#and branch is branch completely isolating himself

[pedropascallme]

I’ll Always Come Back

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!Reader; no use of y/n

Summary: “The bed in the house you shared wasn’t all that large, but without Joel in it you felt completely dwarfed. It was like the mattress was swallowing you whole without Joel to anchor you to his broad shoulders and wide chest.”

Warnings: Smut (18+ MINORS DNI), dom/sub dynamics (dom!Joel x sub!Reader), fingering, oral (M & F receiving), p in v sex, praise kink, daddy kink. If I missed anything please let me know!

~~~

Summer in Jackson was a mixed bag. On the one hand, the warm weather made it much more encouraging to tend to your day-to-day activities; you could clean up around the house, sing along to the radio Joel had fixed up while you rearranged the cabin you had been gifted. You could go out and mingle without the need to put on layers and layers of clothing. And the plants—God, the plants! Things were growing, summer meant fresh greens and tending to your little plot of garden.

On the other hand, summer in Jackson meant extended patrols; the warm weather encouraged raiders to branch out further, to attempt riskier and riskier maneuvers. You never felt scared, why should stuff like that scare you after everything you had been through with Joel and Ellie? But what did get to you was the fact that Joel’s patrols were getting longer as the warm June days arrived.

Ultimately, things weren’t much different. You and Ellie and Joel still had time together and time apart, but it drove you nearly insane when you had to get into bed without him, wake up without him. The bed in the house you shared wasn’t all that large, but without Joel in it you felt completely dwarfed. It was like the mattress was swallowing you whole without Joel to anchor you to his broad shoulders and wide chest.  

Today had consisted of next to nothing. Ellie had shouted at you while you were still half asleep, saying something along the lines of “Dina” and “movie night” and “back tomorrow, maybe!” You had offered a lazy “mmff” in response. And then you heard the door slam. You tried your best to spend the day doing something—anything—productive. Go for a walk, clean the kitchen, weed the garden. In the end, though, you had found yourself letting yet another day slip by completely wasted. Maybe not completely: You had found the copy of The Catcher in the Rye that you had picked up somewhere along your journey with Joel and Ellie.

You remembered how much you had loved the cover when you first read the book—you must’ve been 14 or 15, if even. The red carousel horse that looked so…messy and unhinged. That might’ve been what initially drew you to the book in the first place, not to judge a book by its cover or anything, but it just looked so promising. When you reread it, you found yourself comparing Holden Caulfield to one Joel Miller; the character’s intensity, his need to isolate himself in order to protect himself and everybody else, his crippling losses. It was all Joel. So maybe, in the back of your mind, you had really just started skimming through it today to remind yourself of the growth you had seen Joel go through in your time together. He was so closed off, so hesitant when you had first joined him and Ellie. Of course, the biggest difference between the real life and the literary was Joel’s ability to grow, to open up and remember how to feel; Holden never really got that sort of closure.

After hours and hours of reading and reminiscing, the sun had finally started to go down. You prepared yourself for another night alone in the house. You were happy Ellie had the ability to go out and spend her time with people she loved, but when Joel was out for so long, you couldn’t help but feel jealous. Jealous and lonely. But you were a big girl, and you could handle it. Even if you hated it. You changed out of your denim shorts and took off the tank top that was now fairly sweaty, opting to sleep naked. Might as well if nobody is going to see you, anyway. You curled up under the bedsheet, not bothering to sleep under the comforter, it was entirely too hot for that. You fell asleep far quicker than anticipated.

You woke with a start when you felt a hand wrap around your midriff, a voice in your ear drawling “g’night, darlin’.” Dazed, you turned yourself over to face the direction of the voice.

Joel was home.

Nothing could’ve snapped you out of your groggy state faster than the excitement of seeing him again after so long. Really, it hadn’t been long at all, but it was always such a relief having him back next to you. You clung to him, reacquainting yourself with his smell and the feel of him. Just as quickly, though, you pushed yourself up and off of him.

“You’re dirty.”

“Missed you too, sweetheart.” He pulled you back down to him, caging you in with his arms. “Don’t’cha like dirty, baby?” He laughed while you tried to wriggle yourself out of his hold.

“Like it when it’s how you’re acting, not when you’re literally caked in dirt.” You faked outrage, hitting his chest softly.

“C’mon, know you like seein’ me this way.”

And he was right, obviously. You loved seeing his hair pushed back with sweat, feeling his calloused hands against your bare back, tracing his collarbones and feeling the gravelly remnants of dirt.

“You had a good patrol, then?” You asked, finally letting yourself fall atop him, truly not caring about the dirt and sweat.

“It was alright. Uneventful. Fuckin’ hot out there, though.”

“Maybe it’s time to start wearing shorts, cowboy.”

“Yeah, that’s what everybody wants to see. My old man knees shinin’ out in the sun.”

You giggled. He traced his hands down your naked body, letting himself feel every dimple and curve.

“You got th’right idea. Nothin’ like comin’ in from the heat to see my baby stripped down for me. Should probably start doin’ the same whenever I can.” He squeezed your ass roughly, forcing a moan from your lips.

“C-can’t just walk around the commune naked, Joel. At least put some rips in your pants.”

“Mm, why walk around the commune in jeans when I could strip down with you at home, darlin’?” He delivered a smack to your ass, making you gasp. “Could just stay here all day ‘nd play with you. Make me sweat, keep me cool.” He quirked an eyebrow, tongue wetting his bottom lip before he brought your face to his with both his hands.

He tasted perfect, like the cigarettes he and Tommy swore they weren’t smoking, like whiskey, like mint, like black coffee. He licked at your bottom lip, encouraging you to open your mouth and let his tongue in. You felt him sweep the inside of your mouth, spit mingling and teeth clacking together as the kiss intensified. Without separating himself from you, Joel sat up, grabbing you by the hair and biting your bottom lip.

“Gonna be good f’me?” He still had you by the hair as he started to undo his belt. “Gonna show daddy what you missed so much while I was gone?”

“Wanna show you, please Joel.”

He pulled your hair tighter into his fist, and you let out a high pitched sound.

“You can do better than that, baby. Try again.”

“Please daddy, I wanna show you what I missed!”

“Atta girl.”

He pulled his belt from the loops on his jeans in one swift motion, undoing his button and fly just as fast. You could see the bulge that had grown in his jeans, and your mouth watered at the sight.

“You wanna be good?” Joel pulled your head back so that you were looking into his eyes. “You gotta work for what you want, baby. You know that.” He laughed when your hands flew to his crotch, shoving the denim down his hips and doing the same to the boxers he was wearing. You took his hard length in your hands; no matter how long you had been together, no matter how many times he let you have it, you were consistently amazed by how big he was. He was long, thick, heavy in your hands, and it just spurred you on further to show him how good you could be.

“Spit.” He still had a fist in your hair, and he held you above the tip of his cock. You did as you were told, letting your spit drip from his tip, down his shaft. He made you repeat the action once more before letting you move your hands.

“Good girl, jerkin’ daddy off so good.” He groaned when you dropped a hand to his balls, your other hand working his full length. His back arched slightly when you gave his balls a squeeze, moving your hand to focus on the head of his cock. He released you from his grip.

“Open your mouth, baby, give your daddy a show, huh?” You jumped at the chance, shuffling down his body and lowering your face between his hips. You kept one hand working up and down his shaft and took as much as you could in your mouth, flicking your tongue against his most sensitive spots.

“Fuck, good girl. Gonna make me cum if you keep going like that. Fuck!” You took his rambling as an opportunity to take as much of him as you could down your throat. Suddenly, his hand was back in your hair, pulling you off of him. A string of your saliva kept you connected to his cock, dripping from your puffy lips.

Joel brought your face back up to his, catching you in a heated kiss. You felt him bite your bottom lip, your own tongue tasting the inside of his mouth. He broke away for just long enough to flip you onto your back. He stood over you, pulling his jeans off completely and staring down at you hungrily.

“Y’out here sayin’ you don’t like dirty. You got such a mouth on you, baby, y’know it’s not good to go ‘round lyin’.” He pulled you towards him by your ankles, letting your legs fall over the edge of the bed before he kneeled in front of you and hiked them up on his shoulders. “See how I know you were lyin’?” He wasted no time showing you, pushing a thick finger into your cunt. “Drippin’ baby, fuckin’ soaked. S’all for daddy, isn’t it, sweetheart?” You moaned at the sudden intrusion. Just one of Joel’s fingers was enough to make you lose control completely. He twisted it inside you, pumping in and out slowly.

“Tell me it’s for daddy.”

“I—it’s all for, it’s all f—for daddy!” You gasped when you felt another one of his fingers exploring your slit, using your wet to force itself in beside his other finger.

“S’what I thought.” He curled his fingers, bringing his mouth down to your clit and sucking hard. You let out a scream of his name. He only sucked harder, letting the bundle of nerves go with a pop.

“Cum on my fingers, baby. C’mon now, give it to me.” You felt his fingers, still curled, start rubbing against the spongy spot inside of you. Your walls began to clench around his fingers, his mouth once again finding a pace on your clit. You came around his fingers with a jumbled mixture of gasps and screams, barely registering how he talked you through it.

“Good fuckin’ girl, that’s it. Yeah, show daddy what a good girl you are.” Joel placed another kiss on your clit, slowly slipping his fingers out of you. Though your mind was still foggy from the orgasm he had just given you, you whined at the sudden emptiness. When he stood above you again, you reached your arms up for him. He smiled down at you, bending over to kiss your forehead and then your lips.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, not done yet.” He straightened himself out a little, placing a knee on the bed next to you. You reached out to brush your fingers over his thigh. God, he was so muscular. You suppose, for all the walking he did, he should be, but still. Your legs were once again over his shoulders, now above you as he loomed over your naked figure. He took his cock in his hand, stroking himself as he lined himself up with your still dripping slit.

“Daddy’s gonna give you more baby, don’t worry.” You felt the tip of his cock nudge your clit before he lowered himself into your pussy. You both groaned at the contact; the squeeze of your cunt around his thick cock felt like heaven for each of you.

Once fully inside of you, Joel dropped the leg that had bed resting on the bed back to the ground, and pressed his body to yours, chest to chest. He pulled out till just his head was still resting in your pussy, before snapping his hips forward, shoving himself completely back into you, punching the air from your lungs.

“Missed this pussy,” he breathed out shakily, keeping a harsh pace, “missed feelin’ your tight fuckin’ cunt wrap around me like this.”

“Missed you so much, missed daddy’s cock—fuck!” He had your arms above your head now, wrapping his lips around one of your nipples and slowing his strokes slightly, continuing to fuck you deep. You rubbed your hips into his own, desperate for as much friction as you could get. He felt you bucking your hips, laughing at your desperation.

“Poor lil’ baby, such a needy fuckin’ pussy.”

“Dadd—y, need it!”

“Watch your mouth, darlin’, I’m givin’ it to you, ain’t I? Remember who you’re speakin’ to,” he sped up his thrusts, making your tits bounce while you lay back taking it. “Need some fuckin’ manners, baby.”

“I—fuck!—Please daddy, need to cu—m on your cock. Please!” You were begging, he had you exactly where he wanted you. Fucked out and messy, your hair sticking to your forehead and your slick dripping down his cock to your thighs. He loved when you got desperate. Fuck, he had missed you. He had been gone two, maybe three days, and all he could think about was coming home to you. One of his hands came down between your legs, fingers attaching to your clit. You arched your back, moaning, inviting him to touch you where you needed him most. He massaged your bud in tight, neat circles, his fingers moving faster than his thrusts.

He was fucking merciless.

“Can feel that pussy getting’ tighter on me. Y’gonna cum for me again, baby? Gonna cover daddy’s cock in your pretty fuckin’ juices?” His thrusts were beginning to speed up, and within a few more seconds of him fucking you senseless and talking you up (“Good girl, good girl gonna soak daddy’s big cock. That’s right, beautiful, make a fuckin’ mess on me.”) you were cumming hard around him. You grabbed at him, pulling him down onto you while he continued to push his cock deeper into you.

“That’s right, my fuckin’ girl. So good baby, tha’s it.” You scratched your nails down his back, legs shaking as you wrapped them around him. His thrusts became sloppy, nearing his high. You took it upon yourself to gain back a teeny bit of control.

“Cum, daddy, please. Want you to fill me up, want daddy’s cum.” He growled in your ear, fucking into you harder.

“Yeah? Want daddy to full this cunt with my fuckin’ load, baby?”

“Please, yes please,” you begged, still trembling from your own high.

“Gonna give it to you, sweetheart, gonna—shit, gonna fill you up so nice and deep—” He cut himself off with a deep thrust and a loud groan. You felt the warm spurts of his cum deep inside you, moaning at the sensation. He moaned, dropping himself down onto you. You stayed like that for as long as you could; his cock softening inside you, his full body weight pressing you into the springs of the old mattress, your breathing heavy. It was perfect.

“I missed you so much,” Joel panted out, still catching his breath. “M’sorry for comin’ home dirty. ‘Nd late.” He pushed himself up off of you, now mostly-soft cock sliding out of you, turning to lie on his back. You crawled up to him, lying on your side as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder. You could feel his cum and yours dripping down the curve of your thigh and onto the mattress.

“You know I don’t mind. I know you’re out there keeping us all safe. You’re good at it.” You kissed his jawline. “Plus, means I get to welcome you back like this.” He smiled, letting you continue trailing kisses wherever you could reach.

“Just hate leavin’ you.”

“I know you’ll always come back home to me.”

He looked down at you, still smiling. You’ll never get used to seeing Joel Miller smile, but you’ll always love how he looked doing it. He kissed your forehead, pushing the hair out of your face before taking your chin in his hand and leaning you up to kiss him.

“I’ll always come back.”

#Pedro Pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal smut #pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal x reader #Joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #the last of us #tlou #the last of us smut #tlou smut #the last of us fanfiction #tlou fanfiction

[tantei-chan01]

I really like ur mute branch au 😊

I bet in this au, branch would've kept in touch with his former band Kismet and probably visited branch when they had the chance. And during their visits branch taught them sign language. I wonder how they would've reacted to branch being muted, but shocked that he's slowly talking/singing again. Or are they super protective of branch when brozone tries to get him (forcefully) to speak to them. I'm pretty sure brozone would be jealous/possessive of their brother (trying to make up for lost time). Or brozone being completely jelly of branch's new band family and support system.

Kismet and Branch were friends in the beginnings of kindergarten and have performed a few times before Branch went gray. They tried to be there for him, but their parents kept pulling them away when the rumor of gray trolls infecting other trolls began circulating. By the time they became adults, Branch completely isolated himself and wouldn't respond to their attempts of reconnection.

After the first movie, Branch was the one who approached them, apologizing for not acknowledging them. They started slow in redeveloping their friendship, but it’s worth it.

When Branch was being shunned for not forgiving Creek, they all openly shunned the rest of the trolls, especially Poppy. Going as far as canceling any performance they had agreed before hand.

When Branch came back from the events of World Tour, he wanted to start performing with them again. They all excitedly began practicing together again, reminiscing about the times they first started singing together.

