#and the pain and vision problems ugh!!!!!!

[robinsnest2111]

my body nuked me. thought I could just. ignore the pain. but. the pain won't ignore me. back to bed it is...

#i swear to fuck if i'm not well enough to go to work tomorrow i will....... idk what i will do #i'll be very cross with my body is what i'm gonna be!!! #like how dare my entire system betray me like this. stomach cramps bad enough i can barely eat #nausea and dizziness of hell fuck #and the pain and vision problems ugh!!!!!! #and the weakness and fatigue!!!! unbelievable!!!! #body why???

[circeyoru]

Yandere Alastor react to soul owner reader it hurt [ again ] but this time it's a badly injury.

Let's just say the reader got sneak attack by some demon.

[ Who ever that demon is Alastor not going let that demon go in the most peaceful way ever ]

Nothing much I just want to see Alastor being really protected and in his true form.

After he's finished with that demon Alastor quickly helped the reader and being really really protected if anyone getting a bit just a little bit too close Alastor well standing at deadly also really clingy like cleaning more than usual.

[ I think the reader understand why but get a bit annoying but understand why ]

That's all I got like I said before stay healthy and strong don't forget to drink water too!

Go to MASTERLIST for the works. This ask is for {Unwanted Souls}.

I gotcha! I'm setting this as before Alastor gave you his soul. We don't have enough moments for those times. So this one will be a bit long~

Enjoy!

It was a simple shopping trip. One simple shopping trip. In and out. As simple as that. A 3-year-old would have gotten things done as easily. But nooooo. This is Hell, things are bound to be troublesome.

Like this stupid scene.

"Ugh..." You gripped onto your dominant arm, a big gush that covered your arm with blood oozing out of it. One of your eyes squeezed shut from the pain, and you sat in the debris of what remained on the shelves of canned food. Your legs had long given out from the knockout and impact. "What's your problem?"

"Maybe you should have given me everything, instead of being such a f**ker and act all cool and sh*t." The demon snarled, picking up a random beer bottle to aim another throw.

You closed your eyes shut; you just have to take it and let this stupid demon have his fun unless it was of a sexual nature, then you can heal yourself and get home to your comfortable anime and music. Your body tensed as you mentally prepared what's to come.

Only, it didn't. Instead, there was a loud static that rang.

Your good eye opened and widened a bit when you saw the scene in front of you.

"Dear, you were taking a while. I knew I should have come with you instead of standing guard." Alastor's radio-filtered voice growled threateningly while his antlers grew in size and length. His sclera turned black, his iris glowed red, and his form enlarged to tower over the market shelves.

"Your funeral.." You sighed as your book holster, picking out your book and turning to a page to rip it out and blow at it. A transparent jelly-like substance dome formed around you, a barrier. "Honest, I warned you."

The demon laughed, "You think this is intimidating? Sure, go ahead and kill me. Demons can't die unless with those flying f**ker's f**king weapons anyway!"

You rolled your eyes. At this point, this demon was being a complete idiot that death was too good of an end to give. "Yeah... A quick and painless death is not exactly his style." Your eyes wandered to the side, "Ask the souls in his broadcast later on."

"Broadcast?" The demon turned its head back to Alastor, fear and regret on its face. "What..."

You tried your best to ignore the demon's screams and Alastor's maniacal laughter. The nearby demons also tried but failed to leave the vicinity. But it was hard to ignore the occasional blood splatters that came in contact with your shield dome, every time red came into your peripheral vision, you unconsciously flinched. It has gotten to the point that there were limbs thrown all around the place. You shouldn't have glanced over to Alastor because you saw him devouring a demon whole in his giant form.

You turned away. Sure Hell was disturbing and you watch similar things, but this was so much different when experiencing in real life. Not to mention, Alastor was your roommate at the moment. At times like these that you wonder if he even needed you saving him from that time.

Silently, you took out your pages to weakly scribble on the page for a light form of healing. When you were done, there wasn't a wound on your body to prove your pain or the torn clothes. Still, you didn't move because you didn't want to be a moving target to the crazy psycho demon who was having his fun.

The last straw was made when the demon's mangled body was dragged into the shadows while claws tried to save its fate. "Hey! Help me! Please! I'm sorry! Mercy!"

Alastor grinned, enjoying and savouring the pleading demon that was showing the two of you such a pitiful display. The sick joy he felt when he brought the poor thing to your mercy. Oh, this has to be love. He can't imagine another being taking away attention that was rightfully his but you.

And that cold and indifferent in your eyes, that pretty face that only displayed the hint of annoyance and disgust to the demon. "Like I told you when you first stupidly approached me: You'll regret talking to me."

Alastor's head snapped to the side, the shadows dragged the demon into his cane. Screams of the demon echoed but then silence came. Another voice of screams to the endless broadcast of torture.

As quick as it started, it ended. Alastor shrank down, fixing up his outfit before his eyes wandered to where you were. He made quick strides to you and bowed in a manner that was so familiar to a certain character. "My Dear, everything's dealt with."

The barrier dropped after a few seconds when you accessed that he was speaking the truth. It was more in the way of knowing he wouldn't direct his bloodthirsty destruction onto you as well. Since you weren't very nice to him, "So it would appear."

Alastor's eyes narrowed while his smile grew, solely focused on your weakened self. "May I carry you back? I can't imagine letting myself watch you limp through the streets!"

You looked away with a scowl and a slight frown, you didn't want to admit it, but you were in no condition to walk back and your healing took a bit out of you. "Fine. Just this once."

Swiftly, without missing a beat, Alastor already had you in his arms like one would carry a princess or lady. "Wonderful! I'll treasure this moment!"

You made yourself comfortable, you knew Alastor would take the long way home, you played with your fingers while you listened to his heartbeat that was a bit fast. You peeked up at him, he was keeping a watchful eye on the demons around.

"Don't get used to this. You're leaving soon."

Alastor didn't say anything, but his laugh told you he saw it as one hell of a joke.

Later on when you look back on this moment, you'll be wondering if that was meant for him to hear, or yourself.

#Circe's Nighty Writings #alastor imagine #alastor x reader #alastor x y/n #alastor x you #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel alastor #alastor headcanons #hazbin hotel fanfiction #alastor #hazbin hotel oneshots #yandere alastor #yandere alastor x reader #yandere hazbin hotel #alastor fanfiction #hazbin hotel imagines #Unwanted Soul

[loveesiren]

𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗎𝗌𝗍 - 𝖢.𝖲. (𝖯𝗍. 3)

Disclaimer: Hate hate hate this chapter but some of y'all were getting mean so here is chapter 3. I think it's trash. My motivation has been shit lately so we'll see where this story goes.

Synopsis: Y/n runs away from her problems

Warnings: Language, heroin use, angst, 18+

Word Count: 2.8k+

Chris’s POV

I swear I was going to lose my fucking my mind in this tiny concrete room. I hadn’t even been in here for two hours and the anxiety was taking over. The cop sat at his desk, sipping his coffee loudly while watching a football game on a small tv that faced away from me. I was going to have to sit here until Monday morning and all I had to do was think. 

A million thoughts ran through my head. I’m sure Matt and Nick already called our parents and they were going to be pissed beyond belief. Luckily our podcast was pre-recorded but if I’m not out soon news is going to get around that I’m in here. But most of all, I thought about Y/n. She seemed so upset. I knew she was blaming herself for this and I prayed she wouldn’t do anything stupid. I know how vulnerable she can get when she’s down. But I know Matt and Nick will look out for her.

“Yo, don’t I get a phone call or something?” I asked the cop.

He responded with a long sigh, as if my question was making his entire job more difficult. I furrowed my brows at him, awaiting his response. “Fine.” He finally said. He got up and unlocked the cell door before leading me over to the phone. “You got two minutes, kid.”

I nodded and picked up the phone. I dialed Nick’s number, knowing he was most likely to answer.

“Hello?”

“Nick? Hey! It’s Chris!”

“Chris! Are you okay?!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” I responded. I could hear Matt in the background and Nick switched his phone to speaker.

“Chris, we'll bond you out first thing after your hearing on Monday! Mom and dad already hired a lawyer.” Matt said.

I sighed, knowing how disappointed they were going to be. “Cool. Cool. Uhhh can I talk to Y/n?”

Matt and Nick were both silent for a few moments. “Uhm…she’s not here…”

“Well where is she?”

“I’m not sure…”

I could hear the change in Nicks voice. Something was wrong. “What’s going on? Why are you talking like that?”

“Well…She uhm…Her and Matt kind of-”

“I kicked her out!”

“You did what?!”

“She’s always gotten you into trouble, Chris. I’m sick of it. I don’t want to see you ruin your life over her. I know you’re like in love with her or whatever but-”

“Go find her. Now!” I spat. “You don’t fucking understand, Matt. You don’t fucking understand what you did! Go find her and make sure she is fucking safe!”

“Chris, what do you mean?”

“Now!” I slammed the phone down on the receiver.

“Watch it!” The cop said. I bit my tongue and followed him back to my cell. 

I sat in the corner of the tiny bed and buried my head in my knees, trying to fight the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I loved Y/n more than anything in the entire world and I knew her better than anyone. I was the only one who knew she experimented with opioids. I tried them with her but I noticed how she started using them to numb her pain and I quit. After having to Narcan her TWICE I made her promise to never touch them again. I threatened to tell her parents. I told her I would take her to rehab. She begged me not to. I know I should have but she swore to me she wouldn’t touch them again. I helped her through her withdrawals and over the last two years she’d been true to her word as far as I knew. I mean I was with her most of the time and never saw her use or act shady. But now I wasn’t there when she needed me and who knows what Matt said to her. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK! I couldn’t stop the tears from falling now. My whole body was shaking with anxiety.

Y/n’s POV

“Y/n! Y/N!” Danny yelled, kicking my foot. I jolted awake and struggled to see through blurred vision. I rubbed my eyes and slowly took in my surroundings as an overwhelming wave of nausea took over my body. 

“Ugh, what?” 

“Your phone’s been ringing non stop! Fucking answer it or turn it off. It’s annoying.”

I felt for my phone as previous events returned to my memory. Chris was arrested. I got in a fight with Matt. One thing led to the next and I somehow ended up at Danny’s house smacked out of my mind. I wasn’t proud of this. But remembering what Matt said to me, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. 

My phone started ringing again and I was able to find it between the cushions of Danny’s old, cigarette stained couch. The screen lit up with Matt’s name and I could feel the bile rising in my stomach. I ran to the bathroom and shut the door quickly behind me. I sat on the floor, heaving over the toilet, but not much came out. I can’t remember the last time I ate. I didn’t even know what day it was. I sat back and pulled out my phone. 13 missed calls from Matt and Nick combined. 5 from my mother along with three texts asking where I was. A missed call from an unknown number. To top it all off, it was 6:23 pm on Sunday. What the hell had happened in the last day and a half? 

I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess, a stained crop top clung to my malnourished frame and a pair of baggy sweatpants (that didn’t belong to me) were tied tightly to my waist. I looked at the fresh track marks on my arm, a trail of dried blood leading halfway down my forearm. I was disappointed in myself. I promised Chris I would never go back to this. But it was too late now. I pulled my phone back out, ignoring all the messages from Matt and Nick and opening the text thread with my mom. I typed out a quick message. 

Hey mom, I’m fine. Haven’t been feeling great this weekend so I’ve been sleeping. Didn’t mean to worry you.

Not three seconds after I sent it, she was calling me. I sighed, really not in any head space to talk to her but I knew I was already on her last nerve so I took a deep breath and answered.

“Hello?” I definitely sounded sick.

“Y/n! Honey! Where are you?! Are you okay?!”

“I-I’m fine, mom. I’m at home. I’m just a little sick.”

“Nick and Matt said you weren’t at your house! They were just there!”

Fuck. Why the fuck had they come by?

“I just stepped out to get some medicine. I just got back.” I lied.

The lie seemed to calm her down a bit. “MaryLou told us what happened to Chris. We just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.” 

“Yeah, mom. I’m fine. Matt and Nick are going to bail him out tomorrow.” I felt nauseous again thinking about it. I didn’t know what to expect when Chris got out. I wasn’t great with confrontation and after the situation with Matt and relapsing with Danny, I didn’t really want to face Chris. “Uhm, mom, some friends asked me to go camping for a few days. So my service might be spotty.”

“I thought you were sick?”

“Yeah, I think it’s just like food poisoning or something. I should be better by tomorrow. But I’ll call you when I can, okay?”

“Y/n, are you sure you’re okay? If something is wrong you can tell us, we can come out there…”

“No, I’m fine mom. I promise. I’ll talk to you soon, okay? I love you!”

With that, I hung up on her and quickly exited the bathroom. “Danny, let’s go.”

“Go where?” He asked. 

“I-I don’t know. San Diego or something? I just need to get out of here before Chris gets out tomorrow?”

“Why? I thought you looooved him.” Danny mocked. “You’ve been mumbling about him non stop.” He sighed and sat back.

Danny liked you. That wasn’t a secret. He wasn’t bad looking. But he was a “bad boy”. His main job was drug dealing. He hung around with shady people, did shady shit, and hated on people like the Sturniolo’s for being in the public eye. Even though you were getting into your modeling career, Danny didn’t seem to care. You didn’t believe Danny’s feelings were deep. You didn’t believe Danny was capable of deep feelings or love. But you were hot and you had him wrapped around your finger.

“I-I can’t face Chris like this. I just want to get away from here. Please?” 

“My cousin has a condo down in Chula Vista. It’s right by the beach. I could call him.”

“Okay. I’m gonna run to my apartment and grab some things.”

I left Danny’s apartment, and ran up to mine. I grabbed a duffle bag from my closet and grabbed some clothes, a toothbrush, and some deodorant. The basic necessities. I was almost done packing when I heard a knock on my door. 

“Coming!” I said, assuming it was Danny. I threw my bag over my shoulder and made my way to the door. I swung it open, ready to go but stopped in my tracks when I saw Matt standing in front of me. 

“Going somewhere?” He asked.

It was hard to find my voice. My mind was a mess and my body was hurting. I needed a fix. “Uhm- Camping. With some friends.”

“Camping with friends. What friends?” Matt asked, stepping into my apartment now. 

“Just some friends. You don’t know them.” It was somewhat true. Nick and Matt didn’t know Danny. Hence why they couldn’t find me earlier. But lying to my mom about camping with friends was one thing. She didn’t know my social circle out here. Chris, Nick, and Matt on the other hand, pretty much were my social circle. We shared the same friends. If I really was to go camping with friends, chances are they’d be coming too. 

“Look, Y/n. I’m sorry for what I said yesterday…I was just upset and it was wrong of me to blame it on you.” I didn’t know how to respond so I just looked to the floor. “Chris is really going to want to see you tomorrow and-” He stopped, noticing my arms. He grabbed my wrist and yanked my arm into view. “Y/n, what the fuck happened to your arms?! Have you been shooting up?!”

“Ready to go, Princess? My cousin said-” Danny appeared in my doorway. “Well look what the cat dragged in.” Danny said with his skeezy smile. 

Matt looked him up and down before looking back at me. Danny had on tight jeans with chains and a sleeveless band shirt. He reeked of cigarette smoke and I knew Matt was judging me.

“This is who you’re going camping with?” Matt asked.

“Look, I gotta go…” I said pushing past Matt and locking my door. 

“So you’re just going to dip out on Chris?” Matt asks. “Come on Y/n. You’re better than this guy!”

“Excuse me?” Danny asks, turning to face Matt. I step in front of Danny, putting my hand on his chest. 

“Matt. You said it yourself. I’m no good for Chris…” 

“Y/n, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s fine. I gotta go. Take care of him, okay?” 

With that, I grabbed Danny’s hand and pulled him along with me down to his car to avoid any further conversation with Matt. I noticed his van with Nick inside sitting in the parking lot. He looked confused. I looked away and climbed into Danny’s car, urging him to drive away. 

Danny offered me a cigarette and I took it. Remaining quiet as I sparked it. He didn’t ask questions. But he did place his hand on my knee as he drove. “You don’t need them, Princess. I’ll take care of you.”

The words made my stomach twist into a knot. I wanted Chris. But Matt was right. I didn’t deserve him. I was exactly where I deserved to be. “You got any more dope?” 

“Gonna pick some up on our way, don’t worry.” He smiled at me. I attempted a half ass smile as I bit back the urge to cry. I looked down at my phone, studying the photo of me and Chris I had set as my wallpaper. It was a silly photo of us in highschool. We were both laughing, I was on Chris’s back as he ran down the hall with me. It was a time in my life I was truly happy. 

I shut my phone off and threw it in my bag, focusing on the world passing by through the window of Danny’s old BMW. I knew this wasn’t the right move but I was never good at confronting my problems and the promise of an escape and drugs was enough to leave LA and Chris behind me.

Chris’s POV

I sat silently while the judge went over my charges. Cameron Jacobs and his family sat and watched with smug looks on their faces. Matt and Nick sat on the opposite side of the courtroom, ready to bail me out. I was disappointed when they showed up without Y/n. 

The judge set my bond to $5,000 and gave me another court date. By noon, I was gathering my things and climbing into the van. Nick was hounding me with questions while Matt remained relatively quiet. 

