#each other's lifeline

[anfie-in-the-box]

Each other's lifeline

Notes

Are you excited? I sure am! I love this series quite a lot, after all.

Do be careful, there're some self-esteem issues and self-deprecation here. One word: Nightmare. Doesn't need any explaining.

。。。

First steps

Nightmare vaguely remembers coming around a few more times, just for a few seconds at a time. He couldn't hear or see anything, and the darkness — or lack of any stimuli at all — didn't help him stay conscious, he supposes. That, and the kind person said something about him needing his sleep, saving strength?..

"Me? Kind? You're so messed up, kiddo, you've no idea…" they respond immediately, almost as if they waited for him to think something. Anything.

"I was," the voice confirms. "Not much to do without your consent. It's your body I possess after all. The negativity wants some action though, so not sure I'd be able to resist much longer. You're the warrior, not me."

The warrior?.. What are they talking about? It's just him. Weak, stupid, worthless him. He couldn't even do one job right. Now all's lost 'cause of him.

"Hey, none of that! From what I gathered from your memories, you're pretty amazing! You went through hell you didn't deserve yet never once stopped to even wish your tormentors harm. And you love your brother more than anything. It's admirable how loyal you are. You're definitely a much better person than I ever was. You are intelligent, too. It's not your fault that no one taught you to stay away from the golden apples. The previous guardian could've warned you two, at least. She's the adult, you two are mere kids who didn't know better. We don't even know if it's a lost cause yet; Dream got that last golden apple, after all. And the Multiverse hasn't collapsed yet, so that's good, am I right? Maybe the balance is upset, but we don't even know that for sure. It'll be okay, I'm sure we'll figure something out. You always do. You're smart like that."

Nightmare thinks he would've blushed if he could. Maybe cried, just a little; it's the kindest words he's ever heard not from his brother, after all. He has all the reasons to do just that.

You really think we could do it?..

"If not us then who?" they ask in return. "But first we should do something about the rampaging negativity. It's getting restless. You think I could go to a universe or two spread some fear and chaos?"

They really could just go and do whatever they want, now that Nightmare has no means to access his own body — or what's left of it, anyway. Instead they decide to stay and ask permission. To communicate. It's… exhilarating, somewhat. Nightmare's never been given the choice before. Even if it's not much of a choice this time — either he goes with the voice's plan or the negativity takes hold of the both of them, which is… less than desirable. Its mindless cruelty would destroy the last remnants of hope they have. No, they can't afford to lose control even for a moment. It's a team effort.

"Damn right it is! I won't let you down, kid. Promise."

It's so weird to share every thought with someone he barely knows… How does it even work? Nightmare can't hear their thoughts, after all. 

"No idea. Magic, I guess, and maybe something to do with me being the one in control. Maybe, if you were the one controlling the body, I would be the one with all my thoughts out in the open? Although I do hear you quite distantly, if you don't concentrate on getting the message to me. It's mostly background noise."

Good to know. It means if Nightmare ever gains control back, he likely wouldn't be too distracted by the voice. As great as their company is.

"Aw, I like you too, kid! And I'm rooting for you there. As nice as it is to have the ability to walk and talk back, it's your body, and you're very much alive to have it. To be honest, some part of me hoped you wouldn't make it after all; then I'd have a body of my own…" Anxiety and pain pierce through Nightmare's mind; do they really want him gone? "Stop that! Don't get me wrong, I just… it's hard being a tree after being a human, you know? And I'm really not all that kind. Or nice. Or… good in general. I'm a selfish piece of crap, you see?"

It feels like they want to continue that string of thought, but Nightmare doesn't let them. You helped me, he thinks in the smallest of voices. Possibly saved my life. So no. I don't see. 

They laugh; it's a light-hearted, warm kind. "You are obviously a sweetheart. How those jerks didn't see it is beyond me. They got what they deserved though. Now's your turn." 

What do you mean? 

"Freedom, of course! Not complete, you're stuck with the negativity for now, but… Even that's not so bad. We're strong now, you know? Can do whatever we want, as long as the negativity is satisfied. And we're about to find out what we need for that. So, am I to go cause some havoc? You in for a ride, kid?"

There's no going back, Nightmare thinks, as confidently as he can, might as well go forward. Let's do it. 

"Great! I don't have a certain plan yet, but I can feel the negativity from the worlds around ours so that's something. Probably might help with moving around?.. No idea yet. What do you think?" 

