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theteasetwrites · 2 years

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The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Chapter 92: Get Back Home

❧ Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female Reader ❧ Era: Season 11 ❧ Pronouns: she/her ❧ Warnings: language, blood and gore, violence ❧ Word Count: 6.4k

❧ In This Chapter: There's a new addition to the family, and a deal is made to get your people back to where they belong. Everything is just a little too good to be true.

❧ A/N: Baby Dixon #2 is here... Daryl is also here lol. This chapter is interesting because we get to see two sides of Daryl—the intimidating, scary, aggressive side, and the sweet, gentle, caring side. I think Daryl is actually more at home in the latter side, but when he needs to fight for his family, he goes into that scary mode. And like... it's hot. It's so hot. But anyway, that's not what this chapter is about. This chapter is about the newest addition to the family, and obviously also the plot of the show, of course.

Pain seemed to erase your memory, as whatever happened in that hospital room was a complete blur. You woke up in the same room, but now it was shrouded in darkness, except for a dimly lit panel of light above your bed.

Everything looked staticky until you blinked your eyes completely open, seeing now that you were alone, except for a pale blue teddy bear with the words, “It’s a Boy!” stitched onto its belly sitting at the foot of your bed.

In a small burst of panic, you kicked the stuffed animal to the floor, sitting up to feel your stomach—it was still a bump, but smaller, and you felt empty, despite having very vague memories of the whole ordeal. All you felt now was pain, still lingering from the pushing and the intense contractions. More potent than that, though, was your worry.

You worried for the baby, wondering where he was, if he was all right, and you worried for your other baby, Robin. The last thing you really remembered clearly was your hand letting go of hers, and a fresh wave of panic overcame you.

You wanted to rise to your feet and go find her and the new baby, but your legs didn’t seem to want to work, and you were hooked to an IV, anyway.

You looked to the slightly ajar door leading to the hallway, and called out hoarsely, “Nurse?”

You only heard a faint voice from outside, but it was familiar. It was Ezekiel, the other last person you vaguely remembered (frantically) talking to. “She’s awake,” he said. “Come on.”

He pushed the door open further, slowly peeking in, with Robin’s hand in his.

You huffed a deep sigh of relief when you saw her small, smiling face behind Ezekiel. She was safe, so you smiled, too, despite the pain.

“Oh, thank God,” you said.

Robin let go of Ezekiel’s hand to slowly, but eagerly, make her way towards you. She gently wrapped her arms around you, careful not to hurt you or knock anything loose.

You squeezed her tight, rocking her back and forth in your arms as you kissed her cheek. She felt so soft and small, just like a little baby herself. Having her in your arms made everything feel right again, just for a moment.

“I was so worried,” you said. “I don’t know what happened. I just… let go. I’m sorry.”

Robin pulled away and smiled softly. “It’s okay, Mommy. Uncle Ezekiel found me.”

You raised your eyes to meet his gaze, and to match his friendly smile. “She was hiding in the bakery,” he said. “Behind the counter. Took me a while to find her. She’s got serious hiding skills.”

You laughed through your happy tears, amused by the thought of Robin finding a hiding spot in the place with the most sweets. The child had a sweet tooth like no other.

“Good girl,” you said, brushing her soft, wavy hair back. Indeed, you were proud of her, doing exactly what you or Daryl would’ve told her to do in that situation.

Your face turned serious now, as the next thought overwhelmed you. There had been a baby in your belly, and now there wasn’t.

“The baby?” you asked, feeling your heart rate increase. “Is the baby all right?”

Ezekiel scared you for a moment when he remained silent, but his wide grin told another story. “He’s perfect,” he said. “He’s in the nursery. You were out of it when he came out. He’s just fine, though. Very… vocal.”

“Vocal?”

“He cries a lot,” explained Robin. “I think he just wants you.”

“Aw,” you laughed, wiping the tears from your cheeks. “Well… can I see him?”

Ezekiel nodded with a smile. “I’ll ask the nurse to bring him in.”

Your excitement to see the new baby far outweighed whatever pain and fear was in your heart. You only wished Daryl was here, but something in your bones told you he was all right. You just knew.

The nurse wheeled in a hospital bassinet just minutes later, and Robin held your hand in excitement, exchanging wide grins with you as the nurse picked up the bundle in her arms to gently hand it to you.

“He’s sleeping,” she said, though all you paid attention to was his face, peaceful and sweet. “Everything’s normal. He’s just a little premature, but only by a week. Nothing to worry about. I think he was just excited to come out.”

“Thank you,” you said quietly. “He’s so beautiful… Look, sweetheart. This is your little brother.”

Robin leaned forward to get a better look at the infant. She smiled at him, tilting her head as she followed the curves of his face, and paid attention to every detail, including the tiny eyelashes and the sparse tufts of fuzzy, light brown hair, not dissimilar from the color of hers.

His body began to wiggle between the tight wrap of his blanket, and soon his eyes began to blink open. His eyes were somewhere between slate grey and blue, and they were wide, yet slightly downturned and deep set. His small pink lips spread ever so slightly when his pupils focused on you, and his feet kicked more restlessly now, as if he knew exactly who you were. In his cheeks, you already spotted the cutest little dimples on either side of his mouth. As you supported his head in your hand, the other hand cradling his bottom, you held him close, gently rocking him in your arms.

You weren’t sure if your eyesight was blurred by your tears, or by how much you were smiling from ear to ear, but for a few moments, you couldn’t even see him, though you knew he was one of the most beautiful things you’d ever seen.

His eyes fixated on you curiously, but soon his eyes gazed towards Robin, who took the opportunity to wave to him, saying, “Hi,” in her meek little voice.

You sniffled back your tears, trying to compose yourself before you spoke to him for the first time, but you just couldn’t help it. You exploded into a small burst of tears, startling the newborn for a moment, though you held him closer, assuring him everything was all right.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” you said. “Everything’s okay. You’re safe.”

The child seemed to be soothed then, and his eyes closed softly once more as he let out a big, wide yawn. “Awww,” cooed Robin. “He’s so cute.”

“I know,” you giggled through your tears. “He’s darling, just like you.”

You had to admit, you always knew you and Daryl would make the cutest babies, and you weren’t wrong. Robin and this baby were proof of that.

Robin looked to you eagerly, catching your attention with her bold, curious gaze. “We still don’t have a name for him,” she said. “He’s not really going to be Daryl Jr., right?”

Of course, as much as you wanted to name him after your hero, you knew Daryl hated it. Still, you had never decided on a name for him. You were hoping that, now that he had arrived, you’d come up with a name with Daryl, but Daryl wasn’t here. You knew that if he was here, he’d be right by your side, holding your hand and softly demanding to hold this baby (and to never let him go—he had a hard time letting go of Robin. Hell, he had a hard time letting go of Judith, too).

“No,” you answered. “He doesn’t look like a Daryl… I’m not quite sure what he looks like. I… I really thought…”

You shook your head as you tried to catch yourself. If you kept going, you were sure you’d burst out into an even more intense cry. Not a happy one. Daryl wasn’t here, and on top of the fact that you were concerned about him, you couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness without him. Your family wasn’t complete, and you knew that Daryl wanted nothing more than to be right next to you when you delivered the baby, and for Daryl not to see his own son’s first moments… It hurt your heart for him. Not only that, but you needed him here. You were hurting, every inch of your body, and it wasn’t just from the labor—it was from the heartache of missing him in such a scary moment. When you fell to your knees in that crowd, being trampled over by that stampede, you felt so alone, and from that point on, you were vulnerable, helpless. It was a horrible feeling. He made you strong in situations like that. He always did.

And though you barely remembered giving birth, if he’d been there, he would’ve given you strength then, too. At least Robin was here, and at least the baby was here.

“Thought what?” asked Robin.

You shook your head, dismissing the tears once again. “Well, I just thought your daddy would be here. I know he’d be here if he could, but… I wanted him to help me choose a name once the baby was here.” You turned back to look down at the infant, whose gaze never left your face. “You need a name, don’t you, little boy?”

“Daddy said we could name him anything we want.”

“I know,” you sighed. “Just… I know he wouldn’t miss this.”

Robin shrugged. “He’ll be back,” she said. “And we should have a name picked out when he comes back.”

“Oh?” you laughed. “And what name should we bestow upon this little angel?”

Little did you know that Robin had a name picked out for him.

It came to her in the hospital waiting room, where she sat with King Ezekiel, waiting for you to awaken. It had occurred to you that her little brother needed a noble name. All the grown up men in her life had names that made them sound like heroes—Ezekiel, Aaron, even Daryl had a noble ring to it.

So she asked the nurse to borrow a pad and pen, and scrawled out a list of new names she thought would suit a heroic boy.

She went through every name multiple times, each time scratching out one she thought didn’t fit. She knew that you had an idea for the middle name—Owen, after your father—so it needed to blend well with that.

And finally, she landed on one.

She tore the piece of paper from the notepad and folded it into the pocket of her jeans. “Here,” she said, procuring it to hold the folded paper out to you. “That’s my favorite.”

You eagerly opened the paper with one hand, the other cradling the baby as he slowly fell back to sleep in your arms. Your eyes scanned all over the scribbled words until you found the one name not scratched out.

A wide smile stretched across your face. “Where did you come up with this, sweet pea?”

She shrugged bashfully. “Well, d’ya remember that movie we watched last week?”

You furrowed your brow as you struggled to recall. So much had happened since then, and your brain was still getting used to processing movies again since moving to the Commonwealth.

“Oh, The Princess Bride?”

She nodded with a smile. The fantastical film from the 1980s told the story of a princess and the farmhand who rescues her. It suited Robin’s infatuation with fairytales and romance, which she no doubt inherited from you.

“Westley?” you asked, studying the name in Robin’s childlike handwriting. “After the man in the movie?”

“Mhm… It’s a hero’s name.”

“Mm, like Robin?”

Her blue eyes sparkled like two little sapphires when you mentioned that. She hadn’t even considered that her name, too, was the name of a hero. “Oh, yeah! Robin and Westley. What d’ya think?”

“And Owen for a middle name,” you said. “Westley Owen Dixon?”

“Wes for short,” suggested Robin. “That’s perfect, Mommy. I wanna call him Wes.”

As you considered it, you studied the infant boy’s face, peaceful as he slept. Westley was nice. It wasn’t a name you had thought of before, but it had the benefit of being a boy’s name, yet still soft and pretty. Besides, you had never met anyone named that before, so it was a little unique. Why not?

“Okay,” you sighed. “Baby Westley… Do you think Daddy will like it?”

“Yes,” Robin stated confidently. “And if he doesn’t, we can change it, right?”

“Mhm.”

The night carried on quietly, though only hours ago, the streets were flooded with civil unrest. From what you gathered, a swarm of walkers had gathered outside the walls, and the Commonwealth Army began to throw canisters of tear gas into the crowds as a means of getting them to disperse when they refused to go home.

With the baby cradled in your arms, and Robin snuggled against you on the tiny hospital bed, you began to almost fall asleep, though something wouldn’t let you. Of course, you knew what it was—it was your usual worry for your husband, and though you knew there was no way the hospital would let you out in the morning, you fully intended to get information about the status of him, your brother, and the rest of their group.

