#and it got to the fear first so he wouldn't realize quite how bad of an idea letting it finish might be.

[theminecraftbee]

So, here's the thing:

Tango knows that Zedaph is this close to staging an intervention.

He lies against the wiring for Decked Out and stares at the ceiling. He should probably be more concerned about that. Early-season Tango would be concerned about that; a situation getting bad enough that Zedaph, of all people, is ready to stage an intervention is normally a sign it's gotten pretty dang bad. But he's close. He's so close. And it's not like he's worried, not anymore.

He'd been worried, once? Like, he'd been scared, at some point of what the Frozen Citadel was starting to do to him. But now that he's there--

If he's asked, Tango will say it's mutualism, and not elaborate, because if anyone stages enough of an intervention to stop Decked Out from finishing what it's started, he's probably going to scream. He's probably going to always wonder. Worst of all, he won't finish the game on time. So like, so what if it's eating him a little? Or a lot? Or basically completely, given that he's pretty sure the damage is irreversible at this point?

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Start of the season Tango probably would care more, but like, it's mutual. Decked Out gets to eat Tango. Use him as an appropriate game piece. Sometimes as a processor. To do repairs. Whatever. It's important for the whole process. And Tango gets a sick game. Which, for some, sounds like an absurd trade-off, but it's not just the game, okay?

It's not just--

If it were just "I need to let my accidentally very sentient and very large base eat me to finish the game", he might do it? But he wouldn't, like, be actively conspiring to hide the fact that he's starting to be physically incapable of breathing like, normal oxygen and stuff. He wouldn't be conspiring to hide just how literal the shop item allowing you to control the gamemaster is. He wouldn't be trying to hide how close he is to just--being another part of Decked Out. Not being a "Tango" as an individual, but being a part of the machine. Basically a really fancy redstone component.

If it were just "he's really proud and he'd be sad if it took longer", he wouldn't have hung a sheep on the outside of the building to make sure some part of Decked Out knows that Zedaph is its friend, once there isn't a Tango to remind it of that properly. He would have asked Zedaph to actually do that intervention he's planning.

He didn't. He acted like he had several more weeks than he probably did. But it's fine. Decked Out ate the fear, anyway, so he can't feel it, and whatever sense of desire to like, not be redstone component was probably eaten also, and. And.

He's not sure how to describe it in a way that doesn't make him sound insane, but--

It's so close. Decked Out is so close to eating him completely. And that should be terrifying, if that weren't the first thing that got dissolved away, if he hadn't been scared since forever. Maybe, somewhere, there's part of him that is scared. There's a lot of him that knows he should be.

But those moments, the ones he's having more and more, where he forgets he's Tango. Where he forgets he's anything but part of the machine. And he's part of something big, and great, and he has a specific use, and he's aware for all of it but not aware of being himself, and he can feel exactly how he's important to the great machine and he does his job and absolutely everything else fades away entirely and he is the Game Master and even that's not an individual identity it's part of a whole it's part of something beautiful it's part of something so, so alive while not being alive at all and, and then--and then he's not done being eaten yet. And the Tango comes in. The fear, the insecurity, the, the flaws.

And he'd just lie there, and he'd feel it. The almost-just-a-part. The sense of just--being, and not being anyone in particular, but being. The lack of self. He'd feel the voltage from the redstone wires and try to capture it again, and be unable to, not on his own.

Not while he's left as Tango, at least a little bit uneaten.

So. Uh. He told you he didn't know how to describe it without sounding insane. But he'll never forgive himself. Never forgive himself if he doesn't find out what happens when it's done. What it's like to just--be a part of Decked Out and nothing else. What it feels like to give in completely.

Therefore. Zedaph. Intervention. Pretend he's better than he is so Zedaph doesn't do that. It shouldn't be long now. The amount of time he's aware and Tango is--less. The amount of fear is--it's entirely gone now. The amount he thinks "gee beginning of season Tango would say this is a bad plan" is almost zero.

The game is almost ready to open.

If he can just hold out that long, then there won't be anything anyone could do.

They'll be too busy having fun with the game, anyway. With any luck, no one will notice.

#hermitcraft #tangotek #a bee fic #hey remember the ficlets about decked out eating tango? well. #the thing is: the obvious way decked out eats its players is by killing them. but killing tango isn't the kind of nutrients decked out need #it needs his mind. it needs his hands. it needs him to play his part. #so the easiest thing for decked out to digest away THERE would just be tango's sense of self. #so he's broken down into the most useful component part of himself to the greater organism #and it got to the fear first so he wouldn't realize quite how bad of an idea letting it finish might be. #horror #idk what kind of horror so here take the tag #anyway. this thought won't leave my head so have fun!

[throwaway-yandere]

I Got Reincarnated As A Server NPC In An Otome Game But A Capture Target Won’t Leave Me Alone (Yandere!Diluc Ragnvindr/Reader)

a/n: fasghadsa this is my thank-you fic for @poptartsthings for supporting my fics for the past year!!! thank you for the tips huhuhuhu ;;;—;;; hence, I wrote this diluc fic for *clears throat* "mommy milkers". Enjoy this self-aware yandere otome game!duke diluc ragnvindr!!!

unreliable synopsis: what if you got isekai-d in your favorite otome game and one of the Love Interests found out they aren’t a real person? (or, ya know, whatever the title said lmao)

"Bottoms up, Duke Ragnvindr!"

"No matter how enthusiastic you are, I remain inclined to think that this is a horrible idea, (Y/n)..."

Reluctantly swirling a small amount of fire-water while wearing gloves, the duke saw how the alcohol hardly made a wave. Unsatisfied, he diverted his attention and observed the NPC pour their drink.

"In all honesty, your grape juice is worth more than this, (Y/n)–"

"Shush!" With a flamboyant and dismissive wave, the generic common mob silenced one of the Main Characters. "Don't ruin the mood, now. I had to pull a few strings to get this bad boy right here. It’s such a shame that Mister “Best Boy” Albedo can't come, so we have to make sure I get my money’s worth off of these bottles. It’d be such a waste of francs."

"Wasted like the thousand francs wine you clumsily spilled last year?"

"Don't bring that up again, please."

"Why not?" He chuckled. "If you hadn't, I wouldn't have met you."

"If I hadn't, I would've been drinking with Villager B..." They muttered as they grabbed another glass from the cupboard.

He pretended not to have heard it.

They are both aware that their destinies follow different paths. No matter how hard one of them tries to walk next to the other, this cruel fate will separate them with a penalty that is even more agonizing than the last. All because (Y/n) was a real person, and Diluc was not.

Duke Diluc Ragnvindr is this game’s easiest route: the typical childhood friend who falls for the heroine– Princess Lumine– first. In this genre, he falls into the category of those love interests who are incredibly austere with themselves that they were unable to enjoy the small things in life outside work. Ultimately, he follows the cliche of protecting the heroine from harm until she remembers that they used to play together as children in the palace gardens. Which, in itself, is quite a feat since the duke was not a man many could befriend. Unless you count Chief Justice Ajax as his greatest comrade, then perhaps he could finally add item number 11 to his list of trusted people.

The “Duke of the South” only favored audiences for those he was willing to invest in— after all, he’s famously known for having a “good signature.” It may seem like a compliment for uneducated nouveau rich men, but those with an eye for Gaciean politics knew how much power he has as the head of the Department of Military Affairs. Tales about his on-and-off disputes with the Chief Ajax circled as frequently as Teyvat Time’s popular Paimon-The-Friendly-Fae’s comic strips. Some loved his obsession with national security whilst some were quick to call him a pampered weapon hoarder, but if there’s one thing everyone can agree it’s that they fear the southern duke.

Now, after introducing a political figure with crimson locks of hair and domineering combat prowess, it’s certainly a tough sell to introduce the last person left inside: (Y/n) (L/n).

Unremarkably, they’re merely an NPC from Xiangling’s Seaside Restaurant. They’ve “reincarnated” into this world fumbling about like a newborn until the chef offered a job. Fortunately, they were not completely helpless in the kitchen. They had shown off their managerial skills from their old job since day one. Since then, Xiangling had hoped to train them as the new manager, but (Y/n) preferred to take on some responsibilities gradually. After a few days had passed, they abruptly realized that they were "Server C," an NPC with only a character sprite and a scarcely distinguishable name. The red ribbon-theme outfit from their restaurant was the only thing that distinguished them from the other faceless workers. According to what they can recall, one of their tasks is to give the princess's order of candies while she flees from her overprotective retainer, Dainsleif. It was a tense moment in that common route since all three of the princess’ potential suitors were customers from different ends of the restaurant, which were Dainsleif, Kamisato Ayato, and, of course, Duke Ragnvindr.

… Unable to snap out of their initial shock after recognizing that this was one of the game’s CGs and seeing three attractive men inside the restaurant they work at, (Y/n) accidentally broke the script by spilling the wine on Duke Ragnvindr’s coat.

Since then, (Y/n) had trailed and followed the characters whenever they could for their amusement– often helping their favorite love interest, Albedo, set up the scene so they can view his "CGs" in real life. Due to their apparent lack of stalking skills, they had another off-script encounter with the duke whilst doing so. Instead of heading straight to North Gaciea as he had done in the game, he was delayed seven hours after he weeded (Y/n)’s hair out of the bushes they were hiding in. Their first meeting was horrid, and their second almost went in a similar direction. Almost.

Since (Y/n)’s lies were as visible as their head peeking out of their hiding spot, Diluc had them drink a truth potion to uncover why they were stalking the chief alchemist, however…

… Does the phrase “the truth is stranger than fiction” apply in this case when both the earth and the sky are nothing but lies?

Diluc put on a convincing poker face when they babbled about the game they live in, demonstrating both their objectives and, more critically, their in-game omniscience. Albedo is the only love interest who changes into a feral (and subjectively "hot") monster toward the end of the novel, thus (Y/n) was adamant that he be Princess Lumine's ultimate endgame—but going any further in their explanations would be deemed a "spoiler." Additionally, Albedo’s route could only be unlocked once you finished another character’s route first… and that character happened to be Diluc Ragnvindr himself.

———

“In layman’s terms… We are living in a complex romance novel-esque system, correct? And I am the ‘book’ people often recommend to start the series with first before moving on to the sequel?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“… and I am just a stepping stone for a happier ending? A pawn? A mere puppet for someone chasing a momentary cure for loneliness?”

“Well, it felt real to me when I played your route—”

“Perhaps, but feelings do not change what is real and what isn’t.” Diluc sighed, unsheathing his dagger to break off the ropes that held the server down.

(Y/n) traced their wrists, appreciating now how gentle he had been when he could’ve gone rougher.

“Diluc…”

He bit his lip. It pained him to hear the server call his name as if they knew him.

They spoke as if they were friends the whole time right after they just revealed that his life is a self-fulfilled prophecy of unrequited romance.

And it was insulting.

———

The two have come a long way since then. He lost his faux feelings for Lumine. After gaining self-awareness, Diluc had begun avoiding what occurs in the game’s plot under the NPC’s guidance. To improve Lumine's chances of acquiring Albedo's route, (Y/n) was more than happy to assist him, so they started exchanging chats that ranged from oblique threats to routine discussions only friends could have.

Even so, (Y/n)’s attempts were futile when Albedo revealed to both of them that he knew he’s also just a character since the day he was “created”, and that “I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped attempting to produce an inorganic chemistry between the protagonist and me.”

…The chief alchemist was a smart one for sure and his confrontation had sobered (Y/n) fully. Although Albedo will never be the princess’ endgame nor will he turn into an apocalyptic dragon, (Y/n) had earned his friendship and started treating the rest of the cast as people and not just characters.

Diluc gazed out the window.

It was late into the night and rain was falling. There was not a single domestic sound emanating from nearby homes, which was a wise choice since annoying harpies would have gathered at the sound of human noises. Birds accosted the drying trees and roofs as fog swept through the streets. With the exception of this seaside restaurant, most stores were noticeably closed. The downpour buried the sound of crashing waves just a few meters outside, so no one would have known that this was close to the beach.

"Huh," (Y/n) stared in the same direction. "Didn’t expect it to rain tonight. Guess you can't escape this cheap alcohol-tasting session, huh?"

In the course of his outdoor nightly training, the head of the Department of Military Affairs grew incredibly resilient against mere storms. "I don’t need an umbrella."

"Fair," they laughed, distinctly human compared to the usual polite chuckles he would hear from leeching nobles. "But oh, dear Duke, if you don't need an umbrella then why are you still here? Is it because you wanted to see me– w-wait hold on—I'm kidding— sit down!"

…

They reached for his arm, but try as they might—

their hand only passed through.

The two stiffened.

Diluc’s breath hitched.

That was proof.

Because of this scripted fate, a commoner like them can't even grasp his hand, let alone touch it. Not when the system outright denies the friendship they have.

An NPC like (Y/n) can’t remain friends with a main character like Diluc once they have fulfilled their role in their story.

Diluc was untouchable.

He closed his eyes. Just acknowledging this pains him.

They both sat back down.

Much like how Diluc had pretended not to hear their comment earlier, (Y/n) also pretended that nothing unreal occurred seconds ago.

"S... So, is there anything else you want with that?" They pointed at his glass. "We have a crap ton of limes and cranberry juice! Oh, but I'm not sure if it would taste that good if we mix it, haha."

He could practically hear them force that laughter right out of their throat. Diluc hurriedly swallowed the fire-water they offered him since neither could stand the awkward tension. Diluc cringed.

"Oh, sorry, was it too strong?" Many nobles who detained the duke with platitudes were met with sarcastic comments, but he never hated (Y/n)’s idea of small talk.

"It's fine." He spoke huskily.

"Does it need lime or any add ons–"

"It's fine."

"... Okay."

The silence was painfully awkward... Perhaps Diluc shouldn't have threatened Albedo to sit this one out. He wanted an opportunity to be alone with (Y/n), and this is far from what he had hoped would turn out. Diluc's forehead creased as he held back what could've been a long somber sigh.

"How's work?" He asked.

"Oh, it's been alright."

That doesn't sound promising. This was a trick up his sleeves to snap them back to a cheery mood. Usually, they’d start rambling about their regulars and watch how endearingly entertaining they are. There should’ve been a quip about Itto’s TCG losing streak or how Kunikuzushi and Kazuha were arguing again over where they should place their tent for their next travels. This time, (Y/n) barely uttered a phrase.

They continued, "I don't suppose I could ask you the same, given that most of your work is confidential–"

"The Holy Kingdom’s crown prince visited North Gaciea today."

"Oh?"

Finally, he could see them smile for just a bit. Of course, they’d be interested to hear about Zhongli since he was the poster boy for the game’s sequel. Fortunately for Diluc, (Y/n) never got to play the game.

"That's wonderful! I was waiting for an English Localization of the sequel for soooo long! Was he hot? I bet he’s gorgeous as fu–"

"No."

"No...?"

"I mean." Diluc cleared his throat. It's barely even a shot of fire-water and he's already getting impulsive. "I meant that I cannot discuss the matter further. I am not like Kaeya. This is confidential, like what you had said."

"Ah..." Their eyebrows furrowed "I see…"

Why did they sound so disappointed?

Is (Y/n)… bored of him?

Diluc digressed, "how's Dainsleif?"

"Dain?" Their nose scrunched. "I haven't seen that poor guy for weeks now. He’s probably escorting Princess Lumine to Justice Ajax’s territory like in the game. Why?"

"Kamisato Ayato?"

"Ah, he ordered a crate of Dango milk yesterday," they laughed softly. "I'm amazed at how that man is barely affected by the script. I mean, I guess that’s to be expected when your route can only be unlocked by choosing three unsuspecting dialogue options. I don't think he talked to the protagonist at all these past two years. You’d think Lumine would’ve raised her wits stat high enough to attract his attention, but alas, Lord Ayato’s still lounging around East Gaciea doing Venti-knows-what."

He wasn’t paying attention to their ramblings. All their names sound bitter in Diluc's mouth. Unlike Albedo and Diluc, the rest of the Love Interests are free to interact with them as an extra. Server C had also performed their last scripted interaction with them, hence, (Y/n) can never touch Albedo and Diluc again.

Retainer Dainsleif of the West, Lord Kamisato Ayato of the East, Chief Justice “Childe” Ajax of the North, Chief Alchemist Albedo of Who-Knows-Where, and Duke Diluc Ragnvindr of the South… Princess Lumine certainly had fine options.

The Duke just wished the otome game scriptwriters would’ve let him have his own choice in the matter as well.

(Y/n) rested their elbows down on the table as they gazed into Diluc's distant eyes.

"Why did you ask?"

Diluc frowned, He admits it— (Y/n)’s eyes are nothing to write home about. When compared to an ephemeral beauty like Princess Lumine, their ordinary (e/c) eyes and visage hardly qualify as "distinctive traits." Their vibrant red ribbon is the only thing separating them from the street's grey residents. Yet he can still tell it's them no matter how big the crowd is. No matter how much they look like an “NPC”, to him at least it was a face worth seeing. Even if they mesh into a blob of slime, he can sense their essence through and through.

Although he can now barely make out the features on their face, nothing on this false earth can convince him that he wasn’t talking to the love of his life.

"I..." Diluc loosened his collar, suddenly growing hot at the intensity of their stare. "I simply wished to learn how the two other Love Interests are doing. I’ve had a chat with Ajax, and he still acts like a quote-on-quote “yandere” as you had explained before."

