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#it's so long
misticfog · 7 months
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Tumblr in Polish looks so fucked like
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Polacy: Moi mutualsi uwu
Tumblr: Osoby, które odwzajemniają twoje obserwowanie :)
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simplyavatrice · 1 year
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let me photograph you in this light (in case this is the last time) - final chapter
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 It’s been four months since Ava’s been back, yet she’s still not used to waking up in pain.
 It’s disheartening, to open her eyes every morning and feel the first ache of the day. Like each night might magically make everything go away.
 She can still remember waking up in the morning, twelve years old and forgetting she was paralyzed. She never was in her dreams. She could run, jump, swim, sometimes even fly. She’d dream of playing with kids who had no faces. Riding on bikes and climbing on jungle gyms - laughing and being a child.
 She would wake up each day and for thirty seconds or so, she was still that little girl in her dreams. Happy, healthy and able to do whatever she wanted.
 Then the room would suddenly become familiar and she couldn’t reach up to wipe the sleep from her eyes.
 So many mornings were spent crying. Trying to stay as quiet as she could. So she didn't wake her roommate, so she didn’t get any of the nun’s attention. They would never offer her pity - no. She was lucky, according to them. Fortunate to have their time at all - to have anyone putting in any effort to keep her alive.
 She would cry, then turn her head to brush her cheeks on the pillows and dry her tears.
 If any of them ever noticed how red her eyes were on those mornings, they never said anything.
 Now, she’s here and she isn’t paralyzed, but her body is still not right. It’s different and somehow entirely the same.
 That same thirty seconds exists where she’s okay, before reality sets in and another hard day lies ahead of her.
 At least here she can move, and it isn’t Sister Frances waiting for her each morning.
 Instead, it’s Bea, who is already out of bed and shuffling through their apartment.
CONT on AO3
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iamthecomet · 1 year
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Com- if you’re still taking requests and should feel so inclined a lil rain Aether comfort for your fellow unholy trinitier? Love you Kay bye smooch
Anything for you, Kro. ♥
Something's up with Rain. Admittedly the water ghoul has had a harder time adjusting to life topside than any of the others. He's always been a little shy, reserved, distant. Aether tries to involve him in more things. To make it clear that he is welcome, that they want him here. But Rain always keeps his distance. He stays on the outside of ghoul piles, always in a position that means he can slip away in the middle of the night. On movie nights he sits on the floor next to Mountain, close enough to touch but not actually doing it. He curls into himself instead knees draw up to his chest, chin pressed to his kneecaps as he fixes his eyes on the screen and doesn't look at anyone else. But today is different--worse. Aether doesn't want to seem weird. He watches all of them like this. He can feel them all, his power connecting him back to the world and his pack. Despite Rain's self-imposed distance, he lives in Aether's chest, connected.
So, Aether knows when it's normal and when it isn't. Today, isn't normal. The usual calm ebb of Rain's existence feels tense, roiling, a deep sea thunderstorm.
Rain doesn't finish his tea at breakfast, or his food. He takes two bites of his lunch.
He misses every single one of his marks during rehersal in what seems less like forgetfulness and more like non-compliance. He plants himself halfway up the steps between the keyboards and the drum kit and stays there. He plays flawlessly. But he doesn't move. He doesn't look at anyone. Aether thinks about going over to stand near him, to check on him, but he watches as Dew tries to do the same thing. Aether hears the growl Rain emits from where he stands. Dew snarls back, but doesn't get any closer. And Aether doesn't push. Not yet, not here. Not in a room full of expensive equipment. Sister will have him sent back to the pit if he's the reason Rain floods the room and fries everything.
He lets it simmer. The whirling that is Rain in his chest, turns into a maelstrom. Rain doesn't say a word at dinner, he pushes his food around. He pushes his chair back just as Cumulus starts talking about the movie they're going to watch tonight, and leaves. Not bothering to look at any of them as he does. The table descends into silence.
"Does anyone know what that's about?" Aether asks. There's pain now, where Rain resides in his body. It's a dull ache, insistent. Aether looks around the table, at a series of worried faces. But no one has an answer. Even Mountain, who is usually privy to more of the water ghoul's thoughts than anyone else just shrugs. "He was fine yesterday," Dew says unhelpfully. Aether pushes his plate away. "Don't wait for me for the movie."
He goes to Rain's room first. He gets no response when he knocks. The door is unlocked when he tries it, and the room is empty. Rain's boots and coat are gone. Aether leaves the Abbey. He finds Rain at the lake. He's sitting cross-legged on the edge of the dark. Moonlight casts over his form, catching in his dark curls. Aether half expects Rain to get up and bolt as soon as he knows he's there, but he doesn't. He doesn't move at all except for his body to sag down, shoulders curling into each other as Aether gets closer.
"Rainy--"
"You don't have to do this," Rain cuts him off. His voice is flat, cold. Aether sits down next to him, their knees bumping as he does. "Do you want to talk about it?" "There's nothing to talk about." Aether looks over at him. Rain's eyes are fixed on the lake, on the reflection of the moon on its glassy surface. "I can feel it, you know." "Feel what?" Rain asks, his voice is dull like he's asking out of duty, not because he actually wants to know. "You. All of you actually. Right here," Aether rubs his chest absently like if he presses hard enough he will feel them branded into his skin. "So, I know you're lying." Rain huffs out something that could almost be a laugh, there's cynicism in it. He still doesn't look over. "I don't belong here." The words send a shock of pain through Aether's chest, like just saying them is splitting Rain open. He believes them, wholeheartedly. Aether reaches for him and then stops, unsure if that's going to help or make it worse. "You do." "You don't have to come out here and talk to me out of pity you know? I know it's all a lie. You just put up with me, all of you, because you have to. You can tell me the truth." Aether does touch him then, reaching out to put his hand on Rain's knee. He half expects Rain to pull away. He doesn't. But Aether can feel how cold he is under his hand. He can feel how hard Rain is shaking. "Rainy, we love you." Rain scoffs. "You don't have to do this to make yourself feel better, Aeth. It's fine. I can handle it."
"Look at me."
Rain turns his head to face Aether, it's slow. Aether immediately realizes why when he sees the unspilled tears in Rain's eyes.
"It would be better if you stopped pretending you wanted me--"
"We do want you," Aether squeezes Rain's knee. He puts his other hand on Rain's cheek. Rain closes his eyes. Aether can feel the way he fights against leaning into it. His heart breaks a little more. "You do belong here. We love you. You're part of our pack. You're one of us, Rain. You always have been."
"I suck at it. I don't know how to--I can't do what you all do with each other. I can't fall asleep watching movies curled up in between you all. It's not--my thing."
"That isn't a pre-requisite for us to love you. No one cares about that. Give me your hand." Aether takes his hand from Rain's leg and holds it palm up.
Rain hesitates, but listens, sliding his hand into Aether's. Aether brings them both up to his chest. He places them right over the place Aether feels Rain the strongest. Directly in the center of his chest. Aether focuses on it. He tugs on the strings that attach him to Rain. T
He doesn't have the words to make him feel better, to make him believe that he belongs here. That Aether loves him with every fiber of his existence. Rain is a part of the universe that is Aether, and the easiest way to prove that is to show him. Aether closes his eyes. He grips Rain's hand a little harder. He latches onto the power in Rain's body, and he pulls.
