped than before. Restricted in his own body.

"...We're gonna need a big blanket."

That night was a rare one, where the citizens of the underground gathered and celebrated. What is it that they had celebrated? You never knew. In all honesty, the gathering was most likely a made up bash by your people, to give each other something to look forward to. You never minded, of course. Those nights were usually in such disorder that the three of you wound up taking from stalls that were left unattended or gambling on the outcome of random fights that would unravel. It was nights like those that you were blessed enough to witness humans in their intended nature. You gazed at more smiles than any other nights combined.

Contradictorily, that night, you used the commotion as a distraction to board the carts that went up and down the entrance of the city. Stefan had miraculously acquired a blanket that was made up of stitched together cloths, to be used as a cover. The carts had arrived at midnight, as usual, and took a couple of hours to unload. It was almost daybreak which meant that the carts were to soon take off.

Stefan and Cielo were given the task of watching your six as you proceeded with your mission of initiating a distraction. In addition to the cover, Stefan had also gotten his hands on a sweater that he designated to Cielo. It had oversized pocket holes with the intention of allowing your bird to stay hidden within the journey.

After you detected Stefan's signal, informing you that the carts were good to go, you took action.

The center of the city was fully crowded with people idly standing and chatting, sitting and eating and others aimlessly exploring. You had waltzed up to a stall cluttered with buyers, inconspicuously slipping through the groups. As you drew closer, your nose gradually caught an indescribable and inescapable essence that it had never before encountered. There were so many things unknown to you during that stage of your life, countless questions unanswered, but the second you caught a whiff of that stubborn scent, it was the only thing your mind knew.

You were sure it was something that could've only been sold on nights like those and even then, most citizens wouldn't have been able to afford the enigma. The shorter the distance between your body and the stall supplying your hyper-fixation, the stronger it gripped your lungs. It engulfed you, suffocated you in a way you found that you didn't mind.

Addicting.

You stuck close to the man in front of you who was leisurely strolling by. In one swift motion, you swiped two bottles of the sweet nectar you became enamored with and gently placed one inside of the man's pocket, doing the same to the other one for yourself. Then, came the easy part.

Drawing in a large breath of air, you yelled at the top of your lungs, "Ooh, he's stealing! He's selling the sweet stuff this guy is selling!"

Simultaneously, gasps erupted from within the crowds and the man in charge of the stall had begun to berate the man that was accused. Standing his ground, the man didn't simply take the insults and begun to defend his honor.

It didn't take long for a brawl to break through with random people who weren't even involved, joining. You would've loved to stay and watch till the end but that was the exact opposite of your goal.

Fleeing in the direction of your escape route, a decent amount of men in Military Police uniforms had slipped by you in an effort to quell the commotion. You thanked your past self, of five minutes, for choosing a particularly sturdy man that could defend himself or else you would've felt poor for him.

You caught up to Stefan who held Cielo in his arms and began to sprint as fast as your short legs could take you. "Do you think that'll be enough?" You asked through a series of pants.

"Let's hope so." Stefan replied, equally as breathless.

The carts were near the entrance of the city so it was inevitable that the path towards it was slightly steep. Just as you had hoped, most of the guards had fled to aid in yielding the tussle that had enacted further into the settlement.

Without a word, Stefan aided Cielo in climbing into one of the front carts and then quickly hopped in after, cradling the boy to his chest. You joined them both, lifting one leg after the other but as you did so, your foot had gotten caught in one of the handles, creating a loud bang.

The sound was not monstrous enough that the citizens within the plaza would pay any heed but enough that if there were any guards near, the noise would not be disregard-able.

Unfortunately for you, there were.

The look Stefan had given you demanded of you to keep moving and get in.

Regardless of your anxiety sky rocketing, you leapt inside and placed yourself between one of the walls of the cart and Cielo. All of the carts had a slidable door, so with trembling hands, you slowly shut the top, enclosing the three of you into the tight space. Stefan had placed the blanket over your trio and clutched the sleeve of your sweater subconsciously. He was nervous, rightfully so, and so were you and Cielo.

Your slip up that had occurred just a couple of seconds before, had caused two of the soldiers that were set to keep guard to trek back towards the entrance to confirm that there were no problems. You heard each of their footsteps as they investigated but in the end, it had yielded nothing.

That was until the small bird in Cielo's pocket had begun to chirp, ear-piercing squeaks.

"The fuck is wrong with her?" Stefan had whispered harshly. You were surrounded by darkness so you never knew who exactly he was looking at, but you knew he was genuinely asking, the stress was what had brought the edge to his voice.

"I don't know. Cielo isn't smushing her or anything, she might be afraid of the dark?" You answered, and since none of you had any idea of what to do next, you simply awaited the moment she would settle.

A man, who you assumed was a guard, had slurred, "What's with the noise? 'S that a bird?" You could tell he had most likely helped himself to the cheap alcohol on the streets, the inebriation had been clear within his voice.

"I don't know, let me double check inside the carts and make sure we didn't trap one. Don't know what it'd be doing all the way down here though." Said another man, that one definitely had not slurred.

You heard the lids of other carts being slid open, one by one, and had begun to panic. Your heart beat could be heard pounding through your ears and though it was most probable just your imagination, you swore you heard two more rhythms beating in sync.

"Shit. They're gonna find us, we're so dead." You whispered to no one in particular.

"Let's just keep quiet and stay put. She's quieting down now, so hopefully he'll leave-" Stefan began, but came to a screeching halt when your cart lid began to part.

Light had entered through the sheet over you and allowed you to view the panicked expressions engraved into both of the boys before you. Cielo's mercury eyes were misted over and Stefan's emeralds were as wide as saucers. His hand was clutched into the pocket that you knew he had kept his blade in, and you begged with your own eyes to wait. Not yet. You still held onto hope that the man would overlook you and carry on.

But then the sheet draped atop your forms was slowly peeled away and you were met with a man that sported a dark head of hair, styled in an almost mullet and paired with an aspiring mustache and goatee. Your breath halted as your eyes met his, as if that would make you invisible.

He had slid his dark eyes to Stefan next, the boy only gradually slid his hand to clutch you protectively, effectively squishing the younger boy between you two, in the process.

His charcoal irises met Cielo next and you had seen them soften the slightest bit for the boy. He had his back to Stefan and was squeezing you for dear life. Dusky eyes glazed with fear, bottom lip quivering and the tiny bird one of his hands as he cradled it to his chest. His mouth ceaselessly shaping the word 'please' onto his lips.

The atmosphere was static for about ten seconds, each one torturous. Tendrils of fear creeped into your lungs, effectively cropping your quickened breaths that threatened to escape your throat as you awaited the fated reaction from the man who held a long gun in his right hand.

"Did'ya find it?" Slurred the other soldier once more. He seemed father in distance than the one you had a staring contest with. The soldier hesitated, mouth gaping and shutting repeatedly.

"...Yeah. It's just a bird, I'll dispose of it once we get back up." He announced and slid the top closed once again.

Not a single soul moved a muscle for a long minute after that and you were unsure if it was in disbelief or simply because you were all still scared shitless.

"...what the hell..." Stefan found the strength to whisper, his blonde hair mending with his forehead as it clung with the perspiration that had been caused by his nerves.

"He didn't snitch..." You whispered in astonishment.

"He didn't... we are some lucky sons of bitches, N/N. I hope you know that. Someone from beyond is lookin' out for us."

"Don't get your hopes up, we're not out of the forest yet. H-he might want to deal with us once we get to the surface. Let's just wait it out for now." You suggested, tremble clear within your voice.

"Right." He agreed, before you heard the shuffling of clothes and he continued, "You alright, baby Cielo?" He whispered softly to the child in his arms. You felt him nod his head lightly before burying it further into your chest.