“Is that all?”

Diluc nodded.

"Ah," They shrugged. "Got my hopes up there– I thought there are other “Wasureta: No More” CGs I haven't seen yet."

Diluc smiled and took a drink.

"Ahh..." He exhaled, his eyelids fluttering shut in the process.

"You okay there pal?" They asked. "I know I said we shouldn't let any of this go to waste but you know I can just store them back home right? Oh, you can have some too but I don't think you'd like so–"

"I'll take a bottle."

(Y/n)’s eyes widened.

"Y-You..." They stuttered, "You sure?"

"Yeah," Diluc mumbled, lying to himself. "It tastes okay."

They grinned. The sight makes his decision all the more worth it.

"Haha, great!" They fist-bumped the air "See? Told ya cheap fire-water tastes good!"

Don’t get him wrong, he's not taking one home because of its taste. He's taking one home because it might be the last memento he'll have of (Y/n).

"Hold on, let me get a ribbon." They opened their palms to stop him from leaving. "Can't give the great Duke of the South something that looks barely presentable now would I?"

They left him with a skip in their steps. Diluc smiled.

Now that he's left alone, he silently wondered:

Just how long can he last before he tells the NPC that he wants to ruin their friendship?

———

———

Along with the sounds of gutted flesh reverberating through the tunnel's dark passageways, a man's hysterical laughter echoed. It was mostly silence in the caves, and there is a strong sense of loneliness upon entering the vicinity. Humans and animals alike would feel as though there is no life inside those walls, but the joyous yet hollow laughter came from the end of the tunnel.

And on the other side, you'll find a red-haired man at his wit's end.

"Tell me..." His words dragged out in a low growl as he grabbed a fistful of the bloody and tattered blonde's greasy hair. The man whimpered from his touch. "Was it fun? Laughing at my misery this entire time? Were you laughing along with them? Lumine, Dainsleif, and all the rest?! Did I put up quite the show there?!"

Crown Prince Aether trembled.

Duke Ragnvindr had everything figured out.

———

“There’s one regret I have now that I’ve isekai-d in this game.”

“What was it?”

“It’s just that,” (Y/n) sighed. “I never really got this game to a 100% completion.”

Diluc raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by their obsession with Wasureta, “and why is that important?”

“Hey! It’s pretty damn important!” (Y/n) grumbled. "Tsk, if only I finished your bad endings… The guides say once you do that, you’ll be able to unlock a secret route.”

“A secret route?”

“Yeah,” they shrugged.

“I’ve read some spoilers from Otomekitten's blog and get this— the last route reveals where Lumine’s brother had been hiding all this time.”

———

The nerves on the back of Diluc's palms were more noticeable as he pulled the poor man closer. Simply put, their faces did not resemble what mankind should look like; rather, they were an animalistic representation of a predator and prey. Hitherto it had disturbed Prince Aether in his rests, but it was too late when he finally acknowledged that something unhinged lay dormant inside the duke.

"P-please..." He coughed. Blood started drooling down the edge of his lips. He assumes that a few of his teeth are likely knocked in, and he can feel his canines prodding inside his throat. "H-have merc–"

With alarming ease, Diluc threw him in the direction of the shelves. The blonde fell and gasped violently when the splintered wood struck his shoulder. The gaping wound on his hips gushed out once more, bleeding onto his carpet and scattered notes. The duke was a monster. He intentionally missed striking his vital organs to prolong his suffering. More blood gushed from his mouth and the prince noisily wheezed out wet coughs.

His Highness has (Y/n) to blame for the hints they gave the duke.

If they hadn't had that conversation, Diluc wouldn’t have figured out that Aether created this “game” world out of grief for his dead sister.

———

“I’ve been alive here for a year or so but I can’t get used to how the harpies in this world look so tame.”

“Hmm? What else were you expecting?”

“Nothing much, it’s just that they look so different in the game’s beta.”

They shrugged. “Fun fact: did you know that “Wasureta: No More” was a fantasy-horror game before the scriptwriters decided to rewrite everything?”

———

"Tsk." Diluc spat and wiped his mouth with his last dirty palm as if there was a major difference. Both are equally soiled with oil and Aether’s blood; it wouldn’t have mattered.

The duke snarled aloud into a burst of savage laughter, "what's wrong, My Creator? Can't even muster up the courage to face your retribution?"

"F-Friend..." Aether called out, hoping to garner sympathy for the Diluc who once looked after both him and his sister at the royal gardens. Hoping to remind him that he was placed number 1 on the list of people the head of Military Affairs had trusted.

"Don't call me that," Diluc's grip on his claymore grew tighter until his knuckles paled.

"Du-Duke..." The blonde looked up. "I can't just... Rewrite this story again..."

"You can," Diluc spoke in a somewhat broken voice. His sanity may be waning, but he cannot deny that Aether was included in the list of the people the duke trusted. "We’re just characters you’ve written. You've done that before. You've done that to Lumine."

"And I r-regretted it!" He sputtered out, accidentally stronger than intended. The blonde scurried to lean against the wall as he feared Diluc would attack him for his offensive tone. "I regretted it. I thought I could revive my sister... I thought that would bring Lumine back into this new world. I thought it would bring her happiness if– if I gave her m-more options–"

"Forced options," Diluc grumbled, rightfully angry at the blonde's interferences. Based on his inference, three of the five suitors wouldn't have been whisked away by Lumine's whims if it weren't for her brother’s influence. And judging by his pained reaction, Diluc would be right.

"But she’s not my real sister.” Aether sobbed. “She never will be— she’s just an image I had of her. And I-I still ended up making this false Lumine more miserable."

"No shit." Diluc snickered with narrow eyes. "You made her miserable—"

The duke just wished he knew where Aether was from the very beginning. He would've had Prince Aether's head before this whole damn game even started.

"And you made me so fucking miserable, Crown Prince," Diluc muttered. 

“I just wanted to be with (Y/n).” He breathed in shakily, “is that so much to ask for?”

"P-Please, listen to me." Aether wept. "Ch-Changing someone's fate brings more harm than good!"

THUD.

Aether shook as a claymore thrust through the concrete just a hair beside his ear. He gulped under the towering gaze of those piercing red eyes. They glowered over him, and they were far from pleased. Aether was too terrified to look away as he saw how Diluc's eyes spiraled into the abyss. The air was thick with heat emanating from Diluc’s pyro-abilities. The sound of the metal rang in the prince’s ears like a warning, thus, the strength in his shoulders weakened and his muscles have gone mushed as he cowered down.

Changing fate brings more harm than good? What a joke. By the looks of it, letting fate run its course only puts the prince in greater turmoil.

Maybe Diluc should offer his head to Her Highness. It doesn't matter whether he lived or died, does it not? If she's so desperate to find the missing prince again, it wouldn't even matter what state his casket is in.

"Di–"

Aether couldn’t breathe.

"Don't struggle."

Diluc effortlessly slid the prince's entire body up the wall after grabbing his throat. Aether's feet curled up as he struggled to steal a breath. He tried to kick and claw Diluc's arms away, but the man stood his ground. Ruby eyes continued to pursue him with an icy rage that Aether was all too familiar with.

The fact that they both placed a lot of faith in one another was a mistake.

Aether's eyes started to tear up involuntarily. Diluc spoke those words as if they weren't threatening remarks, but a merciful command. Yet it doesn't change the fact that he intended to assassinate the prince with his bare hands. Aether began balling up his fists and striking him, but it was ineffective.

"..."

Diluc coldly watched his stomach bleed out like a student dissecting a frog.

Aether's vision clouded. As he flailed his limbs like a wild animal, dark blotches started to appear in his line of sight. His fingers are unwittingly clawing at everything as the adrenaline starts to kick in. Aether never wished to harm a soul, but at that moment he was aiming for Diluc's eyes.

His survival instincts kicked in.

He can't die.

Not like this.

"Si–..."

Lumine. Sister.

Aether needed to apologize to his sister.

He still hoped to say sorry— sorry for leaving her to run a kingdom alone— sorry for not being able to save her in the original timeline— 

sorry for resetting and rewriting the game just to see her alive and happy again.

Aether had so much unfinished business piled up. So many discoveries he has yet to pen down. He can't die here. He mustn’t.

He grabbed something. A fleeting crimson near his assailant's collarbone.

Was it Diluc's hair?

He pulled harder. All his strength was wasted on that sliver of red hope. Anything that would get his assailant to stop.

And Diluc did. His grip on Aether's throat loosened as the prince fell back on the floor. Aether wheezed, his vision slowly returning to him. His bated breathing echoed inside the room as his eyesight returned to him. When the prince's eyes finally focused sharply, he saw silk.

This wasn't Diluc's hair, it was–

"(Y/n)’s ribbon."

Diluc used the very same ribbon (Y/n) to decorate a bottle of fire-water with to tie up his hair.

Aether shivered.

"It seems like you wanted to choose your death."

Oh fuck, oh fuck.

Aether looked up. He shouldn't have looked up.

Duke Diluc Ragnvindr's face was red with a grin uncannily reaching his ears to a degree that shouldn't be possible. His expression was akin to a lovesick young adult twisted to its extremities. He appeared to look excited. To think that he burns up by just a mention of this person’s name makes Aether sick to his stomach.

"Allow me to heed your last wish, Your Highness."

The prince felt his whole body tense up as Diluc wrapped the ribbon around his neck.

Diluc did not give him any more room to breathe as if his body was moving automatically.

This wasn’t Diluc Ragnvindr anymore.

His eyes were empty. 

This was a man possessed.

"Ch...de..." Aether forced out his last words as the ribbon quickly wrung around him.

"S..ve... my... s....ter"

———

———

Diluc only pulled out of his trance after he started washing the blood off his hands. Elzer subsequently informed him that the duke had entered the manor bloodied and unkempt with no recollection of how he got there and that he had strolled carelessly to the restroom like a corpse. There was a commotion across the entire Ragnvindr manor and rumors that he had lost an unpleasant duel quickly circulated. Better that than the truth, he supposed. Even his memory of what transpired in Aether's basement is hazy. Diluc only had their red ribbon and the idea of winning in his mind. He refused to let things continue as they are.

It wasn't until he started drying himself with a towel that he realized that the crown prince perished by his hands.

To think that Diluc used to be so terrified of offending royalties– of accidentally slipping a lese-majeste out of his lips– but now he let a royal's soul slip out of his wrists.

It's invigorating.

Diluc not only tied his fate with theirs, but he successfully managed to cut their ties with those disgusting vermin they call their “regulars.” They can't have them anymore, and they won't even intend to reach out. No one remembers who Server C is. They are now alone together with him. He’s the only person they can depend on. Diluc's breathing heaved lower. Just thinking about their inevitable dependence excites him.

He quietly closed the door behind him.

"Good evening, Server C." He smiled. "Or, should I say, my beloved?"

Just the two of them.

They won't look at anyone else. They can't. The whole world will now feel what he felt when he was unable to touch (Y/n). Only HE has the privilege to hold them now.

It's just the two of them in this world left. After all, there is no statute of limitations once you learn how to play Creator.

Diluc Ragnvindr had successfully rewritten this game’s script.

He no longer carries any in-game responsibilities, much like how there is no Lord Kamisato, Justice Ajax, Retainer Dainsleif, and Chief Albedo that exists in this “script.rpy” file.

It’s just him and his beloved server, alone.

Diluc wiped his mouth. He's practically dro– no, his mouth is literally watering at the thought. Diluc's heart is pounding, almost threatening to break free from his ribs.

"I’m all you have now, (Y/n)." Diluc's gaze softens. "Isn't that wonderful?"

His hands reluctantly traveled under their blanket where their hands should be, scared that when he reaches out, he'll feel nothing there.

He felt their warmth.

Diluc grinned tearfully. He can finally touch them again. He felt their fingers crossed miraculously against his own.

"You’re so warm..."

He gently rubbed their calloused hand against his cheek.

No matter how overworked or ragged these hands were from washing the dishes, for him, they were silk to touch. So soft. So vulnerable.

Diluc swallowed his saliva with great difficulty. God. They’re so vulnerable right now. So peaceful. So fragile. His breathing increased in volume. He could just take them right here–

His bottom lip started to bleed. He was doing everything in his power not to cave in but his throat was starting to get parched. He breathed in deeply.

Not now. Please, not right now. Not when they probably don’t remember who he is.

Diluc wanted to see the look on their face as he finally kisses them. What expressions will they make? It's not fair to both of them to steal such a moment when they’re asleep. That's not what he had been waiting for. Not what he's been craving.

"My beloved, you're a beauty from afar, but you're even more flawless in my arms," Diluc muttered over their ear.

"And I'll do everything in my power to let it stay that way. Fate and the entire world be damned."

-----------

A/n: want to read more of this in a visual novel form? It's here :)

Edit: HERE'S THS IMPROVED SPRITES AND OVERALL UPDATED GAME!!!

#yandere diluc #yandere diluc x reader #yandere genshin #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin x reader #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin imagines #yandere diluc ragnvindr #diluc #diluc ragnvindr #tag: otome game au #yandere male #tw yandere #male yandere #yandere #genshin impact #x reader #ansy-writes

[i-write-things]

Yan! Chrollo x Willing! Reader

(There's so many Yan! Chrollo x readers that aren't willing, so I'm probably gonna have to be the godmother of fics where the reader is willing)

● Chrollo with a reader who was willing from the start is a rather surprised Chrollo.

● I mean, mostly. He was being pretty charismatic, after all. But he didn't think he'd manage to get you this down bad!

● Not to say he's complaining in the least. Quite the contrary, actually. He's relieved. This makes it so much easier for the both of you. It also earns you a lot more rights a lot quicker.

● Although he thinks it's an act at first, he soon realizes that you genuinely want to be with him. Anytime he's tested you, left you alone with a phone, or left the door unlocked while he stood beside it from the outside, you never made a move.

● Anytime he initiated affection, you wouldn't hesitate. Sometimes, you would be the one to initiate it. And for a while he was scanning for ways you might be using this against him. To build trust? To get in his good graces? Clever, but it won't work on him. But...something about the way you respond to his love...there's no way it's artificial. After a couple of weeks, he is confident that this is 100% authentic love.

● After he realizes this, that's when all the freedoms come rolling in. It's not like he's going to let you walk to the store on your own, but if you asked to go out to the balcony and stargaze, he would most definitely go with you. Not only is it romantic, he also trusts you're not going to jump off the balcony or something stupid.

● However, contrary to popular belief, the more you love him does NOT equal more rights. In some situations, he would only do some things to get you to love him back. However, since you already love him there's no reason to do so.

● For example, he's not going to spoil you for everything you ask, like if you asked for an animal, or if you wanted fresh air.

● "Why? Do I not keep you enough company? Is it not satisfying enough to be here with me alone?"

● This was obvious, but I feel I must say it. The man will guilt trip you. A lot. That's how he manipulates you.

● "Hm. After all the things I got you and do for you. After taking you away from a harsh society and protecting you so closely, it's still never enough, is it?"

● - Him, after you beg him for something he doesn't wanna give you, or you do something he doesn't like.

● Another thing that people don't typically think Yan! Chrollo does, no matter if the reader is willing or not, he let's them pick out their clothes. If the reader is a boy, gender neutral, or just a tomboy, he's not going to force them to wear a dress, makeup, or jewelry. Why would he? You wouldn't be comfortable, and regardless if you're willing or not, he still wants you to be comfortable. And I think the whole kidnapping thing and running a feared crime group is enough evidence to suggest that this man does not at all push tradition onto those who don't like it.

● It's you're style, and while he'd think it would be cute to have you in his style, taking you out of your style just rips out the 'you' in how you look. If he did that, he might as well change your hair style, shampoo, and add tattoos on you how he likes. He is controlling, but not that bad. The only way I would see him forcing you to dress how he wants is if you misbehaved and it was your punishment. But considering reader is willing, he won't. So you don't have to worry about that.

● All in all, Yan! Chrollo with a Willing! Reader is a happy Chrollo. And you know what they say, happy wife murderous stalker husband, happy life!

#i write for you #chrollo #chrollo x reader #yandere chrollo #yandere chrollo x reader #writing for you #chrollo headcanon #Chrollo x willing reader #Yandere chrollo x willing reader #willing reader #:D

[miss-atena]

This post is me madly projecting with some x reader stuff. Not requested, I had the idea and my besties said "YES DO IT" so this is happening now lmao.

This has been on my drafts for a looooong time, so that's why I'm actually posting this now lmao.

Octavinelle Trio x Reader who is autistic with a special interest in Moray Eels

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul first laid eyes on you for purely business reasons. During the holiday season, the Mostro Lounge stays understaffed most times, and you were oh so kindly falling into his flourished word traps to strike a deal.

He, however, would have never expected all you wanted from him was to know all about Moray Eels that he, as a merfolk, knew. That was... rather odd and maybe even boring?

He got intrigued, were you trying something with the twins? They were his most loyal workers, so he couldn't allow you to do anything.

When you get into a relationship, after much hard work on both parts, he expected, no, hoped you would change this special interest from the slimy eels to the much more interesting octopus.

You... didn't quite catch the hints, though, and this has led to some rather jealous and insecure moments with Azul. Especially if the twins were involved.

One could say that he was so insecure, in fact, that he felt ashamed of even showing his octomerman form to you.

