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avoidingcertaindoom · 10 months

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JBBingo 2023 -- Quiet Hollow

Trying to help out his sister leaves Ezra conflicted and concerned. Can be found under the same title on ao3

Written for @julybreakbingo Prompt; "Listen, Let me Explain" and Can't Feel Pain

CW; Self harm, Implied Abuse,

The door was still closed. Ezra had gone past the bathroom twice already, hearing water running and just assuming it was the shower. This last time it had passed half an hour, and while it wasn’t uncommon for his sister to lose track of time, usually the change of routine was meant to help that.

He knocked at the door. “Addy? Is everything okay?”

Just like that the water cut, and there was the sound of fumbling around before her response came. “Yes yes, uh, can you come in? I need an extra hand.”

Stomach sinking, Ezra opened the door.

Adeline was fully dressed, even a house coat thrown over her shoulders. Her hand was wrapped in one of the towels, and there was fog on the windows and pink in her cheeks from the big water.

Ezra frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"Kinda… I was trying to wash a cut on my hand and it might've gotten carried away." She shrugged.

He held his hand out. “Let me see, maybe I can help?”

She hesitated. “It doesn’t look… You can’t freak out.”

“It was just an accident, right?”

Reluctantly, she turned over her hand for him to examine. He expected something like a slash on her finger, maybe even a gash in her palm, but pulling back the towel he had no idea what he was looking at. Most of the bleeding was stopped by then, or at least her hand was too pruned to show clearly. Her skin had puckered in small, almost craters, throughout most of her fingers, with one particularly gnarly spot between her thumb and forefinger.

“I said don’t--I can explain!” She insisted, watching his face drop. “It was a sewing accident--”

“How?” He stopped her from curling her fist, worried she’d cause more damage. “This is bad, maybe Grandpa needs to see--”

Addy snatched her hand back and crossed her arms. “It’s fine. It doesn't even hurt! It was just a little needle.”

Ezra sucked in a breath and gently tugged her hand back for a closer look. “A needle?”

“Mhm. I was sewing, like I said.” Her eyes darted over his shoulder, keeping watch for their grandfather, before she continued. “The needle kept getting stuck when I tried pushing it through. I thought it was dull, so I tried to sharpen it and tried testing it on my fingers.”

“Tried.” He repeated, looking over the pinpricks she’d poked into all her fingers.

She nodded. “I didn’t notice it, so I just kept trying. I didn’t realize I was poking so hard, it didn’t feel like anything.”

The wound in her hand didn’t look like something “poking” could do, unless she was using the most force possible. Ezra was sorely tempted to say something to their Grandfather, worried it was something to do with Addy’s medications being too strong or too weak or too something. She wasn’t supposed to be hurting herself and God forbid she was supposed to be doing so without notice. It would be better to do something, wouldn’t it?

It was worrying to the point of an awful headache,

It… probably wouldn’t do much. As she stared at him all that really came to mind was how bad of an idea it was. What help would getting her in trouble do?

“Okay,” he relented, and he felt the headache leave him just as the tension dropped from his sister’s hand. “I can get a first aid kit and wrap it up, and I just won’t say anything. Deal?”

Despite something dimming in her eyes, she smiled and nodded. “Deal!”

#july break bingo #jbb2023 #jbbingo2023 #iole writes #project; immortal coil #plot; elmsville enmities #ch: adeline jacobs #ch: ezra jacobs #relationship; addy and ezra

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avoidingcertaindoom · 10 months

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JBBingo 2023 -- Sticks, Stones, and Pressure

A chance to bond with others in their cleric class leaves Riki feeling all the more ostracized.

Written for @julybreakbingo. Prompt; Sticks and Stones or Peer Pressure

It’s good for bonding. You’ll enjoy yourself. It’s just one outing.

Riki was starting to think Terran just wanted them out of the temple. She really could’ve just been honest and said as much, but they supposed if she thought they were being that clingy it was best to just make it easier on her. Even if it meant pretending they couldn’t hear the quips of bug eyed weirdo when they were supposed to be out of earshot.

