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ao719 · 3 months

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Vancross

Vancross - My Way Back To You (Chapter 22)

Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: A group of friends embark on their final year at Vancross Institute with the hopes of making it their best year yet. When a new face with a complicated family plagued by secrets and rumors arrives on campus, new friendships are formed, a new relationship blossoms, and threatening challenges arise.

Title inspiration: Find My Way Back - Eric Arjes

Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC

A/N: Multiple crossover series. There will be random sprinkles of canon throughout this story, but for the most part, it’s pretty much out the window. Not beta’d. Please excuse any errors.

Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+

Catch up here

Standing inside the living area of his campus suite, Liam leaned against the back of the sofa and drummed his fingers against the cushion as he glanced around the room at the others.

On one end of the sofa, Alia sat next to Blaine and Simon, watching the two of them go over the details of their aliases despite having memorized them in grave detail over the last week.

Amalas was nestled in the corner with a laptop resting on her lap and Olivia beside her, showing her the program she would be using to hack into the Drakovian palace’s security cameras.

Trystan and Leo were on the other end of the sectional, whispering as they looked over the palace blueprints for what had to be the hundredth time in the last month.

The rest of the group had just left, but not before wishing them luck and demanding they keep them updated.

With nothing to do but stare, Liam turned and quietly slipped out onto the balcony. He climbed the ladder to the roof and walked toward their makeshift lounge; it now had one less chair after his meltdown last week. Instead of sitting in a chair, he moved to the parapet and dropped down on it as he looked out at the view of campus below.

They were leaving for Rivala tomorrow, and Liam found himself on edge with worry despite them having spent the last month planning every detail of this trip down to the wire.

An old friend of Leo’s was letting them use his SUV to take them to the private jet he was also letting them use so as to not draw suspicion from their parents until they had to. Having their guards’ schedules down, they planned to sneak out in the early morning hours while they were running perimeter checks. Liam had already played his Crown Prince card and ordered Anthony not to tell his parents that Leo and Trystan were there, but once they were “missing”, it would only be a matter of time before their parents would be alerted of their absence.

Trystan’s friend, who ran a security company in Rivala and was allowing them to use his cabin, offered to have a vehicle waiting for them once they landed.

Simon, Blaine, and Leo had packed their finest suits and acquired masks that concealed most of their faces to go with the masquerade theme. They had spent the last week being prepped by Amalas for any situations that may arise once they were inside while Trystan made sure the locations of the two exits they needed to know about were drilled into their memory.

Amalas planned to tap into the security cameras as soon as they were at the cabin, wanting to ensure everything was running as it should. Once they were inside, she’d be able to monitor everything going on and she and Olivia would feed Trystan and the others any information they would need.

Liam and Alia would be there simply as moral support to one another. They weren’t allowed to leave the cabin and Amalas made it explicitly clear that they were not to hover and watch the cameras on the off chance of seeing something that would upset either of them.

Hearing someone behind him, Liam glanced over his shoulder to see Trystan just as he stepped onto the roof. He walked over and sat on the parapet beside him. “You ok?”

“Yeah,” Liam nodded as he looked back out at the view of the campus below. “Just anxious.”

“It’s going to be fine.”

Liam glanced over at him to see the lukewarm smile he was wearing. For the most part, Trystan had remained composed over the last month of planning, but throughout the past week, his stoic facade seemed to falter now and then. It was little things most wouldn’t notice, like now and his halfhearted smile. He hadn’t said anything because he didn’t want to allow himself to believe that Trystan’s optimism was fading; it was the thing keeping not only his spirits up but everyone else’s.

Still looking at him, Liam thought about something that had been on his mind that he hadn’t recalled Trystan mentioning. “I meant to ask you … we’ve made these plans to get her out, but … what about after?”

“What do you mean?”

Liam swallowed thickly. “Are you going to take her back to New York with you?” It was the only place he could think of that they might go.

Trystan shook his head. “I can’t take her to New York.”

“Why?”

“The Homeland Accord,” Trystan answered, earning a questioning look from him. “It’s an extradition agreement Drakovia has with the U.S. It allows them to summon any Drakovian home at will, no questions asked, and the U.S. government has to comply. So I can’t risk taking her back to the States because they would have no choice but to send her back.”

“Then where will you go?”

“Honestly, I’ve been so focused on the task of getting her out, I haven’t planned that part out yet. We can stay in Rivala for a couple of days, but after that … I’m not sure yet.”

“You can bring her to Cordonia,” Liam offered without hesitation.

Trystan shook his head. “I don’t want to cause any unnecessary issues for Cordonia when my mother eventually figures out where she is, which she will. Plus, your parents are probably going to be livid with me for dragging you into this plan …”

Getting on the Cordonian monarch’s bad side wasn’t what Trystan wanted, but he had to risk it to save not only his sister but Liam as well; he was still convinced that had he not let him help, he would have gone rogue.

“Yeah, they’re going to be pissed, but more so at me than you,” Liam said. “At the end of the day, I’m an adult, and you didn’t force me to be a part of this … it was kind of the other way around. Regardless, they wouldn’t turn you or Croía away from refuge over it. And I know we don’t have any kind of agreement with Drakovia, extradition or otherwise, so that’s not something you’d have to worry about. And I … I’d be able to stay with her.”

Trystan furrowed his brows. “You do realize you still have school, right?”

“I did some research,” Liam explained. “I knew you’d have to take her somewhere and I … I didn’t want to have to be apart from her after only getting her back, so I looked into what my options were, and hers as well if she’s up to it. We can finish out the remainder of the year doing our classes online if the Dean receives a request with a legitimate reason as to why. She’s behind because she’s been gone, but she can catch up and still graduate at the end of the semester. And considering the circumstances, I’m sure the Dean would grant us the permission we need.”

Trystan stared at Liam, a little bit in awe at the lengths he was willing to go to be by Croía’s side, but he wasn’t sure why he was surprised by it at that point, either. “That’s a pretty big sacrifice to make, Liam. You’d be missing the rest of your senior year.”

“I’d rather miss the rest of it than be away from her,” Liam replied. “We could stay in Cordonia and do the classes that way … and she’d be safe there. Like I said, my parents wouldn’t turn either of you away regardless of how pissed they are. And again, most of that anger will be directed at me for lying and going behind their backs.”

Trystan looked away from him, thinking for a moment. “Well … let’s just focus on getting her out for now. After that, we’ll discuss our options. Because we have to see how she is first before we go making any decisions …”

Liam nodded and glanced away, and Trystan was thankful he either hadn’t caught what he’d said about seeing how Croía was or he just didn’t think much of it to ask him. He wasn’t sure he wanted to elaborate.

Just then, his phone rang, and Trystan pulled it from his pocket. Liam saw him sigh as he looked at the screen. “Who is it?”

“Mags. I think she’s becoming a little suspicious.” Trystan slid his thumb across the screen to answer it before putting it on speaker so Liam could hear. “Hello.”

“Hey, yourself. What are you doing?”

“Hanging out on some rooftop,” Trystan answered. It wasn’t a lie.

“Sounds delightful. Hey, listen … have you spoken to Croía?” Trystan winced before closing his eyes; he knew it was only a matter of time. “I haven’t spoken to her in a few weeks, and it’s not like her to not call me back … unless she’s pissed at me for some reason I can’t recall.”

“Don’t worry. She’s alright.” That was semi-true; Trystan had still been receiving updates from Everett, who had promised him that Croía had remained physically unharmed.

But that answer was the wrong one to give because it set off Marguerite’s alarm bells.

“What does that mean?” Marguerite snapped. “Trystan, what the hell is going on?”

Blowing out a breath, Trystan met Liam’s worried gaze. Marguerite had already been suspicious of his “trip” with Leo because of how long he’d been gone, and how he hadn’t been in touch with her — or Cameron, because of course they shared notes — as much as he typically would. His answer just now had inadvertently sent her suspicions into overdrive. And she now knew that whatever it was he was hiding somehow involved their baby sister.

Trystan hated lying to her, but he remained steadfast in his choice not to involve her. The less she knew, the better. “Listen … I know this is going to be difficult for you, but I need you to not ask me any more questions because I don’t want to lie to you, Mags. I promise that when I can tell you something, which will be very soon, I will.”

“But Trystan—”

“Mags, please,” Trystan interrupted in a plea.

Marguerite remained quiet for several long moments before speaking again. “Just … tell me you’re ok. That you and Croía are both ok …”

“We’re ok. Promise.”