Now that Brozone is back, they're going to keep a close eye on them. Kismet may not be a part of the Branch Guard (which is critters only by order of Mr. Dinkles) they will do whatever it takes to make sure he feels safe and happy

#trolls #trolls branch #au #mute!branch #trolls band together #branch #dreamworks trolls #trolls the beat goes on #trolls world tour #trolls kismet #trolls brozone #trolls hype #trolls ablaze #trolls trickee #trolls boom #ask #answer

[hunny-pp]

PENACONY 2.1 SPOILERS /

[basically a more elaborate version of my twt thread on this]

I don't think I'm the first or only person to say this, but I do think Gallagher is v likely a memory zone meme

EDIT: heres pt 1.2 with additional evidence

Sunday deduces that Gallagher is an amalgamation of fifty-one Family members, who he's inherited physical traits from to create the appearance he has now.

Gallagher alludes in his own story that he may not be human

In short, Memory Zone Memes are amalgamations of multiple fragments of the Memory Zone, all have reflections of different memories, cognitions and emotions.

A meme in definition is when something, usually ideas, culture or behaviour is passed to another person through imitation or non-genetic means.

It makes sense for Gallagher, as he mimicked the physical traits of Family members without taking them or that trait away - these NPCs are very much fine and you can interact with them. It's more like a copy-paste onto himself.

Other little details include: -This could change in the future depending on if we get any fire units, but for Gallagher specifically, he takes the Raging Heart materials - which is harvested from a Memory Zone Meme-type enemy. This one's a bit of a stretch but it fits nonetheless

-His signature colour is magenta - shown in his clothing, his marketing materials and in the VFX of his attacks, his claw and his brew. This colour is specifically his and not something he had inherited from someone else.

Memory Zone Memes, especially "Something Upon Death" have stark magenta/purple/pink eyes and cores. When seen from afar or at least in a general sense, the shades are similar enough

-The writing style of Gallagher's stories feel strange, like different aspects of Gallagher's personality and life are on the outside looking in. Akin to a reflective surface giving off different reflections from different angles of the same subject. It adds to the idea that there are multiple aspects and fragments within Gallagher all looking within each other.

Mixology and The Dreamjolt Hostelry:

Gallagher's main interest outside of work is mixology. Like any culinary craft, there's an inherent science behind it, and it takes a lot of work and knowledge to craft well constructed cocktails and drinks. Symbolically, mixology complements Gallagher, as he himself is a combination of a diverse range of people. When you view these inherited traits isolated, you know they come from someone real - but when put together, they form One Complete Gallagher - cohesive and seamless.

While you can say the same for different branches of culinary arts, mixology in particular symbolically represents Gallagher the most. This is just from a layman's perspective but when I view the same with cocktails - from a general inspection it's one cohesive drink even if from taste or watching the process, I know it's all made with different components.

Notably, when Gallagher talks about mixing drinks, he describes it as akin to combining different emotions, experiences and memories into a singular cocktail and it's reflective of both customer and bartender's own current state of being.

His philosophy on mixology links back to the concept of Memory Zone Memes, manifestations of fragmented memories, emotions and cognitions nestled into a vessel.

The reason why I bring up the Dreamjolt Hostelry is because of the Vignettes in a Cup event (spoilers for it). It's not explicit in his stories or voicelines, but going by the Trailblaze quest, it's implied that the Dreamjolt Hostelry is the lounge/bar he regulars for a drink or to hone his craft as he's v friendly and familiar to Siobhan and is seen in the 2.1 trailer to be serving a Dreamjolt Domescreen (whether it's Lady or not doesn't matter).

Dreamjolt Hostelry is in the sealed off dreamscape Reverie, where the corrupted Dreamjolt Troupe monsters and Memory Zone Memes reside. Notably, where you encounter Something Unto Death in key moments of the story.

I'd like to believe Gallagher is very comfortable with the company of monsters, going by the fact that he himself is non-human.

In Vignettes in a Cup, Siobhan explains that the reason why she mixes drinks for the Dreamjolt Troupe monsters is that it helps regulate their emotions - since the dreamscape is falling apart and in turn they have become unstable.

Gallagher himself in one of his idle animations drinks an unknown concoction from his hipflask once his scar starts acting up - in which it settles back down. It's hard to discern in this point in time how long this has been going for, but as a non-human entity (meme or not), the dreamscape's decay is also likely affecting Gallagher and thus he has to regulate himself.

Why Do The Heathen Rage?: In the mission "Why Do The Heathen Rage?" we learn a lot of the Watchmaker's secret history as well as a general run through of Gallagher's own personal story.

First off, a lot of Penacony's trailblaze mission titles are references to songs, literature and media relevant to the themes of Penacony and/or by American classical authors or poets (ie Heaven is a Place on Earth, Cat Among Pigeons, The Tell-Tale Heart).

Why Do The Heathen Rage is both based on Psalm 2.1 Old Testament, but also it's a fragment of an unfinished novel by Flannery O'Connor. Fragment of a novel -> Gallagher is made of fragments of different people -> Memory Zone Memes are fragments of (I'm booed off the stage for being a broken record).

The story tells of a man called Walter Tilman who lives on his family's farm. There he starts to write letters to different people - particularly to Oona Gibbs, a black civil rights activist. However, he writes to her under the guise of a black man, and writes with the intention of testing the commitment and integrity of her beliefs.

Going with what we know in hindsight, Gallagher is masquerading around as a human, likely as a Memory Zone Meme as we've realised hopefully by now that they're the monsters most likely to pull something of Gallagher's calibre off.

This is all I'm gonna talk about from "Why Do The Heathen Rage" mainly because my additional theories are based off leaks and are more speculative.

Bonus section: "Something Unto Death" When it comes to Gallagher's connection to the Memory Zone Meme "Something Unto Death", a lot comes from his many symbols of death. This is just a bit of a bonus since we're talking about Gallagher likely being a Memory Zone Meme, we might as well address the elephant in the room as well.

For brevity, we'll call the little guy "Death Meme". Death Meme is a Memory Zone Meme created from the Dreamscape's fear of death and murder as "death" shouldn't be something that can happen in the dreamscape.

Gallagher has a FUCK ton of symbolism and nods to death. The most striking is that Gallagher's iconic "I'm Thirteen", which is the number for the Major Arcana "Death". (For additional reference I also think Thirteen could be the amount of Amber Eras he's lived in, or that he's at least 1300 years old. Also since he has a lot of dog theming, 13 dog years in human years is around 60-80 depending on the dog's size).

Additionally, thirteen is a common number to represent bad omens and misfortune - namely the well known Friday the 13th superstition, amongst other things.

When Gallagher makes you a drink, no matter what choices you make - the cocktail will have a memento mori/death/morbidly themed name and he will accompany most of them with a sardonic toast.

Gallagher's eidolons are names of different cocktails which fit his mixology theme. However, Corpse Reviver, Last Word, Death in the Afternoon and Blood and Sand are all death centric names, as if he couldn't get edgier enough.

There's also the call into question his playstyle, where he's a much more aggressive battle healer than the likes of Luocha and is the first abundance character to provide debuffs on the enemy, and derives healing through damaging opponents.

Conclusion: If you've read this far then I'm assuming you're as normal about Gallagher as I am. But yeah, there is so much to him I haven't touched on, his connections to the Enigmata, my continuation on this theory based on leaks and his shared past with Mikhail, what I think he'll do in the plot moving forward. This patch and its characters are themed around hiding secrets and that there's more than meets the eye. Gallagher in particular has proved to be the most mysterious of the trio, as while we've gotten a clear enough picture of both Acheron and Aventurine but there's still enough intrigue to keep them going, Gallagher's just given me more questions than answers man.

#honkai star rail #hsr gallagher #gallagher #honkai star rail theory #hsr theory #hsr spoilers #penacony spoilers #im normal about him (smile)

[fan-of-most-doms]

I really want to see something with both Feral JD and a Feral Branch

Like Branch at one point had completely isolated himself from Pop Village and then like 4 or 5 years later Poppy finds him and he’s all feral and shit, and after they save Floyd, Branch is the one who helps JD the most in kind of reintegrating back into society, though not before they have plenty of time to be feral brothers and play like wild pups.

Edit: oh and another thing Bruce, Clay, and Floyd are off to the side freaking out thinking that John and Branch are fighting and Poppy’s just like “guys chill, they’re just playing” cause she had to help Branch and she’s seen this kind of behavior from him before.

#trolls band together #trolls branch #brozone #trolls john dory #feral john dory au #feral branch

[brights-place]

Dating Branch

Pairings: Branch X Reader Warnings: Fluff A/N: I didn't do this one yet so IM HANDING IT OVER YAYYY! Im so sleep deprived please send help!

- This man was so lonely (MY POOR LOVE)

- Like I mean SOOOO lonely his grandma was eaten and his brothers where somewhere and he hid in an bunker 24/7

- he was rude and sassy to everybody but you... because you found him when he was crying when he witnessed his grandma get taken...

- you comforted him so much he found comfort whenever you were around unless it was with others he’d be harsh but less harsh towards you when they where around

- He’s growing as an person slowly (FOREVER THANKFUL FOR THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT)

- Sassy but lovable and caring

- you stood out unlike the others was it your appearance? Was it your voice? Was it the way your eyes shined when singing and dancing with the other trolls? He didn’t know but his heart felt something - he took note that you were comfortable and chaotic with people you were close with well with everybody just like every other troll - You two would hangout together cause most of the time you understood his boundaries but sometimes he'd push them just for you - Branch was a recluse for many years, not wanting to have any close relationships with anybody afraid the got hurt -He felt that it isn't fair that he was forced to live in isolation for so long, and was waiting for the right person to come into his life. When he met (name) he felt instantly drawn to their fun personality, and how well they complimented each other. - YOU! made him feel wanted and understood, and it made Branch's heart melt.

- he was completely stunned by how pretty you were and your easygoing attitude made him feel like he could trust you. - You both shared so many similar beliefs, and he felt like she understood him in ways nobody else ever had.  - He would always stare at you whenever you hangout Branch felt himself growing fonder and fonder of being around you - Branch would smile at you most of the time as poppy points it out quickly branch smiling at you dancing and singing - "OH MY GOSH YOU LIKE (NAME!" Poppy squealed as branch coevered her mouth "Shut up!" - This guy is so sweet he probably was given tips by bruce about how to flirt ( T U T ) - He tries his best to flirt with you which he succeeds in and smiles a bit at the sight of you smiling and giggling - After awhile he took you out on an date and kissed on the first night on your date as he took you out to stargaze as you held hands looking up to the stars as he ranted and told you about the stars - I headcannon he got so bored he learned about space and other things that he learnt - You two started officially dating after going on your 6th date as you two would be seen more and more cuddling and smiling at eachother

- Holding hand is normally all you get with the occasional kiss from you of course always initiating physical touch since Branch is to afraid to do it first

- You fell first and He fell harder

- Even if he's sarcastic and not knowing what to do first he'd soon know exactly what to do after abit

- Wants to his best to make sure you’re feeling alright and okay around him I mean he's your boyfriend why wouldn't he do that?

- Shy about Pda in public but in private he peppers your face with kisses and teases you for fun while you giggle - When he gets overstimulated by the loud noises he goes to you straight away

- Definitely starts to try find wherever you are after he's had a bad day or had been in his head too long

- He never really knows when he’s doing anything right or wrong as far as the relationship so he depends on your hair to know which path to take

- Your info dumping soothes him, wether he likes it or not

- He plays it off subtly but he knows how to fluster you and he takes pride in that

- He dances and sings to you as you sing along with him dancing together before always ending up kissing at the end together if your just singing together

reblogs + comments are appreciated ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

©brights-place 2024 — do not repost on another platform, copy, translate or edit my works! if you fit my DNI list please don't interact!

#trolls x reader #brozone x reader #trolls band together #dreamworks trolls #trolls #trolls fandom #trolls dreamworks #brozone #trolls 3 #branch trolls #branch #Branch X Reader

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

Leaders can choose which life they want to lose in order. The will experience something related to that cat's death or, rarely, have a talk with them. When the leader dies, they go into a misty, swirling meadow, surrounded by the cats who gave them their lives.

Pinestar chose Harepounce first, wanting to brave it. He felt the aching in her stomach, but also the intense love for her daughter, Whitekit. It is a looming feeling, especially when he first eats kibble, his belly full while other cats go hungry that night.

Bluestar chose Mosskit last, and instead of feeling the winter's chill, she felt nothing but safety and love, the snow becoming a blanket to settle into. Mosskit allowed her to spend her last moments lucid, seeing all of her children on the bank as she passed.

Crookedstar chose Appleshine for his first, and felt the intense pain she had felt as she died, and the pain gave him determination to keep going during a battle with Thunderclan. (Guess what they were fighting over!)

Tallstar's second to last life was lost after the Bloodclan battle, he chose Dawnstripe's life. She showed him the thrill of the battle she had passed away in, but that while sometimes fighting for something is necessary, it isn't always the only option. It sticks hard with him.

Brokenstar picked Sagewhisker to get rid of it first, he felt the intense pain of the heart attack that killed her, from that point on he made other cats fight his battles more, wanting to hold onto his lives.

Leopardstar's final life was with Brightsky, who she had been avoiding. She watched her mother's life slip away, and the heartbreak that her mother had felt seeing that 2 of her children had been born sleeping. She realized as the world faded to cold darkness that she'd made a mistake.

Losing all his lives at once, Tigerstar had begged each of them to save him, one by one. But they could not, even if they wanted to. The last lost was the tiny warrior, Olivetail, showing her death was at the claws of his own ancestor, Gorsestar, in the same way he himself bleeds out now.

Firestar choses Swiftclaw first to get that over with. It is agonizing pain but all the Might of Lionclan in his bones keeps him going and fighting even when the literal jaws of death clamp down. He remembers Swiftclaw, and all the young cats he is fighting for when he comes back to the living world.

Blackstar chooses to lose the life Blizzardwing gives him, wanting to be rid of it as fast as possible. He feels sickness claw at him, and rage at an unfulfilled life full of regrets. It's... sobering, especially when he just lost the life due to a branch falling on him.

Leafstar choses Dawnstar (who gives a life for Selflessness) during Skyclan's Destiny to see if she is doing the right thing by helping the rogues. It is calm and cold and quiet, her lungs feel tight but she can feel guilt baring down on her as she watches herself through Dawnstar's eyes denying herself catmint to make sure the other cats can live through the greencough epidemic, seeing a Starclan cat looming over a kitten, knowing he will be a heroic leader.

Onestar's final life was Brushclaw, who didn't show him his death, but only talked about how disappointed he was. He gave Onestar a life for friendship, and Onestar chose to isolate himself afterwards, acting unfriendly towards even his own clanmates.

Mistystar's first life was Crookedstar, and she spoke with him about what happened to Leopardstar, and if she was a bad cat for it. He gives her reassuring words, and tells her that he is proud if her.

Bramblestar's first life lost is for Longtail, he feels the terror as he loses his sight, reliving Longtail's last moments before the tree crashes down, all he can think of is the last though in Longtail's head: I can't let prey go to waste, I'm sorry Poppydawn. It rattles him completely.