Hm. Let me think. 

The negativity of the other worlds, they say?.. Perhaps they could indeed use it. As a road, maybe? Or a beacon of sorts. Something that shows the way. It's amazing that they might be able to travel the worlds, especially considering Nightmare's never been far from the Tree, ever. The mere idea is fascinating, even though he wouldn't be able to see or hear anything. One day he would, and that's what he chooses to focus on. The future isn't all dark. There's something to look forward to.

I think you could try pulling the negativity. Not too hard, just enough for it to show itself for you to follow its path, Nightmare finally concludes. If that doesn't work, they'll just try something else. If only things always were this easy as they are with this person… 

"Worth trying at least. Let me just… oh." 

What? Nightmare asks, nervously. 

"It's weird. Like I know where to go. How to go. But I haven't the slightest idea! It's like my own mind moves ahead of itself. Is it what they call intuition?" 

Nightmare doesn't know how to answer that. Besides, he doesn't feel anything at all, and the description isn't the best. Would be hard to theorise. 

"It's okay though. You don't have to have all the answers, you know? I'll just do what feels right, I guess. Then we'll see what happens next." 

If anything changes, Nightmare isn't able to feel it. He's completely detached from reality, it seems. It's scary, this void where basic sensations would have been normally. Is he even alive? How can they be sure he is?.. 

"Don't work yourself up, kid. We don't want a panic attack, do we?"

They're right. Nightmare shouldn't give up. I think therefore I am, was it? That means he's alive, and he's not alone, and together, they'll figure this out.

What happened? He asks, uncertain but determined. 

"Well, we did it. Your advice worked. We're in a different world. Congrats to us, I guess." 

They don't sound too enthusiastic though. 

"That's because I'm not. Cautious, more like. It is a new world, after all. Who knows what dangers await." 

That's fair, Nightmare guesses. He focuses, How exactly do you think it worked? Can you do it again? 

"I'm really not sure, kid. But I'll try later. Let's investigate!" 

They don't have a plan, but at least they don't rush into it head-first. Good enough, as far as Nightmare's concerned. 

Can you see anything? Anyone? 

"You know what? Not… really. It's dusty here. And eerily silent. Monster dust?" 

The thought makes Nightmare sick. Yeah, this person possessing his body just killed everyone in the village, there's bound to be human blood and monster dust, but… they escaped their wrecked world. Why should anywhere else be the same? Is it wrong of him to wish for something less… destructive?.. violent?.. He doesn't know what word to use here. It's not like it matters. There's only one person he can share it with, and they hear his thoughts mostly unfiltered. 

"Oh hey, I see someone!" they call out after a while; Nightmare isn't even sure if they were moving around or stayed in the same place. "They don't look too friendly though."

Are they the source of the negativity that led us here, then? Nightmare asks, just to be certain. 

"Sure thing, kid! There's no one else anyway, it seems." 

That's… good, Nightmare thinks. If they're already distressed enough, nobody needs to intervene. Nobody needs to get hurt. 

"Should I approach them?" the voice asks, somewhat gently. Genuinely caring about Nightmare's opinion. 

Do they look safe? I don't want a fight when you have no idea what you're capable of. We should experiment before trying anything, don't you think? 

"You know what, you're right. Approaching now is just asking for trouble. I'll stay low. Thanks for keeping me in line, kid. This whole situation is a mess." 

I'm a mess though, Nightmare chuckles unhappily. Way messier than all of this. If it weren't for me, we wouldn't even be here. 

"Well, yes, but also, for me, it's nice to have a body again. And I didn't have to kill a kid for that. We co-exist. So there's that. It's good, isn't it?" 

And it is. It really, really is. Nightmare doesn't want to die, no matter how bad everything seems. He's depressed but not suicidal. He has Dream, and the kind voice believes in him, and there's a Tree to fix.

But for now, while the voice feeds off of this world's negativity, Nightmare allows himself to drift away to sleep. If he hopes to ever gain access to his body, he needs all the energy he can get.

"Rest, kiddo. I'll be there when you wake up. We'll find a safe place and run all the experiments you can think of. Get to know our limits and all that stuff." 

It's a promise.

They'll figure it out. One way or another. But certainly together.