It wasn’t like it was supposed to be that stressful of an outing. It was kind of like a bonding trip for this year of initiates. They’d known these people for years, pretty much grew up with them. All they had to do was spend time with their peers, was that so horrible?

(They ought to have asked Feng what he was up to instead, they could’ve at least had a buffer to it all instead of having to be in the thick of it.)

Someone proposed a game of “Never Have I Ever”, to be made more interesting with drinks instead of fingers. More of them than not seemed to take well to the idea as a perfectly innocent way to get to know each other, and glasses were passed around for the participants.

“I shouldn’t,” Riki muttered, holding a hand out in refusal.

Iosa, the tiefling holding onto the bottle to fill everyone’s glasses, was all too quick to look over with wide eyes. “Why not?”

“I’m supposed to help with morning meal?” It was the truth, but all of them had their chores tomorrow. The expectation was that they’d all know their limits tonight and be ready.

Riki did know their limits, and they also knew it wasn’t much in comparison to the other’s. Still not quite five feet and only a little less human than half their group, they surmised that a drinking game was a poor idea when they were likely to be drunk under the table by nearly everyone present.

Iosa pouted, fangs catching on her lip, and a genasi named Kore leaned against their shoulder to also impress upon Riki with a guilting look. “Are you sure? We thought you wanted to hang out with us.”

“Yeah Zoie. Don’t you want to act normal for once?”

Riki’s eye twitched, and they accepted the glass if only to put a quick end to the condescension. They were even offered the chance to start, which they took if only to get out of the focus quickly. “Never have I ever caught avipox.”

It didn’t really get all that interesting until Iosa piped up on her turn. “Never have I ever been to Labrys.”

Drink.

“Never have I ever gotten to translate the Lonian texts.”

Maybe this was a bad idea. Drink.

On and on, some people catching on and starting with rumors. Riki was starting to lose track of how many times Iosa had to top them off, and their face was starting to itch in spots.

“Never have I ever seen out of more than two eyes!”

Riki’s ears burned and they yanked down their scarf after they took a sip. Iosa had to refill her own at that too, but seemed all too pleased when she got up to get another. When would this night actually end?

They winced to hear laughter and pushed back further under the shade of the cliff face. A familiarly green face popped into their hiding spot, tusky grin fading to see their state. “Since when are you on laundry duty?”

“Apparently I agreed to a trade.” Riki’s head felt like it’d been stuffed with raw cotton, stalks, seeds, and all. They’d woken up so, so late and evidently this was the only chore left to them. Even if it meant they’d have to do round trips to the river to get it all done.

Feng sat next to them, offering a split wedge of cheese which they accepted gratefully. “I was going to ask how the night went, but you don’t seem to be in the mood.”

They shrugged, picking at the snack with bird-like bites. “I know better for next time. I’ll just hide in the garden til everyone gets back.”

“Balls to that, you should hide in the monastery next time. Deville can’t ban someone from a sister temple, that’s blasphemous.”

“Adyriz and Ljuba aren’t sisters.” Riki deadpanned.

Feng snorted through a mouthful of cheese. “The towns are sisters. That counts.”

They rolled their eyes and ended up shutting them to listen to him prattle on. It wasn’t the quiet rush of the river nearby, but the comfortable companionship did just as many wonders for their head.

#july break bingo #jbb2023 #jbbingo2023 #original work #project; trufulla #iole writes #emotional hurt/comfort #though the comfort is at the very end

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avoidingcertaindoom · 10 months

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July Break Bingo 2023 -- Haunted

Months after the events of season one, Nancy and Jonathan are still grappling with the aftermath.

(Written for @julybreakbingo

Can Also be found on AO3 Under the title “Haunted - So Much That Time Cannot Erase)

Things were supposed to return to normal.

By all means it did in all the ways that mattered. There were no strange girls hiding in her basement. The woods didn't hide anything that would have been better off in Mike's games. Will was around again-- maybe not as often, and never a moment to himself, but he was here in flesh and blood and not in a small coffin or limp in a lake.

Life went on. Per the government, nothing happened. Ted and Karen had agreed to it (of course they did, for them it was nothing) and that was what they had to abide by if they wanted to be left alone.