Rowanstar chooses Cedarheart during a Yellowcough life loss, who fought with all his might to protect the Riverclan nursery, dying for them just as the retreat order was called. It fills him with vigor and strength.

As Harestar lays dying of Blackcough, he picks Barkface. They talk, and Barkface confirms that, no, he will not recover from this. But not to lose hope, for Windclan's future is still bright, have faith. As he gazes over at Breezepelt, he feels a glimmer of hope.

Tigerstar's second life lost after Rowanstar was Flametail, he missed his brother too much to save it for later. The water made him afraid, but when he saw how Jayfeather had tried to SAVE his brother, he personally traveled to Thunderclan and invited Jayfeather to a feast, re-building a bridge that had been hanging in threads.

#warrior cats #warrior cats rewrite #wcr #warriors #pinestar #bluestar #crookedstar #tallstar #brokenstar #leopardstar #tigerclaw #tigerstar #firestar #blackstar #leafstar #onestar #mistystar #bramblestar #rowanstar #harestar #tigerheart #tigerheartstar #wc worldbuilding

[smokesandsonatas]

Theory and Analysis

The Legacy of the Shroud and Draconia Families: The Prodigy and the Miracle

I haven't posted anything in ages, but in the span of a day, I have caught up to everything happening in TWST. All I could say is -

Wow.

Should I miss or incorrectly put the lore, feel free to correct me.

Warning: Spoilers, long post, language, and crude humour.

Without further ado, let's get into the post. All credits belong to their owners.

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The Shroud clan

The Shrouds have been in existence for a really long time. Their ancestor was "appointed a Gatekeeper back in the age of gods and goddesses." Let's assume that was thousands of years ago. Due to this task of essentially keeping the balance in TWST World, Tartarus was built, and henceforth S.T.Y.X was 'formed' about 100 years ago.

Due to their long history, the Shrouds are rich, rivaling the Al-Asims in terms of wealth. According to Vil, they are a branch of Jupiter Enterprises. An influential conglomerate that essentially built Google Chrome, or maybe Facebook, and Amazon of TWST.

The Shrouds reside on the Island of Woe. It is not on any map, therefore it is completely hidden from the public due to the fact it is literally built under the sea.

For the secret organization, Lillia said that a legend goes like this, "When a wizard forgets themselves and succumbs to their own power, punishment from the Island of Woe shall befall them."

The Shrouds are tasked with such a heavy job that about a hundred years ago, they were cursed, preventing them from escaping their duties. This curse manifested in their flaming blue hair, burning off accumulated blot. But if there's no blot to burn, the curse instead eats their magical energy. That's why the Shrouds, especially Idia having inherited the curse from his father, must now be in constant close state of OB to survive.

Idia's grandmother, Aidne/Idone Shroud, is known to have this curse. Both her and her son, Mr. Shroud are using magical devices to combat it.

The Shroud Prodigy and Tragedy

Idia is a prodigy. Born a genius in the Island of Woe. As a child his intellect far surpasses the adult researchers at S.T.Y.X. With this impressive show of his potential, his fate is sealed: Idia will become the next head of the Shroud family.

Ortho's life is a tragedy. He was born, and then he died. Then he was reborn again as a humanoid robot that Idia created while in complete isolation for 2 years. Complete with the 'real' Ortho's memories, personality, and appearance.

This is Idia's way of coping with the guilt that consumes him. Blaming himself for his only brother's death.

Why wouldn't Mama and Papa Shroud do something about this?

I like to think that they did try to console Idia. From the looks of it, they do love their children equally. But they also have to grieve too. They also suffer the same guilt Idia feels because suddenly the portal that they're supposed to monitor as the Director and Chief Engineer of S.T.Y.X breaks open, resulting in the death of their younger son. [But I think Idia's unique magic has something to do with the incident.]

It is important to note that Mama and Papa Shroud treat 'Ortho' as their real child, not a replacement of their dead son. With the events ending in Ignihyde chapter, Ortho is on his way to becoming his own person.

Combining his brother's 'death', the responsibility of running S.T.Y.X in the future, the constant state of near OB just to stay alive, and the isolation made Idia the genius, foul-mouthed, introvert prodigy dorm leader of Ignihyde.

As of Diasomnia chapter, Papa and Mama Shroud, the Director and Chief Engineer of S.T.Y.X respectively, are trying to get in touch, or are now in touch, with Queen Maleficia, Malleus' grandmother.

The Draconia family

The Draconias are nocturnal fae, tracing back their long lineage to dragons. They all possibly have horns protruding from their heads. Their lifespans can go on for centuries. A Draconia will reach adulthood at the age of 1,000 years old. That lifespan is longer than the kind of fae like Lilia.

Simplified:

If Malleus reach 1,000 years old, he'll be only known as an adult Draconia, but for Lilia, 1,000 years is his whole lifespan.

In the current events of TWST, we only know 3 Draconias so far.

Queen Maleficia, Princess Mallenoire/Malenoa, and the only known male heir, Malleus.

Not much is known about them, except the current queen (has been for a long time) is Queen Malefecia, the grandmother. She adopted Lilia and Levan, the father of Malleus and Princess Malenoa's husband. The royalty in Briary Valley is complete with senators, dukes, royal guards, and is just basically a monarchy of faes.

The Draconias, and most fae creatures, reside in Briar Valley. There are forests that are pitch black, giving an advantage to nocturnal faes, like Lilia. It is also rich in magical minerals.

In Diasomnia chapter, Malleus put up a barrier of thorns that is going around or extending throughout Sage Island, essentially marking it as his domain, and everyone in this domain will remain asleep, dreaming. It is worth noting that Malleus is said to be one of the top strongest mages, as evidenced by this:

"S.T.Y.X. together with the Magical Force, and the Briar Valley’s royal family attempted to break into Malleus Draconia’s domain, but… "

"Neither physical nor magical attacks could make a dent."

"The thorns do not discriminate between humans and fae, and anyone attempting to enter just get sucked into the field."

Because he's a fae, he gets energy from his surroundings. Therefore if Malleus' keeps extending his barrier, he will get stronger. Heed that not even Queen Maleficia can get through the barrier her grandson had created. With this scenario, it effectively puts Malleus, a little bit stronger than her.

The Draconia Miracle

I contemplated saying the Draconian Miracle but either way is fine.

If we are to consider Malleus as a miracle manifest in itself, let's first look at the way he was born.

The prelude of Malleus' birth is chaos.

During or even before he emerged from his shell, Briar Valley is going through a fae-human war. Starting when the humans started populating and abusing the place. Note that their population started with only a small sailing ship, and throughout the years they multiplied.

Princess Mallenoire/Malenoa/Mallenoa is the mother of Malleus, and she, by far is the strongest defense of the land, as said by Lillia.

But before Malleus can even crack the shell, his mother is already gone. Going by the angst route, let's assume she died protecting her egg that houses her son.

Makes you wonder how brutal the fight must be to 'kill' a mother dragon protecting her only child.

Levan/Revern, a raven fae or a dragon duke in some sources, is his father. He is a diplomat of Briar Valley, therefore his task falls into making allies, not enemies.

Yet, he did not return.

It is presumed that he died in an ambush, or possibly has a new identity. If he is alive it is cruel for him to not come back to his unhatched son. I am not saying Crowley is Malleus' father but there's a chance that Crowley is related to the Draconias, in one way or another.

Now, why is Malleus considered a miracle?

Because he was born against all odds. His birth is a highly impossible event, yet it did happen.

Due to his parents' absence, this effectively made the hatching of Malleus uncertain. Dragon eggs can hatch within 2-3 years of laying if showered with love and cared for.

[ This part is taken from the accounts of Lilia's dream in the Diasomnia chapter, where Silver is also surprised by the huge gap of the war and the dragon heir's birth.]

Malleus' birth is delayed by 200 years, because he has no one to care for him. It is truly pitiful that even before his birth, Malleus is abandoned.

Why wouldn't Queen Maleficia love her unhatched grandson? Is her love and power not enough to hatch Malleus?

I bet she did, but she also has grieve the death of her only child. On top of that, she has to be strong because she's a queen of a country. Any sign of weakness can mean the humans threatening her or even one of the faes betraying them, putting her family and the nation in danger.

The thought of the Draconia bloodline ending with her likely filled her with depression. Also, Queen Maleficia is not Malleus birth mother, only his grandmother. So that is not enough for a dragon egg to hatch, since it needed the love from his birth parents. I like to think that this part is where Lilia, as his caretaker will come in. Lilia's loyalty to Draconias extended to Malleus, softening the heart of the war-torn general, enough that he had the sympathy to adopt a human child.

It took 200 long years for Malleus to emerge from his egg shell and when he did, Briar Valley celebrated his birth. Matter of fact, his birthday is a public holiday.

Defying the odds is another powerful instance why Malleus is born to be a king faes, the valley and the abyss.

The parallels between Idia (the prodigy) and Malleus (the miracle)

[Is it me or they both look good?!]

Both Malleus and Idia grew up in isolation.

Literally.

[Island of Woe and Briary Valley are two places in the middle of seven-knows-what. Anyway...!]

With Malleus as the only heir, and Idia as the first born, they both have huge responsibilities on their shoulders. We're talking about responsibilities scaling nations and the safety of huge populations.

Idia's childhood is tragic with the death of his brother. But we can argue that Malleus' childhood is tragic too, with the disappearance of his parents.

Malleus grew up isolated and protected in the castle. His only confidant for decades is Lilia, his caretaker. And even then, Malleus said that Lilia is prone to going away for long periods of time.

For Idia, his only companion for the 2 years he locked himself in his room is the prototype of Ortho that he's building.

Idia represents the uncanny future, and Malleus represents the eerie past.

Think of it this way, if you put Malleus in Island of Woe where everything is about technology, I bet he will say something about the importanc of the past and teleport back to his place.

If you put Idia in Briar Valley... man's not even going to survive the night. He will lament his poor WiFi connection.

They compliment each other well: One doesn't want to be approached and the other is unapproachable.

Both Idia and Malleus are some of the loneliest students in NRC. Idia doesn't have social cues, and Malleus... doesn't have good social cues either.

They're both so awkward when interacting with others it becomes endearing.

As awkward as they are, both are arrogant too. Every time Idia regards himself as the acting leader of S.T.Y.X and Malleus as the future king, sends a thrill or.pride to whoever can hear them. [Go forth children! Be the leaders of the TWST world.]

And they will be leaders. As heavy as the mantle of Shroud and Draconia is, Idia and Malleus will have no choose but to shoulder on. That's why I think the battle between (yuu), Idia along with NRC against Malleus will be tragically beautiful.

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Fun fact: Hades tried to ask Maleficent out in a date once, lol.

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There's a reason why all of a sudden the story of TWST started to become more serious in the Ignihyde chapter and just hit the fan in Diasomnia. Soon, were about to find out why.

Idia and Malleus are the complete opposite yet their existence compliments each other so well.

One is a keeper of the underworld, and the other the blessing of maleficence.

And then there's Yuu, trying to uncover the secrets of Twisted Wonderland.

#twisted wonderland #malleus draconia #idia shroud #twst malleus #twst idia #ortho shroud #twst ortho #twisted wonderland analysis #twisted wonderland theory #diasomnia #ignihyde #mentions of #lilia vanrouge #twst lilia #s h u #twst #disney twst

[cheers-mdears]

Every so often I remember that while Stede has a lot of social privilege, he'd had essentially no positive social experiences in his entire fucking life before running away.

People were cruel or largely indifferent to him, so no kind words or kind touches or friendships. We only see Mary trying to reach him once, when he's already decided to leave, and the whoooole time up to that he had no one he could relax around, no one he could confide in, no one he could rely on, no one he could even begin to trust. He's been so incredibly traumatized, isolated, and powerless despite his social privilege that even when Mary tried to offer an olive branch, Stede couldn't take it. It's truly incredible that he had the courage to run away and be himself.

And the thing is, Ed doesn't know about any of Stede's trauma yet because Stede doesn't fucking talk about it, at least not directly and in a way that Ed will pick up on. If Stede has his version of a bathtub confession, there's going to be sooo much built-up pain coming out. I've seen a lot of speculation about season 2 that seems to think Stede's character growth has largely completed by the end of ep 10. But y'all he still has to learn how to truly open the fuck up and let himself be vulnerable in talking it through as a crew.

And given how much social/emotional trauma he has, that's going to be at least as much of a feat as Ed healing from the Kraken.

#our flag means death #ofmd meta #stede bonnet #ofmd #character analysis #meta #indrid talks

[hannibals-favourite-meal]

Impeachment Part 1

Rick Grimes x plus size reader x Daryl Dixon

Alpha!Rick Grimes x omega!reader x Alpha!Daryl Dixon

Everything was gone and destroyed but she was still theirs

Warnings: this one’s angsty, death, presumed death of reader and unborn baby, walkers, past violence, pregnancy

WC: 3.3k

Minors DNI

The Trial

Michonne had gotten Carl to smile again and for that, Rick would be eternally grateful. It had been hard seeing the boy so heartbroken, he had already been through so much, lost so many people that the beautiful smile that looked so much like Rick’s only appeared on the rarest of occasions. 

Daryl walked silently beside him, the joy radiating from the boy barely breaking through the huge wall of ice he had built between himself and everyone else and Rick knew why, it was the same reason he constantly had a pit in his stomach, an overwhelming sadness invading his soul. They hadn’t found her. 

The change in her scent became prominent about one month after her heat had finished. It became more milky and flowery instead of the usual vanilla and with a quick exam done by Hershel, it was confirmed. She had been pupped. Daryl had hugged her tight and hadn’t let go for a solid four hours after she told him. Both alphas had stepped up and agreed to be the father of the baby, no matter who had sired them, though each had a secret hope that it was their own pup in her belly. 

That night, Rick asked her to mark him. It was rare for an omega to claim their alpha but not entirely unheard of. “We are equal omega. We’re partners and I want to prove that.” The alphas let her take the lead. For the first time, they allowed her to ride them, to control the pace as she sank her teeth into their mating glands. It was perfect.

Everyone doted on her constantly, the anxiety from Lori’s unfortunate pregnancy rearing its ugly head once more. But with almost daily checkups and the best prenatal Daryl could scavenge, people settled down and the excitement of another pup became palpable. Y/N often had to escape back to her nest to get away from people who wouldn’t leave her alone. Carl or Judith went with her if her alphas were busy, the former being greatly excited at the prospect of being a big brother again, even if he didn’t outwardly show it.

Things were amazing until the sickness came. In a single night, an entire cell-block was dead and even more infected. She and Judith were immediately rushed into isolation, Carl begrudgingly staying by their side, even if he was chomping at the bit to help his father. Then, just as hope rekindled with Daryl finding the life-saving medicine, the Governor returned.

Through the madness of the firefight and waves upon waves of the undead, the pack was separated and presumed the others dead. Rick and Carl had found Michonne, then Daryl, then Terminus happened. 