It's… nice to finally not be alone. Pride shines through uncertainty and doubts — he's already helped, and so fast, too! So there's that, as the voice said.

There's that.

。。。

Notes

Nightmare and the voice interacting in this fic is the best thing to happen to me, I swear to gods. I love Nightmare and the voice's interaction in general, be it positive or negative, but here? Such a treat. Perfection. I love those two with all my heart. They deserve the world.

。。。

Navigation

First | Previous | Next

#anfie writes #each other's lifeline #nightmare!sans #passive!nightmare #the man's voice

[myuminji]

"Smile, Vash!"

#trigun #trigun maximum #vash the stampede #nicholas d wolfwood #vashwood #myuminjiart #I want a reunion that's a MESS. incoherent sobs. words reduced to babbles #clinging to each other like they're each other's lifeline #trying to mold into each other like clay #''smile Vash'' ''smile Nicholas'' but none of them were fucking smiling and just bawling their eyes out #bcs god knows how many times they ever dreamt of a time they can be peacefully together and now is the time and #i was listening to I hear a symphony if it helps u get why i drew this

[itachanta]

Vash's face when he was reaching for the rope Meryl threw at him is hilarious.

Bonus:

#trigun #trigun stampede #vash the stampede #meryl stryfe #girl you throw lassos like a pro #where did you learn to do that #also #i love how that rope is used throughout the show #first meryl catches him #and even saves him with it #in this scene #and then is vash who saves her from knives #like a lifeline between the two #and the rope is also among vash's things in the cover of the vol.1 of the bluray #so i guess is an important parallel & detail? #we know orange doesn't do things without reason #they save each other in different ways #and that's what makes me feral about those two #vashmeryl #tristamp

[thankstothe]

uh-huh

#house md #gregory house #james wilson #hilson #screencap #s02e06 “Spin” #s06e08 “Ignorance Is Bliss” #somehow im not surprised #*liveslugreaction* thats how i feel #whats the term #foils? #mirror? #matchmadeinheaven? #you boys go and surprise each other #Wilson actively sacrifices everything to have House in his life #and House's only lifeline he can't abandon is Wilson #thats not even diving deep into it #jesus christ #potent brainrot

[schmweed]

#David Tennant #Alec Hardy #Ellie Miller #Broadchurch #my gifs #S2 was so heartwrenching but beautiful -- the whole Sandbrook thing must have become a lifeline to Ellie #and her work on it became a lifeline to Alec #What extraordinary intimacy and mutual trust while STILL being non-friends in the traditional sense this must have been #non-friend best friends partners who don't pry but have seen each other at their super private lowest of lows #AND been there for each other during those private lowest of lows #while still operating like they weren't friends at all. extraordinary. #What a beautiful story Chibnall weaved!

[demonicbaby666]

Homoerotic fanfic save me

#swanqueen #merthur #supercorp #jemily #yeehan #moicy #I’ve been clinging to ships like they’re my lifeline #it’s actually wild #no one will ever be there for me like my 100 opened unread tabs of gay men and women fondling each other #(:

[demigods-posts]

picture this: chiron grants annabeth permission to bear the curse of achilles. she goes with nico, bathes in the river styx and returns to camp. before she can inform percy, she is immediately thrusted into battle. percy is fighting at her side and he wants to ask what's different about her. before he can, he has the overwhelming urge to block annabeth. he gets stabbed and falls to the ground. annabeth screams for the enemy to stay the hell away from him and chiron rushes percy to wherever will is. as soon as she has the time, annabeth rushes to find percy. when she does, they lock eyes from across the room and an understanding passes between: they are each other's lifeline.

there has to be a fanfic out there like this. the parallel. the percabeth. the sound of me screaming with delight in the corner.

#percy jackon and the olympians #pjo #pjo text post #pjo headcanon #annabeth chase #percy jackson #annabeth chase bears the curse of achilles #percy and annabeth being each others lifeline #percabeth textposts #percabeth headcanon #percabeth being amazing

[buckleysbegin]

eddie fell unconscious in the well and the first thing that flashed through his mind was a memory of buck asking about christopher....buck slipped into a coma dream and the first real thing that flashed through his mind was a memory of eddie having his back.....and when I was shipwrecked I thought of you. in the cracks of light, I dreamed of you. it was real enough to get me through.........