At this point, not even Daryl knew where he was.

All he knew was that he was standing underground, in a sewer that smelled of rotten flesh, holding a knife to Lance Hornsby’s neck, with twenty or so Commonwealth soldiers pointing their guns directly at him.

This was not too uncommon of a situation lately. He found that he was quite often holding someone at knifepoint or gunpoint, and he was no stranger to being outnumbered. Hornsby and his army had been chasing Daryl, Aaron, Maggie, Gabriel, and Negan and his wife, Annie, for days. Maybe two, maybe three, but it was enough to nearly throw Daryl over the edge of doing something irrational.

But situations like this were tricky, of course. For one thing, there was the obvious predicament of several guns pointed in Daryl’s direction, and if he slit this man’s throat, an urge he was having trouble holding back, he’d surely end up with more holes in him than a slice of Swiss cheese.

How much was he willing to risk just to kill this pathetic man? Would he risk his life? Well, he was already risking his life. When was he not risking his life?

“Put the knife down!” one of the soldiers called out.

“Do it, or we will shoot!” said another.

“Let him go! Now!”

Daryl’s eyes shifted around the dark cavern, briefly meeting the gazes of his group. They all held their own guns at the armored troopers, but there were simply too many of them. If he killed Lance, he’d kill his family, too. All that mattered now was getting back home, away from the corruption and authoritarian rule of the Commonwealth. That couldn’t happen if he died right here.

Luckily, he didn’t have to think much longer about the consequences of his actions. “Everyone stand down!” Mercer’s voice boomed and echoed from beyond the crowd. The troopers lowered their weapons and separated to let the intimidating man march through. He was followed by three familiar faces—Commonwealth governor Pamela Milton, Carol, and Negan.

With their weapons lowered, Daryl’s impulsion returned to him. With tight lips and even tighter grip, he swiftly turned Hornsby around to push him forward, till his body hit some industrial object that forced him to lean backwards, pinned between the knife still at his throat and the wall of the sewer.

Mercer and the others came forward, yet he never kept his eyes off the sniveling man before him. He never particularly liked Hornsby. Even the day he first saw the man leading an army into Alexandria, wearing a suit and a perfectly manicured hairdo, he distrusted him. His hatred for him grew when he saw his true colors. Hornsby’s intention was to take Hilltop and the other communities by force now, and the past few days had proven that.

Daryl had now held a gun to him, shot him in the arm, and nearly drove a car into him. Over the years, Daryl liked to think that he had become less angry, that he wasn’t as impulsive or prone to rash decisions fueled by irrational emotions. But he had a family now, and the older he got, the more important that became to him. Anyone who threatened that had a deathwish, and he wasn’t opposed to harkening back to that anger if need be.

“You heard him,” said Milton. “Lower your weapon.”

Daryl remained silent, holding fast with the knife still at Hornsby’s throat. It would take more than that.

“This is not just about you,” she continued. “I need him alive.”

Hornsby’s lip quivered slightly, almost in the curve of a smile.

“Dixon,” said Mercer, stepping forward slowly. “Not here. Not like this.”

“You choosin’ this piece of shit?” retorted Daryl.

“If I was, you’d already be down.”

“Do what you fuckin’ gotta do,” he replied.

There was that Dixon impulsivity. He had no idea what he was going to do next, but it sure as hell wasn’t going to involve letting this asshole go scot-free. He at least needed one good injury for the shit he put them through.

But just before he could do anything rash, Carol stepped forward, speaking his name.

Carol, the meddler. She must’ve been responsible for finding them, for bringing Mercer here. Maybe it was her way of helping them, but at the moment, Daryl was too pissed to care about intentions.

He looked her way with a sharp glare. “What’ve you done?”

“Made a deal for us,” she said.

The tension was suffocating, oppressive. Silence settled in uncomfortably, until Daryl released his knife from the man’s throat.

He stepped back momentarily, never letting his eyes leave Hornsby, whose relief was like poison to Daryl. The man deserved to suffer for the corruption he was responsible for, and for the lives and freedom lost in the path of his desire for power and status. Worst of all, he was going to take Alexandria.

Alexandria was home, home was family, family was you, Robin, and the baby he thought was still inside you. He’d never stop fighting for that. That was the only thing in this world worth fighting for, and after everything you all had lost to have that, there was no doubt in his mind—anyone who threatened to destroy what he built, what he loved, was a dead man walking.

Hornsby was a dead man walking.

Not a moment passed before Daryl pinned Hornsby’s hand to the surface of the wall he leaned against. There was no hesitation then. Daryl’s senses were at once sharpened and blurred. He couldn’t hear past the blood in his ears, rushing to his head as his eyes narrowed with the accuracy of a hunter onto Hornsby’s flattened palm, splayed open and just begging for permanent nerve damage.

A squelch echoed in the sewer as blood pooled and splashed from the point where the knife’s serrated blade had been embedded into his hand. Hornsby’s agonizing screams were but whispers to Daryl, who plunged the knife deeper. He wanted to see more blood spill from him, as much as possible without twisting the blade until it tore the tendons beyond repair.

When he was satisfied with the position of the knife, he left it in, pulling away to watch the horrific pain overtake Hornsby’s face as he screamed and screamed and screamed. Music to Daryl's ears, now that he could hear it.

He leaned forward to quickly, yet still mercilessly, yank the blade from the flesh, eliciting another scream and another splash of blood to emit from Hornsby.

Slowly walking up to Milton, he had only a few words to say to her: “Don’t worry. He’ll live.”

In what seemed like a world away, morning daylight poured in through the blinds of the hospital room, and you sat up against your pillow, breastfeeding the baby. He’d cried quite a bit that night, and you wondered if he, too, felt the absence of his father, but perhaps he was just a very loud baby.

“Little boy blue, come blow your horn. The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn. Where is the boy who looks after the sheep? He’s under the haystack, fast asleep…”

Robin sat at the edge of the bed, watching you quietly sing lullabies to the baby as he began to fall asleep, still suckling. You laughed at his sleepiness, though you hoped he didn’t develop a habit of falling asleep in the middle of eating as he grew up. “Did you sing me lullabies when I was a baby?” she asked.

“Of course,” you said quietly. “‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’ ‘Rock-a-Bye Baby’… All of them.” You looked back down to see that Westley had fallen completely asleep. “He’s so silly,” you said. “Look, he fell asleep.”

Robin jumped up to eagerly look at the baby as you buttoned up your delivery gown. It was so lovely to see that sparkle in her eyes. She was infatuated with her newborn brother, already secretly planning all the fun things they would do together when he learned to walk.

Just as you wrapped the sleeping baby tighter in his light blue fleece blanket, you heard Ezekiel’s voice heighten from outside the room, and the voices of doctors and nurses getting closer, saying something about “clearance” and “proof” and “security.”

And amidst the cacophony of voices, you heard a familiar one above the rest, gruff and loud with impatience.

“I need to see my wife,” the disembodied voice said, anger rising as it argued with the other voices in the hallway.

“Daryl, just calm down,” Ezekiel’s voice replied. “She’s all—”

The door was shoved open, with a disheveled Daryl standing dumbfounded in the threshold. His eyes were wider than you’d seen them in a long time, and his skin turned a bit pale, much lighter than his usually rather tan complexion.

Your heart stopped, you swore it did. Robin was standing up, preparing to greet her father with a hug, when Westley awoke with a thunderous cry. Well, thunderous for an infant. “Shhh,” you said, gently rocking him. “It’s okay.”

His legs still felt numb as he bent down to receive Robin’s hug, but his eyes were glued to the blue bundle in your arms, from which two little arms were waving as cries continued to emanate from it. Him, actually. The baby that was now more real than ever.

He’d missed it. Dizziness set in, and soon he almost trampled over Robin, but he caught himself, gripping tighter to the child before kissing her cheek. He pulled away, holding her face in his hands. She looked tired, like she’d been through too much for a child her age. Well, she had. And yet, she still smiled.

“You all right, peanut?” he asked seriously, subconsciously searching her face for any injuries. He’d heard that things had gotten messy last night, with civil unrest in the streets and tear gas dropped on citizens. Other than that, he’d just got here with the rest of the group, and all he knew was that a deal had been made.

“Fine,” she replied simply, then turned to gesture towards the hospital bed, where you’d finally calmed down Westley. “Look. He’s here.”

Daryl swallowed hard, trying to hold back tears. He wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy, or tears of guilt, but they were threatening to break loose any second. “I know,” he said, rising to his feet. He held Robin’s shoulders as he moved forward with her, moving softly and slowly as possible.

His eyes flashed between you and the bundle, whose face he couldn’t yet see. What he did see, though, was your smile, and tears flooding your eyes. “I didn’t mean it,” you said, catching him off guard.

His brows furrowed in response. “Didn’t mean what?”

“Didn’t mean to have a baby while you were away.”

He shook his head and leaned down to kiss your forehead, one hand on your cheek, guiding your lips to his for a soft kiss. “Not like you could help it, crazy woman.”

His eyes turned slowly to face the child, who looked around the room curiously, with his lips agape and arms moving in small circles. Daryl let out a chuckle, amused by the baby’s expression. He looked so confused, so innocent. Completely unaware of everything. He envied him.

Tears were cascading down his cheek, so much that you felt one land on your wrist. When Daryl cried, you cried, too. “Isn’t he perfect?” you asked through tears. “And look, he already has a little bit of hair.”

You peeled back his blue beanie to reveal that small patch of caramel colored baby hairs upon his head.

He reached out his hand to cradle the baby’s head, and he had still never forgotten that feeling of doing the same with Robin when she was born. It was pride, even though the baby hadn’t done anything yet. Just the baby’s presence was something to be proud of. The fact that you had made something so beautiful together, that was the ultimate achievement.

“He’s beautiful,” he said with a sniffle. “H-he got all the fingers and toes?”

You laughed through your tears. “Ten fingers, ten toes.”

“Good.”

He couldn’t muster up another word, not unless he wanted to make a scene with how much he wanted to sob. Missing his child’s birth, what kind of father does that?

“M’sorry,” he said, still looking at his baby. He turned to face you again, and you looked even more tired than Robin. You looked like everything had been drained from you, and yet, like Robin, you smiled. “I’m so sorry.”

You shook your head and sniffled. “You did nothing wrong.”

“Nah, I shoulda been here, knowin’ how far along you were.”

“It wasn’t like you had a choice, hon. Besides, he wasn’t due for another week.” You looked back down at the little troublemaker, whose blue eyes blinked adorably as his little lips pursed and quivered. “You were just so excited to come out, huh, sweet boy? Yes you were.”

Your baby voice was always so amusing to Daryl, but he mostly found it incredibly endearing. “So, he got a name? And don’t ya say Daryl Jr.”

You laughed and shook your head. “No… Westley. Westley Owen.”

He smiled. It sounded perfect. “Where’d that come from?”

“Me,” piped Robin, now sitting on the edge of the bed. “After Westley from Princess Bride. Wes for short. Do you like it?”

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s nice. Anythin’ but Daryl.”