Terminus burned behind them as they walked through the woods, the sounds of the explosions still ringing in their ears. “It’s right here.” Daryl pointed out the place where they had hidden their guns before being captured, and quickly dug them up. 

Rick wanted to go back, exterminate the rest of them, but looking at his pack, his resolve wavered. They all looked so tired, covered in walker guts and sweat, and they were completely unarmed and unprepared if that hoard decided to make its way back towards them. Part of him knew he was just angry he had let someone take advantage of him and they all nearly died as a result. He knew that he just wanted to go back and see if you had been there, if she was one of the unfortunate souls being lured into the trap of perceived safety. 

Daryl could sense his distress, and knew they were both feeling the same thing. “We gotta stick together.”  His shoulders slumped and he ran a hand over his face. “Fine, we just need to find shelter for the night, then we move on.” The creaking of branches behind them had Daryl whipping his head around, only to be met with the sight of the matriarchal omega awkwardly standing between the trees, his crossbow in her hand. 

He ran at Carol, embracing the older omega as Rick walked up cautiously behind him. “Did you do that?” His southern twang is more prominent with the emotion of finding another pack member. She tearfully nodded and embraced the other alpha, he quietly spoke into her neck. “Thank you.” As they separated, she looked up at him, a small spark of joy lighting in her gray eyes. “You have to come with me.”

As the pack came over the hill, they were met with the sight of Tyresse walking out of a dilapidated cabin, baby Judith tucked safely in his arms. Rick immediately dropped his weapon, almost stumbling in his hurry to get to his daughter, Carl and Sasha following closely. The alpha pulled the pup from the beta’s grasp, almost collapsing to the ground with sheer relief. 

He held both of his children close, vowing never to let them from his sight ever again. The pack watched on, small smiles coming over their faces at the reunion. However, a sour taste built up in the back of Daryl’s mouth. His omega would’ve never left Judith alone, she was her baby just as much as the one in her belly. “Where’s my omega?” He growled.

Carol’s smile dropped as her trembling fingers reached into her pocket. “I’m sorry, this was all I could find. It was outside the prison.” In the palm of her hand was the small friendship bracelet he had given to the younger woman when they were courting. The blue threads, picked out specifically because they matched his eyes, were dirty and covered in brown blood. The little sunflower charm which Rick had given her to put on it, was scratched up and also stained red. 

Daryl felt his heart shatter in his chest. He fell to his knees, the bracelet clutched tightly to him as he howled in pain. She was gone, his omega dead, his pup dead. Rick’s head shot up, eyes widening as he felt the heartache through their bond. His brother was near hysterics, crumpled on the ground, the trail of tears creating clean tracks down his face.

It was jarring to see the normally stoic hunter display so much raw emotion. Carol tried to wrap an arm around his shoulders but he shook her off, snarling, his inner alpha telling him that she was going to take the last thing remaining of his omega. Everyone backed away from him while Carol lowered her head in submission, not wanting to upset him further. 

A little chirp broke him from his grief. Rick knelt in front of him, hand on his shoulder as Judith reached out and touched Daryl’s face. Her big eyes seemed to stare into his soul as her chubby hand, still miraculously covered in baby fat, stroked his cheek. Rick tilted her forward so she could crawl into the archer’s strong arms, resting her head on his collarbone. The scent of milk and flowers comforted him, it was the same smell she had.

He could vividly remember being curled up with her in her nest, the late afternoon sunlight making everything warm and calm, her scent permeating his senses, making him forget the horrors of the world for just a moment. He held Judith tight to his chest, her breathing settling him. “She’s-“ His voice was broken, weak.

Rick sighed. “I know but we need to keep going. When we find somewhere safe, then we grieve but we have to keep going. It’s what she would’ve wanted.” He was just as heartbroken as his brother but as the head of the pack, he wasn’t allowed to be weak, not anymore. The shock of Y/N’s death would hit him in full later, but for now, he shoved those feelings down as far as he could, taking the other man in his arms for a brief moment. “We’ll be ok.”

——————

Daryl fiddled with her bracelet which he had tied around his own wrist. The building horde of walkers that had been behind them was setting him on edge. He knew that all of them were too tired, too dehydrated to deal with them, so they just kept walking, hoping for some sort of reprieve. 

They had been on the road for weeks, slowly making their way to D.C. The losses of Tyresse and Beth weighed heavily on all of them. Sasha seemed to be teetering on the edge, with Bob and Tyresse gone, it seemed there wasn’t much for her anymore. Daryl knew without Rick and the pups, he would be in the same position. He probably would snap soon, his alpha was constantly tearing at the barrier he built in his mind. He was grieving and in pain but Rick was right, that didn’t matter at the moment.

Michonne had been trying to keep the kids distracted through all of it. Her bond with Carl let Judith warm up to her as well, and through some bad jokes and silly faces, she got them to smile. Those smiles lifted a weight from Rick’s chest even as the stress of passing through the high walls was creating a dark feeling in the pit of his gut.

Alexandria felt like a joke. How could one community survive all of this practically unscathed when everyone else had lost so much. Christ, even the people in here didn’t know how to deal with walkers. It was too much like the old world, too safe. The people were too nice, too comfortable. 

It was almost voyeuristic, the way Deanna filmed all of them, asking invasive questions while relaxing on her couch like it was normal. “I’ve noticed you and Rick both have a mating bite.” Daryl subconsciously pulled his vest tighter over the juncture where his neck and shoulder met, shooting her the dirtiest look he could muster. “Are you two a pair?” 

“Don see how that’s any o yer business.” She shrugged and crossed her legs, relaxing further into the couch she was sitting on. 

“The two of you are close. It was only a natural question to ask.” 

“Yeah well ya don need ta know.” Deanna raised her hands in surrender. 

“Fine. I think we’re done here anyway. You can go.” He practically vaulted over the desk in his attempt to leave and rejoin the group. He felt trapped in this stupid house, in this community. 

By the way Rick was standing, shoulders slightly hunched, vein in his forehead popping, and avoiding his brother’s eyes, Daryl knew he was asked a similar question about his mark. With a silent nod, the alpha told his lesser they would discuss it later when there were no prying eyes or ears. They were naked without their weapons, even within the obviously strong walls, all of the survivors were unsettled.

Daryl’s blue eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, unconsciously pulling his shoulders back so his chest was fully inflated, making him look bigger. Aaron walked out of the house last, Deanna standing in the doorway, observing the pack dynamics of the group.

She could see the pairs, Glenn and Maggie, Abraham and Rosita, but with the two lead alphas, there was a piece missing. She knew their bites couldn’t have been from each other, it was too small but they were identical, obviously having been done by the same person. Her chest ached at the thought, she was fiercely protective of her own omega and couldn’t imagine what she would do if she lost him.

Maybe they could restart here. Get some kind of comfort from the safety of the walls, keep the pups safe. They would be an asset once they settled. Aaron led them away, towards the empty houses in the back of Alexandria, she’d drop by later to check in on them.

The yowling coming from below the building Aaron had identified as the infirmary, was off-putting. It sounded almost pained. “I’m sorry about that.” Aaron seemed almost bashful as he walked the group by the house. “Who’s in there?” Rick was on edge in this new environment, and the strained screams set him off even more.

“We’re not sure. Eric and I found her about a month back. She’s pretty much feral but no one wants to give up on her.” Yet, Aaron didn’t stop, he led them on like a museum tour guide. No stopping for questions, don’t touch the exhibits. They were led to the outskirts of the town, far enough away from the others that they couldn’t pose a threat, but close enough that they could be watched. “Here’s where you can stay tonight, Deanna will find jobs for you all so you can spread out a bit more.” Carol took the lead as they filed in. 

“Thank you so much for this, it’s nice to finally feel safe.” Her head was bent demurely, fingers twisting around each other, a shy smile on her face. Aaron seemed to relax a bit with her admission, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck. 

“It’s really no problem. You folks have a good night.” Daryl recoiled at his friend’s crocodile tears, he wouldn’t admit it, but her suburban housewife act was thoroughly disturbing. Rick gave the recruiter a nod of thanks. Aaron positively beamed at her sentiment. “I’m glad I could be of help.” With a polite nod, he left the pack to their own devices. As soon as the door was shut, all eyes snapped to Rick.

“We need our weapons back.” Maggie leaned against the kitchen counter, Glenn sliding his arm around her, kissing the small claiming mark on her shoulder. “We need a plan.” He added.

They all gathered around the brand new kitchen, still wary, and slightly offset by the cleanliness of the house. Eugene unconsciously stood near Abraham and Rosita, as Michonne took her place beside Carl and Noah. Rick and Daryl were at the front of the group, the latter's eyes still darting around, trying to assess possible threats.

“It’s a smart idea for us to be in the same house, at least for tonight.” Stick together, no one goes anywhere without a buddy. The rules were the same as the outside, that’s how they would stay safe and more importantly, not lose anyone else. 

They spoke in quiet whispers, too worried about listening ears and watchful eyes. And yet, Rick looked around his pack and noticed the exhaustion that seemed to settle over them like a raincloud. He sighed as he watched Carl’s head nod forward for what must’ve been the tenth time, his sheriff hat almost slipping off. 

“We need ta get some rest. Daryl and I will take first watch.” Surprisingly, there is no fight. Michonne slipped Judith from his hold and led the others to the living room, they followed obediently, too tired to argue. But Carol stayed behind, still at her place by the kitchen entryway. 

She looked so much older now, her eyes darker with a pain neither man could understand. “Just these walls won’t protect us and you know that. These people are too ignorant of the world out there.” Daryl crossed his arms over his chest, his omega’s bracelet catching the fading light of the sunset. 

To think yourself safe and protected after all this time with only a 15 foot steel wall and a gate keeping out the world was foolish. It had been almost 2 years since the world fell, there was no telling how many walkers were out there now, how many Terminuses, how many Governors. The people of Alexandria were delusional and that made them dangerous. 

Rick crossed his arms over his chest, chancing a brief glance at his partner before turning back to the omega. “We need proper weapons. Guns. But Daryl and I can’t go out, it’ll be too suspicious to have two alphas roaming around after dark.”

Carol smirked, her lips turning up in a small smile that Rick knew well. “But a meek omega looking around, needing some air, wouldn't call any attention.” Immediately Daryl answered.

“No.” His answer was final, no room for debate. But she ignored him, instead, she did up the buttons on her shirt and smoothed down her hair. It was almost magical the way she shrunk in on herself, the fierce lioness they knew so well disappearing behind hunched shoulders and downturned eyes. But to Rick, she looked like a predator waiting to pounce.

“I’ll be back in an hour with whatever weapons I can get. Don’t wait up pookie.” And she slipped out the door, quiet as a mouse. 

Rick could hear the others settling down in the large family room, Judith making little squawks in response to her older brother’s muttering. It was a comforting white noise, the pack was alive, they were protected. “I don like when she does tha.” 

The lead alpha clapped Daryl on the back as he walked past, smiling to himself. “C’mon we all need some rest.” With one last glance at the door, the archer followed.

——————

None of the pack could sleep. It was surreal to be safe for the first time in forever, to have access to (hot) running water, ready food, and actual beds instead of the flimsy mattresses in the prison, or even just the ground. But now, after being freshly showered with a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, sleep wasn’t coming.

Daryl was leaning against the entryway to the living room with Rick, watching over their pack as they settled. Rick couldn’t help but smile as he watched Carl play with Judith on the floor. The pup was smiling and giggling at her older brother who was leaning over her cot, fist clenched tight around his index finger, laughing every time he moved which caused her pudgy little arm to shake up and down, shaking her whole body.

“We’re safe here right?” The alpha wondered aloud, rubbing his freshly shaven jaw. Daryl only grunted in response. “We need somewhere to stay. If we can get back those weapons, we have a chance here. A real chance to live.” 

“But can we do it without her?” Their hearts ached. It was finally settling in, that they were alone again, that they lost something they would never find.

“She woulda liked it here.” Daryl picked at his nails, still caked in dirt. 

“Yeah she would.” The hope that the city had given him earlier was quickly dying as he got lost in his thoughts. Rick finally allowed himself to breathe. He couldn’t hold it in any longer, the tears quietly slipped down his cheeks as he thought of her, of her last moments alive. Were you trying to run? Trying to find him and Daryl? Did she fight through the hordes? He couldn’t stop the flashes of images behind his eyes if he tried.

Her smiling face. Walkers devouring a body. Her body arching in pleasure below him, sweat dripping down her skin. Dead hands clawing, pulling her apart as she screamed for him. The way she practically glowed in the moonlight as she danced with him on the farm. He knew Daryl could feel everything he could through their shared bond, he focused on the good, how she would run to him every time she saw him, how she coddled her pups.

The hunter’s fists clenched tightly into fists and his jaw locked. Rick opened his mouth to apologise but then, the front door swung open, revealing a greatly disheveled Carol.

“Carol?” 

“Rick, Daryl. You need to come with me now.” She was trembling with excitement and fear, a little smile breaking through her usually schooled expression, her white hair mussed up from running her fingers through it. 

“What’s goin’ on?” Rosita’s voice was thick with sleep, rubbing her eyes as she leaned against the fireplace where she had set up. Glenn and Carl also looked up, one of the last few still on guard. 

“Please, just, I need you to trust me. This is important.”

She turned to leave once more but Daryl grabbed her arm. “Tell us.” None of them heard the creaking of the floorboards until another voice spoke from behind the matriarch. 

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” Deanna stood in the doorway, her expression guarded, locked onto Carol. “I just wanted to see how you were settling in.”

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[gerrystamour]

we were tangled up like branches in a flood

Rated M | Steddie Week Day 4: Hurt/Comfort & Familiar | 2300 Words | Complete

Related to i could be honest, i could be human

[ READ ON AO3 ]

There was an ache that lived beneath Eddie’s skin, one that he couldn’t just write off to his healing muscles, the warped and scarred skin of his torso and legs. It was an ache that radiated from somewhere deeper, something that went beyond his flesh and bones. One that he’d only ever felt soothed by physical affection; a ruffle of his hair, a hand cupping his cheek, a pat on the back, a kiss, a tight hug. This is my entry for @steddie-week Day 4: Hurt/Comfort AND familiar! While this is related to my Big Fic, this is readable as a standalone fic I think. CW: Deals with some PTSD, especially the repercussions of physical therapy that isn't very trauma-informed etc. Additionally, there is some mild sexual content at the end!

October 1986

It had been three weeks since Eddie last kissed Steve. Five weeks since they last held hands. Eight since they last cuddled. Fifteen since they last had sex.

There was an ache that lived beneath Eddie’s skin, one that he couldn’t just write off to his healing muscles, the warped and scarred skin of his torso and legs. It was an ache that radiated from somewhere deeper, something that went beyond his flesh and bones. One that he’d only ever felt soothed by physical affection; a ruffle of his hair, a hand cupping his cheek, a pat on the back, a kiss, a tight hug.

Eddie was desperately touch-starved, but he hadn’t been able to get through the latest bout of violent touch-aversion. Physical therapy had been an unrelenting wave of torture over the last few months, spending what added up to hours every week of being manhandled painfully and told to do exercises outside of therapy, then yelled at when it was clear he wasn’t doing them. 

