#well. I say fanfic it's more like a blorbo. This is NOWHERE close to how I normally right. But hey! At least I can write again. ]

[twisted-legacies]

A Nightmare Dressed like a Daydream

Author’s Notes: So the PV for Chapter 7 dropped and guess who got some inspiration for a fic?! 

Night Raven College was dead quiet-It always was at night.

The campus was always so noisy during the day-there was always something to do, somewhere to be, someone to be with. 

During the day the campus bustled with life that never seemed to end. The paths across campus pulsed like living veins-even paths in the sky unseen by the naked eye, wither it be by Humans, Beastman, Fae, Merpeople, Monsters, Androids, or whatever else lurked on campus. The buildings of the campus almost seemed to breathe with how much noise the school made and the general feeling of the students and staff. The animals and plants seemed to fall into the background as the residents of Night Raven went about their lives, adding to the noise of the campus that sometimes felt that the whole world could hear them.

But a night, the campus felt different. 

To Quentin Nighty-Sallow, the night at Night Raven College had never made her feel more like she was in her family tomb. 

At night, Quentin was always reminded of small Night Raven College truly is compared to the rest of the world, of how insignificant it is when compared to others places, she’d seen-purely in size.

The night was always dead silent she could hear any movements no matter how far away it was. The once large and spacious walls felt suffocating, like they’d eat Quentin alive if she didn’t go back to Ramshackle as soon as possible, or there was something lurking in the corners of the school that only reared its’ head at night. Even when someone else was by her side, she never felt safe. 

Though, if Quentin was being honest, she hadn’t felt safe anywhere since she Overblotted. And she doubted she ever would feel safe again after all those Overblots.

But, Quentin was used to it. 

The Ramshackle Dorm Leader was used to the empty hallways, the creeping darkness, and the piercing silence and the feeling of never letting your guard down. 

After all, when you grow up pleasing others, you learn very quickly what it’s like to be alone. 

But as the night rolled on, something gripped unto Quentin.

�̶̨̖͙̰̰͙̲̲̳̻͈̽̆̄�̵̟͑̾̍ꪊ̸̨̧̡̖͕̻̮̥̳̮̙̬͂̐̕ͅꪀ̷̡̖̠̖̫̦͓̮̗͐̂͒͐̃̎͗̈́͊̑ ̴̡̘͇̯̞̬͎̝̦͇͈̔☼̷̡̜̘̪̬͈̫́́̀̓́̍͘︎̸̼̱̥̻̰̍̍̓̃͛̒͗̆̆̂͂̿̕͝◆̷̢̛̈́̿̔︎̷͎̖͈͓̪̣̹̞̜̤̖̥̔̏̓͛̽͆̊■̶̡̞̞͙̯̹̤̗͎̖̌͐͜͜ͅ︎̸̧͔̺͉̱̭̩͈̗͕̩̗̝͉̌́͆̽̌̕̚͝ͅ ̷̛̯̗̯̮̦̝̪̭̩̟̟̲̫̯̀̈́́̎͋̅̓̆̊̆̿

ᴚ̸̧̧̻̖̩̦͇͇̰̤̥̘̐̌͆̍̀͑́̄̒͐͝n̷̨̛̗͖̥͇͈͇̥̳̜͕̈́̊̀̾̔͜͝͝ṉ̶̢̛̭̗̞̲͔̩͓̠͎͚̼̏͑́̄ ̷̰̼̻́Я̸̧͉̗͍̙̼̱̑Ц̵̢͇̺͖̻̗̀̈͗̉͂͑̆̒̐̎̋̚͝П̴̧̨̦͚͙̯͚̬̭̣͈̤̤̦̄̊̓̀̍̈́͆͌͛̌̑̔͝͝ͅ ̸̨̢̜̙̯̹̯͇͗͘ɼ̶͔̠̺̯̪̗̠̼̺͓͔̯͉͑̆̊̑̒̅̇̊̈́́̈́̃̅̕͜પ̸̱̮̮̘̘̕͜͝ก̸̡̛̜͓̘̘͓͚̰̟̳͊̈́̇̐̎̆̆̓͆̓̍͘͠ ̶̙͉̳̙̩͉̈́̂̇͋̌̇̅͌̅̅̿͝Я̵̛̛̺̰͖̘̠̦̼̟͑̌͂͊̉̉̈́̌́̅̕͠υ̵̧̰̞̰͔͈̬͚̲̜̜͚̝͖̍̈́͆͂̇̍̋͑ň̵̖̬̘̪̥̖̮͍̫̪̳̾̈́͗͗͂́̑͆̾̌̽͠͝͠ ̸̨̢̛͍̹̦̰̰̪̖̻͊͂̒̀̊́͜R̶͇̹̱̣͈̦̓̓̍υ̸̶̷ׁ̧̢̢̢̗͇̲̥̖̩̹͔͓͎͕̺̟̙͇ׅ̣̰̮͖͌̃̏͗̆̂͐́͊͑͠ꪀ̸̸̵ׁ̢̨͎̝̯͕̭̳͈͓̤̬̝̱̞̫̘̘̩̹̬ׅ̳̺͕̹̦͕̟̌̽̒́͆̃̈́̕͠ͅ