Not long after Daryl arrived, Aaron arrived, too, smitten with his new nephew. He took Robin to the hospital cafeteria for breakfast, leaving you alone with Daryl, who wasted no time in taking the baby from you so he could hold him for the first time.

He sat beside you, as close as he could get the chair to your bed, gently rocking Westley in his arms. Daryl was always so precious with babies. Of course, he was good with children of all ages, but babies? He loved them a lot more than he cared to admit, lest his tough exterior crumble under their undeniable cuteness.

“You’re so cute with him,” you said with a laugh, leaning back against your pillow. “I can’t wait until he’s big enough to wear those little cowboy boots Judith picked out for him. And when we get back to Alexandria, I want to paint his room yellow. Not, like, caution yellow, but a nice soft, pastel color. I don’t know, he just looks like a boy who likes yellow.”

Daryl was silent for a moment, still stuck on the words “back to Alexandria.”

It should’ve been good news. The deal Carol had made seemingly guaranteed him and his family and everyone else safe passage back to Alexandria, just as long as Lance Hornsby was alive, and he was. He was imprisoned now, taking the fall for Sebastian Milton’s crimes. Still, explaining that all to you was going to be a whirlwind, especially since your family was going to have to leave the Commonwealth as soon as possible. After all, that was the deal.

“What?” you asked. “You don’t like yellow?”

“Nah, yellow’s fine.” He looked up to smile at you, but it was a forced smile. You knew that. You knew every kind of smile Daryl’s facial muscles were capable of making.

“You going to tell me what happened out there yet?”

It hadn’t escaped you that Daryl was hesitating to inform you of the misadventures he’d had. Perhaps he was also a little scared to tell you that he had technically lost his job, but then again, that didn’t really matter, since you were all going to have to leave soon anyway.

He leaned back in his chair, keeping Westley bundled up and close to his chest as he cooed with Daryl’s movements. “Hornsby was tryin’ to take Hilltop by force,” he said, quietly enough not to disturb the baby’s sensitive ears. “We fought back… Helped Maggie. I, uh… I think I lost my job.”

“Really?” you asked, though you couldn’t say you were surprised. From what Negan had told you, you were sort of expecting that Daryl would no longer serve on the Commonwealth Army.

“Sorry,” he said. “But the thing is, we’re goin’ back home anyway.”

You perked up, looking at him wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. “No way,” you said. “Soon?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Carol made a deal for us. We gave Hornsby to them alive, so we get to go back home. Well, we gotta go back home. Don’t think they want us here no more.”

“That’s great,” you said, though your excitement began to wear thin when you really thought about it. “It sounds too good to be true.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too.”

Just a few hours had passed, and you were already up, despite Daryl’s pleas for you to stay at the hospital. Word had spread that Lydia was outside the walls, and you weren’t about to miss an opportunity to see her, and to show her Westley.

You met her at the warehouse where Aaron and Jerry were preparing a wagon, intending to take supplies back to the other communities. Daryl was packing a few duffel bags full of weapons to be delivered, intending to lighten the load for when your family would travel back. With baby Westley in your arms, you showed Lydia the little boy, who wrapped his tiny hand around her finger.

“Aw,” she said. “He’s so cute.”

“Mm, he is.”

Lydia furrowed her brows as she looked you up and down. “Are you okay? Didn’t you just give birth last night?”

You huffed. “You and Daryl… I’m fine, Lydia. I wanted to see you. Besides, we’re going to leave soon, too. Have to get ready. What about you? Been on the road a while, are you sure you don’t want to stay a few nights?”

She shook her head and smiled. She seemed happier than usual, more… giddy. It was certainly an interesting side to Lydia you hadn’t really seen much of. Happiness suited her well, and you hoped whatever was making her so happy would last a long time. If there was anyone who deserved it, it was her, after everything she had been through.

“What’s a few more weeks?” she asked with a gingerly shrug.

Westley let out a few cries, to which you shushed him and bounced him gently in your arms, which seemed to work.

Meanwhile, Elijah, who had accompanied Lydia on her journey to the Commonwealth, came up behind her, touching her shoulder as he spoke. That gesture did not go unnoticed by you. “Bag’s all set,” he said. “I’ll grab us some water, okay?”

He, too, looked much happier than you’d seen him.

“All right, thanks,” replied Lydia, who held her hands together in front of her, rubbing her palms together as she looked over her shoulder to watch him return to the wagon.

She finally turned back to you, an adorable redness spread across her round cheeks. The romantic in you couldn’t help but say something, and after all, Lydia was like a daughter to you, so you were interested. “Oh, now I see,” you said.

“See what?”

“Well,” you sighed, “I happen to know that long journeys are often much easier to stomach when there’s a nice, cute boy around, especially if he looks at you that way.” She giggled girlishly under her breath as she lowered her head and pinned a strand of long brown hair behind her ear. The fact that she didn’t deny it now must’ve meant that it was true. “So, I was right? There’s something there?”

“Yeah,” she said shyly. “There’s something.” You grinned wide and shifted your shoulders excitedly, disturbing Westley slightly. Lydia shook her head. “Don’t make a big thing out of it.”

“I won’t,” you said. “It’s just… very cute, that’s all. Romance isn’t dead.”

She shrugged with a small smile, hardly able to contain herself. Young love. It was so sweet to see. “So when will I see you again?”

You sighed and unwrapped one arm from around the baby to bring Lydia in for a hug. Curse your sentimentality—you were already crying a little, and they hadn’t even left yet. “Oh, soon, I’m sure.”

Lydia pulled away to tap lightly on Westley’s button nose. “Now there’s this one. Is there still room at the Dixon house for me?”

“Of course. You’re…” Our daughter. You shook your head and wiped your tears with your jacket sleeve. “You’re always welcome. You know that.”

“I know.”

You sniffled once more, then turned to point towards Daryl, who was keeping an ever diligent eye on you. “You better say bye to Daryl.”

She turned to meet him, still with tears in her eyes as she moved to hug him. “You okay?” he asked, always so concerned about those he loved.

“Yeah, yeah I think I am.”

It was a sweet sight, seeing Daryl tug his hands out from his jean pockets to hug Lydia. At one point, he didn’t trust her at all, and now, he loved her just as much as you did. She was one of you, and she was family.

When he felt your eyes on him, he looked at you over her shoulder, with that characteristic softness in his eyes. “I never, uh, I never thanked you for savin’ her.” She turned to look your way, and you looked back, confused.

Saving me?

It felt like ages ago now, how Lydia had helped you escape from the Hilltop as it fell under the siege of the Whisperers. Only Daryl would remember something like that, how important it was to him. How important you were to him.

“I never thanked you for saving me,” she replied to him, eliciting a sweet half smile from him. “We don’t have to, we just do it.”

Lydia might not have been a Dixon by blood, but, like you, she was one at heart.

“Yeah,” he agreed, then opened his arms to hug her again. You could tell he was worried about her, and maybe a little worried about the boy he still didn’t know too well. His fatherly instinct towards her was very cute to you, you had to admit. “Be safe out there, all right?”

“You too,” she said.

Daryl watched her climb into the wagon with Elijah, as you came over to hand him Westley, who was making your arms tired. All seven pounds and seven ounces of him. He wailed just a little, but Daryl shushed him, and it seemed to help. Westley was already so much louder than Robin ever was, which was certainly interesting.

In the distance, Aaron called out to you, calling you over to say goodbye to you just after he’d hugged Gracie.

You moved slowly, not trying to exert yourself, until you found his arms and hugged him tight. “Stay safe,” you said. “I’ll look after Gracie.”

“Four kids and a baby,” he huffed over your shoulder. “That’s a lot, sis.”

“And Dog,” you replied. “Don’t forget Dog.”

Aaron kissed your cheek as you kissed his, and you already felt yourself about to cry again. It had been months since you were separated from him, and though you wouldn’t be separated for long, it was scary to think of something happening to him on the road, especially with the hostility from the Commonwealth that was brewing.

He looked equally worried about you, though.

“Hey, I’ll be fine,” you said. “Daryl’s here. It’s not just me taking care of the kids by myself, you know.”

“It’s not just that,” he replied. “It’s… everything. Something still isn’t right about this compromise. Seems too good to be true, after everything that’s happened.”

Though you agreed, you shook your head and tried to will away his concerns. “Let’s just… take the good news, okay? They’re letting us go without any consequences. That’s good. Now we just need to get back home.”

Get back home were the three most pleasant sounding words right now, especially with the situation of the Commonwealth government seemingly worsening. It was no longer safe for any of you, and if there was a chance to get out without facing punishment for rebelling, then that was a chance you had to take.

“Yeah,” he huffed. “Well, I should go now. Get started early so we’re not traveling by night for too long.”

You nodded just before giving him one last big, tight hug. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“Oh, and keep Lydia safe, please.”

You couldn’t help it. She was almost an adult now, but you’d always see her as a child, one you held very close to your heart.

“I will. Daryl already asked me to.”

That was surprising. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Something about… ‘keeping an eye on that boy.’”

Folding your arms over your chest, you let out a huff. “He just doesn’t want her to get hurt. I don’t either… Yeah, maybe keep an eye on him, too. Just in case.” Though you were mostly joking, you couldn’t help but also be slightly paranoid, knowing the kinds of things men could and would do in this world. “Good luck.”

Aaron shook his head. “Good luck to you,” he said. “You’ll need it.”

Thanks for reading! Likes, comments, and reblogs of any kind are always appreciated!

Series Masterlist Next Chapter ➳

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If you seen your name is on the taglist but you didn’t get tagged, it’s because Tumblr won’t let me tag you for some reason, sorry!

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idontknowreallywhy · 6 months

Text

Estera Ch 2 - Dinosaur

(Previous parts - Stars, Ch 1)

Right so… this got longer than planned, and I’m not even half as sure about it as the previous part. But I’m quite excited about future sections which I’ve already partly-written and if I keep faffing with this section, I’ll never get to those before I lose steam/confidence entirely so… eh. Herewith a sort of transitional section.

One day I may rewrite it a bit when I’ve had more practice at Plot. Until then, *flings words and apologises in advance for slowness/clunkiness*.

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It had truly been the most uneventful school trip she’d ever supervised.

The hour-long coach journey had provoked no vomiting (a first!), everyone had remembered (and eaten!) their own lunch, there had been no injuries (given the path from the visitor centre down to the caves had been very slippery indeed this was borderline miraculous!) and minimal complaining about the need to wear the safety hats (particularly after little Alex had piped up “even the Thunderbird pilots wear helmets you know”).

Even the squabbling had been fairly low level, bar some recurring hostility over dinosaur preferences.

They’d been split into three groups of 10 children, a teaching assistant, a parent and a guide with each of the other groups. Due to last minute illness, she covered the final 10 solo, aside from their very knowledgable tour-guide, but the children really had been on excellent form and she’d actually begun to relax and enjoy the day.

Quietly inserting herself between two girls who were about to come to blows about the relative merits of the triceratops and velociraptor she did some top notch ‘distract and divert’ and the pair sped off to find the answer to her question among the didactic panels of the Stone Age display.

School trips were alright really.

The guide left them to explore the final cave while she popped back up the tunnel to radio through to the next group. Estera leaned back against the wall and smiled. Then sneezed violently. Must be all the dust.

