#and torture my beloved mutuals

[theprogrockbstheorist]

COMPLETE BS Theory  No. 1: The One Rush Timeline Theory

This essay is completely and totally for fun. This basically proposes that every single Rush epic/suite/concept album takes place in a shared universe, the Rush Musical Universe, if you will. This is more of a thought experiment than an actual theory, since I highly doubt that it was the intention of the band to create songs within a single continuum over their 40-year career, but let’s just consider it nonetheless. Now, what exactly is considered on this Rush timeline? For the purposes of this timeline, the songs considered are those that are “highly conceptual”, or part of a larger, conceptual piece. There needs to be a defined plot, and a mostly original story. By this criteria, “The Necromancer” counts because it’s basically self-insert Tolkien fan fiction with an original plot and an original character (By-Tor). However, “Red Barchetta” doesn’t count because it’s heavily based on Richard M. Foster’s “A Nice Morning Drive”, and the plot is basically exactly the same as the short story. So, we are left with these songs:

“By-Tor and the Snow Dog”

“The Necromancer”

“The Fountain of Lamneth”

“2112” 

“Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage”

“Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres”

All of Clockwork Angels

The good thing is that the majority of these songs are fantasy-themed, so we can throw logic and reason mostly out the window. However, some are sci-fi fantasy (Clockwork Angels, arguably both “Cygnus” books), and “2112” is just straight-up dystopian science fiction. Those are going to be a little harder to fit in, however, it can be done. As for the actual timeline itself, my proposal is that it looks something like this: “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” and “The Necromancer” occur at roughly the same time, as they both feature the same character, Prince By-Tor. They take place in a semi-mythological world, symbolized by By-Tor’s descent into the Underworld in “By-Tor and the Snow Dog”, and by his battle with Tolkien’s Necromancer in “The Necromancer”. Fast forward a couple decades or so, and then we have the events of “The Fountain of Lamneth”, as the song also derives heavily from mythological concepts, such as the Hero’s Cycle, as well as the lack of advanced technology. This puts “The Fountain of Lamneth” sometime in the distant past as well, but most likely after “By-Tor” and “the Necromancer”. Then, fast forward a couple thousand years, and you get Clockwork Angels, which was meant to be an experiment into a society in which Thomas Edison hadn’t popularized electricity, with everything instead being powered through alchemy, with steampunk aesthetics. The events of Clockwork Angels, then, could take place in an alternate version of the 20th Century, which closely resembled the 19th Century. 

This is where the timeline gets confusing and kinda muddled. Firstly, because it’s unclear on whether the technology of the world of Clockwork Angels would allow someone to travel into space, and it’s also unclear on whether they would be allowed to do so. However, both parts of “Cygnus X-1” have really nowhere else to fit on the timeline, as they certainly can’t go any earlier. For the sake of the argument, let’s say that for some reason, one’s life path in the Clockwork Angels society somehow made them an inventor, and they somehow had access to alternate technology that could theoretically let this person build a spaceship (or the equivalent) and travel into a black hole into another universe, THAT is where “Cygnus X-1” and “Hemispheres” would fit in. It would probably be the middle of the transition from Clockwork Angels to “2112”. 

From my extensive covering of “2112”, we know that the end of the war that tears apart the solar system and establishes the Solar Federation happens in 2062. Meaning, there was a war that began sometime earlier, and ended halfway into the 21st Century. The Clockwork Angels society begins sometime in the 1800s, and the album (and the book) ends with the implication that the cycle of Clockwork Angels will continue without the narrator’s intervention, as The Watchmaker (the sort of leader of Clockwork Angels) has invented some sort of alchemy to prolong his life. So, it is safe to say that, perhaps, this society continues until the death of the Watchmaker, which could occur sometime early in the 21st Century. After his death, let’s say a new, even more oppressive regime forms out of the chaos, and with the power of electricity and all of the alchemical discoveries of the Clockwork Angels society, they take over the solar system. Let’s also say that Earth is somehow ruined in the chaos, and this begins a mass exodus to Mars (my very first theory). 

That is the world in which “2112” takes place. It is the final part of the Rush timeline, which is quite fitting in a way. The story fits into a fantasy world, into which technology was finally developed. 

