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oh-katsuki · 3 months

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a little zombie apocalypse katsuki!au drabble. my twd rewatch is giving me many thoughts...

cw: apocalypse au, reader is alone, mentions of death, implications of child death, grief mentions, reader is described as a "little thing" but that's more just the way katsuki talks, katsuki is a little gruff but he means well, guns, weapons, general apocalypse thoughts, mentions of zombies but we follow the "never call them a zombie" rule, katsuki and reader meeting for the first time, etc

the light of your fire is dim, embers burning low as you sit in a foldable chair beside it. you've got a metal spatula in your hand. you're not sure why you grabbed it when things went to shit, but panic does weird things to the mind. this, along with a few other oddities, are all you managed to take from your house when the world fell to ruin. everything else are things scavenged along the way or from people you'd met, joined, and lost.

the night is near silent and trees creak and crack like the hulls of great ships under heavy pressure, but the birds don't sing and nothing in the crowded wood you're taking shelter in makes a sound. well, except for you and the gentle crackle of your fire.

your head is on a swivel. it has been for months. ever since the outbreak, ever since the dead rose and began consuming and infecting the living, you've kept watch. a paranoid, never ending cycle that you suppose—if left on your own—will burn itself out. you swallow thick and return your attention to the fire, watching the tree line just in front of you for any hint of movement or monsters.

a branch cracks just behind you. a swift sound, followed by rapid footsteps. you stand, quickly turning your head, only to see a a figure a few feet away from you. they move quickly and the dancing light of the fire obscures their features from view. their eyes, most importantly. you can always tell if someone is dead or alive based on their eyes. in this light, should this stranger have that milky white film over them, you wouldn't be able to tell.

you make a small noise, something between a whimper and a shout, as the person comes to a stop in front of you and holds a gun directly between your eyes. the living. this person is alive. you're not sure at this point if encountering one of the dead would have been worse.

"drop your weapon," he says in a hurried voice. it's aggressive and threatening. it comes from deep in his chest.

you raise your shaky hands to your head quickly at the order, screwing your eyes shut as if looking in theirs would be a cause for attack.

"i-it's not a weapon!" you shout, voice cracking. "it's- it's a sp-spatula. it's a spatula."

the words are rushed and heavy, fear seizing your chest as you look down the barrel of the gun. the firelight glints off of it and you can make out the person behind the barrel's features. he's big, blonde under the grime, you think. a man. not the best thing to encounter alone at night in times like these.

you see him hesitate for a moment, eyes darting between you and the silver kitchen item in your hand. you drop it quickly.

"do you have a weapon on you?" he questions, voice a little less urgent.

you shake your head in response and then shakily look beside the chair. there's a knife there and a pistol with no bullets. you're a poor shot and you'd run out of ammo the previous week. he glances to it, the gun still raised at you, and sidesteps to grab them. when he does, he cautiously lowers the weapon. you start to lower your trembling hands.

then, as if struck by some realization, the man stomps towards the fire and you jump as he does.

"the fuck are you doing lighting a fire?" he says angrily. "those things may be dead, but they can still fuckin' see. that's a good way to get yourself killed."

he stomps out the fire as he talks, urgently stamping out what's left of the low-burning logs.

"i- i didn't think there were many in the area," you justify, furrowing your eyebrows as you step away from him.

"and that's a risk you want to take?" he says indignantly. you wonder briefly what business he has worrying about you.

"what do you want?" you snap, "my food? weapons? life? what is it?"

the man scoffs, "jesus, none of that."

you narrow your eyes and take a step back.

"not all people who camp out in the woods are good," he says. "but i sure as shit didn't expect to find some little thing like you alone lighting a damn fire. stupid."

"there were more," you say indignantly, like somehow that makes it better. "force of habit, i guess."

the man pauses for a moment as understanding passes between the two of you. it's a relatable feeling. everyone has lost someone now. you just happened to lose everyone.

"got a name?" he asks.

you hesitate in giving it to him before deciding what it could hurt. the man nods as if he likes the sound of it.

"i'm katsuki," he furrows his eyebrows. "you're alone?"

you nod, swallowing down the grief that pushes at your throat.

"wasn't always," you respond, "but yeah. now i am."

he nods his understanding.