And Nancy tried. She went back to school and got back together with Steve, and went along with the all American girl she was supposed to be. She tried.

But it wasn't the same.

There wasn't a conspiratorial, if disproving, voice to gossip in class, or beside her locker. No freckly face to brighten her morning, fluffy red hair or cozy cardiganed shoulder to lean on when the obligated silence pressed against her lungs.

It wasn't a wound that had the opportunity to close; the Hollands were still looking for their "missing" daughter. Poring into every possible lead, asking so many questions, doing the same song and dance the Byers had the past fall with missing posters and searches that all turned up empty. A weekly dinner date had been set up with her and them, Steve tagging along and the four of them just reminiscing. Doing everything but saying the quiet part out loud. Unable to confirm their worst fears or do anything but sink under the heavy weight of guilt.

Most days it was hard to breathe with the gaping hole in her chest or the yawning void in her day to day life. Some days it was hard to get out of bed. But every day she just had to keep moving.

What did it mean to wrestle with guilt?

For Jonathan, it meant dropping a very much needed job so Will would have someone able to meet him or drive him before and after school.

It meant making a point to be exactly where his mother thought he was until she was able to get home.

It meant the nights of hushed whispers in his, Nancy’s, or Steve’s room that were used to postpone sleep and, fewer nights than they’d like, ward off nightmares.

It meant many things, and yet…

He didn’t know if it meant seeing things that weren’t there. He used to be so sure of it but since the demogorgon and the lights and El, what kind of reality was certain anyway?

It’d be easy to test. He’d just have to show the pictures from Will and his friends sledding, from the school parking lot, from basketball games. Just as surely as Nancy had noticed the strange figure hovering near Barb, someone ought to spot or dismiss the bloated, odd smudge that hovered near Nancy, just out of arm’s reach.

Then they’d also be able to confirm that when the filthy, cracked glasses weren’t staring wistfully at Nancy, they were staring straight at him.

Maybe he didn’t need the confirmation after all, just maybe to take less pictures.

#july break bingo #jbb2023 #stranger things fanfiction #whump fanfiction

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avoidingcertaindoom · 10 months

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JBBingo 2023 -- Make a Choice (One You Won't Regret)

On the night that would go on to change their lives forever, Felix has some second thoughts.

Written for @julybreakbingo, can be found under the same title on AO3

Prompts are threefold, 1) Location: Balcony 2) Not Needing to Be Told and 3) Are We Going To Do This or Has This All Been A Waste of Time?

The clock was ticking down, for what exactly was still up for debate. The party was still going on downstairs long past curfew, a last huzzah before the ferry returned tomorrow and the Imperiatti disappeared into the same waves of fog as they arrived in.

It was their last chance. Now or never.

So when the patterned rapping at Felix's balcony door sounded, why did he hesitate?

Élodie had changed since they and the others left the party, bold patterned formal wear traded for darker casual wear. Her excitement dimmed as Felix opened the door, already tense for an argument, and she ripped the bandaid off then and there. "You changed your mind."

“I did not-- Not completely.” He shook his head. “I just have… I don’t know, a bad feeling? Not like it’s a bad idea, but what if something goes wrong?”

“Worst case scenario? We’re caught, and maybe then they’ll actually have to let us in on the secret part of the secret society charade. There’s more to this island than champagne and galas, isn’t there?” She leaned back against the bannister, arms crossed.

He leaned next to her, looking down several stories below. He could see figures skittering in the dark, the other Pariahs? Probably waiting to go on their trek. “Or they’ll just never bring us again.”

Élodie snorted. “Right, and leave us snubbed and fuming back home. I know my parents wouldn’t, surely the rest of them would agree.”

He didn’t know if he agreed, thinking of his father’s reluctance to let him in on the secret in the first place. What if Élodie was wrong, what if this was a step too far and Felix would miss his chance and end up forever cut off from his father’s inner circle, what it--

A sharp snap caught his attention, and Felix looked up to see her arms outstretched. "You're thinking loudly, way too loudly. Come, take my hands."