Is this batshit insane? Absolutely. It makes next to zero sense, and most likely wasn’t even on their minds. BUT I am still incorporating this into my belief system, especially after watching that short yesterday. I just felt like posting something that wasn’t related to my current side-project. 

#prog rock #progressive rock #prog #essay #sorry this was very poorly written out #I just needed to get this out into the interwebs lol #and torture my beloved mutuals

[freshpickle]

to all of my beloved non-swiftie mutuals, this is a blanket apology for what is to come tomorrow when the tortured poets department is released. I hope that you can accept this apology and stick with me through the storm of Taylor Swift related posts that will be filling your dash from me

I respect your dislike/impartialness to taylor swift, we can't all be everyone's cup of tea. I just hope you'll still around and not block/unfollow me for my love of her music 🫶🏻

#to my beloved mutuals #if you are a swiftie let's post together!!!!! #ttpd #taylor Swift #the tortured poets department #I

[cosmobrain00]

will with guns but in a traumatic way

#last post tn does anyone get me or #me when I can exacerbate a characters deep rooted issue bc of various settings tht would put an even bigger stressor on it #gun empowerment? haha funny. take tht chop it up n put it in a blender #me when I force characters to go against their nature as a form of torture bc ik how painful it is to lose sight or urself #I wrote tht once.. looks off into the distance #okay sorry my b. im done #not putting this in any tag either bc im hoping only my beloved mutuals will see this n get wht im going for

[woodrocko]

all platonic :)

@smoken-bagel@talkingteardrop@peppermintz-25@pebiejeebies@sleeppillowy@slimebottlesilly@biblicallyaccuratefour@berrywasherealways@bamdyandana@artismeyou-12@duckmenace@sillyosclover@bluewbomb@lemonpie45@cat8648@0senseless6@infinite-ticking-clock37@salachy-part-two@scoffrocks@so-much-longing@ineedtherapyofc@yoink-a-doink@koduflower2000@saraali-19@galaxy-brushs-posts@akalikestodraw@blairdrawzstuff@aft-3-r-gl-0-w@homobrainjuice@fizzycereal@trashbins-stuff@anonymous123maybe@ghost-104@moththejeebweezer@yoylecakey

#beloved mutuals #mutuals #tumblr friends #love you guys #moots #i love my friends #love you all #my beloved moots #art moots #i love my mutuals #mutuals my beloved #torturing my bestie :)

[dashedwithromance]

TODAYS THE DAY ITS TODAY ITS TORTURED POETS DAY TODAY HUZZAH YIPPEEE HOORAY

#taylor swift #the tortured poets department #ttpd #apologies to my beloved sw mutuals for what i am about to become

[posletsvet]

So—

Being eighteen was great, can't wait to see what being nineteen will show!!

#no but truly #18th was the best year of my life so far #despite the insane levels of stress and torturous academic workload that going through the finals was #i started talking to people after years of proper communication with only my sister #for a brief while I was even brave enough to share my thoughts with the world #it was delightful #i made friends on my own which is something I've never been able to do before #i met you guys #my dearly beloved mutuals!!!! <33 #i made art and started feeling something about it again #i created so much I didn't even think I was capable of something like that #me and my friends created entire worlds in our minds #as well as loads of characters which i love dearly!! #i mean it's not really mine to call my achievement but it feels so incredibly special to be a part of something like that #i reignited genuine interest inside of myself towards life and even picked up a couple of new special interests #i read and watched so many great stories #oh yeah I finished school so good riddance to that part of my life hehe #i enrolled into one of the best universities in the country which still feels insanely unreal #took a gap year #me and my sister travelled on our own and were able to finally meet our internet friends which is the flaking best thing in the world #worked two jobs with an occasional third one to save up a bit #i'll be moving out of my home city this year which scares the shit out of me but is still so so amazing #there were and still are tragedies around me that split my heart in half with fury and despair #and I feel unfairly privileged to be granted so much joy in my own life #so yeah it's been one hell of a year #sorry for getting so insufferably emotional but I love all this so unbelievably much #i love you all folks :')

[thecoolerliauditore]

that funeral sequence was so incredibly hard to watch btw i didn't think anything could rival the burying jimmy alive bit from double life but jesus.