Wait, dust?

She looked behind her and sure enough a fine sheet of dust was flowing down the surface of the wall. She put her hand into it and pressed her fingertips into the cold stone. It was vibrating. That… was probably not a good sign.

In a calm, cheerful voice that she was sure couldn’t have originated from her panic-constricted throat, she called the children to the centre of the room with the idea that they could head for the passageway together. The sudden shifting of shadows together with the faint rumbling, rushing noise at the limit of her hearing made her feel slightly vertiginous

“Quickly please” a little more urgent now.

Everyone froze as a creaking sound accompanied the next wild swooping of lights and she realised the false ceiling suspended above the front half of the cave to disguise the gear for atmospheric lighting and projections was swinging too and fro. Not that way then. She dragged the nearest three children to the wall furthest from the door. “Back here everybody! Now!” All but one rushed towards her, the one standing mesmerised by the swaying lights above.

“ALEX!!”

He turned, wide-eyed, and ran… and tripped and fell forwards and as she reached out to him the creak became a screech, the lights went out and the subsequent crash made her ears ring.

The rumble became a roar and everything was dark and dust.

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Spitting out dust, Estera scrabbled for her phone and flicked the torch on, dazzling herself. She tried to force her eyes to adjust more quickly as her head spun and called out softly, trying to calm the terrified children she could hear beginning to cry.

“Be brave, my little ones, we’ll be ok. Can you call your numbers as we practised?”

“One” a nervous voice piped up behind her. That was Bee.

“Two”

“Three”

“F-F…. Fourrrrr”

She found and grabbed Sam’s hand and squeezed it as he sobbed “Well done honey. Ok, who was Five?”

“Me, Five” A cough. “I don’t like it, the air tastes wrong”.

“I think it’s just dust, Xanthe, but it’s not very nice is it. Why don’t we all try a clever trick - try pulling your sleeve down past your hand then put it over your mouth like a mask… like that mysterious super spy in last week’s story…?”

There was shuffling and wriggling as the children transformed themselves into super spies. Estera wasn’t sure how long it would work for but anything that reduced the amount of particles getting into their little lungs had to be worth a try. At least it was just dust… she remembered the panic at the start of the war when the rumours of weaponised chemical agents were rife and all the children would turn up to class with handmade attempts at masks she knew would be utterly ineffective if the day ever came. It made the parents feel better to try though and she would never argue with that… it was better than giving up. Anything was better than giving up.

“Super Spy Six reporting for duty, Miss!”

Oh yes, roll call. Gosh her head was spinning.

“Well done, Rozi, err, keep going”

Numbers seven through nine came in quick succession and then there was a pause. Viscous dread pounded through her veins.

“Alex?”

A little sniff and a whispered “Ten” allayed her fears somewhat until it was followed by “…‘m stuck!” and a terrified sob.

She shuffled towards the voice, using her phone torch to avoid crawling over anybody. A low battery alert popped up on screen. Damn it. She shone the already fading light around the space they had remaining.

“Can anyone see my rucksack?” She’d left it propped up against one of the walls but had entirely lost her bearings and could only hope it had been a wall on the side of the cave that wasn’t currently buried in tonnes of rock.

“It’s here Miss!”

Thank goodness. “In the pocket at the front are everyone’s torches, could you hand them out for me, Rozi?”

Some scrabbling noises and a few “no THAT was mines” later and the cave was flooded with light. A quick visual check of the rapidly blinking, dusty children obediently trying to breathe through their school jumpers was somehow simultaneously heart-warming and crushing.

She turned back to Alex, lying in the corner of their much reduced space, where the false ceiling had partly fallen over his right leg. She crouched and touched his hands and wet panicky eyes looked up at her.

“Does it hurt, Alex?”

A sniff. “Mmm… little bit”

“Can you wiggle your toes?”

Fierce concentration on his face, the young boy confirmed that he could and she breathed a sigh of relief. It could be a lot worse.

“Ok, someone will come and rescue us soon and they will be able to get you out. Until then…” she raised her voice and her eyebrows “What does everyone think about breaking into my emergency jelly snake stash?”

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Time was passing, but Estera had no idea how much of it. Her phone battery had expired, predictably. Some of the kids had watches but she didn’t want to draw attention to how long it had been by asking. They seemed content for now, albeit the best dinosaur debate had restarted and was causing periodic outbreaks of conflict. She’d triggered widespread derision for her answer of ichthyosaur (“plesiosaurs aren’t actually dinosaurs, Miss, just aquatic reptiles!!”) which had at least united them for a time.

She wondered whether to suggest they turn some of the torches off to save the batteries but the kids were enjoying themselves drawing cave paintings of definitely-non-aquatic-reptiles with the packet of chalks she’d found in a forgotten pocket of her rucksack. The jelly snakes were long gone but at least the dust had settled.

After a minor incident where Xanthe had tried to assist with Alex’s pins and needles by vigorously karate chopping his calf, she and Jeff had laid themselves down on the floor either side of him and together they were blending their favourites into the Ultimate Dinosaur.

They were calm right now and that was good. She wondered how much air was down here and her throat constricted a little, trying to breathe as little as possible as if that would somehow leave more for the children.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

She supposed it must be getting late now, past the kids’ bedtimes. They were rather quiet, sat around in little groups, some talking a little, some just hugging each other. Sam had curled up on her feet like a large, bony cat and she kept having to nudge him to stop him falling asleep.

She had tried to keep them chatting but was finding it harder to focus. She supposed the air was becoming bad… the symptoms of hypoxia were part of her first aid training but she was struggling to recall much of it at the moment and began to morbidly hope it would at least be a peaceful passing for them all. She selfishly hoped she’d be first. She didn’t think she could bear to see anyone else die, there had been too many… her mind drifted back to picture the morning her neighbours were dragged into the street… the headteacher marched from the school… her last hug with her brother as he was called up to fight… the boy with the blue eyes.

She mentally slapped the thoughts away, she had to be strong for the little ones.

“What was that, Miss?”

A few of them startled suddenly, and she strained her ears, gradually becoming aware of banging and scratching noises which progressively came closer. Her heart beat faster as she dared to hope.

After a few minutes she was sure she could hear muffled voices behind wall… and began to catch odd seemingly unconnected words… “props”… “oxygen”… “pod”… “wider than me” and “fine”.

Some more scraping and a shower of small pieces of rock were pushed into the cave from a rabbit-sized hole which had appeared at shoulder height, shortly followed by a small gas canister in a blue gloved hand and a friendly voice:

“International Rescue here, we’re going to get you out of there.”

The children suddenly perked up and cheered.

The owner of the hand chuckled. “Good to hear you guys too. Can somebody take this and turn the dial anti-clockwise - it’ll increase the oxygen levels down here for you.”

Estera did so with shaking hands and took her first deep breath in a long while as the gas hissed into the space.

“Hey, Mr International Rescue, what’s your favourite dinosaur?”

Another hand poked out of the hole

“That…” a grunt, followed by the appearance of two blue-suited arms “is a very important question.”

A lower, more urgent voice interrupted and the first voice muttered something in return before more shuffling and wriggling of the arms.

“My… favourite dinosaur…”

Estera pulled the children away from the wall as more debris fell from the hole.

“… is the Nanotyrannus. Because they were really, REALLY fast.”

A small explosion of sand and pebbles preceded a blue-helmeted head and shoulders emerging into the cave, an arm immediately moving to shield its owner from the glare of the 11 torches currently glinting off the visor.

“It’s Scott, by the way.”

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[Link to Ch 3]

[AO3]

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #idontknowreallywhy fanfic #thunderbirds oc #estera #tw: war #TB Estera

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sl33py-day · 1 year

Text

Erised…continued

-After the events of last night, you searched up about the game. Only to find out that the game did indeed exist yet they banned it for reasons unknown.-

A/n: I have no idea where the fuck this fanfic went at the end. Gives me a bit of a Jumanji vibe. There’s more lore and stuff behind everything, I’m not good at part twos I have found out. This isn’t good, trust me

The room was dark with only the lights from the streets outside the window. The computer screen was black as it laid on the table in front of you. If you paid attention you could hear the cars moving around down the streets. But your to focused on what just happened.

‘It’s a horror game, this is what’s supposed to happen’ you tell yourself, your mind tried to make sense of what happened. Giving the events a reasonable explanation. Like what you would do if you seen something paranormal.

‘This is just how the game works.’ Taking some deep breaths as you look around your dorm room. From the floor where some clothes laid, to the window where the night stars shined. Your eyes landed on the clock.

“1:30 am….I should head to bed.” You whispered to yourself as you walked to your bed. Figuring that you’d deal with whatever happened in the morning. Maybe you could ask Xiao about the game? He knows a lot about video games, or maybe you could search up and see if anyone else had a similar experience?

With that thought you fell asleep, still kinda freaked out about the game. If only you knew….You should probably keep playing the game. If you’re smart enough maybe you’d realize that it has more similarities to your friends then you think.

The next morning was nothing new, getting ready for school and walking down the hallway to the commons area. Some people were already on the couch either reading or talking with one another.

Walking towards the main building where all the classes were. It was still a bit early so there weren’t many people there. You headed towards the library, it was a really big and beautiful place. The roof had some glass panels that made morning sun shine in the room. Tall bookshelves were along the walls as it reached to the ceiling. There were some tables in the middle of everything, so you walked to one of the many tables and started to get out your laptop.

“Erised….RPG horror…game.” You said while typing out the words in Boggle. Though nothing that came up was really helpful. It had articles on other things like ‘Best RPG Horror Games’. You looked through that to see if there was any good info about Erised. But sadly there wasn’t.

“Good RPG games…..Horror Games….Ah! I can’t find anything about the game!” Laying your head on the table in defeat. It’s almost like the game doesn’t exist!

“I’ll try one more time then I need to go to class.” Typing some more words into Boggle and hitting the enter button. Only a few searches were completed. A few articles about the recent killings around the school and a few articles about the missing students.

“Why is it showing articles about the stuff that’s been happening…….” You continued to scroll down the page looking at each thing that showed up.

‘2 More Students Goes Missing At Teyvat University.’

‘A Girl Found Dead At Teyvat University, Police Suspect It was Suicide.’

“What’s this?” You stopped scrolling when an article catches your attention. ‘Police suspect that RPG Game Is Related to the Recent Killings.’ You were about to click on the link when a voice called out.

“Good morning Y/n!” Kazuha called out while he walked up to your table. He had some books in his hands. “Good morning Kazuha.” Closing the laptop so Kazuha doesn’t see the screen. The red eyed boy sat his books down on the table and pulled out a chair.

“How are you?” Kazuha asked, you took a quick glance at the books he put down. Kazuha seemed to notice that you were looking since he grabbed the books and put them in his bag. Not thinking much about Kazuha’s actions.

“Just doing some research is all.” The H/c student stood up and started to pack up their stuff. It was almost time to head to classes, the library also got a bit dark. Grey clouds covered the sky and blocking the sun from shining. The librarians turned on the lights for when this happens.

“What’s the thing you’re researching?” Kazuha said as he followed Y/n down the hallway. His eyes looked like they were hiding something, but it wasn’t shown due to the smile he had on his faces.