#they're literally each other's lifelines. how am i supposed to cope with this #911 spoilers #buddie #m

[buckleydiazmp4]

me watching tlou episode 7

#ellie and riley holding hands!!!! closing her eyes and feeling like the universe has gifted her with this night with her best friend #(and crush) #ellie coming back down to joel and absolutely decided to heal him and be with him for as long as they're both alive #and closing her hand over his!!! their fingers overlapping and telling each other that they are there and they're not going anywhere!!!! #joel reaching his hand up towards ellie's face with wonder and disbelief and so much love!!!!!! #joel holding onto her arm when she stitches him up!!! finding his lifeline to claw through the pain!!!! #it's about THE HANDS!!!! #the last of us hbo #the last of us #tlou #tlou spoilers #joel and ellie #ellie and riley #joel miller #ellie williams #bella ramsey #pedro pascal #storm reid

[revvethasmythh]

There’s a really interesting parallel between Veth, who killed someone loved by others (the goblin leader) and felt like she deserved to suffer at the hands of his wife for it, and Caleb, who obviously felt like he deserved to suffer after killing people he loved. The impetus of the feeling is a bit different, but it left both of them feeling like they deserved the pain and their abysmal lots in life. Kind of makes it more significant that they eventually allowed themselves one real comfort—each other

#specifically in the pre-canon #the inception of that relationship is so significant for both of them #they literally could not go on without another person. they became lifelines for each other #anyway love this for them #I don’t know how much this made sense but also I don’t feel like rereading to check #my citation of veth feeling like this is from the comic btw she says it outright #mighty nein origins: nott the brave #veth brenatto #caleb widogast

[anfie-in-the-box]

Bonus: crossover between Each other's lifeline and Turns, twists, and paradoxes

Notes

So it's my birthday today, the 11th of October. I don't celebrate, not really, but why not use it as an excuse to give you lot a gift. I appreciate my readers quite a lot, so... Here you go, have this, enjoy (:

For context please read Each other's lifeline and X-tra Dark Cream first!

。。。

In a dream

There is a void. There in that void also are a Dream and a Nightmare. Both carry the curse of nine hundred ninety nine negative apples. The problem is, they are not in fact each other's brothers. It's rather obvious — only one twin is supposed to be affected by the curse. Yet here they are, both cursed, both with only one good eye, both covered in the liquid negativity. The two do not realise that yet, though. Both don't know much about the curse, despite their various circumstances.

They stare at each other. Silence is deafening.

"...Dream?" Nightmare finally says. He sounds distressed. "What happened to you?"

"What happened to you?" Dream replies, shock and fear in his voice and on his face. "I've taken the curse from you, you were as fine as we get! How is it possible?"

Nightmare gasps, "What?! No... No, wait, hang on."

Your brother wouldn't do that, Mist insists when they catch Nightmare's attention. He'd never separate us. He knows we've got it and he believes in us. This is either an imposter or another version of Dream. Both are possible.

Nightmare nods, thoughtful. To Dream, he says out loud, "We think you aren't my Dream. Or I'm not your Nightmare, that works both ways. You are Dream, right? It's not an elaborate joke slash torture by my subconscious?"

Dream looks at Nightmare for a few long seconds, then finally finds it in himself to make an introduction, "Shattered Dream. You can call me Shattered or Dream, although I reckon you'd prefer the first one to distinguish me and, apparently, your Dream. Has he not lifted the curse from you? And what do you mean we?"

Nightmare shifts uncomfortably and looks this strange other Dream in the socket, "He has not. There is no need. Mist and I have it handled."

Dream takes a step back and looks around. He doesn't see anybody else.

"Who's Mist?"

Nightmare stares at Dream as if the other'd gone mad. "You have the curse, you must know them. The man's voice connected to the negativity? Rings any bells?"

It's Dream’s turn to gasp, "Are you delirious?! Nightmare — my Nightmare — says he's the enemy! He's what took him from me!"

"I'm not delirious, thank you very much, I'm from a different universe. That seems to be the difference — my Mist helps and supports me from the beginning, while yours... does not." Nightmare can't make himself call them evil or anything like that. "Do they... he... really harm you?"

Dream crosses his arms defensively, "Well, I... Personally I've never heard him, no idea why, but brother says he's dangerous and he's dealt with this mysterious person for centuries, so I trust his judgement."

I know I'm not a good person, Mist laments, but I'd never hurt you, kid. You or your brother.