Rain gasps, lurching forward as if Aether pulled on him physically. And then, he goes silent. Aether knows he can feel it--that he can feel all of them, wrapped through his body like lifelines. A circuit. A solar system. "I'm...Aeth...that's--"
"I would never lie to you, Water Lily," Aether whispers.
Rains tips further forward. His forehead bumps into Aether's. All Aether can smell is petrichor. All he can feel is Rain. He opens his eyes to meet cerulean blue eyes, searching his. Rain's hand flexes over his chest. "It's so much," Rain breathes. The churning in Aether's chest has calmed, less frantic. Close like this, connected, Aether can feel Rain's awe, the shock. Aether tugs on the connection a little more, just to try to open it up a little. Rain lets him--either because he wants to know more or because he's too stunned to resist. "I don't know how much of them you can feel," Aether whispers into the small space between them. "But I can give you this, just so you're sure." It's easy to funnel a piece of himself into Rain. It's the same muscles he flexes for healing. Rain's hand grips tight at his shirt when he does it. His eyes go wide.
"Is that...you?" "Yes. So you'll know what I feel, for you. You don't ever have to doubt that I love you. That I want you. That you belong here. Magic doesn't lie."
Rain sags into him, forehead slipping off of Aethers to thump down onto his shoulder. Aether cuts the connection, and he drags Rain into his arms. Stroking one hand up into his hair, dragging through the curls as Rain shudders against him.
Aether knows it's a lot, maybe too much. Forcing that connection, shoving himself into Rain's chest like he wanted to make a home there, it's an overstep. But it was easier than trying to talk through it. Dew carries a piece of him too, from a night just like this. Aether would give himself to all of them if he could--just so they could experience one-eighth of what he does. So they could feel the strength of their bond, the permanence of it.
Rain clings to him like Aether's a liferaft. "I can still feel you." Rain rubs absently at his chest, his voice breathless against Aether's neck. Aether nods. "Now you'll never have to doubt it again."
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luimagines · 3 months
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That Dragon au Part 6
You already know what it is! @cafecourage Here you go Bestie!
It’s a bit of a filler chapter but it lines up for things later on in the story. :D
Masterlist
First Chapter/ Previous Chapter/ Next Chapter
Content under the cut!
Chapter 6: Family Bonding
Warrior looks back to Enno and Wind and hesitates. Between his instinct and his duty, he doesn't know what to do.
He looks at Twilight. "Watch them. I'll be back. Don't leave this room. Don't let anyone come in."
He leaves.
Twilight sighs. "Time already went with Wild. Like I said."
The Rancher moves further into the room and sits on the edge of the bed. "I wouldn't even know where to start. But Wild is the fastest of us and Time is arguably the most powerful. I just hope he doesn't do something he's going to regret."
Enno sighed and moved over to Twilight, leaning on his back to comfort him. “It’s out of your hands now. You both did your best.” 
They didn’t know what else to say. “FD… is a loose cannon but the times that I’ve seen Time use him, it’s always been for good. He even told me that the deity doesn’t do evil unless the user wants it. So… I think it’s fine.” They try to get the hang of their scenting ability. Stumbling, they wanted to comfort both of their apparent new family members with their own scent.
Wind relaxes in their hold and his sobs turn to quiet sniffles.
Twilights leans against them, wrapping his arm around their shoulder. "I'm not going to hear what happened to you while we were gone until much later, aren't I?"
Enno smiles and purrs now that they’re surrounded by family. “Nah I can tell you. Cia went crazy this morning right?” 
Twilight nods joining in with the purr, letting Wind feel warm and safe. “She basically had an adult temper tantrum, I tried to do what I do best and poke the beast. But I played a stupid game and won a stupid prize, so to say. Which was me getting blasted with magic. Zelda and Lana had to regive me a Hylian form and so here we are. Still looking for a permanent fix though.”
"She turned you into a dragon?" Twi asks, wide eyed.
"I didn’t know that was even possible." Wind sits up and curls onto their lap, resting against them.
Twilight stays quiet for a little before he speaks again. "That still doesn't fully explain what happened to Warrior’s wing though. "
“I actually don’t know either. I think he tried to protect me from the attack.” Enno relaxed into Twilight some more. “I’ve basically just got my Hylian form back so we’ve been just resting. Both of us are very sore after the whole ordeal. And I’m slowly waiting to freak out about it all. I had questions because he was talking about claims which was what Cia got pissed off over.” They shrugged. “How was your day aside from the Time thing. Do anything cool?”
Twilight snorts, rubbing his hand over their shoulder. Enno can smell something new coming from the spot he rubbed, telling them that he's claimed them as his own as well. "Of course she did. Warrior has been wanting to court you for a while. Cia probably got pissed that it wasn't her in the end."
Wind sniffed. "We went shopping and Wild went to play a game and lost. Twilight went to play and won and Wild wanted to try again. That's when Time passed us like a man on a mission and a license to kill."
Enno couldn’t help but giggle at being claimed. The smell was tickling their newly sensitive nose. 
“I’m sorry Wind I’m not laughing at you.” They nuzzled into the Sailor. “I’m really stupid happy to have you guys claim me?“ That was a question, not a statement. They weren’t really sure of what it meant even when they tried to explain their giddiness. Their purring got worse. 
Wind hums and hugs them tighter. "We're family now. We belong together."
Twilight nods, agreeing. "We protect our own."
“Did you win a prize at the game?” They tried to continue the conversation despite their bubbly attitude.
"Only Twilight got a prize." Wind laments. "Wild was determined to go so he took my turn and then Time said we had to come back..... I hope that dragon gets what's coming to him."
"Wind."
"What? He's stupid. He deserves it!"
"You two-" Enno sighed, "I'll try to win you that prize Wind. Once I'm allowed to leave the room." They weren’t really sure when that would be since Warrior hadn’t seemed keen on letting them go on their own. "That or I can make you something."
Wind shoots up. "Really?!"
The door opens and Warrior walks in, fully hylian.
He looks somber.
Warrior looks up and smiles the best he can. "They got 'er. She's in the medical bay... she uhhh.... wasn't so hot... quite cold actually. They're going to hold her there overnight just in case. Impa is already into the investigation. It's safe to assume that the noble is dead."
Enno turned back to him, standing up putting Wind on the bed curled up with Twilight. They walked over to Warriors and pulled him in, closing the door. They lead him to the bed, getting him to sit down and sitting next to him, hugging him. "Well what happened, happened. It will be ok."
"I don't know all the details." Warrior admits. "I don't know where Time is and Wild is too busy stuck in his head to answer questions."
He sounds tired. "Impa will be back after the investigation. I'm sure we'll hear the full story by morning, knowing her work ethic." He sighs. "I bet I could guess though."
Enno looked over at Twilight and Wind. "I guess it's time to turn in for the night." I said sadly.
"Wind, let me know what you want me to make for you." They slowly rubbed Warrior's shoulders for him to relax, trying to do the same thing with the scent as with Twilight and Wind.
Twilight didn't argue with that, standing up, "I'm going to check on Cub." 
"Can I stay here?" Wind asks.
Warrior relaxes at Enno’s touch, putting his hand on Wind's shoulder. "Please do. I don't trust Cia even with this commotion."