The cart jerked suddenly before it began to move and up they proceeded, one by one. The organ nestled into your chest felt as though it had been replaced with a jackhammer.

"Oh my gosh, Stef- I'm so nervous." You informed him as you squeezed your eyes shut.

"I know, don't worry-"

"This is actually happening, what if he kills us-"

"I won't let him-"

"If he does end up putting a bullet in our heads, I want you to know that I love you."

"I- er. Well, really? I love you too-"

"You and Cielo are my family, I love you both more than anything-"

"We know, love.-"

"I'm a snide piece of shit sometimes, but I'm so sorry that I convinced you to do this-"

"No, you never-"

"I mean if you think about it, if I never found the bird that day, Cielo wouldn't have had the thought of escaping in his mind-"

Your adamant rambling had gotten caught in your throat as you felt your fingers being interlaced. Warm digits carded themselves through the gaps between your own, a gentle squeeze being pressed into your palm. In milliseconds, your mind was quelled and a soft exhale escaped your lips.

"I'm sorry." Your voice was barely audible.

"You have nothin' to be sorry bout." He reassured you as gently as he could. There was no hesitance or shake in his statement, he genuinely believed that fact.

"If we do die, I'm glad that the last thing I'll see, will probably be your faces." Although you were enveloped in darkness, you still allowed yourself to gift a soft smile in the vague direction of both boys.

"You ain't gonna die, you sappy girl, I won't let him harm you both. I promise, no bullets will be goin' into either of your heads."

"You can't promise that."

"I just did."

Stefan had a knack for leaving you speechless. "...thank you."

That sentiment was heavily reciprocated. "...shut up."

The entire ride took a whole ten minutes to complete, and since you had infiltrated a cart towards the front, it was one of the first to arrive.

Footsteps approaching rapidly reached your ears and then the cart lid was swung open. The blanket that shielded you from the world was thrown off of you and your eyes took their time to adjust to the altered lighting, but soon enough, you saw him. The same soldier from before, donning the tan jacket with the green stallion emblem plastered on his left chest pocket. The only difference was that he had his gun aimed directly at your trio.

His expression was intense and his body seemed rigid as he ordered, "Get out now. Run and don't look back. Get to a nearby city or village and don't tell anyone where you're from just yet. Wait a couple years to do so and never come back again." His brows met in the middle of his face as he further took in your appearances. "You guys are so small... what the hell? Where are your parents?!" He inquired.

"W-we're orphans." Stefan informed him and it surprised you that he had stuttered. It was then that you noticed he had already sat up and spread his arms to block both you and Cielo from the guns barrel.

"...go. You never met me, got it?"

"Yes, sir." You both replied in unison.

Stefan was the first to spring into action, hopping out of the cart and hoisting Cielo to his side promptly after. You wasted no time to follow and landed on the earth with a thud. Stefan didn't hesitate to take the soldier's advice, taking your hand in his left and Cielo in his right arm before breaking into a sprint in the first direction he turned to.

Your head had begun to pound, probably from the sun that had risen in the sky by then, and your lungs in-took as much oxygen as they could handle. Imagine your surprise when the air around you didn't taste stale and humid but instead as if you were drinking freshly fetched water. As you were running, the scenery encircling your form began to decelerate. Your eyes absorbed every defining detail that they could hold.

The glistening green grass, the scorching rays of sunlight that drew its claws into your skin, the prodigious trees in the distance. They seemed almost unnatural to you, with flowers blooming in between every leaf that protruded from within the ragged intwined branches.

Those leaves, they reminded you of Stefan's eyes.

The air felt significantly fuller out in the surface, it filled your nostrils and you found that there existed no scenario in which you could get enough. Your lips parted in your heaving and whether that was in result of your physical strain or your enchantment with the ventilation didn't matter. You felt as though you had taken your first sip of water in the midst of a drought.

You vision began to turn blurry. A side effect from the difference in environment, perhaps? No. Your eyes were wet with the tears dribbling down your face before you could even register their presence. But you weren't sad- no, anything but that. Those tears had felt amazing, as if they held the key that liberated your soul.

'So, these are happy tears?'

You craved for more.

And then a flash of blue entered your peripheral. It was different from the one that had painted the canvas above you.

Sapphire blue wings, but they were not alike the small bird that was cradled into Cielo's chest. Those wings lacked feathers and looked smooth to the touch. It crossed your mind that it had to be an insect, being that it was smaller than any bird you had read about. It swayed with the wind and was what you could only describe as beautiful with the beauty that left its mark on the mind of every and any being that had the blessing of gazing upon it.

It soared and it fluttered, and you found yourself wishing to be even the slightest bit as ethereal and unrestricted as that small being had been.

"Wow... so this is the surface..." You uttered in the most lightest voice that Stefan had ever heard.

He directed his head towards you, hand still grasping your own, with the intention of stealing a quick glance. He really should've known better. It was never only a quick glance when it came to you. Inevitably, he found himself with the compulsion of the inability to detach his irises from your delicate face.

That smile was the most irradiant and prodigious he had ever seen dance across your lips. You were crying, but he knew it was not a matter of pain. How could it be, when your eyes whispered a completely different synopsis?

You were gazing through the expanse field and his heart hurled him through a flurry of individual emotions in a matter of seconds.

Bliss, excitement, contentment and love.

He adored your expression so much so, it forced him to have sought out what it was that had driven you to that high you were riding. And then he saw it too, every detail sunk into his hippocampus just as they did in yours. The glistening green grass, the scorching rays of sunlight that drew its claws into his skin, and the almost unnatural prodigious trees in the distance with flowers blooming in between every leaf that protruded from within the ragged intwined branches. And the butterfly.

'Oh, that butterfly.' His voice cooed within the confines of his own mind.

It was the second most beautiful thing he had laid his eyes upon, and seeing it so carefree and selfish allowed himself to picture his youngest self finally breaking the bars that made up the cage he enclosed himself in, deep in the pits of his soul. He too found his eyesight becoming blurry.

Those mesmerizing green eyes grew glassy, reflecting his most favorite scenery.

He directed his attention towards the boy in his arms, there sat the first most beautiful sight the world had offered him. Cielo's smile.

Cielo's gigantic grin that enveloped his face, only being rivaled by your own. Both of those expressions he had appointed as the most paradisical he had ever seen, and he had gazed upon them one after the other in a span of seconds.

Then you both had stared at Cielo. Baby Cielo's face that radiated bliss. His dark hair had gotten messier by the second with the wind carding its delicate fingers through his fluffy locks, caressing every crevice of his face, every nook and cranny. The sunshine bouncing off of his pale skin and making it seem as if he was glowing. His once deep mercury eyes almost mimicking a navy blue, and you wondered if they had always been that color.

The small boy shifted those eyes to the even smaller bird that laid in his hands, lifting it into the air ever so slightly. The animal immediately responded with rapidly flapping its wings, an action that startled the boy, but had not thwarted his advance at lifting it up even higher, encouraging the bird to take off into the vast empyrean sky. And it did, effectively causing boyish giggles to erupt from within Cielo's lips as he had found his new favorite color.

And oh, he couldn't believe his eyes. There were clouds, so many of them. They looked so soft that he found himself wanting to touch them, lay in them, and wrap himself in the fluffy substance. His arms outstretched and he felt as though he had been so near; just a hop away and they'd meet his stubby fingers.

Stefan leaped, to Cielo's surprise. He wondered to himself if the older boy had mind powers or anything of the sort.