****

Later, Liam stood in his room, changing into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt after he’d finished packing his bag. He wasn’t sure how he was going to attempt to get any sleep that night because as the time for them to leave drew nearer, he found himself more and more restless.

Hearing a knock on his door, Liam called for them to enter, and Leo stepped inside a moment later. “You good?” he asked as he shut the door behind him.

“Antsy,” Liam answered.

Leo nodded in understanding. “It won’t be long now. We’ll get in and get this thing done and it’ll be over before you know it.”

Liam could only hope it would be that easy. “I offered for Trystan to bring Croía to Cordonia to stay after we get her out. I know Mom and Dad are going to be pissed … but I told him they wouldn’t turn them away when they needed someplace safe to stay.”

“They won’t,” Leo agreed. “Yeah, they’re going to lay into both of us, but they’ll get over it. I’m sure once they hear why we did what we did, they’ll understand.”

“Leo …” Liam looked at his brother, searching for the right words. “Thank you … for helping with all of this.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Leo smiled. “I’ve grown pretty fond of Cocoa Bean.”

Liam cracked a small smile at the mention of the nickname his brother called her, a play on his Cocoa. It was the first genuine smile he had in weeks.

A chime on Liam’s laptop broke the moment, and they both glanced over. “Speaking of Mom and Dad …”

Without thinking, Leo dropped to the floor; Liam flung his arm toward the door, a silent question to ask why he didn’t just slip out, but didn’t have time to wait for a response before he turned to answer the incoming video call.

“Hey,” Liam smiled when his mother’s face came on the screen.

“Hello, sweetheart. How are you?”

“I’m …” Liam trailed off, seeing the door behind him on the screen start to open; he glanced over his shoulder to see his brother, still on the floor, army crawling out.

“Liam?”

“Yeah,” Liam snapped his gaze back to the laptop and picked it up, bringing it to his bed. “Sorry. I’m good. How are things back home?”

“They’re fine …” Eleanor eyed him curiously. “Are you alright?”

“Fine, why?” Liam answered a little too quickly.

“You just haven’t seemed like yourself lately. You seem … distracted.”

Liam chewed the inside of his cheek; he hated lying to anyone, especially his mother, but he couldn’t tell her what was going on. Not yet anyway. “Just busy with assignments.”

“Ok,” Eleanor nodded, but Liam could tell she wasn’t truly buying his answer. “And how’s Croía?”

“She — she’s fine.”

Again, Eleanor eyed him curiously because she caught the slight slip in his tone when he answered. “Where has she been? I haven’t seen or heard her with you when we’ve talked over the last few weeks.”

“She’s been busy … with assignments, too.”

“Hm,” Eleanor nodded. Liam knew that “hm” was her ‘I don’t believe a word you said, but I’m going to let it slide for now’ response. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Yeah,” Liam nodded. “I’ve just got a lot going on.” That was the truth. He glanced up when Leo’s head poked through the door; he flapped his hand in a talking motion and then threw his thumb over his shoulder. Code for ‘We’re having a meeting in the living area, hurry up and get your ass out here.’ “Hey, Mom, I’m sorry to cut this so short, but I gotta get going. I’m in the middle of working on, uh … a big project …” Kind of true, just not the kind of project she was probably thinking of.

“Ok, sweetheart.” Eleanor offered a smile, but he could see the concern behind it. “We’ll talk soon. I love you.”

Liam felt a pang of guilt ripple through him. “Love you, too, Mom.”

When he ended the video chat, Liam tossed his laptop onto the bed before heading out to the living area where Trystan was waiting with Leo, Olivia, Amalas, Blaine, Alia, and Simon.

“Simon, Olivia, Alia, and Amalas are getting ready to head back to their suites, so I just want to be sure we all know where to meet later,” Trystan explained.

“Edge of campus on the north side,” the others all said in unison.

“Time?”

“The guards start their morning perimeter checks precisely at five,” Alia replied.

“And if one of you gets caught …?”

“We stay behind,” Simon answered.

Trystan nodded. “It should take you no more than five minutes to get there once you’re outside. We’ll wait another five minutes at the spot. If you’re not there, I’m going to assume you got caught and we’ll leave without you. Be sure you have everything you need with you because you won’t be able to go back if you forget something. And make sure to leave your phones behind so your locations can’t be pinged.”

They all nodded.

*******

Standing along the edge of campus, hidden in the shadows of the trees, Liam, Leo, Blaine, Alia, Amalas, and Trystan were waiting for Olivia and Simon. They had easily slipped out undetected by Anthony, Jacob, and Alia’s guard Rowan while they stepped away from their posts outside their suites to do their morning perimeter checks around their buildings.

Hearing the snap of a twig, all their heads snapped to the left just as Olivia stepped into view. “Had me worried for a minute there,” Liam quipped.

“Apparently my guard is a chatty-fucking-Cathy in the morning. He barely speaks during the day, but stood outside the damn front door gossiping with Evelyn’s guard,” she rolled her eyes before looking at the others. “Where’s Simon?”

“Still waiting for him,” Blaine answered.

The group fell quiet as the minutes ticked by. Trystan broke the silence when he cursed under his breath. “Where the fuck is he?” They’d have to rearrange their whole plan going into the ball if Simon didn’t show.

“He’ll be here,” Liam said.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of stamping feet and looked over to see Simon barreling towards them in a full-on run. “Go, go, go!” he shouted.

“He’s going to wake up the whole damn campus,” Trystan grumbled. “This way!”

They all turned and rushed into the pathway that led to the outside of the campus gates on the north side, where Leo’s friend had parked an SUV for them to take to the airport.

“What the fuck happened?” Olivia shouted over her shoulder at Simon who had caught up to her.

“My guard came around the corner as I slipped out the front door!” Simon huffed through breaths. “Apparently the old bloke starts his checks early! And he’s bloody fast when he wants to be!”

They raced through the path, swatting low-hanging branches out of their way as they went until they broke through the clearing on the other side. Leo pulled a set of keys from his pocket given to him earlier by his friend and hit a button; he snapped his gaze to the left when lights started to blink from being unlocked. “There!” he pointed.

“Lord Simon!” the guard bellowed from inside the pathway.

“Haul ass!” Blaine said as he raced toward the vehicle, gripping Alia’s hand and pulling her behind him.

Once at the vehicle, Amalas, Olivia, and Simon climbed in first to the third row; Liam, Alia, and Blaine followed, sliding into the second row while Leo and Trystan jumped into the front seats.

Leo started the SUV and threw it into drive just as Simon’s guard burst through the clearing; he peeled away from the curb before making a sharp right onto the main road.

As they made their way to the airport, the inside of the vehicle was silent save for the eight of them trying to catch their breath.

Suddenly, Leo began to laugh as he glanced at Trystan. “That brought back some fucking memories, huh?”

Trystan snorted as he dropped his head back against the seat. “Sure the hell did.”

“If that was a regular occurrence for you two, I’m going to need to hear some stories,” Blaine breathed.

Leo and Trystan both chuckled. “We’ll have some time on the flight,” Trystan said.

“We could tell them about that time we gave taking a pill in Ibiza a whole new meaning,” Leo snorted.

Blaine and Liam shared a wide-eyed look as Leo pressed his foot more firmly on the gas pedal.

******

Sitting in the back of the cabin by himself, Liam stared out the window of the jet, lost in thought as he watched the morning sun cast a golden glow across the tops of the clouds. He hadn’t even thought to ask how long the flight to Rivala would be; he guessed around two hours, maybe two and a half. A yawn escaped him as he rested his head back against the seat, but he couldn’t sleep; he hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before, either, too on edge and anxious to shut his mind off. And he was sure he wasn’t going to sleep much if at all that night with the ball taking place tomorrow evening.

While Liam was on edge with worry, he was also consumed by anticipation. He couldn’t stop thinking about the moment he’d be able to see Croía, about the moment he’d be able to wrap her in his arms for the first time in over a month. And that anticipation felt like the only thing keeping his head above water at the moment. If he focused on that, he wasn’t drowning in thoughts of all the ways in which this plan they’d spent the last month devising could go wrong.

The feel of someone plopping down into the seat beside him jerked Liam from his thoughts; he glanced over to see Blaine. “How are you holding up?” he asked as he nestled into the seat.

“I’m ok.”

“Liar.”