But after you realized all this jealousy and insecurity on his part, you did all you could to show how much you love him and appreciate him for the way he is.

Now your eel-filled room has a little octopus cove, full of things that remind you of Azul or that he enjoys so that he has a safe space to come to.

He still will glare at your Eel stuff when cuddling, almost as if the carnivores were real and trying to get a bite out of you.

"I suppose it wouldn't be bad to stay a bit in here, with you, if you promise me you won't be cuddling those slimy eels to sleep, but rather this much more elegant and cuddly octopus plushie..."

Floyd Leech

Floyd first approached you on a whim. He was bored, you looked interesting enough, and you didn't seem to have any sense of self to run away from him in fear of getting squeezed till you popped, and as such, he stuck for a while.

You were quite different from most people he knew, and sometimes you reminded him a bit of himself or Jade, which gave you some points on his side.

The thing that made him stay, though, was the moment you opened your mouth and asked him if he ever saw a Moray Eel.

You're really asking that? To him? A literal Eel-merman? Hah!

He did indulge you for a while because you actually seemed to know your facts. He would just push you around, sometimes carry you on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, while you blabbered out.

When it came to you two dating, it was very much a surprise for everyone. Floyd? Sticking to someone for so long? That's new.

Floyd tends to cling to you a lot, and even though it gets boring to him real quick that you repeat your eel facts, he cannot for the life of him stop you, since when you ramble is the best time to cuddle.

Floyd will, though, get easily jealous of your eel collection. You have the real eel deal (ha!), and you keep cuddling the plushies? Meanie :(

He will constantly just take the plushie off of your hands and plop himself on top of you. No fake eel, just the real deal.

He didn't really tell you he was a mer-eel, he actually just oh so happened to be taking a swim when you were close, and oh, look, he is an eel!

He lets you play with his fins and will take any chance he can get to use you as his cleaning shrimp to get sand off of him. He just like how your little cute hands feel scrubbing the sand from him, it is like exfoliation!

"hey hey, guppy, wanna do something fun? ya can bring the tiny morays with ya, if ya don't mind a bit of dirt, ahahah~!"

Jade Leech

First met you as a tutor for your work at the Mostro Lounge, per Azul's request.

Found your mannerisms quite interesting, you reminded him of himself and a bit of Floyd too.

He was happy when you didn't distance yourself from him when he talked about his interest in mountains or Mushrooms.

In return, you told him you really really really liked Eels. Specially Morays.

He faked not knowing it and let you talk about it since as long as he could rant about his fungi findings he didn't mind having to hear what he already knew.

When you two began dating, he was very perceptive of your needs. sometimes to a scary level, actually.

He doesn't mind at all your eel-filled room. he finds it endearing, and he even uses some miniatures you buy to put on terrariums he gifts to you.

Autistic x autistic relationship, basically.

He will use your eel interest against you in a silly way, like "I can show you an incredible moray fact if you perhaps go hiking with me :)"

Tbh if you are with him, you should do the same. Makes things fun for you both.

Floyd and Azul are so tired of hearing the both of you talk about each other and enabling each other's interests, but Jade will never judge you. And he will actually shove shiitake mushrooms down other's throats if they do judge you.

The moment he showed you his mer form as per your request, after knowing from Floyd that they both are eels.

Jade doesn't mind you picking and prodding around his mer form if it makes you happy, but if you keep your guard down he will fake drowning you "just for fun :)"

Make sure to hide his mushrooms in return, or he will try funny business again, just saying.

"Oya~ I would never intend to purposefully hurt you, my pearl. But a predator is inclined to bite when their jaws are so open near a cute prey, fufufu~"

I wanted to write something for my fave trio for a while, so I hope yall like this! Other posts and the request for Bee and Vixx will be done shortly after this, Since I already have it in my drafts almost finished! Hope yall enjoy a bit of eeltism!

#twisted wonderland #twst fanfic #twst #disney twst #twst x reader #jade leech x reader #floyd leech x reader #azul ashengrotto x reader #twst jade x reader #twst floyd x reader #twst azul x reader #tena writing

[apomaro-mellow]

Hot for Teacher(s) 3

Part 2 / AO3 Link

After school practices for the Thanksgiving performance was only for the students who wanted to put a little more time into it. Apparently a bulk of the rehearsal happened during their music class and that made sense. Still, Steve was glad to put a face to some of the kids his son mentioned. The first night there had been a girl who's lip trembled at the slightest upset and Steve knew that had to be Yasmin.

"She's a crybaby who cries over everything", Shawn had said one time.

"Hm, need I remind you of all the times you've cried? Why I remember just last week-"

"We don't need to talk about that", Shawn said, properly chastised.

Even so, Steve could see how it could get a little frustrating to be in a class with someone as sensitive as that. And yet, Mr. Munson never let on that he was frustrated or anything like that. Every time the tears came, he talked her down. Which was quite the feat since he had probably been doing it for eight hours at this point.

"You're really good with the kids", Steve complimented when Mr. Munson took a seat near them to rest.

Third grade was working on their performance piece on the stage now while the smaller kids got a break. Mr. Munson smiled a bit as he scratched at his head.

"Yeah, well, patience is key, as I'm sure you know. Actually, how old are the kids you teach?", he asked.

"Middle school", Steve answered, laughing a little when he saw the other teacher's eyes get wide in fear.

"Braver than any marine, I swear. I will take spilt milk tears over the raging hormones going on over there."

Steve's brain decided to highlight the word 'hormones' which made him delayed in his response. He cleared his throat to try and cover it up. "It's not as bad as all that. I've got the babies of middle school, the sixth graders, but don't tell them I said that. And I'm lucky I've got a group there that's absolutely obsessed with science."

He met Mr. Munson's eyes and was met with a million watt smile. One that he knew was on his own face too.

"That's the best feeling, ain't it? When they wanna soak up as much as you can give?"

"The best", Steve agreed. It wasn't always candy and roses but it was all worth it for those days when everything just clicked. "Speaking of passions, did you get that approval for your ideas for the show?"

"They said I could play guitar, but they vetoed my pyrotechnics idea."

That night, Mr. Munson walked him and Shawn back to their car. And as such, became a routine for two days out of the week. Through it all, Steve commended himself for only drooling a little over him and only when he was alone.

At home, one Saturday, Shawn was humming his class' song while Steve made them lunch. He looked to the calendar and realized the show would be that coming Monday. Well, he knew that but it hit him that in less than a week, Thanksgiving break would start and then there wouldn't be much of a reason for him to see Mr. Munson anymore.

Just as the thought came to him, he looked at the school events calendar he had put in his phone and saw that there would be a Winter Dance but that it was for 4th and 5th grade only. He held back a sigh. Oh well, maybe if he got particularly antsy, he could schedule a confere-no, nononono.

He wasn't going to waste a teacher's time over nothing. Just because, what? He wanted to see him?

He said as much when he talked to Robin the next day. They were sitting in his living room, Shawn was up in his room, reading on this lazy Sunday.

"So, you're just going to avoid him?"

"It's not avoiding. I'm just not going to go out of my way to seek him out", Steve clarified. "And maybe this little crush", he whispered the word 'crush' like tiny ears were listening, "will die down."

"Mhm", Robin nodded, unconvinced. "You know they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?"

Steve leaned back against the couch. "There's at least one absence I'm not missing."

"...Don't tell me this is all because of him?"

"It's not because of him but...", Steve's eyes traveled to where Shawn's baby book sat on a bookshelf. Inside were the only pictures of Shawn's sire. And honestly, Steve wouldn't even have those if it were up to him. But he wanted to leave the door open just for when Shawn got older and could decide how much he wanted that man in his life.

"I don't think Mr. Munson is anything like him. Of course I don't. But I can't make a mistake like that again. If Shawn got hurt, I could never forgive myself."

Robin gave him a pat on the leg. "If you really think it's for the best."

It was. Steve knew that what was on the surface could be hiding something ugly underneath. He wasn't going to expose him or his pup to anything like that again. Mr. Munson was nice but these feelings weren't deep enough to swim in. Steve was barely getting his toes wet. He would stay high and dry and then Shawn would go on to second grade and then he would only see Mr. Munson in passing, if that.

Steve had all these affirmations in mind as he settled in to see Shawn's performance Monday. Planning ahead, Steve had told his school a couple weeks ago that he had a doctor appointment and wouldn't be coming in until later. Just long enough to pop in and see Shawn sing. As he had planned and rehearsed, Mr. Munson sat on a stool to one side of the stage, acoustic guitar in his lap.

It was all the school would allow and seeing as the kids' singing voices weren't super strong, it was for the best. Steve recorded the act, phone focused on Shawn while every once in a while, his eyes drifted to Mr. Munson.

After the song, Steve waved to Shawn, who waved back. He had told him ahead of time that he'd have to go back to work after seeing him, so that his son wouldn't be disappointed. When they saw each other at home later, Shawn's adrenaline from the day hadn't waned.

"So a lot of the other kids' parents took them home, so Mr. Munson let some of us play with his guitar!"

"Did he now?", Steve smiled.

"Uh-huh. He even taught us how to play. Do you think he teaches guitar?"

"Would you like some lessons?", Steve asked.

"Only if Mr. Munson is teaching it. He makes everything so cool."

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

Steve watched as Shawn ran ahead to go into the corn maze. Most of the corn was gone, so he wasn't worried about him getting lost as Robin went to get them hot ciders. Shawn scurried through the maze when he found someone familiar.

Robin had come back with two ciders that she and Steve sipped on while Shawn made his way through the maze.

"Dad! Look who's here!"

Steve looked up, expecting to see one of his little friends. Not Mr. Munson.

Not Mr. Munson in ripped jeans and a leather jacket.

Not Mr. Munson in ripped jeans and a leather jacket with chunky rings and his hair let loose, spilling over his shoulders.

"Dad look! It's Mr. Munson! Dad?"

"Mr. Munson! What a surprise!", Robin came in for the save while Steve was speechless. She gave him a subtle nudge that really wasn't all that subtle but that was okay because Mr. Munson was having his own crisis.

Because here was Mr. Harrington, enjoying a harvest festival, shoulder to shoulder with a beautiful alpha woman.

"H-hey, didn't expect to run into you here", Mr. Munson stuttered.

"Me neither", Steve said, voice a little breathless. He cleared it and remembered himself. "This is Robin, she's my neighbor. Robin, this is Shawn's teacher."

"Heard so much about you", Robin grinned.

Steve wanted to kick her in the shin.

"Hey, Shawn, how's about we go and pick out a pumpkin or something?", Robin suggested, grabbing his hand and pulling him away from the other two, leaving them alone.

Mr. Munson looked like a deer caught in headlights and Steve couldn't blame him.

"Jesus, she couldn't be anymore obvious."

"Did you want to talk to me about something, Mr. Harrington?"

"No, I didn't. But, I think...I think we should have this conversation anyway." Steve ran a hand through his hair.

They went to a little sitting area the farm had set up near the food booths so that they could talk. Eddie's mind ran a mile a minute, thinking of what this could be about. Both good and bad. He'd gotten a hot chocolate both to keep his hands warm and to give him something to do with said hands. Hands that Mr. Harrington was staring at right now.

"I um", he shook his head and pushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "I just wanted to-god this is hard."

"Well, let's make it easier", Eddie said. "Is it about Shawn? Is he having problems in school?"

"No, it's not about that. It's about us-I mean, there is no us but I-goddammit", Steve hissed, cheeks getting red in embarrassment. He let out a breath. "Mr. Munson, I'm having..." don't say feelings don't say feelings don't say feelings "-sensations, that aren't entirely professional. About you."

"Oh."

"And I know nothing can come of it, but I just want you to know that, to know that I'm aware of them and if I ever come on, I guess too strong, please just let me know."

"Um, for how long?", Eddie asked, hoping he wasn't vibrating in his seat because it sure did feel that way.

"Uhh, pretty much since I first met you", Mr. Harrington admitted. "And I don't know if it's because you've been looking after me and Shawn when we walk back to the car, or if it's something else but you just smell...you feel safe. And it's hard for me not too....", he trailed off, voice getting soft.

He didn't know how much that meant to Eddie. His first year of teaching, Eddie had gone on scent blockers, not wanting to overwhelm the little noses in his room. But one day he'd forgotten and things just seemed to run more smoothly when they could get a whiff of him. For Mr. Harrington to say his scent made him feel safe...

"It hasn't exactly been easy for me either", Eddie finally said. "Me too, since that first day I... But you already said nothing can come from it."

There was a hesitant look in Mr. Harrington's eyes. "Well, you know, why not?"

"Why...not?", Eddie echoed.

"I have my personal reasons for not pursuing this, but they mostly involve Shawn. If he doesn't know about it, I mean if we can hide it from most people, you won't get in trouble with the school. And we won't, you know get Shawn's hopes up if it doesn't become serious."

"Why, Mr. Harrington, are you propositioning me?" Honestly, Eddie didn't give a flying fuck what this principal thought about his private life. At the end of the day, it really was just Shawn he was worried about. He didn't know what happened to the other half of his DNA, but he knew that kids with only one parent sometimes longed for a second. He couldn't make Shawn think that was him unless this was the real deal. And he wouldn't know that for sure if he didn't give this a try.

"For starters, when we're not on school grounds, you can call me Steve."

"Eddie."

"Eddie, would you like to go out with me sometime?"

Steve's face was a mix of hopeful and confident that Eddie wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon. "I'd love to."

Part 4

There is absolutely some angst with Steve's baby daddy comin down the line. I came up with it where I come up with all my best ideas, half asleep when I wake up in the morning.

Tag Team

@anne-bennett-cosplayer @aol19 @lololol-1234 @hippieg1rl420 @gregre369 @attic-cat-blog

#apo writes #stranger things #steddie #omegaverse #a/b/o

[charliedawn]

Ok, hear me out... Nurse Y/N that has an identical twin or is an identical triplet. What if they switch to see how long it takes for everyone to notice or if they notice that it's not Y/N? Or one day someone says that Y/N has a visitor and someone identical to her walks in and everyone is just: 👁️👄👁️

(my cousins do this to me all the time and each time I have to guess who is who, it doesn't help that their names rhyme 😭)

Also love the blog! Haven't heard from you in a bit, how are you?

You asked your twin to take care of the slashers while you were out of town, but didn't expect the slashers to immediately see through your trick.

Jason felt it the moment he hugged your twin. He felt her hesitate, whereas you...You had never hesitated before.

He also felt it when he tightened his hold on you and he felt the woman in his arms squirm.

"I...It hurts.", she complained and Jason's breath quickened as he tightened his hold even more.

It wasn't you. It couldn't be.

"...Not Y/N."

He was about to crush your twin when he heard someone clap behind him and turned around swiftly to see you standing there with a small playful smile on your face.

"I see that you've met my twin. Settle down, Jason. She's a friend."

He immediately released your twin who ran to hide behind you and coughed multiple times before smiling.

"Wow. You got quite the strong grip, fella'."

Jason didn't say anything.

Instead, he let out a soft grunt and turned around to leave. He doesn't like pranks.

Freddy didn't notice right away. It took him a few days to realize something wasn't right and it was only when he managed to get a glimpse at your twin's eyes that he was convinced that this wasn't you.

"Your eyes...They're different.", he told your twin who took a step back and answered with a small giggle.

"They're eyes, Freddy. They don't change."

But, Freddy wasn't in a laughing mood. He stared even harder and frowned.

"Yours did. You're not looking at me right. And I find it weird."

He then took a good look at your twin and his frown deepened.

"Ya don't look right either...Come on. What's the matter with ya, huh nursy ?"

He cooed before raising his clawed hand to your twin's face who instinctively took a step back, making Freddy's eyes widen in shock.

He suddenly pinned your twin to the wall in front of him and spat.

"Okay. Who the fuck are you and where is my nurse, ya wannabe ?"

Thankfully, you returned just at that moment and separated the both of them.

You then explained to Freddy what had happened and he took a moment to understand what kind of prank you had just tried to pull on him and finally grinned.

"I see...Good one."

He wasn't particularly mad at you since he did far worse, but wouldn't have expected it from you. But, not bad.

"..."

Knives first. Talking after.

Your twin had no idea what she was getting herself into when she entered Vincent's bedroom.

She was met with various wax figurines and didn't think more about it at first, not until she fell face to face with an exact replica of one of the guards she had seen that very morning.

It seemed so lifelike and then, the statue's eyes moved and she screamed before falling backwards and crawling away from the statue.

Unfortunately, Vincent heard her and came in to find his beloved nurse crawling away from one of his creations in fear.

He was taken aback at first, since he thought you liked his art.

But, shock turned into anger as he saw the way you were looking at him...as if he was a monster.

He grunted loudly before raising his blades in the air to cut your twin in two.

But then...

"VINCENT !"

Your voice brought him to a sudden halt as he looked up and found you at the door with widened eyes.

Your twin quickly got up and hid behind you while you looked at the wax statue with a disapproving frown.

"What did we say about taking living people for your art ?"

He lowered his head in shame and you sighed before turning around to leave.

"I will take my sister back. When I get back, you better have gotten all that wax off the poor man..."

Your sister had asked Bo to drive her to town so she may see you and switch back, but she didn't expect Bo to find her out in the car.

Her mistake: the slight shiver she had at Bo's proximity. Bo had this effect on some people. They could feel his malicious intent before he even told them.