Nevertheless, his fingers never met the clouds but he couldn't care less. Not when he was so blissful. Not when both the people he adored most in the world were just an arms length away and had worn those enchanting expressions. And they were laughing, hypnotic sounds that he fell in love with because it was the very first time they had ever laughed like that. As he always had and always would, he followed their lead and joined in the giggle fit.

It'd been a beautiful seen really, full with contentment and carelessness.

You had run for about twenty minutes straight by the time Stefan had informed you about a settlement nearby that a friend from the underground had told him about. He told you it had not been too far from where you where at, so a short break would be fine. He placed Cielo gently onto the ground while you both caught your breaths. Your calf muscles burned and ached but for some reason, you didn't dislike that feeling paired with the blaze in your lungs. Running was fun to you. No one had spoken yet and the only sound that was heard was the in sync heaves both you and Stefan dealt.

Until Cielo burst into another hackle of giggles and began to race through the grassy field you stood upon. His little legs had taken him in a such a rush, you had begun to worry because it almost seemed as if-

...he fell face first onto the ground.

"Cielo!" Came both of your voices in unison.

But instead of the wailing you had expected, his cries of joy grew louder as he flipped onto his back and began to roll around on the grass.

Hesitantly you asked, "Cielo... what are you doing, love?" But he paid no heed and continued to cackle like a madman. Or boy. That was the closest you had gotten to hearing his actual voice, so you complained no further.

The boy then abruptly sat up and brushed his palms against the dewy blades of grass with a satisfied expression that spoke words worth a millennia. Dragging his gaze up towards his favorite people, he patted the empty spots beside him, encouraging you both to take them. Of course, you obliged without a second thought.

As you took the seat to his right and Stefan to his left, you mimicked Cielo's earlier actions and glided your small hands over the velvety blades. A thud came from next to you, emitted by Cielo throwing the rest of his body back onto the grass. It was only then that you realized what he wanted.

Something so simple yet so Cielo of him to want to do. He just wished to enjoy the moment with you. And so you too plopped yourself into the grass next to him, Stefan followed after. Twisting your neck to face both boys, you found something obstructing your view. It was dainty and dewy, much like the green blades encircling it, with purple petals that glistened and swayed with the breeze.

A flower.

It was only then that you noticed the abundance of them on the field you laid on. Each one a vibrant periwinkle shade. The sight caused you to flip onto your tummy and lay your head to rest on one of your arms, the other had reached out to caress the silky petals.

Unbeknownst to you, Stefan watched on with the most softest expression one could give another. One exuding adoration and love. He then quietly scanned the grass around him and plucked the first stray flower he found, taking a couple of seconds for himself to gaze at it admirably.

In one slow motion, he reached over Cielo's body and tucked away the short strands of hair behind your ears, any that were long enough at the time. Then, he gently placed the delicate flower right along with them, sitting back and admiring his work when the deed had been done.

The loving gesture wasn't lost on you and your eyes had quickly found themselves attempting to catch a glimpse at the fragile plant nestled behind your ear. After you realized that you wouldn't be able to, you opted to instead move your eyes to the older boy that was now within your range of vision. Green and purple would compliment each other beautifully, wouldn't they?

Plucking your own violet treasure from the ground beneath you, before you gifted it to the boy, you decided to place a sweet kiss atop the corolla. Since you had both sat up at the point, the nimble flowers journey to its rightful place behind his ear used little to no effort.

As you sat back and admired each others work, it was as though the sole reason they had sprouted was for that exact moment. Minds working in sync, you both looked to the boy between you who gazed back with a fond smile. In unison, you searched for another pair of blossoms before placing kisses atop the supple petals and tucking them both behind the younger boys' ears. Yours on the right and Stefan's on his left.

Once they had both been placed in their rightful places, you both drew back and glanced at Cielo's expression, surprisingly finding the fat of cheeks painted a baby pink.

Slowly, as your mind digested that fact, your felt your own warmth spread across the bridge of your nose, only stopping short of your ears.

As if having a domino effect, Stefan's skin followed directly after your own.

And so, you sat with warm cheeks and flowers behind your ears with the only two boys you had ever known, feeling as though you were the only three people who ever existed, heart feeling full at the thought.

But of course, gaining a taste of freedom always seemed to make one drunk with pleasure therefore craving for as much as they could get their greedy hands on. Give an addict an inch and they'll yearn for a mile.

So as the sun had set and you threw yourself back onto the ground after an intense game of tag, with your chests heaving and the flowers you took such care to place having long since fallen back onto the earth where they came from, the conversation that would soon become your core drive throughout your pre-teen and teenage years, began.

"What kind of flowers are these?" You asked, one hand twirling a stem in between your index and thumb and the other placed as a cushion behind your head.

Stefan had taken his time to answer and that alone was your first sign that something else had been roaming around his mind. "I'll tell ya, if you promise me somethin'." He responded, eyes piercing the sky.

"What is it?" You inquired, interest being piqued.

With a dreamy sigh, he announced the thought that had plagued his mind, "Promise that one day, we'll see what's beyond the walls."

The idea had baffled you at the time, since it had never once crossed your mind of going beyond the barriers that separated you from what was unknown. "What? Why would you wanna go beyond the walls?" You asked incredulously.

"Why wouldn't-cha? If we ever get the chance to, I wanna see what lays beyond them and then after that, I wanna see what lays beyond that and then what lays beyond even that."

Exhaling in your surprise, you continued, "You mean the titans? I know we've never seen one, but that doesn't mean they suddenly stopped existing. Did you forget why the walls are even there?" It was a genuine question as your mind couldn't even begin to comprehend asking for more than what you had then.

Stefan had always been a dreamer through and through. "Well o'course I haven't forgotten and I'm sure those titans are scary as hell. But, let's pretend they weren't there, wouldn't ya wanna see what the world you were born into has to offer? Yer birthright? Like, all of it? There just has to be more out there that we haven't even begun to imagine, what if this is just the beginnin'?"

"Well yeah, but I don't know. I don't really like change and I feel like that would change a lot." You responded hesitantly.

"We're experiencing change right now and you seem to be doin' just fine." He challenged.

"That's cause you're here."

Covering his face at the flush that ensued because of your statement, he chuckled, "And I'll be right there if and when that happens, both of us will." He gestured to himself and the young boy in between you two. "Nothin' could ever split us up. We'll be the wonder trio till the end." He assured.

Humming in thought, you answered, "...I guess that wouldn't be too bad then. I wonder what's out there." Your mind had begun to race with ideas, most of which consisted of greenery and the jewels you had seen in old tattered books. "Other than titans, of course."

"Guess we'll have to find out. So, promise?" He extended his pinky towards the both of you, knowing that although Cielo still hadn't uttered a word, he wouldn't hesitate to be included.

"You haven't even told me the name of the flower, Stef. I ain't stupid." You reminded lightheartedly.

He seemed to have genuinely forgotten the exchange you agreed upon, so you didn't fret too much, "Oh, right." He uttered before he tilted his head to glance at the flowers scattered around you. "Those are bellflowers. Though their scientific name is campanulas and they signify gratitude, humility, attractiveness, and everlasting love."

They also represent disappointment and foreshadowing events, though till this day, you didn't know if Stefan had known that fact and withheld that information from you or if he truly was clueless. And if he did know, why had he kept it from you?

Giggling like the naïve child you were, you interlocked both of your fingers and awaited the third to join. "Thanks Stef, I promise."

Instead of raising his pinky finger, Cielo had decided to grant you both what you had been secretly imploring for years. "I promise." Came the smallest voice ever spoken, followed by an even tinier digit placed between your own.

Your heart skipped a beat and you halted your breath as your body entered a temporary state of torpor. A moment of silence had followed and Cielo allowed it because he knew he needed to let the action sink into your brains. He allowed his voice to marinate.