But how was he supposed to do his exercises when he needed help and the sensation of hands on him felt like broken glass and barbed wire?

At least Eddie wasn’t going back to physical therapy for a bit; Steve had seen to that in a very colourful tirade in the waiting room. It had been a week since then, and Eddie was still isolated, keeping himself out of reach, safe from errant touches and dodging grabbing hands. For the most part, all of their friends were great at giving him the space he needed; if anyone was going to touch or grab Eddie, it tended to be people outside of their immediate group.

Steve, naturally, was the best at keeping his distance, which was somehow also worse. The fact that he had gone weeks since Steve even brushed his arm in passing had Eddie spiraling in a really dark place. What was worse, though, was that he could tell Steve was having a hard time with it as well.

Of course, Steve never complained, never even made a face when Eddie dodged him or laid on the furthest side of the bed from him, never pouted or begged or yelled at him. The beautiful, perfect asshole was endlessly patient and supportive, always smiling gently at him and redirecting.

But Eddie could tell. 

It was in the way Steve crossed his arms just a bit tighter over his chest, the way he messed with his own hair every five minutes, how he nervously rubbed his bottom lip. It was in the way Steve never had the bed set up with the wall of pillows down the middle of it, just in case, but was always quick to put them there when Eddie hesitated before laying down.

Eddie sighed and rolled over, resting his head on the pillow set up between him and Steve, his eyes tracing the sleeping features of Steve’s face fondly.

Steve was always handsome, but when he was sleeping, he was softer, sweeter almost. The tight set to his brow smoothed out and his jaw unclenched, and it was moments like that when Eddie was reminded that he was only nineteen.

Just then, Steve shifted in his sleep, sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly with a low murmur. It was something he did so often, yet every time Eddie was struck with the desire to kiss him and taste those sleepy words. And fuck, did Eddie want to do that now, desperately in a way that made the ache sharper.

‘Fuck this,’ Eddie thought angrily, and with a deep breath he steeled his nerves and reached across to touch Steve’s cheek. The contact wasn’t as bad as Eddie feared, but it was nauseating nonetheless, so bad that Eddie nearly recoiled immediately. But then Steve released the sweetest, happiest sigh and nuzzled his cheek sleepily into Eddie’s palm.

‘Double fuck this,’ Eddie decided, his brow set with determination as he breathed through the nausea until it passed. He wanted this, he was choosing to do this, this wasn’t like physical therapy. 

Eddie wanted to touch his fucking boyfriend.

Finally, the twist in his gut passed and Eddie sighed, stroking his thumb over Steve’s cheek and relishing the contented sigh he slowly released. Then Steve’s hazel eyes slowly blinked open, and the sleepy smile Steve directed at Eddie brought actual tears to his eyes.

“Hey, baby,” Steve slurred drowsily, turning his face just a bit to kiss Eddie’s palm. That little motion sent a spike through Eddie that was equal parts fondness and pain. Eddie stood fast against the latter.

He wanted this; he was choosing this.

Then Steve reached up to touch him, and Eddie knew that would be too much, just by the way his heart was racing.

“Stop.”

Steve’s hand froze midair before retreating, and he held very still under Eddie’s hand. He was fully awake now and watching Eddie closely, patiently.

“What’s going on, Eds?” he finally asked after several moments of just lying in the bed, staring at each other.

“Trying to get over this,” Eddie said tightly, calming his heart down.

Steve shook his head a bit. “Don’t push your—”

“No, stop, don’t—I’m sick of not holding your hand, Steve. I miss hugging you. I’ve been waiting for it to pass on its own and it’s not, so I’m going to make it pass,” Eddie said determinedly, sliding his hand further back into Steve’s hair. The way his boyfriend shivered and almost melted under the gentle touch made the urge to retreat easier to ignore.

“I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” Steve murmured, the concern in his eyes just strengthening Eddie’s resolve.

“I won’t,” Eddie promised, and then he removed the wall of pillows between them. Scooting closer, Eddie slowly and carefully laid one leg across both of Steve’s which was okay. That felt okay.

“What do you need me to do?” Steve asked, his hands resting on his own stomach and fiddling with the hem of his thin t-shirt nervously.

Eddie considered the question for a few moments. “Just… don’t touch me until I ask you to, or put your hand somewhere,” Eddie said before insecurity bubbled up in his chest. “If that’s okay.”

“That’s perfect, Eds, I can do that,” Steve reassured him immediately, lifting his arms above his head to hook his fingers over the headboard.

There was a moment where Eddie felt overwhelmed with his affection for Steve, the deep well of fondness that made his stomach do somersaults, the intense love that nearly brought Eddie to his fucking knees whenever he so much as looked at Steve too long.

Eddie rolled in closer to Steve until he was half sprawled over him, battling the wave of nausea as he was now pressed flush to his boyfriend from shoulder to pelvis. Their faces were so close like that, their breath mingling between them as Eddie worked through the revulsion he felt rising up, even as he wanted nothing more than to close the distance.

‘I want this. I’m choosing this,’ he chanted to himself, and his mind settled, his body relaxing against Steve with a sigh.

“That’s it, baby,” Steve hummed deeply in a way that Eddie felt more than heard, his eyes closed as he waited for Eddie’s next move. When Eddie glanced up at his hands, Steve’s thumbs were stroking the headboard and he was overwhelmed with just how much he wanted those hands on his body. Steve sighed again when Eddie snuggled in tighter, and he said, “you’re doing so well, Eds.”

Something warm and happy burst in Eddie’s chest and he reached up to grab Steve’s wrist, pulling one of his hands to cup his cheek. The touch was hot, jagged, and Eddie barely kept himself from scrambling off the bed. He couldn’t stop the sob that bubbled up, but it was fine. It was okay, it would pass.

He wanted this. He was choosing this.

When the tension left Eddie’s body, Steve asked, “can I kiss you there, Eds?”

“Y-Yeah, yes,” Eddie said, and Steve carefully lifted his hand just enough to kiss his cheek.

With that tender gesture, the dam broke, and Eddie sobbed.

Steve began to pull away and Eddie shook his head quickly. “Hold me,” Eddie begged, tears in his eyes as he curled his fingers into Steve’s shirt.

Without hesitation, Steve’s arms wrapped tightly around Eddie, and even though his body filled with static that hurt, Eddie didn’t want it to end. Somehow, he wanted even more, wanted to be fully enveloped by Steve and squeezed so tight his body would become real and his again. Eddie didn’t realize he was saying all of that out loud until Steve shushed him and kissed his tear-stained cheek softly.

“Can I try something?” Steve asked quietly when Eddie let out a hiccupping sigh.

Eddie sniffled thoughtfully, hesitating. His hesitation had nothing to do with not trusting Steve; Eddie trusted him with his life. Eddie just wanted to be able to brace himself accordingly. “Tell me first?” he asked shakily, melting against Steve’s chest.

“How about we roll so I’m on top of you?” Steve suggested gently, and when Eddie tensed up Steve added, “just to see if it helps, me on top of you I mean, to squeeze you. If you don’t like it, just say so and I’ll get off of you.”

“It might—I dunno if I can do more of this tonight if that backfires, though,” Eddie confessed, more tears welling up at that thought. That he would finally have his boyfriend on top of him, holding him close enough to kiss and bite and taste, but then having to bring back the wall of pillows because they moved too quickly.

“That’s fine, Eds. I’m not expecting anything, so it’s all up to you,” Steve replied warmly, sincerely, sweetly. Eddie sobbed again, overwhelmed with how good Steve was to him.

“O-Okay, let’s try. Just… let me lay down—I need to move myself,” Eddie murmured, rolling onto his back next to Steve and taking a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“You’re doing amazing, Eds,” Steve sighed, rolling onto all-fours above him and looking down. “I was gonna lower myself gradually, or is it better all at once?”

“I think maybe all at once,” Eddie agreed, chewing his lip. “I might—just, if I freak out a bit, just give me a minute, okay? Don’t just jump off of me?”

“But how’ll I know—I don’t want to upset you,” Steve said anxiously, and Eddie sniffled, wiping his tears away.

“If I need you to get off, I’ll say so, okay? But if I’m crying and shit, just give me a bit?” Eddie suggested, and Steve nodded.

“Ready?” he asked, gazing down at Eddie with so much affection, Eddie almost felt shy.

“Yeah,” Eddie sighed, and Steve lowered himself so he was lying on top of Eddie, lined up from chest to pelvis, their legs entwined.

Eddie braced himself for the wave of nausea, the freak-out, the sensation of broken glass pressing outward from under his skin.

For a moment, a split-second, Eddie felt it but then Steve’s full weight relaxed on top of him, pressing him into the soft mattress and bringing Eddie back into his body. His mind settled and the static in his head quieted for the first time in weeks, perhaps even months.

“You doing okay, Eds?” Steve asked quietly, unsure, and Eddie let out a small sob and wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist.

“I’m fuckin’ perfect, Stevie,” he laughed, and Steve smiled down at him sweetly.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked gently, and Eddie answered by lifting his head to press their lips together.

The kiss was chaste, just the sweet glide of lips against one another, both of them tearing up as they got lost in the embrace.

Soon enough, Eddie’s hands began to wander, staying above Steve’s clothes—he wasn’t willing to attempt more direct skin contact just yet—but the shift in his mood was obvious. One hand rested on Steve’s hip, half splayed across his ass, and he subconsciously rocked up against him.

Eddie could feel Steve through the layers of both their pajamas, could feel the hard line of him against his hip as Steve shuddered and met Eddie’s movements. They clutched at each other, kissing and pressing, and Eddie whined as he realized that Steve’s hands were not on him.

“Steve, you can—touch my hair?” Eddie mumbled through a moan, and Steve immediately buried his hands in Eddie’s hair. Groaning loudly, Eddie wiggled and felt his release burning just beneath the surface embarrassingly quickly. “Shit, close, Stevie…”

“Same,” Steve moaned, and that did it for Eddie. Knowing that Steve was just as affected, just as needy for relief, just as far gone from some grinding and kissing had Eddie tipping over the edge. Throwing his head back, Eddie sobbed through his release, clutching Steve tightly and holding on for dear life.

It only took a couple more grinding movements before Steve grunted, his hips stuttering as he came. “Eds,” Steve sighed sweetly, and Eddie immediately brought their lips back together.

Eddie doubted this was the end of his issues, and he knew they would have to keep working through it, but for the moment Eddie was able to hold his boyfriend, kiss him, even come with him. 

“I should go get—” Steve started and Eddie’s arms wrapped tighter around him.

“Don’t,” Eddie begged softly. “Not done holding you.”

Steve chuckled at that and nodded, dipping his head to press a soft, sweet kiss to Eddie’s lips. Then he let out a sigh and scooted down a bit to rest his head on Eddie’s chest.

It was perfect, even with how uncomfortable his boxers had become, and Eddie finally felt hopeful. He felt like he could have a life full of love, affection, and gentle touches.

He wanted it, he was choosing it. They were going to be okay.

[ AO3 LINK ]

I hope you enjoyed!! Please consider reblogging!! Taglist! @steddie-there, @patchworkgargoyle, @scarcrossdlvrs, @indigohightide, @steddieas-shegoes, @steve-harringtits, @mylilplanet, @afewproblems, @xenon-demon, @inairbinad, @matchingbatbites

#steddie #steve x eddie #steddieweekafterdark #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #gerry writes

[quitealotofsodapop]

Was thinking of FFM, specifically the bit about the island being effectively isolated from the outside world. That means it's entirely possible for different strands of plant life that otherwise went extinct or had evolved different characteristics remain in suspension, only affected by the things Wukong himself brings onto the island.

Pigsy is a food connoisseur. He only uses the freshest ingredients. In Century Egg Au and Slow Boiled, he effectively becomes a parental figure to Wukong. One, who would very much likely make many a trip to FFM to check up on Wukong. Same for TMKATI except Wukong doesn't live in the mountain in that one and therefore there's less reason to visit. Imagine how he'll react when he realizes the mythical island not only has the freshest ingredients but the rarest as well!

Pigsy seeing an isolated island with some very tasty looking rare tree fruits from the view of Sandy's ship, only to learn that it has a impassable magical barrier:

He's ok to let the matter slide... for now. He reasons with himself that whatever is on that island is better off without his mitts on it.

Until he's shaken awake by a very excitable Tang, holding a book on island isolation and evolution, rambling at a mile a minute about how the plant and animal life on the sheltered island has likely evolved completely separate from the outside world, and if this island is part of the fabled lost country of Alolai - then it likely is teeming with wildlife that evolved after the mythical Floods and Burning.

Pigsy, groggy: "Tang... how'd you get in my room???" Tang, highly-caffienated: "I haven't slept in two days!" Sandy, texting: "Is he at your place now?"

Eventually after forcing the scholar to calm down and take a rest before his heart gives out, Pigsy is told something that really tickles his inner connoisseur.

Tang: "Before it was introduced and selectively bred, potatoes could only be encountered in remote areas of the Andes mountains." Pigsy: "And?" Tang: "Imagine if you discovered the next potato." Pigsy: *squeal of intrigue!*

Needless to say, Pigsy has his own Nerd Moment™ the first time he actually touches down on the island and recognises a bunch of rare species.

Pigsy, side-tracked by a tree: "Sweet Chang'e! This is looks like a button mangosteen! I've never heard of them growing this far north! The skin is more red-orange though, maybe it's a branched variety back when the islands were connected to the mainland? Button Mangosteens taste closer to tangerines than their purple cousins, I wonder if that intesifies based on colouration." Sandy, delighted for his friend: "You seem to be having lots of fun!" Pigsy: *nodding happily*

He's equally delighted in the TMKATI au to have "Such a resourceful employee!" when Wukong comes back from his visits to the island bearing gifts. It caught him off guard the first time though.

Wukong: "Hey boss, I got you something." Pigsy, opening a box: "Wu... are these fresh truffles?!" Wukong, wondering if he did something wrong: "Yeah, why? Did I mess up? I overheard you talking about wanting to have enough to experiment with and-" Pigsy: "No no! I'm... I'm so grateful, I don't even know what to say... How did you even afford these?" Wukong, genuine confusion: "Afford? I just gathered a bunch from the lime orchard at home. There's hundreds of these things - I don't like 'em personally cus they taste like dirt to me. I normally just toss them in the hotpot when I run out of the chicken-tasting ones." Pigsy: "Excuse me."

I hc that in the direct aftermath in returning to FFM during the White Bone Spirit chapter of JTTW; Sun Wukong did a lot of gardening and farming in order to ensure that his people would have a sustainable source of food. Probably convinced Zhu Bajie to "show off his super-cool 9-Toothed Rake" to start the farmers off.

He also plants a bunch of super-rare and super-divine plants on the island that he picks up in his travels.

Wukong, chilling on a tree clearly not native to the island: "What? I like using the leaves as nesting material."

And lets not mention the super rare species of animals that managed to survive/escape the Burning.

FFM probably has an undiscovered wild cat or two that Sandy accidentally befriends.

