I saw an ask recently abt Sonic Frontiers that was like "omg when is sonic coming out?!!?!?!" and the response was "when he's ready, be respectful"

and as many things have done over the past year and a half, it reminded me of my former best friend whose idea of trying to be supportive was to try and get me to discuss my sexuality, which I never did because I wasn't comfortable with outing myself.

like there was one time when he was like "yeah just like download Tinder or like grindr or whatever", there were other occasions where he just casually dropped that he didn't think I was straight, and he would get frustrated that I wasn't more open with him. And that ask really does sum it up - it wasn't respectful. He didn't respect my boundaries, and he wanted to force the issue because he felt entitled to know. He was upset that I wasn't sharing information with him despite him being my best friend.

I do genuinely think it was coming from a good place, like he wasn't trying to be malicious, but the fact that he kept pushing it when I didn't want to talk about it really bothered me. There was this attitude of like "friends tell each other everything, I don't like that you don't share things with me" - which is valid enough to a point. I did close myself off from him, starting years earlier and then more rapidly towards the end. He's entitled to feeling closed out.

But god, I have shit I want to keep to myself. There are deep, personal, private things that are mine to keep, and nobody is entitled to that. My sexuality is one of those things, and that's information that is absolutely, unabashedly okay for me to keep close to my chest. And to be prodded and questioned, to have people make comments about my sexuality to my face because they feel entitled to that conversation when I don't want it - that shit cuts. I HATE thinking about it.

Quick sidenote, if you're reading this David, you can go and fuck yourself a thousand times over. I'll never forgive you for eight years of shit like this that made me uncomfortable.

Anyway this post has been weighing heavily on my mind for a couple weeks now. And it all dropped from a comedy ask about Sonic the Hedgehog. Be respectful of other people's privacy, and if you speculate about that aspect of them, keep it to yourself and give them the space, privacy and time to deal with it and come to you IF they feel like it. Not WHEN, IF. If they don't tell you, it's none of your business. Be respectful.

God. I was in class and remembered something. I had a falling out with someone cause of something so stupid, but it was me putting boundaries with them. As a result she, along with friends, have stalked me nonstop and constantly bad mouth me in person and online despite it being 12 years later. So, in this period of 12 years, I have had several friends she's had a falling out come and find me to try giving me "the tea". It's at the point I have everything private and deleted my IG and Twitter. Well, not long ago I went into a Starbucks and her former bestie from 3 years ago tried doing the same crap too. I won't reveal who she is or what she does, but it horrifies me that years from the incident, people still actively look for me to tell me stuff she's said about me and etc. And the thing is, i want nothing to do with her or any of her former friends. I want them leaving me alone. You don't have to post this, but I truly wonder if something similar has happened to Ashley. I've tried a lot to forget this person, but it's been hard when every chance someone gets they find me to tell me drama. I use to make statements online asking people to stop, but no one has. I know everyone talks about what a hate boner she has, but I wonder if it'll continue going on for so many years to come. I remember making a "get off my chest" post and people had said that seems like she has an untreated mental illness or she's just a pure narcissist if over 10 years later she won't stop. I just think some people are just assholes and want you to suffer. I mean, I think I've taken all the precautions for her to stop. Ok, sorry for venting. But idk, I just really wonder if something similar is happening with her.

No, I get what you're saying, and it's true.

I've never gotten a decisive, solid answer as to why Ashley's never spoken out -- whether it's out of fear for Far Fetched's future, fear of dragging other people into this, or because doing so would mean she has to talk about her personal life -- and I don't know if anyone I talk to has one either. It might be a little of all of it. But I think part of it is as simple as what you're talking about here...she wants to get on with her life and enjoy all the good things coming her way and never have to think about Vivienne Medrano again.

The problem is, Ashley and Michael are probably in the best position of anyone to stop this madness. Vivzie's hurt so many vulnerable people and is on track to hurt a whole lot more and she gets away with it because everyone's so afraid of her and her lunatic fandom.

It's got to stop. Someone's got to say something, and ideally, someone big enough that people will listen.

Stan x anxious/compassionate reader (kind of has a little canon divergence)

After giving up on Wendy (around Season 12), Stan and us start dating, we were always worried about him (no we weren't dating him out of pity, we were just a very anxious person). Some people find of clingy, others find us adorable but We've never left his side:

Ex: We were by his side helping with whales (Whale W)

We were the only one who didn't leave him when he got depression (You're Getting Old/Ass Burgers)

Next to Heidi, we became social pariah because we didn't want to dump Stan (this even made Wendy guilty)

But him moving, really gets to us, the coronavirus makes it worse. We get worried about him, then we start getting worried about everyone else as everything falls apart (Kyle, Kenny, Eric, Butters, Tweek, Craig, Scott, etc.) And we pass out of stress. About waking up in the hospital, we find out, everyone was worried about us. And Stan is the most worried of all, he spends the whole day with us. We tal-no vent about all the happened to the both of us. By the end of it, we agree that whatever happens we'll do it together.

Guess whos back! :D

Well, while it's not my best work, in my humble opinion, I sure hope you enjoy and like it. Again sorry for the delay! ಥ_ಥ

And if it's not that clear, because I know I can write a little cryptic, there is a time skip. You can either have all the show events happen when they are children and have the time skip between Covid and the memories or between you getting together as kids and the memories. Choose however you like! ^^

_________________________________________

Stan x anxious!compassionate!Reader

Tiny eyes watched the scene unfold.

Normally, Wendy was the one to break up with Stan, but not this time around. Stan was actually telling Wendy that he had no interest in her anymore.

“What changed Stan?” Wendy asked, obviously confused.

“I think I like someone else… I don’t know yet…”

Wendy gave him a smile.

“I wish you all the luck Stan, say if you need anything!”

“I will.” And with that, Wendy took off to be with her friends, while Stan turned a corner and told Kyle and Kenny how it went.

Cartman was there too, but he only wanted to know if she cried, because “she would deserve it.”.

You closed your locker and felt your heartbeat like crazy. Ever since you changed school a few months ago, Stan captured your little ten-year-old mind.

He was kind and showed you around when you had no idea where to go. It was a little crush you developed, and you never felt as scared and excited as now, since that Stan had broken off with Wendy.

This newfound feeling almost made you dizzy but you quickly snapped back into reality when you heard your name.

“Y/N?” Stan asked and waited patiently for his answer next to you.

“Oh, sorry, I was thinking, what did you want?”

“Would you maybe like to hang out some time?”

Stan almost got a heart attack when you suddenly squealed but was happy when you managed to get a high-pitched “YES!” out.

“Okay, what are you betting Kenny? Some Pennies or a dead rat?” Cartman almost fell from his chair laughing about his shitty joke, while Kyle and Kenny rolled their eyes.

“Don’t you think it’s weird how clingy they are?” Kyle asked his blonde friend, while they kept watching you and Stan, who were seated at a separate table at lunch.

“Honestly, I think it’s pretty cute.” Kenny said with his muffled voice.

You held his arm and hugged him from the side, while he happy kept on eating his lunch.

Eric, who had now calmed down from his laugh attack eyed the couple critically. “I’m giving them a month max.”

He said lazily and looked around. “I say longer than a year.” Kenny said, throwing a crinkled five-dollar note on the table.

“You two are horrible.” Kyle shook his head before he threw 10 dollars on the table.

“Four months.”

Kenny was a happy man after a year, because despite everyone believing you two would eventually break up, you never did.

You were always by his side, no matter what.

His desire to desperately save whales with the help of a braindead ship crew?

You were always right by his in the interviews he gave.

His horrible depression that even drove Kyle away? No chance, you stood strong and helped him through the whole thing and even help reuniting the gang.

Even during the protest against Skanthunt42, you chose to sit this one out, despite you absolutely hating that the troll photoshopped a dick into your mother’s mouth.

At least you and Heidi got close due to you guys both becoming social outcasts. When Wendy heard this, she was impressed by your dedication and felt somewhat guilty for obviously not trying as much in her former relationship.

Everyone admired your patience and endurance. No matter what obstacle came, you managed to get through it.

“You don’t need to be sad, Y/N. I won't be that far away.” Stan said, holding your hand.

“B-But it's outside of town. You need ages by bike to get there and vice versa.” You said, holding back tears.

Randy walked past you and you desperately pleaded to him.

“Please Mister Marsh, please stay in town!” Randy put the box he carried into the car, before turning to you.

“Real sorry, dear Y/N. This town is…How do I put it… Absolute shit and I really want to get away.”

He patted you on the head and went back into the house to get more boxes.

“Told you, you cant talk to him.” Stan said and shrugged.

“But it’s unfair. We won’t see each other as much anymore.” Stan pressed a kiss onto your cheek, which made you blush intensely.

“Don’t. Worry. I will make time for you.”

With that in mind, you didn’t feel as sad, when the car with the Marsh Family in it left for their new home.

“I will make time for you, my ass.” You mumbled while you sat at a bench near Starks Pond. Letting out a deep sigh, you leaned back and just enjoyed the warmth of the setting sun.

Covid was one hell of a bitch and just had to have this big impact on everyone’s life. Stan and you now saw each other less and less.

It was just a horrible feeling that tainted your heart and made you worry a lot.

Maybe he was feeling just as bad as you are, maybe even more?

Maybe he just didn’t want to tell you how he felt?

Were you maybe a bad partner? Your mind began racing and your train of thoughts became unrailed.

So many bad thoughts manifested themselves and it made you almost gasp for air.

“I need to check on him.” You mumbled getting up from the park bench.

You began walking and you kind of hoped that maybe just the walking would get your mind in check, but sadly it didn’t. Involuntarily you had to think about all the other stuff that happened during this horrible time.

The precious Broship was more fragile than ever. You had become such good friends with Kenny, Kyle and Cartman over time that it hurt you a lot too.

You also saw Covid take a toll on your other friends, like Craig and his group, who now took Cartman into their gang after the split up.

However, that came to be…

The girls were also pretty divided, so hanging out with them meant picking sides which wasn’t your thing, you kinda just want them to get along again.

Everything felt like it was falling apart. Your parents had fights ever so often, all your friends had problems and your beloved boyfriend was stuck on that stupid farm.

God how you hated that stupid farm and Randy.

When he gave you one of those plushies that looked like him, you functioned it into a voodoo doll. But sadly, it didn’t seem to affect him, no matter how many needles you rammed into it.

Your heart felt heavy, and it seemed hard to breathe, but you brushed it aside.

You had already reached the busy streets of South Park and mingled between the newly vaccinated people.

Everywhere you looked, the people seemed happy.

Everyone was happy except you and the people around you… Maybe…You were the problem?

You shook your head. No, you didn’t allow those kinds of thoughts.

You much rather think about Stan. How you miss him and how amazing your dates were.

Oh, how much effort he put into all the small things… Well… At least he did.

Now that you thought about it when was your last date?

It feels like it had been ages. It has been ages. Everything had been ages. Going out with him, hanging out with your friends, your family not fighting… How long has this been the new normal? You can’t help but wonder.

Your heart clenched again. “Stop it, stupid heart.” You mumbled under your breath.

An exhausted sigh escaped your lips when you thought about how you maybe had to walk all the way up to the farm… It would take ages, but you really craved being held by the person you adored so much.

So, you continued walking down through the street when an elder lady stopped you.

“Excuse me, but you look rather sickly, are you alright?” Confused you raised an eyebrow. Did the vaccines make them delusional?

“No, I’m fine.” You answered, somewhat snippy, even when you didn’t know why you were so agitated.

“But you look rather pale, maybe you- I am fine.” You interrupted her and continued your path.

Were all people in this shitty town stupid or- The thought could not be completed, due to you suddenly losing consciousness.

When you woke up again, you immediately recognized one of the Hells Pass Hospital rooms, once your eyes had adjusted to the bright lights. Around the bed were your parents and more importantly Stan and his mother.

“Thank God, you’re awake again!” Your mother said when she went for a hug.

Confused you asked why you were here.

“Well, seemingly you were so stressed out, that your body basically shut down.”

Somewhat shocked you looked around. Was it really a surprise to hear that? Not really, but it still felt odd knowing that it happened.

“Well, I’m glad you’re fine, Y/N.” Misses Marsh commented and smiled warmly at you. She had always liked you and you felt the same. She was always nice to you and you felt like she was the only one with a brain in the family…

Feeling a sudden sensation of warmness on your hand, your eyes darted down to it. Stan held you hand while answering something your dad had asked him.

“Well, Sharon, you wanna accompany us to get some hot chocolate for us all?”

Your mother said with an odd wink, which made you and Stan roll your eyes.

The three adults left the room chatting happily. Stan looked at you with a stern expression, which kind of surprised you.

“I swear, whenever I think I couldn’t get more worried about you, your parents call me, to tell me that you’re in the hospital.”

“Worried? About me? I should be worried about you?” You laughed to which Stan shook his head.

“Listen, everyone has been super worried about you since you seemed so down and just exhausted. Like, Kyle already called me earlier to ask if you’re awake again. I don’t know why you worry about me; I am really fine babe. Promise.”

With that said, the door opened, and your parents came back inside.

“Y/N, the doctor said they would like you to stay the night, so they can check that you’re really alright.” Your father informed you and you were immediately annoyed.

Well, you had no choice but to oblige. Your parents left after an hour, wanting to get you some clothes and other things you’d need.

Sharon also bids her goodbye and so you and Stan were left.

And just like you wished, you got to cuddle with him. He held you close, and you vented to him, how worried you were about everything and everyone, while he told you just how worried all of your friends had been since you were acting so out of character.

“Even Cartman?”

“Yup, even when he would never admit it.” Stan laughed. He held your hand tight, and his content smile never left his face.

“I think we should talk more about feelings and being worried and all that. I know I’m not all that good at it, but I don’t ever wanna have to visit you in a hospital again.” Stan said, giving your hand a squeeze.

“That sounds good. But you gotta accept, I worry a lot, because I care a lot about you, okay?” You said sternly and Stan nodded. You two looked fondly at each other and just enjoyed the time you got.

“Together forever?” You asked and he whispered “Forever.”, before he pressed a sweet kiss onto your lips.