"C-cielo! You- you used your voice!" You exclaimed, finally finding your own as you sprung your torso up from within the grass and gaped at the boy below you.

In response, he simply but smugly, nodded his head.

Stefan had sat up too but instead of voicing his excitement, his wide eyes stared at him in astonishment. You would think Cielo had invented time travel with the look Stefan had given him.

"Say my name next! Come on say it!" You demanded with avidity, hands clutched together as you leaned into the young boy.

He didn't budge, opting to smile complacently, both hands now behind his head for comfort.

Breaking out of his stupor, Stefan joined in the exchange with a smirk, "Ya can't just drop that on us and expect us not to nag' ya. Come on now Ciel, say our names."

He shook his head again and forced you to resign in your attempts. It had seemed Cielo wanted to take baby steps, and that was fine with you.

"Fine, but we'll get it out of you soon. Don't expect us to let it go anytime soon. That lovely voice of yours deserves to be heard, at the very least by us." You told him with a smile, punctuating your statement with a boop to his nose.

"Mmm, yer just bein sassy with us right now, aren'tcha? Fine then, once you move out of that stage yer in, you won't wanna stop flappin' those gums to me." Even though Stefan had said it tauntingly, you didn't miss the tone in his voice that indicated how wishful of that he was. Nevertheless, he laid himself back onto the ground and began to admire the sunset, one of his lifelong dreams.

As the sun set and you watched the moon light the sky, the three of you were yet again mesmerized by the sight of what looked to be a million lanterns endlessly flickering. Even though you knew it impossible, that didn't hinder your attempt at counting every single ball of light that you saw in the canvas of navy blue. Navy blue that mirrored both Cielo's eyes and hair. Whilst pointing at certain clumps that reminded you of shapes, you soon fell into a deep slumber, still on the ground because back pain be damned, sleeping under the stars was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Stefan had reassured you that village you planned on using as a safeguard would still be there the following day.

That night, in the form of a dream, you were shown what you assumed to be memories. To whom those memories belonged to, you weren't given a clue. All you knew was that you pitied the owner, for even the mere fraction of seconds that were bestowed upon you from which you lived through their eyes was much too heavy for your still fragile heart. Each and every snippet of the vague scenes that flashed before your eyes brought upon their very own powerful emotions. Each leaving you inundated, as if all the air had been stripped from your lungs.

A loose limb lied in a puddle of blood, dirt and cobblestone beneath it. Your cheeks had been soaked and throat sore, fingernails scratched at the ground as dirt collected underneath them and warm blood muddied on your fingertips.

The scent of a boy with disheveled light brown shaggy hair, as you rode atop a horse. Those same fingertips, now calloused, clutching the fabric he donned with a strength you'd never felt before. His welcoming aroma created a safe haven that flooded a sense of security into your chest. Despite the storm that brewed in your heart, caused by another reason unknown to you at the time, it allowed you to wrap yourself in a brief feeling of peace. That was a person with a heavy meaning in the owner's life.

Round and misty hazel eyes that seemingly reflected the world in them. Grief and despair showed themselves in wisps within their depths. The sight alone had caused your heart to sink and lip to quiver.

The one after was the most vivid, for it felt as though you could control your own movements. A sunset had doused the sky in a multitude of colors that ranged from blue, orange, red and gold; if you squinted well enough, you could see a splash of purple. Directly in front of you was what seemed to be a river, your socks discarded to the side and toes wet. There was a warm body sitting alongside you, mimicking your pose. Your cheeks had felt warm once again and you didn't know if the cause was the sun bath you experienced or something else entirely. All you knew was that you had felt prickles of bliss and tranquility within your own body, that was enough for you to yearn for just a moment longer within that headspace.

Then, soft pink lips invaded your mind in a fog. The faint taste of something sweet that you couldn't even begin to describe. Not when you were focused on steadying the rapid thumping within your chest. That had brought upon feelings that your mind couldn't even fathom existed.

A dainty white blossom that stood tall and healthy the first moment, only to appear broken and crumpled the next; cradled in one's palm. Your eyes had gotten glassier with each passing second as lachrymose had been thrusted upon you in that instant.

A gentle but strong woman with vibrant gold locks and crystal blue eyes that outshone even the jewels embedded within the crown placed atop her head. Pride is what your mind had whispered in your ears, only getting louder the longer you had stared at her. And then suddenly you were placed in front of an injured and dying man with tanned skin and mud colored hair that bordered black. His fingers were interlocked with yours as he mouthed something that you couldn't yet register. His eyes turned dull and his head lulled back against a tree.

A large body of cerulean water in your peripheral from what you could tell and there was a male in front of you, his face distorted in your vision. One of his legs had been missing but that didn't stop him from dipping the toes he had left into the depths of something unknown to you. That person had a serene aura to them, that much you could tell, and there was a lingering thought of accomplishment in your core.

A girl with a brown head of hair that teared apart a type of meat, one that you couldn't yet recognize, with her teeth. Tears cascaded down her cheeks in streams, but you recognized the look on her face. She wasn't experiencing heartache or anguish, instead, she was in pure bliss. And then in a flash, she laid on the ground in a different setting. Crimson pooled around her form and a pain you couldn't even begin to elucidate swallowed you whole.

The next few scenes only lasted split seconds.

A young boy around your age with dirty blonde hair and light forest green pearls that matched those of your Stefan.

An unusually round and fluffy plant that almost seemed, hairy?

A flat pastry that had been folded and drizzled with a dark substance.

More violet flowers, only that time, they were doused in alizarin crimson.

A boy with sleek dark hair that reached to about his chin and jade colored eyes that stared expectantly, a pleading declaration swam in the black pools of his pupils.

Sharp ivory claws.

Bones, colossal in size.

So much steam.

Wings?

And throughout each memory, almost acting as a shadow in the back of your mind, there had been a reoccurring sight.

A pair of honey golden eyes.

Each time they presented themselves in front of you, they projected a vast collection of emotions that ranged from ecstasy and pleasure to misery and regret and everything in between. There was so much pain, emotional and physical, within those short but constant moments.

Luckily for you, just as soon as they had been tossed into your arms, they were tugged away as though you had not been meant to remember such moments. And so that is exactly what happened. You were allowed to slip back into your momentary state of peace.

Looking back at it, you should've known. Should've known that it was all too good to be true, because of course life could not allow you to stay in your idyllic place in life, beside both Stefan and Cielo, no matter how tightly you cradled it with your very own hands. Because one second, it felt as though you were coddling the sapphire blue butterfly you had fallen in love with and the very next, that same insect disintegrated into ashes and slipped though your fingers. No matter how hard you tried or how long you spent scouring the flakes from the ground, you'd never be able to seize every piece that fell to the floor. And most definitely not without bruising your knees from the effort that got rewarded with nothingness.

Fun fact: Cielo did indeed see you in the same light as you had seen Stefan. He also did think you were as, if not more, ethereal as that butterfly.

[simmillercc]

SIMS 4 - PARANORMAL REDESIGNED WITH STYLE RECOLOUR SET - PARANORMAL REQUIRED

My idea of paranormal decor seems to be a lot different than Maxis'. I've recoloured 19 items (20 if you separate the left/right curtains) from the Paranormal Stuff Pack to better suit my style, and hopefully yours!

Most of the items come in the 18 colours from the colour palette image attached, while a few only come in black/grey, such as the hutch. In addition, the crystal ball comes in 4 colours. Any objects from the pack not recoloured are because they already come in complimentary colours to my set.