#century stone egg au #the monkey king and the infant #the monkey king and the infant au #lmk pigsy #lmk aus #lmk tang #sun wukong #lmk sandy #lmk #lego monkie kid

[nocophobia]

Peter Spankoffski but it’s my AU (Check previous posts for details) (Tumblr ISTG if you delete this ENTIRE rewrite I will bite you)

“A Spankoffski! I’m gonna have the whole set in my toy box!”

Peter knew from the moment he heard Tinky invoke his surname, that there was something to these mysterious Lords in Black that he could never fathom. With all of the drama that happened after that single moment, it was easy for Pete to forget his family name was ever mentioned, But fortunately, after the entire ordeal was over, and he had willingly handed himself over to a mysterious being he knew nothing about, Pete got to revisit that memory over and over from every day on after that event. He remembered that memory vividly, but the memory didn’t stop. He started remembering everything, Things that hadn’t happened yet, things that he wasn’t even there for, things that were so tiny and minuscule that they shouldn’t even begin to matter. Every memory at once started to overlap after several days, every minute being worse than the last. Pete couldn’t focus on the world around him, because he at this point didn’t even know which one was his.

Overstimulation overwhelm, migraines, and anxiety attacks became increasingly more common in his daily routine. Pete started to isolate himself from his friends. Even Stephanie, who desperately needed his help the most. With every choice he made his focus would branch off into another what-if scenario. It would continue in an instant overlapping forever. Every table he sat at, every route he took, he perfectly could see a world in which he chose differently, and it was driving him slowly insane.

With a complete mental break just around the corner, Pete made a desperate, unserious, selfish wish that anyone, anyone at all could take his burden from him. In hindsight, he would have never wished that had he known it would’ve come true and sent a random teen to a mental hospital. He felt horrible, but the relief, the small long missed relief he felt from the awareness transfer was addicting and healing. Pete finally knew how to maintain his sanity with his newfound godly curse, but he grew to learn that he would wish he didn’t.

Pete most likely had it worst of the bunch because now, even though he could use his powers to an advantage, even though he could have several victims to watch and sadistically laugh at, he was too morally in the right ever wish harm or suffering onto an undeserving soul. He’s forever now met with a dilemma that will haunt him more than any vision, memory, or what if. He’d have to torment to survive and to him, that is torture in itself. It seems that, though he is given much more freedom than most of Tnoy Karaxis’s toys, it goes to show that in the end, despite his gifts, he is still just a toy, like all Spankoffskis are meant to be.

TLDR: Peter gets the royal Time Bastard treatment with perks and he buys noise cancelling headphones.

#tnoy karaxis #fanart #au #npmd #nerdy prudes must die #starkid #team starkid #hatchetverse #hatchetfield #peter spankoffski #lords in black

[squidwen]

🌹Even the Thorns Have Roses🌹

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Summary: During one of your night walks with Malleus the topic of his loneliness around school slides into conversation. It’s no mystery that the crowned prince is feared more than he is respected, but you don’t stroke his ego.

Cruel to be kind, as they say. You speak your mind about the situation, prompting a melange of emotions to spark inside the fae. How will he react to being criticised by a human? 

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The day’s last golden sunbeams extinguished as night rolled onto the sky. You stood at the gate leading up to Ramshackle, smoothing your uniform and fixing your hair in anticipation for your company. Even if Malleus didn’t care about how you looked it was still important to make an effort. He was a prince after all, humbling himself to visit you.

Tiny fairy lights began dancing in the air. A prelude – an announcement to your guest’s arrival. Your chest swelled as they floated over the broken cobblestones and through the branches of the dead trees. So dainty and ethereal. Like baby stars. A total contrast to the broad figure heading towards you.

It was hard not to run for them.

Moonlight melted off Malleus’s obsidian horns, making his porcelain face shine with a radiant paleness that would have seemed anaemic on anyone else. And his eyes -  reptilian and piercing – glimmered like molten peridots.

“Good evening, Child of Man,” Malleus said as he halted before you. You noted how he bent slightly at the waist to make himself appear shorter, less intimidating. Despite your curiosity you didn’t question him on it. The forest beckoned and the night wasn’t getting any younger. 

•~•~•~•~•

The pair of you barely spoke a word for the first half of your walk; content to simply be in each other’s company – to breathe the same air, hear the same sounds, share the same peace. Crisp night air slid over your skin as nocturnal creatures chirped and hooted. 

“I don’t think I’ve told you how fortunate I feel to spend this time with you,” Malleus suddenly said.

You whipped to him, bewildered. Did he really just say that? The most powerful and esteemed man in the whole world felt lucky to be near you? Malleus read the disbelief in your eyes and looked away, smiling.

“Why is it you wave when you pass me in the corridors, while everyone else turns away and prays I move on quickly? I’m no better than an omen at this school, a step down from a curse.”

So it was to be one of those walks. A little piece chipped off your heart at the suffering in those words.

Malleus’s isolation wasn’t a secret at the college. His absence at events was mostly down to not being invited and it wounded you see such a kind soul suffer. The injustice was too great. Why did people fear him? What had he done? Yes, he was powerful, but restrained. He was privileged, but not stingy.

You stopped still and guided him around to the front of you. Malleus let himself be led. “I always think that if you wanted to hurt anyone you would have done so already. And the fact you haven’t is…comforting.”

Stillness. Complete and utter.

The cloak about Malleus’s shoulders was the only thing that moved. He studied you intently, as if your arms, your hair, your face was made of stardust. You could have sworn the skin around his eyes had turned red. The redness that’s followed by tears.

“Oh Malleus.” You took his hand. The dragon fae felt so cold.

“Why can the world not have your eyes?”

Malleus rubbed his thumb over your knuckles and brought your hand to his heart. You could feel the beat reverberating through his clothes. So strong. So fast. Was he scared? Excited? You searched his face for answers but it betrayed nothing.

“Why can no one see me as you do?”

The sweetness flustered you.

At first. 

But as you genuinely considered the question, you wondered if it was right to coo and giggle. To use his insecurities as a means to flirt.

The little bend at the waist he did earlier played on your mind. It hadn’t been an isolated gesture. You had recently noticed in passing how Malleus seemed to slouch when he stood, and wore his school uniform more than his dorm uniform. You knew it was in a bid to seem more approachable.

And it sickened you.

“Malleus.” You measured his name slowly. The fae’s furred ears twitched, attentive. “This might sound harsh, but you need to get over yourself.”

•~•~•~•~•

The forest choir silenced around you as the prince’s expression turned from intrigued, to bemused, to hurt. He dropped your hand. “No one…” he drawled, bearing his fangs, “has ever spoken to me like that.”

His powerful voice rang through your veins, magnifying your fragility – your mortality – in every cell. You wanted to run. Bolt. But this was Malleus. You clung to that name - that fact - steeling yourself to say: “I’m not going to tell you something I shouldn’t.”

Malleus’s face immediately softened.

“People are allowed to dislike you,” you went on calmly, “and why do you care if they do? How long have you used what other people think to shape your life? If you live your life through others’ eyes is it really yours at all?”

Each syllable that fell from your lips was like ambrosia. A sobering melody. Malleus marvelled at how you dissected his character like a fine meal ruined by a poor sauce. You, a mere human - a child. No. Children couldn’t level dragons with no fear. You were something else. Made of something else. Divine, perhaps. A miracle.

Ignoring all etiquette, Malleus did what felt right and dropped to one knee. His eyes regarded you like a child listening to an epic tale.

“I know you’re a dragon,” you said “but people can’t be hoarded like treasure. You don’t need thousands to love you. Just a few. And you have Lilia, Silver, Sebek, your grandmother.”

“But that doesn’t change what they fear. My power. My status. It’s all anyone has on their minds when they meet me.”

You chuckled. “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

Dropping to your own knees you threw your arms around the prince. Malleus tensed. Pressing him so close, you were probably committing the highest treason, but you didn’t care. It felt right.

Malleus was suddenly so overcome with emotion that his chest started heaving. The reverberations pulsed into you and made your heart dance. His equal. That was what you were. 

Alone, with the only witnesses the crickets and owls, Malleus tenderly hooked a hand around your lower back and stood up, lifting you with him. No human could handle such a feat without grunting from the strain, reminding you of his true strength. You sat on his forearm - perched like a nightingale. Sing for me some more Malleus’s face seemed to say.

“And what of my power and status to you?” he asked. “I can destroy. Subjugate. Kill if I wanted. I’m the Prince of Thorns, my dear Y/N. Sharp and cruel.” Would that scare you away? He had to test it.

You just said calmly: “Even the thorns have roses.”

•~•~•~•~•

Those five words. Just five. They shattered the dam. Malleus’s face was a picture. You could see yourself in the sheen of his tears, welling in his eyes but not falling. He wouldn’t let them. Not if the saltwater would blur your image for even a moment.

Voices and words surged through Malleus’s mind, striking him dumb. Seeming to realise there was nothing he could say, or at least nothing that would suffice, he set you back down and clicked his fingers. 

Fairy lights lit the woodland path that you had just walked. “Return home, my dear,” he said. “They will guide you. Apologies, but I must cut this evening short.”

You didn’t press him as to why. Your gentle and warm smile bid him goodbye before he disappeared into thin air. A part of you worried if you had offended him, but when you remembered his soft face – full of disbelief and adoration – you were put right at ease.

•~•~•~•~•

Malleus reappeared in the Diasomnia common room. Lilia was tuning his guitar while dangling upside down from the ceiling beams. Bats flanked him holding sheet music. “Ah, the young prince returns.” Lithe as a cat, Lilia unhooked his legs, twisted, and landed effortlessly on his feet. “Why back so early? You usually don’t finish your walks with Y/N until at least ten o’clock.”

Malleus strolled through the common room in a stupor, a tiny smile piquing the edges of his mouth. Lilia stared at him knowingly. Malleus’s pale skin made his blush extremely obvious.

•~•~•~•~•

Author Note: I also make no attempt to hide the fact I love Malleus, or rather am in love with the idea of him being at peace with who he is. He reminds me a lot of Azul, but by being so sheltered he wasn’t bullied for his otherness. 

I hope MC has a significant role in chapter 7. Does anyone else feel as though they’ve been quite obsolete since chapter 3? That if you removed them from the plot altogether nothing would really change?

If the game devs are being honest, and TWST is not an otome game, then it’s safe to assume they want to push Yuu and Malleus. I’m PRAYING for meaningful interactions beyond Yuu’s vague one-liners haha.

As always, comments, reblogs with comments, and follows are appreciated. My OC ask box is open, so if you have any questions please don’t be shy!

Squidwen x

#twisted wonderland #twst #disney twisted wonderland #squidwen #twisted wonderland x mc #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #malleus draconia x reader #malleus x reader #malleus draconia #twisted wonderland malleus draconia #twst malleus #malleus Draconia x mc #TWST fic #Diasomnia

[ariesbilly]

i think so much about how billys meant to be this stereotype high school jock that everyone fawns over and how, with the duffers us vs them narratives, billy is supposed to represent the Them™ and like everything steves meant to be breaking away from. billy comes in as the one meant to fit in with the Cool Kids. hes supposed to be part of the in crowd

except it fails because everything about billys character design, specifically when placed in a small conservative town in the 80s, lends to the complete opposite reaction.

he comes in loud and brash, a guy wearing jewelry, taking care of his appearance, dresses very rock and roll, goes out in public without a shirt/buttons undone so much he might as well not be wearing one.

hes flashy. demands attention.

that shit does NOT fly in that setting. that makes him a target for peoples bigotry and prejudices, realistically.

especially when you compare it to the rest of the main cast that DOES dress exactly how one is expected to in that setting (the only one you can maybe make an exception for is robin. who happens to be queer... interesting.)

MAYBE billy can get away with it at school amongst his peers (but also knowing that there were jason carvers amongst them... probably not so much. but of course the duffers dont think about that). but he sure as hell is not getting away with it with the adult men in that town. maybe he has the moms ogling after him (and those moms specifically need to SEEK FUCKING THERAPY OR JAIL TIME but i digress), but like a typical god fearing housewife in that setting ?? oh you bet your ass she’s side eyeing him too and passing judgement.

what it comes down to is that the duffers have no fundamental understanding of the society they are writing for. theyve got blinders on for the one specific narrative they want told, that they dont realize it entirely falls apart under any scrutiny

realistically, every time billy steps foot in public, he will be ostracized. so he either has to have INCREDIBLE confidence to not let that affect him (which, we can make a good argument that it would, because god knows theres enough canon evidence to show that billy isnt as untouchable as he likes to make himself out to be), or we have to take into account how anxiety inducing it mustve been for him to just exist in that town. he’s already got a father at home calling him slurs for his appearance, you know it doesnt start and end there.

and then i think about how this show likes to pick and choose who the outsiders are, who’s the underdog we should be rooting for. and somehow its the main cast of characters who all have a found family, who all dont actually deviate that far out of what is expected of them from society, who are all forced to conform to one set of standards and never question it, never branch out from it.

but like... billys the one upholding the status quo? the guy who literally has his entire being wrapped up in everything conservative america hates? hes the biggest outcast of them all and yet no one ever considers how isolated that makes him

#if the duffers wanted to make a point about a big high school bully that everyone flocks to etc etc #they shouldve gone the jason route #why in the good gay hell they thought a guy like billy was gonna have an easy time in hawkins is beyond me #he wouldve been socially outcasted just like jonathan was #yall dont make any damn sense when you speak!

[stayarmytinyzenmoa-l]

Prominence [A.1]

Social Media AU ; Idol AU ; Added Unit AU CW/TW: Language Genre: Comedy, Romance Pairing: NCT x Idol!Reader, Yangyang x Reader Y/N Pronouns: Female (She/Her) Word Count: 5.5K

(1/?) [NCT Masterlist] | [Other Groups Masterlist] | [Prominence S1 Masterlist] | [Prominence S2 Masterlist]

Notes: AKA me wanting to write an alternate season where all of us second-male-lead-syndrome bitches won. Also, rq, should go without saying but this is completely separate from S2 and will not be referenced in S3, I just like being delusional. Also this is a direct branch from s1, it's an alternate season soooo yah Disclaimer: Please remember that this is an AU and a work of fiction, obviously the idols mentioned/written about in this story would never partake in these actions. The idols mentioned in this work are meant to be seen more as face claims rather than the actual idols themselves

Feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for reading!

28th December 2021

You were a mess.

And, really, he didn't blame you. Back-to-back scandals leaving everything on the line, if he were in your shoes he'd have isolated himself too. Maybe he wouldn't have shut everyone out, but, then again, he hasn't exactly been in this situation before, feeling like everything could have been gone in the blink of an eye. He's never felt so... hopeless.

Not when you forgot his name. Not when you didn't do so much as spare him a glance. Not when you didn't remember him when you were grouped into NCThree. Not when you announced that you were dating who was, most likely, one of the most eligible bachelors in the 4th gen.

And not now, he wouldn't let himself. Look at you, he'd never seen you like this, and he never thought he would too.

And then the fantasy ended. Leaving you here with him, two soju bottles in and a third being opened. And a secret tossed into the open when it should have been kept locked away.