1 with Nina and Jerome 🙌

This took me so long to get to but here it is! (other asks are coming soon, I promise!)

“Nina asks Jerome to do something ‘no questions asked’ and Jerome fears the worst.”

____________________________________________

Anubis House, 9pm.

As a matter of principle, Jerome liked to stay as far away from Nina Martin and her trail of bad luck as much as possible. He learned that lesson early on, but that didn’t mean he stuck to it. He always seemed to get involved with her Scooby gang eventually, even if he didn’t mean to. They were nothing but trouble, and he had more than enough of his own.

So when his phone rang at 9pm one night and he saw her contact name, he almost chucked his phone under his bed. Against his better judgement though, he answered it.

“Is this a butt dial?” he asked, hoping to quickly communicate that a call at this time of night (when she was right upstairs, mind you) was not welcome.

“I’m cashing in my favor,” she said, cutting right to the chase.

“I’m sorry?” He raised his eyebrows.

“I need you to do something for me ‘no questions asked,’” she said.

Jerome stopped. “Absolutely not...” he started to say, but she cut him off.

“You owe me a ‘no questions asked,’” she said.

“I do not…” Jerome scoffed, but she once again interrupted.

“Valentine’s Day, last year,” she said. “Need I remind you?”

“Okay! Okay, I remember,” he said quickly. Ugh. Why the hell did he ask her of all people to help? He had hoped she would forget and never cash in, but apparently today was the day.

He couldn’t believe he was on the hook for a girl who had even more enemies and sketchy night activities than he did. It was equally likely she would ask him to help her find a nerdy signed book as a present for Fabian as it was that she would ask for help burying a body. He hoped for the former.

There was nothing he could do. A “no questions asked” was binding at Anubis. He was indebted and it was time to cash in.

He sighed. “Fine, what do I need to do?”

“Meet me in the Frobisher Library, 11pm. Bring your noise-cancelling headphones, a headlamp, and a trowel,” Nina said. The second she was done talking, she hung up.

“God dammit…” said Jerome.

____________________________________________

Frobisher Library, 11pm.

“We better not be burying a body, Martin,” said Jerome three hours later when he walked into the library and found her sitting in the dark with a heavy looking satchel over her shoulder.

“I’m surprised you actually came,” said Nina.

“Despite what you might’ve heard, I pay my debts,” he said.

He gestured to his equipment. “What’s all this for then?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I meant what I said: no questions. Let’s go.”

She walked over the bookshelf and pressed the button to make it swing open. Great, Jerome thought. He didn’t know what he expected when she asked him to meet there of all places, but he had hoped going down into the tunnels wasn’t on the agenda.

There was still time to escape. But at what cost? If he ran now, Nina would undoubtedly spill the details of his humiliating Valentine’s “no questions asked.” He really couldn’t live with that. He sucked it up and followed her inside.

____________________________________________

The Tunnels, 11:15pm.

Down in the tunnels, it was worse than Jerome remembered. Granted, the only time he’d ever been down there was when he was running for his life, so he hadn’t taken his time to peruse.

It was also freezing. He rubbed his arms as he trailed behind Nina, wondering how she wasn’t shivering.

It was true what everyone said about her; she really was unphased by stuff like this: subterranean tunnels, deadly tasks, et cetera. She’d changed since last year. She was always a bit of a daredevil, but he remembered her in the history classroom, shaking with fear, tearful at the thought of their teachers tipping the scales.

Now though, she walked past chilling stone rooms haunted by the ghosts of deadly tasks completely steady, jaded even. Speaking of ghosts, from the rumours Jerome heard, Nina spoke to spirits regularly, like it was normal. She kind of terrified him.

He was really scared of whatever she was leading him to. After all, they didn’t have the best track record in their relationship. He’d betrayed her when her life was at stake, not once, but two times. Granted, both times he didn’t know her life was at stake, but it didn’t make it any better really. Plus, Nina notoriously held grudges. He just hoped she wasn’t leading him to his doom.

“Okay, here it is,” she said finally.

She stopped in front of a dusty trap door. It looked like an ancient air vent. Jerome looked around; this couldn’t be what she meant.

She opened the hatch door and crouched down. Jerome peaked inside. It was pitch dark. He switched on the headlamp and shined it inside.

“Oh god…” he said. Behind the door was a long, dark, dusty tunnel that, for all he knew, led straight to the depths of hell. In the quiet between each of their breaths, he could hear a distant, dull roar coming from inside.

Nina tied her hair up into a ponytail. “Okay, I need the stuff you brought,” she said, holding out her hand. She strapped the headlamp to her forehead, tucked the trowel into her back pocket, and put the headphones around her neck.

“If you hear me screaming, don’t panic,” she said – easily the most alarming thing anyone had ever said to him. “I won’t really be in danger. The only time you’re allowed to come in and help me, is if you see the walls collapsing.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Jerome said. “This is insane! What the hell are you doing in there?”

“You’re on a strictly need-to-know basis,” Nina said. He dropped it. He knew no amount of questioning would make her budge.

He also knew something else: if he left right now and refused to help, she would 100% do whatever it is she’s doing on her own. That was how they were the same; they were both stubborn, sometimes to the point of self-destruction. The least he could do was stay there and make sure she didn’t self-destruct.

“Fine,” he said. He had so many bad feelings about this — about why they were here in the dead of night, about why she asked him of all people, about what was in that tunnel, and about what the hell she had in that satchel.

As she steeled herself to enter, he got his answer to the last question. The flap of her bag shifted and Jerome spotted an unmistakable flash of gold. The Cup of Ankh.

His eyes went wide. Before he could say anything, she put on the headphones and disappeared into the tunnel.

____________________________________________

The Tunnels, 11:30pm.

It was agonizing waiting for Nina to reappear. He only brought one headlamp, so he sat in the dark of the tunnels, listening to the wind pass through and rustle the dead ivy twigs and leaves on the ground.

He didn’t hear anything in the tunnel once Nina entered. He watched her crawl in, the headlamp casting eerie, moving shadows on the dirt of the cave. But eventually, Nina and her light disappeared.

His ears had never been more peeled as he listened for any sign of struggle or danger. He had no idea what she meant when she said he might hear her scream. Did she mean in pain? In fear? It didn’t even matter because she told him to stay put anyway. He didn’t know if he could do that.

For now, he listened for signs of rubble falling. What would he do if it collapsed? If she was buried alive? He shuddered. Being buried alive sounded almost as bad as his worst fear. Almost.

Thinking about it made his skin crawl. He got up to pace and walk it off.

He looked to his left and saw a long stone beam stretched over a dark pit. Light streamed in from the moon through a grate in the ceiling. He peered into the pit, but it descended into darkness. He kicked a pebble into it. He didn’t hear a sound until nearly a minute later.

“What the hell is this place?” Jerome whispered. Not only was it architecturally impossible, but it was also clearly full of horrors and death traps. No wonder the Scooby gang wasn’t afraid of his ghost stories anymore.

He kicked another rock into the pit, but while he was waiting for the drop, he heard a noise from in the tunnel. It was a distant whimper — Nina. He paused, listening for another noise.

“Ahhhh!!” Nina shrieked.

Jerome ran to the tunnel. “Nina?” he shouted. “Hello!” She didn’t answer. She didn’t scream again.

He knew what she told him. Stay there, don’t react, it’s fine. He knew something else though: she was stupidly reckless. His heart was pounding. For all he knew, she could be dying in there, all alone, and he was doing nothing.

It was normally his M.O. to stand by, let other people deal with their problems while he dealt with his. He did that all year. He saw his friends sneaking out at night, jumping at the slightest noise, clutching burning brand marks, turning pale at the dinner table — and he ignored it. Not this time.

He pushed up his sleeves, steeled himself, and crawled into the darkness.

He couldn’t see anything at all, it was totally dark, but he crawled forward. “Nina!” he called. “I’m coming to find you. And this is the worst ‘no questions asked’ ever!”

She didn’t respond. He listened hard, but he couldn’t hear her screaming. He couldn’t even hear her telling him off for coming in. Instead, he heard dripping. He crawled forward.

Drip. Drip. Drip. He followed the noise. It was all he had to go off of. He still couldn’t see Nina or her headlamp.

The drip sped up to a steady stream. He heard a babble, like the sound of a tiny stream. Where the hell is water coming from, he thought.

“Nina?” he shouted. “What the hell!” Jerome’s hand sunk into a puddle. When he pulled it out, it was covered in slippery mud. He wished he could see. He kept crawling against his better judgment, but then he felt it: water rising.

All around him, he felt freezing water seep out of the ground. A moment later, he felt a drip from above. “What…” He stopped in his tracks. The water was rising. Panic set in.

He was petrified. He didn’t know whether to turn around or find Nina. The water started to pour in heavy streams from the top of the tunnel. It soaked his hair and his clothes. It was freezing cold.

“Nina!” he shouted desperately. Please let this be a dream, he thought. “Nina!”

He pushed his hair out of his eyes but it did nothing because he couldn’t even see. His pulse pounded in his ears. He remembered when this fear started — the day at the beach, his first time at the coast. He nearly died. Alone. This time he wouldn’t be lucky enough to catch the current to shore.

He spit out water and coughed. He sat back onto his heels. The water was at his waist. “Nina!!”

Then he heard her, her voice like a dual-edged sword: sharp on one side and terrified on the other. “Jerome! What are you doing? I told you to stay —” She was cut off by a rush of water from the ceiling. It splashed into their faces.

He couldn’t see her at all, but when the water drained from his ears, he could hear her choke and cough.

“We have to get out!” she yelled. Another rush of water descended on them. Jerome tilted his chin toward the ceiling. He couldn’t stand to put his face underwater. It terrified him.

A horrible rumble moved through the tunnel. All of a sudden, Nina’s headlamp glitched back to life. She was right beside him, soaking wet and squinting in the light. The water was murky brown and nearly a meter deep. Jerome was petrified.

Nina, however, shouted, “Let’s go!” She started paddling toward the entrance. Jerome couldn’t. He couldn’t do it.

“Wait!” he shouted, but before he could do anything, he heard the rumble again and a huge wave of water descended on him from the back of the cave.

It was so powerful that it pushed him and Nina back. He knocked into the walls of the cave and flipped onto his back as the wave shoved him. He was completely disoriented, flipping back and forth, hitting the floor, suffocating from the lack of oxygen, until finally the wave dumped them out in a heap onto the cold concrete floor of the tunnels. Water flooded out in waves behind them.

Jerome kneeled on the ground, choking and gasping. His heart pounded. His skin was frozen.

“What the hell?” he shouted when he caught his breath. His vocal cords were wrecked.

He looked up at Nina. She kneeled in a heap on the ground, coughing up water. “I’m sorry,” she exclaimed. “You weren’t supposed to go in there,” she said.

Jerome laid down on the cold floor. He heard the roar of crashing waves, all in his memories.

____________________________________________

The Grounds, 11:50pm.

They walked back to Anubis in silence. With every step, their shoes squeaked and squelched with water. Jerome was freezing. He looked over at Nina; she was shaking. It reminded him of that night in the history classroom. He noticed her satchel was now empty.

“Answers, now,” Jerome said.

Nina sighed, but she didn’t argue. “I had to bury something down there,” she said.

“The Cup,” he said. Nina stared at him. “I saw it in your bag.” He didn’t ask how it survived the furnace.

“Then you can understand why it needed to be hidden somewhere no one would ever go looking for it,” she said. “The tunnel was part of the tasks. It shows you your worst fear.”

“No kidding,” Jerome scoffed. He looked at her, but she stared off into the distance. He couldn’t help it; he wondered what the hell she saw in there. He didn’t ask.

“I asked you to come because no one in Sibuna would have let me do what I just did.”

“For once I agree with them,” he said.

“Well, I had it handled,” she said. “I’d done it before, so I knew what I was getting into.”

“Yeah, until we almost drowned,” he stressed. Just saying the word struck fear in his heart. His skin froze all over again.

“That’s why I said to stay where you were,” she said. “I never wanted you to get mixed up in that.” She ran a hand through her soaked hair and sighed. “I’m sorry I got you into that mess.”

Jerome nodded, his version of accepting an apology.

Nina half-grinned. “Trust me, I really thought you’d be the one person on earth who would actually mind your business when I told you to,” she joked.

He cracked a smile. “Trust me, normally I would have.” But when he thought about it, he’d stuck his neck out for her kind of a lot. He realized with a shock that she had done the same for him, and she probably would again if given the choice.

“Well, Martin, after tonight I believe you owe me at least three ‘no questions asked,’” he said. She probably owed him a couple hundred actually, but he was feeling generous.

She sighed. “That’s fair,” she said.

They reached Anubis finally. They ditched their soaking shoes and socks outside and snuck in the house. Jerome shuffled off to his room, eager to rid himself of his soaking clothes and the memory of this night forever, but Nina stopped him.

“Jerome,” she whispered. He squinted at her through the darkness. “Thanks.”

“You live a weird life, Martin,” he said, his way of saying “you’re welcome.” She was the most reckless person he has ever met, but he had to admit, she had guts.

That was how Jerome learned to never request a favor from Nina Martin ever again, no matter how many embarrassing things he did on Valentine’s Day.

____________________________________________

Valentine’s Day, 2011 (one year ago).

Nina knocked on Mara and Patricia’s bedroom door, staring at the text she got from Jerome.

A second later, Jerome opened the door and stepped outside, looking panicked.

“What the hell is a ‘no questions asked?’” she asked.

“No questions!” he whisper-shouted. He grabbed her wrist and tugged her into the room.

The room was covered in pink frills, plush stuffed animals, glitter, and red hearts. A string quartet sat on Patricia’s bed. When they saw Nina, they readied their instruments and started to play.

“NO!” Jerome shouted, more desperate than angry. “It’s not her.” He turned to Nina, “Help me get rid of it!” he pleaded.