“So where’s Y/n?” I asked, no longer wanting to think about the trouble I was in or the fact that I would have to call my parents when I got home and get my ass chewed out, or the fact that we were out five grand. “Why didn’t she come?” My voice cracked.

Nick looked at Matt, seeing if he would admit what happened. Matt remained silent. “Matt…”

“Where is she, Matt?” I asked. 

“Look Chris-”

“No tell me the fucking truth! It’s your fault she fucking left in the first place. Where is she?!”

Matt sighed. “I went to her place last night. She left with some sleaze bag. Said she was going camping…” 

“Dude with combat boots, covered in shitty tattoos, smelled like cigarettes?” I asked.

“Yeah.” 

“Danny.” I hissed. He was such a piece of shit. Always trying to get in Y/n’s pants. He was a slimy drug dealer and now she was God knows where with him. 

“She had, uhm…she had track marks on her arms…” Matt said. 

I tried to take a deep breath but I was beyond livid. “Pull over.” I said as calmly as I could. 

“What? Why?” Nick asked.

“Pull the fucking car over!” 

Matt did as I asked and I climbed out, slamming the door behind me before walking off down the street. 

“Chris! Where are you going?!” Matt asked as him and Nick chased after me. I really didn’t want to be near him right now.

“Fuck off, Matt!” 

“You have to fucking talk to me, man!” He said, grabbing my shoulder and forcing me to look at him. I pushed him off of me and Nick was quick to catch him before he fell. 

“This is your fucking fault!” I yelled. “Why the fuck would you say those things to her, Matt? She’s been our best friend our whole lives! This is your fucking fault!”

“I was just looking out for you! It’s not my fault she’s a drug addict, man!”

I threw myself at Matt, punching him in the eye. He fought back but it didn’t last long before Nick was separating us. 

“Stop it! What the hell is the matter with you guys?!” Nick yelled. “Chris, you just got out of jail for fucking assault. Beating up your own brother isn’t going to get you anywhere! And Matt, you were wrong for what you said to Y/n. But we aren’t going to find her if you end up back in jail and don’t work together. So both of you get in the fucking car and let’s go home and figure something out.”

As much as I hated Matt right now, Nick was right. All I really cared about was finding Y/n and I was going to need help doing that. I climbed back into the car silently and endured the ride home. I had tried texting and calling Y/n earlier but it went straight to voicemail. I typed out one more text. 

Y/n, please be okay. I’m so worried about you. Fuck whatever Matt said. You mean everything to me. Please just text me back when you get this so I know you’re okay. I love you…

Tags:@strniohoeee@daisysturniolo.@justangelheree@flowerxbunnie@recklesssturniolo@lustfulslxt@mangosrar@bluesturniolo333@christinarowie332@kenzieiskoolaid@sturniolopepsi@mattenthusiast@ilovecrazymen@sturnphilia@poopydroopt@miaakenn

#sturniolo triplets #chris sturniolo #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo x reader #nick sturniolo #sturniolo fanfic #matt sturniolo x reader #stardust #angst #sturniolo #chris sturniolo imagine #chris x reader #christopher sturniolo #effy stonem #jack o'connell

[qiutls]

TNGDH 019

Blink. Blink.

Only the blue system window shined in the empty black space. I finally came to my senses and reached for the system window with a sigh.

[ (*Д>゜<)o ]

Hey, hey. Don't cry. You've already seen me die once, this is just whatever.

To be honest, I thought since I died once, this would be child's play, but it's not easy to die twice. When I felt the pressure of the falling chandelier, I thought I'd rather bite my tongue and faint. In the end it seems like I really fainted.

I opened my mouth to ask the system, slowly touching the blue window. 

"I'm still unconscious right?"

[ Shall I turn off "Summon"? ≧ ﹏ ≦ ]

"No, don't release the skill now, just restore my consciousness for a bit."

If you lift it now and we're still at the banquet, or if there's people around me, it's gonna be a problem.

Above all, Kyle already thinks I'm suspicious, if I disappear in front of him again, who knows what will happen. It's going to be hard to make excuses.

[ Restoring consciousness! ]

[ 10... ]

[ 9... ]

[ ... ]

Why are you counting down?

I stared blankly at the system window slowly filling up with numbers.

'H-hey, don't tell me?'

[ 1... ]

The system window and black space disappeared in an instant and I was filled with pain once again. I gasped as if I had just been pulled out of water. I bit my lip, in order to swallow the scream that was rising out from my throat.

"Ugh!"

This is crazy. How is someone supposed to survive this. It hurts so much. I frantically curled my trembling body. My vision was blurry, and my back felt hot after being scraped by the chandelier. 

I tightened my grip on my collar and looked around. First of all, it seems like I was all alone, and the location seemed to be the study! Maybe Kyle brought me here, anyways it's a relief...

"Hey! System! Release now! Release the skill! Please."

I cried out in a desperate voice. When I first died, it was so sudden and quick and I didn't feel any pain, but this time was no joke. There was a reason the system was counting down; it was time to get ready for the pain.

White flashed around my body once more, like the chandelier's light earlier, and then when I opened my eyes, I was back in the hamster house.

― Squeak! [ Ack! ]

My body started slipping and rolled down the slide.

System, can you please position me properly next time?

 [ (；′⌒`) ]

That's right, you must be anxious too.

I sighed deeply and lay on the sawdust. My body and mind kept tingling. Well, the incident was prevented somehow. It all worked out in the end. But did my small body really block that big chandelier? That's ridiculous.

I only survived because that was a body I "Summoned." Maybe I made that decision because I knew I wasn't sacrificing my real body. Though it's true that my body moved before I could think.

'Kyle must've been very surprised.'

I turned and lay on my back. I got off the slide and tried to touch my back that was hit, but my arm couldn't reach it. I tried to touch it with my other hand but to no avail, I could only touch a void space before I put it down.

I piled the sawdust thickly in front of the house and sat on it, watching the event unfold.

Several doctors flooded into the study, only to find a patient missing, with just the bloody clothes left behind. All of them were quite shocked at the scene.

'That's understandable.'

The grand duke himself urgently ordered for them to check up on patient but he disappeared.

"W-where did he go?" "Search everywhere!"

The doctors talked amongst themselves, and started to search the study, but they couldn't find a soul.

No but why are you searching under the sofa and under the desk? You're trying to find a patient, not an assassin, do you think a patient would be able to crawl under the desk?

Soon, heavy footsteps started banging and the door of the study burst open. The man whose strides were quick and hasty stopped in front of the sofa. He seemed to clench his fist and called out to the attendant outside with an angry voice.

"Search the castle, he couldn't have gone far."

Excuse me, grand duke, you sound so much like a villain right now, what's with that voice.

The attendant quickly ordered the guards to move and search for the young man, while Kyle held his forehead and sat down.

That image burned through my eyes. If he's gone, then he's gone, why do you care so much. I'll return when I need to save you anyways. It's all for the miracle value.

'So, don't be too affectionate. Whether I'm a hamster or a human.'

I embraced the macadamia like a cushion, watching Kyle pick up the clothes I left behind. The white tailcoat turned dark red that you couldn't have guessed its original color. The back was completely torn and bloody, it seems like it won't come off easily even when washed. Too bad, that outfit seemed expensive.

"I wish you never accepted this flower."

Kyled murmured holding my clothes. The flower in the front pocket, was originally a flower with red petals, but due to the accident even the leaves turned red, and the petals were torn.

"Then we, no you, wouldn't have to dance."

His voice was full of guilt.

Don't say that it was going to happen whether you gave it to me or not. I couldn't stop Belial from going to the banquet, so I had to intervene myself. It's purely my choice and purely my fault, so don't.

'Well, I can't do anything about it now.'

I'm sorry, your hamster has a big liver...

*liver = courage, just in case you forgot*

*

The noisy grand banquet still ended quite successfully. I'm not quite sure how Kyle managed it, but once he left me in the study and came back to the banquet, it seems that he was able to calm the protests and solved the situation well.

Some royal nobles were stirring up trouble that the prince was heavily injured, however it seems Kyle was able to handle the situation but sharing the fact that the chandelier in question was given by the imperial castle. Adding to that fact, the budget the North receives is less than half of what the imperial family gets, so there was no way that the North would've been able to buy such an intricate chandelier.

Not to mention, though a big deal almost happened to Belial, I, a Northerner, saved his life and prevented things from becoming too ugly. In any case, this incident was solved.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Sen glanced at me with a worried look and checked carefully from head to toe.

"I'm fine~"

I said while waving to distract Sen from the issue. She's already asked three times this morning.

Of course, this body is not fine, but it seems like the system used some stuff to mend it, so it no longer felt that much painful. Though, if anyone were to hit my back, I think I'd jump to the ceiling from surprise and pain.

I chewed on the maple pecan pie Sen brought me. The sweet and savory taste managed to comfort the hidden wound a lot.

"...Yesterday, I went to Prince Belial's quarters."

I almost spat out the pie at her declaration. I looked at her with my eyes wide open.

"Huh? Why?"

"You probably didn't see it, but His Highness protected me at that moment and was cut by glass debris. And well, you know everyone was out of their minds yesterday, and His Highness Kyle even mobilized the guards to look for you. There was no one to attend to his wounds so I..."

She said, and then looked at me suspiciously once more.

Don't look at me like that, I had a reason, okay?

"Anyways, he wasn't seriously injured... But he wouldn't have been hurt if he did not protect me."

I looked at her who strangely became depressed, so I said casually while finishing up the pie,

"He's a man who will be king of this country someday, it would be bad if he's someone who abandons his people."

"What's that word they use again, pride?"

I scratched my nose awkwardly, I needed to be careful of using the correct terms. 

"But, you know..."

Sen said gloomily, I waited for her in silence to finish ehr sentence. But I feel like I could read her mind, Sen's goal was revenge, now that she's closer to Belial, it's much easier to find an opportunity to carry out her wishes.

In order to achieve her goal, it seems like she needs to go to Imperial City. In the original novel < The heart of Winter > was set in the Imperial City where Sen was a maid in the Imperial Palace.

However, right now Sen is living in the North, so it's not easy to go to the Imperial City.

She needs power, whether it's to arrive at her destination, or to exact her revenge.

"What's wrong, tell me."

"...His Highness asked me to be a maid at the Imperial Palace."

Well, that's Belial's decision. You're a maid who knows a lot about the North, and is the one Kyle showed interest in, I'm not quite sure if Belial asked you to go with him because of affection or because he wants victory over Kyle.

There's no way a man like him, doesn't at least think like that. But it doesn't matter what his intentions are, since to Sen, it is much more important to get to Imperial City and to be able to have the prince as his backer.

"I think that's great!"

"...I know"

Sen agreed but she didn't look happy. It seems her situation is much more complicated than I thought. Was it that difficult to leave even though this is one step closer to her goal? Maybe she's grown attached to the North?

"I just think sometimes..."

Sen whispered.

"It may not be that bad to live with my past covered up."

Revenge is like a quicksand, even if you have gotten your retribution, it won't be easy to let go of the grudge. The only thing that is constant is the feeling of emptiness. The moment you step in, it will sink slowly and endlessly.

Well, what do I know. Whenever something unfair happened to me, I was sick of it and wanted to take revenge. The world is not a good place for a child who lost his family to live all alone.

At least, I know this part of Sen's thoughts. I have no choice but to know.

"And yet..."

I was going to say something, but I closed my mouth at Sen's words.

I know, you yourself chose this kind of goal. As for me, I didn't want to put up with it, so I emptied my heart and avoided my feelings, but you wouldn't.

You're strong. You probably won't miss this chance, no matter how you feel about leaving the North.

I thought about it. Sen's fate as Serena, is something certain, whether someone transmigrated into her or not, it was something that wouldn't change.

"Make a choice you won't regret."

That was all I could say.

Then, Sen smiled at me, though she looked like she was about to cry.

t/n: so sorry for not updating for 4 days! i've been so busy with life, i'm hoping i could get back into translating more chapters soon since i also want to read the novel quickly QAQ 

#tngdh

[multimilfs]

Donna Beneviento x Fem!Reader: While I'm Around

Summary: Donna Beneviento + 122 — “I’m not going anywhere.”

AO3

Prompts found here!

A/N: One thing I can never get enough of in Donna fics is Angie. Yes, she's creepy as hell, but I love that little doll.

Full Ficmas List

Tag List: @multifandomfix @escapetodreamworld @ghostsunderstoodmysoul

Warning(s): Blood mention

Your lips part in a silent scream. Pain suffuses your entire body and you hunch over, clutching at your now-bleeding leg. Angie giggles maniacally and takes off in the other direction. 

“Angie! Get back here!” You yell through the pain.

“No thanks!” 

“I’m going to turn you into firewood, I swear!” 

You start limping in the direction of where she disappeared, leaving a trail of blood on the hardwood behind you. She really got you good this time. And honestly, it feels a little personal, but you’re too angry to give that thought much power. 

“You wish!” Angie calls back, “I’m not going anywhere!” 

On a good day, Angie is manageable. Donna’s closeness often curbs her more feral tendencies. But on days like today, when Donna is summoned rather suddenly from the manor, Angie borders on insane. 

And despite how much you love her, it makes you want to chain her up in the basement until Donna gets back. 

Unfortunately, you were so surprised by Donna’s departure you didn’t stop to consider the option. Now you’re paying the price for it. All of it had started well, actually; Angie had been mellow and toddled after you while you went about tasks, asking questions and making funny, yet outrageous demands. Your favorite had been when she tugged on your pant leg—almost pulling the damn things down—and asked if she could try a raw egg. You said no. 

Somewhere along the way her curious and humorous questions descended into madness. One second she’s eating the cooked eggs you made and the next she’s tossing an empty bottle across the room. Trying to wrangle her hadn’t been too hard until her mouth clamped around your ankle; somehow, despite her lack of teeth, she’d done a good amount of damage. 

Now, you find yourself in the curious predicament of finding her. 

You can hear her giggling as if she’s all around you. It’s eerie. You hate to admit it, but her lack of control scares you a little bit, and you miss Donna. The problem is she’s unreachable when she’s in a meeting. 

“Angie,” You call, turning at the slightest of sounds, “Come out!” 

Turning, something dark in your peripheral vision catches your attention. Your eyes widen with horror as you stare. 

Angie’s in the walls. 

You fall to your knees and stick your hand in the hole she managed to create in the wall, trying to reach and grab hold of her. It’s a thin space for you, but the perfect size for her to maneuver through them. The fear of her getting stuck seizes you. 

If you can’t get her out, or worse, she gets stuck, you’ll have no idea what to tell Donna. She trusted you with the most important piece of her and you let her climb inside the walls where neither of you can reach her. 

“Dear?”

A pathetic little shriek leaves your lips. You turn, wide-eyed, to see Donna in her usual garb, watching you with her head tilted. 

“Donna!” 

A delighted noise comes from somewhere above you, “Donna?!” 

Pain erupts in your arm and you yank it back. Angie appears through the hole in the wall like nothing has happened, running to Donna, who crouches to receive her. The doll looks precious being wrapped up in her owner’s arms. 

“You’re home!” 

“I am,” Donna confirms, voice rough and yet, so gentle, “Why were you in the walls?” 

“Nothing. Getting away from her.” 

Angie points at you and you throw your hands up. 

“Why?” 

“What are you, the police?” The doll asks. 

“Angie.” Donna warns. 

“Ugh. You’re both boring.” 

With more attitude than befitting a sentient doll, she crosses her little wooden arms over her chest, and stomps away after being set on the floor. Both you and Donna watch her go. You scowl after her, but can’t help the little grin that breaks out when she’s gone. 

Donna stands perfectly patient and silent, hands folded in front of her. You step into her space and carefully fold back the veil of her garb. 

Her pale, shy face smiles softly back at you. 

“There’s my girl.” You smile sweetly. 

Donna blushes. It’s your favorite look on her, even after all this time. She hides behind her veil for everyone else and you think she’s still not used to being seen without it. 

“Hello.” You whisper, taking her hands in your own. 

“Hello, dear,” She whispers back, “Good day?” 

“Interesting for sure. Angie was… energetic.” 

“I should’ve taken her. I’m sorry.” 

She looks down at her feet and your heart lurches. You’re quick to press a kiss to one cheek… then the other… and then her forehead, and so on until you’ve kissed every inch of available skin and she’s laughing—soft and sweet—with all traces of sadness gone. 

Running a careful hand down the side of her face, your fingers play absently with a piece of black lace on her dress. It’s starting to fray from constant use and you frown. 

“Why does Angie act like that when you’re apart?” You ask curiously. 

Her eye searches you for any trace of judgment or anger, “Angie and I are the best parts of each other. When we’re separated, we lose those qualities.” 

“Donna, I love Angie… but her qualities aren’t what I would call… good.” 

“Decisive. Free. Playful.” 

Her voice is rougher. She rubs at her throat and attempts to clear it subtly. 

“I understand.” You say. 

It makes sense to you now and you wonder why it never crossed your mind to ask before. Angie was playful while Donna was calm, thoughtful. They balanced one another. You hadn’t realized sharing the same Cadou would tie them so closely. 

Perhaps that’s why you hadn’t balked at Angie in the beginning; you felt they were more similar than different. 