The sky outside started to get darker, rain started to fall down and people who were walking ran to the nearest cover. “A game I found, nothing more nothing less.” Y/n responded to Kazuha’s question. Kazuha hummed as a sign that he heard the H/c students response.

“Is the game Called Erised…?” Kazuha said,

Y/n stopped walking even though Kazuha was still moving forward. He walked a few more steps before turning around to face Y/n.

“Yes….It is called Erised. Do you know anything about it?” The sky outside got more dark, almost like it was night. Rain hit the windows in a harsh manner. People walked to their classrooms quickly, leaving the hallways empty. It was just Kazuha and Y/n in the hallways now.

“Yes, I suppose I do. Do you want to know?” Kazuha turned around fully and faced you. You nodded your head, Kazuha began to tell you about what he knows of the game.

“Erised is banned in many countries, all for the same reason. People believed it was connected to a string of unknown killings and missing people that happened about 10 years ago. Because of that people banned the game and got rid of anything related to it. Videos, shirts, artwork, articles. Everything.” Kazuha took a pause before continuing to speak.

“There’s not much information about the game, or how it was supposedly connected with the crimes. The murders and missing people stopped when a girl bought the game. Apparently there was a rumor going on around her school.” Kazuha looked at the time before walking towards the classroom right across from where they stood.

“I will tell you more at lunch.” With that Kazuha walked into the room. Y/n was confused, surprised, and slightly scared. How did they buy a game that was banned and never was meant to sell again? Was the thing they saw apart of the game?

10 years earlier

A girl sat at her desk, with her computer screen on with the Ersied game intro. The room was dark with the street lights shining through the windows of the room. A opened game case sat beside the computer.

“Surprised that they gave me this game, even if they didn’t know they had it.” The girl spoke while the game loaded. Tevyat university college was were the girl was, but in the old building of Khaenri'ah that burnt to the ground later that following year.

Amare, the girl, put in the game and started to play it. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, she choose a twin and continued the story line. At first the game didn’t seem suspicious or anything, just a few laggy moments.

Although, Amare played it for a few more days until the game started to get glitchy. It would freeze every now and then, the characters seemed to be looking at the camera of the screen.

She was playing the game one night before going to bed. The computer was left in by accident and was running while the girl slept. That same very night, the Khaenri'ah building burned down with the girl in it.

Some may think that this was the start of Erised becoming cursed because the girl died in the fire while the game was running. However that’s not the case, The game was already self aware and knew that they were just codes from a computer.

The characters didn’t really care, they existed so there wasn’t anything to be mad about. All of them liked the person controlling them, in this case was Amare the girl. So they weren’t complaining.

When Amare died…….they got angry. They all were angry for some time, from blaming the girl for not staying up longer to then starting to blame the people who started the fire. But after some time they got over it.

After 10 years, the game suddenly appears in the game store near Teyvat university. A person finds it and buys it out of pure curiosity. The cycle begins again……this time is more of a necessity though. The game becomes self aware right away and gives hints to the person that they are in danger.

When Y/n didn’t get the hints, Erised went to more desperate lengths to show that you’re in danger because of your own friends. The commissions that you have done, your friends have done the same thing. The quests in the game? It’s each of your friends problems with having you to themselves.

The thing that made the game crack was when you accidentally left the game on to go grab something. Aether climbed through the window and went through your things in a hurry. Almost like he was looking for something, when he didn’t find anything he left. Albedo did the same the next day but had a knife in his back pocket that had dried blood on it.

That’s when they showed the ‘cutscene’ so they could outright tell you to get the fuck away from your friends. Why did the little you talk about frogs and ducks! Albedo and Aether had a frog and duck hoodie on! Seriously, they started to think you’re more stupid than the girl.

————End———For now————

Taglist: @izayumi-chan @yuyuzi-ling @alextheknight707 @yandematic

Didn’t follow a plot or anything, sorry for it not meeting expectations and ending suddenly. Have a good day!

#Yandere genshin #yandere genshin imagines #yandere x reader #yandere male #Yandere genshin x reader #Yandere game #Genshin impact x reader

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bluebird-in-a-cagedrawing · 11 months

Text

Nightmare AU part 27

And with this part we are at the half of the comic 👀

Warning:Blood and a small death:

Doctor bird:"Soon very soon, this will be over, we are so close to victory, i can taste it."

The fake Nightmare king:"This is the heart of your machine, Doctor Bird! Such a wild energy at my small finger, all those worlds soon will be mine."

Growlian:"Such a wonderful show, my Highness, delightful even."

Panel 2

Luciano the candle of secrets:"This is for you Moon on fire, the doctor found out our next target."

Moon on fire:"Her name is Katelyn, will any knights come with me to capture her, i know about the others."

Luciano the candle of secrets:"They are indeed such a problem, but for now you must bring the next target!"

Katelyn:"Who are you? Why are you here? Help, someone!

Clause the assassin king:" They always try to run, pitfull, i feel like only us are working too hard."

Moon on fire:" We are not here to ask question, we need to work, or else they will use us in the experiments.

Luciano the candle of secrets:"I see you finished already, i guess the poison did it... That is such a shame."

Moon on fire:"I need more of those poison, is really hard to not get unwanted attention these days, my blade are sticky from blood."

Doctor bird:"A small price for such a specimen, now excuse me, i have work to do... Meet me at about two hours and 10 minutes from here."

Doctor bird:"Excelent, a fine work indeed... Don't touch her, why can't anyone understand how delicate is this process... I have what i need now to extract the essence."

Luciano the candle of secrets:"How many do you need? Can't this machine work any faster? Such a waste of resources, our king will not be pleased!"

Clause the assassin king:"When we will see them again, after i took an arrow on my shoulder i want to take their neck for this?!"

Amstran the moon dancer:"I feel a little dizzy, i have to lay down for a minute."

The cigarette ghost Smoky:" Sir, you have a telephone call from someone named Trisha the hour glass."

Sky Coeur the detective:"Amstran the moon dancer i need your opinion, tell me honest did i bought the right one?"

Amstran the moon dancer:"Yes, hello?!"

Trisha the hour glass:"You are the pumpkin Felix Reddison told me about, meet me at the local library at 5 am in the morning, come alone!"

Panel 7

Luna the moon demon:"Are you sure it's a good thing to go alone?"

Amstran the moon dancer:"I have to know, maybe she has answers...Excuse me...!"

Trisha the hour glass:"Ah, finally we meet Amstran the moon dancer, come in... There are still 2 hours till the fog will be lifted up."

Amstran the moon dancer:"Strange weather, i can't get used to it. Is that why i feel so sick in the last days, i don't say anything to them because i don't want them to be worried."

Trisha the hour glass:"Let's practice something simple, choose a book and give it to me. Close your eyes first!"

Amstran the moon dancer:"I don't see how this works, i just..."

Trisha the hour glass:"Shh, don't... Trust yourself, and repeat the first word it comes to your mind."

Amstran the moon dancer:"Dove."

Trisha the hour glass:"Looks like your power is not healing pumpkin. My friend Felix Reddison told me you felt a little off since you couldn't heal Jenna Heart wound, poor girl."

Amstran the moon dancer:"I don't know l, i just had to try something, she did not deserved that...I feel so sorry!"

Trisha the hour glass:"Even so, poison can not be cured that simple, it's not your fault, let's try another one...and then bring your friends too... It's time for the questions to get their answers!"

Panel 10

Le souris bonbon neige:"He is where? Who though it was a good idea to let him alone by himself!"

Lumboo the light ghost:"He is fine, no one wakes up at that hour, not even your enemies."

Staran the galaxy man:"If you may sit down, Amstran the moon dancer is more capable alone, plus this Trisha the hour glass only invited him alone not us."

Sky Coeur the detective:"Le souris bonbon neige, he is right, all this fight is to no avail, we have to trust him, there is nothing we can do...This is not how i wanted to spend my honey moon!"

Part 1 till part 26

Also, i forgot...You can tell me which part is your favorite, i am a curios little bean...And if till now the comic is kinda boring well, the next part will have a little action...Sorry, no spoilers!👀😅

#my ocs #nightmare au #part 27

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twin-skel3tons · 4 months

Text

So, this morning, I was listening to MCR, and eventually, started thinking about DD:TLOTFK, as well as the comic book counterpart, Killjoys:California, especially about the masks, and how the Fabulous Killjoys all died without them, even when it’s made clear that you shouldn’t within the lore. (Tl;dr at the bottom of this post.)

According to multiple bits of lore within DD:TLOTFK, and Killjoys: California, if you die without your mask on, then you don’t move on to the afterlife. Dr. Death Defying says it during “Jet-Star and the Kobra Kid/Traffic Report”, mentioning that if you do get dusted, you have to die with your mask on, and within this, it’s implied that if you don’t, you will not be able to move on to the after life. Within Killjoys:California, the Phoenix Witch is seen picking up masks of dead Killjoys + dead Draculoids, in her conversation with The Girl. When picking these up, and putting them in her cart, she picks up a very familiar mask. Party Poison’s signature mask is put in the cart, along with a couple of others.

Within the SING music video, when the Killjoys go to save The Girl, they do not have their masks on, and they very clearly die within the video. Since Killjoys: California follows this timeline, as well as showing flashbacks to the event, it can be assumed that they did indeed die in Battery City, without their masks, and no mailboxes to even try to drop them off at. Party Poisons is the only one to ever be dropped off within a mailbox, even though it’s unclear how it goes to TCM’s store within the comics.

With this information in mind, the question held mainly within the comic, and partially within the music videos, is: What happens to Jet-Star, Kobra Kid, and Fun Ghoul?

There’s two options that come to mind, all coming from different parts of the lore, from the comics, the music videos, as well as the tracklist, and even assumed conjecture from the lore.

Option 1: They all become static for Battery City, their ghosts losing memories, and eventually get freed when The Girl decides to not destroy Battery City, and instead free the souls trapped within Battery City’s electricity.

Evidence for Option 1: The Girl’s mother, after being dusted by unknown forces, does end up becoming static for Battery City, as shown in the last panel of the last volume of Killjoys: California. This seems to be similar for most souls dusted, because there were a lot of souls released when The Girl uses her powers to free them from the static. Using this evidence, and applying it to Jet-Star, Kobra Kid, and Fun Ghoul, who died within Battery City limits, it could be entirely possible that they became part of the static as well, losing their memories since they were in there for a decade or so, just like The Girl’s mother.

Option 2:They have become stuck in limbo, their bodies dead, and their souls still living on, becoming ghosts haunting Battery City, since their shadows live on without them, and possibly being freed at the end of Killjoys: California.

Evidence for Option 2: Looking at “Goodnite, Dr. Death”, and analyzing the lyrics, he specifically says that “...out here in the desert, your shadow lives on without you.” Killjoy society, in general, is very superstitious, especially with habits such as dying with your mask on, dropping your mask off with the Phoenix Witch in mailboxes across the desert, although there are some non-believers, such as Val Velocity, and The Girl (for a short while).