Liam let out a breath. “How about you? Are you nervous about going in there?”

“Surprisingly, no,” Blaine answered. “I blame the adrenaline, though. Either that or I’ve just fucking lost it.”

Liam laughed despite himself, thankful for the dose of levity his friend could give him at that moment. “I don’t know if I’ve said it, but … thank you.”

Blaine knit his brows and glanced over at him. “What the hell are you thanking me for?”

“For doing this … for being willing to do it.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Li,” Blaine shook his head. “You’d do the same thing if it was Alia. Not just because of who she is to me, but because she’s your friend, just like Croía is mine.” He stared at him for a moment. “Are you really ok?”

“I just want to see her,” Liam said quietly. “I need to see that she’s ok. And I … I’m trying not to think about it, but I keep wondering … what if something goes wrong? What if you guys can’t get her out? What if you guys get caught and you can’t get out? What will happen then? What do we do? Because we’ve planned everything else in grave detail, but nothing has been mentioned about those possibilities.”

“I think not planning for those what-ifs just shows how confident Trystan is that we’ll get this done,” Blaine said. “He’s very … ‘this is how it’s going to happen’, not ‘this is what I hope will happen’. And not in a cocky way. I think he’s just determined as fuck because this is his baby sister. Watching him plan all of this out … I don’t have any doubt that we’ll get in, do what we need, and get out. And maybe that’s why I’m not feeling as nervous as I probably should.”

“His confidence and optimism can be somewhat contagious,” Liam said. “It’s definitely helped me out the past month.”

“I’m not going to pretend to know what it’s been like for you, but just … keep your head up, brother,” Blaine smiled. “That’s really all any of us can do at this point.”

****

Once they landed in Rivala later that morning, the group filed into an SUV; Trystan plugged the address of the cabin into the GPS and they drove off.

The cabin was situated deep in the Rivalan mountains, not too far from the Drakovian border, and was about an hour’s drive to the palace. A few of them had brought up concerns of whether or not the cabin would be able to fit them all, but Trystan told them not to worry.

After a drive that felt entirely too long inside the cramped SUV, Trystan turned into a driveway that went up the mountain about a half mile. When the cabin came into view, everyone’s eyes widened save for Trystan’s. He put the vehicle in park and chuckled at their reflections in the rearview mirror. “I told you not to worry.”

“You said it was a cabin. Not a damn mountain mansion,” Blaine said as he flung the door open.

The “cabin” was massive, and sat on the edge of the mountain, offering a picturesque view from the front. “There’s five bedrooms,” Trystan said. “Someone will have to take the sofa, and there’s another sofa with a pull-out bed.”

“I’ll take the sofa, and you can take the pull-out,” Leo said to Trystan. “Everyone else can grab a room.”

Trystan nodded as they stopped at the front door; he unlocked it and pushed it open, stepping inside as the others followed. “If only we were here for another reason …” Simon trailed off as he looked around.

“It’s nice,” Olivia smiled.

“I’m not really a cabin in the woods kind of girl,” Amalas said, “but if I was, I’d have to agree.”

“Bedrooms are upstairs,” Trystan explained as he dropped his bag down behind one of the sofas. “He made sure the kitchen was stocked, so help yourselves to anything you want. We’re on our own for dinner, so work with whatever’s here.”

****

That night, after relaxing most of the day and having a thrown-together dinner, everyone headed to their respective rooms to try and get some rest.

Earlier, Amalas had set up her equipment and gotten into the Drakovian security system, pulling up the cameras on her laptop. And true to her word, she wouldn’t let Liam or Alia near her for even a glimpse of the screen. Olivia came to Liam a while later and told him that they hadn’t seen Croía on any of the footage, and promised him that she’d find a way to let him know if they did.

After lying in bed and staring at the ceiling for an hour straight, Liam got up and headed downstairs to get a glass of water. It wasn’t that late, but between their early morning and the flight and drive, the others were more tired than usual.

When Liam crept down the stairs, he spotted his brother asleep on one of the sofas; the pull-out bed that Trystan was sleeping on was empty. His brows furrowed as he looked around while making his way to the kitchen, and he stopped near the sliding door that led to the back deck. A wooden gangway was connected to the deck and led to another smaller dock, floating on a pond that sat nestled in the back of the property.

And on that smaller dock, silhouetted in the lights that surrounded it, stood Trystan.

Careful not to wake his brother, Liam slipped out through the sliding door and made his way across the gangway. He’d noticed since arriving at the cabin that Trystan had seemed quieter than usual. There was obviously something on his mind, and at first, he suspected that it was just anticipation now that they were there. Now, seeing him standing out there alone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something else.

Not wanting to startle him, Liam didn’t mask his footsteps, and when Trystan heard them, he looked over his shoulder. “What are you doing out here?” Liam asked as he approached.

“Just thinking,” Trystan replied before looking back out at the water. “Are you doing ok?” he asked Liam as he stopped beside him.

“I’m … as best as can be expected, I guess. I just wish there was more that I could do to help tomorrow.”

Liam hated feeling useless, and that’s exactly how he felt. He knew he was only there with the others as a courtesy and that his presence made no difference in their plan for tomorrow evening.

“You’re going to help, Liam,” Trystan said. “The minute she sees you, it will help.”

Liam remained quiet for a few moments before looking at him. “Everyone keeps asking me how I’m doing … but how are you doing?”

Trystan let out a wry chuckle. “I’m ready to get it over with.”

At that moment, Liam saw that same falter in his facade that he’d noticed over the last week, and knowing something was bothering him, a pang of panic struck him. He’d mentioned it to Blaine on the jet but had avoided asking Trystan this question for the last month, but now … he had to know. “Are you … are you worried? That something will go wrong and you won’t get her out?”

Trystan glanced over and met his gaze in the dim lighting that surrounded the dock. He was worried, yes, but not for the reason Liam thought. He hadn’t wanted to say anything, not wanting to cause him more concern than he knew he was already feeling. But maybe in being honest and telling him about the growing worry that had been nagging at him, he could, in turn, prepare him.

Looking back out at the water, Trystan blew out a breath. “I’m scared out of my damn mind, not because I don’t think we’ll get her out … but because I’m worried we’ll get her out too late …”

“Too late?” Liam questioned as his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Trystan sighed, looking at Liam with a vulnerability in his eyes he hadn’t seen from him before. “Croía’s been there for over a month. And I know the mind games my mother is playing with her and the kinds of things she’s been filling her head with — that no one cares, that no one’s reached out, that you and Alia and everyone else she thought she meant something to have just forgotten her. She’ll keep saying it to her over and over and over in an attempt to pull her further into her thrall. And if Croía loses hope … if everything goes dark and she doesn’t see a way out … she’s going to believe those things. I’ve seen her lose hope before … I’ve seen it go dark and watched her retreat into her shell … and I’m worried about how far inside that shell she’s going to be when we get to her.”

Liam swallowed thickly as he took in his words. He’d also seen her retreat into that shell, and that was after just a one-day visit from her mother. After five weeks … he didn’t want to think about it.

“We’ll get her out of Drakovia tomorrow, that I’m certain of because I will not leave there without her. It’s what comes after that I’m worried about.” Trystan turned to him. “I didn’t agree to let you come along simply to placate you. You being here will show her that everything my mother has filled her head with isn’t true. That you didn’t forget her … that you fought for her. That’s why you being here helps more than you realize, Liam. So please don’t feel like you’re not doing anything, because out of this entire plan … you being here is one of the most essential parts. You make her feel safe. You make her feel loved. And she’s going to need that … need you … more than anything else.”

Liam rubbed a hand over his mouth as he blinked away the sting in his eyes. He’d been so focused on getting her out and the what-ifs of the plan, he hadn’t really stopped to consider the aftermath.

About how shredded apart her self-worth could be.

About how broken she might be.

If Croía had lost hope and things were dark, Liam would do anything he could to pull her out of that darkness, to remind her of how loved and worthy she was. He could only hope that she’d believe it … believe him.

*******

The following afternoon, Amalas and Olivia were seated in the dining room with their equipment in front of them, making sure everything was still running as it should.

Blaine, Simon, Leo, and Trystan were upstairs changing.

In the living room, Liam sat next to Alia, both of them silent; his leg bounced anxiously while she drummed her fingers against her thighs.

Liam’s mind was a storm of thoughts and his emotions were no better. The guys would be leaving shortly for Drakovia and he’d be left there … waiting and hoping they returned with Croía in tow.