"Yar cold or sumthin' ?", he asked before eyeing your twin up and down suspiciously.

"No.", she replied with a weak voice.

"Hmm...", he hummed before eyeing your twin again with narrowed eyes. There was something not quite right here.

"I need to go check on Lester. Stay here."

She nodded and Bo got out of the car.

It was a lie.

Lester wasn't in St Louis. He had been spared the journey...But, your twin didn't know that.

When Bo returned, his eyes darkened and a naughty smirk spread over his face.

Your twin immediately locked the doors of the car at the sight, but didn't expect it when Bo used his elbow to shatter the window and drag her out.

"COME HERE, BITCH ! LET ME TEACH YA A THING OR TWO ON WHAT HAPPENS TO LYING BRATS !"

He effortlessly shoved her on the ground and your twin screamed as she desperately tried to get away.

Thankfully, your car drove by and you almost jumped out of the car to stop Bo.

"THAT'S ENOUGH !"

Bo indulged and let her go instantly, but you had learned your lesson by the way his eyes stared a little too intensely at your twin.

Never switch again.

"You...smell different.", he uttered next to her ear with a low and threatening voice.

"I changed shampoos.", she tried to explain—but Brahms didn't believe her.

"You're hurting me. Let go.", your twin said as Brahms gripped her arms tightly.

"...Liar."

He then proceeded in almost breaking her arms until you walked in and separated them.

As soon as you explained what was going on, he smiled and nodded understandingly.

But, he preferred if you would have told him earlier.

Brahms doesn't react well to strangers and if you hadn't intervened, I don't think your twin would have made it.

Ghostface knew something was up, but wasn't exactly sure yet.

He stared at 'you' and waited until your twin and himself were alone before tilting his head and asking the question that would be sure to give him the answer.

"...Hello Y/N...Tell me. What is your favorite scary movie ?"

Your twin stilled for a second too long before turning towards him with a fake smile.

"Hum...I'd say Halloween. Why ?"

In an instant, she was pinned to the wall with a knife pressed against her throat.

"Wrong answer, dummy."

He had asked you the question so many times...He knew the answer by heart by now.

"...It is ours. It has always been ours."

His Y/N knew that she was working with slashers, horrifying monsters...soulless killers. And she liked to imagine herself in an horror movie—but one that would end with a happy ending.

So, Ghostface knew by your twin's answer that it couldn't be you.

And he was proven right when you returned just at that moment and separated them both.

But, he wasn't upset. He found it rather entertaining.

"...Not. Ours."

"W...What ?", your twin tried to say without trembling—but she failed.

It only took one glimpse at your twin and Michael knew it wasn't you.

Not only does he have two personalities trapped in one body, but he also memorized your every move and reaction.

He could tell your twin was far too tense and uncomfortable around the slashers to be you.

He waited until the slashers were all gone before calmly standing up and grabbing your twin by the throat and raising her up in the air.

"NOT OURS !", he repeated with an uncanny calmness while your twin was desperately trying to kick him.

Finally, you arrived and convinced Myers to let her go, but he wasn't fond of the prank and you could see it with how he ignored you for weeks after that.

Micheal Myers is not a fan of pranks.

"...You can't fool me, sweetheart. You may look like her, but when you spend as much time with her as we do, you learn a thing or two. For example..."

Jack took a step forward and reached out for your twin's hair to pull on one of the loose strands/curls.

"Nurse Y/N prefers to tie her hair in a knot in order not to let them get in her eyes when she's working and..."

He wiped his thumb over his vest, which left a pinkish trail on its way.

"She doesn't wear makeup. Not like that anyway."

He then smirked before eyeing your twin up and down.

"She also always puts pants on because she knows that there are some serious perverts in the facility."

Your twin hesitated before pulling down her skirt a bit and Jack clicked his tongue before pointing to his own lips.

"And finally, she is always smiling. Because Y/N isn't afraid..."

Your twin tried to smile, but it felt forced...fake. Jack's eyes seemed to bore into hers and even though his posture seemed relaxed—his eyes were drilling holes into her skull.

"Now, tell me...Who the hell are you ?"

The game was over before it even started.

Jack is observant. He's a writer. He likes to watch people and your twin wouldn't even have to speak a word for him to notice the difference—as long as he's sober that is.

"NEW FRIEND !"

Penny didn't hesitate before hugging your twin, but didn't make the mistake.

He knows your mind by heart and would immediately notice the difference.

However, his eyes lit up yellow when he smelt something he hadn't smelt in a long time.

"....Fear."

Penny smirked ad his teeth sharpened before he leaned forward and was about to open his mouth when you came in.

He immediately released your twin, but you weren't fooled.

You looked at the both of them and frowned in disapproval at Penny.

"...Penny...I thought we were over this."

Penny lowered his head, but when he looked up at you—you didn't fail to notice the way his smile widened.

"...Penny sorry."

Yeah. Somehow, you didn't really believe him...

Pennywise knew from the start that something was wrong. You didn't feel the same. You may have looked like yourself, but your thoughts and gestures were different.

He wasn't usually bothered by you—sitting down next to him.

But then, you started touching him. As if you didn't know or care about what he thought.

At the end, he was the first one to notice and when your twin tried to touch his shoulder, he grabbed her and snarled.

"DON'T TOUCH ME !"

It brought the attention of all the other slashers who gathered around the two of you.

Michael was about to stop Pennywise when he stopped dead in his tracks and suddenly, they all seemed to smell the same thing...

Their heads simultaneously turned towards the woman Pennywise was currently holding by the throat as her face was covered in tears and her heart seemed to beat a thousand times a minute.

....She was afraid.

And everyone knew that nurse Y/N wasn't afraid.

So, they all seemed to understand that this wasn't you and when you finally decided to show yourself and explain the situation, some of the slashers were amused—some much less.

Pennywise took it the hardest and grumbled something about 'Stupid humans' and walked off.

Yeah...Give him time and he'd come around.

He usually likes a good prank, but your twin touched him. And that, that was a no go.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #pennywise 2017 #pennywise 1990 #pennywise x reader #slashers #michael myers x reader #freddy krueger x reader #jason voorhees x reader #brahms heelshire x reader #jack torrance x reader #ghostface x reader #vincent sinclair x reader #bo sinclair x reader

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

for the harsher skellis! what's their first moment of true vulnerability in front of their s/o like? who pushes them away and who can embrace it?

Underfell Sans - The first time you witnessed some monsters mocking his LV and threatening to make him shut up for good if he keeps playing the big boy, and Red actually deciding to shut up as they have really high LV and he's scared they might actually kill him and his S/O. S/O tries to reach to him after this, but Red simply shakes it off like it's nothing. He doesn't want to talk about it.

Underfell Papyrus - Well clearly the first time he disappeared for three days and came back with several big injuries as he got kidnapped by his rivals. He's going to snap at you first when you ask what happened, but there's a high chance he just breaks down if you keep pushing. He's so tired of all of this.

Horrortale Sans - You finding out about his past Underground, maybe because someone told you. When you ask him if it's true he ate humans, he simply shuts down, not wanting to look at you anymore. He's pretty sure you'll dump him and give up on him so why even try. He struggles a lot with talking about what happened.

Horrortale Papyrus - Same as his brother, the first time you discovered the truth and realized sweet gentle Willow did pretty horrible things in the past. Willow breaks down immediately, begging you to let him explain. He doesn't want to lose you, but he can't... He can't hide the truth anymore. He needs you to listen to him before taking any decision.

Horrorswap Sans - Probably him breaking down as he's watching himself in the mirror. If you surprise him, he will get defensive really fast and push you away. It's none of your business.

Horrorswap Papyrus - Well, one of the first big panic attacks probably, where poor Pumpkin can attack anyone by fear, even you or his brother. Once the attack passes though, there's a high chance he just clings to you and refuses to let go. He needs comfort :(

Horrorfell Sans - Calling him out for hiding food in his room or in random places. He can get really aggressive if you point it out because yeah, he still has deep troubles with food and he refuses to see someone to help him. He'll apologize, but later. He doesn't like it though.

Horrorfell Papyrus - The first time you caught him being so mad at people jogging in the park and trying to hide it because his stupid legs are paralyzed. If you talk, he's going to explode, but just putting a hand on his shoulder and saying nothing will soothe him enough to calm down.

Swapfell Sans - Well, clearly the first time you witness him doing something horrible for the Queen like executing a prisoner and struggling with all he has to keep a neutral face and not breaking down. Or Toriel straight up insulting him for nothing just because she's in a bad mood. Or Toriel calling him at 3 a.m. so he brings her something not caring about the fact he has a life too. If you talk to him about how Toriel is abusing him, you'll see the Captain's mask cracks up and there's a high chance poor Nox just breaks down completely in your arms. He's so tired. He wants it to stop. He hates his job so much, that it's harder and harder for him to shut up about this. He needs help so desperately.

Swapfell Papyrus - You asking if it's him who drank the beer in the fridge. You didn't expect him to suddenly get mad at you for no apparent reason and scream that his addictions are gone and that it's none of your business. You're quite speechless. When he realizes your question was genuine, he gets mad at himself because it's not your fault, you wouldn't know about this. And now he said too much so maybe it's time he tells you about how bad his addictions were Underground. He doesn't want to hide it anymore.

Fellswap Gold Sans - It's really rare to see him express anything really. And if you catch the glimpse of an emotion, he immediately stiffens and gets defensive about this. There's no first time of him being vulnerable because he's not staying in that state more than two seconds, really. He only breaks down when no one is home.

Fellswap Gold Papyrus - The first time you witness him being bullied in the street by some monsters for being the General's brother, and Coffee simply accepting it. When you ask if he's ok, he hugs you tight and refuses to answer. He doesn't want to talk about that. The less you know, the better you're protected.

Mafiatale Sans - You didn't think the brothers were close until Creeper got shot and you had to take care of a very freaked out Demon. Poor guy is completely lost without his brother and he clings to his S/O for comfort because he's so so scared.

Mafiatale Papyrus - He usually kills people without blinking, but that one time a contract asked to kill a child and you saw Creeper hesitated, and then refused to do it. He refuses to talk about it with you. He can't do it, that's all. Deal with it.

Mafiafell Sans - The first time he returns home completely drunk and breaks down in your arms, saying how much he hates his job and that he hopes he'll die soon to not have to deal more with it. When he's clear again and you try to talk about this, he hesitates, then starts to explain to you how bad he feels about the mafia, or at least he tells you about the mafia if he didn't do it already. He can't hide it anymore, even though it makes the both of you targets.

Mafiafell Papyrus - The first time he fell a mission and you saw how much he's scared of Asgore. Torpedo has huge pressure on his shoulders as the adopted heir of the Mafia's leader, and any failure is severely punished. When you try to talk to him, he screams that he doesn't want Asgore to kill you for failing and to let him take care of this. That's the first time you realize being close to him might be more dangerous than you thought.

Error Sans - Probably asking him why he didn't erase your world if he hates all the AUs, and washing him crash and crash again as he suddenly has to face his feelings. He teleports out of here and goes to hide in the Antivoid to flee this talk.

Dustale Sans - The first time you found him staring at his scarf in silence. When you ask him what's wrong, he stares at you and leaves. He needs to be alone for a few moments.

Killer Sans - When you tell him that for someone who's not supposed to feel anything, he looks quite happy today. He immediately shuts down and gets defensive. Shut up, he's not Sans anymore. You don't know what you're talking about.

Disbelief Papyrus - The first time he woke up from a nightmare screaming his brother's name. He breaks down in your arms and hugs you tight, and he will talk about Sans all night long with you.

#underfell #horrortale #horrorswap #horrorfell #swapfell #fellswap gold #mafiatale #mafiafell #error sans #dustale sans #killer sans #disbelief papyrus #sans #papyrus #undertale ask blog #undertale asks #undertale imagines #undertale headcanons

[captain-mj]

Can you please make part 2 to why konig wears a hood...

What if he finds about horangi being aware of his past job👀

(NSFW)

They fuck in this one also König can have a little confidence as a treat

Also shout out to my friend Els for helping me with the German

König and Horangi had been captured. How... embarrassing.

Luckily, it was just by SpecGru and this was a game for training, but that only made it more embarrassing.

Horangi was listening to König and Alejandro talk about religion. How they got on the topic was beyond Horangi. And Rodolfo too if his expression was anything to go off of.

Alejandro and König had both grown up catholic apparently. Horangi had grown up nonreligious and outside of a couple of shows he watched, he barely knew anything about it.

Well. He knew quite a bit about the story of David. After he had found the first video, he had looked up the name to find more. At the time, he had completely discarded it to focus on find more videos of the porn star, he had completely ignored it so that he could continue.... anyway. He had returned to it later. That was the end of his knowledge on religion.

"What's your favorite story?" König asked Alejandro.

"The story of Isaac and Abraham. Or Samson."

"Isaac. That's a good one about trusting God."

"Yeah. I think about it a lot. The fear he must've felt while being taken up the mountain." Alejandro sighed.

König glanced at Horangi in distress but he got himself into the mess. He could get himself out of it.

"So what's yours?"

König frowned. "Uh... English... Um... The... König...."

"King David?" Horangi answered immediately. König looked at him to thank him but they locked eyes and he saw it. The dawning realization. Horangi had told him before he knew nothing about Christianity.

"Why do you know about that one?"

Well, why not. "Used to watch a..." he let the pause grow just a moment, to the other two, it probably looked like he was trying to find the English word, none of them were native speakers, it was a reasonable thought, but König knew better. "Content creator. He went by the name." Even with the mask on, Horangi knew he was bright red under there.

"Ah... I see... Yes. I like his stories..." König went rather quiet after that. Horangi noticed the way he fidgeted and maybe felt a tiny bit bad.

The training exercise ended and König almost fled from him. Horangi didn't mind. He stayed true to his name and stalked him silently. His prey was fast. Long legs making his strides a little hard to keep up with. But Horangi didn't mind.

Only when they were alone, did he reveal himself. "König."

König swung around so fast he worried he'd get whiplash.

"You can't tell anyone. No one can know."

Horangi stared at him for a moment longer.

"I only did it because I needed money in between deployments. My country is different so it was easy money and I only did it be-"

"König. I'm not going to tell anyone. I wouldn't do that to you."

König relaxed immediately, though he was still fidgeting his hands. "How did you find out?"

"I recognized you."

"How?"

Horangi did not think through us. "Uh... I..." His turn to get flustered.

"Did you... watch those videos?" König stared at him. "Watched me."

"Just saw the thumbnail."

"You recognized the name. You know nothing about the bible and you wouldn't know anything unless you looked it up." König stepped forward and Horangi recognized it from those videos. "When?"

"Before we met."

"Enjoy yourself?"

Horangi backed up, finding it a little hard to breath.

"Where did all your confidence go Morder Kätzchen?" His back hit the wall and he felt trapped.

"I did. Enjoy myself I mean. I watched a ton of your videos." All of them. He had watched all of them.

König hummed. "What did you think about? Did you want to be me in those videos?"

"No. I wanted to be the other men." König grabbed his chin and made him tilt his head back.

"Oh?"

Horangi flushed and tried to shy away. He was never like this! This stupid fucking man may be big and tall but Horangi was a confide-

König put his thighs between his legs and fit his hand around his throat exactly like he did in those videos and Horangi felt weak. He immediately rutted against his thighs.

"You wanted me to do this to you?"

Horangi panted softly against his chest. "Please... Want you to treat me like you did them." König's thigh pressed right against him through his pants.

"Ah." König leaned down, whispering something in German that had Horangi rutting against him. He laughed when he noticed but he started to pull away. Horangi hit his shoulder rather hard.

"König. Fuck. Me." He hissed it out like an order.

König glanced down at him before tugging his mask off. He then tugged Horangi's off too. "Gorgeous." He traced Horangi's scars.

Horangi flushed more, trying to escape his gaze while still raking his eyes over his face. König was incredibly handsome. A little older, but that was no problem for him. He had gained a few scars that Horangi wanted to memorize.

König picked him up and his legs wrapped around waist immediately. He peeled his gloves off to run them through König's hair. Their mouths met at some point and Horangi felt himself melt in his arms. His hands scrambled at his back, wanting more.

If only 19 year old him who just found these videos knew where he'd be now.

König dropped him onto his bed, thinking for a second. "I have lube but I don't have a condom. Do you want me to pull out?" He didn't touch him while he talked, clearly wanting Horangi to focus on the question.

"No." Horangi ignored the heat he felt as he flushed all over. "You can finish inside me." Shame filled his chest and he had to look away.

"Wie schüchtern." König purred and Horangi couldn't piece together what that meant. Then his hands were on him, undressing him gently. Horangi tried to help but he was pushed back down. "I got you. Just lay back."

Horangi flushed more, closing his eyes as cold air touched his skin. "Don't comment on my scars. No compliments, no insults, no "they're not that bad"s. Nothing."

"Understood." König mouthed against his throat and he immediately tugged at his hair. His hands grabbed his waist, his fingers brushing against each other from how big they were compared to him.

Horangi started to yank at König's clothes, wanting them off already. König got the hint and leaned back, shedding his clothing. He put himself firmly between Horangi's legs, grabbing him under his knee and pinning that leg to his chest while shoving his other leg to the side. It left him exposed to the fingers currently trying to push in to him. At some point, König had coated his fingers in lube and Horangi hadn't even noticed.