Using these pieces of evidence, there may be a possibility of superstitious Battery City citizens, who believe in some Killjoy legends, such as the Phoenix Witch, but this is incredibly unlikely, since BL/ind controls and subjugates its citizens in every way, until its destruction. However, what is incredibly likely, is Draculoized souls sifting around the City. With the inclusion of this, it is completely possible that the rest of The Fabulous Killjoys could have been haunting Battery City for a decade or so, until being freed by The Girl at the end of the comics.

Tl;dr: When dying without your mask, it is unclear if you either become static, or become a ghost haunting wherever you died. However, the music videos, the comics, and a bit of conjecture from the lore implies both of these could happen, but it still remains unclear.

If yall have any other theories, lemme know!! I'm happy to hear out anything, I just kinda came up with this for fun :]

#ttlotfk #danger days by my chemical romance #mcr #my chemical romance #my chemical fucking romance #twin skel3tons talks

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empresskatarina · 3 months

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New Month! New (Last?) Shirt Post!

Our favorite baby girl is back for our fashion analysis of... Does Calam really own TWO white shirts? I think our boy has indeed taken the plunge on a 2nd shirt.

I know, Ireland AM dude, I know. "Look at ch'ya...Look at ch'ya" with all those seksi threats! 🇮🇪

Sorry in advance, but I'm not referring to this one from his ig. 🙈 Let's continue with our fash past.

In May of 2022, our lil' boo wore these rounded toe boots 🥾 that really shorten the leg visually (which is why a pointier shoe is better, but I digress as I have a personal vendetta against smelly steel-toed work boots). We can see here that our broad shouldered, snack illustrious actor is a lean, mean ⚽ soccer football machine. It is a slim cut that's close to the body.

(Look at that baby face! They grow up so quickly! 🥹)

Even though in his above Ireland AM interview, it looks like he is wearing a looser shirt, there are other photos floating on the Internet of this one with a stretched out neck, which is exhibit A.

(well, Google images is now dominated with that faded navy shirt if he's even wearing one... good luck! And for our young readers, please be careful of LPSG. It's neither his talent agency, nor a site for minors! Sorry Getty images - this is for educational purposes under fair use law, probably, idk)

Let's flash forward to the recent Archie panel premiere in November 2023. As you may have noticed, our baby girl has bulked up (what is in his cereal?! And is he still baby girl whilst turning the dirty thirty this year?!).

If you have better pics, please send my way, but if you squint hard enough, you can see that this white shirt looks to have a little extra wiggle room on top of all that man meat muscle mass. You can also see that he is very guilty of manspreading. Look at his costars trying to have their own personal space. Ugh to that!

And here we come to Exhibit A. I think I've figured out why the necks always look stretched out. Is this just a normal man and toddler thing? I'm an arms first then delicately place my head through to neither stretch my 'fit nor smudge my makeup. Am I the oddball here?

Anywho, he is indeed the age of majority here and you can see how far baby girl has come along. 😘

#theloise #theo sharpe #calamlynch #calam lynch #anti tspwl #theo x eloise #eloise x theo #nerdswoon

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seijitheclown · 6 hours

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Who is the Bookman waiting at the Campbell Residence?

I'm back with another theory that bugged me for the last two days I need to put it down. This theory here will contain spoilers regarding Chapter 249/251!

So my theory starts with the following information from the panel above (both from Chapter 222). Lucia says "Bookman has woken up" and:

This scene takes part as Allen was found by Kanda/Johnny, as Allen is on the run for 3 months.

The implication here that it's "just" Bookman. Well, ... which Bookman? As Hoshino confirmed in her last Broadcast Bookman and Lavi are hold hostage for about 4-5 months which will be learn later on, that means around this time of the Story Bookman is still hold hostage by the Noah, same for Lavi.

And for now we know that Lavi will return but not "the same as before". So he is not dead (now), the referenced Junior is Past!Bookman Junior (PBJ for short). There is only one Junior per Generation, so if one is gone another has to be born or the Clan is in danger.

So... who is it?

It's talked about that "Junior" isn't there anymore to carry on the collected memories but also told this will solve once Allen arrives, the scene takes part right after Cross(!) tells Allen to go to the Residence. Mother holds the other key with the Information regarding Zeugle after Allen tells her Cross appeared and told him about Katherina (and we have a huge hint that Cross is still alive by Mother).

So we have an injured Bookman in the twin's old home who was not conscious for quite some time. Bookman Sr. is not injured around that time as Desires just pressures him, Lavi is, but I doubt Lucia would address Lavi as "Bookman-sama" as he is only the apprentice so far, also Lavi is conscious despite being in pain.

You know who is also injured by that time and we all pretty much expect that he is not dead....? Cross. Who was/is suspected to be a Bookman/Bookman Jr even by a lot of people...? Cross. Who has a striking resemblence to Lavi? Also Cross (yes I know some suspect they are related).

Then we have another indicator: Urcampy. It could be that Cross either left Urcampy there (I love the theory both of the Twins have a Golem, but eh) and then we have the information that Cross uses a spell to appear way younger than he is. Another drop of information we got from the recent Broadcast (28.4.24) from Hoshino is that the girl in the panel above is indeed the Lucia we meet in Ch. 251 again and that it has something to do with the Residence. Could it be the same magic Cross uses? But in the opposite direction? To make her appear younger or older depending on how it's needed?

Cross walks upon the lines all the time, he can do as he pleases, he is above the law. He interacts with the Noah casually, Road treats him like an old friend (Vol 27) despite him having not only one but two Innocence (which is, another really interesting information), he has obtained knowledge nobody else has. He can modify Akuma, he uses a Corpse and her Innocence. Why is he not killed despite the fact he knows the true identity of the Earl? He is above the Black Order and Central makes a deal with him, yes he's a good Exorcist, strong and all that. But he doesn't get the "you are a traitor" treatment Allen got, ... what has he going on there?

We don't really know why he cares for Mana, how they met and whatever deal/relationship we have going on (no I don't really go for the Cross = Cyrus theory here). We know by now Cross most likely knew PBJ, but not Past!Allen. As he has no indication on what he looks like aside the age, not even a hair color, personality or anything else aside the information that an Allen is the host and that Mana got told that "Allen" is the key.

This fuels my theory that Master and Apprentice parted, one followed Mana and the other Nea to record their part of history as the both weren't able to engage anymore without trying to kill each other/the Noah side needed to regain anyways after Nea killed them all but the Earl/Road.

So I am back with this panel. This is a Bookman. But which? I had an tad of an idea that this could be 'our' Bookman in younger years but by now I think I was wrong.

Could this be Cross as his role as Bookman? One side of the face is hidden, just like Cross'. Also while we are at hidden face, I am by now sure that Cross mask is a reference to either the same mark PBJ has, or he has the same mark because he is the Master to even that PBJ. In one of the recent Volumes Allen is asked if Cross has a limited vision because of the mask and Allen denies (it's in Komui's Lounge in either Vol 27 or 28... i can't recall it rn I read too many things the last days) and says Cross has a very good vision and can see well despite the mask.

Another point is that Cross is not named Marian Cross, it's a fake identity. We basically know nothing about him. Other than he has forbidden knowledge, even about the hidden side of the war, something only a Bookman should have.

Does Bookman sr. knows? Well, I am not sure about that. In Ch. 251 it's mentioned that not all of Zeugle know each other, they could be fighting each other in the same war until they reveal they are from the Clan, so.. it's pretty much possible that the Order has basically 3 Bookmen among them.

Desires might address Bookman sr. that he was friends with the former generation of Noah but ... he can't access his Noah memories, therefore Bookman could play pretend and maybe truly doesn't know shit about Nea or he covered his fellow Bookman aka Cross.

.. so yeah. I needed to get this out of my head. I have literally no idea if any of this makes sense or if anybody would agree with me, but I am certain we have a different Bookman here and that the Bookman Clan/Zeugle play a way bigger role than we thought.

#dgm #d.gray-man #bookman #the bookman theory #bookman jr #you have no idea how much this bugged me #does this make sense even???#seiji has too much in his brain here #clown go back into the circus

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wlwofwaverlyplace · 1 year

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The Secret Good Last Season of Lab Rats!!!

hiiiii I have not posted to this blog in over four years, but I NEED to share that I had a Lab Rats dream last night in which the Secret Good Fourth Season was finally released from the disney vault --- an entire season of Lab Rats that was written, shot, edited, and then hidden for decades in favor of the disastrous Bionic Island.... but justice was served at last, and the Secret Good Fourth Season premiered on Disney+ in March of 2023. Here is what we got:

- A really cool secret part of the original lab is revealed behind a hidden panel, saved from Douglas’s explosion by a bulletproof shell. Here, we find that Donald has shoved in storage a whole bunch of childhood memorabilia from the ABC kids, leading to a memorable Childhood Flashback Episode in the old lab, ending with a present-day twist when Leo finds SOMETHING SECRET (I forgot this part, sorry, but I promise it was a super epic game-changing secret)

- Bree comes out as a lesbian very early in the season and has a whole falling-in-love and dating arc with a non-bionic Aussie girl who encourages her to follow her dreams of global travel/adventure. They kiss in the series finale, obvi

- Leo gets his own two-parter episode mid-way through, very “Zuko Alone,” in which he’s stranded in the middle of nowhere on a mission due to Mishaps and must find his own way back to safety, discovering both his inner strengths as a leader and a new bionic ability in his arm along the way (echolocation!)

- The main season villain is an AI robot created by Davenport to take over his role as leader/mentor in the Lab Rats team so he can retire early (bc he’s still a lil selfish prick, apparently). At first, the kids all like this robot way more because it’s actually really supportive and encouraging of their dreams outside of mission work (oof), but things change midway through when Leo’s mid-season stranding SUSPICIOUSLY should have been prevented by the robot’s sensors but wasn’t. Things culminate closer to the finale when the robot takes it upon itself to remove all four kids’ bionics after identifying them as THE problem to them finding happiness. In a very weird pre-finale episode, the kids struggle with wondering if this is indeed a good thing since they can follow their dreams now, but they eventually resolve to beat the robot after learning that it will do the same thing to all the bionic kids from Krane’s army who’ve been trying to lead normal lives in Mission Creek with different foster families (yeah, this is basically the first time they’re featured all season after only occasionally showing up for a background gag here and there...). Basically, the moral lesson here is consent: it wasn’t right for them to be made bionic as kids without their consent, but it’s also not ok for the bionics to be suddenly taken away without consent. With Douglas’s and Donald’s and Tasha’s help, they have to beat the villain WITHOUT powers, win, and get to make their own choice about whether or not to take their bionics back afterwards. Bree chooses to take her chip back but uses it travel with her girlfriend for a few years (maybe doing some good along the way but mostly taking time for herself), Adam and Leo both choose to take them back and keep doing missions but with Leo fulfilling the role of Mission Leader after a whole season of developing as an A+ planner/leader, and Chase --- in a beautiful culmination of season-long character development --- chooses to shelve his chip indefinitely to pursue his dream of being a lawyer with only hard work and the intellect of his own natural mind to get there. Oh, and they all get sincere apologies from Douglas and Donald........... THE END

(ok, that last paragraph in the dream was literally just rObOT vILLaiN, but I improved it)

#lab rats #Adam Davenport #bree davenport #chase davenport #leo dooley #donald davenport #douglas davenport #tasha davenport #secret good season!!!!!#I have literally not watched this show in years #but apparently it was in there somewhere bc this was a whole-ass dream #my dark disney xd subconscious strikes again

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chidoroki · 10 months

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182 Days of TPN - Day 90

Chapter 90: “Let’s Win”

I know it’s impossible to tell since Leuvis doesn’t have visible ears, but I can assume that he’s trying very hard to locate where the group disappeared to by sound since the method of putting your hands up to your ear is something we’ve seen Emma do quite a lot of post-escape.