Hesitantly, he did so.

"And close your eyes. Breathe."

He did, in and out. Trying to release the tension with every exhale.

"Now, be honest with me. Do you think we shouldn't go?"

Felix opened his mouth to say… something.

What was it? Weren't they discussing something important?

He opened his eyes, darkness and embers dancing in the corner of his vision, and noticed Élodie staring at him in concern.

He tried to speak again, but this time was interrupted by a sharp whistle from down below. They both looked down into the pale, scowling face of one of the Pariahs. She waved impatiently for them to come down already.

"Oh shove it Judith," Élodie rolled her eyes and looked back towards Felix, an eyebrow raised. "So what did you want to do?"

He blinked. It was tonight, their last chance, he couldn't have been holding them up. "We've got to hurry, we're already late."

"...are you sure?" She was already braced against the railing, knuckles white. "You really want to do this?"

There was something. A strange, harsh ache in the back of his head, but he tried to shake it off with a reassuring smile. "We'll look out for each other, right? As long as we don't forget that I know we'll be alright."

Élodie looked down at the expectant faces of their friends, and then back at him, and seemed to settle on a decision. Returning his smile with a grin, she slipped over the edge and offered a hand. "Ready when you are then!"

As he took her hand, Felix was certain deep in his bones that from here there really was no going back.

#jbbingo2023 #jbb2023 #july break bingo #fandom: dead by daylight

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avoidingcertaindoom · 10 months

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JBBingo 2023 - Unfamiliar Circus, Unfamiliar Monkeys

Mira confronts some unsettling truths about her peers and her home.

(Written for @julybreakbingo, also found on ao3)

The makeup artist had gathered up all the phones in the room as soon as anyone set foot in. Mira had only begrudgingly handed hers over and tried to get the grooming out of the way early, but the artist had determined that no, she would not be getting it back until after the ceremony. The last thing anyone needed on the big day was a distraction.

(She said this quite pointedly while glaring at the faded blue twist Mira’s hair was in, and while she rolled her eyes she obliged by asking Linnea to help her with the wig she’d been provided).

With that done and interest for any family gossip already in the negatives, she tried to stay out of the way and keep her answers to small nothing answers, just enough to hopefully stay under the radar. Just a couple hours, she insisted internally, then she and the twins could be on the first plane out of this place.

“You don’t have to help, you know.”

“Hm?” She didn’t even really register who had spoken, and handed back the now opened bottle to the dazed woman seated in the corner of the room. “Help who?”

“You know. Her.” Her cousin Odile waved towards the feeder woman who was cautiously sipping the water with shaky hands. “You’ve been weird lately about that. You’re not a handler, why act like one?”

Mira blinked, brain stalling on an answer. “It’s a bottle of water. How is screwing a cap open handling?”

“Just saying. You do an awful lot more for the two you brought from home.”

The giggling that started up after the quip made her ears twitch. What a nothing thing to be taunted over. Compared to how things were at home there was barely anything to glance sideways at.

If they did know what things were like at home she imagined they’d be a lot less amused--

She glanced back at the woman while conversation continued, moving on from her, and felt struck with that much more unease. What was so funny about basic kindness, or basic decency at all? The woman was pale, faint, and simply out of her head just for the sake of making certain all present would have a snack before the wedding. Why shouldn’t her comfort matter?

Maybe Mira was getting too sensitive, like everyone back at Echton had been when she’d first moved. Everyone else was acting normal, so surely she was just the odd one out here. What were the odds everyone else was the problem?

…

“I’m going to get some air,” she murmured, stepping around the flock of bridesmaids and heading out the door. On the way she managed to nick her phone from the makeup artist’s cell jail and as soon as the door was shut behind her she unlocked it, scrolling past requests for pictures and post reception plans to pull up her boyfriend’s messages.

Miss u <3

Stay out of trouble, no one here has any sense.

#july break bingo #jbb2023 #vampire fiction #original work #vampire character #ch; mirabel carlisle #project; immortal coil #project; cry little sister #(technically it's the IC version of mira)#(but for all intents and purposes she's mostly on this blog for CLS)

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