An inescapable feeling. Like a prey’s sense of their natural enemy being close by.

̸̣̽˙̵̬͑N̵̜̊∩̸̭̏ᴚ̵̱̊ ̸̯̓'̶Ǹ̸̩I̴̠͒⊥̶N̶̢͂Ǝ̶̟̚∩̷̱̔Ό̸͓̀ ̷̢͐N̵̹̿∩̵̲̓ᴚ

And it ate at Quentin. 

So much so it became hard for Quentin to breathe with the feeling like she had to run, her world started to blur and spin with her tears, and she felt the floor collapse under her and hid under the table in the library in hopes it would protect her. 

But the magic pen on her pocket suggested it wasn’t getting better with how quickly it was turning to black.

“Aaaah-Gaaaaaaaaahhhhhh-haaaaaaaaaaaa-” Quentin seemed to trying to breathe through her mouth, but all she felt was something wrapping around her neck.

Someone-

R̴̛̩̘̦̟̣͉͚͉̦̳̜̂̈͐̀͊̽̿̊̿̇͘̚̚͜͝͝Ư̶̛̗̩͆͒̐̑̓͂̊̅̓̍͂̀͘͝ͅN̶̨̡̨̡͚̫͉̤̘̪̼̦̺̹͖̖͉͇̼̰̯̣͇͕̜̜̯͔̳̺̠̜̖̟͈͎̗̙͙̱͎̓͊̏̊̐͒̅̒̊́͊̂̂̋̍̈͛̐͘͜͝ͅͅ

Help me-

R̴̛̩̘̦̟̣͉͚͉̦̳̜̂̈͐̀͊̽̿̊̿̇͘̚̚͜͝͝Ư̶̛̗̩͆͒̐̑̓͂̊̅̓̍͂̀͘͝ͅN̶̨̡̨̡͚̫͉̤̘̪̼̦̺̹͖̖͉͇̼̰̯̣͇͕̜̜̯͔̳̺̠̜̖̟͈͎̗̙͙̱͎̓͊̏̊̐͒̅̒̊́͊̂̂̋̍̈͛̐͘͜͝ͅͅ

I’m going to die here!

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Yuu, Grim, I’m sorrt--

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅU̵͆̍́̌̈̉̑́��̨̛̦͇̭̹̮̯̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Everyone. . I’m sorry.