“Are you nervous?” Alia whispered beside him. “I’m nervous. I kind of want to throw up.”

Liam kept his gaze straight ahead as he reached over and patted her leg in a poor attempt for comfort. “It’ll be ok,” he said with a resigned nod. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

“Well, one thing is for sure,” Blaine’s voice sounded from the stairs, “I can wear the fuck out of a tux.”

Liam and Alia both turned to see Blaine walking down the stairs, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo and carrying a mask. Alia stood and moved toward him with a grin. “Of course you can, baby,” she chuckled, reaching up and adjusting his black silk bow tie when he hit the bottom of the stairs.

“What about me?” Simon drawled.

Alia glanced up to see Simon and Leo, both in similar attire, both holding their masks. “Looking snazzy.”

A moment later, Trystan appeared; he was dressed in black dress pants, a black shirt, and a black suit jacket. “Then we have Bond here,” Leo quipped.

“I’m not going into the ball,” Trystan said as he buttoned his jacket. “I don’t need the penguin suit.”

“Why dress up at all?” Simon asked.

“I may be sneaking in to break my sister out, but I’m still going to look good doing it,” Trystan smirked as he tugged the lapels of his jacket.

“Here,” Amalas said, approaching them as they huddled in the living room. “Your earpieces. Put them in so I know they’re working.” She handed them a small device and they each placed them in one ear; they were clear and so small they were practically invisible. Amalas turned to where Olivia was standing outside on the back deck and gave a thumbs up.

“Hey, assholes,” her voice crackled in each of their ears. “You’re all looking very debonair.”

The guys chuckled with nods. “They’re working,” Trystan said.

“They’re equipped with a tracker,” Amalas explained as Olivia came back inside. “Leave them in and I’ll keep checking throughout your drive to make sure they’re still working.”

They all nodded again.

“And I’ve checked to verify your aliases are still on the guest list, which they are,” Amalas said. “I’ll check again when you arrive just to be sure we don’t have any surprises.”

“You guys have your masks?” Trystan asked. Blaine, Simon, and Leo held them up. “Alright …” He glanced at his watch: 4:30 p.m. The drive was an hour, give or take, and the ball started at six. “Let’s head out.”

Everyone blew out a collective breath.

Amalas and Olivia wished them luck and walked away.

Blaine and Alia stepped aside, and she threw her arms around him.

Liam walked up to Leo and shook his hand before they pulled one another into a brotherly embrace. “Stay safe,” he whispered.

“You know me,” Leo stepped back with a small grin. “See you soon.” He turned and walked out the door.

Simon clapped Liam’s shoulder before following Leo outside. Trystan approached him a moment later and held his hand out. “Try not to wear a path in the carpet with your pacing,” he joked as they shook hands.

Liam offered a halfhearted smile and nodded. “Be safe.”

Trystan turned and walked out the door as Blaine stepped up to Liam. “You good?”

“Not really,” Liam answered truthfully.

“We’ll be back with her before you know it,” Blaine said before he held a fist out to him. The two went through their playful handshake routine before clapping one another’s shoulders. “Remember what I said. Head up, brother.”

Liam and Alia followed Blaine outside, stopping on the front porch; he gave Alia one last kiss before moving to the vehicle. He slid into the backseat and tossed them one last wave before shutting the door.

They held their breath as the SUV pulled away, and they both threw up a silent prayer as they watched it disappear down the driveway.

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

Perma Tags (if you’d like to be added or removed for this story, please let me know): @zaffrenotes @cocomaxley @emichelle @sweetest-marbear @indiacater @gibbles82 @the-soot-sprite @esmckenzie @dcbbw @burnsoslow @deb-1106 @bbrandy2002 @charlotteg234 @neotericthemis @foreverethereal123 @choiceskatie @sirbeepsalot @gnatbrain @openheart12 @sincerelyella @superharriet @queenrileyrose @aestheticartsx @kingliam2019 @indiana-jr @bascmve01 @rainbowsinthestorm @emkay512 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @forallthatitsworth @walker7519 @iaminlovewithtrr @amandablink @mainstreetreader @mom2000aggie @princessleac1 @21-wishes @appleone @tessa-liam @pixelatedpassion @malblk21 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @forthebrokenheartedthings @nomadics-stuff @differenttyphoonwerewolf

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orangecatty-shiningnikki · 1 year

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【 Shining Nikki TW+CN 】 Crossover Series (Collab)

Shining Nikki x Love and Producer

《闪耀暖暖》 × 《恋与制作人》

[[ Adventures Journey ]]

" Welcome guests from different time and space to Paradise.

I hope this amusement park can become a stop for you to take a short rest during your long journey,Bring you surprises, joy and inspiration. "

I heard that the experiences during the trip will eventually be gathered into a very special souvenir?

In short, let’s set off with Nikki to explore.

Suit Display :: Light and Shadow (邂逅光影)

Collection :: 8th Crossover Series (IP Linkage)

Shining Nikki x Love and Producer

“Adventures Journey”

Designer :: —

Rarity :: SSR

Attribute :: Sweet

Date :: 22/11—04/12/2022

Type :: Welfare

Link :: https://orangecatty-shiningnikki.tumblr.com/post/701329739105927168/shining-nikki-tw-cn-crossover-series-collab?_branch_match_id=link-1122446889305361716

#Crossover Series #IP Linkage #Welfare #Shining Nikki Collab #Love and Producer #Mr.Love Queen Choice #MLQC #SSR #Sweet #閃耀暖暖 #闪耀暖暖 #Shining Nikki #Nikki 3D #Nikki Up2U 4 #Nikki 4 #Orangecatty #3D Dress-Up Game #Nikki Diary Thailand #2022

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athetos · 3 months

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While I was in the shower I joked “haha what if there was a baru cormorant and severance crossover” and then I thought a bit harder and honestly. It makes sense. Which is so scary. Baru has had enough of government failing to take any action against lumon (who was behind the injuries/deaths of her parents and the harm done to her community), and decides to infiltrate them to destroy them from within without them even knowing they were ruining their company but in order to reach a high enough position of power to do that, she has to first be severed. And her innie has no idea what her outtie is planning and is like Helly and wants to get out but a bit more subtly, and outside Baru has to figure out how to sneak messages to her without anyone else knowing so they don’t compromise the plan. Which manages to incorporate the whole “traitor” motif perfectly, she doesn’t know she’s betraying herself or others or not, they both have different motives, and you also capture some of her TBI and having a separate consciousness she’s completely unaware of in the next 2 books. Of course the other severed are all the dukes and duchesses from book 1, with the convoluted alliances you’d expect, and the management would be the cryptarchs. The clarified are definitely in there somehow, maybe they’re a separate department of people with cutting edge cyber punk implants they’ve been doing tests on (I’m not far enough in the series to know what actual depraved shit they’re up to, but I’m fairly certain they’re a biotech place). Aminata is Baru’s best friend + crush that’s a security guard at Lumon, but is basically blackmailed into spying on her because they’re suspicious of her intentions. Obviously her outtie gets with Aminata and her innie like, I don’t know, fucks Tain Hu in a storage closet. Since Traitor is so brutal with how it ends and I can’t possibly hope to capture that, I would just see it ending with them all being reintegrated safely and baru having TWO wives.

#I can’t think of a universe where Tain Hu would willingly get severed unless she didn’t really have a choice #sorry there’s a plot hole in my crossover AU between two wildly different series I came up with in the shower #baru cormorant #severance #baru cormorant spoilers #I need to make a tag for all my chaotic baru posts #baruposting #<- that works

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thebroccolination · 1 year

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Well hi there, friends!

Hope you had a majestic weekend in which nothing emotionally devastating happened to you! Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to today’s episode of:

🔥 NO ONE’S ALLOWED TO BE SINGLE: THE SERIES 🔥

the show where we pair the spares! Because sure, people can and do find emotional fulfillment in life without a romantic partner and it’s a very good thing for media to showcase more stories in which a character’s positive function has nothing to do with romance.

But when you’re a gross romantic mess like me, you’re gonna do some nonsense anyway!

Let’s meet today’s subject for datehood!

👏👏👏

View! ❤︎

Youngest of the Wanichakarnjonkul brothers and literal sunshine baby, View has expressed a keen interest in girls, but seeing as his brother is a bi icon, we at Bisexuals R Us have decided that View could be, too, so we’re gonna find him a potential boyfriend. Whee!