He leans into Enno some more and begins to purr. He gives a half hearted salute to Twilight as he leaves. Warrior adjusts himself so that he's holding on to the both of them. Wind doesn't hesitate to follow suit.
"Honestly I was going to hope for a small walk outside of the room." Enno sighed, petting Wind's hair. "But you both need cuddles and love." They gave Wind a forehead kiss then reached up to kiss Warrior.
Warrior kissed them back without hesitation. "Thank you. It's just for today, I promise."
Warrior cards his hands through Wind's hair and leans back against the bed. "Today has been a mess."
They let out a soft chuckle, moving so Wind was in the middle. Enno tucked both of them in after they were ready. 
"Tomorrow is another day, so they say." They got in after reaching out so they could hold both boys. They notice Wind dozing off and smile. "Good night Sailor." 
"Night night." He accepted his fate and curled up into Warrior. "Night dad."
Enno had to cover their mouth before they started cooing over the cuteness.
Warrior freezes for a moment before he simply huddles closer into his bed. "Goodnight Link."
Somehow, Warrior manages to move and grasp Enno’s hand, bringing it up to kiss it. “Goodnight, My Love."
Enno snorted. "I'm not going to sleep anytime soon." 
They reached over to cup his cheek. "I'll watch over the both of you again. This time I won't open the door again." they ruffle his hair. "Good night Dad of the Year. I hope you have dreams of the future.”
"I'd say good night to you anyway." Warrior snorts. "Will you meet me there?" He grins, relaxing into your palm. "It can be in the future or in my dreams, I'm not particularly picky."
"As long as our kid can be as good as Wind." Enno whispered back, teasing him more. "I don't know what you have planned. But if I do manage to be in your dreams, I can assure you that you’re not having a nightmare. I am going to fight whatever that is hurting you."
"At this rate, Wind might as well be our kid." Warrior grins. "But I don't mind that future. Sounds quite nice actually."
He giggles a bit, giddy and boyish. He seems so unburdened at this moment. "I think I love you."
He looked at them with the softest gaze, trying to keep a low voice. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about you.... We'll take care of each other. I'll protect you and you'll look after me. Sounds almost too good to be true."
Every comment of his hit them right where it counts and they became as red as his scales.
"Shush you." They looked away as best they could. "But... yeah, that sounds really nice. Why don't we have a family day tomorrow? Wind said that there was a game he was playing. He really wanted the prize but Wild stole his turn."
Warrior hums running his hand over their skin. "I can't make any promises, Love."
His gaze turns sour. "I might need to bail Time out of whatever stupid decisions he's made. Not to mention the amount of paperwork this could undoubtedly cause.... But I can always try. Not every case falls to me... It just... might."
Warrior sighs and flops onto his pillow. "Why am I always bailing him out?"
Enno tried to not look disappointed, "I don't know..." I looked at Wind. "Do you think it's possible to meet us in town just for a bit?" 
They weren't holding out hope, but at least they can bring Wind around to have some fun. "I think it would be for the best if we all had a break from the castle. But I know you're a busy man, so I would be happy just to see you for a few minutes relaxing."
Warrior smiles. "You make it sound like we've been married for a while already."
He stretches and they feel his hand and nails trace over their back. "I'll try. Maybe I can pass it off to someone else this time. I want to go."
They had to stop themselves from keyboard smashing verbally to not wake Wind up. They tried to calm themselves down. 
"Well I mean we have a young teenage son already." They tried to tease back but were way too flustered for it to land. "Do you think it would be safe for us to go out?"
"I suppose we do." Warrior hums, thinking about it. "Knowing Time? That dragon is dead. Knowing Cia? Maybe not yet but I'm tired of her anyway. We don't have a lot of time left here in my era. It would be nice to show you the city and people within."
"Then let's hope that things are better tomorrow." They said, still not convinced that Warrior would let the work go to someone else. "If you don't come out, I'm going to start buying or making you gifts for your horde."
Warrior shifts in the bed and wraps his arm closer around them. "You know what... I'd like that but I don't think you'll do it."
He smirks tiredly. "Wear the headband when you go out. It'll be easier to adjust than the scarf. Remind me to give you some rupees too." He yawns. "Just so you can go get something nice for yourself... and Wind. He's a good kid."
"I'd have to figure out how to style it, it's a bit fancy then what I normally wear." Enno started to purr, trying to ease him to sleep. "And any money I get will most likely only go towards you and Wind." I lightly threatened. "Also you're biased. He is your son."
Warrior purrs back subconsciously, already drifting off. "He's just as much your son as he is mine."
He hums, purring louder. "I'll just have to buy stuff for you then. Some fancy some not. So that they can always match your outfits and your-"
There's a knock at the door.
Warrior sighs and taps their shoulder, keeping Enno down. He gently moves Wind off of him. Warrior gets up, rubbing his eyes and smacking his face lightly to appear more awake as he answers the door. 
It's Impa.
Enno tucked Wind under their chin protectively as Warriors got the door. They only partly relaxed when they saw it was Impa. But Enno was getting pissed about people just showing up at the door. Despite Wind being with Enno on the bed, it still felt empty.
Impa looked in and noticed Enno and Wind. "I was going to ask if we can talk inside but it looks like we need to talk out here."
Warrior winced and adjusted his clothes so that he looks a little more presentable instead of appearing like he just rolled out of bed. "Alright. How bad is it?"
He takes a step forward, reaching for the door knob to close the door behind him.
"It's as we assumed." Impa says, moving aside. "All the evidence and witness accounts point to him and him alone."
"Perfect." Enno could hear his eyes roll. Warrior glanced behind him, blowing Enno a kiss before he closed the door.  "I'll be right back."
Enno pouted and borrowed into bed with Wind, sighing. There goes all their attempts to calm him. They yawned and started to struggle staying awake.
Outside the room, Impa and Warrior began to talk.
"There is an upside to all of this." Impa started as soon as the door was closed. "On all accounts, the Kid was attacking in self defense. Richard is going to be charged mostly with assault… added on top of the claims the rest of his family have been making against the royal family and yourself. The Queen is tempted to charge them with treason… also the Kid wants you to have the treasure that Richard left behind."
Warrior smiles and ruffles his own hair. 
"The Kid is older than all of us." He reminds her teasingly. "Zelda can do what she wants. You know this affects mostly her and the kid. That being said, I think pressing charges would be the better matter first. He took from Time's hoard, right? Something he had claimed? That’s against dragon law as it is. There's no escaping this for his family. I bet they egged him on. It's only fair that they pay the price for it."
Impa rolls her eyes at that reminder. 
"A Kid is still a kid if he acts like one." She shot back. "I'm letting you know this now just incase more comes up in the night. Zelda is probably going to take this on herself or let me handle it. You're not going to be here for much longer so it's no use having you stay in this case." Impa turns around and starts walking away. "That's all I have to say. Have a good night."
Warrior perks up considerably and bids her goodnight before he returns to his room.
This was good. Great even.
He could add to his hoard. He could be with you tomorrow. He can have a day off.
The realization was enough to make him giddy.
He softly closes the door behind him. Warrior notices that Enno was still awake. He grins in their direction, keeping his voice low. "I have good news."
They look up, a bit drowsy. “What’s up?” 
They moved the blankets out of the way so Warrior could get in. “Was our marriage blessed?” They teased.