Seeing Emma just toss aside any idea she isn’t fond of with a big “No” always gets a chuckle outta me. Whether it’s trying to get Yuugo to be more friendly in ch64 or completely shutting down Norman’s idea of demon annihilation in ch153, y’all are better off just listening to the story’s mc.

It’s fun seeing Emma give orders too. And I dunno how to explain it but I like how the first Emma and the scared Nigel are drawn.

I also love how Ray stays quiet throughout this whole discussion. He’s already set on following Emma’s plan (once she thinks of one) and knows that her ideals are normally correct. It’s only a matter of time before the other two realize it as well.

After losing Norman, there’s no way in hell she’s gonna make that same mistake twice. It’s great that she admits she’s indeed scared of Leuvis (I mean, who wouldn’t be, honestly?) but still strives to win the battle her way, no matter the danger.

There’s a short video of Erica Mendez (Emma’s dub va) reading this page and I can’t tell you how many emotions it makes me feel now since the anime denied us of this arc and we won’t ever actually hear or see any of it.

You can always count on Ray to approach things logically.

This brief moment where Palvus is watching and staring at them is probably funnier than it should be. And I’m once again asking permission for my boy to curse just once.

Oliver mentioned in ch88 how we’d have the advantage indoors due to the narrow space space and he is 100% correct. Look at this dude, he has to crouch so far down to even remain slightly standing.

Always enjoyed this little parkour moment of Ray jumping over the table.

Favorite panel/moment:

The entirety of Yuugo calling Emma by her name for the first time, starting off with how he reluctantly agrees to stay and fight instead of run away, with the small whack he gives her. Poor girl wasn’t expecting that kind of response or the fairly long nickname, but it’s quite special for the last time we’re gonna hear such a thing.

The very moment itself!! along with the slight pause it takes Emma to even register what he said and the big smile on her face one she realizes it. Even Ray is caught off guard!

The way she does not even hesitate to ask him his in return and Yuugo trying so hard to drop the subject all together. You can’t take back what you said buddy, like it or not, you’re friends now!

Luckily he keeps this promise to her too, even waiting til after she wakes up once back in the shelter. This smile of hers right here has gotta be one of my favorite panels of her.. it’s dazzling enough to fill me with much happiness!

#the promised neverland #tpn manga #182daysoftpn #chidoroki used chatter

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thewertsearch · 2 years

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The Temple's literally just sitting there? I assumed it’d be in seed form, but it seems fully ‘activated’.

I guess these things can retract back into their meteors when it’s go time. This means we might see the Exile stations, too.

Oh my god, is that what you think it is?

Your new digs on Earth? It is indeed.

You'll get used to the frog. Maybe.

How could this atrocity be floating out here unnoticed all this time?

I take it Carapacians aren't clued into all of Sburb's lore. I suppose if the game told Derse there was a frog in the Veil, it wouldn't last long.

Wait, is there something else going on with Ectobiology? Some sort of secret extra step?

There's not a third set of babies, is there?

Ah, we're finally seeing where the Guardians ended up. it looks like Nanna ended up hitting the jackpot, and landed around someone wealthy.

Eight days prior, the orphan girl was taken in by an aristocratic southern colonel and legendary humorist.

Colonel... Sassacre?

He recovered the young lady from a crater where a bakery once stood, operated by the man's wife, a notable baked goods baroness.

Betty fucking Crocker?

Wow, this explains literally everything about the Egbert family in two panels.

Presumably the comic is talking about the woman behind Betty Crocker, since the name was just a brand. But it was Grandpa that owned the company in the present, so it seems the Guardians were consolidating resources behind the scenes.

This also implies Nanna knew more than she let on - possibly even to Dad. That crafty old lady still eludes me - I can never get a read on her, and I don’t think that’s just because she’s a clown sprite.

Eight days prior,

Also, Nanna was born on 4/13/1910, because of fucking course.

#1909 #homestuck liveblog #full liveblog #act 4

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marierg · 2 years

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Of Light and Darkness: Ch 2

Pairing: (Eventual) Obi Wan Kenobi X Reader- he makes a first appearance

WARNINGS!: Guilt, Death, funerals, not light reading

A/N: I grew up and work in public safety so some of this is based in truth. I'm Still figuring out how to do Pics and GIFs and links properly, thanks again for the patience!

Secondary note: Pic above is from the web but is an actual military medical pin.

Word Count: I gave up after I counted to 300….so a lot.

Part 1 here:

Masterlist Next part

Y/N finished the mission, because that was what Master Melri would have done. You flew back to the Temple with her body to be interred in the tombs, because that was proper. But nothing could dull the pain and emptiness you felt. Upon arrival you were checked over and then requested to the Council chambers. The report to them was made mostly while looking at the ground. Surprisingly Master Qui Gon Jinn was there, and though not a member of the council he was called in from time to time. Given his friendship with your Master and his knowledge of the mission this was more than likely the reason. If nothing else he was a reassuring presence to you, making the whole ordeal more endurable. The next day would be the funeral and you didn’t even want to think past the here and now.

“Great courage you have shown young one. Injured are you?”

“No Master Yoda, I am alright.” You truthfully wanted nothing more than to leave and would have said anything to do so. The dark circles under your eyes betrayed that answer to the council, though they chose not to push further.

“Rest now you must, young Y/n.” Master Yoda was observing you with what could only be called concern. A part of you was now broken and would not easily be fixed. A separation from the Force from trauma was always dangerous for a Jedi. Yoda hoped that with time it, you would heal, but it was too early yet to tell.

“Yes Master.”

You sighed, bowed, and exited out the door. Yoda then turned to the other council members gathered. “Weary is this Padawan, seen much she has. Too much for one so young. A new Master she will need. A wise Master, hmm?”

Master Mace Windu had been silent throughout the brief, he could feel the sorrow radiating off the girl the minute she had landed. That she had finished the mission and held herself as well as she did was a testament to her training and mentorship. “But who among the Masters could she be assigned, most of the other healers either have Padawans of their own or are due for inactive service?”

“Who indeed?” Yoda turned to the control panel on his chair bringing up a message. “A different path for now this Padawan will walk. Instructions left for us there are. Prepared was the Master, yes.” And with that a holo message began to play. Mace looked upon the face of his friend once more, the message must only have been made in the last year or two.

“Masters if you are hearing this then I will not be returning to you.” Most looked down but not him he wanted to see her one more time as she was. “With that said my Padawan will need looking after. Though there are many wonderful Masters amongst our ranks, this young one will need a steady hand. Y/n is strong and a wonderful student, though the Crecheling can be a stubborn pain in the ass at times.”

Qui Gon sighed and smiled sadly, Melri had always spoken so plainly that occasionally it bordered on blunt. The woman simply had no filter, and he would miss her all the more. An honest person was a rare find.

“but she has a wonderful mind and a kind heart, some might not appreciate that. With that said I would request that should she need to be reassigned that Master Windu take her as his apprentice.”

“What?” He was stunned. No beyond stunned, he was perplexed. Why would she choose him?

“Qui Gon already has his hands full, and I trust that the wise Master Windu will know when to seek guidance, though I have a feeling it might pain him mortally to do so.” The image flickered a snicker of a smile as Melri chortled at this thought. “My friends please, both of you, look after my girl. I know you will help her to be the extraordinary Jedi I see in her. Please look after each other, and do not mourn long for I am home.” At that the message ended.

“Master Yoda surely there must be someone else?”

“Argue her wisdom, I will not.” Yoda looked at his fellow council member. “Help this Padawan you must, learn much from you she can.”

“I think it’ll be a wonderful experience for you.” Qui Gon smirked sadly from across the room where he had been leaning. “If anyone will understand the trauma that this girl has passed through it would be you. More so you were a friend to Melri, a living link to a lost master.”

“I will consider it. The council will have my decision by tomorrow.”

At that Master Windu rose from his chair and left. Most of the other Council members filed out soon after leaving Qui Gon and Yoda last. “You know he hasn’t taken on an apprentice in quite some time.”

“Know this I do.” Yoda looked to Qui Gon. “But follow Melri’s wishes I believe he will.”

“I will aid them both if I can Master. Though I feel that it may not be accepted if offered.” Qui Gon replied dubiously as they passed through the halls. “What the girl needs is a friend, someone her age to talk with. Not another adult to tell her what to do.”

Yoda considered this a moment. It was true enough that because of the many missions that both the Master and Padawan had been on that Y/n hadn’t interacted with many others her age. In fact the youngling hadn’t been in the Temple longer than a few months at a stretch since she was chosen as an apprentice. “With Obi Wan she could train, Perhaps?”

“He could certainly use a training partner other than myself. And I could keep a closer watch on her.”

“Agreed we are then.”

Yoda nodded. The young Kenobi could do with a friend as well, and if Y/n was anything like master Melri. This made the old Master smile. Since Obi Wan had returned to the order he was still having trouble connecting with others. Qui Gon smiled conspiratorially, this would be interesting indeed.

You couldn’t sleep even if you had wished too. You prepared for the funeral, trying to do the next right thing. That morning you knew that many Jedi would come to pay their respects to Master Melri. Taking a deep breath you grabbed the small bag that was by the door, intent on doing one last thing for Her, even if it did get you into trouble. Placing the bag in your robe pocket you passed into the hallway.

“Padawan L/n”

Startled you turned to find none other than Master Windu. You bowed to him out of respect. “Master Windu, I’m sorry Sir did the Council try to call me?”

“No, I have come to escort you.” His reply was even, but Y/n could sense that there was more there. Now was not the time though and you were far too tired.

“Thank you, Master.” Walking towards the main pavilion Master Windu began to speak.

“I am sorry for your loss Padawan L/n”

“And yours Master.”

“Melri was unique, touching so many lives. She was a Jedi in every meaning of the title.” You stopped walking to look at him. Master Windu continued. “Not just to the Jedi, but to all. You should know that there is a gathering of citizens wanting to pay their respects to her. I didn’t want you to be surprised.”

If you had been dropped in a nest of gundarks you still would have been less surprised, but then again maybe not. From the walkway entrance at your tower to the main temple lining the plaza were row upon row of humans and other lifeforms. There was the Republic Rescue Corps, the Coriscant General Hospital Nurses and Doctors, The Correlian Flight Rescue, and many other aid organizations.

Senators of all the systems, the Chancelor himself was there! Further down were friends you had come to know just as well as your Master did. Keeya the owner of the Diner on level 20, Sweet Mafa and his crew, the 44 rouges, even the old retired veteran responders that she would check in on were there, and each stood at full attention, though you knew it hurt many of them to move at all. You were on the verge of tears again.