Nina’s jaw was on the floor. “What the…”

“No. Questions. Asked,” Jerome hissed.

vent below the cut (cw death)

it feels so very weird and bad to have to be preparing to write a midterm tomorrow after finding out yesterday that my former resident from when i worked as an RA at my university last year just died. and nobody has said what happened yet and i don't think they're going to, but what i've heard from my residents and the way they talk about it makes me pretty sure it was suicide and i'm just...... that whole group of kids was so wonderful, in my three years working as an RA they were my best group, they were all so kind and so tightly knit because of their circumstances - they were all first years during the height of the pandemic and there were only 50 of them total in the building, and when you mix that with a lot of the traditions of that specific residence it made them all so close, they were truly like a little family, and when you're one of the people tasked with keeping them safe and taking care of them they really feel like your kids in a way, you know what i mean?

like i met this person on the very first day he moved in, i reassured his worried parents before they left him that he would be okay and we'd all be watching out for him and all the other students, i watched him transition from an awkward, gangly, barely out of high school kid to someone so much more confident, i watched him find his footing and start figuring out who he really was now that he was off on his own away from home. i watched him and all the other kids grow closer and i took care of him on the nights he drank too much, and i had conversations with my other RA friends about how he seemed like the type of kid who would be a little reckless through university but would end up growing up into someone who was really steady and really kind. and now he's just gone, he's dead at 19, and i don't really know how to cope with that because it doesn't even feel real

and i almost feel stupid for reacting so strongly because we were never really friends in that sense just by virtue of me being so much older and being in somewhat of a position of authority over him (although honestly none of us were all that strong on enforcing the rules that year), but still i knew him, we talked about music and star trek and his classes and always said hi when we saw each other around the building, i helped him find his footing in that really difficult transition period where you've just left home and you don't know how to be on your own yet, and honestly when you're in that job you feel such a responsibility for those kids even once it's no longer your job to be responsible for them, and it's just like. how can i even begin to come to terms with the fact that he will never grow up? he will never get to become that person we saw him slowly becoming?

and god, all of my other kids - they're all still so close, like even when they moved out of residence at the end of last school year most of them moved into houses together, and now they have to deal with one of their friends just dying. again. because they just went through this, they just grieved like this because in september another one of them killed himself. 6 months ago they all got together and grieved, they watched his funeral when it was livestreamed by his parents, they worked with the school and planted a tree in his honour and added his number to the residence team's hockey jerseys and they sold masks to raise money for the organization his parents set up, and they've all still been healing from that loss and now it's happened again. they have to do it all over again when none of them should ever have to worry about something like this at that age.

and it's just so hard to even stop thinking about it at all, let alone focus on anything else, but i have to write a midterm tomorrow and i need to focus because i have to study but god how am i even supposed to just keep going like that? like everything is the same and nothing happened at all? i don't understand any of it and i don't know how i'm supposed to deal with it

Can you tell us more about your author au, back in action au, and Notre duck au? Sorry if I'm asking for a lot but I just saw them on your AU list and they caught my interest 😅

Haha sure! I haven’t worked on any of them in a while but here we go! It’s a bit long, especially the Back in Action section....

In the Author AU, Donald is an author who works under a pseudonym, so that he and the triplets can have some normalcy in life while also being able to support them comfortably. He’s the author of a best selling series, which is the Paperinik series (maybe in this AU it’ll be called Duck Avenger, idk). 

He began writing the PK stories during highschool, and they were published as shorts regularly in a small magazine. Of course, being a teenager, it began as a fantasy- it was how he vented his frustrations. Gladstone, of course, figured it out, as did Della, but Scrooge had no interest so no one else outside of Donald’s closest circle (that is to say, Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Goofy) knew. It soon grew to be a hero story, rather than a story about vengeance. At this point there are no nephews in the story.

After highschool, his story got picked up by a publishing company and Uno was his agent. He ended up including the character ONE based off of Uno, which Uno is equal parts amused and exasperated by (”Honestly, I thought you said you wanted to be anonymous.”). The two don’t officially become friends, however, until a couple of years later, when Della went missing. Donald had taken a surprisingly dark turn in the story which would have resulted in killing off the main characters, at which point Uno decided to intervene and talk to him. With Uno’s support and growing friendship Donald rewrote the story, keeping the darker tone but ending it on a higher note with all the characters alive and happy.

Donald also gave PK a family of his own, having him be a single father to three children (hinted heavily at them being adopted, after PK saved them as eggs), a decision which forever changed the direction of the books from being about a duck who fights because it’s all he’s good for, to being about a duck who fights because he has something worth fighting for. He and Uno obviously become very close over this time.

Gladstone reads every book that comes out. He always wins a free edition but insists on buying it, as his way of helping Donald out. He uses the tone of each book and the events that happen in them to determine whether or not he needs to come and kick a little sense into Donald.

Donald ultimately concludes the book series after Della comes back, with the story having a happy ending all around. Which definitely includes ONE getting a physical body and joining the family. Unsurprisingly he and Uno get married. Scrooge and the kids find out he’s the author of PK after Scrooge announces his studio bought the movie rights to the film lol. Della and Gladstone are just like “wow seriously, you guys didn’t see the writing clear on the wall?”

--

The Back in Action AU is basically, PK was a TV show and Donald was the titular character, PK. His co-star was Uno, who lent his voice and face to the character ONE (the names of all the characters in PK are changed, ofc, their real names are the actors’ names now, except for Uno and Xadhoom). The entire cast (yes, including Angus Fangus) were a pretty tight-knit family, of a sort. So while Della and Scrooge were adventuring (as he had left the adventure life behind, feeling as if he wasn’t contributing or seen as an equal among the group) he became part of a family of his own. Daisy also played PK’s love interest, though the two of them are actually more like Best Pals. They went to highschool together so. Daisy wasn’t in the main cast and was just a recurring character, as she had a main role in another series.

The triplets in PK were just babies, but PK wasn’t their primary caretaker. They were more like background characters, but occasionally PK would get roped into babysitting them and having to balance watching the children and saving the world because “oh god even if I stop the Evronian invasion if any of their feathers get singed my sister will kill me!” (Note, PK’s sister was only seen in photos and was a blonde, like in the original comics. You can hear her voice now and then though)

Donald was close with everyone (oh the bloopers he and Angus had.... and of course the Evronians, something ALWAYS went wrong with their costumes!) but Uno became his best friend (and his almost-more). The series was the most popular thing on TV for a while, and Gladstone and Fethry were so proud of their brother cousin and so sad that Scrooge and Della were missing the best moments of his life. Gladstone and Fethry are much more involved in Donald’s life than Della and Scrooge are in this AU. That isn’t to say they don’t all love each other very much, it’s just Della and Scrooge’s interests laid elsewhere.

Anyway, every series hits its end, and more often than not it comes much faster than planned. PK ended a whole season sooner than expected, due to the sudden buyout of their studio and the new owners choosing to shut PK down in favour of one of their own shows (couldn’t afford both at the same time, and their own show had a smaller budget). So the series ended on the cliffhanger of PK losing ONE and (Lyla’s character), the Evronians being defeated and PK choosing to hang up his cape because of just how much that final battle cost him. It was an ending that angered many people, extremely upsetting especially knowing that it hadn’t been the planned ending of the series.

The entire cast and crew split up, most still staying in acting but a few leaving. Donald went back to adventuring with Scrooge and Della while Uno went back to Italy with his brothers (Due and Tre, the former of which played a major part in 2-3 episodes) to work in their father’s lab. They ended up falling out of contact (not by their own choice, just due to the nature of their jobs). Then a few years later Della went missing and Donald was left caring for her three children- it was a bit ironic, perhaps.

In the 10-12 years Donald was taking care of them, a “sequel” movie and a spinoff came to be with different actors and stories, but neither were well received because they lacked the “spirit” and charm of the original series. Especially the spinoff, which was animated in a very Saturday-morning style.

The triplets don’t really know about the OG PK, only knowing it by the spinoff, or that their uncle used to be a big name actor. However, 10 or so years later it’s announced that PK is coming back.... with the original writers and actors (except for the kids). Including Donald Fauntleroy Duck, the actor who played the titular PK. They are shook.

The original children who played PK’s nephews were unavailable (”We were like 2 during all that, we really don’t care”) and, besides that, had already aged out of the roles (the comeback was a Ten Years Later kind of deal, and it had been more like 14 or 15 since the end of the show, so the original kids were already mid-late teens. Therefore, when the director discovered Donald was now caring for his three nephews (convenient that there were three) he suggested they play the role of the triplets. Donald left it up to the triplets, under the stipulation that they would have minor roles (as the triplets always did) and this wouldn’t interfere with school.

They actually made a whole new role for Webby in the show! Because the triplets agreed on the condition that Webby gets to join them. And that’s how Webby began to play the triplets’ younger sister. The director decided to take a page out of Donald’s real life and wrote PK’s sister out (this was also partially because the actress had died) so PK was now being a full-time father to his kids who had no idea who he really was.

But then Donald finds out that not only is Lyla there, not only is Angus there... so is Uno. Uno and both of his brothers. It’s quite a reunion. And of course everyone expects Donald’s most emotional reunion to be with Daisy, but no. It’s Uno. And Uno is the one he ends up on the front of a magazine with lol.

Also yeah they get married :3

Man I think I may have overspoke about this one XD But I really enjoy this one what can I say jkkghfdsjlk

--

Notre Duck!! That’s another one I enjoy though it isn’t as in-depth as the last. So basically Everett came to Earth, and it’s kinda like.... a Duck version of medieval times. He came here for inspiration, then ended up building Uno, who became like a son to him. However, when other flesh-and-blood ducks realized he was an android, they became fearful and called him a monster, and tried to attack and run him out of town.

After that, Everett hid him away in a tower attached to a church, where no one but the church staff would go. He didn’t want to lose his android son. But Uno watches the world below his tower change, dreaming of a day when he could go out there too.

One day he meets Donald, who is a street performer with an association to Scrooge McDuck, a king in a neighboring kingdom. Donald finds out very quickly that he is an android and doesn’t judge him for it, instead encouraging him to leave the tower because “life is about the adventure.” This, of course, does not sit well with Everett, who forbids Uno from leaving the tower or seeing Donald.

Donald is wanted by the lord of the city, who wants to use him against Scrooge (and earn favour with his own king). There’s no creepy old men lusting after young women and no slurs being used casually so.

Also anyway this actually spawned from me imagining Uno to the song Out There so yeah.

I need me some Hop. Head cannons of Hop with a SO that used to be a Team Skull admin...? (Partner Pokémon is Houndoom. I love DoomDoggos.) thanks!!!

This is !!! such an interesting idea! I love it, I had so many ideas right off the bat! Thank you sm and I hope you enjoy!

ALSO !! GOd I LOVEEE HOP , this is my first writing for a character from SwSh and I’m so glad it’s about my boy :’D

THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SUN AND MOON GAMES

Hop x Former Team Skull Admin Headcanons

After all of the.. events in Alola and the disbanding of Team Skull, you moved to the Galar region for a fresh start. You took your partner pokemon with you, the strongest of your team, but you were excited to catch some cool Galarian friends as well. 

You considered doing the gym challenge as far as you could go, it’d be a good way to vent your emotions and bond with you new pokemon, growing stronger as you did. 

So you went to the pokemon lab in the little town of Wedgehurst, planning to get a pokedex and try to persuade the professor for an endorsement.

There you met Hop, he was maybe two years younger than you but still ATTRACTIVE. Who knew the first Galarian boy you met would be so cute???? 

Honestly, Hop was pretty intimidated when he first saw you, for a few reasons. One, he had never met someone so gorgeous?? WHO were you and where did you come from? You certainly weren’t from around here

Even though you weren’t wearing your old Team Skull gear, your outfit was still a bit edgier, a bit darker, and bolder than the normal streetwear throughout Galar. That and the scary, strong looking pokemon by your side, and Hop was shaking in his boots.

Hop was also insanely intrigued. Yeah, he was intimidated, but he kinda liked it. He liked how his heart sped up and he felt kinda shaky around you. You were a real mystery to him, a crazy cute mystery. 

Turns out Hop was there for the same reason, and soon you got sucked into a full fledged gym challenge along with Hop. Being from Alola, you never had the chance to do an actual gym challenge, the island trials proved difficult for your younger self. The Galar region took trainers and gym challenges very, very seriously, it seemed more so than any other region you heard of.

After you left the pokemon lab, Hop asked for a battle, you obliged, and you absolutely smoked him. This only got Hop more intrigued. He declared you his official rival, claiming he had to beat you before he could ever have the chance to beat his older brother, Leon. 

His brother was the Champion??? You thought it was a really crazy coincidence you ran into the younger brother of the Galar Region Champion. Given, you had never heard of Leon before now, but it was still wild. 

You didn’t really have any place to stay, since you had just moved. It was an impulse decision really, so you spend most nights camped out in the wilds or on the sides of routes between paths. Sort of unnervingly, Hop ends up at your camp most nights. He spends a lot of time just hanging around for someone who is your ‘rival.’ But you don’t mind, he’s easy to talk to, friendly and funny, and his smile seems to shine brighter than the stars that keep you company each night.

Hop is eager to learn more about you, he pesters you about your personal life. You told him you moved to Galar just for ‘a change’ but he knew there was something more. He respected your boundaries and knew you’d tell him when you were ready, if you ever were. 

Side note, Hop absolutley LOVES your Alolan accent, and the relaxed, more slang like way of speaking you picked up from Team Skull.

You and Hop were growing closer and closer from your late nights spent around the campfire. He was getting stronger too, you could tell from the battles you shared after each gym challenge you completed, side by side. If you were honest, you might have been developing a minor crush on Hop. You didn’t necessarily come to the Galar region looking for love, and it certainly wasn’t on your mind with all the training you knew you’d have to do to finish your gym challenge, but you couldn’t stop the blush when Hop nervously complimented you after each battle.

One early morning Hop was helping you and your pokemon clean up the camp you had shared the previous night. You bag was sat against a log, open, as you packed up your things to put in it. One of your pokemon ran by, knocking it over, and out spilled your Team Skull pendant. 

Hop picked it up, curious, and trying to help. “Cool necklace! What is it? I don’t ever see you wearing it!”

You never did wear it, you just kept it around to remember your friends by, you didn’t really mean to do too much harm during your time in Team Skull, and you certainly didn’t want to forget about the family you had found in them. 