Warrior snorts, climbing in effortlessly. 
"Absolutely." He teases. "The planning is in motion and everything. Countryside, small affair- I was thinking the main colors could be coral and navy blue but I didn't want to make any decisions without your input."
Enno hummed at the idea. “That sounds like a wonderful affair actually.”
He laughs a bit. "I might actually get the day off tomorrow. I can come after all. Impa said that it's no use sending the paperwork to me since we can leave at any moment due to the adventure. So I'm practically in the clear." He wiggles excitedly. 
"I also saw that look you sent to the door." His gaze softens again. "This is standard more often than not. I'm sorry I didn't warn you."
Enno’s eyes light up. “Really? You can?” Maybe they should have held out hope. 
“That’s wonderful. I really didn’t expect that.” They admitted. “Also shush I don’t like that people are coming to you at these hours of the night. You need your sleep because you do so much for them already.”
Warrior chuckles, bringing his hand up to brush their hair away from their face. He purrs happily. Wind purrs back in his sleep.
"It comes with the job. Hero and government work is quite grueling unfortunately." He admits. "But I also happened to get a bonus. So anything you want... either to have or to do, it's on me tomorrow. Let me treat you and the boy."
"You sound like a true dad." The chain reaction caught them off guard. Before they knew it they started to purr as well. 
"I don't think I will be taking advantage of that offer." They lean into his touch. "Unless I notice something for you to keep in here. It's a little under-decorated."
Warrior chuckles. "I have always wanted to be a father.... I never thought I'd get the chance though... not after the war, the promotions.....Cia."
He smiles and relaxes fully. Warrior begins to get sleepy once again. "There's hardly anything here because I rarely spend time here. I'm always being summoned one way or another, as you saw. But I want you to feel welcome here. This is your space as well. If you find something fitting. Get it."
"It's still your room. All my stuff is in the guest room with Pinky's. I don't want to just start decorating without your opinions." Enno tucked him in again. "And I vaguely understand your sentiments. Came from a rather...chaotic household, for a lack of a better word. Never really gave a future with a family a thought." 
They looked down at Wind, brushing his hair. "It's nice."
Warrior hums. "I don't mind. I trust your judgment. Besides, if you stay with me, we might be here for a while. At least before I can work up enough leave and pay in order to move out of the castle to our own place. You need a space to call your own. Even if it's just the corner of the room. Seriously. I can get some different furniture in here and you can have your own space."
Warrior runs his hands over their arms and back, slowly drifting off. "I'm glad you're here. I'm glad I met you."
Enno doesn't really say anything because they know themselves. They are still going to ask for permission, just in case. 
"Go to sleep Link. Dream about that and tell me what it's like in the morning." They kiss his hand, not wanting to bring up that they might have to leave for their own world in the future. "We have a long day ahead of us."
"Can't wait." Warrior nods a bit to himself and finally drifts off to sleep. He doesn't once stop purring, it only lowers in intensity.
Once both boys seemed to sleep, Enno relaxed back into bed. They could help but feel dread with just the thought of Cia. This room seems like a safe haven from her. Leaving it only makes them worried about tomorrow.
Morning, thankfully, comes easily to them once they finally sleep.
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maeganbobaegan · 9 months
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I keep getting that feeling like something is definitely wrong & then I'm like Yeah! You're kids have been gone for almost a full week & you have another week to go. That definitely explains that weird unsettled feeling. I know they're having fun camping with friends though & it's not that hot so it's fiiiiine. So I'll calm down 👍
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jula483 · 5 months
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Dispatches from Myrtle Beach, Ep. 48
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LOOK HOW LONG THIS BOI IS!!!!!! (Apparently irl it's 25 metres and will be put up in front of the Shibuya scramble crossing to promote the real escape tokyo rev game)
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philhoffman · 7 months
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Two early headshots of Philip Seymour Hoffman by Andrew Brucker, 1992
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haeluin · 8 months
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It may look like I have spent 60h in BG3, but, I assure you:
55 of those are combat
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ouroborosorder · 1 month
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on one hand, i really really really want more good good Banshee lore. on the other hand i really just don't want to read main story.
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lordess-dickery-doof · 6 months
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The Big S2 Timeline Theory Post
(writing began 9/26/2023)
The Big S2 Timeline Theory Post, Part 2? No Nose/Prince Ricky Speculation Prince Ricky Speculation, Part 2 The Big S2 Timeline Theory Post, Part 3
What This Is / What This Is Not
This is for fun, first and foremost.
This is not intended to be a full season synopsis/theory. This is an attempt to lay out the shots from the teaser, trailer, and TV spots, as well as the promotional images released by Warner Bros. Discovery, and some known leaks in a chronological order. This means there will be gaps in the timeline where we have no information to work from.
There may be some speculation as to why certain things are happening, or how they connect, but it will mostly be done to explain the reasoning for why I laid out the timeline like I did. It will not be an attempt to theorize on every single element of the season.
This is not trying to get things like precise editing/cut order of shots and sequences correct outside of getting the overall beats in a sensible chronological order.
This timeline could be updated (in reblogs or new posts) as the episodes air and more information is revealed, things are proven correct, and things are proven wrong.
How This Information Was Gathered and Assembled
This was put together by literally framing through the teaser and trailer footage, as well as one of the TV spots that had small snippets of new footage, and searching for continuity details that could connect beats together - outfits and accessories, scars and injuries, which characters are grouped together, etc.
Some Other Info
There will be times that, for the sake of easy communication, I'll use keywords/phrases for people/places/actors/events that we don't have other information about yet. Some examples include:
(Mary) for Anne Bonny's lady companion, seen asking Ed and Stede, "you two know each other?" This is because the assumption is this is real-life Anne Bonny's lady companion, Mary Read.
(Anapela) for Anapela Polataivao's character, who we don't have a name for yet. She's seen saying, "he dumped you!" When Olu and Stede are arguing about Blackbeard in front of Susan's restaurant.
Red Shirt Raid, for the apparent raid that Stede and co go on, where he "did a punch!" and apparently took the nice red outfit seen hanging on a door - he is wearing the red shirt later, and seen twirling in the coat.
Hornighost Island, for the scenes where Ed is apparently with Hornigold, who is dressed in white, and on an eerie blue island.
Part 1
This section has the bulk of what we see in the teaser and trailer, and especially the promotional images - most images so far are tagged with episode 1 or episode 2. Even though I feel this is the clearest section of them all, there are still parts where I feel some things could happen in different orders, but still get to the same endpoint. I’ll mark those alternative order theories as we get to them.
Remember - there will be gaps between events, as this is an attempt to lay out the promos in order, not to speculate on the entire season’s plot. That said, if I feel a gap is large enough, I’ll mention it.
Episode 1A - Stede
Stede has a beautifully groomed beard, great hair, and clean clothes. He now sports a striking red sash, sexy leather pants, and a saber, which he wields while giving an opponent a fierce stink eye.
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His opponent? Izzy Hands! Izzy seems to be beating him back, at least in the snippet of the Beach Duel we see in the trailer.
I considered it possible the footage was reversed to be tricky, and that actually Stede would be pushing Izzy back in the real footage. And indeed, most of it seems natural enough playing either direction. However, while playing it in reverse, a few frames of Stede’s sash floating up and ‘leading’ his movement ‘forward’ (as opposed to more naturally trailing behind him as he steps back) gave it away that the version we see in the trailer is indeed playing forward.