The set comes with the following:

Almost Completely Normal Coffee Table - black/grey only

Curiously Constructed Fireplace - black/grey only

Dearly Departed Parlor Chair - 18 colours

Ghost Club Sideboard and Hutch - black/grey only

Great Auntie's Desk - black/grey only

Guidry's Favourite Chair - 18 colours

Guidry's Frisky Loveseat - 18 colours

Helping Hand Sculpture - black/bone only

Lady Ravendancer's Crystal Ball - 4 colours

Push Your Luck End Table - black/grey only

Reveling Petals Wall Sconce - 18 colours

Seance/Dining Chair - 18 colours - FIXED 02APR2021

Seance Table - black/grey only

Spirit Appeasing Hallway Table - black/grey only

Oh the Suspense! Suspended Light - 18 colours

Table of Rage Dining Table - 18 colours

The Veil Beaded Curtain Left and Right - 18 colours

Threads of Fortune Rug - 18 colours

Violetta Von Victoria's Loyal Sofa - 18 colours

The zip is easily extracted into your mods folder, or you can open it and install only those items that you want. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD FREE HERE 

[offdensen]

i wrote a review for army of the doomstar on letterboxd for my third watch (after marathoning the entire show in one day) and i wanted to share it here, too.

spoiler free.

⛧⛧⛧

i think it's time for me to say something actually substantial about this film now that i've rewatched it after having gone through the entire series once again.

the thing is, it's impossible for me to judge this fairly or objectively. my attachment to this series, to the music, to the characters, to anything that brendon small touches means i can never be unbiased about the production of the film. i spent years lamenting the lack of a proper ending, thankful for 2017’s galaktikon II: become the storm providing an infringement-avoidant ending but still left wanting. having a proper conclusion after so long is a wonderful gift, one that’s made me cry every time i’ve gone through it.

what's so incredible about this film is that it’s as if no time has passed since the doomstar requiem. i can certainly feel that ten years have come and gone since this series was unceremoniously cancelled by the powers that be at [adult swim], and i definitely carry at least some of the teenaged bitterness from that still, but army of the doomstar picks up so well from where we left off that it's a testament to the passion and love the cast and crew have for this silly little show about death metal musicians.

you can tell that these characters live in brendon small so intensely after all this time. he picks them up effortlessly, not just in his performance, but also in his writing and direction. tommy blacha is as strong as ever, particularly as a haunted, tormented murderface. how extraordinarily lucky we are to have victor brandt, mark hamill, and malcolm mcdowell returning to give their characters one final hurrah.

visually, it's an absolute treat. army of the doomstar feels cinematic in a way that makes it stand out not just compared to its source material, but also to its [as] contemporaries. it still has that slight titmouse jank that i dearly love, enough that it doesn't feel divorced from its roots; it is the logical conclusion to the art evolution the show had been endeavoring through every season. not showing this on the big screen, even for a very limited run, is an injustice.

music has always been metalocalypse's high-point and it remains true here. brendon small never really departed from that heavy sound during the show’s temporary death, having expanding upon it in galaktikon II with a stronger emphasis on synth. this really shines in the film’s score, balancing its orchestral and guitar-forward metal elements delicately well. dethklok itself is as technically impressive as ever, returning with that more mature sound from the last season. dethalbum IV works delightfully well as a companion piece.

i don’t know how this film would fair to those that haven’t revisited the show since it was still airing new episodes, to those that never kept up with the overarching story, or to those who were particularly married to what we were given in galaktikon II. the grand spectacle of become the storm was traded for something that better resembled the thesis of the show, the thread seen throughout that tied ego and selfishness to loss and destruction, not just to others but also to oneself.

i also don’t think it could be evaluated fairly as a standalone film. truly, how much does it matter how well something stands on its own when it's sewn from a grander piece?

army of the doomstar is different, both in overall tone from the show and plot-wise from its proxy from 2017, and i think this is to its betterment. it is still funny like its origin, but it is also heartfelt, it is genuine, it is sorrowful, it is hopeful. it is a love-letter to the music it was birthed from and to the fans that kept it breathing. it is niche, but it is ours.

thank you, brendon, for not breaking up with us.

[drmorbius12]

Let me write of why I’m still here.  The wind knocked at my door last night.  I woke up on the floor whilst this dearly departed diary wept dream tears that dripped down along the eave of the cover.  All my secrets keep silent till the world ends.  I must have been sleepwalking because I don’t remember getting up to invite the wind in.  Yet the pages of my life were flipped through clear to the end as if there was nothing left.  Now the remainder of my days are hanging by a threaded needle forever piercing my heart.

[warlocks-and-phoenixes]

I posted 183 times in 2022

That's 183 more posts than 2021!

44 posts created (24%)

139 posts reblogged (76%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@teaparty-in-ruan

@twilight-skies

@aaronisawhore

@vyladromeave

@coelakanths

I tagged 181 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#minecraft diaries - 143 posts

#lmfao - 55 posts

#pretty art - 30 posts

#garroth ro'meave - 28 posts

#aphmau shala’shaska - 24 posts

#aphverse headcanons - 23 posts

#mystreet - 19 posts

#aphmau - 16 posts

#writing - 15 posts

#zane ro'meave - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#jess could’ve at least made it like dante was threatening aph and their greatest fear is her being in danger as they’re helpless to stop it

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

!18 Hours Before End of Round One Voting!

(X)

(X)

13 notes - Posted November 23, 2022

#4

APHTOBER DAY 4: JURY

13 notes - Posted October 5, 2022

#3

APHTOBER DAY 6: DEARLY DEPARTED

14 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

#2

Twi’s Headcanons: The Aphmau Multiverse

So, two days ago I had a sudden idea to make the photo below, explaining all of my HCs of how the universe/dimensions/multiverse worked. I then spent an obscene amount of time in the middle of the night and the next day making it, and I decided it’d be cool to share it here instead of just discord (for once. I really love hc posts but I never get around to them usually unless prompted) (this post is 1666 words long oh boy)

Under the cut is a transcription of all the text in case it’s hard to read, along with my HCs concerning the Divine Dimensions specifically, as well as an explanation of the “inter-universal breach” in the bottom-left with VOID: Paradox’s universe. I think everything below explains enough, but feel free to ask if there’s anything else you’d like to know!

(Tumblr ate the quality so click on the photo to make it look better)

A Guide to the Aphmau Multiverse (As Headcanoned by Twilight)

Basic Info:

The Multiverse Itself: Every large purple circle is a universe. A singular universe may have many different dimensions inside of it, some being unique, but all of them have the fundamentals of life: a form of Material Universe, an Astral Weave/Garden, Gateway/Door of Judgment, and Aether/Afterlife.

The Universal Barrier//The Void: The Barrier is an infinite abyss of nothingness that separates each universe. If the Barrier is broken in any way (an object or being traveling between universes), the best way to describe its reaction would be like that of an immune system overreacting to some viruses; it begins attacking itself in the goal of destroying the threat. In such an event, The Void; an unstoppable parasitic force of nature, is released into all universes involved in the breach, essentially killing/destroying the entire universe and then resetting it completely.

The Dimensions within the the MCD/MS Universe:

Mortal Plane//Known Galaxy//Material Universe (including Earth): The world of Diaries, PDH/PDD, and Mystreet.

The Nether//Shad The Destroyer’s Dimension: the equivalent of Hell in Divine mythology, though Judgment does not actually send anyone there of their own accord. [Reached from the Mortal Plane via unstable ritual magic; Connected to the Astral Garden via Shad’s interference in the natural cycle of life/death.]

Astral Weave: Where the threads of reality weave together to create souls in preparation for the birth of a new being. [Unreachable to living or dead beings]

Astral Garden: Purgatory/where souls go after death and before Judgment. [Unreachable to living beings; Connected to the Nether via Shad’s interference in the natural cycle of life/death.]