The door creaks open, both you and Donna turning. Angie’s eyes peek around the door. When you raise an eyebrow, she walks further into the room. 

She stands in front of you and kicks at the floor, “Sorry. I guess.” 

“Angie.” 

“Sorry.” 

You wait for something else; an addition of kinda or maybe. It doesn’t come. Angie looks up and waits. You think she’s waiting for you to say something and make the whole thing okay. 

If you’re honest with yourself, everything was okay the second Donna got home. Getting bitten hurt, but you have no desire to hold a grudge over it. 

“You’re good, driftwood.” You grin. 

“Driftwood?!” 

Angie plows into your legs and you’re ready. You laugh, picking her up and swinging like you’re going to throw her, only to keep her in your arms. A grumble leaves her mouth.

Over her head, you catch the look on Donna’s face, and melt. She looks surprised. It makes you wonder how many people have been so cruel, have written her and Angie off so quickly. You refuse to let them feel that again; not while you’re around. 

#donna beneviento #donna beneviento x reader #resident evil village #resident evil village x reader #lady beneviento #donna beneviento imagine #re8 #resident evil village imagine #resident evil 8 #wlw #wlw imagine #dec2022 #multimilfswritings #multimilfsficmas2022

[yuhzz]

crush - m.mn x fem!reader

summary: something about mina got you trapped in the palm of her hands.

warning: fluff. curse words.

word count: 2.2k words

==============

you once believed that it was never too late for anything at all. you believed that chances should be taken, and risks should be ignored.

you cared less about your problems and cared more about living your life to the fullest. no one could ever hold you down back then.

you spent countless nights, sleeping with countless people.

you simply did what your heart desired - what it told you to do.

but then, it didn't take long for someone to finally tame you.

myoui mina.

she was someone you met at a random bar somewhere west of the city's heart. when you saw her, she seemed too timid. her eyes were calm, and the way she spoke was poetical. everything about her screamed elegance.

from the way she'd walk, to the way she gulped down her drink - everything.

for the first time ever in your life, your legs trembled as you were approaching a stranger. but...she's not just a stranger to you, isn't she?

your heart hammered against your chest - endlessly screaming that maybe she was the one. maybe.

"h-hi" you stuttered.

she, who was talking with her friends, turned around and gave you a look. mina raised her eyebrows but remained silent.

taking that as your signal, you asked her. "is that seat available?" you pointed over to the one next to her.

she looked at the seat beside her before meeting your eyes once again. "you may take it if you please" she said and averted her attention to her friends once again.

well, that certainly isn't the reaction you were expecting to get.

looks like she'll be a no-go tonight. maybe it's time to find someone else to spend the night with?

you sighed, slightly disappointed. "is there something you'd like to drink, miss?" the bartender turned to you.

you looked at him, "give me your hardest one, please". he nodded at you, went back to his station, and started doing his magic.

as you waited, the latter beside you couldn't help but steal glances. hm, does that mean she's somewhat interested?

"here you go" the bartender gave you the drink. you took it in your hands and stood up before paying him. he mumbled a 'thanks' and served the other customers.

another sigh escaped your lips before joining the group of people on the dance floor. you took a sip of your drink every now and then.

and it didn't take too long for the alcohol to start kicking in. your head started aching, and your legs were wobblier than before. you shook your head in hopes of trying to stay sober for just a bit.

but feeling that it wasn't helping at all, you put down your unfinished drink somewhere and decided to leave the club.

"shit" you mumbled as you walked, your body helplessly swaying side to side.

"have...to...get...home" you stuttered and slapped yourself. you continued to walk until the sudden feeling of uneasiness hit you.

you felt as if...someone was following you.

you continued walking, your pace fastening. "oh, God, not today, please. i still haven't completed my damned thesis" you cursed.

the more you walked, the more you lost control of your body, and slowly, your vision started getting blurry.

feeling your body got heavier, everything went black. your body fell to the floor.

the last thing you heard was a gasp and a soft voice telling you, "wake up!"

==============

"ugh" you groaned and held your throbbing head. "shit, i overdid drinking again" you grumbled and sat up on the bed.

your eyes scrunched in pain as you struggled to get over your terrible headache.

assuming that you were inside your house, and not someone else's, you stood up from the bed and went to the cabinet you presumed was full of medicines. you opened it (with your eyes still closed) and searched for an aspirin, only to be met with soft, thick, pieces of garment.

"eh?" you mumbled and slowly opened your eyes.

your eyes went wide when you saw countless pairs of... "undergarments??? since when did these get here???" you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion only to realize that the pair of pajamas you were wearing wasn't yours.

"okay, what the fuck?" you cursed and looked around the room.

"okay...where the actual fuck am i now???" you exclaimed. it wasn't really unusual for you to find yourself elsewhere other than inside your room but...you didn't sleep with someone last night, right?

just then, the door creaked open and came in her. your eyes went wide.

"y-you?!" you were shocked.

as long as you recall, she indirectly rejected you last night.

so she wouldn't ever dare to sleep with you, right? right???

"don't worry. we didn't do anything last night. it's just that i happened to walk in the same direction you were walking last night and kinda witnessed you pass out on the street" she giggled when she saw your face.

hearing what had actually occurred, you sighed in relief.

"thank you" you mumbled and gave her a smile.

she smiled back at you and was about to invite you for breakfast when she saw where your hands were.

her face went cold and when you noticed her expression, you trailed her eyes and saw that it was looking at your hands that were holding a pair of bras.

you realized why she was looking like that and immediately dropped the bra.

"holy shi- i am so sorry! it's just- it's- i- i thought that this was my house and all that..." you defended yourself.

she shifted her gaze back to you and chuckled awkwardly.

"a...alright then. b-breakfast's ready, by the way," she said and slowly walked away.

well, that was awkward as heck.

you spent a few seconds inside the room dying in embarrassment.

"oh, just swallow me whole right now" you mumbled and went out.

the headache was still there, but it's more bearable now.

you followed the welcoming smell of porridge and pancake. you eventually found yourself standing in front of the kitchen.

"come, sit" she invited you.

you followed her gesture and sat down on one of the chairs.

she put a bowl of porridge in front of you. "thanks" you said. she sat down in front of you and put down a plate of pancakes.

"porridge for you, pancakes for me," she said and started eating.

however, you found it weird how she seemed too willing to do these things for you.

you, a stranger, a person she barely knows.

"why?" you asked her. she raised an eyebrow and looked at you.

she put down her fork. "what do you mean by 'why'?" she asked you back.

"why...are you being so kind to me? i mean. all the things you're doing right now aren't something someone else would simply do for anyone, let alone a person they don't even know..." you trailed off.

she tilted her head before smiling. "first of all, you looked pitiful laying on the floor last night so i decided to help you".

"well, ouch but thank you"

"and second, i can't just ignore someone pretty, can't i?" she nonchalantly said with a bashful smile before picking up her fork and eating again.

you blushed and looked down at the porridge. unknowingly, a smile appeared in your mouth.

you took the spoon and ate a spoonful of the porridge she cooked.

but as soon as you swallowed the porridge, disgust was all over your face.

"okay, i really appreciate you cooking for me and all but this porridge...was definitely not what i expected it to taste like" you scrunched your nose.

she laughed melodiously.

"don't blame me! i just followed the instructions online!" she defended - still laughing.

"well, the instructions you followed were definitely wrong" you chuckled.

"i knew you'd say that" she giggled and sighed.

"want a pancake instead? i cooked an extra just in case" she offered.

"i'd be more than willing to accept," you said and thanked her.

she nodded and stood up from her chair. whilst she was preparing the pancake, you felt the urge to ask her for her name.

"i hope you don't mind me asking." you started.

she turned around with a plate in her hands.

"hm? sure, please do so, i don't mind at all," she said as she approached you and placed the plate down before going back to the counter to get the pancake.

"what's your name?" you asked the moment she got the pan with the pancake in it.

"i'm mina" she said without a second thought and walked towards you again.

"how about you?" she asked you back and slightly leaned in to place the pancake on your plate.

"i'm y/n" after putting the pancake on top of your plate, she leaned back and made eye contact with you.

"well, nice to meet you y/n-ssi. i hope we get along well" she put the pan down, took your hand in hers, and shook it.

the touch sent electricity down your spine and made your heart jump up and down.

after pulling away from the handshake, she went back to her seat and started eating again.

something inside you felt magnificent.

not only did she seem different the moment you met her last night, she also felt important.

and you really hope that she is.

after breakfast, you told her that you'll be leaving soon since you didn't want to disturb her any further, but she insisted that it was fine and that she actually enjoyed your company.

"no, i really have to go. i still have to do something anyway" you lied.

with a sigh, she said, "alright then,".

a few minutes later, she gave you your clothes back. you changed into them before leaving.

"thank you again, mina-ssi. i owe you one" you beamed and stepped outside the house.

"it was nothing, y/n. see you" she bid goodbye and waited for you to leave.

==============

"i'm home!" you exclaimed as soon as you stepped inside your house.

"oh! you're back early. usually, you'd be back late after a one-night stand with someone" lisa, your friend and housemate, greeted you.

"it was not a one-night stand actually..." you trailed off with a huge smile.

lisa raised her eyebrows suspiciously.

"eh? what's with that smile of yours???" she asked you, eager to know the meaning behind your unusual smile.

you ignored her question and went straight to your bedroom with her following you close behind.

"yah, don't ignore me!" she complained and shook your shoulders.

with the smile still not leaving your face, you said, "one is nothing without love, lisa. remember that and find yourself someone"

you left her standing in the hallway with a puzzled face before going inside your bedroom.

"God, what the hell was she talking about?" lisa scoffed and shook her head before going back to the living room.

"oh, i just hope that she's fine" she said and continued watching the series she's been watching for 2 days.

you, on the other hand, were restless. you couldn't remove mina from inside your head, and your stomach was feeling like the whole damn zoo just by the thought of her.

you were smiling uncontrollably even when you decided to change into your pjs.

but as you you were removing your clothes one by one, you felt a strange piece of paper from inside one of your pockets.

"huh?" you mumbled and pulled the paper out.

call me 010-xxxx-xxxx ;)

"holy..." you couldn't believe it.

"holy crap" you mumbled.

"call me 010-xxxx-xxxx wink" you read out loud.

"holy shit!!" you screamed at the top of your lungs, startling lisa the moment she heard your scream, making her rush to your room in such haste.

"what happened? where is the kidnapper? i'm gonna beat their shit up!" she threatened.

your wide eyes shifted from the paper to lisa.

"a-ah! no, no. i'm sorry if i startled you. don't worry, no one dared to kidnap me" you shook your hands.

"wha- why'd the hell would you scream that loud, anyway???" she sighed and walked back downstairs.

you smiled apologetically and looked back at the paper.

'what if...i call her now?' you thought and took your phone out of your pocket.

you spent quite a while thinking about it.

'would she mind? she wouldn't, right?'

you sighed and took a deep breath.

you unlocked your phone and typed in her number. you fiddled with your phone for a bit.

but eventually, you decided to press the call button.

your heart started to race again as your phone rang.

about 5 seconds have passed when suddenly, the call came through and the same voice you missed hearing spoke.

"hello?" the latter warily asked.

"a-ah! mina-ssi, this is y/n" you nervously greeted.

"oh! y/n. i thought you wouldn't call me" you smiled widely when you heard what she said.

'so does that mean, she was expecting my call?'

"why wouldn't i?" you set the paper, you were holding, aside and lay down on your bed, feeling as if you two would be talking the rest of the day.

each time she spoke, more and more butterflies flooded your stomach.

looks like someone's developed a crush, yeah?

#twice imagines #twice scenarios #twice x reader #twice #kpop x reader #kpop #mina x reader #twice mina x reader #myoui mina #blackpink #blackpink lisa #lisa manoban #lisa #mina #yuhzz

[wutheringmights]

AUTHORS COMMENTARY FOR NEW CTB PLSSSSS😭😭😭

Thank you! I would be more than happy to explain myself.

My commentaries have, historically, been a pain in the butt to read on a formatting level. I have attempted to fix this by breaking up the commentary into labeled sections. Consequently, this led to me writing out way more than I normally would.

So, enjoy.

[The Past]

Pre-Festival & Festival Day

As I mentioned previously, I wrote a significant part of this past section for the last chapter-- all the way up until Link asks for Icarius’s name. I ended up cutting the chapter into two for space, which meant that there was a few weeks between writing the first and second half of the icarius stuff. 

I really did not spend as much time with the latter half as I wanted to, and I think it suffers for it. I’ll elaborate on that in a second. Let’s try to stick to talking about the chapter in a somewhat chronological order. 

I joked about this last weekend, but Jakucho is extremely funny for hearing Link speculate about Icarius and Nephus and deciding, “Yup. Not my problem. Have fun with that.” Of course, she thinks he’s obsessed with Nephus and not Icarius. 

Gaze upon my weak attempt to confirm Ayane is trans. I think this might have been a bit of a clunky way to do it. I never know how to get characters to confirm their identities without it sounding too much like a script read. Hopefully, this was at least clear if not entirely blatant.

Holidays are such an important part of world building, and I think it is very silly when you are in a fun little fantasy world and they celebrate not-Christmas or the like. That being said, sometimes you are so exhausted of any ideas that you have to sit down and say “Fuck it. Off-brand Halloween.”

That being said, having a holiday to mourn the loss of the Sacred Realm feels fitting for the world, even if the inclusion of masks was a bit clunky. 

I really do think an under-explored area of Zelda lore is that the goddess’s realm is just... gone. Corrupted. Where are the goddesses now that the Sacred Realm is the Dark World? Is there a holy crusade to restore the Dark World to the Sacred Realm? I think Nintendo could do a dark fantasy spin off about this. Or when I finally get around to running that Hyrule homebrew DND campaign I have been cajoling my friends into playing, I’ll make it a plot point. 

Now that I am typing this, I am realizing that I really should have had a little moment where all the masks forces Link to remember the child. Fuck. 

In my original vision, Icarius was going to be very polite and quiet while at Jakucho’s estate, only for his next scene to be him snarking at some guys during a bar fight. What a bait and switch that would have been.

When I was a kid, I genuinely thought that the keaton mask was supposed to be a Pikachu mask (in part because I had only seen it in my cousin’s copy of Super Smash Bros). Hence, the yellow fox vs yellow mouse banter. 

Link’s House / Icarius Backstory

Writing Icarius and Link banter was surprisingly difficult. I have this whole vision in my head about these two being loving to verbally spar with each other. And for some reason, the dialogue was just not flowing the other day.

And by the other day, I mean that a part of my major revisions the day of posting was to fix this entire section. Did it work? Not really. But I got a D grade prose up to a B-, and that was going to have to do. 

My biggest gripe is their conversation in Link’s house, where Icarius info-dumps his entire backstory. In my brain, this scene would have felt dark and moody while still being a little romantic. They definitely hit all the points I needed them to hit for the plot, but it just... it’s so stilted. It doesn’t feel like Icarius is unloading years-worth of grievances on someone who he can trust to listen, if only for a night. It feels like Icarius is reading from a script. Ugh.

There was going to be an in-story explanation from Icarius as to why his hair is bleached that never actually came up. For those curious, it’s that Nephus had the grand idea first to bleach his hair but was worried it wouldn’t look good. So he had Icarius dye his first. Sure enough, he thought it looked terrible and decided to not go through with his end. Icarius was going to be very annoyed by that and would bitch about how long it would take for him to grow it out again. 

I originally was not going to give him the bleached hair to begin with, but after everyone made fun of Warriors for not recognizing him in the first place, I felt like I had to make a significant change to his appearance. It actually helped to get him to play the role I needed him to play in Link’s post-war problems.

Let’s rewind. In my original outline, Icarius was never here in Kakariko. This entire chapter would have instead been Link deciding on his own terms to get over his hang-up over being involved with men and going out to flirt with one. This would have been a random soldier who had been discharged and was just passing through town on his way home from the war. Link would have subconsciously been attracted to him because he resembled the engineer. 

For example, he would have made some comment about liking how strong his hands were. 

This soldier was truly going to be a random guy. At most, he would have mentioned rooming with a friend on-leave named Arlo (who appeared earlier in story as a soldier in the trenches). The whole point was that Link felt like he could connect with another person as long as he didn’t give them a chance to look too deeply into him. 

But after the House of Nephus characters were all introduced, I realized I needed to find some way to elaborate on them. Switching out the random soldier for Icarius was the easiest move.

Does it work? Kinda? It definitely helps the obsession plotline, but the original point got lost among all of the Icarius backstory.

So, Icarius backstory. I feel terrible for everyone who was looking forward to Link being swept away in a beautiful, touching romance. I tried to warn you.

Icarius and his relationship with Nephis is fascinating to me, and I really feel like I only have time to scratch the surface. Icarius is very smart, but believes that Nephus is one the “good ones.” But he can see that Nephus is starting to lose respect for him, so he plays these tricks to remind him that he’s still needed. He knows its foolish but his entire like has encompassed Nephus and he’s scared to know what it would look like without him. It works for a while, but not long enough. The reader knows that it stops working because that smart mouth of his that always picks fights gets taken away.

And that’s not even addressing the greater society Icarius lives in or the way Philo’s addition changes things for him even more. 