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Presumably, this ends in Stede’s victory, as he survives to sunset, where he runs along the waves like a true romance hero.
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I assume, after this, he wakes up from the dream he’s having!
As the crew moves around, searching for Ed, searching for a ship, something - Stede throws out bottles whenever he can, containing messages to Ed.
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At some point, they finally end up at a town they’ll be at the entire episode. The Republic of Pirates, or “Swampy Town”? Or somewhere else entirely? Jackie is in episode 1, however, so I’ll go with Republic of Pirates.
Stede and Oluwande find Blackbeard’s wanted poster while wandering about town, unaware they are being watched and followed.
Stede dons a red scarf now, but it is not Ed’s silk - Ed’s silk is a brighter, solid color. Even if wear and tear accounted for Stede’s scarf being dingier, Stede’s scarf is patterned, and appears to have a fringe, or tassels.
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Stede and Oluwande discuss Blackbeard wanting to murder Stede for dumping him. Susan and (Anapela) listen in, and join in on the gossip. Stede doesn’t care what they say, because Ed’s “actually a really good guy!”
Oluwande’s line about Blackbeard murdering Stede is different across the teaser and trailer. In the teaser, the line is “Do you think Blackbeard’s gonna murder you?” In the trailer, it’s “Look, Captain, you know Blackbeard’s gonna murder you.” I believe the accurate line for that scene is actually the teaser version, while the trailer’s “Look, Captain, you know-” is spliced from another line. Then we return to the trailer for Stede’s response:
Oluwande: Do you think Blackbeard’s gonna murder you?
Stede: What? No, why would he do that?
Oluwande: You dumped him.
Stede: I didn’t dump him.
(Anapela): He dumped you.
Stede: No! We’re on a break!
Oluwande: Look, Captain, you know- (speculation: he lists out Ed’s list of crimes; or reminds Stede that Ed kidnapped Jim and Frenchie, marooned the rest of the crew, and probably did something to Lucius)
Stede: I don’t care what any of you say, he’s actually a good guy!
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(Gap)
Continuity Note: Sometime after the scene at the restaurant, Stede obtains a knife. Speculation: Susan and (Anapela) gave it to him, or he took it from their kitchen.
Stede and Oluwande regroup with the others, taking shelter from the rain under a bridge/broken arch.
Note that Oluwande still has his bag.
Note that Stede’s hair still appears to be dry and styled up.
Note that Stede now has the knife in his belt.
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At some point, Stede ventures out, and he sadly stares at another wanted poster of Blackbeard.
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Stede hears someone behind him, and turns around to face them.
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Introducing: Prince Ricky
Prince Ricky was first introduced to the spoiler-following fans when an audition tape for an actor who did not get the part was released (called henceforth the “Ricky Tape”). The script may not be what we see in the final cut of the episode, but it gives us an idea of what to expect.
Prince Ricky approaches Stede, “Stede Bonnet? Yes, I knew it was you!”. Stede tells him “today’s not the day. Why are you following me?”
Prince Ricky excitedly tells Stede that he’s his hero. He came from wealth, is a minor prince, and Stede showed him he could be free of all that. He wants to pick Stede’s brain, run some ideas by him. Stede wants soup. Ricky tells the “soup monger” to “bring this legend whatever he’d like.”
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Speculation: As they spoke, they returned to Susan’s shop to eat (on Ricky’s dime), and the “soup monger” he orders about is Susan or (Anapela).
Alternate Theory: Ricky introduces himself to Stede earlier, the first time Stede and Oluwande are at Susan's. They separate, and Ricky finds Stede again later, here in the rainy scene. The rest continues the same way.
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(Gap)
Some time after the Stede and Oluwande restaurant scene, Susan closes up shop, takes off her apron and has a smoke, and Oluwande has a chat with her.
Note: he’s left his bag somewhere else.
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Later, Ricky is with the group, with he and Stede having dried off some.
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Speculation: They are about to act on some idea Ricky has run by the Stede and the crew. Referring back to the Ricky Tape, Ricky comes to ask (someone) “What’s taking so long?” while we hear them saying “almost there-”, as if trying to do something stealthily. They admonish him, “you’re supposed to keep watch!”, to which he gets offended and responds “My (score)*, my rules! This is where the action is.”
Was also suggested in Arty’s discord server that he’s saying “my school, my rules”. Either option makes sense - he’s in ‘school’ in the sense that Stede is possibly mentoring him in the ways of pirating, also it rhymes, making it seem like he’s deliberately trying to sound clever or cool; but if this is related to the idea he wanted to ‘run by’ Stede earlier, it could be considered his ‘score’.
Speculation: Whatever this plan is, it involves being in a bar, and Ricky has tarted himself up:
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He interrupts whatever the crew is doing to leave his “calling card” - a "Lime Ricky" (a Lime Rickey (with an 'e') is type of cocktail - further evidence they’re in a bar), but Stede protests - they have to get out of there! Ricky then turns on his hero, berating him for not paying attention to details like that, that are vital to building a “brand”.
He then asks, “Where do you think she keeps her bitters?”
Speculation: The “she” in question is none other than Spanish Jackie. And since Spanish Jackie is a smart woman, she’s going to hear about a guy named Ricky, see the “Lime Ricky” calling card, and put 2 and 2 together…
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(Gap)
Speculation: Stede and crew escape from wherever they’re robbing, and secure an invite to (or are forced onto) Susan’s ship, leading into episode 2. Several promotional images of Stede and the crew wearing Chinese robes are tagged for episode 2, and they gotta get there somehow. Vanity Fair called Susan "a merchant with secrets of her own.”
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The crew leaves at night, Stede watching something glowing in the distance, while Buttons and the other crew actually do the rowing.
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They make it to the ship that will be their new home (for now), and Stede sighs.
Alternate theory: Stede has his dream here, instead of at the beginning of the episode; or he has the dream in part, or continued.
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The End! …of Stede and co’s episode 1, anyway.
Ed and co's episode 1 timeline theory coming soon!
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the-messy-artist · 1 day
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Is this anything? Is this allowed?
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psychocharlie · 8 months
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Charlie has uncle issues
For a month now, Dennis has been staying at the bar late into the night, locking it up himself. He took everyone's keys, leaving only Charlie's copy to open Paddy's in the morning. The Gang resented this and protested, but Dennis was adamant and took away everyone else's keys on the grounds that they were all a bunch of irresponsible shitheads who forgot to lock up the bar. The fact that someone had robbed the cash register one night was also a strong argument for Dennis' rightness (and no one suspected that Dennis was this "someone" who had robbed Paddy's to carry out his plan). So for a month, Dennis staying the longest and closing the bar. Charlie also often lingers, because the bar needed to be cleaned up before closing, which, as everyone knows, is Charlie work.
Of course, Dennis made this scheme so that he and Charlie would have time to be alone and talk about their business without looking suspicious. Especially since the Gang started noticing their odd behavior. Especially Mac. Oh, Mac has become unbearable. Suspicious, obsessive, and jealous. Reynolds should get something much better than this bar trick to distract him. And he was going to do it later.