Door of Judgment: The gateway into the Afterlife [Unreachable to living beings]

The Aether//Afterlife: The equivalent of Heaven in Divine mythology. [Unreachable to living beings]

Yggdrasil: An Alternate Dimension home to the humanoid race known as Elves. The majority prefer to keep their existence mostly unknown to Humans, but they have established a permanent link between dimensions in the Arctic Mountains of Earth. [Reachable via portal created by Elven sorcery in the Arctic area of Earth]

Wyvern Realm: An alternate Dimension home to the intelligent draconic race known as Wyverns. [Reached from the Mortal Plane via unstable ritual magic]

See the full post

22 notes - Posted July 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Twi’s Headcanons II: The Region of Ru’aun

After making that last post about the multiverse, it only seemed right that I also do one exploring my own map of Ru’aun, its history, and its politics. It’s also definitely needed in order to understand the other non-canon places in my rewrite, so without further ado:

(Oh shit it’s 3.5k words this time lmao. Also Tumblr ate the quality again so click on the photos)

(NOTE: The in-universe calendar used in various places here counts upwards from the birth of Irene. In my version season 1 takes place 482 years after the divine, and season 3 is 500 years later, not 900. AI stands for “After Irene” and BI means “Before Irene”. Comparable to BC & AD)

Khasia & Scalesia:

[Pronounced kah-sia and skay-lee-sia (sia as in ‘Asia’)]

See the full post

38 notes - Posted July 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[notdelicatc]

You will hear thunder and remember me, And think: she wanted storms. The rim Of the sky will be the colour of hard crimson, And your heart, as it was then, will be on fire.

✧ threads ✧ about ✧ headcanon ✧ the mail ✧ ✧ aesthetics ✧ musings ✧ connections ✧ mirror ✧

BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Emmeline Vance

ALIAS/NICKNAME: Emmy, Emms, Snake (those that dislike her), Vance

AGE: Twenty Seven

BIRTH DATE: September 23rd, 1952

BLOOD STATUS: Half-blood

AFFILIATION: Death Eaters

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis-Woman. She/her

CURRENT LIVING CONDITIONS: Flat in Knockturn Alley, above the shop

OTHER: Vance Manor

OCCUPATION: Curse Breaker (business called 'name tbd', shared with Rabastan Lestrange), also works in the Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement as a curse breaker in support of the auror department

PETS: Barnaby (male, great horned owl)

WAND: Ebony, phoenix feather core, 12 1/2 inches, unyielding

PATRONUS: Chestnut Stallion

BOGGART: Losing her loved ones

AMORTENTIA: Unknown

SCENT: lavender, ink, petrichor

INSPIRATION

SONG: I'm still here by Sia, Playground by Bea Miller, Can't be tamed by Zara Larsson, Breakfast by Dove Cameron, Villains aren't born by Peggy, One woman army by Porcelain Black, Downtown by Anya Taylor-Joy, Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift, Faded by Sara Farell

PINTEREST: here !!

AESTHETIC: the sound of rain falling against old windows, the scent of lavender and tea on an early morning in fall, long nights, the harshness of winter, the softness of snow, the idea of unpredictability, envelopes sealed with wax, the flicker of a candle, the scent of petrichor in spring, flowers blossoming among a field of withered crops trying to grow again, a flock of birds flying by, storms raging across the sky, the serenity of a still lake, deep waters, coffee and tea

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Ismelda (muggleborn) and Alusius Vance (pureblood).

SIBLINGS: None.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: None.

OTHER FAMILY: None known to her.

CHILDREN: None.

EDUCTATION:

SCHOOL: Hogwarts

HOUSE: Slytherin

EXTRACURRICULAR: Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team, Charms club Potions Club, Dueling club

CLASSES INVESTED IN: Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, Alchemy, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, French, Latin, Norwegian

OTHER LANGUAGES: can read ancient runes, started on but dropped italian due to her mother

PHYSICAL TRAITS

EYE COLOR: Brown

HAIR COLOR: Brown

HEIGHT: 5′5

SCARS: Thin lines spreading like roots from the palm of her right hand up in the inside of her wrist due to dark magic firing back

PERSONALITY

INTELLIGENCE: High. Adaptive.

SKILLS: Wandless magic (practicing), Flying (decent), Dueling (practicing, decent), Curse-breaking (skilled)

POSITIVE TRAITS: creative, resourceful, determined, caring, proud, observant

NEGATIVE TRAITS: desperate, impulsive, impatient, reckless, deceptive at times

MBTI: INTJ

BIOGRAPHY:

Emmeline was born to Ismelda and Alusius Vance on September 2rd, 1960 on a stormy night shortly before midnight. Her parents were an unusual pair as Aluisus believed in the ideals of the world he lived in and felt himself part of the pureblood society as much as the next one. While he had known that marrying Ismelda would be looked upon as odd, he’d been drawn to her from the very beginning and simply pushed himself to believe that his one sidestep could not ruin the future of all there was. It had been a mistake that would eventually come to cost him dearly as with each passing day, and later the birth of Emmeline, society made it very clear that they did not in fact approve of his choice. Even though it wasn’t the most widespread fact, their family still paid the price for it. Ismelda herself never found her place in pureblood society and in return disliked the purists and their idea of life.

With Alusius’ firm belief to raise Emmeline the way him and his friends had been raised, the young witch grew up resenting her mother as everything she learned caused her to believe things were very much her mother’s fault. How else could one explain the way things had gone downhill? It started with her, surely it would end with her. Thus, the witch felt drawn to her father, doing her very best to impress him while growing up into a competent witch, who would upon being sorted find herself within Slytherin. For the very first time she truly felt at home, fitting right in with the crowd. The loss of her mother during her second year almost didn’t bother her, was it not for the uncomfortable attention for the two weeks after.

Surrounded by those who would later become supporters and followers of the dark lord, the thrill and the darkness ever present, Emmeline found herself drawn to the same world. These people were friends, her home away from home; there was a loyalty with her that nothing could shatter so easily. Of course, Emmeline Vance wasn’t naive, not as much as one may have thought and yet she saw nothing wrong, did not bother to listen to those outside trying to hammer the truth they believed to be correct into the heads of those that saw the world in a way others may deem cruel.

Upon graduation Emmeline joined the ministry, trained under both the department of magical law enforcement as well as the goblins at Gringott’s as a curse-breaker before fully joining the department, working under the aurors whenever they needed a curse-breaker to grant them access to artifacts or manors. It was around three months after graduation that she joined her friends among the ranks of Death Eaters, taking the mark. It seemed so simple, so logical at the time. In the meantime she buried herself in work, loving the fact that she was surrounded by the dark arts; the one thing she’d always felt at home around - other than potions.

Eventually she connected and opened a shop with a friend, taking things on into a business venture in the making. A shop entirely dedicated to the craft of curse-breaking. The job within the ministry was kept, seeing use within it to help further the cause and if need be adjust things for the Death Eaters' side. Emmeline wasn't one to share her affiliation with anyone who did not need to know, rather using the fact that she could slip in and out of the shadows in order to remain unnoticed for the most part.

The mark on her arm was an ever-lasting reminder of what all of this was for. If the war was won then no one else would ever have to go through what she had to; the disgrace of a mother so unwilling to adjust to a world she simply did not belong in. And Emmeline herself had fought hard for her own place, to earn the respect she now held by giving respect in return.

Now that the war is in full swing, the witch has moments in which she yearns to prove herself but at the same time is very much okay not being the face of the whole situation. Being in the backlines allows her to be as sneaky as she could ever want. As stubborn as she is, it would take quite the shock to challenge her faith and loyalty toward those she cares for as well as the side she's chosen.