All that’s to say that even if Icarius is not the perfect romantic lead people were hoping for, I intended to suggest in-story that if either him or Link were in different circumstances, there could be something there. 

I actually really like the idea of Warriors’s love interest being an agent of an enemy state who is mean to him in the exact way he thinks is hot. Instead of inventing Hylian soldier or Sheikah warrior OC’s to be Warriors’s love interest, can there be more of this? It doesn’t even need to be Icarius. I just think falling-in-love with-the-enemy-but-the-enemy-is-a-shithead-about-it is an extremely funny dynamic.

There is also nothing funnier than Icarius thinking he’s met a nice, normal guy only to realize mid-act that he Messed Up

Also I hope this contexts helps fill-in the blanks for some of Icarius’s actions in the present day, which is no doubt a lot of “oh crap, it’s that guy I screwed that one time” and “how dare you forget about the one time we screwed!”

Post-Icarius Timeskip

I really needed to spend a few days at least on that last bit about Link’s realization. It’s so pivotal for his character, and I really just shoved it in at the end there. I’m going to have to add a lot of flowery prose to the beginning of next chapter to make up for it. 

That being said, it’s important to me that there really isn’t a specific trigger for him realizing what he’s done. He just finally feels comfortable and safe enough for his brain to start processing everything he did. 

It was very important to me that Link decided to stop dwelling in his past by putting a bowl into his cabinet, only for that bowl to break when he realizes what he’s done. Symbolism and stuff. 

[Present Day]

Ganondorf’s Arrival & Townhouse

I’m really happy that so many of you were excited for Ganondorf’s arrival last chapter. That scene was so cheesy that I was worried it would dampen the excitement of actually getting to see him. 

Originally, Ganondorf and Lincoln were going to have their argument in a bedroom, but I moved it to the foyer for convenience sake. But in my mind, I never moved Lincoln’s starting place from hiding in Ganondorf’s room, hence why he started the scene at the top of the stairs and not a more logical spot (in the hallway).

The reason it was going to be in the bedroom was because I thought Lincoln had snuck past Ganondorf’s guards and housestaff. But they all know about Lincoln, so it made more sense for Lincoln to subtly enter through the back entrance. It’s a whole thing. 

I think my favorite part of the Chain already being at Ganondorf’s house is that there’s an implied subplot that happened off-screen where they plus Lincoln had to go hunting for where they thought Ganondorf was staying. 

When Spirit pretends to not know who Ganondorf is, there was going to be a joke where the boys are trying to explain everything and he’s like “oh, so we’re all being racist here.” I ended up cutting it because, well, they were being racist.

Speaking of which, the whole thing with the maid calling Warriors “my lady” is that Warriors was going to try to gently correct her (because he thinks she’s stupid), only to find out that she was just being passive aggressive

Some may remember that one of the hardest cuts I made to CTB was a reporter OC. You can definitely tell that I am massively regretting that cut right now. Imagine how could it would have been for Warriors to pressure this antagonist journalist who’s been reporting all his fuck-ups into helping him fix everything. That sub plot would have been so good. 

I was going to have a few of the other heroes confront Warriors as to why he credited Zelda, reaching a similar conclusion that his narration provided. Ended up cutting it for space. 

A lot of the black blood stuff that I came up with for this chapter really doesn’t hit with LU, but at this point, I really don’t care. 

There’s something about how Spirit viewing monsters and humans the same resulting in him very easily killing people while also being the only one who would realize that black blooded monsters could have always been cured, had anyone thought about it before. I just enjoy the way this man thinks.

Also, Spirit really enjoying spicy food is such a stupid character quirk, and I am almost ashamed of how much effort I went to develop it. Originally, I wanted Wild to get so fed up with Spirit being unimpressed with his cooking that he would demand Spirit to cook one night, only to discover that he actually can’t cook and just overcompensates with a shit-ton of hot sauce. 

Ganondorf’s speech about how to win a war is partly the result of me spending months ruminating about how the Triforce could be used to end a war ethically, and partly an exploration of how Ganondorf thinks 

I wanted to do one last scene of everyone leaving, where Wind would confront Time about being an asshole to Ganondorf. I cut it for space, then convinced myself that I would have time to add it back in, only to then cut it for time. My apologies to the Wind fans who have gotten nothing as of late. 

Hospital & Family Dinner 

I said before that I wasn’t initially going to rescue Toto until the end, which means that I had no plan for how Toto would feel until now. I realized that Toto was just... done. He wanted no part in Warriors’s life any longer. Unlike Kat, who got a lovely send off, I think this will be the last we see of Toto: an unfinished, unresolved mess of emotions.

When I was first describing Lincoln’s casual fit, I remember thinking to myself that I was just describing a semi-retired aged rockstar. The image has not left my brain, and if I was willing to throw a few more anachronisms into the story, I would have 100% described Lincoln like that. 

Fun fact: Orlanda’s family was going to come back in the form of her sibling being a prominent member of the rebellion. I didn’t do it because it was getting ridiculous how many relevant people were related to each other. 

When I was first coming up with Linkle’s character, I had the idea that she had that shallow form of feminism where it’s a big win for women everywhere when, say, generic action heroine wears pants. So I had it in my mind that Linkle hates dresses on principle. So during the fever dream sequence, when Warriors dreamt that Linkle was fawning over a dress, it was to show that he didn’t really know her that well.

But I never really established this idea that well and no one knew this about Linkle, so into a dress she goes.

I told myself that I was going to scour the entire story to double check if I had ever described Lincoln laughing anywhere, but never got around to it. But the nice thing about unreliable narrators is that if I get something wrong, I can just blame Warriors (that is not really how unreliable narrators work)

I have a friend who “tee-hees” while she laughs, and it’s the cutest thing ever. I just think it would be fun if Lincoln also has an adorable little kitten laugh. 

I had to look up how they build roads on dunes for this chapter. 

I did write the full Lincoln and Ganondorf backstory in a post way back when, if anyone wants to review it. It would be nice to get to get all the small details into the main story, but it’s really not pertinent to any of the main action

I definitely talked about Niko before, but I can’t find the posts. To refresh: Niko is Spirit’s uncle, in that he’s a member of the Macaryll family but no one can remember who he’s actually related to. Spirit’s parents are dead, and he lived with a different uncle and aunt until his apprenticeship. Then he moved in with Niko since he lived near Alfonzo. 

Warriors hating chocolate is a character quirk that’s not necessary to the story, but I just think is too funny to not go out of my way to include

The idea of Linkle and Lincoln dancing came from a completely different scene idea. I played around with doing a similar set-up while the Chain is on the road to the Zora’s Domain. The scene would start with Sky showing Lana how to do a Skyloftian dance, which would lead to everyone else showing off their moves. When Warriors admits that he doesn’t think he could dance anymore, Spirit would teach him a New Hyrulean dance that required only one hand. 

That led to an idea of Warriors dancing with Linkle and Lincoln, then just Linkle and Lincoln dancing themselves.

The night was going to end with Warriors forgetting his scarf and, when he went back to get it, he would overhear Lincoln venting to Ganondorf about how the whole stepping up as the parent thing is going. This got cut because it’s more fascinating when you’re forced to infer that a character is thinking. 

The Walk Back & Out Dancing

This scene of Warriors and Spirit walking back together and opening up is my real pride and joy this chapter, which unfortunately got massively overshadowed by everything else. 

So I will now take time to gush.

Spirit’s photography... so I wanted to give this man a hobby because the man cannot just like trains. I know everyone headcanons it as his hyperfixation, but it’s also his job. He needs a richer life than just that one thing. Granted, I took the route of making him start as a trainspotter like the Spirit Tracks NPC Ferrus. 

I just feel like I am so correct about Spirit liking photography. I want this to be my cultural impact. I know I said that already about Icarius, but I mean this more. Go forth and give that man a camera. 

The official document Spirit was carrying around was his engineering license.  

Also, I was 100% ready for everyone to flood me with questions about Spirit’s ex-boyfriend. After the ickywars ordeal, I figured that there was a significant chance y’all wouldn’t be normal about him. I was prepared. And you know what? I’ve heard zilch. So, let me info dump about this man now.

Spirit’s ex-boyfriend is named Jean. He is on the cusp of 30 (compared to Spirit’s 23/24). He’s a mechanic, which is a few steps below Royal Engineer. He lost his leg in a work accident when a piece of machinery fell on him. They met through work. Spirit goes through phases of being a serial dater before swearing off dating for a few months, but Jean is the first person to make it past an awkward first date and hit relationship status. Spirit thought that because he was older, he would be more understanding. 

And Jean tried. He really did. But Spirit is massive defensive and always on the offensive, so every slight disagreement turned into an explosive argument. Jean decided that he could not deal with someone who could not have a rational conversation with him, so he dumped him after 6 months. This was fairly recent, about three months before Spirit returned to Warriors’s era. 

Spirit was going to name drop Jean in his speech later, but I couldn’t figure out a way to make it clear who Jean was without it sounding awkward. 

I really like Spirit and Warriors’s conversation about Icarius, if only because it shows where their communication fails. When Warriors insists that you have a duty to disobey bad orders, he is criticizing himself for falling into the military mindset. This sounds like a criticism to Spirit, who insists that people will do anything under orders because that is what he did. 

After Warriors has spent nearly every chapter since his amputation bemoaning his disability, I really wanted there to be a moment where he realizes that just because his ability level is different, he doesn’t have to give up doing everything he loves. That’s just an important lesson for him to learn, even if it is a little inspiration-porn-y.

The Hot Mess

You might realize that there is a massive elephant in the room I am not going to discuss here. That is because this post is going into the main tag. No one has complained to me yet, but let’s not tempt anyone right now. Just like the Neck Thing, I’ll make a separate post later for anyone who wants it. Just remind me in a few days.

With that being said--

Them sharing a cigarette was another scene that was originally conceived as taking place during the trip to the Zora’s Domain. Spirit’s anecdote about failing to make friends would have served as an early hint about his loneliness and inability to make friends. 

I also have never smoked a cigarette before, so I had to sit there on wikiHow reading up on  how to smoke one without coughing. 

The half in Spirit’s four and a half attempts at quitting is this time he decided to quit, only to relapse after three hours. It was too short to count as a full attempt.

Spirit’s speech hopefully reveals what exactly is Spirit’s problem, both how he sees it and how it really is. Unlike Warriors, he never found support and healing once the war ending. No one understood his experiences, and his coping mechanism of lashing out ward away anyone who could help him. Spirit just wants to feel better, but he doesn’t know how. 

Like... his whole thing about starting his own garage-- he’s a child prodigy who is used to be good at the things he does. He ended up tarnishing his own reputation, so he threw himself back into work because working on trains and fulfilling his dream is supposed to make him happy. He’s successful, but he’s not satisfied.

I was also expecting people to have a ton of questions about why Alfonzo disowned Spirit. In short, Spirit was already on a thin line with his lashing out and shitty attitude. Alfonzo was willing to let that slide until he realized Spirit was breaking work regulations to go on more runs without taking the legally required amount of time to rest inbetween. Spirit was a legal liability. He fired Spirit, but made it very clear that he was doing him a favor by not reporting him and getting his Royal Engineering license suspended. 

No one else in New Hyrule knows the real reason why Spirit was fired, so they all assumed it was his personality. So he has a bit of a reputation now for being hard to work with. 

Another thing that was not 100% conveyed in Spirit’s speech was that even if he didn’t hurt Zelda, he could not be with her because he does not want to be Prince Consort. His experiences in Warriors’s Hyrule thoroughly scared him off from politics, though he would have refused anyway since he would never give up being an engineer. 

 Fundamentally, Spirit is an extremely lonely person who has felt abandoned by everyone in his life. He knows that his life is the way it is now because of his experiences with Warriors. His guiding principle is trying to find some way to fix himself so that he can get the life he was supposed to have, one where he is happy and loved. 

I just... god, I love this character.

And then there’s Warriors, who feels like he not capable of change and that any opportunity he has to change has been denied to him. Fixing Spirit and Time’s relationship was supposed to be a part of his redemption. Making Spirit happy was supposed to mean he’s forgiven. He has no friends, not in the Chain or in Toto. No one needs him.

Warriors also just means so much to me. I adore this disaster of a human being. 

Warriors’s Plan Out

Does Warriors’s plan make sense? I am assuming it does since no one expressed confusion, but nearly every comment thus far has exclusively been about the Hot Mess (understandable). 

There was a reason I was peeved I had to cut every chance in earlier in the story to go back to Castle Town, and it’s because I’ve known that it was going to be an extremely important location. 

Warriors choosing to forgo a glorious revolution in favor of maintaining (if not manipulating) the status quo is not a great philosophy for our protagonist to be spouting in 2024. In my defense: a) I came up with this story in 2021, which was a different real world landscape, and b) Warriors would never become this ideal hero.

It feels more true for Warriors to not really become the idealized hero. His best is not that great. But if he can’t help being the worst, he could at least use his methods for good. 

I have mentioned before that I have low empathy. Lincoln’s speech about people naturally being better or worst at being good is a product of a lot of my musing about how I sometimes feel frustrated and resentful at how hard I find it to follow the social cues that would make me a “better person.” Wouldn’t I be a better person if I had an easier time recognize when someone is in trouble and needs my help. Instead, I have to depend on myself to remember the cues, and I am so prone to mistakes.

I want to be a kind person. I want to be the best person anyone has ever met, but it’s an uphill battle. I feel like I am always working against myself. But it’s still important that I make the choice every day to be kind to others. 

Besides, I have been told that I am more kind and helpful than other people, if only because I don’t rely on my feelings when deciding to reach out to others. So it has its perks. 

I’m not saying Warriors has low empathy. I have expressly written him as someone with empathy. But my philosophy that kindness and caring for others is an active choice just felt like it belongs here. 

There is story-canon low empathy character that I wanted to reveal in story to help Warriors beat the accusations and get people to not armchair diagnose him. I am still holding out hope I will have time and space to explore this in story, but if I don’t--

Four is written to have low empathy. It’s a consequence of the Four Sword splitting up his emotions, making it extremely difficult to tap into more than one emotion at a time, much less his empathy towards others. He can feel how this change in himself and has some thoughts on the whole thing. 

Is that the end of the chapter. Fuck yeah. I’ve been working on this since Monday, If you read all this... congrats! I hope it was worth it.

Also, I forgot to mention that this is the end of Act 5. My act system is a scam and not that important, but I figured I should let you all know.  

#your bonus fact is that i misspelled ganondorf's name about twenty different ways while writing this chapter #the swiftness and volume of demands for a commentary was very funny #y'all really wanted me to explain myself #bonus bonus fun fact is that it took all my will power to not formally name the chapter the Hot Mess #but like the neck thing we will just have this informal title for the scene in question lol #me rambling #lu ctb #ask #linked universe #anonymous #ctb spoilers #ctb commentary #ctb lore #fallenleafofmaple #meanlesbean #shoot-i-messed-up #savimatteo2810

[strawberrymilk-sunshine]

Don't worry, I will care for you.

If it hides in the reef and has two sets of teeth that's... a moray.

Warning(s): poisoning, yandere Jade

"Ugh... thanks for taking care of me, Jade..." You said.

"No problem at all, (Y/N)." He responded, placing an empty bucket beside your bed for you.

You've been very sick all week. Just a fever, nothing to worry about...

Jade was actually beginning to enjoy taking care of you. It felt nice.

Oh... but your fever would be gone soon... how sad.

The day you finally got back to school, you were just miserable. You were dizzy, your head hurt, oh it was terrible...

Maybe you should keep yourself out of school, just for a few more days.

[Local Shrimp🦐]: Jade, I think I'm still sick... you wouldn't mind taking care of me for a few more days, right?

[Charming Moray🍄]: Of course not, (Y/N). Anything for you.

[Local Shrimp🦐]: Thanks Jade!

When you got back to Ramshackle, you immediately collapsed onto your bed.

You can only hope you feel better tomorrow.

You woke up, sweating profusely.

Your entire body hurt, you couldn't identify exactly where the pain was coming from, though...

You're hungry.

You got out of bed, wanting to go downstairs and get something to eat.

As you walked through the hallway, you suddenly collapsed. You weren't fully unconscious, but you definitely weren't all there.

"Oh dear, (Y/N)... are you ok...?"

Your vision way kind of blurry, but you could tell who it was. It was Jade.

"You were hungry, weren't you?" Jade asked, placing a hand on your face. "Well, lesson learned I suppose. You probably shouldn't get out of bed until we know you're better, unless you have to." Jade picked you up off the floor. "I'll take you back to your room. And don't worry, I'll bring you up some food when it's done cooking."

"Thank... you..." You said, breathing heavily.

"My pleasure, (Y/N)."

Huh...

Wasn't that weird? The way he said that?

Oh well, it's probably nothing...

Weeks passed.

Much longer than you expected this fever to last.

Poor Grim and the ghosts were so worried for you...

And you were sad about bothering Jade do much, but thankfully, he claimed to enjoy his time taking care of you.

But one day, one of the ghosts told you something.

"That nice boy that's been taking care of you... he's poisoning you."

"Poisoning me?" You asked. "No, that can't be possible!"

"I saw him making food for you. He put poison in there, he's the one keeping you sick."