I know, Nightmare assures. Out loud, he says sincerely, "Mist is the best thing that's ever happened to me, along with Dream. I don't know if I'd make it without him."

"Fascinating," Dream whispers, more to himself than to Nightmare. He continues louder, "At least one of us has it easier."

Nightmare can't help shuddering, "I can't imagine a world where Mist isn't my friend, family even."

Dream looks at him curiously, "Don't you ever fight for control?"

Nightmare answers readily, "Absolutely not. We're both okay with taking the back seat when the other needs control. At this point we switch easily, although it does take practice. Are you sure yours is evil?.."

"I trust my brother," Dream repeats vehemently. Nightmare stirs, "I didn't mean to imply..."

"I know you didn't," Dream assures. "You're a version of my brother. I trust you as well." He adds, much quieter, "Possibly more than myself." It's honestly disturbing — trusting a stranger more than himself. But it is how it is.

"I suggest we sit down," Nightmare says. "Let me look at you properly. Maybe I could even help."

Dream gives a silent nod, and they do indeed sit down. Nightmare watches his every movement, attentive as ever. The liquid negativity is of different colour than his own; Dream’s soul — the last positive apple — affecting it? Perhaps so, perhaps not.

I think yes, Mist adds. Or at least I've no other ideas.

Me too, Nightmare thinks. "Can you form the tentacles or shape-shift?"

Dream shows his tentacles from the back without a word. He doesn't shape-shift, though. "My Nightmare said to avoid shape-shifting and do it only if necessary. Don't know why, but then again, he's the expert. I'm getting the hang of it, but it's still a process," he explains, crossing his arms on his chest defensively.

"Okay?.." Nightmare's not sure how to respond to that.

They sit. They watch each other, both with sinking dread somewhere deep within their cursed souls. Dream's worst fear seems to come true — both he and his big brother are corrupted, his sacrifice is in vain. Nightmare, on the other hand, meets the unthinkable — his little brother, corrupted like him. For him. It's hard to even imagine, and yet here Shattered is.

"Would you like to meet Mist?" Nightmare proposes suddenly. Dream gapes, taken aback by the mere suggestion, and then shudders as the thought sinks in.

"I would like that," he says bravely. He urges himself, Pull yourself together, it's not the same demon whom your brother fears so much. He's good. He might help.

The switch is subtle, unnoticeable almost. Dream watches carefully, though, and that is why he sees it nonetheless. The eye-light darkens a shade, and the negativity suddenly seems just a little bit thicker on Nightmare's bones and clothes.

"Hey," Mist says in Nightmare's voice, somewhat awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you?.." Dream replies in an uncertain, half-questioning tone.

"Nice to meet you too, Shattered Dream," Mist nods and offers a hand. "You must have questions."

Dream takes his hand, not allowing himself to hesitate. "Yeah, questions... Nightmare's still there?"

Mist chuckles. "Still a kind soul, I see. Good for you, hold on to that light. Nightmare's alright, although he can't hear or see or feel anything at all, except for me. Or, well, he can at this point, but this kind of sharing gives us a headache, or an equivalent of it, I suppose."

"That sounds... complicated." Dream mutters. He doesn't comment on the "still a kind soul" part of Mist's words.

"It is! But it's been centuries, we've got it figured out and under control. The negativity is insatiable, but we find our ways. As do you, I guess?"

"You guess right," Dream nods, quiet and ashamed. He's yet to come to terms with what he has to do to survive, and somehow he feels he can show it before Mist. Now that they talk it's surprisingly easy to trust them; their voice and tone are... not exactly kind, not really understanding, but there's something comforting about them. Dream lets himself.

Mist becomes serious. "The worst part is that I completely can imagine myself being your enemy. Personally I would never hurt Nightmare or Dream, but if I were just a bit more ruthless, mad at everything for my death and under the negativity's influence... Sounds plausible. More than. And it's scary to even think about. I could've made Nightmare's life even more of a hell than before the incident... I want him to be happy, you know? He's gone through so much. He deserves it."

"That's certainly one thing we can agree on. That's why I bit that apple — I just wanted to free my brother, although I didn't think he'd be alive under all this negativity... I let go of that hope long ago. But despite everything, he persevered. So must I."