[eunoiareview]

Nothing Less

Mom juggles gently a wooden spool through her fingertips. Those fingers can break the thread they now pet; I’ve seen it myself. You’re left to gawk in the aftershock of the snap, knowing fingers shouldn’t carry the strength for which men need kitchen shears. Perhaps thread never really breaks, its fibers left grasping for the dearly departed segment. Left to mend or to sew or maybe just to make a…

[hydropophis]

liens favorite tgcf fics, sorted by word count, biggest at the bottom

made primarily for my own organizational purposes and so i can stop dragging the open tabs around with me because i dont know how much more my poor computer can take. some of these ive had open for months continuously. also so my evil friends can stop dragging me for having too many browser tabs open all the time

Dearly Departed by IlluminatingSceadugenga

unfinished, currently at 5 chaps at the time of writing this, cute. really cute. the ghost marriage is really unbearably cute.

of death, and love, and absolution by Naamah_Beherit

unfinished, currently at 12 chaps at the time of writing this. really good roleswap. has a lot of oomph. the roleswap-ness feels well thought out and not shoehorned in. very worth

what i want from you is sweet by VampireFaun

Not safe for worch. this is a bdsm fic. like the best damn bdsm fic ive ever read, probably. d/s also. its really good just read it

No Water Is Enough by Boomchick

woodchipper'd my heart. abhorrently exquisite. hurts so good. please read this. memory loss fic. ghost king ashes WERE harmed in the making of this fic. Please Read This

Til our compass stands still by edenwolfie

a lot of ghost city in this fic :) makes one smile. makes one happy. pre-third ascension meeting fic. dianxia is very cute in this one. the background characters are also cute.

No Paths Are Bound by Cataclysmic_Calamity

very long. also, very good. extrapolates from the novel excellently to weave in brilliant and fascinating new threads and plotlines. genuinely thrilling! many bonus points for cute hong-er.....

[amissafide]

We all do what we have to. We all walk the path we think is right. One day you may realize that said path had lead you into a fiery inferno but even then, all you can do is keep going. That all I've ever done. All I'll ever do.

✧ threads ✧ about ✧ headcanon ✧ the mail ✧ ✧ aesthetics ✧ musings ✧ connections ✧ mirror ✧

BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Emmeline Vance

ALIAS/NICKNAME: Emmy, Emms, Snake (those that dislike her), Vance

AGE: Twenty

BIRTH DATE: September 23rd, 1960

BLOOD STATUS: Half-blood

AFFILIATION: Order of the Phoenix (during the war), Ministry of Magic (currently)

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis-Woman. She/her

CURRENT LIVING CONDITIONS: Flat in Knockturn Alley

OTHER: Vance Manor (is considering moving there again)

OCCUPATION: Curse Breaker, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Ministry of Magic, in support of the Auror Department

PETS: Barnaby (male, great horned owl)

WAND: Ebony, phoenix feather core, 12 1/2 inches, unyielding

PATRONUS: Chestnut Stallion

BOGGART: Losing her loved ones

AMORTENTIA: Unknown

SCENT: lavender, ink

INSPIRATION

SONG: I'm still here by Sia, Courage to change by Sia, Lean on me (J2 Version), I blame the world by Sasha Alex Sloan

PINTEREST: here !!

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Ismelda (muggleborn) and Alusius Vance (pureblood).

SIBLINGS: None.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: None.

OTHER FAMILY: None known to her.

CHILDREN: None.

EDUCTATION:

SCHOOL: Hogwarts

HOUSE: Slytherin

EXTRACURRICULAR: Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team, Charms club Potions Club, Dueling club

CLASSES INVESTED IN: Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, Alchemy, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, Italian, Latin

OTHER LANGUAGES: can read ancient runes

PHYSICAL TRAITS

EYE COLOR: Green

HAIR COLOR: Blonde

HEIGHT: 5′5

SCARS: Thin lines spreading like roots from the palm of her right hand up in the inside of her wrist due to dark magic firing back

PERSONALITY

INTELLIGENCE: High. Adaptive.

SKILLS: Wandless magic (minor, practicing), Flying (decent), Dueling (practicing, decent)

POSITIVE TRAITS: creative, resourceful, determined, caring, proud, observant

NEGATIVE TRAITS: desperate, impulsive, impatient, reckless, deceptive at times

MBTI: INTJ

BIOGRAPHY: (tw death, violence)

Emmeline was born to Ismelda and Alusius Vance on September 2rd, 1960 on a stormy night shortly before midnight. Her parents were an unusual pair as Aluisus believed in the ideals of the world he lived in and felt himself part of the pureblood society as much as the next one. While he had known that marrying Ismelda would be looked upon as odd, he'd been drawn to her from and simply pushed himself to believe that his one sidestep could not ruin the future of all there was. It had been a mistake that would eventually come to cost him dearly as with each passing day, and later the birth of Emmeline, society made it very clear that they did not in fact approve of his choice. Even though it wasn't the most widespread fact, their family still paid the price for it. Ismelda herself never found her place in pureblood society and in return disliked the purists and their idea of life. With Alusius' firm belief to raise Emmeline the way him and his friends had been raised, the young witch grew up resenting her mother as everything she learned caused her to believe things were very much her mother's fault. How else could on explain the way things had gone downhill? It started with her, surely it would end with her. Thus, the witch felt drawn to her father, doing her very best to impress him while growing up into a competent witch, who would upon being sorted find herself within Slytherin. For the very first time she truly felt at home, fitting right in with the crowd. The loss of her mother during her second year almost didn't bother had, was it not for the uncomfortable attention for the two weeks after. It wasn't until her seventh year that Emmeline began to change her view. The loss of her father, allegedly due to Death Eaters caused her world to crumble. For a while she isolated herself, graduated and joined the ministry and Gringott's for their training program of curse breakers before eventually finding herself at a loss for what to do. In those dark hours she found her way to Dumbledore, asking for a way out. The Order of the Phoenix became her new home and although she felt drawn toward her old life, loyal to those she'd once called family and friends, with each step she made forward, new loyalties began to grown on the side of the Order. Some bonds became strong enough that the fight began to make sense. Now that the war is won, the witch has moments in which she desperately yearns for either side as she misses the people more than anything. A part of her doesn't quite know what to make of a world without conflict, as she feels that it was all the world had ever been to her; a choice between light and dark, right or wrong. Emmeline is still very much getting used to the idea that people now know her as a former member of the Order; a fact she'd tried to keep under wraps for the duration of the war as it allowed for her to slip through the shadows. Over the course of the war her interest in potions increased, her passion for the brewing of those as well as alchemy settled with a part of her wondering if the path of an alchemist or perhaps even healer could be something for her. Emmeline is still figuring out who she is in this new world but she is no longer the girl she left behind at Hogwarts, during her darkest days.

[ericlwoods]

Viewed Through A Lens of Respect Series.

This is a new series I was inspired to start because of this man. My dearly departed Father. This series primarily lives on Instragam and Threads for now and will be lifting up images of us as I see us free of the negative stereotypes, slander, and assumptions placed on us by others and too often adopted by our own who by way of taught self-loathing are hesitant to see or believe in their own…

[bestpetasheskeepsakes]

Keep Your Pet Close to Your Heart with a Cremation Pendant

A pet cremation pendant can be a unique and meaningful way to keep your deceased pet close to your heart, even after they’ve passed on. Cremation pendants are by far the most popular choice when it comes to memorial jewelry. Although there are a few different types of cremation jewelry, all of them allow you to carry some of your pet's ashes with you at all times.

Because cremation pendants are available in such a wide variety of designs, styles, and sizes, you should have no trouble finding one that captures the essence of your cherished animal companion at https://furreverfriends.com/pet-ashes-keepsakes-in-long-beach-furrever-friends/.