And so with a sigh, you explained. You didn’t really want people to know, especially since the entire world knew about what had happened in Alola, even way out in the Galar region.

You explained to Hop that Team Skull wasn’t really behind anything, they were used as scapegoats for the Aether Foundation, and unfortunately found themselves stuck in a very sticky situation. You felt bad for your ex-boss, Guzma. He was a good guy deep down, just very misguided. You and him were pretty close friends while you were still in Alola and you had been meaning to call to check in on him.

Hop didn’t seem to mind. “I mean, you’ve proven yourself to be such a nice person to me! I’m not going to think any differently of you based on your past! I, uh, I like you, a lot, and this doesn’t change anything, Y/N.”

Sometimes love just has its way of finding you when you least expect it. That’s what happened when you met Hop, your rival, best friend, and boyfriend. 

Are these even HEADCANONS ???? LOL WHAT DID I WRITE

God I love ur writing style so I trust ur taste: any fic recs? (doesn’t have to be BKDK, but u know

OOOOOOOOOOOOO OKAY! HERE WE GO!

Before I start, I want you to know that I tried to tag all the big bad warnings, but PLEASE CHECK TAGS on the fic itself before reading in case I’ve missed anything! Now, my favorite bkdk fics vary a lot. There are, of course, the ones a lot of people know:

Before Midnight by @driftingglass~[Explicit] (28/28) (211K words)

Warnings: -Graphic Depiction of Violence, Underage-

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11353440/chapters/25410591

Izuku Midoriya takes the same train to and from school Monday through Friday, morning and night. His only company during these lonesome hours comes in the form of another boy his age—a teen with scarred hands and blood gem eyes, a stranger with ash-blond hair who walks in a shroud of danger and mystery. "Would you stop with that fucking muttering, idiot?"And before Izuku can find his footing, his life becomes a full-blown collision course thanks to walking cannonball Katsuki Bakugou. (And along the way he may have found the missing fuel to his fire).

Bluebird by EtherealBing ~ [Explicit] (7/7) (53K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11353440/chapters/25410591

Dialing a wrong number was no unusual occurrence. Everyone did it once in a while, and Katsuki was well aware of that fact.However, possessing this knowledge made it no less aggravating for him to discover — a full two minutes into his rant about his day — that he’d been venting his frustrations to a complete stranger. As if that wasn't enough, said stranger was also inexplicably determined to hear his story to its end.

Don’t Set Your Drink Down by @crandberrycrush ~ [Explicit] (21/21) (88K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13868400/chapters/31903419

With sudden clarity Izuku realized he had broken the first rule of going out. Never leave your drink unattended.

And then there are the lesser known, but insanely good ones I LOVE:

Twenty-Four by SharkbaitSekki ~ [Teen] (1/1) (15K words)

Warnings: -Graphic Depictions of Violence-

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13167162

Izuku gets himself kidnapped, and Katsuki is dragged into it with him as they face villains with particularly terrifying illusion Quirks. It ends up being a living nightmare, but Katsuki can't bring himself to regret following Izuku into it all. Because between the pain and the terror, between the lies and the illusions, between life and death, at least they can always hang onto one another. Even if everything else is fake, they know that they will always be real.

Two Guys and Lots of Fries by hottamale ~ [Explicit] (1/1) (3K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17421971

“Ten Guys! I wanna go to Ten Guys; they have the best french fries,” he smiled while looking at Katsuki expectantly.Katsuki frowned. “We just passed it though.”“So turn around.”“And waste my gas? Shits expensive Deku.”Izuku breathed in, held his breath for a moment, and let it back out. He put a hand on Katsuki’s bicep and blinked up at him, bottom lip jutting out into a pout. “Please? I’ll make it up to you.”

And the classics like:

Indestructible (Emotionally Speaking, That Is) by iknewaman ~ [Explicit] (1/1) (8.8K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13314555

“Alright, buddy,” Katsuki says, swatting at the weeping guy with the broom. “Time to clear out.”--AU where Bakugou works at the cinema and Izuku is the cinema-goer who keeps coming in to cry at sad movies

~And then there are the non-BNHA fics I ADORE~ 

First, for Mob Psycho:

Butterfly Effect by Frecklefrog ~ [Teen] (17/17) (69K Words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11613168/chapters/26108970

“Go, Mob, melt it!” screeches Reigen, and Mob extends his hand, already coated with the swirling blue discs of his aura. Only-Only he can’t exorcise the spirit, because there isn’t one, and the boy is staring at him with wide blue eyes. His hand is glowing the same yellow as the basket.(in which Teruki meets Mob much, much earlier.)

Then there’s Drarry:

Who We Are In The Shadows by Quicksilvermaid ~ [Explicit] (12/12) (99.7K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21758962/chapters/51913963

What happens when you’re forced to become the very thing you despise? Ex-Auror Harry Potter, tossed out of the Ministry for something he had no control over, has been looking for a way back to his former life. When he comes across Draco Malfoy in the criminal underbelly of Wizarding London and in need of protection, Harry figures bringing him in to face the Ministry's justice is his ticket back to everything he's lost. But nothing is exactly as it seems. Not even Harry himself. And as he gets drawn further and further into Malfoy's world of honour and deception he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew—about his childhood nemesis, the Ministry job he misses so much, and most of all, about himself. What happens when you’re forced to see that you were wrong?

The Masks of Real Heroes by Aelys_Althea ~ [Explicit] (30/30) (272K words)

Warnings: Rape/Noncon, Child Abuse, Underage

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4526436/chapters/10298916

One desperate decision has unimaginable consequences. When Harry received his letter at eleven, he turned down the offer to attend Hogwarts. He had to; it was his only chance to escape. Five years later and, in the brief moments he recalls his decision, he feels nothing but regret. Until an incident causes the opportunity to arise once more, and he is finally given the chance to escape that which has smothered him for so long.

Zukka (Zuko/Sokka from ATLA):

Transference by The_Quartermaster ~ [Mature] (39/39) (146K words)

Warnings: Untagged Rape and Abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1064352/chapters/2134852

In a modern AU, Zuko has to deal with settling in a new school after expulsion, dealing with an angry ex and an abusive father. Maybe his new found friendships and growing closeness with Sokka will help him make it through.

Jeanmarco (Jean Kirschtein x Marco Bodt) from Attack on Titan:

Sweet as Cinnamon by SimplyTsundere ~ [Explicit] (46/46) (226K Words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5843308/chapters/13467421

Wrightvale, Georgia - Sergeant Marco Bodt receives a call about a noise complaint in his own apartment building while on duty. Surprisingly, the call was for the new neighbor that moved in the night before. The door opens to a very intoxicated Jean Kirschtein who mistakes the good officer for the male stripper his friends had hired for his welcome party. Hilarious antics ensue in a tale about how two broken people learn to put the pieces together with one another after life has dealt them a rather unfortunate hand of cards that may or may not come back to haunt."Qui craint de souffrir, il souffre déjà de ce qu’il craint." ~ "He who fears suffering is already suffering that which he fears." Jean de La Fontaine

And lastly, TianShan (Mo Guan Shan x He Tian) from 19 Days:

Always Will by Mestizo ~ [General Audience] (1/1) (777 words)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20593730

There are days when he wakes up from another time and then starts to ask him about school, homework, part time jobs. And Mo GuanShan responds as if only a day has passed since their teenage years ended.

Sticking Around by @agapaic ~ [Mature] (2/2) (14K words)

https://archiveofourown.org/users/mynameis152/bookmarks

‘You’re awfully bold lately.’I know, Guan Shan thinks. Love is making me stupid and brave.‘D’you mind?’ he asks. He knows his gestures of affection are hard to win—harder to receive of their own accord. Something—this morning’s epiphany—has made him want to give them more freely. But he was right, earlier: He Tian likes the challenge. Fear stabs at him, precise. Maybe He Tian won’t want him anymore.‘Not in the slightest,’ He Tian replies.

nothing’s gonna hurt you, baby by @agapaic ~ [Mature] (7/7) (50K Words)

Warning: Graphic Depiction of Violence

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14886551/chapters/34474985

Guan Shan's father leaves his family for work in New York at the beginning of the First World War — and is never heard from again. In the autumn of 1928, thirteen years later, Guan Shan makes his own way to lower Manhattan's Little China to find him, with only the name of the man who signed his father's contract.When he finds himself falling into the world of America's Roaring Twenties and Tong Wars, and everyone he meets is not quite as they seem, finding his father turns out to be much more complicated than he’d thought.

Hush by @agapaic ~ [Explicit] (6/6) (26K words)

Warning: Rape/NonCon, Underage

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8380123/chapters/19198165

He Tian sees something he shouldn’t, and something he almost wishes he hasn’t. He’s never been a very good knight in shining armour.

Honestly, if you’re into 19 Days and TianShan I recommend everything by Agapaic! They’re my favorite writer on AO3~ 

I hope this gives you an idea of what I read and maybe you find one of your favorites too! Enjoy!

Venting

You ever come to the realization that you're self-sabotaging?  

So, I’m being evicted from my residence of almost a decade because my landlord is selling the property.  I have 60 days to get myself, my son, and my cat to somewhere that is Not Here. 

My four most reasonable options are to Rent someplace new, to Buy someplace new, to get a relatively inexpensive RV to give us a place to live and some breathing room, or take my brother up on his offer to move in with him.

The latter offer is the only reason I'm even functional in the face of the mess I would be otherwise.  It's an amazing safety net and a surprisingly sweet gesture, Love you BuBu.  

But I cannot stress enough how little moving back to Texas appeals to me.  I am queer and liberal.  I have almost no friends that I don't work with and I only really hang out with like... two of those outside of work.  Texas is fucking HOT.  I do not miss it hitting 100° somewhere in April and not dropping til September, not even a tiny little bit.  And it's probably one of the 5 states I'd least want to even visit while the pandemic is still going strong.  And I really don't want to go backwards job-wise.  I have actually run a few job searches in the general vicinity and the few I think I'd have a real shot at (I am DONE with foodservice, I don't give any fucks what anyone thinks about it) either pay a fraction of what I make now with shit benefits or they throw around a lot of buzz words that tell me that they're really only going to consider former cops or very recent former military.  

So, Texas with the bro is an option that I am definitely glad to have on the table, but it's the last on the list for a reason.  

Okay, so then there's renting.  Ye gods, there really isn't.  Renting here has always been a problem because of the way the rental market is catered solely to the military.  Rent is expensive.  Places insist on a renter making 3x’s the rent so they can weed out most of the non-military applicants. Half of the places I've looked into either don't allow pets or charge a 'pet rent' as well as a pet deposit and a couple of other random pet related fees.  Like guys, that's why the pet deposit, but whatever.  Like part of me would prefer to rent just because of the familiarity and the lesser responsibility.  Like, if something goes wrong with your apartment, the buck does not stop with you.  It stops with the landlord.  And that?  That's nice.  Familiar and safe(r).  I like that.  Most of the places I can afford are single bedroom and while the spawn and I can live with that, most of those listings are bitchy about "1 bedroom, 1 occupant unless a couple!"  (or I even saw one or two strongly insisting 1b/1o).  And who's to say another landlord won't sell the property out from under me again?  >_>. Also, there's so few rentals even available currently - at any price.

The RV is my spawn’s preferred choice.    We've scoured the local markets and we've found a few rigs we could maybe scrounge up funds for if we work at it. Nice ones, too.  Like, I've lived in much shittier actual houses.  And there's an RV park neatly between where the spawn and I each work that would mean neither of us would have to drive/be driven to work.  That alone would save me a few hours of sleep and stress.  The monthly fee isn't anymore than the rent on this place.  Cheaper maybe, when factoring in that utility hookups that are included vs the house expenses.  Of course, RVs can run through massive amounts of gas and propane, the former less of if you're parked the entire time, but the later even more in that case.  There are a few listings I've found that are rigged with solar panels or rigged for solar.  That drops the propane a lot according to my research.  And if I were to do the build-a-house thing later, it'd give us a roof over our heads while we got that done.  Or if we suddenly did end up choosing the Texas option later for some reason, that trip could made easily and in relative comfort.  This option allows for the most long-term flexibility, but there's a lot of risk involved just in that I haven't worked on an engine in over 20 years and an RV and a car are very different.  So, I keep vacillating violently between thinking this is the very best option possible and that this is Russia and I am Napoleon.  I'm giving myself whiplash at this point.

Which leaves the very last option.  Buying.  There are two major personal points here and boy are they contradictory.  #1 - I would absolutely love to own my own place where everything was decided on by ME.  My vision.  My paradise.  Ideally, actually built by me (you know what I mean, don't give me that look).  A place I can leave my kids that they'll be able to visit (or live in for the one that lives with me) and remember me and what I love.  #2 - I am also terrified of owning my own place.  Like, on a trauma level.  Events of my childhood showed me the ugly side of what owning a place can do to people.  The idea of how horribly, horribly wrong it can all go leaves me shaky and nauseous and unable to sleep.  The first time it happened, I attributed it to the fact that I was already deeply unhappy in my marriage and the idea of owning a home with him was what was causing it.  Like, one more tie that I couldn’t cut, I guess.  And it probably added to it, but the entire ordeal that is buying and owning a house in the US is its own trigger.  I can't even count the number of times I've started this process and stalled out before it even got off the ground.  Either I put off the initial calls until I forget or it gets too awkward to bother with or I get so nitpicky about tiny details that the process doesn't get very far before everyone is fed up.  I put off steps until it undoes the whole thing.  It's probably just as well that the current prices would take me out of the running anyways. 

If I make it to July without an ulcer, I will count myself very, very lucky.

For the Henry in Hell- maybe N. Balloon Boy, Rockstar Foxy, Scraptrap, and maybe Dave (since Henry wants to talk more with him)?

(Okay, I’m way too fucking tired to make these, but dear god, it’s five AM and I WILL fucking get the Henry in Hell stuff done NOT READ THIS OVER I’LL REGRET THIS AFTER HAVING HAD A NAP. BUT FOR NOW? KICK MY ASS AND CALL ME A CANDY CANE. I’M NOT WASTING MORE TIME. I’LL EDIT IT TOMORROW. ENJOY.)