But that night Charlie left early, while even Mac, Dee, and Frank were still at the bar. His mom called him and begged him tearfully to come over and help her with something, and he left. So it's only been about 15 minutes since everyone left, and Dennis was really getting ready to close up and go home, because Charlie wasn’t there, and Dennis hadn't been doing his «business» in a while. And neither had his friend. After that terrible nervous breakdown in his bad place he hadn't touched a single person yet. 
The man is briefly distracted by his phone before getting up from the counter and walking away. Grinning, he replies to a message from a pretty girl on a dating site he's been DENNIS'ing for a few days, anticipating the inevitable culmination of their dates – first passionate and then bloody, filling his entire being with power and strength. In those moments, he truly felt like the actual Golden God.  Only then did the gaping hole in his chest, the God Hole, cease to ring with its emptiness, and he felt whole. Then and in some other rare moments that Reynolds preferred not to think about.
Before he can even finish the message, the door swings open, causing Dennis to flinch and lift his head, and Charlie plops down behind the bar.
– I'm gonna kill him. – Charlie's voice is hoarse, and he's literally growling, looking sullenly like a beast ready to pounce on you and tear you to pieces. His eyes burn with anger, but it's not a hot flame of rage, it's something colder, even more sinister. Hatred.
Dennis quickly presses the send button, no longer caring what he texted to that sweet fool, and sets the phone aside. All his attention is on Charlie now.
– Who? – His voice is soft and cautious. He pulls a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from under the bar, deciding it is the best choice for the circumstances. «Is that the last thing his victims see?» – wonders Dennis. Charlie, meanwhile, empties a glass of whiskey under his gaze. In one gulp.
– Uncle Jack. 
Dennis sighs heavily and presses his lips together, sipping from his glass. Uncle Jack. Charlie was always out of sorts after seeing him. Usually he just got weird, twitchy or depressed. Sometimes he'd get irritable and start shouting at everyone. But this time it was the real hatred. Cold and full of contempt.
Dennis remains silent, and his buddy pours and drains another glass again. Gradually his face softens, the hatred fading from the green eyes, making way for deadly fatigue and despair and resentment. 
– I want him to die like a goddamn brute. – Voice's desperate, almost whisper. The formerly tense posture of a predator ready to pounce changes as well, Charlie's body slouches, shoulders droop. Then Dennis finally decides to speak, quietly and calmly. 
– I understand, bud, you have every reason to want him dead. He molested you.
Charlie stands up again and screams. Dennis sees the desperation in his eyes. 
– He didn't molest me!
– He did, – Dennis replies quietly yet firmly, bringing the half-empty bottle to his friend's mouth. He presses his lips together, digging his fingernails into the old wooden surface, exhales heavily and, closing his eyes, allows Dennis to get him drunk.
– He did. - His voice sounds like an echo, barely audible repeating Dennis' words as Charlie lowers his head, resting it on the counter. Reynolds flinches. This is the first time Charlie has ever admitted it. They all knew it, but Charlie had always denied it, indignantly and furiously, without admitting it. So had Dennis with his Ms. Klinsky thing. But now Charlie finally admitted it and allowed himself to be vulnerable around him. Dennis drains the rest of his whiskey and patts the bar next to Charlie's shoulder in a reassuring gesture, hesitant to touch him right away.
– Alright... – there’s a pause in the air as Dennis tries to think of what to say now, – you know... do it. You have every right to. 
– I'd like to. – His voice is muffled. – I wanna do it every time he reaches out to me with his creepy hands. He fucking hugged me today. But I can't. 
– Why not?
And Charlie lifts his head and shakes it. He looks now like an abandoned puppy who's lost all hope of finding a home. He sighs heavily and starts to talk. He talks and talks and talks. Talks about how much his mother loves that bastard Jack, how she's cared for him all her life. The stupid bitch throws a little family party of his birthdays and even bakes the cakes for him, but she can't even remember the exact age of her own son, not to mention wishing him a happy birthday. He tells how upset and hysterical she would be if her brother suddenly disappeared. She’d call the police and they would find Charlie. And after him, probably Dennis as well. And Dennis nods, nods, nods, doesn't understand why he didn't think of it himself. Like, it's so obvious and logical. He hadn't thought of it because his mind was busy thinking that Uncle Jack should die in agony like a filthy animal, which he was.
They drink another bottle of whiskey and gradually change the subject. Now they are discussing the failure of the gang's scheme this afternoon and who is to blame (It was all Dee! That bitch is totally unartistic and can't even play such a simple role in our plan!), when suddenly Charlie speaks up and changes his face again:
– But if I ever see him molest a child in person... I'll kill him. And then I won't care about the consequences. I just won't be able to bear it. I'll take a hammer and smash his ugly face in. I'll crack his head like a walnut. I'll hit and hit and hit his head until I stop recognizing him at all. He'll die in agony like an animal, he'll–
Dennis can see that Charlie is about to boil again: his hands are clenched into fists, his eyebrows are drawn together in a broad line, and his teeth are clenched tightly together, almost gritting. Dennis swears he can hear them grinding. 
– I'm staying out of his perverted business, but if I see this–
– Oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oh-oi! – he grabs Charlie by the shoulders and shakes him, repeating an old tried-and-true ritual, trying to distract and calm him. 
– Oi-oi-oi-oi, yeah, – he mumbles back and nods, closing his eyes to calm himself. Dennis pours him another whiskey.
***
At home, Reynolds is met by Mac with his stupid questions about what took him so long and where he was. 
– I was with a girl, – Dennis angrily waves him off.
– Oh, with a girl? – Mac's eyebrows rise in a familiar expression as he spreads his arms across his chest, glancing at his neighbor, – I knew you took away everyone's keys just to fuck chicks at Paddy's! Did you fuck her on the bar stand? Or on the pool table? On my favorite pool table? Spit it out, man! 
– Get yourself a goddamn boyfriend, Mac, and fuck him on the pool table or wherever you want, but get the fuck off me! – Dennis yells at him irritably and disappears into his room, slamming the door behind him. Mac is really starting to get on his nerves. Something has to be done about this.
Finally, after a long day, Dennis lies down in bed with his eyes closed. His imagination immediately pictures Uncle Jack's mutilated body on the Paddy's basement. His face is unrecognizable - smashed with a hammer, it's just a bloody mess, pools of blood spreading around. His hands, which Jack had always been so self-conscious about, which he had always tried to hide, conceal, visually enlarge, were now severed. Jack's severed hands will never be pets for Charlie. Charlie will take the smallest jar he has and chop them up in there, slicing off each finger individually like sausages. «Oh, look, Uncle Jack, your hands are so small they can only fit in this silly little jar. How pathetic is that, Uncle Jack. It sucks to have hands small like this, doesn't it?» And then he throws the jar into the scalding heat of the furnace.
Dennis clutches the sheets with his fingers, his lips drawn together in a thin line. The last thing he thinks about before he falls asleep is Uncle Jack's dreadful death, which he deserves.
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iamthecomet · 1 year
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Mommy Comet!! Mushy ficlet!!!