A cremation pendant is a beautiful and unique way to keep your pet with you always. It's a small, urn-shaped container that can hold some of the ashes of your dearly departed pet. These containers are usually made out of glass or metal and have a threaded opening on the top so you can easily open them to put in the ashes from your pet's cremated remains. You can then wear it or keep it in a safe place at home as a beautiful remembrance of your beloved animal.

Cremation pendants are usually made from sterling silver, brass, or bronze. The urn is attached to the chain so that you can have your pet with you as often as possible. You may also keep a small amount of ashes in the locket for a more personalized touch. Families will place their pet’s cremated remains in the heart-shaped lockets before giving them out to family and friends. This blog offers insights on how to get in-house engraving and etching for a perfect memorabilia.

These little keepsakes are very powerful, and they will remind everyone of just how much they cared about this animal. There are many different shapes and sizes available for people who want to purchase these items. Keep your furry friend close by choosing cremation jewelry! Cremation pendants are a beautiful way to keep your pet close to your heart, but it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you.

Make sure the cremation pendants are made from high quality sterling silver and come with personalized engraving. If you have a specific idea in mind, like the shape or design of the pet's image, please let the pros know, and they will be happy to accommodate your request. However, if you would prefer not to have any image on the pendant at all, they also offer that option. Check out this post that has expounded on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendant.

[sinriddled]

@dearly-departing, cnt.

     “ Yeah, but... ” Doug thought about the possibility of rebuttal in this conversation, silly albeit. Had ghosts been an exception? What if there was some sort of mishap on the way to the ghost world that took their belly buttons? Frankly, these were all pertinent questions. “ What if they don’t have one somehow? Or what if some have them and others don’t? Do you think they feel left out? ” Guess they could ask a ghost themselves, had ghosts existed. Did they exist? Hell if he knew.

[magical-awesome-kid]

I have the BEST most DUMBEST AU for Pokémon Legends Arceus.

The Arc Phone Has Internet AU.

Dawn/Akari finds the widget for the Internet DEEP in the folders. Arceus tried to uninstall it, but he couldn’t get it off because Perfect Design or whatever, so he just hid it. Akari pulls up the Internet and it’s in-time with how long she’s been gone in the future (let’s say she’s gone six months at this point? So she’s got the news page for six months after she disappeared).

And who’s on the news page? Her.

Now, for the sake of this story, Dawn’s memories are a little scrambled. Not to Ingo’s extent, but things were still missing. She couldn’t remember her first name - Dawn - but she remembered her middle name - Hikari. She goes down the Internet rabbit hole and not only finds every news article about Champion (Champion! How could she forget? Her Pokémon worked so hard for that!) but also finds her Wikipedia page, which is full to the brim not only of pictures and notes but also incorrect info (this, weirdly enough, jogs her memories as she goes to correct it).

Then she realizes Oh. Oh shit. I can contact mom and Barry and Lucas and the League!

And she does. The phone and texting apps won’t go through, but all her social media still work. Not wanting to cause total chaos, she DMs everyone she feels needs to know.

It’s chaos. She’s balancing 40 conversations with various entities and then SOMEONE posts a link and says “I made a secure discord for all of this plus we can video call” (it was probably Volkner).

As the chaos is ensuing, Akari sends one picture of herself in Jubilife Village, and she happens to catch Ingo in the background.

And then someone sends it back with a big circle on Ingo and is like “IS THAT INGO?!?”

And Dawn is like “OMG I forgot Ingo said he was from the future! Do you all know who he is?”

Dawn’s thread is flooded with news articles and wikipedias on Nimbasa’s subway system and the bosses there.

She pulls over Ingo and, after explaining what a phone is, he’s scrolling like a mad man.

It’s not like an instant snap back. Everything sounds so right and familiar. It’s not until Dawn gets a video call from the Unova League does it start to take hold.

Emmet, who has spent the last three years hoping, praying that his brother was out there, who was trying to cope but still held hope, who refused to do a funeral, even a symbolic one, because his brother couldn’t be officially ruled as dearly departed yet, is bawling into the line with Elesa and all their Pokémon (it’s clear in the background that they’re in one of the conference rooms of the Nimbasa Gym to get everyone into the shot).

Ingo ends up recovering a lot faster now. Talking over things with Emmet or Elesa or Drayden or just about anyone in his past life makes it solid, gives him a ring to hang on to, and he gets back on track. He’s still forgetful sometimes, but he doesn’t feel like he’s lost everything precious anymore. Because Ingo doesn’t have an Arc Phone (they’re still unsure how it happens to him, but some of the international police, who have experience with missing memories, suggest Ultra Wormholes), they just have Ingo and Hikari be a relative hunting pair. Ingo enjoys talking about his memories with anyone just to make them more whole, but Dawn is the only one who understands. Dawn is relieved to have an adult just… understand and be there to help her (she’s been through a ton for her age and she’s def cried to Ingo about how her “pokemon adventure” has turned out). They’re also trying to avoid a space-time paradox what with their future knowledge.

Hisui falls in line with Sinnoh time, but Unova is many time zones away. A nearly 12 hour time difference. Ingo doesn’t care. He’s always been an early riser, so he calls in the wee hours of the morning, when it’s dinner time in Nimbasa, and he shares breakfast while they eat dinner and talks for at least an hour. He promises to be prompt the next day, and it no longer feels so far away, his home.

Dawn always checks in with her mom and everyone in the later evening. Her mom is one call, Barry and Lucas another, League messages and specific requests from Cynthia and Various Professors to document the past and see about bringing some DNA samples back to the future (fossil resurrection is a very common thing after all). She’s almost begging Cylene and Komodo to give her other work so she can say she’s busy not screwing up the timeline.

When a plan is in place to get them back to the future - Professor Oak mentions his own adventure with Celebi and believes she’ll be easiest to find and convince to help - Ingo and Dawn take their time thanking everyone and getting to say good bye. It seems rather bittersweet going home…

But Rei follows them.

Rei, who has always had a sharp eye for these things, points out what he’s learned about the Strange Device that Akari has and that he’s heard her arguing with no one a few times in her lodgings (she blushes at the implication of how loud she was). Deciding Fuck It Being Here Has Already Fucked The Timeline, she plops the phone in Rei’s hands just as Celebi arrives at their pick up point. She explains that the phone must always be kept on him and, if it starts ringing, click the green button. She disappears with Celebi, leaving Rei confused.

Rei uses the phone over the next day, just trying to figure more out. He catches onto the photography feature immediately, realizing why Laventon loves pictures so much. It’s such a great way to document things.

And then, almost exactly 24 hours after Hikari and Ingo left with a strange Pokémon, the phone rings.

Rei hesitantly answers.

Dawn is there with Ingo. They’re in a strange room with strange people and Pokémon, but it’s like looking into a little window to another world.

(It is, in a way).

Dawn explains what’s going on and, after swearing Rei not to totally spill the beans (they approve a list of people that could know - The Professor, the Clan Leaders, maybe Cylene in time) they catch up on all that’s happened. The man who refuses to get his feet off Ingo’s lap is Emmet, his (annoying) twin brother, that’s Dawn’s excitable best friend Barry and her newfound cousin Lucas, her mom, Ingo’s best friend Elesa, and SO MANY Pokémon in the background. When Rei asks, Lucas has to shut Dawn up from revealing too much about the future.

Rei swears to try to keep out of Hisui history via the Internet, but he does look up more ‘modern’ stories and discoveries. In turn, Rei goes across the region and beyond to explore his own world. Dawn and Ingo learn how the modern world works once more.

So yeah. The Arc Phone Has Internet AU.