"come with me."

"where?" you say instinctively, a defensive edge to your voice. katsuki looks at you like your stupid, or maybe it's pity, like you're a wounded animal. probably both.

"where the fuck do you think?" he retorts. "we've got a camp a little ways from here. i saw your fire from one of the watch posts we have stationed around the place."

you look at him like he's a little crazy for even thinking to bring you there.

he scoffs and rolls his head over his shoulder. "look, we've got men and women," then he pauses, "used to have children. we're not gonna hurt you. world's gone to shit, do you really wanna keep at it alone?"

he's probably right. you've been alone for weeks now, exhausted for longer, and though your common sense tells you not to go off with a strange man in this kind of world, the promise of community is far too tempting. you nod and glance back to your camp. a measly collection of supplies.

"we'll come back for it when it's light," he says. "i don't know about you, but i'd rather not spend longer in these dark ass woods than i have to."

"okay," you say. the presence of another person both sets you on edge and makes you feel the fatigue even more. a gun's barrel on your nose followed by the promise of safety and you're going with him? you must be stupider than a horror movie protagonist. "do you take in a lot of strays?"

katsuki looks over his shoulder and you think you see him smile a little at the phrase.

"if that's what you want to call it," he says begrudgingly. "me less than the rest." then, with a softer tone of voice, barely noticeable with the quiet whisper you both have been speaking at. "i'm sure the others won't mind one more."

#bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugou x reader #mha x reader #tw: guns #tw: weapons #tw: death #tw: child death #i like this a LOT #i wanna talk abt it more #pls come talk to me about it if you'd like i have so many thoughts that i wanna share #mha zombie!au #<- that's my tag for this i think

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stevenrogered · 1 year

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The three of us discovered this really great rhythm and dynamic in the first one. And then they sort of throw it off course in the best way.

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bananabluff · 1 year

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comfy

#bumbleby #rwby #i like this a lot

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bluewinnerangel · 10 months

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Wembley 2022 / Wembley 2023

#i like this a lot #i also think its funny he looks pinkish in the first pic and yellowish in the secon like it fits the clothes lkdjdk

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toofypigeon · 9 months

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i'm done "work in progress"-ing :3

#i like this a lot #my sister made me write e/dance #skyward sword #tloz #skyward link #art.png

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tennant-davids · 1 year

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SUCCESSION

This is how it is, huh? Dad on one side, you guys on the other?

#succession #succession hbo #successionedit #tomgreg #successiondaily #tomgregedit #*laurengifs #succession spoilers #i like thiiiiiis #i like this a lot #also where did tom get those trainers lmao #and why are they walking so close #all reasonable questions

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not-yet-asleep · 8 months

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e y e b a l l

#i like this a lot #:)#the magnus archives #jonathan sims #tma #tma podcast #the archivist #jarchivist #digital art

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sophfandoms53 · 1 year

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This new Sonic Prime clip hit me right in my Sonic and Tails brotherhood loving heart

#this clip is everything to me #THEY are everything to me #Deven and Ashleigh’s delivery is so good #i can’t wait to hear everyone else’s characters #also the writing is very good too #this feels so natural and heart warming #and the pacing is nice #i like this a lot #i have so much more that I wanna talk about #it’ll take me a bit but I’ll get there #sonic the hedgehog #miles tails prower #sonic prime

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stealingyourbones · 2 years

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What if the reason the JL never find out about Amity Park is simply a Comedy Of Errors. Constantine told Flash to not go there the first time they got a call because something very powerful and very magic lives there, so send a magic user instead. Flash told Cyborg to reroute all calls from Amity to their Biggest Megic User, aka Captian Marvel. Cyborg does so, assuming Cap will notice on his own. A week before this happens, Billy's phone got broken while he was helping Hal Jordan with something. Billy got a new phone and couldn't figure out how to change his number in the database and Aquaman told him he would take care of it once he finished what he was doing. Billy thanked him, put his number on a piece of paper, and left. WW saw a folded up note that a breeze had knocked off the table and simply tossed it in the garbage. Without the paper, Aquaman forgot changing the database was even a task.

6 months later all Amity Park calls are still going to a non existence number.