"You thought he was dead? Wait, no, of course you thought that, after all, he was supposed to die, my Nightmare survived solely because of my support, at least we think so, but yours didn't have that if your version of me is evil... Something else must have interfered. We'd do research but we're in the middle of nowhere... It's not even Anti-void, right?"

Dream looks like he's in a daze. He was supposed to die, spins in his head. It's nothing new, and yet, yet…

"Right," he snaps back to… reality?.. "I live there, I should know."

"Hm. Might it be a dreamscape?"

"You think we're sleeping?" Dream clarifies, surprised.

"Either that or our Multiverses collapsed together, and I'd prefer the first option," Mist shrugs.

Dream shakes momentarily. "Me too," he agrees.

They sit in companionable silence.

"Be careful," Mist finally cautions. "I can be vile if I want to. I'm positive… he… can too. Are they 'he', still?"

"You aren't?" Dream asks, a bit surprised. Although this strange version of Nightmare did mention Mist as 'them'…

"I used to be a man, once." Mist nods, quiet and serious. The words fall easily from his — their? — mouth. "Not anymore, though. I am… a spirit, or a demon, whatever you wish to call it. An entity connected to the negativity in the apples. I barely identify myself with the human I used to be, especially not after all this time, and that also helps me to be a better person than I was. I suppose your version of me clings to the memories of his life and therefore feeds negativity, getting more attached, ultimately drowning in it. That's what would've happened to me if not for Nightmare — the kid managed to save us both, and I'm forever grateful. He'd disagree and say it was a group effort, and he'd be more right than I am. We both didn't fall that day."

Dream listens in awe. Mist sounds nostalgic, reminiscing, and honestly too perfect to be true. Dream would think them deceiving, but he trusts his brother, any alive and sane version of him, and this Nightmare in turn trusts Mist. So here they are.

"Stay strong," Mist adds. "I'm sure you and your Nightmare will find a way. In such a state I'd be as strong as negativity, which is an insane amount of strength, but you two are more than this. You can do it. You're the only ones who can."

He's genuine to a fault and so very open with Dream, it hurts. It warms him to the core, too. It's an amazing feeling he usually feels beside Nightmare or, on occasion, Cross; it's something he treasures dearly, keeping every moment in his heart.

"You're definitely something else." Dream murmurs softly, more to himself than to Mist.

"So are you, new friend. I'm not sure if we'll ever meet again, but my Nightmare says it's time to wake up. So wake up."

Dream wants to ask what they mean, but then he hears Cross' gentle voice, urging him to return to what people call reality, and he indeed wakes up. Without a goodbye or 'See you later'. Maybe it's better this way.

Cross smiles at him, and Dream decides not to tell what he saw in a dream. Let it be their little secret, just the three of them — he, another Nightmare, and his companion Mist.

Nightmare and Mist wake up as well, in a castle filled with life and misery and comfort. The clock shows it's still early, but neither wants to sleep anymore. Without discussing it, Mist leads them to the library, the quietest place in the cursed world they once called their home. Later, Nightmare will take control and contact his brother, but that will be later. Both need time to think over.

Life continues on.

。。。

Credits

Dreamtale © jokublog

Shattered Dream © shattereddreamsau

Mist © me (anfie / anfie-in-the-box)

#anfie writes #each other's lifeline #x-tra dark cream fic #bonus #crossover #nightmare!sans #shattered!dream #mist!voice

[heartfeltletters-written]

James and Sirius are so codependent it gets scary sometimes and that's why the teachers would separate them when they got detention. Prongsfoot even platonically is very boderline you need to go to therapy because wdym you can't be separate from each other for more than 5 minutes.

Lily also never had qualms in sharing James she's just the IT girl.

#harry potter #james potter #sirius black #marauders #prongsfoot #best pals who cant survive without each other in a totally platonic way #sirius and james are each others lifelines #i will die on this hill #no one ever was as important to them as each other #with the exemption of harry maybe #he was a child after all and jame's son so yeah he's above all else #but besides him? no else you best believe

[bylerisc4non]

I'm telling you right now I know without a doubt in my mind that the the most reassurance Mike ever got in his WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE was when from Will when he said he too feels like he's going crazy. And every heart-to-heart after that. Because I know damn well if this boy felt like he was going crazy and Will didn't relate to that at all and was just like, "Oh...you are crazy, Michael," then Mike would've never opened up in his entire life, ever again, end of story.