Jade entered the room with a plate of food, and the ghost disappeared.

"(Y/N), I made some food for you!"

"O-oh, no thanks, I-I'm not hungry right now...." You nervously said. You didn't believe that Jade was poisoning you, but... it's better safe than sorry, right?

"Oh? What's the matter?" Jade asked. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, is it not? Why wouldn't you eat it?"

"I-I'm just not hungry, Jade."

"No, no, you should eat something."

"...Jade, not to sound rude, but... are you poisoning me...?" You asked, cautiously. Even if he is, he'll probably deny it.

"Oh, you realized?" Jade asked in response. "Yes, I have been. I'm surprised it took you this long to notice!"

"Wait, y-you're actually poisoning me?!" You yelled.

"Yes. And if you don't want me to give you a lethal dose, you'll continue to allow me to do so and care for you."

...

So this is your life now.

At least until Jade decides to stop poisoning you.

But who's to say he'll ever do that?

#jade leech #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland #twst #yandere #yandere twisted wonderland #yandere twst #yandere twst x reader #yandere twisted wonderland x reader #yandere jade leech #yandere jade leech x reader #yandere jade x reader #yandere jade

[wanderingxiao]

-Ownership-

Summary: After destroying a delusion factory, the balladeer finds you, and makes you his... pet?!

Pairing: Fatui! Scaramouche x Female Reader

First time ever writing Scaramouche, so please excuse if he sounds a bit OOC.

Warnings: abuse, torture, degradation, and foul language

Word Count: 3.4K

Enjoy!

Another harsh kick came to your abdomen as you hit the muddy ground harshly. Your lunch came out quickly as the partially digested food splattered to the ground beside you and trailed down your mouth. Your body ached and tingled with pain as tears endless began to flow from your swollen eyes. A hideously sadistic laugh came from in front of you, the sound almost being swallowed by the thunderstorms approaching quickly. Your eyes squeezed shut, not wanting to meet the bright clashes of purple of his eyes just like the glow of lightening. Despite not even meeting his gaze, you could feel the way his eyes bore into the back of your head.

“Awe hah… too beaten down and scared to even look me in the eyes.” A harsh grip was applied to your hair, and you were jerked up hard, enough to cause a shock of pain to shoot up your neck and down your back. Your head throbbed harshly as your blurry vision attempted to focus on the monster’s pale complexion. All you could really make out was the crescent shape of a terrifying smile and the psychotic glow of his eyes out of amusement. “Hey, I’m speaking to you. Or have I already beat the manners out of a disrespectful pathetic worm like you?” His words were sharp and precise, never missing a shot towards your heart or your brain for that matter. With the remaining strength you had left, you mustered enough salvia to spit into his face, a mixture of blood, saliva, and vomit slowly going down his left cheek. His face morphed into one of pure loathing and he knocked you out just like that.

How did you end up in this situation?

Well… long story short… you invaded a Fatui camp and destroyed a delusion factory.

Everything was going smoothly until the sixth of the eleven harbingers caught you in his puppet strings, beating you into submission and ultimately to the point of unconsciousness. You had some nerve standing up to Lord Scaramouche. He could have easily killed you, but he didn’t want to waste his breath on something as pathetic as a lowly human lesser than insects. He silently admired your courage to stand your ground against him and his terrifying power. Nothing interesting was happening currently in the Fatui, so why not take on a little pet to begin training? The thought alone made his lips curl with a familiar bubbling feeling emerge from his stomach.

Excitement.

“Rise and shine, my little pet!”

Your eyes slowly opened seeing a dim light above you, ears ringing, body numb and screaming in pain. Every breath felt like pain the moment you regained any consciousness and could feel every nerve in your body speak alive. “Ugh!” You groaned in pain raising your shaky arms to your head as you held it in severe pain. The distant and fuzzy sound of footsteps alerted you of someone’s approach. A rather short man came into your view, the large hat on his head confusing your eyes due to their swollen appearance. “Hey now, that’s no way to great your master now is it? Get up.” His words fell upon deaf ears as the pain overtook your consciousness, unable to focus on anything else by the pain in your abdomen, the throbbing of your head and the stinging on your skin. “Hurts… hurts s-so bad… c-can’t…”

“That sounds like a problem that does not concern me. Now get up before I punish you again.” Your words caught in your throat struggling to comprehend everything. The look on Scaramouche’s face was beginning to twist from excited to that of annoyance and irritability. “Now, now, Scaramouche. This is no way to take care of your things now, is it?” A man had entered the room, a dark beaked mask hanging from his face with bright blue hair. He was taller, and somehow more intimidating than the smaller man you now could call Scaramouche. “Your input is not needed or wanted, Dottore. I suggest you not stick your nose into my personal affairs or lay your hands on things that are mine.”

“Yours? Awe how romantic of you, Scaramouche.” Dottore smoothly teased him and ran his midnight gloved hands up your arm, sending a ripple of trembles up your entire body. Scaramouche growled and narrowed his eyes at him, crossing his arms as he observed The Doctor access your current condition. Despite his anger of others touching his newly acquired pet, he knew you needed to be tended to. “What has you so enthralled by a human? Her body physique is flimsy and weak, her appearance is mediocre at best despite your cold-hearted abuse. Hmm, Scaramouche?” The other harbinger hesitated briefly as he turned his gaze down towards your shallow breaths and gasps of pain. He smirked, “Her resolve is strong. She gazed upon me as if I was the most disgusting thing, she had ever laid eyes on. I want to personally break her and watch that resolve crumble and burn all by my doing.”

Dottore could only grin and him in response. He reached in and rustled around his coat before pulling out a shot full of pink liquid. He squirted it to check the pressure and ensure the syringe was secure before sticking it into your neck. Scaramouche gripped his arms as he watched The Doctor force an unknown substance into your body. His purple eyes watched as your body instantly relaxed, and your breathing slowed. “There. Consider that a gift from me as a congratulations on acquiring a new pet. Don’t break her in too harshly now Scaramouche… next time, I’ll make sure you pay me.” With that, the blue haired harbinger exited the small room the puppet had kept you in. His teeth gnashed together as he glared holes into your figure. “Hmph. Touching my things without my permission will not go overlooked.”

He huffed. “I’ll make sure you’re only played with by me.”

Your recovery from Scaramouche’s harsh assault took weeks to get over, or at least get to the point where you didn’t feel like you were about to die every waking second. He came by your bedside every day to check on your condition. The guards stationed outside the door were instructed not to enter the room or even glance in your direction, or “Lord” Scaramouche would punish them. He was strangely patient and quiet during your short interactions with him. The first day, once you were numbed up with drugs, he asked you questions about who you worked for and why you destroyed their factory. Your answers were the same every time he asked. “Burn in hell,” “Fuck you,” or “I’d rather die that speak to you.”

He was patient and didn’t spit any harsh insults at you or attempt to hurt you. He only asked you questions or occasionally brought you food, most being extremely bitter. His expression remedied stoic and emotionless during his meetings with you, until these expressions started to evolve. When you refused to answer and threw a bottle at him, he knew you were feeling better and decided to start and insult you. “Hah! Trying to throw a bottle at the guy who put you in here. That doesn’t seem very smart don’t you think?” His hand harshly slapped onto your thigh and squeezed harshly, digging his nails into your still delicate skin. You jerked up and clenched your jaw in pain, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing pain from your voice. “I’ve been patient enough with your pathetic responses, but now my patience is running thin, and when pets misbehave, they need to be taught a lesson.”

And there started your lessons from Lord Scaramouche as his personal little pet.

A black leather collar with the electro symbol adorned your neck, indicating that you strictly belonged to the Sixth Fatui harbinger. Of course, you never left his side for even a second unless he was taking trips to the abyss. He forced you to wear a tight long-sleeved shirt with a round cut up on your chest and upper cleavage with black matching tights with red outlines. All of it matched him and his aesthetics, flaunting his ownership over you wherever he went. Bruises littered your once smooth and delicate skin, black and blue with a nice purple hue peeking out. You had learned to behave for the most part, attempting to get the lesser of evils out of your new owner. However, your mind stayed resilient and strong, detesting the Inazuman man with all your being. Not even a peep of information squeezed past your lips. It was harder to break you than he thought. 

“Hah… this stupid boring paperwork is never ending. These reports from the abyss are useless anyways.” Scaramouche sighed and rubbed his temples irritated at the current situation. His large hat laid elegantly against the wall behind him, thin grey fabric gently resting against the hard walls of his room. You were sat next to him on the floor, where you belonged according to your master. Your fingers were playing with the collar wrapped tightly around your neck, giving you no room for mistakes or else it would clamp down and shut off all oxygen pathways to your precious lungs. A soft pressure was placed onto your head, causing you to flinch harshly until you realized Scaramouche was only trying to pet you. “Why so jumpy? You’ve been a good girl for me recently. Is it not okay that I reward my pet for being so good and obedient?”

“No, sir. I’m sorry. It just startled me a bit.” He only hummed in response and patted his lap lightly as he slid away from his desk. Your face soured immediately, but you reluctantly got up and sat in his lap, cheeks tinting a flush pink realizing your chest was right in his face. He paid no attention to your bashful expression and rested his head against your shoulder lightly, his cheek pressing against your boobs, silently enjoying the soft comfort they brought him. You remained silent during his short break from his paperwork, until he spoke an order. “…stroke my hair… please.” Your fingers twitched slightly in your lap at his hesitating order. You had never heard him sound so… gentle before. You rose your fingers and gently raked them through his dark indigo colored hair. A heavy sigh passed his lips as he sunk deeper into your touch. “I’m going to the abyss. You’ll be by yourself for a while. I expect to be greeted exactly like this. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir.” He scoffed lightly, shifting in his chair to hug your body closer towards his, slightly picking you up to pull you closer. His face snuggled against the swell of your breasts, and he squeezed you tighter to him. “Don’t make any idiotic attempts at escape. If I find out… you’re dead.” A harsh smack came to your butt, causing you to gasp and snap your head to look down at him, hands flying up and away from stroking his hair. This caused him to send a terrifyingly cold glare at you. “Did I order you to stop?” You shook your head quickly, mumbling an apology before quickly going back to stroking his hair. He huffed and elected just to continue resting on your chest until he could finally go back to work.

The next day, Scaramouche left for the abyss, promising to bring you back something special for being a good and obedient pet.

Unfortunately, you wouldn’t be there to see it.

“I’m back.” Scaramouche kicked the door to his office open, tired, and annoyed from his trip to the abyss instead of staying beside his new pet. He hated to admit it, but you brought him comfort. You were something to call his, something he didn’t realize he had longed for. At first, all he wanted was to break you down and toss you away or better yet kill you. Either would’ve been fine with him, but you still offered resistance and hatred towards him yet obeyed and comforted him when he told you to. It felt real to him. He had unexpectedly brought back some Inazuman flowers for you, Dendrobium. A nice gift that could break your walls and let him consume your world. All he was met with was silence. Panic overtook him as the flowers crashed to the floor. “Hey… what the hell is going on? Didn’t I tell you to come greet me when I got back?!”

No answer.

His frantic footsteps searched around the room for you, thinking you could be hiding or something. Nothing. He could feel his stomach turning repeatedly making him feel nauseous. His hands trembled in disbelief, panic, and most of all betrayal. He should’ve never trusted you to be good and remain beside him. You hated him after all. His eyes suddenly landed in the black collar he had locked around you, cut off by force. There was no way you had the strength to pull that off yourself and break it. It was imbedded with powerful energy that would shock you if you ever attempted to take it off. Someone else took it off. The only person smart enough to be able to take it off you was the same man that had touched his belongings before.

Dottore.

Scaramouche jerked around and sped down the halls of the Fatui base. The sound of his heels harshly stomping to the ground was the only thing he could heart despite his heavy panting as he turned another corner. The anxiety once fueling him was replaced by pure rage as he spammed The Doctor’s lab room open. His world came crashing down once he saw your limp body on a shining metal table, your eyes were lifeless and cold. The masked man smiled as he flicked a vile of pink liquid, one of the same hue he injected you with when you first met. Multiple tubes and cables were attached to your body, your once vibrant skin full in color. His fists shook violently against his sides as he started to scream.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH MY PROPERTY?!?!?!” His loud and booming voice bounced off the walls and crashed down onto your ears, making your eyes slowly open and recognize a blob of black, red, and purple. The Doctor only chuckled in response to his lessor’s sudden outburst of pure hatred. “Come now, Scaramouche. You were being too gentle with your methods of obtaining information. So instead, I did it for you.” He walked around you, your shaky hands slowly outstretching towards Scaramouche in a plea to help save you. His eyes flashed with pain as he saw you desperately trying to reach out to him. “Name: (Y/N) (L/N). Occupation: visionless adventurer. Family: all killed by the Fatui when she was just a child. Goals: destroy the Fatui. Oh! And look at this… she knows our famous little traveler we’ve been looking for. Such valuable information, hmm Scaramouche? No wonder she was so unwilling to give it to you.”

His teeth grit tightly, eyes narrowing as he approached threateningly. “You have what you want, now give her back.” Dottore looked down at you, your shaky hands still reaching out for Scaramouche. He smirked and took your hand into his as he studied it well. “D’awe… look how well you’ve training her though. Obedient to you, with so much hatred in her heart for you. And here she is, still reaching out for you.” Scaramouche was now getting impatient as he summoned a blade and gripped it tightly. “I won’t ask again. Give her back to me.” Dottore rose his hands in defeat, seeing it pointless to fight with one of his fellow harbingers. He unlocked your arms and legs and harshly removed the tubes and cables attached to your body. 

“S…Scara…m-mouche…” You voice was weak and cracked, quiet and barely above a whisper. The Balladeer approached and grabbed your hand carefully as he looked down at your tear-stained face, same as the one he saw the first day he met you. Instead of hatred, your expression now showed a desperate look to be held and protected by the man who got you into this mess in the first place. You were his property after all, he should take care of you. “I’m here.” He said softly, carefully lifting you up into his arms effortlessly as he turned to glare at Dottore over his shoulder. He clicked his tongue and began walking out with you in his arms tightly. “I will NEVER forget this Dottore… you will pay.”

He didn’t wait for a reply and carried you silently done the hallway back towards his room. Members of the Fatui looked on in confusion and fear as the most disliked harbinger walked along the halls with a deep rage filled expression. Everyone stood clear of his path, fearful to get caught in his electric crosshairs and be his victim. Once he reached his room, his kicked the door open and kicked it back close, stomping on the flowers he’d left abandoned. He made his way towards the couch sat in a lone corner of the room and laid you down gently. His eyes never left your expression, hands beginning to shake again as he watched you pant in pain and hold your chest.

“That bastard… touching my things… trying to steal them from me… defile them… YOU SHOULD’VE FOUGHT HIM!!” Scaramouche then directed his anger towards you, his voice loud and painful. Your ears were still ringing, and you could barely make out anything he was saying. He turned away from you as he continued, “All you are is a pathetic and insolent insect. A filthy human… weak… worthless… a waste of life and space.” His harsh words were drowned out by your ears as you raised a shaky hand to his face and gently cupped his cold cheeks. His head jerked towards you quickly, eyes widening in surprise seeing a soft smile on your face. The rest of his insults caught up in his throat. Your thumb rubbed gently against his skin, slowly but surely calming your breathing. “Thank you… f-for saving me, sir…”

He was speechless. You’re thanking him? After he just hurdled those insults towards you? Let you get taken by Dottore, experimented on, and ultimately did not protect his now most prized possession. “Ha… Hahaha!!” He laughed and grabbed your hand on his cheek, holding it close to his face as he enjoyed the warmth you brought to his cold body. He stared into your tired eyes, confused yet relieved at your words. “What an idiotic thing to even say, but…” his words fell silent as he gazed around your face. “Why do you find comfort in me now? I’ve hurt you, so much.” You closed your eyes, causing his stomach to drop with anxiety that you had left him. He didn’t like when you slept in general. It scared him that you would no longer wake up. “Because… despite your rudeness… I can tell… how much weight is on your shoulders… and that you genuinely care for me.”

“I own you, and I always will.”

#scaramouche #scaramouche x you #genshin scaramouche #genshin impact #scaramouche angst #this is a shitty piece of work #fatui harbingers #the balladeer #scaramouche x reader #scara x you

[lnaax15]

Another day to live - Cole one shot (Kirby Morrow tribute)

Warning: Spoilers for March of the oni

“Hey, folks, need a lift?” Cole asked as he and Jay jumped off the ladder and faced the NGTV news workers. 

“Boy, are we glad to see you guys!” Vinny exclaimed as he and the others began to walk towards the two ninja.“Thanks!”

“Our pleasure! Mind your step now.” Jay said as he and Cole helped the people get on the ladders.

Cole heard a whooshing sound and turned around to see the black wines and fog creeping up the side of the roof. His eyes widened. Not good. “Uh, a little quicker, folks?” 

Jay also noticed as he ushered the people up. “Creepy black vines closing in!” He warned.

Gayle ran up to one of the ladders but stopped and looked at Cole with an annoyed look. “You should know, you just ruined a heck of a broadcast.” She said before climbing up the ladder.