Oh god that would be SUCH a sad and hilarious fic to write. Flipping in between the League’s perspective of just fucking up ever so slightly so they forget and Amity slowly becoming hell on earth because of the lack of extra help

#danny phantom #dp x dc #dpxdc #dc comics #writing prompts #dp x dc prompt #bones replies #sneersnake #I like this a LOT

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schnaf · 2 months

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impromptu hair stylists ♥

#xdinary heroes #gaon #jungsu #gun-il #ode #jun han #kwak jiseok #kim jungsu #koo gun-il #gunil #oh seungmin #kwakoh #gunsu #jungjun #i like this a lot #gunil taking care of both his neighbors #ode taking his job very seriously #hyeongjun mustering the courage to help jungsu #cutieees ♥

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minxie-lynxie · 2 months

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Me: Wants to join a Magi discord server All the magi discord server invite links: Invalid Me:

#>:0 #that's the face #i wanted to both express my frustration and post this #i like this a lot #but also i want to join a magi discord server so bad #magi the adventures of sinbad #magi labyrinth of magic #magi the kingdom of magic #magi discord server #PLEASE

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crossover-enthusiast · 20 days

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first things first, obviously, the cult.

×××

lets go to skiddad first.

ok. so, lilas husband. my guess is that throughout the years, he has been raised into cults. i imagine he became rather rebellious of this, and tried to abandon that life.

though, became too caught up, and eventually tried to get lila involved, POSSIBLY resulting in his death from fear from lila that he'd try to involve skid. my guess is skiddad is the right hand man of eyes.

theres not much i can grab there, BUT i think its worth noting the mannequin and the spiders, and how theyre probably related to skiddad. the mannequin is seen moving and/or trying to prevent people from escaping or hurting lila (sm6, sm5 where bob tries to catch her)

but, thats all i really got for him.

×××

now, bob velseb

judging by this picture, i like to think bob came from a more wealthy family. though, this can just be him in a business meeting, or some other formal event.

my personal idea, is that he was raised in a wealthy family, and eventually left home to go venture outwards and find some quiet peace in wherever-the-fuck-sm-takes-place. small town n stuff.

there, he worked at boys & grillz, selling to kids all around town, and specifically lila. now, to me, its not exactly clear how or why bob got into cannibalism. from what i see, its not exactly a metaphor for anything (besides like, idk, the fact his name is a pun on beezlebub, gluttony) and my only guess can just be the cult. or he was just.. hungry LMFAO

but, what i find the most interesting, is that bob couldve been a family figure (or family friend) to lila. which could explain the theory i have, that lila is the one who caught bob and put him in jail in the first place. theyre close, and lila accidentally digging too deep or stumbling upon bobs secretive cannibalistic tendencies can explain why he went out to kill her (sm1). once thrown back in prison, having help of the cult, he escaped again and tried to hurt lila AND her child, but once again, failed. (and ended up getting fucking killed in the process)

also, i like to think that bob was.. probably found at a low point with his cannibalism, and given a chance out to join the cult. idk. he probably escaped on his own in sm1 though

his role does not seem clear to me, but i like to think he was skiddad's right hand man, and once he died, bob took his place. i mean, in my eyes, he must atleast be in some high authority.

×××

mr clown

not even gonna lie, not too much on this guy lmfao 😭😭

though, it is known very well that he kidnaps and kills kids (unlike frank, who most likely.. just holds them for ransom tbh.) as suggested in pelos doodles (obv theyre not usually canon, but i feel like.. this one kinda is)

hes most likely of high authority/ranking in the cult, but is then killed off by jack. oops! (jesus, jack has a streak of killing cult members.)

×××

eyes

my favorite one to explore so far, eyes. i love eyes, specifically because of the fact we know NOTHING of their ability and their reasoning of why they inhabit this earth. to me, theyre a parasitic alien. sent, or either just out of hunger to drain the planet. i like to think that they desire to grab the human race, and put it under their control. whether it be hatred, for sadistic fun, or just for their own satisfaction. maybe controlling humans factor into their feeding. who knows.

anyway, thats where the cult comes in. tricking and playing with humans, eventually getting skiddad to lead all these people along.

my idea of eyes powers, really comes down to this. this is only what we have seen throughout sm2-sm6

-stunning, dazing.

as seen to pump, kevin, hatzgang, and gregor.