#random thoughts #secret life spoilers #traffic spoilers #im happy all my Beloved Mutuals seem just as horrified by that as i was #straight up psychological torture

[storkmuffin]

Four new chapters posted of The Shining Forest !

Bret Wallis,Young Master of Easton, offers a game of wits and one of valor for a chance to win his prize thoroughbred at the Autumn Equinox Festival.  No one is supposed to take him up on it, but Sweet Pea, Battlespawn pretending to be manservant to Jughead, a prince in hiding, doesn’t know that.

#This thing I am writing for my own amusement and to torture my beloved mutual is now 57 chapters long and I think this counts as a mania #we are nowhere near the end :D #The Shining Forest #My writing #Jugpea Fanfic #Fantasy Jugpea

[gender-mailman]

*SLAMS A TABLE* GORTURE GENDERS RELATED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF TORTURE (Blood eagle my beloved)

Oh and I am extremely interested in making emotional torture gorture skdnjwlsnsn

👀!!!!!! Ooooooooo for me a like more general types of torture, like strangling, stabing, hurting etc, but thats such a cool idea!!!! :DDD

Also, holy shit emotion torture my fucking beloved, literal the type of torture that i most kin! My god i love all your ideas for gendies related to my term! <:33

#mailman speak #💌 i talk too much : talking #💌 i can keep it 'til i die : mutual #hypnosiacon #iacon my beloved /p #torture ment

[came-out-of-the-coffin-desisted]

i’m gonna do a full extremely tacky review of interview with the vampire tomorrow but i just wanna say in advance sorry i’m a lestat apologist. as if it’s my fault. also rest in piss anne rice you stupid bitch they BARELY waited for you to be buried before they made your books soooo much sexier lmao

#i LOVE it in case anyone’s wondering. i can be normal about it bc i was never a HUGE iwtv fan (mostly bc of how much i fucking hate loathe #abhorr anne rice) but this version fucks sooo hard #making louis Black and giving him this incredibly complex and painful creole heritage is. man what the fuck you took anne rice’s white #supremacist vampire book that spawned like all other iterations of the tortured romantic ex slave owner vampire and you made him BLACK AND #EXPLICITLY GAY AND COMPLICATED AND AMAZING AND PERFECT???? sheer fucking genius #also the casting is AMAZING holy shit #before anyone says some pro anne rice shit (NOT that i rhink my beloved mutuals would ever do such a thing) just block me before i block you

[polyphonial-old]

oh my god.. i've never drawn him this good and i never will again

#olly talks #he's so cute my god #mutuals if you wanna see him please dm me #talking about my oc kai here. he is my beloved himbo who i torture a bit too much

[cyllofern]

listening to mychem on the bus is like edging for virgins

#i was gonna post this of my cf but then i thoight why not torture my mutuals with my thoughts #xoxoxox #i was listenjng to helena on yhe bus #mychem my beloved

[partycatty]

kenshi takahashi > take it

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELOVED POOKIE BEAR @crimsonbubble!!!!!!!!! LOVE U LOTS, ENJOY MY LITTLE BIRTHDAY PRESENT <3

warnings: mean dom kenshi >:3, overstimulation, mutual masturbation? torture? idk something heinous is going on

notes: why my thingy go up while writing this

[ masterlist ]

• you knew better, you knew so much better than to get on his nerves but you found the fun in his firm tone and thick, crossed arms. you had decided to pull a little lie his way, figuring it wouldn't do much harm. and now, he found out, so here you were with a vibrator cruelly bound to your sticky cunt, a low enough setting to make you writhe and beg for forgiveness. your legs are bound, forced open and tied to your wrists behind your back.

• kenshi could pretend to ignore your voice forever if it meant you'd continue to beg as he sits in a chair against the bedroom wall, toying lazily with his aching cock. his other hand rests against his jaw, the controller to the toy in his fist.

• he was trained in so many other ways of endurance, namely having incredible control over his arousal. he'll last as long as you and then some, as long as you get properly tortured, kenshi will continue to stroke himself with grunts and occasional twitches when his thumb slides across his tip.