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Y̸̡̯̣̺̩̞̗̫̬͕̱͓͖̜͇͎̫͓̜͖̱͈͎͙̭̙̹̠͎̮̬̫̝̭̝͍̼̑͊͐̌̆̌͐͆̈͋̀̔̓̓̌̊̊͘͜͝͝Ơ̵̧̡̲̳͍͕̙̣͉̼̞̼̤̺̭͍̰̘̞̪̥̊̓̍̈͗͒̍̓͆̿̇̐͗̿̓̋̀̈́̏͆̉͊͊̈̽̓͛̃̕͝ͅͅŲ̵̛̦͇̭̹̮̯͆̍́̌̈̉̑́̈̈́̍̈́̔̃͋̈́͊̿͗̆̎̒͌̓̑̀́͑̇͝ ̴̧̡̡̡̧̘͚̠̞̝̪͓͈͖̳̜̤͙͍̲̮̻͉̘̱̺̺̗̞̳̹̫̻͙̹̞͚̳͓͓͖̼̝̭̬̯͖͌̆̀͋̅́͌̀̾͂̓̈̅͌̑͐̈́̒̓̄̊̃̒̔̍̃̑̃̈́̀̇̊̂̔̈́̓̓̆͋͜͠H̸̛̛̛̖͍̻͎̱͉̩̘̘̿̄̑̆͊̌̌͑̂̎̄͋̈́̑̀̽̏̊̉̌̍̄̇͊̑̉̿̽͋̓̔͘̕͝͝͠͠͠A̴̧̢̨̢̛̤̮͓̗̮̻̲͖̟̝̲̜̱͕̲͙̟̳̙͕̭̙̻̮̟̗̺̱̅̈͛͒̄̐̃̆̄́̿̆̈̅͒̏́̆̅̆̒̐́͂͗̎̐̋̊̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͠V̵̢̢̨̢̢̧̛̝̮̖̣̝͔̼͉̻̣̣̭̣̩̱̦̫̼̪̖̝̻̪͊͊̅̍̇̈́̿̆͋͒̽̀͋̀͂̐̿́͊́̽̍̋̊̈́̾̆͋̏͛̕̕̚͜͠͠ͅȨ̸̧̪͙̫̯̯͈̦̲̥̄̏͋̉̈́̔͊͒̓̑͐̆̑̒̊̒͛ ̴̨̧̗͇̯͎͈̹͔̞͍̺̠̈́̒́̈̿͒̓̈̾̍̍̕̚ͅͅṬ̸̡̨̫͖̰̜̟̰̬̲̙̲̤̲͔͇̻̪̟͎̜̥̃̽̔̊̀̓̒́͆̂͗̈́̉̈́̓̀͗̏̀́̓̆̀̀̂̈͆̃̑́͌̈͌̔̚̕͠͝͠ͅƠ̵̡̨̧̛̱̜̻̖̼̮̲͉̙̹̤̒̄͂̋́͐͗̂̃͊͐̈́̽̈́͑̒̊͌̅̄̅̄̋̑̍̊͂̾́̂̒̾̌̋̃͘͜͝͝ͅ ̵̢̡̡̡͈͍͈̯͚̬̲̘͉͇͓͇̺̞̟̥̓͊̅̄̾̌̍̃̐͊͐͐̃̌̑̍͆̂̀̾́̀̂́̄̚ͅŖ̶̨̡̨̧̬͍̮͓̺̬͇̝̝̝̤̪̮̟̩̗̩͇̈̂͜Ú̴̡̧̢̨̱̲̫͍̫̣̲͔̞̻͚̺̱̻̼̙̰͈̹̜̺̱̒̍̌̒͌́̈́̇̒͛̃͛͐̒̕͘͜͜ͅN̸̢̡̧̨̨̛̛̟̘͇̺̩͇̠̪͇̲̱̺͎̹͚͔͖̣̱̄̆̂͑̌͋͗̉̈̔͛͌͒̈́͑͛̆͂̊̔̐́̀̒̀͑̎͂͛̿̈́̽̅̅́̈̂̽̐̀̿́͌̕͘͝͠͠

Quentin Nighty-Sallow woke up in something. . . warm and soft. 

When she opened her eyes, she saw. . . it was dark. There was no light anywhere.

Eh? What is that?

When Quentin moved her hand, she felt something slip off her hand and her hand bumped into something, something soft-she felt what she’d hit closer. . . it was like a plush couch. . . Silk? with padding underneath?   

What. . . is this?

A sharp pain pulse through Quentin’s head, and she curled into herself and in the process her head hit something, making the pain worse, Quentin also then realized the air. . . was rather warm. 

Magic and Blot, that hurt. . . what was that? Did I hit my head? Quentin started to feel what had hit her head. 

Well, at least was hard, so it wasn’t silk. . . Quentin tapped the surface to feel. . . Plastic? 

What is going on? What happened?

How did I get here in the first place? 

That’s not important, I need to get of this. I might suffocate to death if I stay here. Quentin thought, as she turned herself so she could use her shoulders, in the process feeling something slip off of her. 

Quentin slammed her body into the plastic and the space rocked, making things fall unto Quentin. So, I am in a box. 

Quentin slammed herself again and something outside the box snapped. A tree branch? And. . . Rope? 

They. . . tied up the box? Why?

Quentin rocked the box as best she could, several snaps could be heard from the outside and after one more slam, the area flooded with light and Quentin saw herself in. . . a bedroom?

“What in the name of Magic?” Quentin muttered to herself as she looked around the room. 

The room was huge and luxurious. 

The room must have been the size of a lecture hall, making Quentin felt so small in comparison to the room. 

The room had a huge bookcase in the back of it, filled with books and scrolls that seemed to go on forever, as well as comfortable chairs and desks scattered about the room with snacks and drinks scattered about the room. The ceiling was covered in stars, jewels and drapes hanging from the ceiling touching the floor. making the room look. . . almost ghostly. There where candles floating around the room, revealing the room. . . was mostly green, brown and black and white and covered in jewels with the drapes and symbols-symbols of dragons, bats, crocodiles, birds, and rabbits mice and cats. . .playing together and symbols Quentin didn’t understand. There was a light breeze coming through the room, lifting the drapes and jewels making a song Quentin felt she knew, but she didn’t know why she knew it. 