One of his fingers reached into him, the stretch making him tighten his grip.

"Ever?"

"Yes. Just... not in a while." Horangi hadn't had sex since he had been in Korea before he even joined the military. He'd blame his horny behavior on the drought he'd been having. "Come on, I can take it. Hurry up."

König tapped under his chin to make him tilt his head up so he could kiss him. Horangi could focus a lot better on this kiss, trying to pay attention to that and not the burn of his fingers. More lube was added and it wasn't quite as bad, though it was still not quite pleasant.

He must've noticed his discomfort because he pushed deeper, curling his fingers.

"ah, careful! Your hands ar-" Horangi shut up when König pressed right against his prostate.

"There." He kept pressing it as he worked him open. Horangi put his arm over his eyes to hide his face. He tried to be quiet but König twisted his fingers and he couldn't fight down the whimper. "Come on, tiger. Be as loud as you want. No one will hear you but me."

Horangi panted softly but tried to stay quiet still.

König pulled his hand away and pinned both his knees to his chest, Horangi's ankles ending up almost over König's shoulders. He grabbed Horangi's hands, pinning those down to so he couldn't cover his face.

Horangi ended up screaming, suddenly understanding why the other people in the videos did. The position made it a bit easier, but he was still very big and even with the prep it hurt. König stopped immediately, kissing along his jaw and gently rocking until he relaxed enough for him to push into him again.

Horangi squeezed his hands hard and clenched his eyes closed. He felt König start to pause. "Please don't stop."

König continued to kiss his face gently as he bottomed out. It felt like he was in his goddamn ribs. Horangi tilted his head so their lips would connect again, enjoying the soft sensation. Eventually, he felt more adjusted and mumbled against his mouth. "Keep going."

König nodded and rolled his hips gently, dragging a broken moan out of his chest. It felt so good. So intense but it was König and Horangi knew he wouldn't hurt him.

Horangi lost all coherent thought the moment König started to thrust into him. He knew the exact angles to drive him insane and despite trying his best, Horangi started to sob underneath him, overwhelmed with his legs shaking. Pleasure shot up his spine with every thrust and he held on to König.

König started to whisper to him in German. "meine Hure", "Ich liebe dich" and "meine mieze" were one of the few Horangi could really string together, even though he couldn't understand what it meant.

He started to respond in Korean. Things that were easier to admit if the person didn't know what you're saying. "I've admired you since we met", "I want to climb you like a tree" and "you're giving me special treatment, you dog".

They kept kissing and his orgasm was very much impending. The pressure building in his core.

"Du gehörst nur mir." König started to mutter to him and Horangi started to beg incoherently. He felt König lift up just a little and he looked down, seeing that even through all the muscle, his tummy still dented from König's size. "Look at you..." His hand fit perfectly around Horangi's throat as he thrust in hard. He grinned, tongue darting out to lick his lips.

Horangi came all over himself, eyes filling with tears. For a moment, he felt like he couldn't breath. A warm feeling coated his insides as König came, holding him to his chest. He mouthed against his throat and held on to him, legs wrapping back around him now that he was no longer being pinned.

They laid there for a minute before König shifted them. Horangi hadn't even noticed him balancing his weight on to the bed and not on top of him. He adjusted them so Horangi laid on top of him, safe on his chest.

"Everything you fantasized about?"

Horangi clenched at the raspy tone he used, hearing him groan a little. "Shut up."

"Never thought you'd be this shy in bed."

Horangi huffed at him before closing his eyes and getting comfy. It took a minute before it him. "You've thought of me in bed?"

"Quite a bit, yes." König played with Horangi's hair, running his fingers through it a few times.

"Ah... Is David your actual name?"

"No. It's Leon."

"I like that name." Horangi said sleepily. "Do you still like bondage?"

König turned red down to his chest. "I'll show you some time."

"Can't wait."

#call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #call of duty modern warfare ii #König #könig cod #könig call of duty #könig x horangi #horangi call of duty #horangi cod #horangi #cod mw2 #mw2 #könig mw2 #horangi mw2

[rickmymanrick]

one rule | chapter six

[rick grimes x original female character slowburn]

series masterlist

summary: rick confides in daphne, for reasons unknown to her. as she offers him counsel, daphne is also grappling with conflicting feelings of her own.

notes: if you're disappointed by this reaction, this is a friendly reminder that season 1 rick was mr moral high ground. but trust me when i say there WILL be a catalyst for rick's entire wrath and fury. this is just one step closer to that. do not fear, rick will be kicking shane's ass very soon :) also, the pacing is so bad in this, i might rewrite this whole chapter soon. but feel free to comment, i love talking to you all!

I froze. In fact, I think all three of us did and I realized with a jolt how out of my depth I was here. This had nothing to do with me and of course, here I was, in the smack dab middle of it.

Daryl scoffed one more time and then trudged into the woods, mumbling all sorts of things. I stared after him until he disappeared within the trees. His words dawned on me and my eyes slowly traveled over to Shane.

Sure, Rick's sudden appearance had served as a nice distraction from the big glaring problem I had waiting here for me if I got back alive, but reality had to be faced eventually. My inner conflict since last night had been tearing me from the inside-out, as I tried to figure out my feelings for Shane Walsh. After all, he has been generously kind to me in all the years I've known him, albeit flirty but in a respectful way. He didn't cross any lines I'd deemed uncrossable and I wouldn't deny that his concern and priority over my well-being filled me with sensation far beyond gratitude.

The kiss caught me off guard. But now this bucket of ice cold water had been dumped over my head. Just as I began to entertain the idea of harboring romantic feelings for him.

His words from last night echoed in the back of my mind.

"For what it's worth, it's always been you."

Something inexplicable gripped at my throat. But I stayed as silent as possible. Watching these two was like a ticking bomb, any second away from detonating.

Shane stared at Rick with a troubled expression, his foot twisting into the dirt uncomfortably.

I knew in an instant Daryl Dixon did not lie.

Did he know this was my usual spot to gather berries and other edible plants? With his tracking abilities, I wouldn't doubt it, despite not talking to the man much but...

Of all the miles that surrounded our camp, why stretch out the smug admission of a hidden truth, a treacherous affair, until this very spot, just steps away from where I was crouched in the bush, picking for blueberries?

I reprimanded myself at the thought. Why would Daryl Dixon care about my knowing of Shane's personal escapades?

"She..." Shane started quite hesitantly. "Lori... she thought you were dead, man."

"Did you?"

Shane scoffed as if the accusation baffled him. "You heard 'em. I... I tried, Rick. I saw you every chance I got. The day it all went down— I didn't have a damn clue what was going on. Screams from left to right, the military raining fire on anyone who was still breathing. Hell, I tried to get you out of there, man! But it couldn't be the two of us dead because you still had a wife and a child out there! And if I couldn't save you, I could damn well save them!" He was unexpectedly set off, angrier than he should've been. "And let me tell you somethin', I did it for you. I did it for my brother. L-Lori, we were comforting each other in the only way we knew how—"

"I thought you were gone."

His partner's face was crestfallen. His lips parted like the shock was threatening to sink him under, his eyes glazed over from the betrayal.

"After I woke up in that hospital bed, when I saw what the world had become. The first thing I thought about was Carl and Lori. And then you. Our unit. For a moment, I thought you were all dead—"

Rick choked up and Shane's face morphed into something reminiscent of guilt. I couldn't quite tell though. I'd like to think that after years, I knew this man. But now he was completely unreadable.

Running a hand over his face, down his glistening eyes, Rick squared his stance and stared his longest friend in the eye.

"Our marriage... fell apart a long time ago," he shook his head and clenched his jaw. "But that doesn't make this okay."

There was a long moment of tense silence and I didn't realize I was holding my breath until my chest began to burn. I tried to control the air releasing from my lungs.

"I appreciate what you did. Saving 'em. I owe you everythin' but—" Rick cut himself off, glaring at the grass between them. He seemed to be saying these words through his teeth, forcing himself to say them. His hand began to flex angrily and his feet kicked the dirt beneath them in warning.

I stared at them with a mix of emotions.

One was a man that had changed my life forever, taught me how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where I should've died. He cared for me, never shied away from making it clear that I was his priority. And maybe I was too blinded by the attention to see that there was something going on between him and Lori. That she was also carelessly pushed to the side in the weeks we'd been forming a new life together. And to know that she'd been having sex with him all along, I could only hope that she didn't have actual feelings for him, because it would explain the strange looks I had been catching from her, and my guilt would only increase tenfold.

And on the other hand was her husband, a man I have been pining over since the moment I laid eyes on him in the precinct.

Rick Grimes had an instant hold over me, no matter how minuscule or undetectable it had gotten over the years, and no matter what, he had always truly been the most gorgeous man I've known inside and out.

What does that say about me? Lusting after my friend's husband and then fucking around with the feelings of her goddamn side piece.

I suddenly became nauseous.

"I get it, man. I'll go back to the camp," said Shane after a long stretch of silence. I kept my eyes on Rick, unable to look at Shane with the turmoil brewing inside me. A simmering anger was twisting my insides at the mere sound of his voice.

"Uh— yeah, yeah," Rick mumbled distractedly, not bothering to even look up, fists clenching and unclenching by his sides.

A pair of footsteps stomped away, crunching along the grass until the only thing that could be heard was the chirps of the nearby insects.

As soon as Shane disappeared within the trees, Rick spun around to send his fist flying into a tree, a muffled yell leaving his pressed lips. He was beyond angry, tears lining his lash line, face turning red. I stared with wide eyes, trying not to make a single sound.

I felt incredibly bad for him. I couldn't imagine fighting tooth and nail to make it back to your wife just to find that she had moved on to your best friend so quickly. That although their marriage had already been suffering, she had chosen to sleep with the man he trusted more than anyone else.

Something wet touched my hand. I uncurled my fist to find a handful of crushed blueberries.

"How long you been there?"

I jolted up in surprise, my curls tangled into the bush and the pouch of berries slipped out of my other hand.

"I was here first," I replied defensively, still hidden in the bush.

Rick didn't say anything, just peered past the leaves as if he couldn't quite spot me. But somehow he knew I was there, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

"You were," he eventually said, slowly. "I saw you just before Daryl left."

Relief flooded through me. I slowly untangled myself from the branches, stepping out into the path with tinged cheeks. "I was picking berries. Found the patch a few weeks ago."

His cheeks were flushed, his hands shaking very slightly by his side.

"I can leave you alone," I said after some silence. "I'll go back to camp—"

"No." Rick said firmly, meeting my eye very briefly before glaring back down at the ground.

I halted my escape. "Oh, um, okay."

The awkwardness was threatening to eat me alive. I shifted on my feet, wondering where to look and what to do with my hands.

"Do you..." I eagerly looked up at Rick, glad one of us was talking. "Did you know?"

I studied him. Really, there should be no reason for him to be upset with me too, but I braced myself for his wrath anyway. He'd spared Shane because they were partners, but we were nothing. As much as it bothered me, Rick and I didn't owe each other an ounce of respect in this new world.

"No," I told him honestly. A surge of anger towards Shane rushed through me again. My cheeks felt hot.

"I keep wondering... if I have the right to even be upset. I wasn't a good husband to her, I know this, and you're the last person I should be telling this to but—"

The last person? Should I be offended or something? I decide now wasn't the best time to press for details. "It's fine. I know this can't be easy for you. To wake up to... this."

Rick scoffed a little, but not in a rude way. It was as if I'd said something outlandish and absurd.

"I woke up and the hardest part was done. Seeing the world change— changing with it— becoming the leader of a group you have no responsibilities or ties to. You, you did the hard part."

"Oh— did Shane—?"

"Shane didn't hafta tell me nothin'. Lori and I talked last night. She told me everything that happened since the day I got shot," explained Rick solemnly.

I cringed at the thought of them spending time alone last night. Not that it was crazy to imagine; they were still married.

"I guess I have a lot to be thanking you for," Rick looked up at me with an intense sincerity in his gaze. I tried not to squirm under the pressure of it. He continued. "You saved my family. That is something I will never be able to repay."

He stepped forward and laid a large hand on my shoulder. I could feel some heat rush to my ears. "You have my gratitude."

"Carl's a great kid. And Lori's my friend. I would do it a million times over," I told him truthfully.

He stared at me for a few moments, his hand still holding my shoulder as his eyes scanned every bit of my face. Sighing, he stepped away and brought himself to the ground carefully, sitting with his knees bent and leaning an elbow against them thoughtfully.

It was silent again, but it didn't feel as awkward as before so I sat next to him and began to wash the berries off with the bottle of water I'd brought with me from camp.

"What... what do I do?"

My head shot over to stare at him. "You're asking me."

I didn't state it as a question, more as a statement of shock, thinking about how ironic it was that the fate of a marriage I had once upon a time envied was now partly in my hands. The guilt was still there, painfully tugging at my heartstrings.

Rick shrugged and made a show of looking around at the empty trees around us.

"I can't really tell you what to do, Rick."

"What I really wanna do is break his jaw in. Watch him choke on his teeth."

I'm surprised at the restraint it took for him to not send his fist flying in the first place. I was fully prepared to watch Shane's ass get beat.

"He deserves it," I instigated slightly. I couldn't possibly be as angry as he was but I understood. Shane does deserve a good punch.

He sighed and shook his head at the ground.

"I don't know how to go on. How to look him in the face—" he scowled. "We were brothers. He was my best friend. He knew." Rick snapped.

"He knew...?"

"He was the one person I confided in. I told him about Lori and I. I told him when things started going south. I never thought in a million years I'd have to worry." He spat, shaking his head angrily.

I felt some of that bitterness surge in me as well. I felt completely and utterly deceived by the same goddamn person.

"We never do," I projected a bit. I couldn't help it, the anger was swelling in me as well. Just the thought of Shane's stupid face made me want to punch something. "They fill our heads with all these stupid promises and reassurances just to stab you right in the back anyway."

Am I being overdramatic? Most likely. Hell, I probably deserved this. I led Shane on for so long, I couldn't be mad that he moved on to someone else. I just couldn't understand why he'd said the things he did last night. The kiss.

I've never been more goddamn confused in my life.

It was quiet for a few minutes, my last comment brewing in the silence but I didn't think Rick would pay much mind to it. He had bigger problems of his own.

"Carl— he's so young..." he said idly as if it had just occurred to him.

Too young for a divorce was what he meant.

I couldn't disagree with that. There's no age that seeing your parents separate becomes easier to deal with. But he's not the same nine-year-old Rick had known before he got shot.

"Rick, the world isn't the same anymore. It doesn't excuse Lori's actions or Shane's, but all of that doesn't matter so much when you're trying to keep yourself from getting eaten by dead cannibals. I can't tell you what to do but in the grand scheme of things, I think Carl will learn to understand."

I didn't know whether this brought him any comfort because he seemed to have nothing else to say on the matter. Maybe I was too straightforward, after all Carl was his kid at the end of the day. Despite how much I'd grown to care for him...

"I've been thinking about the man we left behind."

I looked over at him in shock. It was the last thing I'd been expecting him to bring up. But as soon as I looked at his blue eyes, I could almost see the plans he was concocting.

He wanted to go after him.

"You can't be serious," I scoffed. I'd been pushing aside my own thoughts about Merle Dixon. Just one more thing to add to my consciousness. As much of a dickhead as he was, we'd left a human being for dead.

"It isn't right. Leaving him up there to die," insisted Rick.

"He would do the same to any of us," I argued. "You just escaped the city. Survived alone against all odds. You're willing risk that for a douchebag like Merle?"

I observed the incredulous look on his face with disdain. It's different for him. He was just introduced to this new fucked up reality. He still has hope that we can be the heroes of this story-- that we can afford to care about anyone but ourselves.

"This-- what we have here-- this is what we focus on. It's unfortunate but Merle dug his own grave. It isn't worth risking your life, Rick."

I hated the way he was looking at me but I steeled myself. He'd learn soon enough. Men like Merle weren't worth compromising your safety for. It was every man for himself in the old world, and even more so in the new one.

I shoved every silly feeling I've had for Rick to the side and gave him a stern look back. I willed myself not to care about the disgust on his face because soon enough, he'd understand.

He'd understand what we've done to keep his wife and son alive.

Rick opened his mouth and I braced myself, ready to hear something along the lines of me being a murderer and a split second thought ran through my head.

Shane would agree with me.

A blood curdling scream cut through the dense silence.

"MOM! DAD!"

I was up before I could even process it, tearing through the woods with Rick at my heels.

"CARL!" Rick and I yelled in unison. I gripped the pistol Shane had given me tight, not caring if my face was torn up by the stray branches I ran against, heart pounding in my chest as I willed my legs to move faster than they ever have.

"Here!" I tossed a knife back to Rick as I pushed ahead of him, beating him in speed by a milestone.

"MAMA! MOMMY!" A high-pitched voice screamed.

Finally, I stumbled upon where Sophia and Carl were huddled. Making a beeline towards the kids, despite the walker that stood yards away.

I grabbed them by the shoulders, looking them up and down frantically. Trying to find a bite, a scratch, anything.

A body came slamming into mine and I suddenly heard their screams, the rest of the group had been searching as well.

Lori grabbed her son frantically, snatching him from my grasp and patting his arms down in a panic. "Carl! Nothing bit you, nothing scratched you?"

"No, I'm fine," Carl shook his head.