(Isn’t fandom fun? 🥳)

View’s a sweetheart and a snuggler, and he’s also the loudest and the brashest of the three Wanichakarnjonkul brothers. For what seems like a big chunk of his life, his parents were too occupied with work and his oldest brother too pressured by expectations to pay much attention to him. As a result, View was closest to the chronic middle child Win, the only one who cared enough to make time for him, drive him to school, and praise him when he did well. He seems to be hiding the full scope of his loneliness for most of the series.

By the end of Between Us, View’s family has accepted that they have issues and seem willing to work them out, but with the parents still running a massive resort chain, Wan living in Chonburi, and Win about to graduate and move to London for a two-year graduate program, View’s going to be on his own even more than before despite his family trying their best to be better for each other, and he’ll be without the family member he’s closest to.

Seems like a prime opportunity for View to find himself a boyfriend, don’t it!

Let’s peruse the candidates!

• Thiu (My School President)

Student council member and all-around swell dude, Thiu is the utterly loyal best friend of his school’s president. He’s also one of the least judgmental characters in his series, willing to follow Tinn into student council and instantly reshape his perception of Tinn’s crush on Gun after a brief bit of exposition. He is, in fact, a Good good boy.

He’d be the perfect partner for someone who’s been alone, someone who could use some loyalty and support. He also comes with a giant friend group of loud, good-hearted idiots who’d never let a boy go hungry. Plus, he’s not in a club that forbids dating.

After listening to Tinn wail and bawl into his ear about his crush on Gun for literal years, Thiu could do with a crush of his own. Especially if that crush is just as much of a sunshine baby anime protagonist as Gun is. Tinn will be amused for the rest of forever, and Thiu wouldn’t mind it. Much.

Here’s how I see them:

“Don’t eat that,” Thiu says. “Trust me—it’s a week old.” He kicks the paper plate of barbecued pork slices into the garbage can beside the low table, wrinkling his nose.

“Six days isn’t a week, Thiu!” Pat yells from behind the drums, his face the picture of mortally offended.

“It’s still gross, though,” Gun admits. “Why didn’t we throw it out?”

“It was pickling,” Win says.

“Molding,” Sound corrects.

View spends the next thirty seconds watching Win and Sound squabble over the difference between molding meat and pickling meat, and he doesn’t realize how wide he’s grinning until Thiu rests an elbow on his shoulder. He tips his chin up and enjoys being the focal point of someone’s attention in such a chaotic space. He joined student council without much idea of what he was doing, and Thiu spotted him quickly, a kindred spirit without much direction in life but a vast fondness for it just the same.

“Wanna go get food that’s edible?” Thiu asks.

View says, “Can we come back?”

They’re supposedly checking in on all the club activities, and Tinn clearly has this one covered by the way he’s merrily simpering at Gun from the bench by the wall, but the energy in the room is infectiously bright, and View feels it down to his toes.

Thiu’s smile warms. He dips his fingers into View’s hair and ruffles vigorously. “Sure. Your treat.”

“What? Why me? Thiu! Thiu!”

• Wat (The Eclipse)

Pressured by his family to become an engineer instead of attending film school, Wat spends most of his series struggling to build the confidence to follow the path he’s dreamed of. He’s a loyal friend like Thiu, not to mention perceptive and frank with his emotions and opinions. He’s also fair and thoughtful.

Confidence is something View has in spades, and he’d be a relentless cheerleader for someone with passion who needs a push and a supportive hand.

He’d benefit from Wat’s quiet consideration and companionship. Wat comes with a slightly smaller friend group, but an immensely loyal and kind one.

Here’s how I see them:

There are camera pieces on the table, and View picks up one of them to investigate. It looks like a lens, and he remembers that those are far, far too expensive for the casual way he’s handling it. With owl-eyed panic, he slowly returns the lens to where he found it. He’s already gone to his mother once this month for money to fix the computer he dropped; she might punish him by making him ask his father, and then he’ll have to throw himself out of a hot air balloon to mourn his broken dignity.

“What are you doing?” Wat asks. He’s in the doorway wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and a band keeping his hair away from his washed face, eyebrows lifted.

“I’m just curious,” View says. He’s aware there’s a hint of a whine there, so he beams instead. “Hey, what’s this?” He points to the lens, careful not to touch.

Wat studies him with a slow-growing smile. “That’s what I was saving up for when I met you. I want to add more long-range photographs to my portfolio.”

View nods eagerly like he understands why that matters. He and Wat may attend the same art school, but Wat has a passion and a direction that View’s never had. He glows when he talks like this, and View can only pretend he gets it because he likes to see that light in Wat shine.

“Want me to show you?” Wat asks, peeking at View as he assembles his camera.

Sometimes Wat seems so hesitant before sharing what makes him enthusiastic about life, and View doesn’t know why, but he’s determined to prove that at least with him, Wat doesn’t need to be anxious about judgment.

“Definitely! Just…don’t let me hold it for too long.”

• Non (Dark Blue Kiss)

Now, I know what you’re thinking: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. And y’know what, fair! He’s a little kick-in-the-kidneys and he sucks and I spent the last few minutes searching for a screencap of him muttering, “Where are you, you malignant little pustule?”

But! Non’s serious flaws aside, he also has the most to grow. He’s a physically abused queer kid with a ragingly homophobic father whose wealth and power make him pretty close to untouchable by the consequences of his actions. Non’s shitty behavior in his series is a reflection of his upbringing and his current circumstances. Kid’s still in high school, and he’s clearly miserable.

Where I see potential in him is that he’s powerfully drawn to kindness. He sees Kao as safe, and he knows he doesn’t have a real shot because Kao is a lovely weirdo in love with his sweet dumbass boyfriend, so he tries to destroy their relationship. I don’t think he ever seriously thought Kao would love him; I think he was trying to force Kao to be in his life without offering the vulnerability someone like Kao would have happily responded to. If he had asked Kao for help instead of trying to manipulate his way closer, he could have had multiple strong allies: not only Kao but Pete and the whole friend group. He’s a wounded, confused little insect of a boy, but he has potential to be more with the right motivation.

Especially if someone kind and loud with a stubborn streak and a supportive (and equally powerful and wealthy) family behind him took an interest in him.

Here’s how I see them:

“Why do you keep sitting with me?” Non asks his congee. “People are starting to talk about you.”

View blinks and checks the tables around them. There’s one girl eyeing them, but on closer inspection of her lips moving, she’s trying to read View’s English T-shirt.

“I don’t think people care that I sit with you,” View says. “I think they got bored of the whole thing already.”

Non says nothing to that. He hasn’t looked up since View sat down and started asking questions about Non’s time behind the camera. The competition was all anyone talked about for a while, and Non walked the halls like foreign royalty on official visits. When Pete exposed his worst side for the world to see in defense of the man whose life Non nearly destroyed, the school body took back their adulation and sharpened it.

View watched it play out without an impulse to join in or prevent it. He’d never talked to Non before and he hadn’t cared about the competition enough to understand the fawning over the competitors. But when the rational critiques of Non’s behavior reached a conclusion and the students collectively ostracized him, the school’s few bloodthirsty homophobes smelled abandoned carrion and closed in.

View heard some of it in the hallways. He saw them gaining confidence when taunting Non got them the occasional sharp retort or frightened recoil. Hia Wan would step in and take them out. Hia Win would talk them down.

View took the third route: he made himself Non’s ally. Not because he liked him, exactly. It just felt right. It felt kind.

Non takes a bottled tea from his bag and rolls it across the table to View without looking at him. “Drink something,” he says, “or you’ll look weird just sitting there watching me eat.”

View feels a smile grow. “Okay.”

————

There we have it!

Three different candidates!

Three different vibes!

Now, it’s time for audience participation!