Quentin looked back in the coffin, and there was. . . blankets, pillows and stuffed animals where she once was. But. . . she knew those blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. It was unmistakable, those where her blankets, pillows and animals from all her life. 

No. . . 

No! 

Quentin shivered in fear as she stepped away. This. . . This has to be some fucked up joke. How. . . how could someone have done this? 

A strong gust of wind then burst through the room, making the jewels and drapes thrash violently and reveal. . . there was someone else standing there. 

Someone who looked exactly like Quentin.

Quentin woke up in a cold sweat before she calmed down, looking out the window of her room. It was still dark outside from a clouded sky, but is was so clouded it was hard to tell if it was the day or nighttime.

A nightmare, huh? Quentin thought to herself as she got up from the bed to sit by the window. 

After a few moments, Quentin stood up from her windowsill and looked at her drawer and dragged a finger across it, getting a small pile of dust on her finger. . . was that dust always there?

Quentin quickly shook her head before she noticed spiderwebs in the corners of her room. Spiderwebs? Okay, I know those weren’t there last night.

Quentin’s eyes widened. Yuu and Grim!

When Quentin got to Yuu and Grim’s room-While Yuu and Grim seemed to be sleeping peacefully as can be, the room seemed to be in a similar state. There was dust starting to build up and spiderwebs starting to form. 

Is it the ghosts playing a prank on us? 

No-why would they do something as simple as this overnight with planning something else. I’d better check the rest of the dorm just in case. 

Quentin walked down the stairs of the dorm to the main areas, where everything looked as it once had-but after Quentin lifted her hand from the staircase and had dust on her hand she quickly went to the kitchen, leaving a small footprint trail behind her. 

Oh Magic-the tuna’s expired. 

Wait. How? Grim opened it yesterday!

Quentin went over to the fridge-a few things in the fridge where spoiled. 

Wait. Those where things I was planning to use for dinner this week-They couldn’t have spoiled in a day when the fridge is still running. 

Quentin quickly rushed up the stairs to her room to find her watch where it read. . . 

It isn’t Wednesday of the week she thought it was. It’s Sunday of the next week.

Quentin’s eyes narrowed. I’ve been asleep for a week.

But, how?

I don’t feel any-

Quentin felt. . . bone tired. 

She suddenly began to feel. . . exhausted. Like everything she’d ever done was coming back to haunt her and drag her down. 

Ah. I must have been cursed.

Quentin trudged herself towards her windowsill, where she lift up the seat where she pulled out two bottles of a strange liquid and quickly drank them together. 

What in the name of Magic and Blot was that? Quentin breathed like she was about to drown, and soon, the feeling of sleep started to fade. Who cursed me? That wasn’t a petty curse just anyone could cast from how tired it made me.

A sleeping curse that strong? 

Is this the Brair Witch’s curse? Then, who cast it and what for?

I need to check and see if the rest of the school is affected by the same curse. 

Quentin then changed from her nightgown to her school uniform, and packed her bag full of what she thought she might need before and left her room but as she was about to pass Yuu and Grim’s room, she looked sadly into the room and took something from her bag-which looked to be her armband l before Quentin quickly set the armband under the pillow of the two, which seemed to make Yuu stir before hugging Grim again, and falling back into a peaceful rest. 

The sky was very dark out, making hard for Quentin to even see where she was going through the fog. Even though there where flashes of green lightening that sometimes lit up the area-it wasn’t enough to pierce through the fog. But unlucky for the fog, Quentin knew the school like the back of her hand and didn’t need the lightening to her help navigate its’ premises. 

Malleus is awake and somewhere on campus. Quentin thought as she saw a flash of green lightening and hid under a nearby building to avoid lightening. If he’s awake, then he’s either immune to whatever curse was cast, or he’s the one who cast it. 

Alright. There is only two scenarios that could be playing out here. Quentin started to walk towards the Halls of Mirrors. 

If Malleus isn’t behind all this-what is he doing? I don’t sense any magic battles happening. 

Was Malleus threatened to stay back or else? No. That’s not possible. Nobody is this world is that stupid enough to threaten one of the most powerful magicians alive, much less a prince without knowing what the consequences are. Quentin thought as she passed the greenhouse, which had also started to show signs of the week’s neglect. 

But. . . Yuu and Grim were under a curse and the dorm has shown time has passed, and other than that, the dorm showed no signs of being tampered with, magic or otherwise.