-changing humans eye color when an inhumane presence is spotted or near.

this isnt tooo important, but i think it should be added. though, unknown why bobs eyes changed. could just be his relation to the cult.

-spectating through the stars

eyes is seen throughout the episodes looking out through the sky, this could be that they are fond of skid and pump, and want to see what danger they could be in. or, theyre just curious of the two little guys' lives.

-manipulation, brainwashingggg, hypnotizing?

this is kind of a stretch, but in the end credits, and in the end of the episode itself, gregor bows to eyes and most likely put under their control. end credits wise, gregor is seen with moloch, being held up while the cult is around them. gregor could be used as a tool to summon demons and eldritch creatures alike to help take over the planet. or wreck havoc. or whatever.

but other than that, thats my idea of eyes. thumbs up.... i wonder if they can die? otherwise everyones screwed lmfao

×××

john and JD (johns daughter)

johns daughter is teased through pictures and drawings. it is either thought she died in the housefire in sm4, or was kidnapped, and is currently being held hostage. i like the held hostage situation better, because it adds greater stakes.

we dont know much about her, but she seems to be a bubbly young girl, and john is grief-stricken once he loses her. also, i feel its implied that he is divorced.

my idea, is that multiple cult members helped with the operation, and kidnapped JD while she was sleeping.

see, this is good (on the cults end) for multiple reasons.

while it doesnt remove john off their trail, it does deteriorate him with the loss of his child. though, if anything this makes him more determind to stop the cult.

BUT, they burned the evidence too, he is now rather powerless unless he gains all his evidence back, which would take a while.

idk. i imagine the cult try to bargain with john. and why i think of this, is because of the little poster thats likely to be a spoiler/hint for future episodes.

i mean, long hair, tealish smoke.. it could be JD being possessed? and john having to pick and choose between getting off the cults ass, or having his daughter back (and alive). shrug. thats just my theory.

×××

ignacio

heavily implied to be with the cult, and implied to be the one who burned down the house, its also likely he called the cult on gregor.

also, if anything, ignacio seems to be of somewhat.. high ranking or authority. or in the medium range, as he was assigned to burn johns house down. he is the one of only cult member(s) that we know of alive. others include candy dealer, the thieves, and possibly gregor.

not much about him tbh. old ass man.

×××

gregor

not much with him either, but its likely hes brainwashed to be apart of the cult and help along with their goals and stuff.

×××

skid (and a little bit of lila)

now, this is awesome because theres a very clear tie to skid and the cult. especially with skiddad and stuff.

we know from sm2, that skid is immune to eye's stun/dazing, so this can easily lead us to the fact that skiddad was connected to the cult a little before skid was born.

also! i wanna make it super clear with how lila tries to erase skiddad from everything. countless photos torn apart (specifcally of skiddads face), even ones in the attic.

lila seems to be awfully protective of skid, fearful of the cult in its entirety, but also mournful of what her husband had become. and having to possibly murder him in fear and protection of her and her son being involved.

×××

the thieves and candy dealer

now, holy shit, i was NOT expecting the thieves to be apart of the cult, but it does make sense. my idea is that they were sent to rob lila's house specifically so that they could retrieve anything of skiddad and cult related stuff.

their failed attempts seem to be irking candy dealer, and he gives them a good warning before going away. tbh. these guys are silly dumb dumbs. i love them.

ALSOO, that spider. right. do you think that was skiddad trying to scare them away....

candy dealer, i have no idea what the fuck is going on with him, (besides him. like. being a drug dealer obviously) but hes definitely of good importance. its nice to see him ^_^

×××

the cult necklaces

i feel its worth mentioning these, as they seem like a bind to those in the cult.

i think me and @deadbatzz talked about this, but we had this idea that if anyone was bound to the cult (whether by necklace or just joining), theyd be like. sent into purgatory, no release from life, just frozen in this half dead and half alive state. yeah. (though, dexters another story, as he was like. possessed and then murder in their own body. AND not to mention the happy fella dolls, but those arent part of the cult.)