Does he want to talk to Dave? It’s difficult to say. He wants answers. And Dave seems like the weakest link in the chain. There seemed to be certain beings that influenced how the nights played out. For now, he knew of three for a fact. Most obvious, DeeDee. Henry was considering that perhaps she was connceted to the old man- there was a keen smell of lake water whenever she appeared. At first he hadn’t noticed, but now he couldn’t miss it, no matter how badly his anger flared up when he saw her suddenly jump out from beneath the table, or some sort of black hole of vile darkness, where all the annoying thing festered and cross-bred to create worse and worse- He took a deep breath. Stay calm. … yes, the lake. The lake brought him here, it must have some sort of importance. Being capable of changing the rule of the night… that seemed to be within the lakes domain. Then there was the suit. Of course the suit was special. Remaining behind after the night, during the downtime. Sometimes Helpy and Rockstar Freddy appeared to give advice and little prices ‘for the trouble’, but they never remained for long. Also, both of them were bears. Like the suit. He hadn’t yet found a way to make the suit react to any sort of input from his side, thus testing him and the changes he caused to his environment was almost impossible. Even calling him Goldie drew hardly any reaction from him. The most influence he had seen the suit exert was about the TV program, but his continuous presence still was beyond notable. Now, last was… … Dave. Of course. If there was one person capable of manipulating the souls without even knowing how or that he was even doing it in the first place, it was his purple companion. Sometimes he had wondered if there was such a concept as deliberate chaos manipulation. Another thing he might would have figured out if he would have not been brutally cut off from all his studies. But, no time being bitter. All he need was to figure out the variables at his disposal, then he would be able to manipulate them to his own benefit. There was an exit. This was a trap, a way to contain him, a place consuming energy like any other. And there was a way to shut it down. He merely needed to figure it out. For that, however, he needed to start getting some data. Try out different stimulus. That was what he was ready to do today. He had plenty of positive contact with Dave so far, nothing more seemed to be coming out of it. Despite everything, Dave STILL insisted this here was a great place- and Henry did not care for it. There was nothing he could bribe out of his former friend anymore, he clearly was not being cooperative- so he would show him another side, at the risk of ruining any claim to their friendship forever. … not that there were any traces left after Dave had betrayed him. Valuing his object of obsession over him, spitting in the face of everything Henry had ever done for him. Nightmare Balloon Boy slipped into the room- the night had started. “AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TODAY, TOOTHPICK?” “You will be surprised. I am sure of that…” “YOU THINK YOU CAN SURPRISE ME?” “It is not you I plan to surprise, so it hardly matters.” The animatronic looked at him suspicious. “YOU SEEM VERY CONVINCED ABOUT THIS, SHORTSNACK.” “I am.” That was where Henry stopped the conversation. Saving his energy for the one he was meaning to hurt. He glanced at the Nightmare Balloon Boy, feeling barely anything for him. This creature would not attack- it was too weak to go against the rules, so it would be leering at him while he had the camera up, grinding his teeth. Rockstar Foxy he had actually never met before- and he’d try to avoid him tonight too. For some reason he always had the eerie feeling that this bird would never like him- no matter what he tried. He loved birds a lot. That was why birds tended to stay as far away from him as possible. The plastic nightmare snarked something- But Henry wasn’t listening. He didn’t need him anymore. He didn’t have to talk to him anymore, even if he liked it, even if it was entertaining. Henry’s focus was on one thing only. Dave. Namely, how to rip him apart. Slowly his fingers tapped on the table, as he shortly took down the camera to flash the animatronic in his room, before pulling it back up, looking at the little springtrapped head moving along. … why would the one he shouldn’t have killed give Dave so much ability to manipulate the world around him? To a point that he was even allowed to join him in the office without attacking? Probably because he wanted to see them fight. And frankly- Henry wanted to fight him too. He was tired. And angry. He wanted to face the stupid child and-

Talk to him.

There was no spite for him specifically, in some way he could admire this child and the world he created. The animatronics, all filled with at least some level of personality, and somehow convincing two creatures from beyond to aid him. Yes, there was a lot of raw potential here. Perhaps it could use some guidance. … at least he could TRY. Either he would get out, he would get to teach a high potential being, or- worst case- everything would stay the same. Dear god, this place was BORING him. Boring him like constant nails on chalkboard, boring him like itching teeth and a vile smell. Nothing was truly happening- and it was driving him crazy. Even worse so that Dave claimed this place was great, while still acting as though he was Henry’s best friend. There was something so intensely infuriating about it. It didn’t FEEL like Dave was free himself, but he thought if anyone could help him get out- it would be him. Yet he denied everything- The person who kept him here… All of a sudden a terrible idea grew inside of Henry’s mind. What- What if it was the Orange Guy? At least his long lost soul, biding its time until he could come and- That would explain why Dave was filled with so much life and personality. He WOULD know him. And the guy was extremely talented at convincing those around him to aid his wants. … maybe the child form he had taken on had to do with trauma? Dave himself seemed to have at least a second soul that got stuck back from before his mother died, it would not be too unlikely- not to mention that souls were inherently ageless. Perhaps it had been an act of deception, trying to throw Henry off the trail. Yet- that would leave the question… if the soul was here with him, then what was keeping the Orange Guy alive? He shuddered and tried not to think about it. There had to be something, SOMETHING powering him. Something… No matter what, it would be upsetting to hear his friend being insulted. And his glance on the camera confirmed that it was about to be done. A choice. He had to commit, with his very soul. And he would. The vents rattled, Henry refreshed the ventilation and put down the screen, flashing the Nightmare, before looking up at the vent. Almost instantly, Dave’s eyes shined a pale light out of the darkness. His grin glowed out from under the mask, just to gently shift into innocent confusion. “Henry. Aren’t ‘cha gonna let me in?” Coldly the Pink Man looked at his former friend. “No.” Dave’s grin widened for a moment, thinking it was a little game. “Aw, c’mon! What if I say please? Please lemme in? Pretty please!” “I do not think I will.” It was then that Davetrap caught on that something was going on. His expression shifted again, fully this time around. Worry, confusion and- annoyance. Of course, always the annoyance about defiance, Dave was one and the same as him on this topic. However, Henry at least always had the authority of logic- Dave had nothing, nothing but his unstable emotions and violence to justify his wants and get his way. “… why? What’s the problem, Henry?” “I am done with you.” The word came over Henry’s lips utterly naturally. He meant it. Even as Dave recoiled. The atmosphere in the establishment instantly changed, as well as Dave’s entire expression. It was glowing still, as bright and if not brighter… and plenty of people might misunderstand it as him still having fun, still amused, however Henry knew him better than he knew himself. He knew that was nothing but rage. “What did you say there, friend?” “I told you I am done with you. William, you have done nothing so far but to disappoint me.” There was an art to it- To give just enough of a pause to let the words HURT, but not enough to let a counterargument form- to let any resistance develop. “Frankly, I have given you many chances. Too many changes. Failure after failure was all you brought me however. I put all my effort into you- effort that I could have put into ANYONE else, into a damn PET and it would have served me better.” “You-“ “No. No, William, you do not get to talk. I have kept quiet for too long. Giving you mercy, care, hoping and praying for you to turn into something better- and now look at you. Who do you think you ARE?! Using my generosity? Abusing my patience?! You were useless! You never aided me when it counted, you never LEARNED, you were SELFISH, like an ANIMAL, you were IGNORANT, you were an OBSTACLE- All my WORK, all my LOVE for you, our BOND- It never existed outside of my head, did it?!” “What- Henry, I-“ “WHAT. What do you THINK you can SAY here?! WHAT EXCUSE DO YOU HAVE, I AM DYING TO KNOW! DYING, QUITE LITERALLY, BECAUSE OF YOUR DISLOYALTY, YOU SACRIFICED ME. YOU SACRIFICED ME, AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE WORKED FOR. YOU HAVE NO DIGNITY. YOU HAVE NOTHING YOU CARE ABOUT. YOU ARE A SHAM! A SHELL OF A PERSON! A HEARTLESS MONSTER! AND NOT EVEN ONE OF THOSE THAT ARE OF WORTH, OF VALUE, OF USE! Anything that you provided me with was something I could have reached by myself. All you have done was to hinder me.” Infuriated the guy in the vents hissed. “What the fuck do you think you’re sayin’?! I’VE BEEN-“ Mockingly Henry grinned up at him. “What? What have you been doing? When have you ever been useful? Protected me? Face it, William, I pitied you and that was my mistake. I should have known that there was a reason everyone discarded you before. Once you will be gone, nobody will cry for you- nobody will miss you. The Orange Guy- to him you are merely entertainment. You are a fucking TOY at best- and more so an UNLOVEABLE, REPLACABLE TOOL.” Finish it. One last time. Slowly he stood up, stepping towards the vent. “William. Look at me. I want you to look at me, and I want you to know… … everything would have been better if you never had existed.” With that he closed the vents- both the front and the side one, just in time as the entire room was shaking, flickering, as something hysterical was making its way through it- Both sides of Dave being blocked out, as Henry fell back into his seat, raising his monitor, fixing the ventilation just in time. The night was not long after that. When he returned to the office, the suit was positioned in a way that it was looking at Henry as he entered. … somehow looking disappointed. Accusing. But Henry had no interest in that. Instead his attention was drawn to the board. All animatronics were glowing. The board was RED. Good. It was time.

Jetko week, day 1: Confession

Hi folks, here’s my shitty late contribution. I had a world of difficulties with this piece, but I also enjoyed it and felt like I got to vent a little. It’s a bit more Gen than most of my fics, but it was made with Fleabag in mind so...

i. confession

Dear Jet

Please come to my wedding.

Thanks,

Katara.

-

The first time Jet sees the priest, he’s in the bar on the way to Katara’s house. It’s a little bar on the corner of a main street, with a green sign and blinking lights. It is very distinctly English, in the sense that the mist and fog clambers up the windows. But the warm light beckons him in, and before he knows it he’s sitting at the counter waiting for a beer.

Jet lights a cigarette just as the door opens once again with a jingle of wind chimes. 

He’d be a young man if not for the red scar stretching his skin taut. It kind of makes Jet’s heart drop to his stomach, if he’s being honest. From the moment he appears, Jet identifies him as a man of contrast. Sharp white skin beneath a black turtleneck, interrupted by violent red.

The man glances at Jet and narrows the one eyebrow he has left. “Something interesting?” Jet shakes his head. “Not at all.” Then, before he can even feel it, a smile is splitting his face in half. “Hi.”

The man ignores him, instead going to the other end of the bar and ordering a scotch on ice. Red-gold liquid slides, languishing around white ridges of ice. Jet snorts and finishes his beer, leaving a tip. “See you,” he says to the man.

-

It’s Katara’s engagement dinner. Technically, Aang should be there too, but he’s doing something with the rest of the monks. It’s a nicer restaurant than Jet’s used too, a barn location with minimalist food. It’s not exactly what Jet would choose. Glasses swirl around him, and a lazy jealousy fills Jet’s chest. He knows that he needs to reassess his meds, but recently they fill him with an icy numbness that burns as much as it chills. 

“Putting pine nuts on your salad doesn’t make you a grown up,” Katara is laughing.

“Fucking does,” Jet mutters under his breath. 

There’s a bit of a rustle, and then someone is sliding into the one vacant seat. “So sorry, I was- traffic,” Jet is wondering how there could be traffic in a town as small as this when his eyes make contact with red. That’s all there is.

Katara moves in for a hug and then turns. “Jet, this is Zuko. He’s the priest! And Sokka’s best friend.” Jet nearly scoffs but simply waves his hand in a friendly gesture. Zuko just watches him, which makes things really awkward considering they’re sitting adjacent. The two of them sit around their meals, listening to the conversation as it sloshes around the table like water in a fishbowl.

Jet’s gaze slides around the table, and he allows himself a moment to think. There’s Katara, of course, and her father. Then there’s Sokka- who is clearly not going to address Jet in the time of this conversation. Her eyes are alight with that practiced happiness that has eventually become real. 

There’s a crash and some yells, and Jet realises he’s dropped his glass. Red wine has splashed out across the tablecloth, leaving everything a kind of musty pink. 

“Shit,” he mutters, and then repeats it so everyone can hear. “So sorry, I’ll just grab a- some tissues- ahah.” He gets up and is blocked by a speedy waiter. That’s the kind of restaurant this is. Jet turns back to the table, and is met with multiple pairs of second-hand-embarrassed eyes. “I need a piss.”

He turns and goes not to the bathroom, but past it to the alleyway.

The lighter sparks in his fingers to the point that he nearly drops it. Who in their right mind has a wedding in November! He curses, but halts at the sound of a soft voice. “Careful.” He looks up and sees a woman; red hair bobbed to her shoulders and eyes the type of blue he can’t catch in the moonlight.

“Thanks,” he says, but all there is is shadows passing over a dumpster. The air smells kind of like blood, so he covers it up with nicotine.

He’s halfway through his cigarette when the door opens and the priest steps out. There’s no eye contact, but Zuko awkwardly shuffles closer. 

“Want a cig?” Jet holds it out and Zuko takes it in silence. “So you’re a cool priest, huh? Cigarettes and alcohol,” Jet laughs as Zuko glares. They don’t know each other well enough for this kind of banter. 

Smoke drifts through the alley in its comforting disgust. “Who were you talking to, just then?”

“What? Oh, nothing.”

Zuko turns to go, clearly satisfied with their interaction.

“I wasn’t staring because of your scar,” Jet says suddenly, and Zuko stops at the end of the street. He makes a half-turn, and his gaze glances over Jet’s body. “I have a few grizzly scars too, so it made me-”

“Our scars have nothing in common.” Zuko raises his speed and is soon gone. Jet chuckles to himself, pitifully.

He leans his head back against the brick and feels static in his scalp. Cool wind soaks over his skin, bathing him in a type of quiet light. 

“That was smooth.” It’s the same voice of the woman before. She’s amused. “Thanks, Suki.” He doesn’t open his eyes, instead hearing the soft ramble of her voice. The cigarette burns to the filter and he finally drops it into a pile of trash. His stomach burns something awful, like he’s going to throw up. He turns and heads to the car. 