Is Malleus waiting on something? If so, what is he waiting for? Isn’t Malleus descendent of the most powerful magician known to Twisted Wonderland? As far as I remember, the Brair Witch has no limitations on her magic in the legends she’s in, so theorically, neither does Malleus so he doesn’t need to wait on anybody or anything before he does anything. 

Is the school being used as a hostage to keep Malleus at bay? It might be-and Malleus might fall for it-especially if they threatened Yuu’s safety. But if that’s the case. . . Why was Ramshackle safe? Did Malleus make a deal so Ramshackle would be safe in exchange for his cooperation? But-if that’s the case, what about the other dorms? Are they okay? Quentin thought as she walked across the bride-she didn’t have much further with how fast she was walking. 

Wait. But if Malleus is the one who cast the spell-he might have taken over the school and is holding the dorms hostage for whatever he is planning, and he spared Ramshackle because he pities us, or he doesn’t want the Clever Rabbit’s fate to get in the way. If that’s the case-want does Malleus want?

Well, I can’t keep sitting here and expect to find the answer. I need to go investigate the other dorms for more information. 

Quentin then entered the Hall of Mirrors.

Stepping through the mirrors in the hall of mirrors was always a strange experience for Quentin. 

She’s had experience in teleportation magic before-but never anything like the ones like at Night Raven College.

To her, it always felt like she was stepping through the mirrors was like going through a barrier-or through a wall of water. Quentin wasn’t able to really explain it to everyone else, but she always felt like when she passed through those walls she’d end up in a different outfit or something. 

Quentin went from dorm to dorm-to find the other dorms where in a similar state to her own. 

The dorms where all dead silent-not a sound were made in the dorms but the ones Quentin made which, is she was being honest-frightened her in dorms like Savanaclaw and Scarabia-dorms known for their noise. 

The animals in the dorms where all alive-but barely. Most of the animals you could see their bones and where openly hostile towards the dorm leader, but after Quentin fed them, they seemed to okay again. When Quentin looked around, the dorms had indeed not been maintained-there was rotting food, dust collecting and spiderwebs where there should not be, luckily there didn’t seem that anything was an immediate danger to the dorms and its’ residents. When Quentin went to check on the students-she found all of them asleep. Some seemed better off than others-but all of them were alive. That’s what mattered to her. 

Even Diasomnia is asleep. So, they’re not involved in this-so whatever is happening, they’re not accomplices.  Quentin thought as she walked out of Diasomnia’s mirror. 

So Malleus isn’t using the other dorms for some take-over the world plan, and I didn’t see the staff either. Are they at home? 

Praise Magic and Blot-then. . . What is Malleus planning?

Quentin’s eyes widened.

Most of his fellow dorm leaders were kidnapped within the span of an hour and most likely he was left untouched and heard the news when it was too late- then Yuu disappeared within the span of a few hours and then they came back so suddenly not even a day later. 

Who won’t be scared that someone they cared for disappeared into thin air and you could do nothing but hear what had happened and pray for their safety?

This must be how Malleus is coping. 

But. . . A sleeping curse?

Why would he cast a sleeping curse? It does more harm than good-while we are dreaming, our bodies may give out. There’s only so much sleep we can have before our bodies-they start to fail.

Malleus probably wasn’t thinking right, and still may not be. 

But. . . can he still be reasoned with when he’s emotional? Is it even safe?

Well. . . no matter. I’ve assessed the students’ situation-now I need to find the staff before I decide what to do. 

If Quentin was being honest, she was starting to panic. Her situation looked pretty dire and she couldn’t and all this happening-this was starting to take its’ toll on her, as it seemed her magic pen was getting blacker and blacker the longer Quentin wandered around. 

Where? Where is everyone? Quentin thought as she searched all the staff rooms-only to find each one was empty until she entered Crowley’s office-where she found all her staff sleeping at her feet. Ah. I see. This situation. . . Is truly dire. 

Quentin’s Magic Pen turned a darker shade of black the seemed to swallow any and all light the touched it. 

Now what? What I supposed to do? Blot knows what’s here-and I can’t do this alone!

The Pen of Quentin’s chest seemed to be starting to fade from the color black to reveal other colors-lots of colors that splattered through the gem that hadn’t been seen on a Magic Gem. The colors danced through the gem like a disease that had infected a being, and it seemed to only be getting worse.

I. . . I can’t stay here any longer. I need a place to hide.  Quentin thought, as she quickly left the Headmaster’s office.

Quentin wasn’t even really thinking when she ran-all she knew is she needed to get somewhere safe, quickly. and after looking at her shoulder, she realized why.