'(Y/N) you have to promise me that nothing will change after this, okay?' He said that and you swore to him that nothing would. But he knew, he knew this was a bad idea, so why did he want to keep going with it so bad?

“(Y/N). You’re my best friend,” saying it out loud really puts more into perspective, “[and I love you].” Those three words carried so much weight that as soon as he said it, he felt his shoulders become lighter. You only nodded.

“Yangyang, you’re my best friend, and I love you too,” you laughed. You didn’t get it. “That’s not really a secret, buddy. I’d take a bullet for you,” you continued. Yangyang shook his head. He expected this much, but now that he has to spell it out, it feels even more awkward.

“No, (Y/N), you don’t get it,” he puts his hand on your shoulder now. “You’re my best friend. And I love you.” He said it again, and still the weight carried. It felt wrong to tell you this now.

“I… oh,” realization was clear in your eyes. Your lips fell slightly ajar as the cogs turned in your mind. They closed and you looked away for a moment. Yangyang pulled away from you and folded his hands together instead, looking off while you processed. You were quiet for a while, both of you were, your hands were playing with the cap of the soju bottle in front of you while your expression changed only slightly, and it got Yangyang wondering just what you were thinking in your head.

But you were still quiet, you have been quiet. Just what were you thinking about? There was always this pride you both held in being able to understand what the other was thinking but, for the first time, he couldn't read you at all.

"(Y/N)?" He's testing the waters now. You promised.

"I think... we should head back now," you pushed the bottle away. Yangyang turned away from you and straightened in his seat.

"Yeah, let's go," he nodded his head and waited for you to step off the stool first before following you.

"Auntie, we're leaving now," you said without looking back.

And that was the first time, in a very long time, that Yangyang had felt hopeless.

~

"She didn't say anything?" Dejun was at the edge of his seat, and so were the rest of WayV, Renjun, and, of course, Mark. Yangyang had just finished recounting the [details from just a few hours] earlier to this grouping of curious members, and, to say the least, their expressions were grim or near unreadable. Some listened intently, while others seemed to be distracted.

"Nothing... just... 'oh' and that was it, that was the end of the conversation," Yangyang's eyes glance to some corner of his room. Not a good time, he knows he should have waited, it was too rash on his part.

"What did she say on the way back? Or when you got back?" Mark probes.

"Nothing," Yangyang had this despair in his eyes. "I... I think I really ruined things between us," he shakes his head.

"No, don't say that," Kun comforts him. "She's probably just processing everything right now, you know it wasn't really the best time to drop this on her."

"I know!"

"Then why did you do it?" Renjun sighs.

"Hey, don't be like that, you're the one who encouraged me to tell her the truth."

"Well not right now, Yangyang," he groans.

"But... she really didn't say anything? This is (Y/N), right? No smart quips, no badly timed jokes, nothing?" Mark hugs the plush to his chest.

"That's what's got me so worried," Yangyang rubbed the back of his head harshly. "She promised nothing would change, though."

"Seriously, Yangyang?" Ten groans. "Everything will change."

"Dude, not now, I know I shouldn't have dropped this on her now," he runs a tired hand down his face. "I know... I know it was selfish of me to have even said anything, but part of me felt like it would've been more unfair to keep it a secret from her, especially when there are just so many secrets around her right now," he mutters.

"No, you're right... but I think I'm gonna go check on her," Mark stands up, handing the stuffed animal to Renjun on the way. "She's... she's my best friend too, I feel bad about lying to her," he shakes his head and leaves the room.

"I fucked up," Yangyang shakes his head. He should have waited. "I don't even know how I'm going to fix it."

"Maybe don't," Kun offers, "I can't speak for her, but everything seems to be out of her control for now, wait for her to get back to you on this."

"Yeah, I get what you mean," Yangyang nods, "but I can't just... pretend that it didn't happen."

"No, definitely don't do that," Xiaojun shakes his head. Ten nods.

"Don't pretend, but don't push either," Ten hums, "and, most important of all, don't ignore her," he shoots him a pointed glare. "She needs friends right now, and her best friend even more. Don't be Yangyang the doomed second male lead, be Yangyang her best friend," Ten crosses one leg over the other.

"Easier said than done, I don't think we'll ever look at each other the same way again," he runs a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Well, she promised that nothing would change, right?" Renjun leans forward, "I don't know (Y/N) as well as you do, but I do know that she keeps her promises. Just give her time, and maybe support her while her career hangs on by a thread," Renjun sighs.

"Yeah, you're all right," Yangyang leans back on his palms. But he couldn't swallow down the guilt.

~

You sat in your room, hugging your pillow to your chest all the while.

Wow... talk about timing.

You sighed into the pillow and reached for your phone, your thumb hovering over Seonghwa's contact name, and so much more guilt building inside of you. So much shit was going on right now, you were thrown into scandal after scandal and now you had... this to deal with. Most of ATEEZ had always been concerned about your friendship with Yangyang, some louder about it than others, but never did you think that they were right. Maybe the fact that enough of them brought it up should have been a concern to you.

But you didn't want to believe them. You just wanted to hold on to this image you had of your best friend that he was just that. And now so many of his actions have become clouded to you, so many of his intentions have been brought to question, hell, even your friendship with him is in the air now too. Even your future was something you were unsure of now. You couldn't just stop talking to him, that would be impossible considering NCThree. Then again, you were in very real danger of losing your job now so it wasn't impossible.

This is nothing, though, compared to the bigger conflict. You're still in a relationship, a very happy one, or at least you think it is.

So why didn't you give him an answer then? You should have flat-out told him 'no.' You should have rejected him right then and there and had the both of you move on and continue like it hadn't happened, but, no. You didn't give him an answer. And if it was eating you up like this you could only imagine him. How long had he felt this way about you?

If he was a year earlier, maybe things would have been different.

You shook the thought out of your head. You're in a relationship. And one that you were willing to fight for, one that you had been fighting for.

Then, a knock at your door interrupted your thoughts.

"It's open," you took a deep breath as Mark entered, closing the door behind him. He pulled your desk chair aside and sat down, hands in his hoodie's pockets and shoulders relaxed.

"Hey, I... uh... I just wanted to check up on you," he says. You nodded your head and, if possible, you sank further into that pillow you were holding.

"You talked to Yangyang, huh?"

"Yeah," Mark nodded, "but you're my best friend too, and to be honest, don't tell him, if I had to pick a side I'd always choose you first," he says quietly.

"Why would we need to pick sides?" You glanced at your phone again. "It's okay, Mark, you don't have to worry about anything, but if he's looking for an answer..." you trailed off, "I can't give him one."

"If you don't mind, can I ask why?" You're silent for a while.

"Well, I don't want to just heartlessly reject him, he's still my best friend too," you nodded, "I need to come up with a... better way to turn him down without ruining his ego forever," you added with a short laugh, "plus... I can't really think about what he said right now," you muttered.

"I get it, I get it," Mark hums, "but... uh..."

"I know, I promised nothing would change but... Mark, you understand where I'm coming from, right?"

"Of course, I do," Mark sits up a little now, "will... will the three of us change?" His voice was quiet and you couldn't answer him.

"I don't know, I think I'm going to wait for all this to blow over then he and I can figure it out," you said.

"Yeah," Mark answers but he doesn't sound convinced, "if you need anything, though, (Y/N), let me know."

"Can you silence all the rumors?" You asked jokingly.

"Eh, I can probably pull a few strings," Mark tilts his head left and right with a small smile, "you said it yourself, everyone loves me," he tries to lighten the mood and you cracked a small smile.

"Exactly, Mark," you tipped the pillow toward him, "but, seriously, thanks for checking up on me," you nuzzled your head into the pillow.

"Yeah, of course," he says. "I should probably head back now, get some sleep, (Y/N)."

"I will, good night," you watched him get up and head to your door.

"Night," he closes it behind him and you're left on your own again. You laid down in bed, going over your mental checklist of things to do tomorrow, the first thing, naturally, would be to call Seonghwa and tell him about everything that's going on, then you'd have to talk to your managers and sort everything out too, and maybe some damage control wouldn't hurt either. Then, as you closed your eyes, your phone rang on the nightstand next to you and you picked it up quickly, immediately recognizing the ringtone.

"Seonghwa?" Your voice was tired.

"Hey, could you meet me outside really quick?" And so was his. You stood up and walked over to your window. The sidewalks were anything but busy at this time of night.

"Yeah, I'll be down there," you hung up first while pulling on a hoodie and heading out of your room. The dorms were just as quiet as the outside likely was and you moved around carefully so as not to awaken anyone on accident. But, moving to the main room, you saw the small sliver of light coming from the WayV dorms and part of you felt a little sad about it. You turned away and left the dorms, the elevator ride down being unbearably longer than usual.

When you'd finally left the building, there Seonghwa was. His phone was still in his hand and Mars in the other.

"Hi," you looked either way before hugging him. He held you back, his head nuzzling against yours.

But something about it felt... off.

And when you separated, that feeling only grew.

"It's a bit late for a walk, don't you think?" You pet Mars gently with a smile.

"Yeah," he seemed distant. "I need to talk to you about something important," he says. You nodded.

"Anything, did you want to come inside? It's cold out here," you pointed behind you, but he shook his head. "Did something happen?" You asked him. He looked off for a moment before nodding.

"(Y/N)," he says your name, but it felt like it was being held down by a heavyweight, "I've been doing a lot of thinking," he says.

"Mmhmm," you nodded your head slightly, "me too," you answered. And you weren't wrong, there is so much that you both had to talk about in terms of this relationship and in lieu of all the scandals that suddenly appeared.

"Then you know," he says.

"Yeah," you nodded, "it'll take a lot of work, but I'm sure we'll be able to fight our way out of this, just like before, right?" You shot him a tired smile. He didn't return it. "Seonghwa?" You said his name carefully, but he shakes his head.

"I think..." he looks away for a moment, then he turns back to you and hands you Mars' leash. "You should watch him for a while, he's always trying to escape our place," he says. You nodded and Mars walked over to your side.

"Yeah, I'm always happy to take this rascal in," you scratched behind his ears. "But, I can tell that that's not what you're here for, huh?" You tried to look him in his eyes, but he averted from your gaze every time. And, slowly, you felt this pit form in your chest. "Is... are you okay?" You changed your question. He shakes his head and you took a step toward him, and he took a step back.

"I think we should go our separate ways, (Y/N)."

You're silent.

"I don't think now's a good time for either of us to be..." he didn't finish his sentence. And still, you were silent. Mars whimpered next to you, and still you didn't move. You kept looking at him.

"You're breaking up with me?" You asked him with a shaky voice. He looked at you with a gentle gaze. "Why?" Did you even need to ask?

"I'm sorry, (Y/N)," he says.

"Is it the rumors?"

"I-"

"Did I do something?"

"It's not that-"

"If it's because of Yang-"

"(Y/N), just wait, please," he says. You stop talking. "(Y/N), I just think... With everything going on right now, it might be best if we walk on our own for a while, let everything settle down," he says. You didn't respond. "And you're getting busy, so am I, we just won't have time to spend with one another," he continues. You looked down at the ground. "Say something, (Y/N), anything," he says. You looked to Mars, who's ears were down.

"What... what do you want me to say to that?" You looked at him and shook your head. "If I say 'no' then I'm selfish, and if I say 'yes' then everything we've been through together... was for nothing?" You swallowed harshly.

"It wasn't for nothing."

"Then why even break up in the first place?"

"I told you why," Seonghwa shook his head.

"That's not fair, Seonghwa, you know everything happening isn't my fault," your voice wavered. "That's not fair, you can't pin these on me," a noticeable whimper rose in your throat.

"It's not about the rumors, (Y/N), of course I know they're not true!" Seonghwa rarely ever raised his voice, and he knew he made a mistake when you sealed your lips shut. "I'm sorry, (Y/N), I don't think I can continue on with this anymore," he says. You clutched the leash tighter.

"You... that... that's not fair..." you muttered. "We've made it work before."

"(Y/N)."

"I don't think we should give up now."

"I... I can't, anymore."

"Why not?"

"I just can't!"

"That's not an answer, Seonghwa, we've been together for more than a year, you can do better than I can't!" Your voice rose and Seonghwa groaned in frustration.

"It's for me and for you," he says.

"Don't you dare make that decision for me," whatever disbelief you had was slowly being replaced with anger, "you..." you took a deep breath. It wouldn't be fair to him for you to refuse, and you just couldn't look him in the eye. "Fine," you whispered.

"(Y/N), I don't want us to end on a bad note."

"We're not," you shook your head, "but it's not on a good one either. Take however long you need, as long as you tell me eventually the real reason why you wanted to throw away a whole year," you shut your eyes tight, as if locking the tears away. Seonghwa reached out to you and you let him, and he held you close to him for a while, but you couldn't find it in you to hold him back.

"I'm sorry, it's for the best," he says. You shook your head. You couldn't say anything to him, it would've been selfish of you to hold him back when he didn't want to continue on and you could just tell that there was something else, something bigger, that he was keeping from you and if this was how he wanted to play it, without you, then that's his choice. He didn't ask for a break, he didn't leave hope to continue, he just chose to end it all.

"You..." you pushed away from him, "are horrible," you shook your head and you turned to leave. But Mars stood still, grabbing onto the leash between his jaws as if to pull you back. "Come on, Mars, let's go," you pulled on the leash gently, but he stayed put with a small whimper. You sighed and dropped the leash. "Then stay with him," you hugged your arms to your chest and you walked back into the building, taking one last look back. Seonghwa watched you with a distant look in his eyes, and you waited for a few moments, hoping for something, anything really. Was it too much for you to hope that he'd follow you in? Take it all back? Why was he just standing there? You shook your head, he did nothing, and you pushed the button for the elevator, and when it took too long you turned to the side and took the stairs instead. And with each step you looked at your phone, waiting and hoping to get a sudden call or text from him to come back down or to... do something, but, instead, all you saw was the time. 3:45am.

You walked back into the dorms, the main room was empty, dark, maybe a little messy but that was normal for this home. Most of all, it was quiet, everyone, you think, was still asleep or about to be. You felt like you were on autopilot since taking the stairs. Then, right as you turned to walk over to the ANiMA side, that door opened and Jihyun, headset around her neck, spotted you and smiled.

"Hey, you're up... what happened?" Her smile dropped and she walked over to you quickly to wipe the tears off your face with her hoodie's sleeve. You sniffled loudly and you held onto her hands.

"I... he... I..." you swallowed harshly, feeling your words get caught in your throat and turn into short gasps until you finally gave up and hugged her and she hugged you back, wrapping her arms securely around you while your sniffles turned into sobs, and you cried into her shoulder.

"Oh, it's okay, shh," she comforts you, rubbing the back of your head softly. "It's okay, (Y/N)." But you couldn't respond, your voice was being swallowed down. You let go of her first, but she kept her hand on your shoulder. "I know you must be under a lot of pressure right now, (Y/N)," she says. You nodded, but you still couldn't speak, you just pointed to the dorms and you walked off toward it, Jihyun following you as soon as she grabbed a cup of water for you, but when she entered your room, you weren't there. "(Y/N)?" She looks around until she sees the line of light under the bathroom door. "Oh... (Y/N)..." she leans on the wall against it.