×××

closing, and one final theory.

i saw this a while back on a comment, and for the life of me i dont think i can find it. i know it was probably on a video that pelo didnt make, but related to spooky month.

the theory is, is that the cult is powered, or just has some significance with candy.

eyes is seen eating candy in sm2, and bob is seen stopping multiple times in sm5 to eat candy. while this could just be him having a sweet tooth, i like the idea of it being much more. he even gives up literal victims for candy.

woofh. but yeah, thats... all i kinda have? sorry jf this didnt help for anything of trying to figure out whats going on with lore, but it was fun to spill my knowledge.

Oh my god dude this is fucking sick!!!! I love everything about this! I don't really have much except

Eyes/the cult having a thing with candy?? That... makes far more sense than it should, especially now that we know the CANDY Dealer is part of the cult. I like this a lot

Also the thing with Bob. The idea of him coming from a wealthy family is honestly really interesting, especially with how his house is in such a state of disrepair in Tender Treats

Him being a father figure to Lila is honestly the most gut punching, because like?? Imagine learning this man you looked up to for years is a serial killer! AND IS NOW TRYING TO KILL YOU!!!

Genuinely I want to know what the fuck happened with Gregor at the end, bc according to the ARG hub he went "missing". Apparently he wasn't even in the town for that long anyway, so like??

Just. A lot to think about.

ALSO I was thinking of them using John's daughter as a bargaining chip!! That makes too much sense! Though tbh I just don't want her to be dead-

#Spooky Month #Skiddad #Lila #Bob #Ignacio #Skid #Thin Thief #Fat Thief #The Candy Dealer #Hope #Theory #Analysis #Fave #I like this a lot

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popcornaddict500 · 2 months

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Some first meeting...

Liv and Leander, prologue scene rewritten. Olivia is the Hound.

2900 words ~

NOTE: Olivia's curse is different than the one in the game. I decided this for fun. :)

----

Olivia steps inside the Wet Wick, her nose crinkling. Is this really where Kuras sent me? It stinks of stale alcohol in here. She doesn't like it much.

Briefly, she hesitates- but then she enters. A bunch of patrons wearing green cloaks are sitting at the tables, laughing rowdily and arguing amongst eachother. One of them is passed out in the very back. The bartender is nowhere in sight. The lighting of the place is rather warm, though. The floor is slightly sticky and stained from spilled drinks.

No 'Leander' in sight... I doubt that arrogant-looking fuck would show up here anyway. She rolls her eyes. The posters painted Leander as this high and mighty 'hero' or something. I bet he's got a piss-poor attitude.

Might as well drink something before I go. Olivia attempts to find a seat but most are occupied except for the bar seats. But before she can sit down, a racket starts.

"Show! Show! Show!" The cloaked patrons start to shout. Olivia looks up, gasping when suddenly all the cloaks rush from their seats and to the center of the room, dragging her along with them. "Hey! Watch it!" She hisses.

They don't hear her protests as she''s swept into the frenzy. This is too many bodies, way too close. It makes her want to claw out like a cornered animal. Someone roughly pushes her aside and she swiftly smacks them over the head. "You sorry piece of-"

Suddenly a new voice joins the mix, as someone strides across the table.

"Seriously, you dogs? Again?"

The chants have calmed down, and is replaced by reverent murmurs and intrigued laughter, as they look up at the individual getting closer.

Olivia squints at him.

A thick trench coat, broad shoulders, gloves. A dagger earring dangling from his left ear.

"This really is the last time, alright?" He says. Olivia is a little spooked by the hushed silence that suddenly falls. She stomps on the foot of a cloaked person who's standing way too close for comfort and they scamper off, grumbling under their breath.

Olivia can't seem to drag her eyes away from the man's face, more specifically his eyes. Seems I've found Leander... What's with this guy?

"Don't blink, or you'll miss it." Leander says with a warm laugh, and lifts his hand to snap his fingers.

Olivia squints at the flash of pale green light that fills the room. That's no trick, that's real- a mage?

He flicks his wrist, and like it's nothing, the light flows into the delicate shape of lillies, held between his fingers. It's more beautiful than she'd like to admit. He presents the flowers to the audience with a flourish, which results in clapping and cheering. Olivia shrugs and claps along.

Leander turns in a slow circle, eyes sliding over the audience, "Now who could use some good luck?"