(Ik you kind of wrote something similar so you can take your creative liberties with this as much as you want!! :>)
Dew is fucking stubborn, He tries to keep up appearances while Swiss is teasing him relentlessly, Dew is having self esteem/abandonment issues, he feels like he’s only useful if he is playing the guitar or getting his insides scrambled by someone’s but is too pissy to tell Swiss because again “appearances”. He INSISTS on doing a rough scene because he can “take it,” except he can’t, he breaks down and won’t tell Swiss what happened, which makes him very worried!! I wanna see Swiss taking it slow with dew, dew doesn’t want to stop (not quite subdrop but Swiss is worried he might dip and dip bAD if he keeps going like this) so Swiss just comforts him while still inside him and tries to make him feel really good, talks him through whatever he’s feeling, lots of kissies!!! Aftercare too!! Once Dew feels better swiss gives him some back rubs and nape kissies and combs/braids his hair!! Dew gets mushy and happy, no more sad tears!!! Blease i would cry if u wrote dis i luv u comet <3 ur the best mommy :>>>!!!
-(long lost) leafy anon🌿
I adore you, Leafy. I hope you know that. I also know you've been waiting so patiently for some good Swiss content, so I'm gonna try my very best. It's long and sweet and dirty. Just for you, love. ~Mommet <3
Swiss notices something isn't right when Dew's keens of pleasure start to choke off into staggering hiccups. Swiss has a bruising grip on one of Dew's hips, the other is in his hair hard enough to burn. Dew was the one who asked for a rough scene, to be tossed around and fucked into the mattress, but now, Swiss can tell just from the shudder in Dew's body that it isn't giving him what he needs. Swiss lets up, slows the pace, he peels his fingers out of the skin of Dew's hip and tries not to look at the bruises already forming. "Dewy, if you need a break we can--" "Keep going, I'm fine," Dew growls. Beneath all the anger in his voice, Swiss can hear the desperation, the whine, the way it all threatens to break apart. Dew's not fine. Swiss loosens the death grip he has on Dew's hair and Dew slumps forward, falling forward to rest on his elbows. He makes a noise that can't be mistaken for anything but a sob. Swiss makes to pull out, to gather Dew into his arms and figure out what the fuck is going on, but Dew rocks his hips back as Swiss does. "Don't stop--fuck--please you can't stop--I--"Dew's breath hitches. He has his face pressed tight to the pillows but Swiss can see the way his shoulders heave as he fights between breathing and sobbing.
Swiss slides his hand up Dew's back, along the knobby line of his spine, to grip the base of his neck. It's gentle, far gentler than he's touched him in the last half an hour. "Dew, what the fuck is going on?" Dew shakes his head hard, he doesn't raise his face. Swiss watches as Dew digs his fingers into his own hair, gripping hard at the scalp. Swiss is afraid to move. Knows that the second he moves to pull out--to stop this--Dew is going to spiral further. Swiss presses his thumb into the base of Dew's skull and rubs, pressing up into the sweaty hair at the base of his neck. "Dew, you have to help me out here. Give me something."
Dew rocks his hips back again, clenching down as he does. Swiss hisses. He grabs Dew's hip hard with his other hand and holds him in place.
"Not that, fuck. Can I move us?"
Dew's still for long enough that Swiss thinks that means no, but eventually he nods slowly. And Swiss maneuvers them onto their sides, legs slotted together.
Dew's muscles contract in rhythm with his crying, and Swiss really should have gone soft by now because of Dew's panicking, but Dew's body is making sure he can't, fluttering and clenching. Swiss presses his nose to the back of Dew's hair. Dew grinds his hips back on instinct and Swiss has to stop him again. Dew's stuck somewhere between subspace and a full break down and Swiss is stuck with him. Swiss curls his arm around Dew's stomach and holds him tight.
Swiss locks his other arm around Dew's hips, and finds Dew still hard and leaking copiously. He whines as Swiss' fingers brush over the head of his cock, grinding his hips back against Swiss' almost mindlessly.
Dew's so far gone, it happened like a flipped switch and now Swiss has his hands full of weepy, desperate fire ghoul. He rests his face against Dew's neck, and presses a kiss there. "Dew, you have to help me."
Dew tips his head back against Swiss' shoulder. He rolls his hips again. Dew reaches down, he pulls Swiss' hand from his sternum and drags it up to his peck, pressing Swiss' fingers down on the nipple ring, and keening at the touch.
"I need--" Dew slurrs, "don't stop. Please don't stop I'm ok. I'm ok." And Swiss knows he's not ok, but he also knows it'll be worse if he stops. If this ends now, Dew will shutdown. If he sees it through, he has a better change of talking him through it, of pulling him out of it. They've done this before. He takes Dew's nipple ring between his fingers and tugs, far gentler than he did five minutes ago, but he wouldn't know it based on the sound that Dew makes. "I won't stop, Droplet," Swiss promises.
Swiss grinds his hips forward and the air hisses from Dew's lungs. It doesn't take long before Dew is dragging Swiss' other hand to his cock. Swiss jerks him off with slow measured strokes, it matches the gentle way he's fucking into him.
"I'm fucking useless," Dew says as he grinds back against Swiss, the words slurred and breathless.
"No." Swiss keeps the pace leisurely. Now that Dew's talking he doesn't want him to stop. And if what's going to make him talk is a dick grinding into his ass then Swiss is going to give it to him. "I am. This is the only thing I'm any good at and I can't even get fucked right--" "All you have to do is lay there. I'll take care of you."
"You shouldn't have to."
"I want to," Swiss says, dragging his teeth along the line of Dew's jaw. "look at me."
Dew does, turning his head so they can see each other. Swiss takes the opportunity to kiss him, slow and languid. Dew's hips twitch up into Swiss' hand. He's clenching repeatedly around Swiss, his body shuddering. Swiss kisses the corners of his mouth when the pleasure is too much and Dew's mouth goes slack against Swiss'
Dew's back bows as he cums all over Swiss' hand and his own chest with a grating sob. Swiss tries to be gentle, but the spasms of Dew's muscles drag him closer and closer to the edge and he hilts himself harder than he means to when he cums, growling into Dew's shoulder. He crushes Dew to his chest, locking his arms around his ribs and squeezing. Dew shakes in his arms, his breath catching on sobs. Swiss presses his lips to every inch of available skin, brushing his hair out of the way to kiss the back of his neck and along the edge of his jaw. "Dewy," Swiss whispers in his ear, "are you ok?"
Dew nods, but doesn't say anything, and Swiss lets him go quiet. A few minutes later Dew starts to squirm against him, the position no longer comfortable, and Swiss lets him move. Dew rolls over and pushes at Swiss' shoulder until Swiss lays flat on his back. Dew seals himself to his side, pressing his head to Swiss' chest. Swiss slides his hand up to Dew's hair and starts to brush it out with his claws. "I'm sorry," Dew finally says. "You don't need to be. And don't think we're not going to talk about this."
"About what?"
"You, and this 'I'm useless' bullshit."
Dew stiffens. "It's fine."
"It's not," Swiss insists, "and we're going to talk about it."
"Not yet?" Dew asks. "Not now?" Swiss reaches over with his other hand and starts a small braid near Dew's temple. Dew goes even more boneless. A purr kicks up in his chest. "Fine," Swiss agrees, "but I'm not going to forget about it." Dew presses a small kiss to Swiss' pec, just over his heart. "You never do." They fall quiet for a few breaths, Swiss works the braid into Dew's hair, and Dew continues to sag more and more into him as all of the tension drains from his body. "Thank you for taking care of me," Dew whispers, breath fanning out over Swiss' chest. Swiss smiles. He finishes the first braid and starts another. The hair is silky between his fingers. Dew's eyes slip closed as he starts to drift. "I'll always take care of you, firefly."