🥁🥁🥁

#i love polls #i wholeheartedly love the lack of standardized romanization for thai #wiew? view? waan? wan? manaow? manow? manao? preuk? pruk?#we just got very lucky with win and team #anyway yeah so #i’m having fun with crossovers #i wonder if my favorite choice here was obvious #between us the series #between us #the eclipse series #the eclipse #dark blue kiss the series #dark blue kiss #my school president #my school president the series #tw: homophobia

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danothan · 9 months

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knight terrors is fucking killing it lately

#drops tmrw apparently! this is all going too fast for me agh #i hope the artists aren’t getting crunched bc these panels are incredible #creature barry creature barry creature barry #his whole fear abt losing his humanity to the speedforce… how his first thought is hal on the topic of humanity…#how he loses himself to it anyway for the ppl who ground him TO his humanity #the fact that his mom showed up… it’s all abt his family it’s always abt his family. iris and wally need him so ofc he loses himself #and the fact that it’s hal he thinks abt to ground him. this is the second time hal has helped barry in this nightmare #love is the opposite of a choice??? that’s also some insane coding #both gay and neurodivergent #i am not going to be ready for their crossover in the GL run #how are they going to talk after this??#and it’s just so barry to overrationalize everything seeing as that was his way of coping with grief and trauma growing up #he doesn’t know what else to do #and barry arguing on behalf of someone TO that someone is such a classic barry argument style. god this is so satisfying to see altogether #this series is sm better than i could’ve ever imagined #it’s like we’re being reward for all that analysis we do #like we’re not making this shit up after all! what a dream come true #the irony lol #knight terrors #the flash #barry allen #halbarry #dc #panels #danbles

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sonicunleash · 9 months

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i cannot reblog that one poll btw mario kirby loz and sonic thats like "pick one to cancel". too much hate in the world also i know sonic's gonna have a big percentage cause everyones mean to him all the time.

#anyways if i really had to end one series though loz is the most logical choice just cause totk makes such a solid finale #so like if it ended there it would make most sense. especially since loz has more of a like. beginning and end to the narrative to me #its not really framed the same as sonic and mario are and idk enough about kirby to say #anyways new poll comes out which series should have a crossover spinoff game with sonic next sonic&mario style

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marzghost · 2 months

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Thinking about team ranchers to the song Blue Over You by Mason Ramsey...do you guys see my vision! I wish I could animate what I'm envisioning because it's honestly so sad and I'm a sucker for angst!

youtube

#team ranchers #tangotek #solidaritek #solidaritygaming #double life series #hermitcraft empires crossover #rancher duo #angst is my choice of poison #i just imagine tango dancing with an imaginary jimmy that becomes real only for Jimmy to be forced to leave him again #Youtube

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kimberlyannharts · 1 year

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From what I've heard Ranger Academy is basically just "Meh" to "Bad". But it's only the previews so not sure how accurate the reception is.

Yeah, obv my opinions on the comics are....typically opposite the fandom's, and in general it already seems a little jumping the gun to write off the entire series because of just this issue, no matter how bad it might be. But I guess in fairness, the entire point of making the preview part of FCBD was to get readers interested in the Ranger Academy series in the first place......

#transmission #anonymous #admittedly i was always kind of surprised boom seemed to have enough faith in this concept to make it into a series in the first place.#like PINK? the crossovers? Drakkon New Dawn? guaranteed successes.#even PRU - as much as i wasn't a fan of its choices - had an obvious hook of the Phantom Ranger's origin story.#i'm not sure what this one's big selling point is yet.

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choicesficwriterscreations · 2 years

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2022 Fic Masterlist for Crossover Series

🖤 = Adult Content 🔥 = NSFW

June 2022

Crimes of Passion / Open Heart

Dr. Whodunnit (Series) | M!Trystan Thorne x F!MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @inlocusmads Chapter 1: Start With Three Chapter 2: Wobbly Timey-Wimey Stuff

July 2022

Crimes of Passion / Open Heart

Dr. Whodunnit (Series) | M!Trystan Thorne x F!MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @inlocusmads Chapter 3: Rose, The Doctor, and Discombobulation

Dr. Whodunnit (Series) | Trystan Thorne x F!MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @inlocusmads Chapter 4: Data, Data and More Data

The Royal Romance / Open Heart

So Close (Series) | Liam Rhys x MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @sincerelyella Part 6: Restless Nights 🖤

August 2022

Crimes of Passion / Open Heart

Meridian (Series) | Trystan Thorne x F!MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @inlocusmads Chapter One

The Nanny Affair / Most Wanted

Chapter 6: Questions | M!Sam Dalton, etc. - @krisb-writing-blog

Crimes of Passion/Open Heart

Meridian (Series) | Trystan Thorne x F!MC, Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @inlocusmads Chapter 2

September 2022

Rules of Engagement / The Royal Romance

Crossroads | Leo Rys x ROE F!MC - @twinkleallnight

Platinum / Open Heart

Both Are Good – Raleigh Carerra, Bryce Lahella - @aallotarenunelma and @peonierose

The Nanny Affair / Open Heart

Once (Series) | M!Sam Dalton x Addison Dalton - @peonierose Part 1

October 2022

The Royal Romance / Veil of Secrets

The Other Nevrakis (Series) - @harleybeaumont Lady Lilith (One Shot) | Flynn O’Malley x F!OC

November 2022

Laws of Attraction/Open Heart

Once Upon a Time in Miami (Series) | Gabe Riccis x F!MC, Bryce Lahela x LOA!F!MC - @polishchoicesfan 🔥18+

The Royal Romance/Perfect Match

Falling for You | Liam Rys x MC / Damian Nazario x MC - @phoenixrising0308 🔥18+

December 2022

Rules of Engagement / The Royal Romance

Irreplaceable (Series) | Leo Rys x MC, Drake Walker x Liam Rys - @queenrileyrose Chapter 24: I'd Cross the World for You 🖤

The Nanny Affair / Open Heart

Once (Series) | M!Sam Dalton x Addison Dalton, Ethan Ramsey - @peonierose Part 3

The Royal Romance / Blades of Light & Shadow / The Elementalists

That December Night | Nia Ellarious x Drake Walker, Nia Ellarious & Griffin Langley - @aallotarenunelma

Open Heart / Red Carpet Diaries

Home is Where the Heart Is | Bryce Lahela x F!OC - @peonierose

BOLAS / TRR / The Elementalists

That December Night | Multiple pairings - @aallotarenunelma

Blades of Light and Shadow / The Royal Romance

That December Night (Series) | Nia Ellarious x Olivia Nevrakis - @aallotarenunelma Chapter 3: That's My Girl 🖤

#crossover series masterlist #open heart #crimes of passion #choices fic writers creations

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finalfronticr · 4 months

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TAG DUMP !

#ic 𓆩⟡𓆪 original series #ic 𓆩⟡𓆪 post five year #ic 𓆩⟡𓆪 admiralty #ic 𓆩⟡𓆪 academy years #ic 𓆩⟡𓆪 crossover verse #hang on tight and survive 𓆩⟡𓆪 prompts #there's no such thing as the unknown 𓆩⟡𓆪 starter calls #a little suffering is good for the soul 𓆩⟡𓆪 banter #i don't believe in the no win scenario 𓆩⟡𓆪 starters #we're human ; and maybe that's the word that best explains us 𓆩⟡𓆪 musings #captain's log 𓆩⟡𓆪 answered asks #no ; this is not off the record ! 𓆩⟡𓆪 crack #where no one has gone before 𓆩⟡𓆪 threads #without freedom of choice there is no creativity 𓆩⟡𓆪 promos #we prefer to help ourselves 𓆩⟡𓆪 self promos #you either believe in yourself or you don't 𓆩⟡𓆪 visage #beauty . . survives 𓆩⟡𓆪 visuals #most legends have their basis in fact 𓆩⟡𓆪 dash commentary #all i ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by 𓆩⟡𓆪 relationship ; the enterprise #heal thyself ; physician 𓆩⟡𓆪 relationship ; bones #the needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many 𓆩⟡𓆪 relationship ; spock

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akanemnon · 9 months

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TWIN RUNES MASTERPOST

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 -15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 21-1 - 21-2 - 21-3 - 22 - 23 -24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 36-1 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54

To be continued...

TWIN RUNES MINI COMICS

Glasses - Fallen down - First steps - Press [C] - Frisk Dance - But nobody came - Whatstheirface - An acquired taste - Eye opening

______________________________________________________________

TWIN RUNES - FAQ

What exactly is this AU about? Twin Runes is essentially a comedic crossover AU between the universes of Deltarune and Undertale. No fancy nicnacs. Just the characters being their chaotic selves. But there might be some darkness lurking up ahead...

When is the next comic? The comic updates most Sundays at 6:30 PM Central European Time.

Why is this AU called Twin Runes? The name is more or less a play on the typical naming format of most AU's by featuring the "Runes" part. There are no literal Twin Runes. The whole name is more of a stand in for Undertale and Deltarune as parallel worlds. Hence the "Twin" part.