You, meanwhile, lay on the ground. You came in here fully intending to just wash your face but, at one point, you were sitting on the floor, then you were on the ground staring at the wall.

What the hell?

What the hell was that?!

It's better for you and him?

What was better? How could this be better? Your whole fucking life is falling apart. You thought that if there was just one thing you had in control it was your relationship but apparently fucking not considering he just broke up with you with some bullshit excuse and... this sucks. Even your dog didn't want to go with you. How badly did you fuck up for him to think that it would've been good to... break up? You sighed and blinked the tears away, but it wasn't long before they were replaced. And so you covered your eyes with your hands instead.

~

That next morning, the NCT dorms were in chaos. Early morning schedules mixed with personal schedules had everyone up early and without the varying doses of caffeine those same people were cranky.

Such as this one. Jeno banged on the bathroom door.

"Jaemin, stop flexing in the mirror, I have to take a shit," he grumbles. There's no response. "Jaem, I'm serious!" He knocks on the door again and Saeron opens it, holding her shower caddy and blowdryer.

"Thanks for letting me use the bathroom, Jaemin! Sorry, Jen, I just had to take a quick shower," she pats his face and walks off. Jeno covers his mouth and gasps.

"Oh, fuck," his cheeks flush red with embarrassment.

~

"Who the hell is taking so long in the bathroom?!" Doyoung shouts. The other eight members of 127 looked among themselves and shrugged.

"Ay, wait in line! I'm next," Johnny tightens the towel around his waist and Jungwoo pulls out his toothbrush from his mouth.

"Mm whm ahm," Jungwoo says, mouth full of toothpaste. Finally, the door opens and Yeseul walks out.

"Thanks for letting me borrow your hellhole bathroom," she dries her hair with a towel and walks off, Doyoung's jaw dropping in the process.

"Em? Why were you using our bathroom?" Mark asks.

"Ours is quarantined," Yeseul shrugs.

"Oh, well, if (Y/N) needs to use it she can," he says.

"That's nice, I'll tell her once she leaves our bathroom," she walks out of the dorms.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Mark follows her out.

~

"Damn! You live like this?!" Jihyun's voice seemed to echo in the WayV dorms. She throws the door open, holding various skin products in hand. "There are no labels!" She has a wild look in her eyes.

"Yeah, there are!" Hendery argues.

"Guanheng! This literally says "Xiaojun's Thing" that's not a label!"

"Well, it's Xiaojun's so it's none of my concern," Hendery rests a hand on his hip and Yangyang opens his door.

"Jie? What are you doing here?"

"(Y/N) has been in the bathroom since 3 am and she's not coming out, and we all have schedules, but we love her, so we're letting her have her time by taking from yours," Jihyun explains, shoving the mystery skin products into Hendery's hands on her way out. Yangyang quickly follows her.

"Since 3 am?! Is she okay?" He asks.

"Yeah, she just needs a couple hours," Jihyun explains. When both walk into the ANiMA dorms, they see the crowd outside of the bathroom.

"(Y/N)?" Seojoon knocks on the bathroom door. "How long has she been in there?" He asks.

"Five hours now," Jihyun looks at the clock.

"(Y/N), we got schedules, I'm sure you look fine," Seojoon says. There's no answer. Saeron sighs and knocks on the door.

"(Y/N)? Honey, is everything okay?" She asks. Jihyun's lips downturn.

"She went out last night, around 3 am, I ran into her on her way in and she was crying," Jihyun explains and Saeron's shoulders dropped.

"(Y/N), we're worried about you, what happened?" Saeron asks. Again, no response.

"At least give us a sign you're alive," Yeseul leans against the door and a loud thud resounds against it. "She's fine," Yeseul nods. "Who am I beating up?" She asks. No response. Then her phone rings with your caller ID on it, and it wasn't long before she answered. "(Y/N)?"

"Sorry..." your voice was tired and scratchy from crying. Yeseul put it on speaker and the girls crowded around the phone, barely leaving enough space for Mark and Yangyang.

"What happened? It's not like you to hole up in there," Saeron asks.

"I... I have to skip schedules today," you say. The girls look at Seojoon.

"Are you sure, (Y/N)? I thought you said you wanted to keep working," he says. Saeron nudges him harshly and he looks at her as if to say 'What?' She only rolls her eyes at this.

"Yeah, I wanna stay home," your voice drops into a murmur.

"That's okay, kiddo, but we're all worried about you, at least let us know what's wrong and how we can help," she says.

"I don't think you guys can help with this..." you answered. "Unless you can find a way to put my relationship back together," your sentence turned into a sob.

Silence.

The girls looked at each other.

"Honey... did... did Seonghwa break up with you?" Saeron asks carefully. She is responded by a loud cry that she could hear from inside the bathroom.

"I don't even know what I did wrong! Sure the rumors flying around about me are shit as fuck but he knows none of them are true! I just don't understand why he'd end things now! He told me it was better for him and better for me but I've been thinking all damn night about how on earth this would be better for me I'm about to be jobless, for god's sake, and now I'm jobless and alone! And, sure, yeah, both of us are getting busy but not that busy it's not like we haven't been this busy before, I don't understand how that's a good enough excuse to throw away an entire fucking year!" You ranted, occasionally interrupted by hiccups and sometimes sobs, and the whole time everyone just listened. "Was it me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, hon, you didn't do anything wrong," Saeron says.

"Fucking asshole," Yeseul curses under her breath. "I love you, (Y/N), I've always thought he was an asshole," she says into the speaker and you cried louder.

"She can't go out," Saeron looks at Seojoon who only nods.

"I wouldn't want her to either, I'll explain everything to the producers," Seojoon pulled his phone out and dialed them, leaving the group behind. Saeron looks at the boys and nudges her head toward the door.

"What?" Yangyang whispers.

"Say something!" Saeron whispers back.

"Oh, trust, Yangyang should not say anything," Mark shakes his head quickly.

"Dude," Yangyang half whispers.

"What? Why not? If anything he should be the only one talking," Saeron shakes her head in confusion.

"Uh, I, um," Yangyang stammers and Mark shakes his head, he was the first to knock on the door.

"Hey... (Y/N)," he says, "let's talk about it, you shouldn't be alone right now," he says. Yeseul hands her phone to him.

"Do you think he broke up with me because I have a lot of... guy friends?" You asked quietly.

"If he did he's a piece of shit," Yeseul says.

"Emily, be a bit more comforting," Saeron says.

"I know! But... fuck, he really chose now to break up with her?" Yeseul is, rightfully, angry, and when she heard you cry in the bathroom behind her she only got angrier. "Call your cousin here right now so I can beat his ass to oblivion," she looks at Saeron with an unmeasurable rage in her eyes.

"Although I'm sure you would win in a fight against San, violence isn't the answer here," Saeron says. She sighs. "Who doesn't have schedules today?" She asks. "All of ANiMA is booked."

"I can't right now," Yangyang mumbles. Mark shakes his head. Everyone looks at Yangyang, who sighs in response.

"Yeah, I'll check in on her first," Mark says, "I'll let you know if anything comes up," Mark knocks on the door. No response.

"Thanks, Mark, we're lucky that you're not busy right now," Saeron says. "We'll be back in the evening. Mark, text me if anything happens," Saeron says.

"And text me if he-who-shall-not-be-named pulls up," Yeseul rubs her hair harshly.

"Yeah, I will," Mark watches them leave and only Yangyang stays behind. "Dude, do you really not want to go in there?"

"Of course, I do, she's my best friend before anything else," Yangyang says. "But after last night, I don't think it's a good idea if I comfort her about this right now." Mark could only nod.

"Just... no, yeah, you're right. It might be rubbing salt in the wound if you go in there," Mark looks at the door.

"If she even opens it," Yangyang sighs. He puts his hand on the door and twists the knob, opening the door slightly. "Oh."

"Well, I got it from here," Mark sighs. Yangyang watches him go inside, catching a quick glimpse of you on the floor before the door shut.

You were staring at particularly nothing, awake, but staring at the wall. Mark closed the door behind him and sat on the ground next to you and, when there was no response, he laid down too.

"Hey... uh... (Y/N)... why are you on the floor?" Mark asks. You blinked. Huh, you didn't even realize he came in.

"Why are you on the floor?" You shot a question back at him.

"Figured it'd be easier to talk to you this way," he nods.

"Yeah, I guess..."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Well..." your lips pressed in a straight line before turning into a frown, "I..." you sniffled.

"Take all the time you need."

"You know that feeling when you don't want to cry but the more you talk the more you feel like crying?" You asked him, your voice getting slowly replaced by sobs, Mark just nods. "Yeah, um, my life is shit right now," you cried. You rolled on your back and sighed. Mark didn't know what to say to that, there was no silver lining right now, just... shit, you know? Well, you would know but he wouldn't say that. "I must have been a really bad girlfriend, huh? I wonder what he saw that... confirmed that for him."

"Hey, don't say that, you were a great girlfriend to him," Mark shakes his head. “I mean, you always tried to sync your schedules with his, you always spent your days off together, and, I dunno, you were always thinking of him and we thought he did the same for you,” Mark rolls on his back too, both of you lying on the bathroom floor and staring at the ceiling. “Jihyun noona says you’ve been here for a while.”

“Is the sun up?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn…” you closed your eyes, “I’m sorry, Mark,” you mumbled.

"Don't apologize to me, I don't think you're doing anything wrong," he folded his hands over his stomach and you sniffled. "But, you know, lying down on the bathroom floor probably isn't the best way to cope with things," he says.

"Yeah... I know..." you muttered. "I'll be out in a minute," you said. Mark sat up.

"Alright, I'll wait for you outside." When Mark shut the door behind him, Yangyang was nowhere to be seen. Mark shook off the worry, he couldn’t think about the future when you were behind him needing all the support you could have. Support, huh? He wondered if there was even anything he could do to help aside from what he was doing now.

Needless to say, you didn't leave the bathroom in a minute, or in hours for that matter. And when the ANiMA girls walked in Mark knew you weren't coming out for a while. Mark gestured toward the bathroom and Saeron walked in next with a glass of water and small snacks. He took a deep breath and shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He just didn't get it. Sure, he didn't know Seonghwa that well, but he knew Yangyang well. Just what exactly happened last night for even him to avoid you?

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[teecupangel]

What if after Desmond runs away from the farm instead of ending up in the city he finds himself where his ancestors are at the same age

Also side idea that I had while typing runaway Desmond ends up after the ancestors have the children who lead to Desmond so that we can have them being paternal about the kid who keeps slipping away somehow and Desmond being like "wow the people dad sent after me are rant persistent" before finding out they don't know Will at all

So I had a post about Desmond being pushed into either the Third Crusades or to Renaissance Italy when he ran away but I can’t find it TTATT It’s somewhere here in Tumblr, don’t know where though. Hopefully, I can get to it during my Tumblr posts to AO3 ‘copying’ (still in Dec 2022 XD).

Anyway, in a nutshell, that idea had Altaïr and Desmond being very close to one another because they’re both isolated and had nobody else and it would be so easy for them to tip the scale to fall onto “us versus everybody” mentality for the two of them (especially since that idea had Desmond not become an Assassin so Al Mualim is using him to keep Altaïr in check).

The Renaissance Italy idea is more light-hearted, if I remember correctly? More on the side of Desmond having a happy family life thanks to the Auditore family.

I didn’t include it but Ratonhnhaké:ton’s version of this idea was pretty much reused for the Yew Branch A New Way To Do Things.

The main idea is that, since this is a Desmond that has not been in the Animus, he has no idea who these people are and the events that will happen (hell, he won’t even be able to know their language immediately) so he’s just trying to survive and live the best he could. This means he cannot stop the tragedy that will happen (or, in Altaïr’s and Ratonhnhaké:ton’s case, he would be too late to stop it). The Renaissance Italy version could have a happier ending since Desmond would be there for the arrest though. Probably. At the very least, Giovanni would order him to take Petruccio and run, so… at least Petruccio would survive. Probably.

Now, as for the second idea.

Since this is a Desmond that never went to the Animus, he wouldn’t know how important these children are so we will have…

Sef and Darim

It would be Sef who finds him and he’s just a traveling merchant who went to Masyaf to sell his stuff. Sef would always visit him and ask him about this and that.

Darim finds him while looking for Sef and Desmond just gives him another one of the sweet breads he buys for him (and Sef).

This goes on for days until Malik finally visits his stall and talks (interrogates) him. That’s when he finally learns that the two kids he’d been talking to are the kids of the head honcho of this place. And he’s currently out and the kids are a handful (Malik may or may not imply that their parents’ frequent journeys are to blame) so he offers Desmond a job as their ‘caretaker’. Meals and lodging are included, the pay is great and Desmond is getting tired with all the traveling. Plus, Malik promises he doesn’t have anything to do with the Brotherhood.

At that point, Desmond is already fond of the kids so he agrees.

When Altaïr and Maria returned to Masyaf, they’re greeted with Malik going “I found your sons a caretaker and they might like him more than they like you. You have no one to blame but yourselves.”

Flavia and Marcello

But for this one, Desmond could be working in Firenze for a merchant that Sofia likes to go to. Flavia and Marcello would go with their mother and they’d get close to Desmond.

One time, Marcello gets lost and Desmond finds him. He brings him home and that’s how Ezio meets him…

And now for the kicker. This would be the angstiest of the three ideas to be completely honest considering how old Ezio died and the fact that Desmond doesn’t even know about his connection with Ezio during this time, which will only serve to hurt Ezio.

Io:nhiòte and her older siblings

For this one, we’ll have Desmond become part of the homestead. He got there by ‘accident’, he was just walking around and found their homestead. Luckily, Oliver and Corrine needed help in the inn so he helps out, in exchange for lodging and food.

Io:nhiòte is the one who finds him first and Desmond just plays with her and shares his food. Her two older siblings find them together and Desmond becomes close to them.

Ratonhnhaké:ton would visit the tavern one time and thank Desmond for playing with his children. Perhaps he’d try to recruit Desmond into becoming an Assassin but Desmond would say no to it which Ratonhnhaké:ton would understand.

In this one, Ratonhnhaké:ton sees Desmond primarily as his children’s favorite friend.

#since this is a desmond who never got to the animus #desmond doesn’t want to be an assassin #no thank you #so he has a more… #uuuhh peaceful role I guess? #desmond being darim and sef’s caretaker means #he and abbas will go head to head #feel free to pick any pairing you want #or keep it gen if you want #ask and answer #assassin's creed #desmond miles #altaïr ibn la'ahad #ezio auditore #ratonhnhaké:ton #connor kenway #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed #darim ibn la'ahad #sef ibn la'ahad #marcello auditore #flavia auditore #io:nhiòte #malik al sayf #sofia sartor #maria thorpe