-

Over the next day, Jet finds himself thinking about the priest. There’s not any reason to, it’s not like they’ll bump into each other before the wedding. But there’s something about that frightened scowl that reminds Jet of the kids he helps in social work. He’s known several kids who go to religion as a source of healing, but most of them haven’t exited it.

He doesn’t know what it is that brings him to the churchyard. Not the building itself, of course, but he finds himself lingering among the gravestones. Part of him feels slightly dead, he thinks. He finds kinship with these people below the ground; no doubt by now rotting and hollow like old fruit. 

“Are you stalking me or something?” His attention is tugged to- of course- Zuko. He’s even in his priest habit, a black thing with a white collar. It looks good on him, Jet thinks, in the time it takes to process Zuko’s presence.

“It’s illegal to go for a stroll through the graveyard now, is it?” 

“It’s morbid,” Zuko tilts his face so that he’s giving Jet his good eye. “You don’t know anyone here, do you?”

“Sure I do,” Jet grins and puts a piece of grass between his lips. He found it on the border of the property, “Or- I don’t know them yet, but I will one day.”

If his eyes don’t deceive him, Zuko makes a snort. He twists away from Jet, catlike as he starts to walk along the path. He stops down by a grave and reaches to pull weeds from the flowerbed. Florence Doyle, 1874-1917. Beloved wife and mother. 

“Poor woman,” Jet mutters, tracing his fingers along the stone rendered green by time. Some of the other headstones are now so old that they are illegible- this woman will join them one day, Jet thinks. And so will I. “I wonder if anyone at all visits her.”

“The dead don’t care. Those aren’t them, just skeletons under the ground. They are with God now.” Zuko pauses, because he is currently doing just what he thinks strange, “This is my job. For the presentation of the church.” He frowns a little and pulls out the final weed. 

He starts to head back to the parish but Jet clears his throat. “Have dinner with me tonight, at the pub.”

Zuko doesn’t answer.

-

Jet goes anyway, waiting at the bar for someone that might not even come. He’s got a pint of beer inside him already, but all he does is watch the horse races on the pub TV’s. It makes him feel like more of a waster than usual. He sips foam from his glass and sighs. This is hard. Zuko sets down beside him, and sniffs. 

“Why’d you come?” Jet asks, and then regrets it. His voice sounds slightly raw under the influence of alcohol, and he’s been finding it difficult to sleep. Someone behind him reminds him that alcohol is a depressant, but he ignores it. “You didn’t have to.”

“You are very uniquely irritating,” Zuko shrugs and the bartender immediately goes for the usual. Jet is quiet; watches the man unscrew an amber bottle and pour it over rectangles of ice. It burns like fire, like Zuko’s eyes, swirling around the shimmering ice. Jet realises he’s missed hearing that. It feels like years.

“I am very unique.” Zuko laughs at that. It’s a frightened sound, like a mouse. Jet doesn’t dare look in his direction as he says, “Would you like to walk back to the parish after this? I could do with some night air.”

-

They walk in silence through the streets. Jet knows him. This is a sensation that grows inside him over the moments that they spend together. They go for almost an hour without talking, and the sounds of Zuko’s breath makes something clench in Jet’s chest. 

Without speaking, they drift into the church. Jet has never been religious. He tried to be for a time, but it didn’t really gel with him. He believes that something might be out there, but it certainly isn’t embodied by men of cloth- God would never exist inside a capitalistic system. He smiles at his own predictability.

A shadow moves at the corner of his eye and he turns without thinking. A curve of red hair glances out behind a pillar. He twitches, takes in a deep breath, and accepts the fact that Zuko is looking. 

“Who are you looking at?”

“No one-”

He winces at the twist of his words. “I would like to make a confession.”

-

He sits awkwardly on the wooden seat, his hands fumbling. He doesn’t know how to do this. “Well, I have a lot of sins to begin with,” he laughs awkwardly, “Sodomy, self-pleasure, queerness. I’m a manic depressive wreck who is clearly possessed by something wicked, and I think my former self drowned a village or something because I just can not get a break.” He laughs around his fist, his fingers gripping his skin a little too tightly. “But mostly I think I’m just- everything is wrong. It’s never felt right. And I wish- I wish I could believe in God, because I just wish I could step in a direction without wondering where it’s taking me.”

He waits for something, anything, but Zuko remains quiet behind the wooden screen door. Not a breath escapes either of them, the tension lingering in the atmosphere that smells of pine and sweat of thousands before him.

“I want love but I don’t know if I can get it. Because I- I had love once and- and I lost it.”

“Katara?” “No. Some- someone else. And it was a different love.” He closed his eyes, “The kind of thing that makes me know what I’m going to do tomorrow. I’m going to call her, I’m going to arrange tea, I’m going to compare traumas. I’m going to look after her and I’m going to be looked after. I had it, once, and it was so much more beautiful than anything I can describe to you. Not a thousand encounters with heaven could ever compare to the beauty of that stability. But the stability was broken, and I can’t ever get it back.” His hands shake. “You can’t fix a relationship with a dead woman.”

He swears he can hear voices travelling past the confession box. He hears his name in a soft, cool voice. 

“The only reason I was invited to this wedding was pity and concern.”

Zuko makes a sound and Jet feels like he’s crumbling inward. He’s not okay. He wishes he were okay. It feels so much less escapable the older he gets, as if he’s wandering the earth in a cage of his own mind. Something burns, like alcohol, and he wishes he were still at the pub. The opposite of taking his suffering away, he feels it washing through him like a tsunami of pain. He is silent, not even making a whimper. Not a tear leaves his eye, and yet he sits there feeling like a marked Cain. A struck Abel.

The curtain slides open and he tilts his face upwards, to where Zuko stands above him with a face of calm understanding; pressed into that testimonial frown like paint over cement. He doesn’t say anything and he doesn’t move. His golden eyes look like honeycomb moons; and before he knows it, Jet’s starting to cry. At least a year’s worth of tears build up and crash; and he rocks his body forward so his face is buried in Zuko’s habit. He shudders and sputters, nearly gagging from the pain of it all. A hand rests on the back of his head, holding him stable. 

He cries so hard that hours must have passed; though it is still dark. All the energy is gone from his body by the time he wipes his eyes. Zuko doesn’t look at him, but it’s not from embarrassment. It’s from respect. 

It’s pretty obvious that Jet can’t walk home tonight. Silently, Zuko leads him back to the parsonage and gives him a bed to sleep in. Jet’s words are all gone, his throat completely wracked. Still, Zuko senses the note of panic at the motion of leaving. Still clothed, Zuko slides into bed beside Jet. 

He’s still there when Jet wakes up.

This is neither eloquent nor organized. I’m very frustrated and I just need to get things off my chest. 

Please do not reblog this post. 

Cut for anti-Ragnarok discourse, pro-Ragnarok discourse, the Ragnarok discourse war, mention of Thorki, and general venting. 

I’m not using tags bc I don’t want this post to show up in them. Very sorry and if any of these things is one of your blacklists, please keep scrolling.

Yesterday, I read a fic.

I was wandering through some of the Thorki content on twitter, and followed a link to one of the big bang fics, bc it was a human AU and das my jam.

I didn’t recognize the author’s name. The fic was extremely well-written, though: lots of feels, beautiful narration, a sweet ending balanced with a lot of sadness. It was one of those fics that gave me a lump in my throat.

I was only going to leave kudos, but then I figured I’d take the extra five seconds and leave a comment, bc we all know how much authors like comments. I mean, I’d rather someone leave a comment than kudos, especially if the fic really affected them.I get it and I gotchu, fam. 

Anyway, so I left a comment and proceeded to click on the author’s profile to see what else they’ve written. As you do.

I recognized their AO3 icon, even though I didn’t recognize the name. I’d seen them around on some Ragnarok wank on tumblr. I went to double-check, and it was the same user, and also they’d blocked me.

I do not know this person. I have never spoken to this person. Yet they’ve gone out of their way to block me, most likely bc I associate with the anti-Ragnarok crowd. This happens to me a lot. I’ve even had a couple of former mutuals unfollow and block me (without saying anything to me) and those felt like punches to the gut.

I understand not wanting to see content that you don’t like or that upsets you. Everyone has the right to block whomever they wish. But I can’t deny that getting blocked like that – by someone I don’t know, let alone interact with – fucking hurts. I know it’s not that deep but I can admit it. It’s a shitty feeling and it’s hard not to take it personally.

It’s not really about this particular person at all, although it’s a shame bc they’re a good writer I probably would have followed otherwise. But this entire anti/pro Ragnarok war has gone so far and it’s exhausting. I stayed pretty neutral for as long as I could. 

And here’s the thing. My observations, both from being neutral and also being someone who, despite often being quietly blocked, tends to fly under the radar are this:

The majority of the negativity comes from the pro side.

Look, I side with and agree with the anti side on this one. I can admit, however, that sometimes it gets tiresome to see posts get turned into Ragnarok criticism or tiresome to see more posts on my dash about this that or another thing that sucks about Ragnarok and why. It, like anything, can be tiring.

But I also see that the anti side largely does its best to keep to itself. The pro side complained about the Ragnarok tags, so the anti side made an anti tag, and the pros still come into it to complain. The anti side will post their discussions and criticisms and they largely just circulate within the same group of people. The discussions are almost always criticisms on the source material (ie, the film) and not about anyone who enjoys it.

Now, maybe I don’t see everything. Though I don’t think I’m biased just bc I agree with the anti side – in fact, it was these attributes that made me take a closer look at what they were saying bc maybe they had a point after all. I don’t follow every anti Ragnarok user, but I do follow a lot. I can’t say personal attacks and whatever never happen - but, I hardly ever see them.

That’s not the case with the pro side. I don’t think I follow many from that side, but I see so much negativity from them. It’s like this kind of underhanded negativity that I’m not quite sure how to explain. It’s tonal negativity. 

I mean, sometimes it’s blatant. Name-calling (Loki stans, lackeys, pathetic, delusional, and racist come to mind) is an example. But more than that, there’s this collective tone among the pro side that smacks of condescension and I can’t stand it.

They make fun of the “dissertations” that have been written.

They always include an “lol” or laugh emoji or something to express that they’re not the ones taking this seriously.

They fall back on saying they don’t care about a two-year-old movie.

They’re laughing and making fun and at the same time acting like they’re so above it all.

They want us to just shut up already.

What it comes down to is this: it’s not just a matter of being able to agree to disagree because the pro side actively acts offended that the antis are even having these critical discussions, even if the antis have gone out of their way to not involve the rest of the fandom at all.

(Again, this is not every pro person, but the majority. Tone does matter online, and the overall tone of the pro side is not positive. I say this from a mostly neutral place.)

And here’s a thing about “oh my god, it came out two years ago, get over it!” Yeah, it came out two years ago. So fucking what? You guys are still engaging with it, via fics and headcanons and art. How old the movie is doesn’t matter when you’re having fun with it, but when someone wants to engage with it in a (valid) critical way that you don’t like? No. That’s unacceptable. That’s pathetic. That’s being a lackey. Get over it.

Even writing this, I know that things are much worse for others than they are for me. I get stealth blocked; others are called out by name in public posts, receive anon hate, and are actively targeted.

It’s just, this shit is so fucking toxic to this fandom and it honestly needs to stop. Both sides need to not only stop engaging one another, but also stop acknowledging one another. We get it: you either like the movie or you don’t.

Let people do their own thing. Don’t be fucking obnoxious. If you disagree and genuinely want to talk about it, then try to remember there’s a person on the other side of the screen and be civil. If you disagree and don’t want to talk about it, then just fucking don’t.

If you see a post you disagree with, scroll past. And, yes, block the person if you need to (and sometimes it might be me that needs blocking and I recognize my hurt feelings are my own personal problem, not whoever else’s).

There are a lot of movies in the MCU that are not perfect. (Btw, it baffles me a little to get hated on for my stance on Ragnarok, when I am so much more vocal [and emotionally invested] in hating the Russos and IW/Endgame – but, whatever.) There are a lot of interpretations of characters that are different. There are a lot of people who project their own identity or issues or whatever onto any particular character that resonates (and that’s okay!) and there are a lot of people who don’t project but still identify with a particular character (and that’s okay, too).

Stop judging whether someone is a “real” fan of a character/franchise or not. Just because someone isn’t engaging with the source material in the way you are, and just because they don’t see it in the same way that you do, does not make them wrong. (Yes, this applies to the pro side, too. None of them are wrong or less valid for enjoying and even stanning the movie.) It doesn’t make anyone better than anyone else here. 

Acting otherwise is honestly going to kill this fandom. Because it bleeds over. Fics will have less readers, bc they don’t want to interact with something posted by someone they dislike (or who blocked them). There’s less sharing of things like art and headcanons and content. People unfollow and block each other, people are having to watch what they say, people are losing friends (and potential friends) bc they may be a great person but they don’t agree with you about fucking Ragnarok.

I came to tumblr bc it was the only place where not only could I find other people who loved Loki as much as I did, but it was the only place where I could express that. Express it in fic, in headcanons, in meta. Being creative and starting dialogues and just interacting. I wish we could get that vibe back.

I wish none of this bothered me so much.

For the character game, G, or if you don't have, then I :)

Don't have much Gs I think but doesn't mean I don't have any at all. The names in parentheses are the stories they're in)

Edit: I w a s w r o n g

Gabriel Gale Johnson (Clair De Lune)

Gabe, Gale, iel, goldilocks

Hupplepuff

Male

Heterosexual

New Life, Who Dis? by Unlike Pluto

Clara Luna Beauchêne (Girlfriend), Marshall Mitch Ó Maoilriain (Brother figure), Isabella Elise Johnson (sister)

Nyctophobia, Astraphobia

Backstory: Being the middle child out of three siblings, Gabriel didn't really have as much attention in the family. He was still somewhat famous at school for being the rich kid, or the golden winged, but other than it didn't matter. It was only until he met Clara that everything did, not because it was romantic, but because Clara was proof of his little sister Stella's sadistic tendencies.