When does Twin Runes take place? This AU takes place between a hypothetical Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 of Deltarune. On the Undertale side of things, it takes place post neutral route just as Frisk was about to deliver Undyne's letter to Alphys.

Is the player a thing in this AU? The player lost control over both human children as soon as Frisk entered the world of Deltarune.

When Chapter 3 and 4 are released, will it affect the story? Any chapters after Chapter 3 won't affect the story in the grand scheme of things. If possible, I might make a reference to Chapter 3, but all in all Twin Runes created a new timeline so to speak.

What's up with Kris' and Frisk's hair? The red bits of their hair is more or less a representation of their souls. That in turn is also why Chara doesn't have that feature. They are soulless. It's a stylistic choice.

What's that thing on Kris' chest? It's a scar they got from tearing out their soul.

And why do they have weird lines all over their body? Both Kris and Frisk's anatomy resemble that of ball-jointed dolls. They appear just as markings across their bodies. Think of them as elaborate birthmarks. Kris and Frisk are still made of flesh and blood, but are in fact hypermobile. The reason as to why they do is still a little secret :) People here like to refer to these markings as "puppet limbs". You can get a better look at them and the scar in this artwork

Why does Kris have braces? This is why:

Why is Dark World Frisk green? Frisk changes their main sweater colors with Kris when they enter the Dark World.

Can other ghosts see Chara? (pre Darkner transformation) No, only Frisk and Kris are able to see Chara.

IS KRIS NOW FRISK'S COUNTERPART OR CHARA'S???? :)

So, was Chara in the locket all along? No, Chara possessed the locket to become a Darkner.

Where are Jevil and Spamton? Are they in Castle Town? The Fun Gang have already fought these two in the previous chapters and added them into their inventory. Outside of that little dream sequence, neither will be making an appearance.

Is anyone from Undertale Yellow gonna make an apperance? Outside of a tiny cameo from Clover (that has no greater bearing on the story) no one from Undertale Yellow is going to make an appearance.

Is (insert character here) gonna go to the Dark World/underground? With the way the story is going to play out, only the main group will be heading to this new Dark World. The rest of the story will be taking place there.

Is the Group Project miniseries canon to Twin Runes? It was made before Twin Runes was conceived and before I had any idea I would make a series. It is it's own self-contained story. So it is NOT canon to Twin Runes, but You can read it here: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

How did you come up with the idea of Twin Runes? Twin Runes is an offshoot of a separate script I wrote. It's a similar concept but turned on its head. The funny moments in that script made me just continue what now is the start of Twin Runes. I pretty much just wanted to see if I am actually capable of drawing a comic to begin with. So... in a way Twin Runes is my first attempt at a comic ever. If I ever finish Twin Runes, then I know I can tackle turning that mammoth project of a script into a comic too. In the grand scheme of things these two projects are sister series. They have A LOT in common and even share similar plot elements. When Twin Runes is over you will automatically also know certain mysteries of The Other Script.

What is The Other Script? As of this moment I call The Other Script: "Lost in the In-Between". At its core it's an inverse of Twin Runes. I.e. Kris falling into the underground and being aided by Frisk on their quest to return home. The story and jokes are a considerably more grounded than in Twin Runes and so are the characters. Though they do have their moments from time to time. The overall mood of that script is a lot darker in nature and it's a 200+ page passion project of mine.

Am I allowed to make fanart? ABSOLUTELY! You are very welcome to make fanart if you feel like it. Please let me know if you do by tagging me, so I can share it with everyone to see so that you get the appreciation you deserve :)

Can I use the funny faces you draw for memes or for private stuff with friends? That's what they're here for :)

Is there x ship in this comic? The focus of the story is not on shipping. If it's in the game it will very likely be mentioned or brought up, but that's about it.

What pronouns do you go with for the human children? I try to stick as close as possible to the games so I use THEY/THEM FOR ALL OF THEM WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS.

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ABOUT ASKS

Asks will open for 24 hours after a new comic has been released. Your questions will then be answered over the course of the week.

Try not to submit multiple asks. If necessary, just keep everything in one post.

Keep in mind that I receive AL LOT of asks, so not every question can be answered...

Questions containing spoilers will not be answered on principle. Wouldn't be as fun if the surprise was ruined, right?

Before leaving an ask (mostly for everyone who's new), please make sure to read the FAQ section above. A lot of times your question might have been answered already :>

I love memes and dumb jokes as much as the next guy, but try not to spam

It probably goes without saying, but please stay civil. I want to give everyone the respect they deserve, and naturally like to be treated the same way.

Please be mindful about drawing requests. It is understandable if you're eager to see a certain character drawn in my style, but I do not like to be bombarded by requests. The more it happens, the less likely I am to do it. Be kind and ask nicely.

Don't use other people's posts that I reblogged to ask me questions! It has happened before and I do not wish to see this!

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REFERENCE SHEETS

The following are ref sheets of characters that don't have established Dark World forms yet (as of writing this comic). The list will be updated as soon as a new character enters the Dark World. Here you will also find references of characters that might appear as surprise cameos, or maybe even completely new faces...

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FULL ART

#twin runes #twin runes masterpost #masterpost #deltarune comic #comic #deltarune au #crossover #undertale #my art #FAQ #frequently asked questions #important #please read #deltarune

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ao719 · 3 months

Text

Vancross

Vancross - Through the Darkness (Chapter 21)

Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.

Title inspiration: Wake Me Up - Tommee Profitt & Fleurie

Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC

A/N: Multiple crossover series. There will be random sprinkles of canon throughout this story, but for the most part, it’s pretty much out the window. Thanks to @burnsoslow for prereading! Please excuse any errors.

A/N 2: Since this is more of a filler/check-in chapter, I made it a submission for @choicesflashfics, using prompt #2. Fair warning, our girl Croía is not doing well 🥲

Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+

Word count: 2468

Catch up here

•Three Weeks Ago•

Standing on the balcony of her room, Croía wiped the tears from her cheeks as she watched the last rays of the sun start to disappear behind the horizon. When she made the choice to come home, being told she was going to be forced to stay was not something she had anticipated.

Considering the way she’d been treated growing up, Croía thought they’d be happy to be rid of her, but at dinner that night, her mother informed her that she had “more important plans” for her. When she returned to her room, she saw a few stacked boxes at the foot of her bed, and when she opened them, she found all of her belongings from her room at Vancross. She rushed to her nightstand where she’d put her phones, knowing she needed to reach out to someone, but they were gone.

When her eyes shifted to the waves crashing against the jagged rocks below, Croía searched her muddled mind for some way out, but with no way to contact anyone and knowing there was no way for her to leave, panic clutched her heart.

Gripping the concrete balustrade, Croía dropped to her knees and a sob escaped her as one thought crossed her mind: Liam.

•Two Weeks Ago•

After a meeting with her mother to discuss exactly what was expected of her in the coming weeks, Croía was escorted back to her room. The meeting was one she remained completely silent throughout. In the week since being told she would be staying in Drakovia, she remembered why it was better to just keep quiet.

After being told that she was being named heir and was being forced to take a husband of her mother’s choosing, a husband who would end up with more ruling capacity than her to ensure she couldn’t ruin their plan — a plan she still knew nothing about — Croía became something she’d never been before: defiant. When she was summoned to meet with her mother, she refused to go. Her mother then came to her and an argument ensued, but one forceful backhand across the face that knocked her to the floor was all it took to remind Croía of where she was and exactly who she was dealing with.

Once at her room, Croía stepped inside as the two guards who’d escorted her took their positions on either side of her door. She was their new assignment. If she left her room, they followed. When she was in her room, they were stationed outside.

When she shut the door, Croía went to her balcony and finally set free the emotions she’d been holding back for the last hour; shuddered breaths escaped her as did her tears as she leaned against the balustrade.

At that moment, Croía couldn’t help but think of Liam, not that he was never not on her mind. She wondered what he was doing … what he was thinking. They were back on campus now. Knowing him, she was sure he had tried to reach out, but after a week of silence on her end, did he think she just chose not to return without a word?

Was he worried?

Was it possible he reached out to Trystan and Marguerite, and if so, were they trying to figure out what happened to her?

If they could figure it out, would they find a way to get to her?

What if she never saw or spoke to any of them again?