“They came for her…”

Making your way through the main temple there was yet another greeting committee, every Jedi in the temple and many from off world. As hard as you tried to keep it together a few wayward tears did escape. Finally making it to the tomb there was a smaller gathering of the Council and the closest friends including Master Qui Gon and his apprentice. You didn’t know the boy’s name, but he none the less offered you a kind nod.

As the tradition held it would be your job to place Master Melri’s lightsaber with her and to say a few words. Most of what had kept you up the night before, other than the sleep terrors, was the search for what to say. When the time came you stepped forward and pulled the bag from your robes. From inside you retrieved two things. Your Master’s lightsaber and a handful of Kaf grinds. Many present smiled if even somewhat bemused because it was exactly what Melri would have done. You placed both within the tomb and began to speak.

“Long have I traveled, far have I gone. Friends on my path many are found. Long have I journeyed this galaxy far, where ever my path, many the language and song. But now I shall rest, cry not for me.” You had to take a steadying breath. “For I am one with the force, and with you always shall I be.”

After the funeral you left the Temple just wanting to be alone. Heading for the city gardens just needing to clear your head. Plopping down into your favorite bench you finally let the tears flow out, not caring if it was wrong or right, you just needed to feel something. Something beyond the cold hollow pit in your chest. It wasn’t a torrential sob, but a quiet mourning for all that could have been and was now gone.

“May I sit?”

You jumped practically off the bench hearing Master Windu, who did not wait for an acknowledgement of his question before taking the bench across from you. “I did not know that you had read the Legends of Jeda?”

“Master Melri used to read them to me when I was a youngling.”

He nodded his head at this. “It was well said.”

Both of you sat there in silence for a time. “Master Windu I sense that perhaps there was something more you wanted to say?”

“Yes. The council has reassigned you.” You winced at this, it was still far too soon. Getting up you walked over to the night blooms.

“I see. And who am I being assigned too?” you tried to keep an even tone.

“It was decided that you should be assigned to me.”

You pondered this still looking at the blooms. If you hadn’t been exhausted you probably wouldn’t have let the question slip your tongue, none the less it came out. “Why would you want me for an apprentice Sir? I’m not exactly stellar material.”

You felt the weight of you Masters death once more. Foremost in your mind you didn’t want to be responsible for yet another Master’s life, much less the Head of the Jedi Council. Master Windu could sense the guilt, recognized it for what it was. “This was not your fault Padawan Y/n.”

The fact that he had used your first name got you to turn your head. “Melri knew the risks and did what every good Master would, she protected her Padawan. You must let this go. Even the greatest of our order cannot save everyone.” It struck Master Windu that these were the very words that were said to him time and again over the years.

Missions failed, good people died, and he never forgot their names or faces. He never let that go because it made him work harder, fight harder, be a better Jedi. Sighing at the irony of the situation. “I apologize. Your feelings is not without merit, it is logical even. What you must learn is to take from this lesson and move forward to the next fight. I will be at the Temple when you are ready.” Standing he turned to leave. “But I do expect you to be back before curfew.”

You thought about what Master Windu said for a long time. You eventually left the gardens and headed back to the temple. Finding him the next day your training began anew.

#obi wan kenobi #obi wan series #obi wan x y/n #obi wan x you #star wars #obi wan kenobi x reader

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truetgirl · 2 years

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Another day, another self-indulgent mini-essay for pride! Today our subject is:

Nicolina (AKA Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean from the Runaways comics)!

Another pick that will come as precisely zero surprise to anyone who has heard me talk about my favorite fictional characters and stories for longer than like 2 seconds. Back in the first pride post series I did I actually discussed each of them as individual characters, and I believe I book-ended the month with them, if memory serves.

What makes these two worth it is the joy of seeing that slow, sometimes painful, but always worthwhile journey of self discovery. Over the course of fifteen years (between they first debuted and when they finally got together) of real-world time, two or three years their time, they grew together, lived together, fought and bled together, and all the while they loved each other. But not always romantically. Well, at least not for Nico.

See, Karolina knew she liked girls from the start. Moreover, she knew she liked Nico right from the start.

These are the fourth and fifth panels she appears in. She has had 3 lines before this moment. She ignores Chase coming on to her, rushes over to Nico the moment she sees her, and starts awkwardly stealth-flirting. This incredibly clear setup for her crush on Nico is like the second thing we ever learn about her, after her name. I wish to take this moment to remind you that this was published in 2003.

Now, this being a comic book, some shit goes down that pretty well back-burners the implied gay crush. Not the least of these was Nico and Alex’s budding relationship at the time. Karolina’s journey of understanding and accepting her sexuality is still going on, but we’re left with an obscured, narrow view of it for a while. The most we got is her clearly self-loathing and brief attempt to force herself to like that one kid that turned out to be a vampire. Yeah, that one, the one that she unintentionally killed with sunlight-blood when she tried to let him kill her.

Then came Alex’s big turn when they went to face their parents. A turn that led Nico to declaring that she was done with boys. Karolina’s reaction to which pretty clearly showed us that she was still into this girl.

Cut to 8 issues into the second volume and things have changed a fair bit. Karolina’s still not in the best place mentally, but she’s doing about as fucking well as could be expected of a teenage girl who was recently suicidal and then had to fight her supervillain parents before leaving them for dead along with a turncoat friend. She’s not as timid anymore, she seems to be a little surer and bolder about being gay (doing stuff like chewing out Chase for using gay as an insult), even if she was still closeted.

Nico, for her part, has become a leader in Alex’s stead. It’s a chaotic and fraught dynamic, and she never really fills the role the same clear and authoritative way that Alex eventually had, but these kids would go to pieces without her. And she’s bearing this responsibility, even if it’s only implied, while dealing with all the same tragedy as the rest of them. Hell, probably feeling it even more keenly because of how close she and Alex had been. Part of what’s getting her through her days is her friendship with Karolina, which has gotten very close indeed in the time since the showdown with their parents.

This closeness, Karolina’s budding confidence and absurdness, Nico swearing off boys... It all feels like it should be leading to something, right? “But surely not,” thought I, reading this comic published in 2005 in the school library, “Even now, in the enlightened age of 2013, queer stuff barely happens in popular media. No way this old comic is gonna-”

“Well, I’ll be damned." Also, yeah, Nico thought that last bit was her helping the situation. Girl has a looooooong way to go.

Heartbreak of that scene aside, Karolina almost immediately gets swept up by Xavin and taken out into space (the details of which I still want to see first hand, dammit). She has a lot to deal with, emotionally. Between her parents, Alex, her depression, angst about her sexuality, and now Nico’s rejection and this new alien person to whom she is apparently betrothed? Yeah, she’s got a lot on her plate.

Meanwhile, Nico, in the immediate aftermath of everything that has happened, and now this scene being her seemingly last memory of her best friend, is left crushingly alone. She believes, and honestly has pretty decent grounds to believe, that she just drove Karolina as far away as it is possible to go. She’s isolated, and she can hardly even begin to process how badly she must have just hurt her best friend by reacting so severely.

So she spirals. She becomes self destructive in her personal life, especially her love life. Every relationship she has, of which there were quite a few, blows up in her face because she’s not really emotionally engaging with them. In fact, she’s pushing them away, so terrified she is at the prospect of either hurting anyone or being hurt like that again.

Even once Karolina and Xavin come home, a development at which Nico is clearly overjoyed, nothing is as it once was. She and Karolina have both grown into more complicated people than they were before. For one thing, Karolina and Xavin are still together, and they’ve clearly been through a lot together that, for the first time, Nico can’t even begin to relate to. Where once she and Karolina understood implicitly what the other had been through, having lived it together. Now they both had new experiences the other knew nothing of.

Even still, they fell back into one another. Into needing each other, loving one another, being a safe place for the other to go and a support in times of need:

live Victor reaction in the last one like damn dude you ok there?

For a long time it was just. Like this. When Xavin took Karolina’s place to go and be tried for her parents crimes, it was Nico that she confided in about how badly it messed her up. When Nico needed someone she didn’t have to keep the leadership mask on with, she went to Karolina.

I’ll admit I’m not the best versed in what they got up to while their little family was scattered across the Marvel universe, because I was very upset to see them separated so I didn’t go looking into it. But when they got back together, and when the girls started to get back into their old dynamic, I was hopeful. Not hopeful that this ship would happen, I’d long since given up hope by the time the 2017 run rolled in, what with Karolina being in a relationship and Nico still never having been confirmed to like girls. But I appreciated just seeing them together again. Then this happened:

Can you say reversal? Suddenly, after a couple years of growth, Karolina is completely assured in who she is. She’s doing well for herself, what between college, a girlfriend with whom things seem to be going well, and a much healthier level of self esteem helped along by therapy. Nico, meanwhile, is once again showing the bad habits she developed while trying to cope with her various interpersonal traumas. Once more she’s pushing a personal dynamic to any limit she can find, hoping that this time it’ll go well and not blow up in her face.

Even as the two of them continue to be friends again, there’s an awkwardness between them after this. Their relationship is at its lowest point, I would say, since Karolina first tried to kiss Nico. Nico is her usual brand of hot mess who is nonetheless the natural leader of this fucked up little family, and Karolina, while she is better, is by no means perfect.

In fact, it’s during this time that she and her girlfriend start to drift apart. Karolina is trying to spin too many plates now that her friends are together and part of her life again, and it basically means she never sees her girlfriend, Julie, basically at all these days. Karolina doesn’t want to hurt her, I’d go so far as to call it the last thing she wants, but life’s a real screaming bitch sometimes. It’s honestly a really sad breakup to watch, when the time comes, just because it’s so mundane and real. Julie did nothing wrong, and she was perfectly graceful about the whole thing, and Karolina never wanted to them to grow apart like they did, but they did, and it obviously hurt them both.

But, pain or no pain, life goes on. After a few more comic plot shenanigans and a frank conversation about with Nico about the people they’ve lost and what it’s done to them, then comes the big one: Nico volunteers to go with Karolina to this big formal party she’s attending for charity, a party Julie was originally going to go to with her, and this is where we shift to Nico’s perspective, gained from years of slow, agonizingly hard-won character growth, on certain past events...

I was not kidding about how hard this event and her reaction to Karolina clearly stuck in her mind.

This leads into what is both one of the most salient moments of Nico’s development and characterization as well as a perfect glimpse into their friendship and what it’s meant to them over the years:

They’ve always seen each other. They’ve always known they loved each other. Karolina just realized and interpreted it a lot faster. But that time helped both of them to grow. It helped Karolina accept who she was and learn what it meant to be a partner, be part of someone’s life, and how to love herself enough to forgive herself for the things she could never have controlled. It gave Nico the space and time she dearly needed to process her feelings and her trauma, bumpy and hazardous a road as that has always been for her. And now, finally, they figured it out together. They’ve grown into beautiful, wonderful people together, and their shared experiences mean they understand one another in ways nobody else really can. What makes them compelling is, to cut this incredibly long and rambling story short, growth.

#kelly things #kelly's pride posts #pride month #Nico Minoru #Karolina Dean #nicolina #runaways

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