Gailen Legazpi (Missing Family)

Len, Leg, Puto

Gryffindor

Male

Bisexual

Glitter & Gold by Barns Courtney

Alec Miller (Close friend, Helped start a somewhat small coup.), Sheila Richards (Mother figure/Cousin), Jessie Jimenez (Was trapped alongside her/Close friends)

Autophobia, Tomophobia,

Backstory: He used to have a normal life, trying his best to be a responsible student but end up failing due to his childhood urges, though when suddenly his cousin and uncle goes missing, he looks for them, only to end up getting kidnapped. Unbeknownst to him, it was the same place his cousin was at but they were gone. Ever since then he has been traumatized by his time in the Project COPE.

Garry Oseman (Dear Overcast)

Bro, Big bro

Ravenclaw

Male

Asexual

Now You're A Home by Christian Reindl

Gina Oseman (Little sister), Harry Tydings (Close friend), Kevin Langley (Sort of leader, inspiration.)

Claustrophobia, Gelotophobia

Backstory: Had a somewhat normal life albeit poor and bullied for being too poor and "unable to love" though it doesn't bother him as much anymore. Until the sun dissapeared and so did his parents. He only had Gina now.

Generosity/Hemshail (It All Started With Boredom, Brother Brother

Gene, Hem, Shail, Hemshie, (Not much of a nickname but still) The White Hole Gaurded

Ravenclaw

Male

Asexual

The Therapist by Foreign Air

Gluttony/Pyrrhos (Best bud, partner in crime, co worker), Chastity/Carysiel (Younger brother, Close friend), Ermyntrude/Vladeti (Leader, close friend.)

Backstory: Not much has really happened to him though he did help take care of Vladeti once when he was still Ermyntrude alongside Pyrrhos. He accompanied Wrath/Aedh and Patience/Cassiel when they were helping Beatrice/Rizalino/Ahsa stop the discrimination between "Angels" and "Demons". After that, he left them to fulfill a task alongside Vladeti and Pyrrhos given by Alucard/Tiernan/Disentropy.

Gina Oseman (Dear Overcast)

Gigi

Hupplepuff

Female

(She's only 10)

Youth by Glass Animals

Garry Oseman (older brother), Jia Liu (Mother figure), Zevon Corbiche (Also known to her as the blue man, close friend.)

Acrophobia, Nyctophobia

Backstory: Nice normal life apart from being poor. She never had to worry much because her brother was always by her side until the sun vanished.

Glutton/Pyrrhos (It all started with boredom, Brother Brother)

Stop taking my food god damnit, Black hole dude, Pyre, Greed but specific, (not really nickname but still called by it??? idk) The Black Hole Devours

Hupplepuff

Male

Homosexual

Gravity Of You by Starset

Ermyntrude/Vladeti (Partner in crime, leader, close friend), Generosity/Hemshail (Also partner in crime, co worker, close friend.), Wrath/Aedh (Older brother, Mentor Figure, close friend)

Kenophobia Atelophobia

Backstory: Being born or molded by Lucifer he was very mischeivous. He never really tried to socialize with other "Angels" until Generosity/Hemshail came to babysit and teach Ermyntrude/Vladeti with them. He is also one of the first few people that Aedh usually vents too, so when Aedh finds out that Rizalino/Beatrice/Ahsa had been reborn, he was one of the first people to find out. Eventually he leaves to go on a task alongside Vladeti and Hemshail.

Godiva (Drowning In Dreams series)

Godi, Ali, Alicia

Ravenclaw

Female

Heterosexual

Edge Of The Universe by Downplay

Søren (Husband), Ascella Bauldelaire (Close friend, treats her like she's her daughter.) Dietrich Jamison (Close friend, also treats him like he's her son)

Pyrophobia, Volcanophobia

Backstory: Not much apart from being the Godess of Expression And Art (mainly art and it's diffirent forms) though she did try to be human once, out of curiosity. She was born in a tropical island near another island filled with volcanoes, til one day one erupted. Her family didn't make it but she did and she changed back eventually into the Art Godess.

Godehydra/Edelia Hartmann ( Idk, haven't thought of a title for the story yet, It All Started With Boredom, Wings, Reality For A Life)

Deli, Edi, Delia, Lia

Gryffindor

Female

Trials by Starset

Janardar/Beorhtsige Kaiser (Husband, partner in crime.) Vladeti ( child), Rizalino/Beatrice/Ahsa (Gender fluid child)

Arachnophobia, Seismophobia

Backstory: Born in a kind of bigger version of earth, she notices her uncle looking more and more tired, until one day she overhears him crying to her mother that he is a hitman hired by their government in the midst of a war, his job was to target certain civilians on the opposing countries. Edelia decides to start a revolution, first passing notes to some close friends then going onto making speeches, and rebellion groups. Due to rumors of her speeches people from the other country start joining too, and this was bringing suspision. Eventually a massacre is found, 26 victims from her rebellion group. Longstory short, this creates an outrage and there is a Coup D'etat. She eventually has 2 kidswith her husband, and dies. Only to be reborn as a Gaurdian gaurding certain aspects of the multiverse. She helps her children train as they were also reborn as gaurdians alongside her husband, she helps her child Rizalino/Beatrice/Ahsa's friends and former babysitters, Aedh, convince his now sadistic boyfriend Cassiel to not make a global genocide, and then the Ó Maoilriain brothers (especially when one of them is her future son-in-law) plan a coup against their other Machiavellian brother. Then officially dies

Greed/Chellvon (It All Started With Boredom, Wings)

Stop asking me for my stuff, Rich Kid, Jack

Slytherin

Male

Bisexual

Tip Toes by Half•Alive

Envy/Jolina (little sister, loves annoying her.) Pride/Charles (Close friend, older brother, partner in crime, Generosity/Hemshail (Free stuff suplier, best buddy.)

Kleptophobia Kenophobia

Backstory: Not much ig. I mean yeah he experienced most of human history, he was molded by Lucifer, he fought in a war alongside Cassiel, and eventually got punished.

Imagine my OTP

This is gonna be using my two OC’s Mia and Lucian. Sometimes they’re dating, sometimes they’re just friends, its a on and off thing. But, not matter what, they are both adorable little beans, so take these headcannons (technically they aren’t headcannons since this is my universe but still). Also, since the original universe is an apacolypse, this will be a human!au.

1. Acts like they’re dying when they have a cold.

Lucian doesn’t get sick often, but when he does he acts like u the end off the world. He constantly over exaggerates how sick he is, especially when he has to work that day. Luckily for him, Mia is a good sport, and an even better nurse.

2. Gets mad at the TV and throws the remote.

Lucian is no where near “tech savvy”, unlike Mia. He was very sheltered as a child, his family very extreme in their beliefs about technology. Something as simple as a television gets him a little peeved. Neither of them throw the remote around though.

3. Gets the worst road rage.

Mia holds a lot of anger in, afraid that if she shows the littlest bit of irritation, she’ll end up like her mother. So, she bottles it up when around other people, especially at work. On the drive home she yells at anyone and everyone, getting pissed at even the smallest driving error. When she finally gets home, she feels free to vent to Lucian.

4. Spends too much time in the bathroom on their phone.

Mia sometimes gets caught up in being on her phone that she just sits on the bathroom counter and scrolls through her phone sometimes. Lucian on the other hand spend way to much time taking mirror selfies. They’re both big offenders in this category.

5. Packs the whole closet for an overnight trip.

If you called for “an over prepared nerd” you’re looking for Lucian Cain. He will pack the entire house, enclosing the kitchen sink. Mia usually packs for him, knowing that he can’t pack by himself.

6. Hates the in-laws.

Mia is the only child to an abusive mother and a deadbeat father, the former of which is currently in prison. Lucians parents are fanatic cultists who are extreme in their beliefs about race and marriage, and cut contact after Lucian married an African-American woman. They both equally hate their in-laws.

7. Hits the snooze button…11 times.

Mia Cain Hayes her job, and she is not a morning person. Safe to say that even though Lucian also isn’t a fan of mornings, Mia definitely hates them more.

8. Makes the other late for work.

As I just mentioned, Mia hates her job. So, she is in no rush in the morning. She constantly begs Lucian to just stay in bed for a few more minutes, distracting him with kisses and compliments.

9. Uses the television as a babysitter.

Mia and Lucian both have their reservations about kids, definitely not wanting any of their own anytime soon. So, whenever either of them are baby sitting for friends, they have no idea what to do. Plunking them down in front of the TV should work fine.

10. Takes in the stray dog.

“Mia, we have two cats, one dog, one rabbit and eight rats, we don’t need anymore animals of any kind” -a tired and frustrated Lucian.

11. Suggests a 3am trip to McDonald’s.

Ever since Lucian discovered fast food (when he was nineteen) he was in love. If their pulling a late night to finish on of their projects, Lucian always suggests they go out for food or drinks, no matter how late it is.

12. Leaves their shoes out for the other to trip over.

Mia loves her shoes, she has about seven pairs of different heels, running shoes, and hiking boots. Pair that and Lucians constant clumsiness, and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

13. Can’t make up their mind when it comes to dinner.

It’s very obvious to anyone looking in that Mia wears the pants in the relationship. So, when out to eat, wether it be fast food or a fancy restaurant, Mia always orders for both of them.

14. Needs to be reminded of all their appointments.

Mia has a slight short term memory thanks to head-trauma as a child (thanks mom) so she sometimes forgets basic things like where she was going or what day it is right after being told for the fifth time, so imagine how hard it would be to remember an appointment she booked three weeks ago.

15. Bribes the other into doing chores.

Mia is the queen of getting out of chores. She almost always has an excuse at the ready for when Lucian asks her to do a few things, and when she doesn’t she has other ways of persuading him (😏). But, she is happy to run errands outside the house.

16. Picks the movies.

I’ve already established that Lucian is indecisive as hell, and Mia and headstrong and stubborn. Match made in heaven. Mia pick the movies, Lucian makes the popcorn.

17. Takes the safety steps when building a pillow fort.

Surprisingly Mia. Lucian tried to make sure the pillow forts they made were secure, but every time he tried, they’d cave in after a few minutes. Mia had taken it upon herself to set them up from that point on.

18. Kisses the other’s injuries better.

Lucian is a very affectionate man, and so is Mia. They both kiss injuries better, Mia just gets injured more so Lucian does it more often.

19. Is addicted to angry birds, game of war, candy crush, temple run, or flappy bird.

Despite his inability to figure out technology, Lucian loves the little games on his phone. He could play them all day, and he often does get distracted before Mia brings him back to earth. His favourite game is temple run, no doubt about it.

20. Kills the spiders.

Mia is a cold blooded killer of spiders and anything creepy crawly. She hates them with a burning passion and she takes it upon herself to personally take them out of this world. Lucian either leaves them alone or puts them outside if the weather was good.

21. Hogs the blankets.

Lucian get super cold at night. He doesn’t mean to hog all of the blankets, he just wants to keep warm in the middle do the night. Mia usually lets him, but if he’s getting to much, she just snuggles up next to him to keep him warm.

22. Takes pranks too far.

Even though Mia was an only child she did plenty of pranking, and she knows how far she can go and for it to still be funny. Lucian, however, has no way of gauging how far his prank is going to go.

23. Makes the dirty jokes.

Oh my god, the amount of innuendos that come out of this women’s mouth is unbelievable. She constantly makes sexual jokes and advances in public or private just to see Lucian blush. This woman has barely any shame, but she’ll stop if Lucian asks her.

24. Keeps a piggy bank.

Lucian. He’s had one ever since he was a kid, and being able to keep his own stuff in his piggy bank was one of the best things about his childhood.

25. Has no problem having ice cream for breakfast.

Mia. I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain at this point, but I’m going to anyways. Lucian often doesn’t have enough time to eat in the morning (thanks to Mia). So, Mia is left with an empty house, and she’ll eat ice cream if she wants to.

26. Gets a tattoo when they’re drunk.

The literal story of how Mia got her first and second tattoos. She got wasted one night, and got a tattoo of a heart on her shoulder. The second time it was a sappy quote about love on her thigh. She’s had both covered up since then, and she never talks about them.

27. Trips over their own feet.

Lucian is a clumsy boy, and he trips over everything. Only when he’s in their workshop does he make sure to be careful, because he doesn’t want to get impaled if he trips.

28. Makes the other go for a walk.

Lucian always asks Mia to walk to dog for him, and she usually does. There is something tense between Lucky and him, as if their competing for Mias attention. Lucian gets along better with their rats anyways.

29. Whines until they get what they want.

Neither of them really whine often, mainly because of their strict upbringing. They both argue their points and bring facts and logic into the discussion. The only time either of them whine is when their tired/just woke up.

30. Tries to act tough but really isn’t.

There have been multiple time where Mia was cat called or harassed on the street, and Lucian tried to be the big guy and act tough. Mia usually tells Lucian to cut the crap and she deals with it herself. Lucian finds it hot and Mia finds it adorable.

31. Talks the most, says the least.

Lucian could ramble on for hours and hours about essentially nothing. It’s a skill he learned when doing school presentations, making it seem like he did a bunch of research when he only did a ten minute look through a textbook.

32. Talks the least, says the most.

Mia does say a lot, especially when it comes to Lucian. She prefers action over words, going for a kiss on the lips instead of an “I love you”. Lucian sometimes wishes she would express herself to him more, but he accepts its hard for her.

Loki Laufeyson x Reader ~ Rest Assured [Pt.7]

[My Marvel Masterlist]   [Previous Part]

A/N: Just another friendly reminder that I’m not following the canon timeline for the sake of having more characters to work with for this series!

Word Count: 1995

By the barrier in question, muttering maledictions in a language unknown to anyone present, Loki’s eyes squeeze shut in concentration as he struggles against his wife’s magic. The mere fact that he is struggling to fight the very magical spells the God of Mischief himself uses and taught to (Y/n) is a testament to his teachings, as well as her skills as a sorceress. The sound of three distinct footsteps, one being as loud as a thunderstorm, shatter’s Loki’s concentration. He looks up in annoyance, ready to berate his brother for being a nuisance, only to be met with an unfamiliar face walking alongside his brother and Natasha.