Croía choked on another sob as she tried to take in a breath; she stood upright, wiping the tears from her cheeks only for them to be replaced by more. Her eyes then shifted to the rocks below.

What if she was stuck here forever?

No. She couldn’t be … she wouldn’t be.

Nothing good could come of these plans her mother had, and Croía didn’t want to be a part of whatever they were. As she stared down at those jagged rocks, watching the waves slam against them, she knew that if all else failed … there was, at least, one way out.

•One Week Ago•

Sitting inside the great room with her parents, Croía stared off, not paying much attention to anything they were saying. She wanted no part in the discussion they were having about the upcoming masquerade ball where her mother planned to choose a suitor for her. Why she was summoned to be there for the discussion was lost on her; she was nothing more than the pawn they were trading off to the highest bidder. She’d been diminished to nothing but an object … a duty … a plan.

Croía had been in Drakovia for a month and she was losing all sense of herself, becoming a shell of the girl she had been before arriving. She was beginning to lose hope that she’d get out of this, and because of that, she was cold and distant, not that anyone there noticed or cared. And those who she thought would care — Alia, Liam, the other friends she’d made at school — she’d been told to forget them … just as they’d forgotten her. She was told no one had even reached out, and when she shook her head in disbelief, she was shown her phone; there were no missed calls, no messages. There was nothing. She swore her mother took pleasure in delivering those blows to her.

Yes, Croía knew that her mother could have easily gained access to her phone and erased any truth, but there was an insecure voice in the back of her head that made her question everything, and it only got louder with each passing day.

Was she right?

Had they forgotten her?

Had they come to their own conclusions of what happened and simply carried on?

All of those thoughts and more kept filling Croía’s head, unable to get that doubt-filled voice to be quiet, and none of it was doing her state of mind any favors.

Croía was pulled from her daze when her father stood from the sofa and excused himself; she watched him leave the room just as Lydea entered.

“Since you’re both here,” Lydea said to her mother and sister as she approached them, “we should go over some protocol for the night of the ball.”

Croía stood as she let out a breath. “I’m tired. We can do it another day,” she said as she started for the door.

“You’re here now,” Lydea bit out. “So we can do it now.”

“Another day,” Croía repeated.

“I wasn’t asking,” Lydea said as she darted toward her, grabbing hold of her wrist. “We will do it now.”

Croía turned, meeting Lydea’s narrowed gaze. “The last time I checked, you’re the head of the royal guard and I’m the Crown Princess. I don’t take orders from you. You take them from me.” She yanked her wrist free from her sister’s tight grip and turned, disappearing into the hall.

Lydea’s brows rose in surprise as she turned to her mother.

Viktoria was smirking at the door, almost impressed by her youngest’s curt attitude. Almost. Croía had a ways to go, but something was finally starting to break inside her, and in order for it to last and for her to become a semblance of what she needed her to be, she would need to continue to push her to that edge. She lifted her cup of tea to her lips, meeting Lydea’s gaze and shrugging as she took a sip.

•Present•

Standing on the alteration platform inside the palace boutique, Croía stared back at the floor-length mirror, focusing on the reflection of her own ice-blue eyes; she couldn’t help but notice how the light that had been in them the last several months had all but vanished.

Croía was trying to keep her attention off the gown she wore because every time she glimpsed it in the mirror, her chest tightened, her eyes stung, and her anxiety spiked; with the ball less than a week away, she was more on edge than ever. The gown wasn’t her — black with a barely there illusion neckline and lace appliqués in shimmering gold on the bodice that led into the top of the skirt. Leave it to her mother to want to parade her around in something like this; she felt like a piece of bait.

“We’ll have to take in the waist again, Your Highness,” the seamstress said as she rose to her feet after checking the hem. Upon hearing what sounded like a hint of worry in her tone, Croía glanced at her in the mirror, watching as she pinched the bit of loose fabric at her sides and gently pulled it against her body.

The first time Croía tried it on was only a few days after that regretful dinner. She’d taken in the waist two weeks ago by just a small bit, but now it needed to be taken in again.

Croía only offered a silent nod in response to the woman’s words. The seamstress offered a sad smile in return before turning to her supply table.

When the door to the boutique opened, Croía stiffened at the sight of her mother and Lydea. She schooled her expression into impassiveness as they approached her, both taking in the details of the gown.

“A little loose, don’t you think?” Lydea asked as she pinched the loose fabric at her sister’s side.

“I’ll be taking in the waist,” the seamstress replied. “I need to go grab some more pins. I’ll be right back.”

As the seamstress stepped out, Croía met Lydea’s gaze in the mirror, and she knew she had to be truly losing it when she swore she could have seen a flicker of concern in her eyes.

“It’ll do,” Viktoria said as she circled her like a vulture. “She’ll at least look presentable, yes?”

“She’s standing right here,” Lydea gestured to her. “How do you feel about it?”

Croía dropped her eyes to the floor, focusing on the hem of the gown in the mirror.

“Well?” Viktoria asked as she came in front of her and crossed her arms. “You can be honest. What do you think?”

Croía lifted her eyes to her mother’s. She knew it was a rhetorical question; she could hear the threat in her tone and see it in her body language. But if she was giving her an opening for honesty, she was going to take it.

“I think I don’t want to do this,” Croía said just above a whisper as she held her mother’s stare. “Any of it.”

“You’ll be securing a husband and, eventually, the crown,” Viktoria scoffed. “What’s not to want?”

Croía softly shook her head. “I don’t want either,” her voice cracked, shattering her impassive mask.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Viktoria’s painted red lips. “Oh, darling, I hope you’re not still holding onto any hope for you and Liam.” Viktoria moved to her back, meeting her gaze in the mirror as she leaned closer to her ear. “There is nothing more painful than watching the person you love give up on you, is there?”

Croía’s lip imperceptibly trembled as she stared at her mother’s reflection through her blurring vision.

Did he really give up? Possibly.

Could she blame him if he had? … No.

“He’s probably moved on from whatever insignificant thing you two had,” Viktoria said as she stepped back. “Because that’s how he sees you … insignificant. I suggest you do the same and let it go.” She turned and strode out of the room.

Lydea stared at her sister for a moment, watching her fight to keep her composure before she turned and followed her mother.

Once alone, Croía bowed her head as a quiet sob escaped her.

****

That evening, Croía stood on the balcony of her room with her vacant eyes fixated on the rocks below. It would be so easy, she thought. As a fresh tear slid down her cheek, her hands curled tighter around the balustrade as she leaned forward, really taking in the drop below.

It was beginning to feel like the only way to out.

Maybe it was.

A knock on her door startled Croía back, and she let out a shuddered breath as she snapped back to reality. She wiped her cheeks as she turned and stepped inside, headed for her door.

When she opened it, Lydea stood on the other side, having momentarily dismissed the two guards who were usually there.

“What?” Croía asked tersely.

“I wanted to check on you,” Lydea said.

Croía’s brow knit before a derisive laugh bubbled out of her. “I’m sure.”

“I’m serious.”

“Don’t pretend to give a damn.”

When she attempted to close the door in her face, Lydea stuck her polished boot in the threshold, and Croía pulled the door back and met her gaze. “Do you think I like seeing you like this? Do you think I find enjoyment in your misery? I don’t.” She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. “I know this isn’t what you want. I know you don’t want the crown or this arrangement, but it’s nothing more than a game of politics.”

“My life is not a game,” Croía bit out. “And I’m not suited for this. For any of it. She doesn’t even believe I am and she never has. She’s made that perfectly clear over the years. I’m only here because I’m her last chance because there is no one else. I’m just a pawn in whatever game this is that she’s playing and I want no part of it.”

“Croía—”

“If you meant what you said, then get me out,” Croía interrupted, and Lydea took in a breath as she stared back at her. “Please, Lydea,” she whispered in a plea as her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t … I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. I’ve never asked you for anything before … but I’m begging you now … get me out.”

Lydea continued to stare at her, and when Croía sensed her hesitation, she felt a spark of hope … but then she shook her head. “I can’t do that,” Lydea said. “They’re our monarchs above all else, and as their head guard, I swore an oath to them, Croía. I have a duty to uphold.” Croía deflated as she dropped her gaze; she should have known better. “I … I’m sorry.” With that, she turned and opened the door, shutting it behind her as she disappeared into the hallway.

Croía went to her bed and laid down, curling into herself at the center. Fisting the duvet in her hand, her tears began to fall again as Liam’s face flashed through her mind.

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