Ah. This again. Quentin sighed as she ducked into her classroom, well, her old classroom, now. I can’t deal with this right now!

Quentin then pulled something out from her pocket-It looked like a metal pin with a black substance caged in the middle. Quentin quickly took the object and placed the pin-like item on top of her Magic Pen, which seemed to quickly took away to horrible disease-like colors from Quentin’s gem, and eventually making the gem a pure white color and as soon as Quentin’s Magical Pen turned white, Quentin coughed up an ink-like substance before she tried to stand up, before falling down on the ground again. 

Great, just great. Now I need to clean this up and-

“Quentin?”

The Ramshackle Dorm Leader wiped her head around, and there stood The Dorm Leader of Diasomnia-with a look of horror on his face.

“You. . .” Malleus walked towards the dorm leader, who was trying to pick herself up using a nearby desk. “You’ve been using-” 

“So what?” Quentin quickly added, pulling herself up into the chair and sitting down. “There is a lot worse being done at this school. Why do you care that I have something when there’s people here who’re abusing each other?”

“Where did you get this?” Malleus seemed to growl and a flash of lightening flashin through the sky but Quentin didn’t seem to mind as she faced Malleus with a look that. . . was hard to make out. Was it. . . Anger? Sadness? “There’s no way you could have made this on your own in this day and age.”

“What you’re going to do if I tell you? Stop them from being produced? Malleus, you can’t stop the oldest known practice of removing Blot. It’s still an medical practice used in the modern day, you don’t need to act like it’s a banned practice.” Quentin snaped back before picking up the metal object again, but Malleus quickly grabbed the object and looked at it before he seemed to grow a tail, and fangs and his eyes began to glow green and more flashes of lightening flashed through the sky, this time even closer than before.

“You know what this’ll do to you?” Malleus’ voice didn’t even sound human anymore-it was too deep and too animalistic that Quentin almost didn’t understand.

“Because unlike some people at Night Raven, I wasn’t blessed with resistance to Blot.” Quentin simply said, as if stating a fact. “You think being allowed to be an Overblot state for half a year would just let me off scott-free like others on this campus? Malleus, there are consequences to Overblotting.” 

Malleus’ fingernails turned to claws, and yet, Quentin didn’t seem afraid despite looking better than before with the lightening flashing so close Quentin could feel the nearby area filling with electricity. “You’re willing to let your body rot for the sake of your magic?”

Quentin said nothing in response, which only seemed to make Malleus more upset before his more draconic features seemed to fade, and a flash of lightening hit a nearby tree before. . . a fog engulfed the area and once again, Quentin felt tired before Malleus pulled her into a hug. 

“It seems you cannot be trusted to care of yourself.” Malleus simply said, his voice back to normal, and he hugged Quentin tightly, as if he let go, she’d turn into something else. “But that’s alright. I’ll take care of you.”

“W-W-What?” Quentin said, as she started to feel light-headed and her eyes became heavier to keep open. “Malleus-”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore.” Malleus said as he stroked her head and Quentin’s worry started to feel numb. “Its’ not your fault you were born in such bad circumstances you call life. But I can fix it. I’ll fix everything.”

It was getting harder for Quentin to think.

“Everything. . . will be how it should be.”

Someone-

“Yes, how it should have been. From the very beginning.” 

 Quentin fell asleep.

[chronically-ghosted]

✨ happy new year! ✨

it's not yet 2024 where i am but it is where my love @ravensmadreads is, so happy new year already enjoying january 1st!

i usually overthink around my birthday as i march towards death but you lovely people have really made me think about 2023 as it comes to a close. i feel weird talking about myself (unless im drunk and we haven't started drinking yet so hold onto your butts for that possibility), so i'm just going to say this:

You all changed my life.

there, that's it. if you read this and you think it doesn't mean you, yes it does. not a day goes by where this place, this community does not bring me joy and warmth. i hope you get that job you wanted, or you get that fur baby adoption you've been hoping for, or you get accepted to that school you wanted to, or you graduate with all the honors, or you create the thing you've always wanted to, or you get the baby you've been hoping for, or the person who makes you heart flip says i love you. i'm nervous about next year because it truly feels like a year where anything can happen 🤍

now to the fandom stuff:

i've never done a fic rec list because inevitably, i'm a fucking moron and i leave someone out. i know it hurts when i'm left out of a fic rec list so i never want to do that to anyone here. what follows is a list of fics that spoke specifically to me. the old saying goes is that you don't write fanfic for yourself, you write it for the five freaks on discord that can't write coherent sentences after you publish -- and it's true. fanfic isn't about numbers -- i would much rather write for my five freaks on my discord (where my work has deep, emotional impact for them) than try to write for a large crowd that i will never ever manage to please all at once.

my wish for you in 2024 you all find your freaks. and i hope i'm one of them.

side note: there are a couple fics not on the list because i wanted to highlight fics that i didn't see much on other end of the year rec lists. but @iamskyereads 's Compulsion should be read in graduate programs and @whatsnewalycat already knows i'm going to name my first born child after her for her Psychomanteum. yall rock my goddamn world.

so without further adieu . . . these are the fics i read this year that tickled me pink.