Pretty much everyone wants the flowers, it seems. Some reach for them and others watch with bated breath. Olivia tenses when Leander's gaze finds hers.

"How about you?"

Olivia swallows thickly when he leans down and offers the flowers to her, and only gets more uncomfortable when everyone stares at her. Hesitantly, she reaches out and takes them, wincing as the stems 'crunch' a little between her gloved fingers. They softly glow and feel ever so slightly warm against her fingertips. Just as quickly as they appeared, they disappear in a flash of little sparkles.

"That's the problem with flowers. They never last long, but they leave an impression, right?" Leander grins at her.

Olivia doesn't smile back.

After it's all said and done, Olivia finally escapes from the crowd. Leander shoos the 'Bloodhounds' back to their tables, and just as Olivia's about to go over to him, he looks at her. She hesitates, but sits next to him at the bar when he waves her over. She moves away from him as much as possible, as not to feel his shoulder against hers.

"Is this your first time in Eridia?" He asks, green eyes glittering in curiosity.

"...That's right." She gives him a sideways glance. "Why do you ask?"

"I would have remembered seeing your lovely face around Lowtown." He responds, charmingly.

Unwillingly, Olivia's cheeks darken. "Good grief..." She mumbles under her breath, staring at the counter. How on earth am I supposed to respond to that?

The bartender approaches them, and she sighs in relief.

"What can I get you?" They ask Leander.

"Surprise me, and add anything my friend wants to my tab."

Olivia crinkles her nose at him. Bastard, I don't need your pity. "Just water." She groans, rubbing her face. This'll be a long day.

Leander leans his elbows on the counter, eyes fixed on the cloaked woman sitting next to him. Olivia stares him in the face, noting the dark shadows around his eyes and the scar on his face. Though his eyes also roam her figure when she finds her eyes wandering, she pays it no mind- she wears coverage over nearly all her skin for a reason, including her leather gloves. There's nothing that can give her secret away.

"So, what brings you to the Wick?" Leander asks warmly, that smile returning to his face.

She leans on the counter. "Kuras told me to find you."

Instantly, Leander's expression sours a bit, soft-looking lips pursed in an annoyed way. "So it's about work..." He pushes the hair back from his forehead but it's futile as it falls right back into place.

The drinks arrive, and he fixes his expression.

"Very well. How may I assist you?"

Olivia hesitates. Maybe it would be better if I looked for something outside of the Senobium... But what?

"I need... I need a solution." She mutters. "To a big problem. I heard the Senobium might be of help."

As soon as the word leaves her lips, the patrons quiet briefly, then look up in anger and disdain, angered shouts erupting from the crowd. Even Leander frowns.

"Who's mentioning the Senobium in here?"

"Get lost!"

"This ain't your place!"

Olivia winces, tensing up.

Leander groans and turns to the crowd. "Keep it down, will you? This is business." he says simply, and surprisingly the Bloodhounds listen, returning to their drink and only casting wary glances Olivia's way.

"Sorry about that. We, uh- don't talk about the Senobium in here. Kind of a touchy subject, you know?"

Olivia stares at him, the corner of her lip twitching in agitation. "Right."

"Maybe we should continue this outside?" He offers, getting up.

"Fine."

---

Olivia is more than a little relieved to be out in the fresh air, even if it's in some dark alley with a charming bastard who's, honestly, kind of getting on her nerves.

Leander leans against the wall. "So- If you've spoken to Kuras, he must have told you about the Senobium. Yet you're still thinking they could be of service?" He crosses his arms, looking at her.

Olivia sighs. "I don't know what else could help me with my problem. All I heard when I was outside the city is that if you need something important, that's your best shot. I'm just... surprised at the hostility everyone seems to have towards that place."

"With good reason. The Senobium is dangerous, as Kuras said. It's doubtful whether they'd even help you, anyway." He frowns, glancing off to the side. "You don't want to get on their bad side."

"That's not how I heard it was, at all." Olivia frowns. "Isn't it supposed to be a sanctuary, a place of learning?"

"Maybe it used to be, but it certainly isn't now." Leander sighs, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "They want you to think they're perfect. But things that are too good to be true are often just that."

Olivia blinks at that last bit.