We clearly see in this scene that Mike rambles about his feelings of being insane and then tries to play it off kinda as a joke, as he chuckles and shakes his head saying he feels like he's going crazy. He tries to pretend like it's no big deal but it's clearly eating at him.

And then Will also feels like he's going crazy so he opens up and tells him he feels the same way. For Mike, this may be the biggest relief, not because he's really happy his best friend is also borderline losing his mind, but because he's not alone. Because when you're...crazy...sometimes you feel like you're alone. But Will makes him feel like he's not alone at all. Like he's better for being crazy, and that gives him the courage to fight on.

That's why Will is even more of Mike's go to for heart-to-hearts from Season 2 and beyond because of this interaction. Because Will gets it. Mike also does similar things like deflect and play his emotions off as stupid like in the van. But you know who reassures him again that it's not stupid? Will. And then he gives him a fucking painting to show how not stupid and important and valid and amazing Mike is.

I'm sorry (not really) but Mike never got that from El. El wasn't that for Mike. She never got it like Will did. Will understood without words. El needed everything to be said, enunciated, and clearly written, which, mind you, isn't a bad thing to need at all. She deserves that. She's just not going to get that from Mike who feels like his feelings are stupid enough in his own head without even portraying or saying them.

So, yeah, Mike needs Will, and he always will. Because Will his home. Will is safe. Will reassures him. Will comforts him. Will always knows what to do or say when Mike doesn't.

No one can tell me the feelings Mike Wheeler has for Will Byers are platonic after this, because they just aren't. Mike would happily spend the rest of his goddamn life playing games with Will in his basement because that's enough for him. Because Will's enough for him. Will who validates his feelings and tells him he's the heart. But what Will doesn't realize is he's just as much Mike's heart as Mike is his.

#byler #crazy together #nobody validates mikes feelings more than will #will understands mike so he doesnt have to use words because will just gets it #will is mikes home #will who shows mike his importance #will who tells him he's not alone in feeling crazy #will who tells him he's the heart and he's always going to be loved and needed #will who is mikes goddamn lifeline and the most precious being in the whole world to him #nothing is more powerful than these two's relationship #once they realize the importance of their ability to make each other feel like they're better #then it's over for vecna #st 5 is gonna be a hell of a ride #they give each other the courage to fight on

[schmweed]

#David Tennant #Alec Hardy #Ellie Miller #Broadchurch #my gifs #Oh poor Ellie and poor Alec. If anyone hugs her she'll break apart and she can't afford that #even though she needs it badly #He keeps trying to comfort her. I love how he wants to offer it so badly #In the S2 finale he's visibly concerned abt her and so crestfallen when he asks 'Handshake?' #They really were each other's lifelines huh. Two unbearably lonely souls except for each other.

[galecstatic]

shut up you can't just say mike is will's heart and will is mike's light SHUT UP @+&$+&"!?!!?!?;;;::

#byler #will byers #mike wheeler #Y'ALL THEY ARE EACH OTHER'S LIFELINE

[fluffypotatey]

S5 Dark Merlin is very "mark me down as sad and horny" bc Merls bby no, but also yisssss.

I can very much see him as being mostly beyond all that moral agonising he used to do and now just goes straight for the most efficient solution, and if that happens to be murder, oh well. But at the same time he's still has a sense of morality.

Like, if he found out a lord or whatever was abusing his wife, Merlin, basically an assassin and a physician in his own right, would just poison the mf

s5 dark merlin is something that can be so personal

#he is the shadow puppet in the sense that he is the one who holds a knife to your throat the moment you lay in your bed after conspiring #a coup against his king. he's the shadow nobles talk about in hushed murmurs to each other fearing that it will hear them #(merlin always hears them) #merlin stood by while he watched arthur be led astray by agravaine and watched as it broke his king to pieces #merlin says never again #never again will he watch as his king and best friend be manipulated or tricked by high ranking nobles who seek nothing but power #never again will he let another person use gwen (his first friend and queen) as a way to get to arthur because how DARE they undermine her #never again will people walk over and harm the people he loves #he has stood by long enough and watched as lancelot died twice as freya died too young as will died lying for merlin #never again says merlin as he turns his back to the rest of the cruel world and clutches his loves ones like they're his lifeline #(they are of course they are) #bamf merlin #bbc merlin #merlin emrys #s5 dark merlin will not hesitate #dark!merlin