Cole stared at her dumbfoundedly before scowling. Why are people so ungrateful? We just saved their lives! He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a familiar chill. He looked at his feet and saw the black vines creeping up to him. “Ah!” 

Cole and Jay quickly scrambled up the ladders. “Okay, Water! Get us out of here!” Jay called to Nya, the water ninja. Since there were people on the ship, he couldn’t say her real name. That was also why everyone had their masks pulled up.

“You got it!” She shouted back as she quickly made her way up to the helm. She quickly got the ship ready to blast ahead and pushed the lever up, only for it to blast in the wrong direction. 

Cole felt the heat of the thruster and looked up to see it pointed towards him. Uh oh! The thruster started up and messed up Cole’s balance, making him lose grip of the ladder and descend. He screamed as he fell but was saved when his legs got stuck at the end of the ladder. However, one of the ropes snapped, so the ladder was barely holding his weight.

“Black!” Jay called as he noticed his friend hanging off the end of the ladder. Cole’s head bumped against the roof of one of the buildings, giving him a wound and making him dizzy.

“Ugh! I keep forgetting that!” Nya facepalmed before pulling the lever down.

The bounty stopped for a moment before blasting ahead. Cole bumped around the roofs of the building due to the turbulence, earning more wounds. The upper part of his body had become bloody and bruised. Ugh, I’m going to get a concussion if this doesn’t stop. I feel so…dizzy. 

“Hang on, Cole!” Jay exclaimed as he tried to reach for his friend with a panicked expression on his face. He was too panicked to realise he had said the black Ninja’s real name but to their luck, his voice couldn’t make it to the deck due to the commotion caused by the thrusters.

Cole tried to reach up for the ladder and make himself upright. “I got it! I think I did!” He exclaimed as he managed to grab the ladder. But his eyes widened in fear when he spotted the broken rope. Oh no. 

Suddenly, the rope snapped, and Cole began to descend. 

Jay’s eyes widened in fear. “COLE!” He cried as he saw his friend fall. It was as if everything was going in slow motion. 

Zane, Kai and the people on the deck heard Jay’s cry, but couldn’t make out what it was, but they understood immediately when they looked down to see the black ninja slowly disappear into the black fog. 

His friend’s faces were the last thing he saw before his vision was clouded by pitch darkness. He felt all the heat drain out of his body. 

“This one seems to have a strange energy about him.” Cole heard a slightly distorted voice speak. “Similar to that foolish child.”

“Then let’s get rid of him, before he can cause problems for us.” Another voice responded.

Suddenly, Cole felt immense pain all over his body, as if his entire being was being shattered. But it only lasted for a second before stopping completely. 

Cole’s eyes shot open and he gasped. He immediately sat up and saw…light?

Huh? What is going on? 

He got to his feet and began to walk ahead as he looked around, only to see blankness around him. The light increased suddenly and Cole shielded his eyes. So bright!

The light dissipated, and Cole found himself at the monastery of Spinjitzu, all of his friends were standing in front of him, with looks of determination.

“It's been fun, guys.” Nya said.

“It has been an honor.” Zane nodded.

“Let's go out with a bang.” Jay said as he got his nunchucks ready.

“Yeah. Let's give 'em—” Kai began but was cut off by Lloyd.

“A tornado!” He said in realisation. 

“Yeah! Let's give 'em a tornado!” Kai shouted and ran ahead before skidding to a stop and backing up. “Uh—wait, what?” He asked in confusion.

“What's the opposite of destruction? Creation!” Lloyd said as he pointed at the painting of the Tornado of creation. “Don't you get it? Creation- The Tornado of Creation! It's the one thing that can defeat the Oni—the power of Creation!” He said enthusiastically. 

“How do you know?” Jay asked. 

“Yeah. It was a miracle it worked the first time!” Kai exclaimed. “And we had Cole then.” 

Wait, what? Cole thought. 

Lloyd wavered slightly. “You’re right. But what do we have to lose?”

“He's right. We have nothing to lose.” Zane said.

“I love crazy ideas. Let's do it!” Kai agreed.

“Let’s do it for Cole!” Jay added as he looked at Nya, who nodded with a determined look. 

“Wait guys! I’m right here!” Cole called out to them, only to find his voice uncharacteristically distorted. “Huh? What’s wrong with my voice?” His voice echoed slightly as he spoke. “Uh, what’s going on? Guys!” He called out again, only for no one to look his way. 

“Ready?” Lloyd asked. Everyone nodded. “Ninja, Go!” He exclaimed as he started doing Spinjitzu, the others following his lead. 

What is going on? Cole looked at his hands and gasped. “My hand! They’re…transparent?!” He exclaimed in panic. “What’s happening to me?” 

That’s when a terrifying thought hit him like a ton of bricks. “Am I dead?” 

He looked up and saw the ninja merge their Spinjitzu, forming a golden tornado, but it was flickering slightly. 

“They can’t do this alone!” Wu exclaimed. “We have to help them!” He looked at his brother who was staring blankly at the tornado.

“It won’t work.” Garmadon said.

“We have to try!.” Wu exclaimed. “Ninja, go!” He performed Spinjitzu and merged it with the golden tornado. Garmadon sighed before doing the same as his brother. The tornado grew, but it was still flickering. 

The oni barged into the monastery gates and saw the tornado. 

“Fight it!” Their leader, Omega ordered. All the oni raised their hands before a violet flame covered them. They shot up that flame, gathering it up to form a massive sphere. Omega chuckled. “You are powerless without one of the elements of creation.”

Cole’s eyes widened. “No!” He exclaimed. But it was futile. The oni shot the large sphere at the Golden tornado, causing a large explosion as the entire realm became covered in a black fog, destroying everything it touched. 

Cole felt his eyes well up with tears, and a few slid down his face. “No…”

It’s all my fault. If i was there, i could’ve helped. It’s all my fault. 

An eerie laughter echoed around him. 

“That’s right, it is your fault.” A raspy voice spoke. “Because of your tardiness, the entire realm has to pay the price.”

“Who’s there?” He asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice as he wiped away his tears quickly. 

“The most powerful force to exist, the only thing that holds you back;” The voice responded with a laugh. Suddenly a black figure with smoke around it appeared in front of Cole. “Fear.” It said with a smirk. 

Cole’s eyes shot open and he immediately sat up. He panted as if he had run a marathon, sweat beaded his body. 

He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. “Calm down, Cole. It was just a nightmare. You’re alive. Everyone is okay.” He reassured himself. But he couldn’t stop the fear and helpness that flooded him, the same emotions he felt when he was falling. 

I could’ve died. 

I could’ve been the cause of the destruction of Ninjago. 

I am so weak and pathetic. 

Cole subconsciously left his room with these thoughts going around his head. He made his way out to the training ground but was surprised to see Nya sitting on the stairs. He heard a small sniffling sound from her. Is she…crying? She must've had a nightmare.

“Nya?” Cole called her softly. She perked up and immediately shot a punch at him. Cole immediately blocked the attack. “Calm down, it’s just me.”

Nya’s eyes widened. “I am so sorry!” She whispered. 

“It’s fine-”

“I am so, so sorry.” She sobbed as she launched at Cole and hugged him. “I almost hurt you again. All I do is mess things up.”

Cole frowned before wrapping his arms around Nya. “Hey, calm down. It wasn’t your fault. I’m okay. See?” He tried to reassure her with a smile as he used one of his hands to make her look at him. 

Nya stared before her eyes welled up again. “But what if you weren’t? What if you-” She took a sharp breath. “What if you died?” 

Cole frowned before pulling her into a hug. “Don’t think about what could have happened. I’m here, aren’t I? That’s all that matters.” Cole said. 

After a few minutes, Nya pulled away. Her crying had died down. Cole smiled at her.

Nya smiled before realising something. “Why are you awake at this time?” She asked.

“Oh, uh… I couldn’t sleep.” Cole replied as he rubbed his head nervously. Nya gave him a sceptical look. Cole sighed. “I’m just…having trouble digesting the events of today.”

Nya hummed. “Yeah, a lot has happened.”

Cole nodded in agreement. “Still, I’m glad things worked out in the end.” He said. “But I'm pretty sure we’ll be doing this again sometime soon.”

Nya sighed. “We can never seem to get a break from trauma, huh? We probably need therapy. All of us.”

Cole smiled. “I’m pretty sure that won’t work. The therapist will need therapy after he hears a quarter of what we’ve been through.”

“True.” Nya chuckled. “It’s a surprise we’re still sane.” 

“Nah, I’m pretty sure Jay isn’t.” Cole joked. 

“Hey, that’s my Yin you’re talking about!” Nya said with fake annoyance as she punched his shoulder. 

The two laughed before sighing. 

“I think we should go to bed.” Nya said.

“Yeah.” Cole agreed. 

Nya then began to head inside but she stopped at the door for a moment. “Thank you, Cole.” 

Cole smiled. “Don’t mention it. What kind of brother would I be if I wasn’t there for my sister?” 

Nya returned the smile before disappearing inside. 

Cole began to head inside but stopped and looked back at the mural. His eyes landed on the most recent painting, the one with the ninja’s hand prints. He then looked up at the sky. Thank you, First Spinjitzu Master, for giving us another day to live.

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Author's note: Hey, Lnaax here! Just a little one shot basing on the aftermath of the Oni battle. The picture is not mine Btw, i found it on google.

#ninjago #lego ninjago #ninjago fanfiction #cole brookstone #ninjago cole #kirby morrow

[arminsumi]

Had a rough day today due to failing an exam and “the time of the month” problem. Can I request a comfort one-shot of Eren x Fem!Reader where Y/N is crying on the couch in the dark after finding out she failed certification test for a job and dealing with her monthly cycle until Eren showed up wrapped in a blanket to comfort her. Then, Eren removed the blanket leaving him wearing nothing but the angel wing costume on his back as he embraced Y/N and soothing her gown causing her to smile? Ty! -🌻

Ugh that sounds like hell. Take care of yourself. (And thank you for your request!)

Comfort

Oneshot / E. Jaeger

Eren's stubborn most of the time and doesn't display affection openly, but when he knows something's wrong, he becomes so tender towards you and handles you with the utmost care.

Cws; fluff, angst, pre-est relationship (dating)

Notes; fem!Y/n, modern au

♫ Santa Monica Dream [Slowed + reverb]

The city lights began to gleam outside your apartment window. You could see them well from the comforts of the couch; but the ever-forming tears blurring your vision made them appear as a haze of colors.

Melancholy rested heavily on your conscious after today.

That job you were so excited for didn't welcome you with open arms; in fact, you were rejected so horribly that it left you feeling stupid for even bothering.

What accentuated all of this was the numbing ache of period pains in your abdomen.

The apartment felt awfully cold, and you shriveled up on the couch. You didn't bother to turn on the lights, even though the sun had long said goodbye and the moon wasn't awake tonight.

You'd been feeling your monthly cycle coming on for the past few days. The usual, you know, the aches the nausea the irritation the feeling like you're inadequate... all those feelings worsened your feeling of failure.

Just this morning you snapped at Eren because of it all, and just earlier when you came home, you told him to leave you very alone for a while.

Heaving great sighs didn't help like they usually do.

The lights outside your apartment window remained a blurry pinprick of illumination.

It grew colder, but you were in too much pain to bother getting up to close the balcony door. And, anyways, your legs felt too heavy to move.

A slight ruffling of fabric sounding from the other side of the room caught your attention, but you continued looking glumly at the lights outside.

Eren's soft presence filled the room, but you felt a bit guilty after having told him to leave you alone.

He drifted cautiously to your dwelling on the cold couch. He gave you an sympathetic sort of look. He understood everything without you needing to explain.

That's just the kind of connection you had with Eren. Words seemed unnecessary, because you two communicated through irises and feelings.

You looked at him, vision still mostly blurred with hot tears, and he looked at you. He had your favorite blanket draped around him, the one that usually resides on the bed in yours and his shared room.

He heaved a sigh, as if he was observing a wounded puppy. His jade irises uttered the utmost tenderness for you.

Eren sat down beside you gently, then swiftly took the blanket off him and engulfed you with it. It was serenely warmed by him; that wonderful tingling rippled on your skin.

But something about his embrace just made you cry harder. Your chin shriveled up and you let out tiny hiccoughs. Eren wrapped his arms around you as if to pour out all his affections through his embrace alone.

He always had this soothing scent about him. You're never sure how to describe it, but it reminded you of a meadow at sunset.

Eren swayed you in his arms a bit, then withdrew slightly so he could look down into your eyes adoringly.

"You wanna talk about it?" He asked softly.

You sniffled and hiccoughed a few more times, then let all your problems out through a cracked voice. Eren's gaze kept a loving hold on you all the while.

"... I don't know... it's stupid... I'm stupid." You said hopelessly.

Eren pinched your cheeks. He'd always done that whenever you called yourself stupid.

"You're not stupid. We just live in a ruthless world that doesn't care about us." He explained dramatically. It was a very Eren response.

You sniffled hard, the snot dribbling out your nose was annoying you, but not more than the ache in your abdomen which refused to quieten.

You stared at Eren's clothes for a bit, the familiarity of them making you feel warm.

Eren pressed a tender kiss to your forehead. His lips struck a symphony of relief across your system, and you dared to smile.

He noticed this, so he playfully annoyed your face to help bring it out.

"You're so annoying..." You mumbled through a now definite smile.

"Mhm." He hummed adoringly, "You're even more annoying." He said, then pressed another kiss on you.

Eren persuaded you off the couch, insisting that you two venture to the kitchen.

"Come on." He urged softly.

"But it's comfy here." You groaned.

He secured the blanket around you, then pulled you off the couch.

"I'll make you something to eat," He said while helping you into the tiny apartment kitchen, "Then let's get in bed and watch something good, hm?"

You were almost doubling over because of the unforgiving period pains in your body.

But Eren soothed you over and over, hushing you softly whenever you let out a groan of pain.

Each time you caught his gaze, you could feel nothing but his love and care emanating from his irises.

Because you were the girl he loved more than anything.

Eheh sorry if I rambled a bit in this one, I was just ✨in my feels✨

Anyways! Hope you're feeling better by now.

#🌻Sunflower's reqs #🐦 Freedom Boy #eren #eren jaeger #eren yeager #eren x reader #y/n #fem y/n #eren x you #eren x y/n #eren comfort #comfort #eren is a soft boy really #fluff #eren fluff #aot fluff #aot x reader #aot x you #snk x reader #snk x you #eren jaeger fluff #eren comforts you

[papillondenuit-marth]

[In his unconscious state, the moth's mind relayed picture shows and feverish visions to him. Memories new and old were mixed and matched like that of a bag of jellybeans he remembers... someone... giving to him. Who was it again?]

[There were voices, muffled like on the radio yet so clear. It was like he could see deformed blobs of colour, coming in and out of focus, moving as if they were people they could never be.]

["Keep those peepers shut!"]

["I am too old for this."]

["Nahhh. No such thing."]

["Are we really going to do this in an abandoned smith's abode?"]

["Where else do you expect to do this durin' war, Marth?"]

["Nowhere. You do not celebrate birthdays in the middle of war."]

["Well, I beg to differ! Gotta find somethin' to smile about it. Hate sitting in dreary dumps. You like to sit in your sorrow and I'm not standin' for it."]

["Hmph..."]

["Alright, alright. Open those eyes!"]

["...Ah."]

["Congrats for makin' it to the ripe old age of 26, brother of mine!"]

["That is an unusual way of saying Happy Birthday."]

["Weren't you just complaining about celebrating this not even ten seconds ago? Now you wanna critique my methods?"]

["I am difficult."]

["You're a pain in the ass. I'm glad you made it to 26."]

["I do not imagine you will make it past 23."]

["MAN, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM??"]

["Hahaha!..."]

["Say somethin' nice, I did somethin' nice for you! What, are you gonna ask if I poisoned the cake next?"]

["Did you poison the cake, ------?"]

["Yes. You'll die in five minutes."]

["Ah. Should have told me after I took a bite of the cake. Now I can just toss the whole thing and not die."]

["I'm JOKIN'!! Please eat the cake, this was not easy to put together. Appreciate it. Savour it. Happy god damn birthday."]

["Yes, ah.... Thank you. It was... nice of you to do this. You did not have to."]

["I don't normally do things that I'm told I have to do. I do things 'cuz I want to. And you know what I want to do? Celebrate my beeewoved big bwother, the absolute saint..."]

["Get off me before I throw this cake in your face."]

["Hey, Marth?"]

["Mhm?"]

["Wake up."]

["...What?"]

["Marth. Wake up. WAKE UP."]

[Something shifted. His heart was racing.]

["Wake up!"]

[It didn't sound like his voice anymore.]

[Who was that?]

["You have to wake up!"]

["Come on!"]

["You're okay!"]

["Please, Marth, come on!"]

[He wanted to go back to the abandoned blacksmith shack. He wanted to eat that cake. Instead he found himself staring at nightmarish spirals of abstract imagery and figures. He stood facing a mountain of bodies, the bodies all of the same man.]

[No. No. No. No.]

[Then he was rushing through a crowd. Nobody would move out of the way for him. No matter how much he pushed and screamed, it was like he was wading through the sea trying to go forward. He had to keep moving. His heart was pounding against his chest as if begging to be set free like a bird from a cage. He felt like he was drowning.]