Jacqui came running out of nowhere.

"Soph?" The small blonde girl shook her head frantically before sprinting in the direction of camp, no doubt searching for her mother.

"She wasn't bit. We're both okay." Carl reassured.

I gripped my pistol and set my sights on the walker. It was feasting on a deer, crouched over and ripping its neck to shreds. I grimaced, inching forward with Rick and Glenn at my side.

Shane made brief eye contact with me before the walker suddenly straightened up and whipped around.

Rick wasted no time, slashing its face with the knife I'd handed him. Shane used the end of his rifle and Glenn started beating the damn thing with a stick. Even Morales had a turn before Dale swung his axe and chopped its head off clean.

It was silent as we all stared at the mess of guts and blood in shock.

"That's the first one we've had up here. They never come this far up the mountain," said Dale shakily.

"Well, they're running out of food in the city. That's what," replied Jim, another survivor who was normally a man of few words.

A branch snapped and we all raised our weapons, my safety turning off once more.

I curled my finger around the trigger as the steps got closer.

"Oh, Jesus," Dale sighed in relief as Daryl came stomping out from between the bushes. I lowered my gun and shook my head.

"Son of a bitch! That's my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this filthy—" Daryl kicked the headless walker angrily.

"—disease-bearing—"

Kick.

"—motherless—"

Another kick.

"—poxy bastard!"

"Calm down, son. That's not helping."

"What do you know about it, old man?" Daryl sneered at Dale, getting in his face. "Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to 'on golden pond?' If it wasn't for you idiots running it off earlier, I would've taken it back to camp. Maybe I can cut around this chewed up part. Take some for the road."

"Wouldn't risk that," Shane sighed.

"That's a damn shame," Daryl said, giving Shane a nasty glare before raising his bow and shooting an arrow into the walker's reanimated head.

Huffing, he shoulder-checked Glenn as he passed by, ripping the arrow out with a squelch.

I couldn't blame him for being angry. As much of an asshole as Merle was, he was still Daryl's family.

Glenn rubbed his shoulder and rolled his eyes.

"Daryl!" Rick rushed after him, disappearing into the trees with my knife. I was briefly confused until I remembered where our last conversation left off.

"God help us all," I smacked a hand on my forehead and began to make my way back to camp. Slowly so I wouldn't catch up to Daryl and Rick.

"Hold up, Daph," Glenn caught up to me with a huff. "Were you ever going to tell me about Rick being the Rick?"

"What?"

Glenn glanced behind us. Likely looking for Shane.

"Rick Grimes? Like super hot hip-swaying coworker Grimes? I'm fucking offended, Daph."

"Do you want everyone to hear you?" I whispered harshly, scanning the woods to make sure Rick or Shane weren't lurking about.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

"Sorry, it wasn't really at the forefront of my mind yesterday. I was more thinking about all the dead people trying to eat us."

"What are the freaking odds?" Glenn marveled. "Out of all people, he runs into us. You know, anybody else would've left him for dead."

"Yes, you're a goddamn hero, Glenn."

"Damn right I am. Saved your man from certain death."

My eyes widened comically and I whacked him in the side. "He's not my man. Don't say shit like that around Shane or Lori."

"Of course not. I'm not crazy. You see 'em around here?"

"I dunno. Shane has eyes and ears everywhere."

"True," Glenn nodded, staring at his feet as we walked. Suddenly, he stopped.

"What's up with you two? You've been weird since yesterday morning."

Fuck. I knew it wouldn't slip past him. Glenn knew me too well for this to just slide and the only reason I'd been keeping it from him was because of how selfish and ashamed I felt.

"Don't judge me, okay?"

His eyebrows pinched together in confusion. "Okay?"

I seized his sleeve and took us a little ways off the trail, closer to the blueberry patch. Speaking of which, I left all of the ones I'd collected in the dust. Goddamnit.

"Um— two nights ago, Shane and I... well, we kissed."

His jaw dropped slightly.

"He kissed me." I defended quickly, before Glenn could give me a judgmental look.

"Did you want it?" He asked carefully.

"Yes— well, no— I don't know."

Glenn narrowed his gaze, sending a glance in the direction of camp. His cheeks tinted red and he shifted uncomfortably.

"He didn't force himself onto me, if that's what you think." I said quickly, recognizing the signs of Glenn's impending anger.

His chest fell in relief.

"I just... I screwed up, Glenn. I led him on. I let him kiss me and I kissed him back. I didn't even know if I wanted it. And then Rick of all people shows up! The one person I was holding out hope for. I'm not a homewrecker but I am delusional."

Glenn stayed silent so I continued with a sigh.

"I should've given Shane a chance before the world went to shit. But I didn't and now everything is so much more complicated... he, um, he told me there's no one else."

"Damn."

I closed my eyes frustratingly. "I know."

"That's clearly a lie."

I gave him a side-eyed glare. "I know."

Glenn pursed his lips awkwardly and looked away.

"How long have you known?" I asked with a sigh. Wouldn't be surprised if I was the last one to find out.

"Not long. I stumbled upon them in the woods the other day. I can't get the image out of my head, I think I'm scarred for life." He grimaced. "I would've told you if I knew he was trying to make a move."

"It's fine," I began to walk back over to the path again. "You couldn't have known. It happened late at night and I was wallowing in self-pity yesterday."

I stomped on the fallen leaves, trying to release some of the pent-up frustration before getting back.

"It's just... I told him it'd take time but I was willing to give us a try. All this time I've felt guilty for even missing that part of my life when Lori was still grieving her husband. Just to find out her and Shane are having sex this whole time."

Glenn readjusted his cap. "Gotta wonder if this started now or before."

That's a good point.

I wasn't a good husband to her, Rick had said to me earlier.

I don't know anything about their lives from before. I only knew Rick at a professional level. And whatever Shane would tell me when he was trying to chat me up every other day at work.

I can't really judge Rick or Lori. She thought he was dead and Rick... well, I don't know what he meant by not being a good husband.

This was truly a mess I had no part in.

"I'm taking myself out of this equation. I have enough on my plate for me to worry about this love triangle."

"More like a rectangle."

I gave him a confused look.

"You like Rick. Rick likes Lori. Lori like Shane. Shane likes you and Lori?"

God, I love and hate his out-of-pocket comments sometimes. But Glenn keeps it real. I gotta respect that.

Rick likes Lori.

Well technically, Rick should love Lori and he probably does. She's the mother of his child and I can't pretend to know everything about their relationship, but if what Rick said earlier was true, there wasn't much of a relationship anymore.

"I could really use some vodka," I groaned, feeling a headache forming between my eyes.

"Same," Glenn said sadly as we approached camp.

Everyone had resumed to their usual activities. Lori and Carl were nowhere to be found but I assumed they were in their tent or the RV. Carol was folding clothes with little Sophia at her feet.

I did a double-take when I saw Rick and Shane speaking to the side. I could faintly hear their conversation.

"So that's it, huh? To hell with everybody else? What about Lori?"

"Don't talk to me about her. I'm not saying to hell with anybody. Especially not to my son." Rick said firmly, buttoning up his sheriff's uniform. He started walking past his former partner.

"Tell them that."

Rick whipped around, an unreadable expression on his face as he stared back at his friend.

"They know. You'd best leave me alone. It's in your best interest. This ain't got nothing to do with you."

I started walking over, feeling a fight begin to stir up. Shane didn't look like he was deterred by Rick's unapproachable attitude and there's no way Rick wasn't still upset about his best friend's actions.

"Well, look, I--I don't, okay, Rick? So could you just throw me a bone here, man? Could you just tell me why? Why would you risk your life for a douchebag like Merle Dixon?"

"Hey, choose your words more carefully," threatened Daryl, who was standing nearby.

"No, I did. Douchebag's what I meant."

"You have something in common then," said Rick jarringly. I was taken aback, not expecting that type of insult to fly out of Officer Grimes' mouth. He was always the passive one.

Glenn chortled next to me.

Shane took it unflinchingly. "Merle Dixon-- that guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst, man."

"What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst. Me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being. I don't recall asking for your opinion either."

"So you and Daryl? That's your big plan?" Lori asked, more at ease than I would've expected given the tense circumstances.

I observed her easy posture, other than the frustration she was likely feeling over the fact that her husband was trying to go on a damn suicide mission. I watched as her eyes subtly traveled from Rick to Shane. Then I realized Shane must not have told her a damn thing.

Rick looked at her with hardened eyes. And then switched his gaze over to—

Glenn groaned. "Oh, come on."

There's no way in hell.

"You wanna drag someone else on this suicide mission?" I interjected exasperatedly. I gave Rick my nastiest glare, unable to believe his audacity.

"You're really okay with letting a man die?"

"It's like I said before. He'd do the same to any of us," I lowered my voice and stepped closer to Rick, eyeing Daryl's angry pacing over his shoulder. "He was going to get himself killed eventually. And he would've dragged us all down with him."

I'm not evil. I'm not. I just don't want to see Rick die.

Rick stared at me for a moment before setting his attention onto Glenn.

"You know the way," I scoffed as he ignored me completely. "You've been there before. In and out, no problem. You said so yourself."

Glenn took his cap off and started rubbing his head-- a nervous tick of his.

I've never felt so angry with anyone. Knowing he was asking this of Glenn. Asking him to risk his life once more when he already had just to save Rick's skin.

"It's not fair of me to ask. I know that." Rick glanced over to me apologetically. I guess he isn't deaf. "But I'd feel a lot better if you came along."

"That's just great." Shane scowled, stepping closer to me. "Now you're gonna risk three men, huh?"

"Four," said T-Dog from the edge of camp.

Daryl scoffed. "My day just gets better and better, don't it?"

"Be grateful anyone's willing to save that dick," I bristled.

"Yeah, you see anybody else stepping up to save your brother's cracker ass?"

"Why you?" Daryl asked T-Dog.

"You wouldn't even begin to understand. You don't speak my language."

"That's four," said Dale exasperatedly.

"That's not just four. You're putting every single one of us at risk. Just know that, Rick. Come on. You saw that walker. It was here, it was in camp."

Despite it all, Shane and I usually saw eye to eye on most things. We weren't afraid to make hard decisions to keep the camp safe. The first week or so when it was just the five of us, Shane and I would stay up late into the early hours of the morning. Talking about our limits— what we were willing to do to make sure our loved ones stayed alive. Even if prioritizing our safety meant leaving others behind.

It's why I still can't believe Ed Peletier is still a good-for-nothing member of our camp. After his and Shane's scuffle, I was certain Shane and I would find a way to get rid of him. Whereas douchebag volatile Merle contributed brawn and hunting game, Ed contributed nothing.

"They're moving out the city. They come here, they get to camp-- we need every able body we got. We need 'em here. We need 'em to protect camp." Shane emphasized.

"You went through hell to find us," added Lori. "You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?"

"Dad, I don't want you to go." Carl pleaded.

"Shane is right. Merle Dixon? He's not worth even one of your lives! Tell me. Make me understand." Lori said angrily, standing up.

Rick sighed and crouched in front of Carl, making a point to speak mostly to him. "I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy. If they hadn't taken me in, I'd have died. It's because of them that I made it back to you at all. They said they'd follow me to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn him."

"What's stopping you?" Lori asked from the side.

"The walkie-talkie. I dropped it in the tank I hid in," Rick looked back at Glenn and I. "He's got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer."

"I feel for them. I really do but I can't listen to this shit any longer," I hissed quietly at Glenn before stomping away towards our tent.

Footsteps crunched behind me and I knew he was following me. I slipped off my shoes and threw myself onto my sleeping bag, irritated beyond belief. The second Rick mentioned the walkie he'd left behind, it reminded me of what I had left behind too— the medicine. A shit ton of it. Stuff that we'd need eventually and the vitamins the kids were so desperately lacking.

Goddamnit. Carl was one of my weakest spots. I'd grown to care for him immensely, more than I expected. His now-hallowed cheeks stabbed at my heart.

I watched as Glenn gathered his gun I'd given him from the bag I retrieved for Rick yesterday and the CB.

"You're going."

"He'll die if I don't. He's gonna go with or without me," Glenn sighed.

I stood up and pocketed my pistol. "Then I'm going too."

"What? Weren't you against this whole plan? Number one Merle hater?"

I shoved my shoes back onto my feet. "That's before you decided you were going to put your life on the line too. And I still hate that fucker. I'm not doing it for him. I'm doing it for you."

"You don't have to," Glenn grabbed my arm, halting my exit. "You should stay here."

I shot him an incredulous look. "While you go out there and risk your life?" I lowered my voice so that no one else could eavesdrop. "None of these people mean as much to me as you do. I know this is what you do but if there's any way I can help, I need to be there. Besides, I'm going back for the medicine. We're running low."

With that, I freed my arm and left our tent, beelining for the truck where Daryl was loading his bow and arrows into. I got into the passenger's seat, ignoring Shane as he threw yet another fit at the sight of me. Slamming the door shut, I groaned and closed my eyes, throwing my head back as I wondered why we were all willingly putting ourselves in danger once more.

"Yer comin' too?"

I opened an eye and peeked at Daryl through the side mirror. He was crouched behind my seat, busy with his arrows.

"Clearly."

His lip curled and he shook his head.

I couldn't give less of a fuck if he was mad. He could get over it.

The driver's seat opened and Glenn got in, readjusting his cap and giving me a glance. "Thanks," he whispered.

My anger dissipated a little and I gave him a tiny smile, knowing both of us felt a lot better going into the lion's den together. That smile quickly fell when a foot appeared between us, slamming into the wheel twice.

"Come on!" Daryl hollered, honking the horn obnoxiously.

"Don't do that. There might be other walkers close by, you idiot," I seethed.

He ignored me. "Let's go!"

taglist: @lovelyygirl8 @aleemendoza2425-blog

let me know if you'd like to be added/removed from the taglist!

series masterlist!

#the walking dead #rick grimes x reader #glenn rhee #twd #rick grimes x daphne ayala #rick grimes x oc #rick grimes x original female character #the walking dead fanfic #shane walsh x original female character #rick grimes #daphne ayala #one rule #the trail of annihilation #the walking dead x reader #the walking dead season 1 #twd fanfic #celestedvst

[papermatisse]

Deadend || Y.JH

† genre: horror

† word count: 1.5k

† warnings: heavily insinuated murder (not explicitly shown), labyrinth, persistent predator/hunt, fear

† synopsis: he seemed nice, but then again, you should never judge a book by its cover.

† (a/n): my brother actually instilled this fear into me and I just thought the concept of it was pretty interesting ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ also now we've caught up w all of my prewritten stuff so now comes the ✨delayed writing✨ pls bear w me 🙏

† taglist: @scuzmunkie @hipsdofangirl @hydroyaksha (I forgot to tag you guys last time lol my bad)

anthology | main masterlist

The sound of her feet stamping against wet concrete filled the humid atmosphere around her. Deep and violent puffs of air expelled from her lungs as she barreled down yet another alleyway. The labyrinth-like layout of the city had proven itself nothing short of confounding, though it seemed that facet alone was the sole reason she was even still alive. Still able to outrun the man hunting her.

He had been seated at the bar as she danced along with her friends. As subtle as her friend could notify her, she was informed of a man who had been watching her for quite some time. Upon first impression, Jeonghan seemed to be the definition of charming. Handsome features with polite mannerisms, attention solely on her as they spent the next few hours of their night together. Luring her into his car was a significantly easy task, as she would have perhaps gone anywhere he went off to at this point.

Things had gone awry the further along their journey they got. Jeonghan's answers grew more and more blunt, and the momentary glances he spared her way as he drove were reduced to nothing. By the time she realized something was amiss, he had parked on the side of an abandoned road in a part of the city she had never seen before.

Before she could ask where they were, he was opening his center console rummaging for something as she watched in mystified, confused terror. His hand retracted from the unit to reveal a large butcher knife, glinting in the spare moonlight washing into the vehicle. That charming smirk that had swept her away all night long suddenly shifted with her burden of knowledge, now twisted menacingly with this sickening, psychotic undertone that had (y/n) near gasping.

"Run."

Those were his last instructions before she had all but bolted out of the vehicle in a full on sprint. She didn't know for how long she ran, but she knew he was somewhere behind her. Somewhere close. Somewhere hunting her in such a disregarding and relaxed manner. Taking his sweet time in pursuing her, preserving his energy for the final kill.

By the time she realized she was very nearly trapped in this sector of the city, she understood his motives quite well through the haze of panic muddling her mind. He wouldn't exert anything beyond his capabilities. He wouldn't reduce himself to chasing after her with the same determined vigor she retained. He didn't need to. As if it was a certainty that he'd eventually catch her at the end of the night, no matter how far she ran.

The thought alone terrorized (y/n)'s already frightened mind, though she continued to stumble through the barren streets with a determination she hadn't thought she possessed in the first. She was greeted by not a living soul, a truly desolate concrete jungle, its only purpose seemingly to be the playground of the crazed maniac looming within its shadows. The residual humming sounds of the amber lit lampposts lighting her way through the maze of dilapidated infrastructure served as the only source of feedback in an otherwise deadly silent environment, accompanied by her own ragged breaths that made her cringe with every huff. Any noise from her could be her last. A beacon to Jeonghan guiding him directly to her.