God is a Woman by @wheresarizona the way arizona writes max is entirely unique. i love her descriptions of how cold he is and how he doesn't breathe. i read this and had to rethink everything i ever wrote for max

the impaler by @kiwisbell the dracula x johnathan x mina vibes in this are spectacular. this is a pairing i never thought i'd see much less enjoy so thoroughly. why is older tim being seduced by a younger max so hot??

night one by @haylzcyon this is one of the first fics i read by hayley and she pretty much set the standard for all marcus pike fics moving forward. his endless patience, his flirty attitude, how he see things the reader won't admit, and then the sleeping bag -- god i'd read a thousand more fics about this dymanic

blood & tinsel by @morallyinept so if i tried to list all of my favorite jett fics, we'd be here all night. but this one stands out to me because it's so well built. the description of the vampire "trance" or "glamor" or "compulsion" without using any of those words is INCREDIBLE. plus max is face-meltingly hot in this.

the world turned on its side by @idolatrybarbie this was a surprise that came outta nowhere, but it hit me like a fucking train. bea weaves a story that sticks with you and creates a frankie that makes my entire soul sing.

heat by @wordywarriorwrites okay, listen. the beauty of fanfic is that you can have insane, animalistic smut AND literary level writing. this fic is both. i have yet to come across another frankie abo fic that makes the dynamic more than a reason for the blorbos to fuck like animals. it's so well done, there's so much love here.

in fiction @sin-djarin yall know dieter is my boy so i am VERY particular about how he is written in fic. everyone's interpretation is valid, but for dieter fics to resonate with me, there has to be this special blend of humor, kindness, dorkiness, and a sexiness you didn't expect. this fic is all of that and more.

reminiscence by @projectionistwrites this was one of the first joel fics i read and there's something about it that just . . . feels right, feels natural to Joel. there's a raw honesty to both joel and the reader that just sunk into my chest. the back and forth over the drink, the SMUT, everything is just this beautiful snapshot of two lonely people in the apocalypse.

oct' 19 x ghosts by @trulybetty another author that if i tried to choose a favorite, i simply couldn't. betty created a lovely, lovely world with this one (and the rest of the prompts for this one and her december prompts). i love fics that add a new layer to dieter and this one opened him up in a way that made him glow!

renegade by @eupheme my personal favorite brand of joel is one that comes alive between reader's thighs. more boulder than human until you bring something to the surface. and this totally captures that. im a sucker for a good qz fuck-that-verges-on-love and i adore everything about it.

Dominica by @ohforficsake if you ever need proof that notes do not reflect the quality of a fic, look no further. the language, the mastery of tension, and beauty of these descriptions are one two punches that knock me on the ass. genuinely one of my favorite frankie fics of all time.

wanna bet? by @write-and-buried i debated putting this or her celestial navigation fic on this list, but this one just tickles me. i love it when authors throw in a confident, sex-obsessed dieter now and again and this makes me howl. and the DEBAUCHERY of the statue oh my god!

give it to me @sp00kymulderr okay now to be fair, this review is entirely biased. i genuinely love gideon and all that they bring to this fandom. plus, they let me scream about dieter and then sends me dieter pictures that make me scream even louder. this fic is SO important to me. dieter here is everything i need and want: hesitant, anxious, but so madly in love. if i could wake up in one single fic every day, it'd be this one.

stepwise by @the-scandalorian i joined this fandom through din and this has been, and always will be, one of my top favorites. the evolution of din from being touch averse to LUSTING after it, it kills me. it's a oneshot but so much is accomplished in such a short time. the writing here is simply superb.

salvatore by @devilmademewriteit i came for the premise, stayed for the smut, and continued for the banter. i go back to this one all the time for inspiration with my own writing and then i get sucked in and read the whole thing through -- twice. javi drives me absolutely wild in this.

a whole new can of worms by @hier--soir i accidentally read this out of order initially, but this was just reason for me to reread it from start to finish. fwb!joel can be really hit or miss for me, and primarily because this fic sets the standard. this feels like a real joel, a joel that has lost and found loved ones all through out his life and now in jackson, he can finally relearn what it means to be a lover. so good, so fun with the banter -- and the friggin' greenhouse scene -- woof!