[The yelling didn't stop. It got louder. It was all he could hear, echoing back and forth through where he was.]

["Stay with me, okay?!"]

[And then it roared like a siren. Someone grabbed his hand from within the crowd, gripping it tightly, digging his claws into Marth's palm.]

["WAKE UP!"]

............

[Groggily, Marth found his eyes opening. He could barely manage to keep them open, and they were barely open at that. It was all hazy. He was... awake. But not fully conscious. He's not super... present.]

...hnfgnh..

[Perhaps he overdid it this time. Everything hurts! Yeowch!]

[What happened, again? Where was he? There was... some sort of fight, yeah.]

[...Ugh.]

[seasons-beatings]

Happy holidays, @someonecommittingcrimes!

Contains: captivity, torture, multiple whumpers, beating, burns, electrical shocks

Token hissed in pain as he awoke in the cell, very aware of his extensive injuries.

How long had it been? How much longer would it be before he was killed? Would Gould even let him die in dignity, or would his father’s old partner not stop until he had ripped Paradise’s location out of Token?

He was not looking forward to finding out.

Ugh, he couldn’t believe he had been stupid enough to think he could just get captured without consequences. He should’ve known it wouldn’t have been this easy.

Ugh, that stupid Element! Why did his father have to be so obsessed with that thing?!

Whatever. It’s not like he could go back now. The only thing being angry over it would do is cause problems.

Gould choose that moment to arrive, grinning maliciously and looking as pristine as ever. His neat hair and tidy coat contrasted heavily with the rough condition Token was in.

“Unless you’ve had a change of heart and want to tell me where Paradise is, we can begin.” Gould gleefully said.

“I haven’t. Just get it over with.”

“Oh, alright. Since you insist.”

——————————————————————————

Token spat blood and glared as fiercely as he could, which honestly wasn’t a lot. Gould had been beating him for the past 10 minutes or so, and although he was doing his best to stay strong, there was only so much Token could do. He was getting beaten for Element’s sake.

“Had enough yet? Tell me where Paradise is and we can be done with this. I take no pleasure in this, you know.”

“Like hell you don’t. You want to get back at my father and this is the only way how, coward.”

Gould neither confirmed nor denied this. He just reared back and punched Token again.

And so it began. He beat in Token’s face, chest, stomach, arms, legs, back, and anywhere else his hands or legs could reach. Pain erupted from Al over, seemingly simultaneous as reality blurred together.

Token is pretty sure the last thing that happened was Gould was kicking him repeatedly in the back. It didn’t feel like he had gotten hit in awhile, but Token had no idea if that was real or if he had gotten smacked so hard that he was slowly losing consciousness.

Where even was Gould-

Agonized screams tore through Token’s throat as his arms were on fire, actually burning, pressed against hot metal. His vision was blurry and spotted, but he was just able to make out Gould figure above him.

Between burns and miserable, excruciating, mind-numbing pain, Token quietly realized that if Gould were to get carried away, he could very easily kill Token before ever even extracting the Element. The captive didn’t know whether he should take comfort in possibly thwarting the business man or be horrified that he could be tortured to death over a years old grudge between former partners.

He didn’t have much time to dwell on it, though, because he passed out for real just a few moments later. After all, between the energy spent on thinking, getting burned on top of his bruises and blood, and his already very weak body, it was bound to happen.

The world became dark and Token slipped into the void …

…

… Only to have a rather rude awaking just a few minutes later, curtesy of a taser being shoved between his ribs.

Token twitched and screamed once more, now uncomfortably back in the realm of consciousness.

Raptor shocked Token by speaking. He hadn’t even realized the immature man was there.

“If your father could see you now… you’re so pathetic. Just like him.”

Even if Token wanted to respond, he couldn’t, because the taser was turned on again and he shrieked. His body writhed and convulsed against his will, unable to focus on anything but pain. Pure, unrelenting pain consuming through him as sure as the blood corded through his veins. The whole world seemed to melt into shades of red, black, and white as his vision swam and danced. Reality preformed a ballet where the music was his suffering and moves his injuries. The grand finale was Raptor starting to kick him around while Gould continued to tase him relentlessly.

And at last, at long last, Token passed out again and was mercifully left alone. For now.

——————————————————————————

#season’s beatings gift #whump #whump writing #whump art #season’s beatings

[ghoulangerlee]

feeling upset and sad and just ugh all rolled into one big emotion. under the read more is a tangle of mess u don't gotta read it but I need to get it out before I cry more

sometimes I feel like people would be better off if I didn't exist like even as a kid y'know my mom could have focused on herself and doing her treatments instead of taking care of sick teen me and having to deal with truancy and my doctors and all that shit

my sister and bro in law wouldnt have had to deal with me and my weird dietary habits, wouldn't have to deal with me having to take more days off work (thus less paycheck for bills and groceries) wouldnt have had to deal with my turbulent emotions and the constant stomach pains

even now I'm like. useless in a way. can't even fully mop the floor at work without having to sit down often or lean down too much or walk too far or exist in a way that doesn't just inconvenience someone bc of the chronic illnesses I have. trying not to let it rule my life, trying to be that same go getter teen I was dealing with this shit but I'm so tired. I can't walk up the stairs most of the time without feeling darkness at the edges of my vision. I walk slow and uneven because of my bad knees. even sitting down my heart beats too fast and it causes problems. I had to be put on a medication for that bc my doctor's thought I was having a heart attack last month.

anything I eat hurts my stomach 99% of the time. I deal with it, it's whatever. but it's at the expense of those around me. I feel useless and like the people around me would be better off without me here.

it's like me having all these things causing this inconvenience is what makes me unlovable. I joke and laugh about how my body tries to kill me. Or I joke about how a medicine I take is hurting my body etc etc etc

but in my mind it feels like everyone around me secretly hates me and resents me and thinks I'm saying these things and seeing all these doctors and doing all these things to avoid stuff when I'm not. I'm trying and trying and trying. I've been trying to work myself back up to what I used to be able to do but it's taking so long, it's taking so much time.

I just. Want to not be an inconvenience to anyone.

#personal.exe #self worth tw

[absolutepokemontrash]

Impromptu Therapy

Let’s get one thing straight, okay? The Great Mammon does not have a crush on some human, so in order to get his mind off such FALSE accusations, he needs to go clubbin’, where he ends up meeting someone who’s willing to talk him through his problems.

Masterlist

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol, my personal MC is used here and she uses she/her pronouns.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Mammon did not have a crush on some dainty, dumb little human, it was simply impossible.

Hang on, the Avatar of Greed was getting a distinct sense of dejavu. He’d had this conversation with himself before, hadn’t he?

He also had this conversation with Beel, Asmo, Lucifer, and a clump of blankets on the living room couch that Mammon thought was Belphie for a while. Mammon hissed through gritted teeth in annoyance as he picked out his outfit for the night.

The human was a downright bitch sometimes, Mammon had to admit. She chided him, scolded him like he was some bratty kid, and even had the nerve to sass him. It was like she didn’t even care he was one of the highest ranking and most powerful demons in all of hell!

The demon rolled his eyes as he ran a comb through his hair, thoroughly inspecting his appearance in his bathroom mirror as continued his train of thought. She didn’t need to worry about invoking his wrath, not anymore, not after the pact that was forged six months ago.

And because I actually like hangin’ out with her- Mammon gave himself a quick thwack to the face. No! I do not like her, she’s a menace!

Forcing him to study, accompanying him everywhere, giving him her honest opinion, ugh, what a pain in Mammon’s neck.

Smoothing down his button-up shirt and slapping on a few of his favourite watches, Mammon was ready for the club.

He was in need of something to get his mind off his temporary housemate. He needed the nice warm embrace of alcohol… and perhaps the embrace of another demon as well.

As Mammon made his way through the house, he stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing a loud wolf whistle.

“Going somewhere special, Mammon?”

Feeling blood rush to his face, Mammon slowly turned to see the human exchange student seated at a chess board, staring him up and down.

“I second that question.” A deeper voice added. Mammon nearly winced. Ugh, Lucifer…

“Well, if ya must know, the Great Mammon is goin’ partying. The Avatar of Greed needs to see his adorin’ subjects and get the respect he deserves.”

“HAH!” Himiko blurted out, covering her mouth with a perfectly manicured hand. “You’ve been spending too much time around Asmo.”

“Stay away from the casino, Mammon.” Lucifer said as he raised an eyebrow. “You know the consequences if you waste your latest paycheque.”

“Yeah yeah…” Mammon rolled his eyes, but at the edge of his vision, he watched Himiko swipe one of Lucifer’s knights off the board and stuff it into her blouse. “Will do, heh, Lucifer.”

Lucifer spared a quick glance back at the human, who innocently smiled up at him. His gaze then flicked back to Mammon.

“Have fun. Be safe. Don’t make a fool out of yourself.”

Mammon gave Lucifer a mock bow and salute before turning on his heel and strutting towards the door. “Yeah yeah, I know? Who do ya take me for, Lucifer? Some kinda dumbass?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be mean, Lucifer.”

The sound of a chair being pushed backwards, followed by the smell of strawberry perfume made Mammon pause and turn right before his hand could clasp around the doorknob.

“Hmmmm,”

“Oh whaddya want, human?” Mammon sighed in exasperation. “Don’t ask to come or nothin’, this is a demon thing.”

“No no,” Himiko said, Mammon turned to see her appraising his outfit, with crossed arms and a hand over her mouth. “You look lovely, just hold still.”

The human then plucked a lint roller off of one of the accent tables and forcefully spun Mammon around.

“H-hey!”

“Sh, let me work.” Himiko tutted as she gently swiped at the back of Mammon’s shirt. She then hummed in triumph, and spun him back around, showing the now hair covered lint roller. “Satan snuck a cat into the house the other day, it must’ve gotten into your closet.”

“Oh…” Mammon scratched the back of his neck and avoided eye-contact with the human. “Thanks.”

“No problem, but I’m not done yet.” Himiko then began to smooth out Mammon’s shirt, getting up on her tiptoes to even out his collar.

Mammon’s eyes were glued to her as she worked, her gaze was focused and serious, similar to how she looked when she was intently trying to solve a difficult homework problem, but without a pencil to gnaw on. She suddenly looked up at him, their faces only inches apart. The demon felt his face and ears heat up under her intense stare.

The human lowered her eyelids and smirked. “There,” she put a hand on his cheek and lightly patted it. “Now you’re all better. Have fun, Mammon.”

And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away. Legs feeling like the most unholy of gelatin mixtures, Mammon managed to get outside and into his car.

As he plopped himself down into the driver’s seat and clenched the steering wheel in a white knuckled grip, Mammon repeated a phrase to himself, over and over.

“I do not like the human, I do not like the human,”

He continued as he pulled out of the driveway,

“I do not like the human, I do not like Himiko…”

And as he drove down the street.

************************

The pulsing lights of the club, the faint buzz of alcohol flowing through his veins, the music blasting from every speaker, ah, the Avatar of Greed was home.

Walking up to the bar and watching the other demons scramble to make a space for him was like a shot of liquid confidence directly to the brain, and that wasn’t even mentioning how the others all excitedly whispered about one of the seven lords of hell making an appearance. Finally, Mammon was who he was truly meant to be, respected, admired, and not the punching bag of his family who they all claimed was in love with some dumb human.

“Mammon?”

A familiar face slid into the barstool next to him, a sweet little smile accentuating her pleasant features.

“Melody,” Mammon said with a smirk and a nod. “What business do ya have with the Great Mammon?”

She giggled and shrugged, her shy little smile morphing into a playful smirk as she gently held out her hand. “Hoping for a bit of fun, this is the Avatar of Greed I’m talking to, right?”

The demon downed the rest of his drink before slamming the glass back on the wooden bar and taking Melody’s hand. “Well ya came to the right place.”

As the pair made their way onto the packed dance floor, bodies tightly pressed together as the two began to move, Mammon couldn’t help but get… distracted.

Did Melody’s perfume always smell so much like Himiko’s..?

Wait, no, Mammon faintly sniffed the air again, Melody didn’t smell like strawberries in the slightest.

Come on, Mammon, the demon thought to himself. Snap out of it!

Looping her arms around Mammon’s neck and looking up at him with an almost mischievous grin, Melody giggled and tilted his head down so her lips could just barely brush the shell of his ear.

“Awfully crowded here, huh? Everyone’s so squished together.”

“Tsk,” Mammon smirked as he looked around, it was crowded sure, but not enough to have Melody be forced to grip him like a vice. “Just so crowded.”

Melody giggled again before whispering, “a bit too crowded to dance properly, don’t you think?”

Mammon’s eyes flashed as he noticed how Melody’s iridescent white hair so gently tumbled over her shoulders. Fuck, just like Himiko’s hair but in a different- DAMN IT.

Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment and willing himself to forget about the human, Mammon looked back down at Melody, and playfully shrugged. “Well, we could go somewhere a little more private and do a lot more than dance.”

Melody’s eyes sparkled as she nodded, and leaned forward, catching Mammon’s lips in a passionate kiss as the two continued to sway to the pulsing beat of the music.

*********************

Despite how fervently Melody pressed feather-light kisses against his neck, Mammon’s mind was flooded with images of someone else. The sound of her voice flooded his ears, the scent of her perfume, the feel of her hands, the very idea of her presence invaded every single one of Mammon’s senses.

Come on, just fucking focus! Mammon hissed at his own brain, which refused to listen.

“Mammon?” Melody asked, pulling away from him slightly and creasing her brows, looking down at Mammon who was lying on the ground beneath her. The two had managed to scamper off upstairs to one of the storage rooms. Sure they weren’t allowed to be up there, but Mammon wasn’t exactly renowned for following the rules. “Are you… doing okay?”

“E-eh?” Mammon made a face and tilted his head. “What’re ya talking about?”

“Well, you know,” Melody stretched out the last syllable of ‘know’ like she was struggling to describe what was wrong without offending him. “You seem a little… not into this.”

“P-pfff, you’re seein’ shit that isn’t there.” Mammon tried to force out a laugh, but even in the dim lighting of the single dying lightbulb shining above him, Mammon was sure Melody could see him start to sweat. “I’m totally cool. Totally.”

Melody pursed her lips, then got off of him. Mammon sat up and frowned, confused.

“Oi, what’s wrong?”

“I… mean no offence, Lord Mammon, but I could ask you the same thing.” Melody got up and sat down on one of the wooden storage boxes.

“Psh, I ain’t worried about nothin’…” Mammon mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

After a beat of silence, Melody shrugged and clasped her hands against her lap. “Well, if the great, powerful, attractive, and totally wealthy Mammon was worried about someone else and wanted to talk about it… I’m here to listen.”

D-don’t just spill your guts to some random Succubus you kinda know from previous hookups! One part of Mammon’s brain screamed.

Well duh, but if the Great Mammon uses his amazin’ acting skills to trick her into thinkin’ he’s talking about someone else, she’ll never know! Another part of his brain offered.

Damn, I’m a fuckin’ genius sometimes.

“Well, yeah, there is someone the Great Mammon is worried about.” Mammon said as he crossed his arms. “A good buddy of mine.”

“Ah, I see.” Melody said with a nod. “And why are you worried about this friend?”

“Ya see, he ah… he’s in love.”

“Aww, that’s exciting.”

“In love with uh… one of the human exchange students.”

“Oh, I see.” Melody gently smiled, and waved her hand for Mammon to continue.

“Y’see, this buddy of mine is crazy in love with one of the humans, yeah? And it’s drivin’ him up the wall. He can’t think straight when she’s around, it’s like his brain slides right outta his ass or somethin’.” Mammon explained. “And worst of all, my brothers- I mean- his brothers, keep makin’ a big deal about it.”

“And how does that make you feel?”

“Like shit! I know Satan totally has a thing for Himiko too! And so does Levi! Stupid Levi…”

“I see, and do you know if Himiko knows about your feelings?”

“Psh… nah, I’ve been real subtle about it in front of her…” Mammon trailed off and mumbled. “Totally…”

“Uh huh, and how do you think she feels about you? Honest feelings here, no need for gravitas.”

Mammon gnawed on his lower lip and gave a halfhearted shrug. “I… I dunno… sometimes we have these moments together where I’m super sure she really likes me, but other times it seems like she’s keepin’ me at a distance.”

“Mhm.”

“I really wanna tell her about it n’stuff, about how I feel and shit like that, but… I dunno why I can’t just… do it and get it over with…”

“Do you feel, maybe a little embarrassed?” Melody asked. “A demon being in love with a human isn’t exactly a terribly common thing, after all.”

“I… maybe… but it’s also like, I’m the Great Mammon, y’know? If I just up and admit I love some human and she says no, what’s that gonna say about me?! I don’t get much respect at home anyway, imagine if this got out! The Avatar of Greed openin’ up to a human who ends up breakin’ his heart…”

“Well, you’ll never know what she’ll think or say until you admit your feelings to her.”

“Yeah, I know…” Mammon muttered, limply running a hand through his hair. “Also, it’s kinda weird bein’ so close to her.”

“How so?”

“Well, she doesn’t see me as the big-shot Avatar of Greed like everyone else does, y’know? She sees me as that jackass who once got stuck in the dryer.” Mammon’s eyes snapped open as he realized what he just let slip. “W-wait! I mean my buddy got stuck in the dryer! Not me! You uh… didn’t know about that before I told ya, right..?”