Bolting down yet another alleyway, a sudden guttural gasp was ripped out of her throat when she was met with the unfortunate sight of a brick wall, looming above her as this impenetrable barrier to her path. A dead end. Shaky hands pressed upon the fortress, seeking out any compromised brick she could use to her advantage. Whether to dismantle the structure as a whole, or use it to climb over its daunting height. A momentary scan of the area in search of any tools she could utilize had her heart dropping to her stomach. The alleyway was as desolate as the rest of the city. Like this place swallows anything which enters its grasp, and eventually will have her, too.

She went to turn around dejectedly with her only solution being retracting her steps, but she froze as her eyes landed upon the other end of the alley. A cold sweat dabbled across her skin, heightening the sensation of the chill now running down her spine. Her body trembled with unabashed fear, and her once frenzied mind suddenly went blank as she stared helplessly at the dark silhouette staring back at her.

Jeonghan stood impassively at the entry, the orange glow of the lampposts dispersing against his back and casting him in an ominous shadowed ambience, like he absorbed every ounce of light which dared to touch him; like death himself, he was brandished with the darkness of night. His features, once undoubtedly handsome to her though now warped into an imposing and deviant facade, were momentarily shrouded to her in the perspective he stood in. Though the one defining trait she could identify in all of his ambiguity was that of the knife gripped securely in his hand, glistening in the light and reflecting back to her her impending doom.

His head quirked to the side as (y/n) stood there motionless.

"You didn't get as far as I thought you would." His voice easily carried to her in the still silence of the night, however low he opted to convey his message, yet still causing her to all but tremble at his foreboding presence. "Quite disappointing."

"Please," (y/n) found herself muttering back, voice weak, words indecipherable through the rapid inhales she now took. "Please don't do this. Please."

He began walking towards her at a steady pace, and the sight of him approaching brought (y/n) into hysterics. Pleas growing louder and more desperate, knees buckling until she had collapsed on the floor, left only to crawl away desperately from the domineering figure heading her way.

When her back met the roughness of the brick wall, her fingers had clawed at the masonry, hoping for any weakness in its stature she may have missed upon first scan—anything that would guarantee her freedom and give her a chance in fleeing from the man drawing ever so closer.

Though her prayers fell upon deaf ears as she felt his hot hand grasp her face, cheeks squeeze together in his hand as he yanked (y/n) his way.

His gaze bore into her own. Dark, sinister eyes, heartless as they stared at her, uncaring in a way one would look at a pest. The lack of emotions crossing his face, the near impossible feat of deciphering what his motives and feelings truly were, had been the cause for her onslaught of tears to finally take place.

"Why are you doing this?" It was the only thing she could think to say. Limbs aching from running, muscles burning as the adrenaline which had once coursed through her veins finally dissipated, leaving her nothing more than a debilitated state of what once was.

He was silent for a moment more, just staring like he was studying her. Observing what she had been reduced to throughout the night's events. And then he smiled. A purely vindictive grin filled with malice, contorting his handsome face into a nightmarish sight. Perhaps the last thing she'll ever get to see in this lifetime.

"Because I love it." He responded, as if answering a simple everyday question. "Your fear. Your desperation. Holding the very essence of life itself in my palms. Your life. Don't you see it?"

His grip around her face grew tighter, drawing her closer to him.

"That primal beauty of struggling for survival? The raw, unbridled terror as you run for your life? Thinking you have a chance if you just run fast enough, but you don't. You never did."

(y/n) whimpered as the pressure began to grow painful, his fingers digging into her sore jaw.

"The illusion of safety being a viable option, but it wasn't. I never gave you that choice. I hold the fate of your life in my hands. And I love it."

He let go of her and she all but scrambled to the furthest corner of the alley she could manage, pressed as tightly against the wall as she could be. Jeonghan followed after, crawling her way until he was face to face again, though this time with his arms caging her in her position.

"I hold the power to end your life. The moment I looked at you, I gained full control over it all. I am the harbinger to your inevitability."

The cold tip of his knife glided across her face, and his eyes trailed after, his smile growing wider by the second.

"Please." A final attempt at sparing her life. But at this, he began chuckling.

"I let you go now, I'll just follow you all over again. No matter where you run, no matter how far you get from me, I'll eventually make my way there. I'll eventually catch you. You can't escape from me no matter how much you try. No matter how much you beg." Pressing the tip of his knife into her body, arm retracted enough for the final plunge, he pressed his mouth against her ear, breathing in her scent as she wept with reckless abandon.

"I will always be the one to end you."

#jeonghan x reader #jeonghan fanfiction #seventeen x reader #seventeen fanfiction #yoon jeonghan x reader #yoon jeonghan fanfiction #kpop x reader #kpop fanfiction #svt x reader #svt fanfiction #jeonghan fanfic #seventeen fanfic #yoon jeonghan fanfic #kpop fanfic #svt fanfic #jeonghan angst

[alexxncl]

who fell first, who fell harder (brothers)

based on the og game, lesson 16+ spoilers

masterlist | more drabbles/hcs | dateables edition

luci

this might be unpopular but he did both

it just took him forever to realize bc he was too caught up in making sure mc didn’t get themselves killed

always went easy on them whenever they got in trouble

pushed his pride to the side *shockingly* whenever they got hurt

would be one of the first to help them whenever they needed anything and gave in to everything they asked for with no prompting

realized how down bad he was after they studied together one night, he fell asleep at his desk and they brought a blanket over and put a pillow under his head so he'd be more comfortable

woke up with hot coffee, breakfast, and a note telling him to take better care of himself with the bed half made, he realized mc stayed in the room with him the whole night

connected the dots right before he made a pact with them in lesson 20 (?) and confessed to them after they [redacted]

mc always saw through his stuck up act, sympathized with him once they realized he genuinely cared about their well being

started spending more time with him after the lesson 16 incident

he forbade them from going to school until they fully recovered from everything that happened, insisted on walking them to school every day

the stereotypical kdrama tripping and falling into the person's arms while they walked to school

they confessed after the whole pact situation right before they left the devildom

mams

we all know he did both like let's be fr

"first man"

i love him sm y'all dont understand

every time he needed help, he'd go to them

every time he was feeling insecure, he'd go to them

he noticed little changes in their demeanor and always did his best to cheer them up if something was wrong

not exactly a love at first sight thing, but real close to it

quite literally broke down in their arms the day before they left the devildom

all his brothers picked up on it and teased him relentlessly, he had to talk to lucifer to even build up the courage to confess

and even then it took him until the night before they left

mc was oblivious as hell to his feelings which is crazy bc he did nothing to hide them

they saw through his tsundere act and warmed up to him the fastest

honestly they fell not long after he did but they didn't wanna say anything out of fear of ruining their friendship

the lesson 16 incident shook him up so badly that he clung to them for weeks after it, he didn't let belphie anywhere near them even after apologizing

yelled at the brothers whenever they talked shit and called him names, they almost always went too far and it always got to him

after they went back to the human realm, he skipped class and dealt with being strung up by luci just to see them

levi

levi fell first, mc fell harder

HEAR ME OUT

he'd invite them over to game with him and watch anime at ungodly hours of the night

they're awful at videogames so he'd let them win just to see them get all excited

don't tell his brothers that though

when they slept over, they made sure he got out of his habit of oversleeping so he could avoid lectures

helped him with his anxiety since they also dealt with it

with mc, they empathized with his anxiety/depression and spent as much time with him as possible whenever he had his episodes

saw how much he cared for his brothers and his pet(s) and, eventually, how much he cared about them

they opened up to him about their insecurities and he did his best to reassure and relate to them so they felt less alone

they confessed to him first bc of mammon's encouragement, he knew his brother wouldn't be able to do it without prompting

they did it a few weeks before they left the devildom so they'd have time together

after the lesson 16 incident, he'd always go to their room with manga or a console to try to take their mind off of what happened

every time they went out together, he'd be in his demon form and have his tail wrapped around either their ankle or their wrist/hand subconsciously

satan

satan fell first, mc fell harder

again, hear me out

the first thing he noticed about their interactions with him was their lack of fear

they were so much less powerful and more fragile in comparison to him, but that didn't deter them from wanting to get close to him

in true tsundere fashion, he tried pushing them away once he realized his feelings

that didn't work and they tried spending more time with him to see why he started acting weird

THEN they ended up falling for him

how he acted like he didn't care for his brothers but went out if his way to make sure they were ok

how he was able to be vulnerable with them about his insecurities and self hatred bc of his birth

how they got to see his soft side with belphie and cats

his reaction to the lesson 16 incident also pushed them over the edge

his entire angry demeanor crumbled, he always had new book recs and brought them cats when he had to go to school si they wouldn't be alone

they confessed first, but it was right before they left bc they were too scared of rejection

asmo

mc fell first, asmo fell harder

mc never fell for his "me, me, me" attitude and got him to open up easily

they found themself gravitating towards his room whenever they needed a pick me up, he'd always be down to give them a spa day

despite his sin, he never overstepped with the sexual jokes and advances

it starred off as a tiny crush, but mc realized it was more than that after a really bad day for asmo, they got to take care of him the way he took care of them

asmo was head over heels after that, never left their side

he stopped trying to act like he wasn't insecure about his position in the devildom or his looks, he was more comfortable opening up about his struggles

even tho mc fell first, asmo confessed like a month before they had to leave the devildom

the lesson 16 incident had him clinging to them 100 times more than he had before, lucifer had to pry him away from them so he could go to school

the day they left the devildom was full of tears

beel

mc fell first, beel fell harder

he has such a big heart and he's trusting of everyone, his openness helped mc become more comfortable around him

he only gets angry in regards to his sin or his family, and he considered mc family very early on

they'd start packing extra snacks in their bookbag when they knew they had classes with him, and id they weren't in school, they'd have them in their pockets

after a really stressful day, mc went to beel for consolation, and he dragged them to the kitchen after wrapping them up in one of belphies weighted blankets to try and fix them a beel-sized meal to make them feel better

seeing how easily he'd drop everything to make sure they were ok

seeing how gentle he was with them despite his size and strength

seeing how happy he looked when talking about his family

him allowing himself to be vulnerable about belphie and lilith

all of it boiled over when he cooked for them, they confessed on the spot

he was caught off guard, but realized after some thinking that he felt the same and didn't realize it

they moved slowly, and while beel navigated his feelings for them, he realized how much he cared about them

giving them extra servings when it was his turn to cook, and when it wasnt, he'd slide some of his food onto their plate

going to their room to talk if he had a nightmare about the celestial war

asking satan and luci what the best ways to deal with anxiety were

making sure they drank enough water

and after the lesson 16 incident, his feelings were all over the place

he was angry at himself, angry at lucifer, angry at belphie, but never angry at mc

he didn't want to be angry with belphie, but once mc (reluctantly) forgave him, he and belphies relationship was fixed

they spent their last days in the devildom together going to all of his favorite restaurants and food trucks

belphie

belphie did both.

he hated the human. he hated all humans. he had to, for lilith.

he manipulated them, lied to them, betrayed their trust, he KILLED them

so why did he feel so guilty about it?

why did he find himself gravitating towards their room every day before school, waking up early just to peek through the crack in their door to see how they were doing, disobeying lucifer's direct orders?

why did every flinch of theirs leave him with a gaping hole in his chest?

no matter how many times he apologized, he never felt like he truly deserved forgiveness

but they were so kind, so understanding, so infuriatingly sweet to him despite everything he did

he loved them, and he do everything in his power to show it, even if they never felt the same

mc saw how much he was hurting, they saw how much his actions affected him, how he was trying to be a better person

the brothers would understand if they never forgave him, but why did they feel inclined to?

they were never really asleep when he snuck by their room to check on them, he had to have known that

his brothers spoiled him the way he spoiled them

after learning to navigate their friendship, mc realized what they felt was deeper than whatever platonic feelings they thought they had

they were in the attic, belphie ranting about one of his anti-lucifer-league schemes failing, and they kissed him

they spent their remaining weeks in the devildom attached to his hip, much to the brothers' disdain, but they couldn't hide how relieved they were at his sudden change of heart towards humans

#obey me nightbringer #obey me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me x mc #obey me hcs #obey me headcanon

[warcoaxed]

On Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve

Or: the disjointed post where I diagnose Q!Forever with BPD-like tendencies in regards to Q!Philza.

Anything from this point forward is about the characters only.

continue reading under the cut!

1. On Brunim's entire existence.

One of the first real moments we got with Forever were his interactions with Philza and how he quite instantly got attached to him. While quite comedic at first, this later spirals into straight up obsession.

The basis of this obsession is Brunim Neets, or Forever's ex-husband who's very much not on the QSMP & bears a striking resemblance to our Philza.

It's quite easy to see that Forever is rather attached to Brunim, to the extent that he occasionally believes Philza is Brunim who simply lost his memories.

This leads to the conclusion that Brunim is quite literally Forever's FP ( Favourite Person. )

[ For the uninitiated, an FP is a person who someone with BPD relies heavily on for emotional support, seeks attention and validation from, and looks up to or idealizes. ]

Philza, who Forever uses as a replacement for Brunim, turns into one of Forever's main motives to do things, to gain his attention and love. This also makes Philza one of Forever's FPs, albeit an unhealthier one.

2. On Festa Junina & Forever's relationships.

Festa Junina was another turning point, where Forever entered a relationship that was just to make Philza jealous. Forever has a tendency to impulsively enter relationships and exit them just as fast.

Forever as a character is often categorized as airheaded, but that's very much not true. His emotions are very much a double edged sword, and can act as a source for his strength but also make his interpersonal relationships fall apart.

His stilting of Maximus' feelings is a result of this, where he gets so hyperfocused on Philza, he somewhat ends up using Maximus.

He has a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation. This can be said to be true in regards to both Philza and Brunim.

3. On the fear of abandonment & The Wedding (?)

Forever misses Brunim & there is no denying it. It's evident in how much Brunim is mentioned by him, to the extent that even Richarlyson pokes fun at it.

It's quite fair to assume that he feels a little abandoned by Brunim, with them being ex-lovers and Brunim very much not being around on the SMP.

And when you bring Philza to the equation? The Philza who very much wants to leave, the Philza who very visibly doesn't want this?

In comes the Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

The wedding canonically happens while Philza is either tripping on drugs, or simply in his head (have your pick,) where Forever builds a shrine around them, declares them married and then proceeds to try to (badly) gaslight Philza into believing that they got married in Vegas.

His attempts at gaslighting are laughably pitiful, but they're incredibly desperate and frantic. It's almost like he thinks that if he can convince Philza that they're married, he wouldn't leave.

4. On Splitting and the Proposal.

Splitting refers to the difficulty to accurately assess another individual or situation. It can lead to intensely polarizing views of others, for instance, as either very good or very bad. A person typically splits unconsciously or without realizing it. Rather than seeing people in their lives as complex human beings with good, bad, and in-between characteristics, they may apply intensely polarizing or exaggerated labels. To them, their partner may be the “worst partner in the world” one day and the “greatest partner ever” the next.

The real turning point in Forever & Philza's relationship is the proposal following Cellbit & Roier's wedding. Their dynamic between then could easily be described as teasing, but this when things got very real very quick.

Forever asked for Philza's hand in marriage and got rejected ( very harshly at that- Thanks, Phil .)

This lead to a rather drastic reaction from Forever, where he ran to practically throw himself off a cliff, only for Philza to chase him down and stop him. What follows is a rather interesting conversation where we can watch Forever's high-held opinion of Philza practically plummet, where he later proclaims that he never even loved Philza, and how much he wants Philza to explode ( his words, not mine. )

It's almost like a switch has been flipped, with how he goes from happy to very upset, to determined to be president out of spite.

Not as obvious as others, but this can point to a persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

There's probably more I could speak about this, but this is all I can say from the top of my head. Feel free to add things, I enjoy spitballing all kinds of things!

#qsmp #qsmp meta #kav talks #philever #you may ask kav whats your credentials for doing this and i respond: i have bpd #this ones for rat thanks for encouraging me #im literally so incoherent 24/7 idk why i thought making a long post was a good idea i hope this makes sense to other people godbless #q!philza #q!forever #kav thinks

[semisolidmind]

My plants have been watered and my heart is so full 😭❤️ Monkie MK is just AGGGHHHHHH SO FRICKIN CUTE I WANNA CRY BUT I ALSO WANNA SQUEEZE HIM, PINCH HIS BABY CHEEKS, AND MESS UP HIS HAIR!!!

Do you think MK would revert to his more violent tactics if anyone were to target reader or his friends? Do you think he has the potential to become a platonic yandere given how much Wukongs tendencies have rubbed off on him or is his moral compass still strong?

he's just a little guy. a little guy full of ☆trauma☆

while i don't think he'd go quite as far as wukong does, he would resort to violence if it's to protect the people he cares about. mk already has a penchant for going all out when he fights (encouraged by his father), so he wouldn't really see why that might be a bad thing at first. he's gotta be strong so that he doesn't get hurt, and so he can defeat anyone who may attack him for his lineage. but he's still got a good heart.

after about a year of living in the city with his friends, mk has come to be very protective of them. he has to be, considering what a trouble magnet he is. there's always some new demon trying to get at him because of his dad.

mk understands why they do it. while he's eager to show them just how much of an "easy target" the monkey kings' protégé is, he kinda wishes they'd give it a rest. he has a tendency to destroy stuff when he fights, and it's not good for his public image (he still causes less collateral than normal mk, though).

because of the many rampages of the infamous monkey king, the citizens have a deep-rooted fear of monkey demons. it's why macaque protects from the shadows, and why he's not well-known despite his role in the jttw. so, mk is used to being feared and distrusted.

however, despite all that...mk is a good kid. he wants to help, and i think he'd be mortified if he had the thought of keeping his friends locked away. he'd do the whole "you're not safe when I'm around, I have to leave" hero cliche thing, then realize his friends are in more danger when he's not around.