For a brief second, Loki scoffs at the newcomer’s outfit. Everything from the large yellow gloves to the elaborate cape that seems to have a mind of its own irritates the black-haired god.

“And who might you be?”

“My name’s Doctor Stephen Strange, and according to these two, you are in need of my services.”

“I remember no such thing.”

“Heimdall saw portions of the sorcerer’s residential inscription, and after Natasha did some quick research, we were able to track down the one you seek. Brother, he will help you open the doors.”

Drawing conclusions quickly never ends well, so the God of Mischief makes it a point to show his skepticism. He returns his attention to the doors, waving his fingers and wrist to channel his magic into the warded layers of the barrier. With his closed in concentration, Loki fails to notice the raised brows on Stephen’s face. Instead, one of the Avengers on shift, Tony, catches the surprised expression and articulates his thoughts without a second of hesitation.

“You good there, Doc? What’s with the weird look?”

“I’ve only witnessed one person who uses that exact kind of magic…but she disappeared after her training with me at the New York Sanctum.”

At the end of his statement, Loki looks up from his work once more to stare at the doctor, only this time it is not out of disinterest. It is, in fact, the exact opposite of such.

“You know Asgardian party tricks?” Tony interrupts the god with his snide remark, earning a puzzled look from Bruce, who questions his companion’s frivolous phrasing. 

“No,” Stephen answers without a hint of amusement towards the wealthy hero’s words, “As I said before, I have only ever witnessed someone use Asgardian magic. She explained it to me briefly, but refused to give any details. I believe it was in her interest to keep that information under wraps, and I didn’t blame her. You never know when any people with ill intentions are lurking around.”

”Well, my wife is currently locked in her own room and I have no way of breaking her spells on my own. If you claim to be the man who can help, then you better start helping.”

“How long has she been in there?” Stephen’s medical training kicks into gear. Numerous questions regarding (Y/n)’s health and well-being flood into the doctor’s mind. He knew immediately upon touching the door that he will be helping the immortal beings in saving their princess-- his former student. 

“Far too long to be healthy,” Frigga comments solemnly. “We tried to open the doors many times, but each attempt was unsuccessful. Her spells are simply too powerful for us to decipher, and we were unaware that foreign magic was involved in the incantations.”

“Yes, (Y/n) proved to be quite the challenge for me and my colleagues. She is much smarter than she let on to be. We had to scramble for more information to teach her since our usual lesson plan was finished within a few weeks.”

Civil conversation ensued between the two spellcasters as they work diligently with one another, never once arguing, with the exception of a few moments spent disagreeing over the proper incantation for a given spell.

Off to the side, Tony continues to make unnecessary comments as Peter, who is shadowing the group in order to learn from his mentor, stares off into one end of the hall, feeling lost and unsure of what to do. Scott stands a couple feet away from them, giving Bruce a detailed description on how he would attempt to bypass the tower’s security system; Bruce has been meaning to talk with Tony about updating Jarvis’ programming, so he asked Scott, who has a Masters Degree in electrical engineering and a history of breaking into buildings, for some insight and advice on specific points to focus on.

“What do you mean it’s easy,” Bruce cries out in horror when Scott claims that a physical break-in would be fairly easy in his opinion.

“Yeah, man. Based on everything you’ve told me, plus my experiences being in the tower, I can tell that Tony has barely any security measures in place within the ventilation shafts since Clint is always crawling around inside them. Sooooo, that being said, all I would have to do is enter from the outside via the vents and voila, I’m inside the Avengers’ headquarters!”

Whimpers of fear leave the scientist’s quivering lips. Both hands fly up into his hair, grasping the curled locks and tugging on them as the man breathes in quick repetitions.

“I gotta let Tony know! If someone like you can figure that out, then what happens if some super-secret, evil, organized-crime villain and his henchmen learn about the tower’s weakness too? Then we’re all doomed!”

In the midst of Bruce’s spiraling, panicked thoughts and Scott’s scoff in offense, a loud crackling sound echoes throughout the halls, startling everyone by the doors, especially an already-anxious Bruce Banner.

“Finally…” Loki lets out a breath of air he never realized that he has been holding in. He brings up a hand to push open the door on his side, but is surprised to see it trembling like a leaf in a storm. “What is the matter with me,” the black-haired god whispers demeaningly to himself.

“Nothing at all.” Warm hands cup Loki’s colder one, prompting the god to look up and find his mother’s comforting gaze. She gently rubs her son’s fingers to soothe his nerves. “What is making you so anxious? The last time you were like this was the day you got married.”

“She’ll be angry with me, Mother. I left her alone with no hints regarding my well-being. She’s always more concerned about me than herself. I worry she will never forgive me.”

“What makes you say that, Loki? Ever since the day you two met, (Y/n) has been nothing but loyal to you. Even at your worst, she was by your side, tending to you. She is always bringing out the best in you and making sure you’re well. There is no doubt in my mind, my son, that she will welcome you back with open arms. Now, don’t keep your wife waiting.”

With a gentle shove, Frigga pushes Loki closer to the large wooden barrier that stands between him and (Y/n). His mother’s supportive words gives the black-haired god enough courage to set aside his worries and push open the doors that have been closed for too long, but the sight he is greeted by hurls Loki back into his worried state.

“Oh, darling…” The God of Mischief inhales sharply, rushing over to the bedside hastily. His hands clasp her right hand tightly, squeezing it tightly. (Y/n)’s extremely low body temperature scares Loki. Even though his wife’s Asgardian heritage hinders her body from falling ill as easily as mortal beings, he worries that her current condition is linger closer to death.

Stephen quickly steps in to diagnose his former student. Though she is not human and he has never treated any being other than a human, the doctor is determined to try his best to help. His yellow gloves are thrown off in a corner without care, fingers pressing at (Y/n)’s neck beneath her left ear.

“She’s got a pulse, but it’s barely there.”

Suddenly realizing that he can help, Loki wiggles his fingers to conjure some of his magic. A soft green glow radiates from the God of Mischief’s hands, flowing around in the air before seeping into her skin. Despite the poor lighting in the room, both Loki and Stephen can tell that (Y/n)’s complexion is taking on a healthier hue than the pale, grey-ish tone it was before the healing spell; the rise and fall of her chest becomes more clear. A sigh of relief is audibly heard from the two spellcasters.

Looking over his shoulder to where his mother and the six avengers Loki gestures for the group to move as he gingerly slips his arms beneath (Y/n)’s knees and back. Once a clear path is made, the god lifts his wife off the bed, cradling her dangerously light body to his chest. 

Not a word is spoken during the walk to the healing chambers, where one of the attendants is quick to lead Loki over to a bed secluded from the many others that are scattered around the large room. She drags a curtain across the length of the cot before politely asking all the people in the room to leave as she calls for the primary healer in charge of caring for members of the royal family, but Loki refuses to budge. 

For a moment, Thor stops to wonder if the attendant and healers are sworn to secrecy like some of the other staff. The AllFather never mentioned anything about it. 

“Mother,” the God of Thunder speaks up while keeping his eyes on the healing chamber attendant, “did Father order the healers to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to our arrival?”

“Of course,” Frigga assures. “I made sure your father did not miss any important details. I had no doubt in my mind that your brother would be able to open those doors to reach (Y/n). If any prying individuals manage to discover the events taking place, Heimdall will know and immediately report his findings. There is no need to worry.”

Satisfied, Thor users his Avengers friends out to allow the healers perform their job. Tony proves to the most stubborn, second to Loki, of course. He fights against the blond god with the argument of wanting to observe the methods Asgard utilizes to treat wounds and illnesses, but Thor rebutts, stating that even he is unfamiliar with the powers of a healer.

“You will learn nothing from simply observing, Stark. All you would see is golden wisps of magic floating above the healing bed. Being in that room would only hinder their ability to work efficiently.”

“Oh? Then why is Reindeer Games in there with them?” Tony is determined to catch a glimpse of the healers in action, which unfortunately brings out unpleasant characteristics of his personality. Back at home in the tower, hearing his quips and arrogant responses to something he dislikes usually does not result in any severe consequences, however, they are no longer at the tower. They are temporarily staying in Asgard’s palace, where the royal figures reside in alongside them. Inappropriate, unprofessional behavior has no place here.

“Tony, please shut up,” Bruce pleads. “This is not your home. We’re on Asgardian turf. You can’t just say whatever you want!”

“Mr. Stark,” Peter adds,”I really think you should listen to Dr. Banner. It’s unprofessional to act so care-free in someone else’s home, especially when that home belongs to the rulers of another realm.”

The sharp click of the door opening does not give Tony an opportunity to speak. Everybody turns to find Loki closing the door behind him, ignoring the curious stares and striding right past them. His calm expression hints to the others that (Y/n) is no longer in critical condition, so they are confused with his determination to leave her side so soon.

“Where ‘ya goin’,” Scott inquires.

“To see Odin.”

[Next Part]

Tag List

@wecantgiggleitsafandom  @tarynkauai  @drstrangefictions  @laxarnas​

Love Is Extremely Stupid

Takano Masamune has an issue. Now most people don't go through without them but he thinks he has a few too many. He's the easiest to get along with, he hates being vulnerable, and he's completely and utterly gone for Ritsu Onodera.

He's jealous, so extremely jealous of everyone that knows Ritsu more that him, how they reach over and get a hug or pat his shoulder or give him a noogie- okay, the point is they can touch him and he can't. He yearns too, god, he's thought about far too much. He'll never tell anyone how he dreams of being in Ritsu warm, comforting, soft-looking arms.

He watches Onodera embrace a 'friend’, laughing all the while. He watches how Ritsu smiles and laughs while he talks to them, his cheeks probably aching from how hard he's smiling. He's happy that Ritsu is happy but at the same time, he wants to be the reason Ritsu is smiling, not some other guy. It's frustrating to no end. This jealousy eats him alive.

Is it stupid? Oh most definitely. He realizes he's being stupid and completely irrational. He's actually very logical, surprise, surprise! However, that doesn't stop the aching emptiness of heartbreak of making itself prevalent, now does it?

But how can he help himself? Just look at him. His soft-looking hair is just begging Takano's finger to run through the brown, silky locks and twirl it around his fingers. Those rosy, yet pale cheeks are just asking for Takano to peck them, to whisper sweet nothings against them as his hot breath fans against it, sending shivers up the young male's spine. God, he hopes. The soft, plump limbs are making Takano ache with the want to hold them in his hands. He wants to feel the warmth seering against his own freezing skin.

God. He's utterly in love with Ritsu Onodera it's almost laughable with how intense these feelings swirl inside of him. He almost hates how much he yearns to claim Ritsu as his, press his lips against those soft-looking, pink ones. Ritsu Onodera drives him insane.

Ritsu is like a drug that Takano swore he would never take a sniff of it. The way Ritsu can make him feel a high like no other and how he can crash so unwillingly with the simple words the brunette utters is unfathomable to him. The way Ritsu changed his life with a new twist, lighting the unwoken flame inside him that he never knew before.

He felt alive. He wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing anymore. He's so lost in Ritsu's eyes that he can't remember where he is anymore. His mind has become clouded by only thoughts of Ritsu and how to make him his and no one else's.

Yeah, he's jealous and possessive but he thinks it's healthy. He wants to wrap Ritsu up in their own little world and talk until the Sun crashes into the Earth, obliterating them all. He wants Ritsu to look at him with the same yearning in his heart, the same want and need burning through veins to just be Takano's.

Love is stupid, ridiculous, and someone do burn it to a crisp for making Takano a mess.

But does Takano hate it? No, not really. How can he when he's constantly soaring just talking to Ritsu, watching those green eyes light up with that gleam of happiness. He gets to flirt with Ritsu a lot so that's a plus.

But god, he really wants to kiss him.

“You really are a hopeless gay.” Yokozawa laughs at him when he vents out his frustration. Not really what he wanted but hey, he'll get back at him later. He's good at making poeple wish they were never born. “I can't believe this.”

“Shut up!” Takano glares at his supposed best friend. He's suppose to give support, not laugh at him!

“No! This hilarious!” Yokozawa can't stop laughing making Takano blush and grumble incoherently. He swears he'll never breathe another word of vulnerability to Yokozawa again after this. He rolls his eyes as Yokozawa's laugher dies down, however, his cocky smirk does not.

“You've been hanging out with Kirishima too much.” Takano huffs.

“Sure, sure.” Yokozawa chuckles again breathlessly, patting Takano's shoulder sympathetically. “Man, you are in a shitty situation. Have fun with that.”

“You'll supposed to help me, not mock me!”

“No, I'm not! My job is to kick you down as your friend!” Yokozawa argued, defending his rightful position as his closest friend to him. Takano has to agree sadly.

He groans and shoves his face in his hands. “What do I do?”

“Nothing, just deal with it.” Yokozawa stands up off of the bench in the breakroom, giving a quick wave. “Now if you'll excuse me, I actually like to work instead of rant about my measly feelings.”

“They're not measly! They're real and far too important!” He hollers back, not really caring who hears a this point. He never really did.

“Takano?” A familiar voice calls out to him, making up him look up to see those green orbs he's come to adore in the former months. He pretends not to notice the way Ritsu's hand juts out a little towards him, almost to lay on his shoulder, but it seems to think that's a bad idea. “A-are you okay?”

The crack in his voice is cute. Everything about his cute.

'You don't touch me,’ He glances back down to that same hand and lets out a silent with. ‘Because if you did, you know I would touch you too. Smart.’

“Just got some issues.” Takano tries to smile encouragingly. He's bad at smiling. He thinks he's pretty ugly when he does.

“What kind of issues?” Ritsu asks, cocking his head to the side. “I-if you don't mind me asking that is!”

'One of them is how bad I need you,’ Takano almost says outloud but clasps his mouth shut. He doesn't need to burden Ritsu with the true intensity of his feelings. He'll never tell him. He refuses.

“You know, Yokozawa was just being a dick and all. Come on, let's go back.” He relishes in the smile and little giggles that erupts from Ritsu. He almost kisses him. He really wants to but that's not really option.

He isn't his.

And he doesn't think he'll ever be.

Maybe that's okay too. Who knows?

-x-

A/N: selfprojection, who's that