telltale heart @astroboots i am a SUCKER for 'frankie fixes his life' fics and this is one of the best. there are consequences for his choices in colombia, one that almost has him lose his family, and the woman he loves. this a real, genuine struggle for two people to overcome a seemingly impossible challenge in their marriage. you know the phrase, love conquers all? yeah this is that fic.

brand you in the way it counts by @charnelhouse charnel was one of the first authors i read for the pedroverse -- and i mean i READ her. i read every single one of her fics at least twice and this one always sends me over the edge. it's such an inspiration to my own writing and i keep going back to her whole body of work to be reminded i can always improve my own writing

west by @radiowallet when people want to know why fanfic matters, i want to show them this fic. it is achingly beautiful and written with a loving and gentle hand. joel is a messy, broken man but still capable, still good, still wanting to find love in this and i adore everything about this. Oneshots can be more devastating than multichapters because they end and this is one of them that drags me back to it constantly.

And to that weird little dude out of Chile who has no idea how much light he brings to the world…

Much love, Taylor 🤍

[thefirstknife]

Hey, would you happen to have lore receipts for Drifter being bi? Just curious, it’s been a while since I read trough his lore :) I would also add Petra to the list of gays as well, while not confirmed, she’s heavily implied to be in love with Mara.

Oh yeah, Petra! 100% wlw and heavily implied to be in love with Mara. Awoken just be like that.

On to Drifter, yes! He is my blorbo and he is the best.

First, we know he likes women because he very obviously had (still has?) a thing for Orin. He also tried flirting with Lady Efrideet (disastrous result). And he very obviously likes Eris. To what extent, we can't tell, but he enjoys her company and has explicitly said that he likes how "freakyx she is. He also most recently dedicated time to make her a nice meal in seasonal armour (Eidolon Pursuant set).

The other hints are in how he talks about certain things in general. For example:

And you know me. I like to keep some folk close—real close. I feel somebody's hand on my throat, I figure they're about to kill me or kiss me.

Personally, I like to keep my options open.

It doesn't specify gender!

Also this:

"Had a face like the end-times and eyes like manna in the desert. One look at him, and I knew I wasn't gonna be saved."

Who is this man whose eyes he's complimenting? (probably Shin)

More directly though, he's very openly flirting with men for no reason and out of nowhere, as well as using as much innuendo as possible while he talks.

His first target? Zavala. These lines from Arrivals for example. He's so direct when asking if Zavala came to see him because he's special. Like, hello? Also this absolutely bonkers innuendo about Zavala he sent to Ikora (from Witch Queen CE book):

Hey Ikora,

Did you sign off on this? Zavala ordered a search of my ship to get samples of my plants? "There are known similarities between your vessel's infestation and the growths aboard the derelict Glykon Volatus." Tell the big guy that if he wants to get at my garden, he'd better start pounding some Primevals.

Transmat firing,

D

I think that's as far as they could've gone with that one without crossing the ratings line.

And my fave for last. So, there's a lore book about Ada-1 making the loom for transmog and at one point she visits Rahool for help. And he explains that it will take a long time to search for things she needs so she asks if she can search herself. And then:

Rahool shook his head. "Access to the classified archives is limited to sanctioned Guardians, Tower support staff, or the Vanguard themselves. You are none of those things."

Ada scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous, I've seen that Drifter perusing this data on a weekly basis for his own amusement."

"That's not— there's no way—" Rahool stammered and blushed. "I assure you, no such breach has occurred."

I'm sorry, but nobody will ever convince me that this isn't confirmation that Rahool and Drifter are hooking up and Rahool is giving him access to the Cryptarchy archives.

The way this is written is beyond funny. First, Ada practically lives next to Drifter and she says she's SEEN him using the archives. So she has personally seen something going on between Drifter and Rahool. On a weekly basis.

And then also Rahool "stammering and blushing." That's fanfic level acknowledgement. Why would he stammer and blush if he didn't allow it? Wouldn't he be angry about it and ask that Ada tell him all she knows right away so that he can report Drifter? Nope. He's stammering and blushing. Case closed.

In conclusion, Drifter likes dangerous women who can snap him in half and Awoken men. I don't blame him.

Additionally, something I like very much, a certain bounty you can take for Gambit:

The text changes depending on your character's gender. This is the text for the female Guardian, but if you're on a male Guardian, he'll say it the other way around with king/queen.

Drifter says trans rights!