"I wouldn't waste my efforts trying to get into that place. You'll just hurt yourself."

So what now, then? Did risking my life coming here mean nothing? She feels a gross taste bubbling up in the back of her throat.

The charming smile returns to his face, though. He clears his throat. "Though I'm sure there must be a solution to your problem, no?" He claps his hands and grins. 'That's why Kuras sent you to the Bloodhounds. Let us help you. We can hunt Soulless, find people, recover valuables- just name it. And free of charge."

Olivia frowns at him, the colour of her eyes briefly shifting to black. "Doesn't sound like a sound business practice to me. Everything has a price." She crosses her arms over her chest. "Besides, I'm no damn charity case. A bunch of good Samaritans pretending to be heroes won't be able to help me."

Leander seems a bit taken aback by the hostility. But he straightens himself out.

"Mm- then your problem must be fairly serious. You did say it was a big problem..." He hums, before his green eyes find hers again. "And if your first thought was to go to the Senobium, I'm guessing you're dealing with something magical in nature."

This is going in the territory of 'more info than she'd like to give' and she doesn't like it. Of course, information is deeply valued in this city. Maybe I have no other option.

"...Right."

He nods slowly, as if he'd already expected this. This ticks Olivia off no small amount, and she finds herself gripping her coat harder.

"I'd be happy to help you out, if you tell me what ails you," He offers, expression calm and easy.

Olivia grimaces. She doesn't like this. She doesn't like it one bit. Her shoulders tense, her jaw tightens.

I can't trust him. I can't trust anyone. But he is a mage... And kind, despite how I've been treating him.

She sighs deeply. "Tell a single soul about this and I'll gut you."

He laughs and nods, flashing her a brilliant grin. "Alright, alright."

Liv finally turns to face him fully. "I am cursed."

"Cursed?" He raises a brow in curiosity. "Now I'm very curious. Something ancestral or more recent?" He smiles.

Olivia bares her teeth at him. "If you're going to make fun of me, we're stopping this right now."

"That- wasn't my intention, I promise. Sorry." Leander swallows thickly, looking away.

Liv continues, still glaring at him. "...It's my hands, my skin- the second I touch someone, they-" She pauses when her voice starts breaking, trying to force herself through it. "They... decompose. Decay, if you will."

She flinches a bit when he starts pulling his glove off. He flexes the fingers from his left hand.

"Let's see it," He says with a smile, and offers his hand. A prismatic flash gleams across his palm.

Olivia feels the hairs prickling on the back of her neck. "I cannot." She winces, stepping back.

Disdainful of most people as Olivia may be, she's not about to turn someone who seems like a good person into a heap of rotting flesh. And he may be confident, but then again, so were the others in the past who assumed they could help her.

"Believe me, do not take this lightly," She warns him, her irises now fully black, out of stress and concern.

"I'll be fine. Perhaps where you came from, your affliction was rare and one of a kind. But spend a year in this city and you'll see countless curses and countless cures." He frowns, "Do you really think Kuras sent you here if I couldn't handle it?"

Olivia grits her teeth. "I only met him today. I'm not about to trust a stranger's judgement without question."

He smiles. "I'm as good as any mage in the Senobium, I promise if they can help so can I."

"You don't know what you're asking me." Olivia grimaces.

"I'm asking you to trust me," He says.

"Trust you?" Her eyebrows raise in surprise, but then she scoffs. "You're a goddamn fool, trying to make someone whom you met 20 minutes ago trust you blindly." She groans. "But fine- have it your way. If you end up as rat fodder, don't blame me."

She pulls off one of her gloves, slowly. The blackened, unnatural skin appears, and she nervously clenches her fist. Leander holds out his hand again, smiling invitingly.

Olivia glares at him one last time, looking in his eyes, which oddly enough has him glancing away, his cheeks darkening.

"Ready when you are."

This is a terrible idea. She stares at his hand, before reaching in.

Her fingers hover over his hand. She swallows and hastily taps the centre of his palm, before pulling her hand away and closing her eyes.

When there's no sound of pained screaming or the gross squelching of rotting meat, she opens her eyes again- to see him smiling warmly, unaffected.

For the first time today, Olivia's harsh expression is overtaken by one of surprise and shock.