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antropomorphine · 7 months
Text
fourth and last installment in the look at dreams deals with mo guan shan's
you can find the previous posts in the series here: jian yi's dreams he tian's dreams zhan zheng xi's dream
mo is the one who has most dreams in the story, and half of them deal with his confusion and anxiety surrounding desire/sexuality. this is long. and there are notes at the end as well.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
mo's first dream the first dream we see takes place at the hospital, when mo has been committed after the fight with the loan-sharks. mo has been visited by jian yi and zhan zheng xi, she li showed up to threaten him, and he has been given an injection in the butt, which he struggled loudly against and clearly found humiliating. (yi takes a recording of this from outside the room and sends it to tian. there is no indication that mo knows about this) in the dream he is in a vaguely defined space, maybe at school, maybe locker rooms. zheng xi and jian yi are there and yi directs his attention to a group of boys behind them who are looking for him. the boys throw taunts at him about the butt injection, one of them saying "i'd like to see what you look like with your ass in the air". mo angrily tells them to wipe the perverted expressions of their face and threatens to beat them up, getting progressively more and more shouty and agitated, and suddenly he tian is there, holding him back, calming him down. mo has tears of anger in his eyes. tian gathers him into an embrace (mo is wiping his eyes with a fist) and pats his back saying "there, there - you are the toughest, you are the baddest, you are the most invincible badass". he reaches down and squeezes mo's butt, "pain on your tushy fly away.." mo startles awake in the hospital bed, cursing he tian for being a pervert. in the next scene (following a cut to he tian visiting his father) he goes to splash water on his face. mo says here that he dreamed of "that fucker" again, so presumably he tried to go back to sleep, but had another dream. he checks if it gave him a hard-on (it didn't). this dream deals with mo's internalised homophobia, and his conflicted feelings of desire and humiliation. the desire itself is humiliating, because it marks him as (a dirty) gay, so he rejects it by calling the person bringing attention to it (or awakening the desire) a pervert, a classic case of projection. mo also seems to have no previous romantic experience* - when he tian kisses him as a provocation (the first time. with tongue. until mo starts hitting him) mo is completely overwhelmed, to the point where he leaves school and goes home to shut himself in his room.
mo's second dream this dream is a nightmare. it takes place in the story following the boys' return from their trip up the mountain, and tian's accident during the mudslide. mo falls asleep across his desk at school. (this seems to be the same day where both mo and he tian were late in the morning, and end up with standing punishment in the corridor outside the classroom). in the dream mo confronts she li about telling people his father is a murderer. mo pushes she li against a wall, telling him to shut up and that his dad was framed. she li retaliates by beating him up. when he has mo bleeding on the ground, he grabs his neck and tells him no one gives a shit about his mess, but he can find out more and take revenge for him, on the condition that mo cuts off a chunk of his flesh and gives it to she li when it's done. this dream illustrates the price mo has to pay for his connection to she li, and how any aid from she li comes at the cost of losing a part of himself. mo startles awake from the dream, sweating from fear, and immediately goes looking for he tian. he tells buzzcut not to follow him. mo and tian then have one of their typical push-pull interactions, where mo denies that he's looking for reassurance from tian, and tian is focussed on calling him cute and embarassing him, rather than figuring out why he came looking for him**.
mo's third dream this is an anxiety dream and takes place a couple of days after the incident where mo goes to he tian's place, and gets wrestled into the tub, then talked into staying over. the boys have been planning their play for the school festival and have spent the afternoon/evening out, getting the costumes, seeing a band, having a meal, goofing around - mo comes home with a bite mark on his cheek from he tian, after tricking him into making a fool of himself. in the dream mo is in bed at home and sees he tian standing at the foot of it, smiling down at him with his arms crossed. mo is immediately anxious, asking him why he's there, what he's doing, as tian starts to strip, throwing each piece of clothing at mo as it comes off. when tian is naked he climbs on top of him. mo is crying help and screaming in the dream as tian gets ready to kiss him, when he wakes up. he sits up, panting, then texts tian BASTARD! EAT SHIT! (it's four to one in the morning). the dream is, again, dealing with mo's conflict with his sexuality. the anxiety centers on tian, because he is the object of mo's desire and what forces him to confront this part of himself. contrary to the earlier dream, and to mo's confrontations with tian's flirting over the past weeks? months?, he is not calling tian a pervert here. i find that significant, because it has otherwise been such a staple of his rejections. instead of putting the responsibility for his desires on tian, he is reacting directly to the feelings of apprehension he has over how pushy tian is, and how fast he's moving with little regard to mo's needs.
mo's fourth dream the fourth dream seems to be a childhood memory, although i assume it can't just be a reliable memory, because then it would just have been a flashback, right? since ox uses both flashback and dreams, the function of the dreams must be to reveal parts of the subconscious of the characters - their hopes and fears. the dream takes place at school where mo has fallen asleep across his table. in the dream mo is a child, probably early primary school age, around age six or seven. in the dream he is outside (in front of his house maybe) and ready to go to a robotics competition with his father. he tells his dad hurry up, but his dad is talking to his mother, with his back turned, and mo is already feeling unsure here. in the next panel his father tousles his hair, saying guan shan, and crouches down in front of him, cupping his cheek and telling him he can't come because he has to settle something that came up at the restaurant. mo is immediately in tears, saying but you promised me last week. his father tells him that his mother will go instead, that it doesn't make a difference anyway, and that he made him a special sandwich. even if i'm not there, you'll still win the competition! mo is crying and slaps the sandwich from his father's hand, saying i don't want it!! the sandwich is scattered on the ground and mo is sobbing. he wakes up with tears in his eyes, clutching tian's sleeve in his hand, to tian saying his name, guan shan. tian asks him if he had a bad dream. mo seems a little surprised at tian's presence (and maybe a bit embarrassed that he's been holding onto his sleeve in his sleep). tian says he must be hungry and offers to get him a sandwich. there's a clear parallell between his father's offering of the sandwich in the dream (as nourishment/care and encouragement) and he tian's offering the same when he wakes. the echo is repeated in how his father calls him in the dream (guan shan) and tian calls him similarly as he wakes. i think it's a fair analysis to read the dream as an illustration of how he tian is coming to occupy a place in mo's life where he is a support to mo. and at the same time this dream is linking that support to someone who will disappear from mo's life prematurely, like his father did***. the dream is offering comfort and encouragement, with a threat at the same time of taking it away - that it will be lost.
fucking footnotes! (¬_¬)ノ
*) there are no indications of mo having ever had any interest in or friendly relationship with his female peers, and he is repeatedly shown to be actively hostile to the girls at school. he is an only child, and his social circle seems to consist solely of the members and hangers-on of she li's gang, all boys.
**) the couple is at a point in time where tian will let mo slap him around when he crosses a line with him - possibly a result of mo fighting him off in the mountains, when he tried to force himself on him - but he is still not paying proper attention to mo's situation or taking him serious.
***) the dream takes place after mo has found he tian's crossed out note in his school notebook saying will he be sad if i leave.
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apricote · 9 months
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SO tempted to speed up my queue so all the fun stuff that's in there will be posted faster
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