Melody winced and bit her lip. “Weeeeeeeeelllllllll…”

“How the hell did ya find out?!”

“Lord Asmodeus and I were having a private… um… Asmo Party in his room and he showed me the commemorative cross stitched pillow of the… incident.”

“Damn it! I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch!”

“You can kill him after we’re done talking out our feelings, how does that sound?”

Mammon weighed his options, it did feel good to get all this stuff out…

“…sure.”

*********************

“So I use this brash tsundere attitude in order to protect myself from bein’ emotionally vulnerable and thus often push people away and then hate them for leaving?”

“Mhm. Classic defence mechanism.”

“Damn Mel, you’re really smart.”

Melody batted her eyelashes and waved her hand. “Oh thank you, it’s nothing, just all the knowledge I’ve gained from working on a PHD.”

“Ah, good on ya, nerd.”

Melody snorted and rolled her eyes. “Oh you…”

Getting up off the floor, Mammon shook his head, letting his hair puff out after a very long therapy session. “Man, I uh, really killed the vibe, huh?”

“Eh, it’s alright, Mammon. I’m happy to have helped. And hey,” Melody’s smile switched from warm to mischievous. “Who’s to say we can’t end the night as drinking buddies?”

*************

“Gonna be real with you, Mr. Lord Great Mammon,” Melody said, slurring her words and almost struggling to stay upright. “Out of all the big shots in the Devildom, Barbatos is the hottest.“

“Ya know what… I can see it, he is pretty hot…” Mammon squinted and nodded along.

In the wee hours of the morning, Mammon, the ever attractive, smart, and almost obscenely great Avatar of Greed was stumbling out of the club, with his arm looped over Melody’s shoulders in a vain attempt to remain stable. The alcohol was far more than a faint buzz at this point as he swayed on his feet and looked for his car.

“Mellie, do ya… do you think I’m too shitfaced to drive..?”

“Heheheheheeee *hic*-“ Melody covered her mouth in surprise, before her face melted back into a tired smile. “Yep! So much Demonus… but it felt nice going down, huuuuuuh? Heheheheeeee…”

“We should get a cab…” Mammon stuck his hand into his pant pocket and pulled out a grimm before chucking it onto the street. “Chariot o’ damnation, help me out here…”

As the cab rose up from the now-bubbling concrete, Mammon turned to Melody. “Ya wanna share a ride?”

Melody shrugged. “Sure thing, Lord Mams.”

As the two slumped into the back seat of the taxi and buckled themselves in, Melody limply turned her head to face Mammon.

“I hope you feel better and stuff, I mean, love’s complicated and all that.”

“Hella complicated…” Mammon nodded in agreement. “But like thanks for helpin’ out Melody.”

Mammon raised his fist for a fistbump, that Melody sluggishly accepted. “No prob, Lord Mr. Mammon-sir.”

***********************

Author’s Note

Yay! Another fic for the Masterlist! Melody has been living rent free in my mind for a few weeks now, and I’m happy to have her here in all her therapist-y glory.

Anyhoo~, #MakeMammongototherapy2k22 anyone?

#obey me #obey me! #obey me! shall we date? #obey me shall we date #obey me mc #obey me Mammon #Obey me Mammon x MC #Obey me fic #obey me fanfiction #obey me fanfic #obey me OC #Obey me Lucifer #Obey me! Mammon #Obey me! MC #Obey me! fic #Obey me! fanfic #obey me! fanfiction

[niobiumao3]

Descent, ~2800 words

The Bad Batch, fix-it, gen

Part of a thing I had to hammer out because, ugh, that Finale. There's more to this but I might not get to it immediately. So here's the first chapter/one third, at least. At some point I'll put this one AO3. Probably when it's all done. Or you know I'll just do it right now.

This sprang from these posts by @thesylverlining and @eriexplosion and the general 'open options' fate Tech met in the finale. If he's being saved by someone, why *not* Hondo?

(Apologies, I haven't watched any of the Hondo episodes in AGES so I am winging it with him a little bit.)

--

Tech's odds of survival were comically low. No one could blame him for letting it happen, save of course for himself. He had made a mistake in his conversation with Phee and needed to rectify that, which naturally would be impossible if he was dead. Thus, 2.6% chance or not, he had to try.

First problem: the rail car falling with him. Even if he found a way to break his fall, it would crush him. Second problem: breaking his fall. That would be irrelevant if the rail car was still in play, so first thing first.

Tech flattened out, arms and legs wide, felt the air snag his newly expanded surface area. The rail car, perforated as it was and making no such attempts at air resistance, edged closer. He leaned hard left, teeth set, hoping this was a direction with viable options. He couldn’t risk flipping over until he was away from the car.

Smaller, loose debris bumped into him, tearing at his armor. The rail car sailed past, falling away as Tech’s turn carried him. He only waited a second before flipping midair, scanning the rapidly approaching ground. Rocks, mountains, more rocks, water (bad choice at this speed), snow over rocks—trees.

Trees with snow.

He aimed for the thickest patch he could see and expect to reach—the tallest, the broadest foliage. Hopefully there would be enough snow or at least forest underbrush beneath them rather than more rocks. He needed to time this just right, keep his terminal velocity as low as possible but not leave his arms and legs out to be torn off by a limb or trunk. Just a few more seconds—

A lean, clunky shape emerged from the cloud and fog below him, two pairs of broad, orange-membraned wings with black metal ribs spread to each side. An air skiff. Here?

He couldn’t possibly avoid it, though the wings could help break his fall some.

A shout went out from the skiff when pieces of debris which had drifted with him rained down, pelting the deck, punching smaller holes in the wings. Tech pulled in his arms and legs closer to his body, grunted at the impact of tearing through the upper membrane, then the lower.

His vision cleared in time for him to see the snow-covered branches slam into him, knocking him unconscious.

~*~

Presently he became aware of voices. Arguing voices…pain. A great deal of pain. Something lukewarm and wet holding him. Was he alive? He might be.

The sensations faded, gradually returned. Everything still hurt, but his head was clear enough to sort a few things out: he was in a bacta bag, and someone was talking.

“…so of course, my friend, once you’re conscious we’ll have to discuss this matter of payment, but your little computer—so amazing that it survived the fall, I’ve never seen one like it—at least covered the repairs to my skiff. Lucky for us.”

Tech summoned every ounce of his strength. “Who are you.” Despite his efforts his voice was barely a whisper.

The blurry shape shifted rapidly—turning around?—moved closer. An alien of some sort—a trandoshan? He couldn’t be sure.

“You’re awake! Amazing, I expected another day or two. What miracles these bags are, eh? The functionality of a bacta tank at half the price.”

Some of the functionality. Really about forty percent. Tech couldn’t make the words happen, though; he was in too much pain and utterly exhausted by his single question.

“Awake, but not very talkative, eh? No problem, you need more time. Which we have plenty of thanks to that lovely little side trip I took. Which of course is where I met you! I was taking my skiff to the Berrata mining village…”

His rescuer’s voice faded into nothing. Tech drifted, wondered what was going to be left of him when—if?—he ever really woke up.

~*~

His first truly lucid moment came in the wake of a tumultuous dream. He fell, past the wreckage of Tipoca City, past the rail cars, past the smoking ruin of the Marauder, past Hunter and Echo and Wrecker and Omega reaching for him, past Crosshair on a platform at sea—

A sharp, sudden smell assaulted him, had him shaking his head. It snapped him out of the mess of images and panic, leaving him aching and gasping—but awake.

His eyes took their sweet time adjusting to the sudden influx of light, vision still blurry for lack of his goggles. Well, he wouldn’t have expected them to survive the fall.

His rescuer was close enough for Tech to determine they were a weequay. This was the only real detail he could make out. “Ah! It worked! I’m a genius.” In one hand they held a wrapped gauze bandage tainted pale orange.

Tech blinked several times. “You woke me up with Sriluur sage oil.” His voice sounded rough and gravely, as though he were recovering from laryngitis.

“Well, you were having trouble coming out of that dream, and anyways it’s about time you stopped lying about.”

Tech shifted. Several nerves flared painfully, drawing a grimace out of him. He was no longer in the bacta bag, though the smell lingered on him, raw and pungent. As painful as everything felt, most motor functions responded. Arms, legs, fingers, toes, as well as hearing and sight, all accounted for. It just hurt like hell to move anything, and he was certain he couldn’t stand without help.

One thing at a time.

Probably noting the faces he was making, the weequay said, “I expect you might be hurting some. There was a medical droid at the mining camp, they indicated you may have sustained a bit of damage to your nerves. Something about, needing a proper workup at a facility.” They laughed. “Obviously a bit out of my budget. And, I expect, yours.”

“Quite.” Tech lay there a second, processing the situation as quickly as his thoughts allowed. He was alive, he was somewhat functional. But the squad—what about them? Had they made it out? And, maybe most importantly, who was this?

He squinted at the weequay. “I am certain you told me while I was recovering, but I assure you I did not take note of it. Who are you?”

The weequay grinned. “Ah, I knew we would get along well, because you’re direct and to the point. I am Hondo Ohnaka, merchant and trader.”

A vague memory surfaced from his time half-awake in the bacta bag. “A smuggler.”

Hondo waved a hand dismissively. “Mmmmm you say rancor, I say ranker. A smuggler is simply a merchant who prefers to keep their dealings private.” His eyes turned calculating. “As would you, I expect?”

Tech weighed his options. Despite all other things, ‘Hondo’ hadn’t turned him over to the Imperials. He knew enough to not trust them, then. The miners would also keep quiet, if only because being caught working with a smuggler would be bad news all around.

“You are very correct.” Tech tried to sit up, met with marginal success. Hondo grabbed a canteen from the co-pilot’s seat and offered it. Water, which Tech sniffed and considered. It could be drugged, but he was absurdly thirsty.

“I see you are reluctant. Let me assure you my friend—I’m well aware that turning you over to the proper authorities will only earn me a reward of minimal value. Or get me arrested, as they have no sense of humor. They’re to be avoided. However,” he leaned against a crate behind him, crossed his arms, “I imagine someone will be grateful for your return.”

Grateful, yes; monetarily grateful, less so. But there was no use telling a smuggler such a thing. It would at best get him dumped somewhere, at worse tossed out an airlock. He took a drink—Maker, he was thirty—to give himself more time to think over his options.

“Yes, they would. Though contacting them may prove difficult.” He glanced around himself, peering. No armor, no helmet—just his blacks, and those had seen better days.

Hondo moved away from the crate, patted a large, hinged box set on top of it. “I had to sell some of your things to pay for the damage to my skiff, but the rest is in here. What’s left of it, that is.”

Tech’s heart sank. “I imagine my datapad was among that which was sold.”

“Oh yes, that covered most of it. But don’t worry, I wiped the memory core first.”

Well. That was Tech’s fifth; it wasn’t like he hadn’t built each one from scratch. But, “And my goggles?”

Hondo frowned, turned and flipped open the lid of the box. “Those I don’t see. Your helmet was cracked open, so they may have fallen off…were they valuable too?”

Tech grimaced. “Quite. But more importantly, I cannot see well without them.”

“Ah, well.” Hondo slammed the lid on the box shut. No doubt Tech’s blasters were gone, though perhaps some of his tools had survived the fall.

Rummaging around in yet another box, Hondo said over his shoulder, “That I think I can help with.” He shoved things around, muttering to himself, flinging some into a corner which seemed to be the designated junk heap. Presently, he announced, “There. I knew I had some.”

He stood, offered Tech a pair of simple electronic adjusting lenses, dark green with a gray band. Nothing nearly as fine-tuned as his own and almost certainly not capable of meeting his full needs. He’d be able to walk and read, though, which was necessary for him to make a new pair of goggles anyways. (And a new datapad.)

“Thank you.” Tech slid them on, winced as his orbital socket complained. Yes, he’d need a full scan from a medical droid, if only to determine what the bacta hadn’t been able to deal with. (One thing at a time.) He tapped a slim button on the left lens to activate the lenses. The scanners lining the rims hummed, calibrating as best they could. A little warning to one side indicated they couldn’t fully match the necessary ocular correction, that this was the closest setting. Another tap and they accepted the new settings.

Hondo smiled, waved at Tech, sobered a second later. “Those will cost extra.”

Tech reigned in a sigh. “I was under no illusions otherwise.” He took a moment to study Hondo, now that he could: a middle-aged weequay, by his estimation, in a cluttered and older if serviceable Haulcraft. Nothing fancy, though Tech could see modifications on the control panel which suggested more propulsion than typical. Beyond the cockpit windows hyperspace whirled by.

Hondo rubbed his hands together. “Wonderful. So then. Who do we bring you to?”

“An excellent question.” Tech considered his options. As generous as Hondo had been, Tech was certain it was in the service of money for himself. Certainly Tech’s armor and gear suggested a highly paid mercenary, which he was not, but the assumption wasn’t unwarranted. This was in all likelihood why Hondo had bothered to pick him up. It wasn’t ‘ransom’ if the person needed help, after all.

The problem was, Tech couldn’t risk an open transmission of any kind, nor could he let Hondo know about Pabu. At this point, no one could know about Pabu who didn’t already. Which meant… “I will need you to contact someone who can contact those who will be able to pay for your assistance. Another smuggler.”

“Ah, a peer! We’re all quite well connected, that shouldn’t prove difficult. I assume you cannot contact anyone directly due to, ah,” Hondo made a fluid gesture to one side, “the circumstances in which we met?”

Tech had to appreciate his discretion, though wondered if it would last. “That is correct. The person you will need to contact is named Phee Genoa.”

Hondo sucked in a breath. “The Phee Genoa?” He leaned towards Tech. “The relic hunter?”

Tech couldn’t tell if the shock was genuine or put upon, though it was at least helpful Hondo knew her. “Yes, that would be her.”

Hondo scratched at his chin, frowned. “Mmmmm. She and I are not on the best of terms, you see, we had a falling out some cycles ago about a bowl. Rather lovely piece from an abandoned settlement on—”

Tech gave Hondo the sort of look he reserved for Crosshair at his most obstinate. It seemed to get the point across, though Hondo gripped his hands. “I can’t be entirely certain she’ll take my call. It would be better if you contacted her.”

“That is unfortunate, for she is the one who you must speak to. If I send any message in the open, you will find yourself with the kind of attention you and I do not wish for.” Hondo made a face. Tech added, “She will know how to contact those who can pay you.”

He sighed heavily. “So be it. Do you have a way to induce her to listen to me, should she bother to answer?”

Tech considered. “If you can convince her to listen to a simple message, I can tell you what to say which ought to get her attention.”

Hondo grumbled. “This will cost extra, you know. Dealing with a third party.”

“I am not surprised to hear that. But it remains necessary.” He leaned over (his back protesting the entire time), tried to get a look at the communications console. “I can make some improvements to your comm system which ought to boost the range and improve the encryption. That way it will not be decoded so easily.” He couldn’t make it nearly so thorough as anything on the Marauder; the Haulcraft wouldn’t have the computers necessary. But he could make it better.

Hondo’s features lit up. “Ah, you’re technically proficient. That’s wonderful, you know we could possibly negotiate my rate if you do some work on the ship.”

“That would be acceptable.” Tech started to lever himself out of the bunk, had to stop when the pain in his left leg became too pronounced. He sat a moment, panting. Once he could move again, he swung one leg over, then the other. Hondo hovered nearby, ready to intervene but not acting just yet. Tech slowly lowered himself off the bunk, had to brace himself with both arms to not crumple to the floor.

Hondo slipped one of Tech’s arms over his shoulders, began helping him to the communications console. “You’ll need time to get your strength back. Some work should do the trick.”

“That is not typically how one recovers. But I feel we cannot afford to let me rest further. This will do.” He could exercise his legs carefully from the chair, after all.

“Yes, that’s true, time is of the essence.” A few more hobbling steps, then Tech fell into the chair. Pain, all over, and a migraine threatening. He gripped the edge of the console, willed his stomach to settle. Presently it did.

Hondo, meanwhile, was pulling a tool chest out from under the bunk. He set it and the canteen within easy reach. “We’re currently on our way to Sakromos Prime. I have something to deliver there. A good spot to contact Phee Genoa.” He settled into the pilot’s seat, leaned back and put up his feet. Preparing for a nap, it seemed. “What shall I call you, friend?”

It was an odd way to ask for Tech’s name, but perhaps Tech shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, he’d already negotiated a manner of contacting the squad which would evade Imperial notice, and as a smuggler Hondo could no doubt appreciate the desire to use codenames.

“Ace,” Tech said, thinking of Romar.

Hondo guffawed, leaned back. “How very humble of you.”

Tech adjusted the lenses out of habit. “Indeed.”

On a sigh Hondo shut his eyes. “A pleasure to meet you, Ace. I’m going to nap. Wake me when we arrive, please.”

Tech narrowed his eyes at Hondo. He could already sense how this was going to play out, knew he would need to be mindful of any attempts on Hondo’s part to delay. A small price to pay for being alive, all in all.

He opened the tool chest, suppressed a sigh at the deplorable state of its contents, and got to work.

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