"See?" He's entirely fine... and the warmth in his smile is infectious.

Olivia is silent, eyes wide. She reaches out again and slides the pads of her fingers over his palm, his fingers, his wrist. He catches her wrist before she can pull away and she looks at his face.

"There's really nothing to worry about..." he says softly, cheeks dusted with a faint blush. For a few seconds, Olivia just keeps her hand in his, fingers resting on the soft, warm skin of his wrist. She stares at their hands blankly.

Then, out of nowhere, her vision becomes blurry- and tears streak down her cheeks. Her body shakes, and she sucks in a sharp breath, trying to pull her hand away- but he doesn't let go.

Olivia turns away, and furiously wipes her face with her other hand, trying to stop the tears from flowing.

"Damn it- sorry- it's just-" She gasps, feeling a lump in her throat. I've never... it's... this can't... be... Her eyes flicker from being black to her normal peachy colour, in an erratic manner. This- this is too much.

Leander is silent, and doesn't comment on her tears- something she's grateful for.

Finally, she manages to drag her eyes back to his hand holding hers. Still holding one hand over her mouth, she strokes her fingers over his skin, feeling every detail. The subtle ridges in his palm, the bumps of his knuckles, and the raised scar starting down his arm.

"...Am I the first person you've been able to touch like this?" He frowns a little.

Olivia gives a tense nod, her hand going still on his arm. "The first person I've... touched at all, in a very long time." She mumbles, internally cursing herself at the way her voice trembles.

He blushes, glancing away from her, "I admit, your touch does make it... difficult to keep level-headed... but it's not because of your power."

When she doesn't respond, Leander smiles gently and takes her hand, pointing to the diamond shaped pin on his coat.

"Look, we match."

She manages an unsteady smile, and pulls her hand way, hastily pulling the glove back on. She wipes at her eyes a few more times, now feeling embarrassed and humiliated to be seen like this by a stranger.

"...I can't believe it worked." She mumbles under her breath.

"May I ask your name?" He smiles.

"...Olivia."

Leander hums in thought, pulling his glove back on. "You were right to hide this from me, Olivia. That curse of yours... it's unlike anything I've ever dealt with. I can tell you're discreet, but you'd better not go showing that off to anyone else."

Olivia crinkles her nose at him. "Wasn't planning to." But showing you is fine?

"Are you staying in Lowtown?" He inquires, looking at her with a grin.

She pauses. I could ask if Adam has a room at his bakery... but I doubt it. "...I don't really have anywhere to go." She admits.

"Let's get you settled, then." He smiles, and before she can protest he leads her back into the Wick.

Back inside, Leander turns to the bartender. He asks if there's any rooms left, to which they slide him a key.

"You know I always keep the corner room free for your escapades," They say, looking used to this by now.

"I- right, and I always appreciate that, but-" Leander laughs, though it's a bit strained.

"Escapades, huh? If I knew you had such intentions I would have ran." Olivia jokes lightly, which makes him blush even darker.

"No, no, you're mistaken- this is just for my friend Olivia."

The bartender doesn't look like they're buying it, waving him off with a 'you two have fun' before disappearing to do their own thing. Olivia crosses her arms and regards Leander with a pointed look.

"...I can't pay for that."

"Don't worry about it, it's on us."

This makes her frown. "...Sounds fishy."

Leander laughs. "Consider it my treat for sharing your secret, alright?"

She doesn't trust this much, but it's not like she has another choice. She sighs and takes the key. "Fine." But then she smirks at him, "I better hope I don't find anything weird in there."

Once again, he flushes. "Ahm-"

"If I find a drawer full of sex toys, I swear-"

"You won't! You won't. D-Don't worry."

"Ah, right. You need to use them at home too, I got it."

"Olivia, please."

"Fine, fine." She raises her hands. "Thanks for the room."

He smiles warmly and nods. "Go explore, Olivia."

----

As she wanders off, his words echoe in her mind... 'But if you need a reprieve from what haunts you, come find me.'...

Maybe I will. Maybe.

#charlie's writing #touchstarved writing #touchstarved game #touchstarved #touchstarved leander #touchstarved oc #touchstarved mc #olivia #I LIKE THIS A LOT #ugh #told yall I would eventually finish it

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