#bad end mk #bad end wukong

[jadeacereigen]

i also always felt like the fandom depicting reigen's childhood as abusive and neglectful never really quite fit. i know that most of it is probably just projection, and it's something i really understand because i've done it before with other characters.

i feel like there's a difference between giving a character trauma that makes sense when taking their canon self into account and giving a character trauma for other unrelated reasons, like comfort or even for fun, to be able to explore the scenarios that would come with it. both are very valid. let the people do what they want, y'know?

but something i feel like people tend to gloss over sometimes is that parents can fuck up when raising you and still not be outright shitty evil people. they can judge you on your career choices and still love you. your friends can make an off the cuff comment that ends up sticking with you in a bad way without realizing, people can suck at showing they care about you while still caring about you, they can be imperfect just as much as you are. it's their first time on this earth too. and it doesn't excuse the times they may have hurt you or made you feel bad about yourself, but it's up to you if you wanna keep them in your life. everyone can change, but that's also up to them.

it gives reigen an added charm [or should i say humanity?], to know that he is a flawed person and that it stems from the things that happened when he was younger, and the people that were in his life, and to know that things don't need to be catastrophic for them to affect and/or change you, whether good or bad. it's a good thing to remember i think. to know that there's so many greys between the white and black. that he has layers. his experiences are very valid.

anywho. sorry for the long ramble i just had to get this out there hehe.

ask game time!!!! 25, 9 and 22

Oh my god no don't apologize you're so right. I agree 100% so I'm gonna answer with my own long ramble.

(Discussions of child abuse below, though nothing that's not present in MP100 canon.)

Yes, it almost feels like people want to dismiss all flawed parenting and strained relationships between parent and child as abuse. There's certainly something very wrong with Reigen and his parents' relationship but I'm gonna be honest, I don't understand how people can find redemption in Toichiro who literally beat up his own son but then at the same time demonize Reigen's parents for the crime of disapproving his life as a CONMAN.

Yes, Reigen actually helps his clients and refuses to take money for things he cannot fix, but he's an incredibly special case and his parents are like most people who have no clue that the supernatural is even real. I personally think IRL psychics are full of shit and prey on the naive and emotionally vulnerable. If I had a kid who quit their normal job and spent all their savings to become a psychic I would not be happy with them! I would hope I wouldn't be as cold and that they wouldn't live in fear of my messages to them but I would definitely be encouraging them to stop that shit and get a "real job". To think that his parents should support his choices in life when he's pretending to be a psychic with no additional context is wild to me. (Also, I can't find the translation anymore but Reigen says in the fanbook that his mom thinks he's being tricked into doing his current job.) Again, they could go about this in a much better way but this disapproval does not inherently point to abuse.

(Sorry this rant got very long so everything else is below the cut.)

I think the biggest thing that points to Reigen's parents not being as awful as they are in fan content is that even after Reigen gets publicly exposed for being a con artist, his mom does tell him to learn his lesson from this but she also takes the time to prepare him an apology, tells him that he should come home (instead of telling him he's not welcome home/disowning him) and emphasizes that she's on his side. Maybe you could consider that the bare minimum of a decent parent but this to me just doesn't feel like she's the hateful abusive mother so often depicted. She could be warmer about it but she's obviously super concerned and wants Reigen to know she cares about him regardless of his actions.

(As for his dad, all we know is that he and Reigen don't talk to each other at all and that he thinks Reigen is unemployed. This relationship is definitely worse than Reigen and his mom's but there's little to go off of in terms of if his dad is a terrible parent or not. His mom seems to think he's worried about Reigen and that would definitely not surprise me.)

In terms of how Reigen feels about his parents, in the fanbook he acknowledges that there have been misunderstandings from both sides and that he'd like to talk things out with them and visit them more often. That's such a real thing lots of people can relate to and I'd love to see that get explored! I want to see Reigen patch things up with his parents! Maybe I'll write out my stupid fic idea for it idk.

I also don't want to stereotype but I am from an East Asian family myself and grew up surrounded by others so I feel like it's safe for me to say that Reigen's parents really remind me of your typical older generation of Asian parents. (Reigen was born in 1984 so his parents would definitely be of the boomer ilk, potentially even the Silent Generation if they had him on the older side.) Reigen also says in the fanbook that his parents are very serious people. Oftentimes with that older generation they just don't really show their care the way you'd normally see it. There may never be any "I love yous" but they'll cut you a plate of fruit without you asking or remember the show you liked 10 years ago and assume you're still into it...

Of course, parental norms in a culture don't justify hurtful parenting. (I mean just watch Everything Everywhere All At Once if you want to see the pain of having a disapproving Asian parent despite knowing they love you and just want what they think is best for you.) His mom fussing over his job and his lack of a girlfriend may be a super "Asian parent" thing, but it definitely hurts Reigen's feelings and she should cut that out. So yeah, Reigen's parents could do a lot better in terms of making Reigen feel supported and loved regardless if they approve of his life choices or not, but Reigen wants to patch things up with them for a reason and I'm hopeful that they can all reach a better understanding with each other.

One thing I also wish the anime showed was that Reigen's mom talks to him on the phone after Separation Arc! We see that in this omake:

Reigen definitely didn't tell his parents his phone number or his home address if his mom had to resort to emailing his business address just to talk to him. But I like to think that after Separation Arc he started letting his mom into his life a bit more...

God this was such a long rant, I'm sorry. One final thing before I get to your questions is that if we really need abusive parents to hate, Teru's non-present parents are ripe for the picking... Just saying.

(ask game)

I'm assuming you mean Reigen for all of these btw

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

Gosh I initially thought he was just a silly goofy character who could be annoying and pathetic at times, but I enjoyed his presence on-screen. Then he got deeper in the Season 1 finale and showed just how much he truly cared about Mob... That part definitely got me shook. He only got better and better from there and now he's one of my favorite characters in the story.

9. Could you be roommates with this character?

Jesus christ uh I definitely don't think he'd be a bad roommate and we'd probably get along just fine but I also think I'd annoy the shit out of him. I'm not the best at keeping my space neat and clean. Also the thought of meeting Reigen in person is actually terrifying... Reigen should never exist outside the world of fiction because his pure chaos would be too much for reality.

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to ths character? Something you don't like?

Hmm I answered what I don't like last time, but I do like fics that explore his relationship with Mob or Serizawa. I also like seeing him confront more of his personal issues and grow as a person even if he gets a little hurt in the process-

#jade speaks #ask #reigen arataka #hoo boy

[vivitheanimaxen]

Jimmy hadn't realized he was alive. Not at first. He'd been frozen to the spot, static buzzing in his ears and eyes shut against the incoming pain.

He flinched, when a too warm hand touched his shoulder.

"Hey, Jimmy." Tango's voice cutting through the static, a hand cupping his cheek, "You're quite the treasure, hm? You make letting those fools paw through my hoard worth it."

Jimmy hunched in on himself, his wings coming up in a protective mantle. He was too scared to make any noise, too frozen to open his eyes. He didn't want to see his troupe. Not like this.

"Hey now-- hey sh sh shhhhh. . ."

Jimmy felt a rush of cold air, before something scooped him up and tucked him close. It felt almost like a giant hand, but a little bit too cold and smooth. He didn't dare look, ignoring the vertigo of sudden movement.

It took him being dropped onto a pile of something soft and warm to shock him into opening his eyes with an 'oof--'

Jimmy wished he hadn't. He'd been deposited in a nest-- one much bigger than any avian would make, obviously big enough to house a dragon comfortably--

And Tango was staring at him.

Tango. As a dragon. Right.

He couldn't look more different that the form he'd taken as a human to trick them into his lair. His scales were silver, as far as Jimmy could tell, what with the horrible lighting and the shock and the way everything was sort of swimming--

So he was a good dragon then, not one that would torment Jimmy just to eat him later. Maybe. He had just-- Nope. Not the time to think about that.

The dragon circled Jimmy once, almost like a dog bedding down, before plopping next to him, one big eye staring at Jimmy.

"You're not going to keel over from stress, are you? I hate losing my treasures."

Jimmy pulled his wings tight around himself, "N-no. I'll-- I'm not going to die."

"Good." Tango huffed out a soft breath of mist, draping a big wing over Jimmy like throwing a blanket over a birdcage.

Jimmy let out a soft 'eep-'. Then he went quiet. He was probably in shock.

He was most definitely in shock. Jimmy's memories were fuzzy, at least for the next few-- somethings. The next stretch of time.

It came in waves, almost.

The memories were tinged with fear and static first; who wouldn't be terrified of a dragon? Tango brought him food and water, and bundled him up in warm furs and draped him in jewelry. Like Jimmy was a glorified statue. To be fair, it was how he'd been acting.

Then Jimmy either got over his fear or got used to it-- he couldn't remember which. Probably both-- and out came the anger. Tango had murdered his entire troupe on a whim! He had probably done it to more adventurers in the past. And now he was treating Jimmy like a pet-- a very spoiled pet, but still a pet--

There was a lot of yelling, and a lot of static, and there was an attempt at escaping-- It would have never worked, but Jimmy had to try. Multiple attempts at escaping. Anger turned into a desperate need to be free, a yearning for the sun and the open sky after so long without it.

Tango was patient through it all, in a way that pissed Jimmy off even more. It was like-- like anything Jimmy did was so entertaining. Like Jimmy was a disgruntled kitten.

The anger lasted a long time, swinging down into despair and back again. Nothing he did could make Tango angry at him. Nothing he did could get anything other than a condescending grin and an amused laugh and a wing draped over his head in the nest at the end of the day. Tango even started bringing him along when he went to work on his lair; he put Jimmy on a magic leash, one that let Tango keep him close. Tango said it was 'to keep him safe'

There was only one time where Tango did anything to hurt Jimmy. And it wasn't even anything bad, the static said. It hadn't really hurt him.

Tango had clipped his wings.

Jimmy had attempted to throw himself to the floor from the very top of the swooping ceilings of the treasure room. It was the highest place he could get to, trapped underground as he was.

Tango had caught him before he could to anything to truly hurt himself, carefully slicing his flight feathers short and crippling the avian for who knew how long.

It was humiliating.

The static had taken most of the next stretch of time from him-- but it didn't take everything. Jimmy knew that he'd finally found a way to piss Tango off. Somehow. Whenever he reached to grasp at those memories, they always seemed a little bit out of reach.

Tango just wanted to be his friend. Why had he been fighting so hard against him? Jimmy should be happy to have a friend as great as Tango! Who else could say that they were best friends with a dragon?

Jimmy's feathers grew back in as gold as the treasure Tango loved to drape on him. It was comforting, for the dragon to help him preen them.

He couldn't quite remember when he'd made the pact, but he had. How else could he have ended up with more magic than he knew what to do with, and the ability to hear Tango calling for him anywhere in the lair or the Citadel above?

Jimmy was given free rein of the place, after the pact. Tango seemed overjoyed to have someone to show all his clever traps and passages and hidden doors and puzzles and treasure to. There was always some new trick to learn, or some new spell Tango wanted him to try, or some new magic artifact for Jimmy look at or wear or use.

Jimmy didn't quite know when he'd picked up singing, either. It wasn't singing like most humanoids sang. It was birdsong. And it was something Tango could hear no matter how far away from him Jimmy wandered.

The dungeon continued to bring in adventurers. Wanna-be heroes, after gold or magic or who knew what. Time was a fickle thing, down in Tango's lair, and Jimmy had no way of telling how long it'd been since he arrived. Whenever he asked, Tango would give him an answer that wasn't really an answer. Surely he'd been here for less than a year.

Tango started letting Jimmy help. The adventurers made for good magic practice. And not all of them were the punch first, ask questions later kind of adventurers.

Jimmy couldn't help but warn them about the danger. That this was a dragon's lair.

Tango found it amusing, how some of them tried to backtrack, after they found out what they were up against.

He didn't let them, of course.

Jimmy found it at least a little bit interesting, how Tango's lair was set up to reward those who played his games and solved his puzzles and were clever in ways Tango hadn't thought of yet. His troupe had had so much trouble because they'd ignored all of it, in favor of slogging through the dungeons and killing the monsters.

The fastest he'd ever seen a troupe get down to Tango's lair proper was less than a week.

That was the first troupe where Jimmy had a significant hand in guiding them past the worst of the danger. He'd grown fond of them. They had treated Jimmy like one of their own.

Tango let them each choose one piece of treasure.

They'd earned it, Tango whispered through the bond. He did give treasures away to those who had earned the reward. And besides, they'd treated Jimmy so well. Even before knowing this place was a dragon's lair.

It was up to them to get out with the treasures, however.

Tango didn't let Jimmy help them on the way out.

#tangotek #jimmy solidarity #team rancher #team rancher au #dark ranchers #viviwrites #dragonfrost au #dont mind me #first draft go brr #gotta learn how to actually draft and rewrite SOMEHOW #but my need to post what i write also needs attention #i have NO patience #the first chapter of unsung melody is the first (second-ish technically) time i have done the whole. write in drafts thing. #I'm liking it so far #time will tell if i continue it #anyway. This will probably get split into more than one chapter #depending on how long i stretch it out into #last time 800 words turned into 2.5k. #this one is 1.3k already #hermitfic

[istadris]

How do you think the mainverse brothers would react to the Missing Half Duo and vice versa? Like say there was a situation where Mr. L got paired with Mario and Doc with Luigi and the two groups were separated for a bit

Oh boy, I was hoping for an ask like this 8D!!

[referencing to this AU ]

For the sake of the narrative, this teaming up would happen quite a while after Dr Mario and Mr L grew used to each other and start actually settling.

But this encounter and pairing with the mainverse Bros?

To make it short : It's a MESS.

Mario and Mr L make a terrible team. Mr L has relied on himself for most of his life, then only recently started to trust Doc to watch his back, and was starting to look after him, seeing it as his job to protect "this soft-hearted idiot"; with Mario, who's used to take point and go first, it only clashes. He's much more assertive and agressive than the Luigi Mario is used to, they're both horribly stubborn, leading to all sorts of conflicts and struggles.

Mr L troubles Mario. He's always seen it as his mission to look after Luigi, and now that he's confronted with a version of his brother who had to grow up alone, he feels even more protective, to make up for what Mr L didn't have.

Mr L doesn't want Mario's protection or concern, he doesn't want him to risk his life for him (not again), it's bad enough with the Doc who's a mother hen...but at least, Doc gets him in a way mainverse!Mario never will. Only Dr Mario has an idea of the pain Mr L went through, only him knows what it's like to lose his brother. This Mario, who's happy, who's carefree, who's had his brother his all life and never had to feel guilty about, ooooh, he pisses him off!

The truth is, deep down, Mr L is scared. And as he's always done to survive, he hides his fear and pain under anger and lashes out at anyone in range.

He's faced with a Mario who's so content and stable in his life, the perfect Mario. And he know Doc is currently facing a Luigi who is more gentle, more kind, more balanced. More like his real brother. This Luigi is the better version of him, the one Doc is probably missing; Mr L is convinced that Dr Mario will prefer this Luigi to him. Why wouldn't he, after all ? Mr L is a troublesome, feral, nasty parody of the brother Dr Mario lost, who would want him as a brother?

He couldn't be further from the truth.

Doctor Mario likes Luigi. He likes everyone. He figures he would like every Luigi in the multiverse. But unlike with Mr L, he can't bring himself to get close with this other Luigi.

He looks and acts and behaves so close to how he imagines his own twin would have lived, based on his old memories...but it feels even more empty. Makes him realize that the version he imagines never grew up, may have been another person. It's so close yet so unbearably far. It's like being given a glass of water that he's not allowed to drink in the desert.

For all his similarities with his twin, Mr L is NOT his Luigi, never will be and never cared to try. Thanks to that, Dr Mario is spared of a cruel illusion, and he has grown attached to this new brother. He's flawed, he's a mess, he didn't choose him.

But what is someone you never chose, who gets on your nerve yet shares a bond no one else understands and that you love despite everything... but family ?

I want my brother back, he suddenly thinks during the adventure, and the realization that he's thinking of Mr L and not his little brother is enough to make him stop and swallow a sob, he who has always kept his emotion tightly locked where no one could see.

As for Luigi, he doesn't know what to make of this Mario who's so different from his brother. He's too calm, too passive; Luigi is used to follow after his brother's decisions, but now he's paired with someone who also expects someone else to take the lead, and it's extremely awkward, on top of the disturbing notion of being around someone while being a clone of their dead relative.

With my friends, we had discussed at some point that there might have been a moment at the beginning where, an angry Mr L might have shouted at Dr Mario :

"I'm not the brother you want, but I'm the one you deserve!"

And by the end of this adventure, he would have come to Dr Mario to apologise and confess:

"You're not the brother I wanted... but you're the one I need."

#super mario bros #missing half au #dr mario #mr l #miscellaneous mario madness #Ista writes #they're both broken boys who slowly patch each other #answers