• just as you grow tired of one setting, kenshi would heighten the strength significantly, relishing in your cries and squirms. your core bubbles, folds slick and needy as the sheets underneath you begin to dampen. your hips buck, eagerly chasing your as it orgasm fast approaches.

• "please, ken, please-" your voice sounds pleading, almost for your life as tears prick in your eyes. "i'm sorry for misbehaving, it won't - hah - won't happen again..."

• kenshi's cruel, cold grumble pulls you back to reality as you feel your vision blur. "liar."

• the vibrator reduces to a low hum around your clit, completely pulling you away from cumming just as quick as it approached you. thrashing and rolling your head back, you're just about to flop backwards onto the mattress before you hear kenshi tut at you.

• "eyes here," he demands, voice still low. "watch what you do to me." you pull your head forward, resting your chin against your chest as you sniffle, watching kenshi stroke himself through your lashes.

• his cock had a shine of his precum coating it, his fingers sliding up the length of his shaft with ease. his eye contact was brutal, nearly killing you where you sat. it was almost too much when you'd catch his eye twitch or his lips part to moan.

• a little treat to you, his hips buck up, his dick chasing the friction of his palm as he nears his own orgasm. your lips part, matching his pants with need. you nod encouragingly, relishing in the sight and temporarily distracted enough to ignore the faint buzzing on your cunt.

• this, he notices. kenshi pulls his hand away from his cock, denying both you and him the pleasure of him painting his stomach with his seed. kenshi rolls his head back, letting out a deep sigh as he holds his cock at the base, thighs tensing. his gaze falls forward at you, suddenly setting the vibrator alight with a single touch.

• your back arches from the sudden shock, the toy torturing your puffy clit relentlessly as the hum shocks up your spine and makes your whole body tremble.

• "you gonna lie to me again?" he asks, his voice lost to your ears as you cry out from the overstimulation, an orgasm fast approaching again and yet so far away. "learned to listen?"

• "yes, god -" you cry out. "yes, yes, i'll behave, i'll listen - fuck -"

• kenshi chuckles to himself, stopping his strokes to admire the view in front of him. "you look so good like this, you know. i should just keep you here all night. how's that sound?" the proposal makes you frown as your face contorts in pleasure.

• "i like you more when you behave," he purrs, tutting at your knitted brows and soaked pussy. "pisses me off when you're a brat, you know that, right?" you can only stupidly nod at his words, accepting whatever he wants to throw your way when he speaks in that sultry voice. he hums in agreement, fucking his cock on his hand at a swifter pace now. "you want to cum, is that it?"

• in a daze, you nod, the buzzing numbing your cunt heats your skin. the vibrator speeds up to an impossible speed now, burning your very core and rendering you entirely speechless, drool slipping down your chin as your orgasm attacks your entire body. thanking him endlessly as each wave twitches your limbs. •kenshi smiles to himself, lip curling in amusement at your stupid state. you miss as he cums, painting his flush skin with his fluid with a hissing grunt. his cock twitches hungrily, begging for somewhere to stuff it but settling for his hand. you were too busy crying in pain as you notice the vibrator doesn't come to an end like you do, instead attacking your pussy at the same pace it was before. • his smile turns into a beaming grin, a rare expression on his hard features as you writhe and burst into full-on sobs, crying that it's too much for you to handle so soon. • the words are lost to him again as he stands there with the smile, admiring the shine on your skin and the drool from your cunt as your hole clenches down on nothing. he flicks between the fast and faster speeds rapidly, sending lightning up your spine as you cum again. even through the pleasure you're wracked with pain. • "no more..." you beg, voice hoarse from your pathetic cries. "please, please no more, kenshi-" • "i thought you wanted to cum?" he asks in that stupidly teasing tone, and you know you're in for it by the inflection in his words. "you're getting what you want, dear." • kenshi promptly stuffs his cock back in his slacks and brushes his thighs off, standing up after wiping his hand on a towel resting on the armrest. your eyes widen in fear of what's to come when you see him stand with a huff. • "k-kenshi?" you whimper, body weak against the vibrator still toying with your clit. kenshi wiggles the controller in his fingers with a cocked brow as he heads toward your bedroom door. "no, nonono, wait-" • the door slams on you as you're still bound and dripping, the heat from the last two orgasms sliding the toy against your clit as it slips between your folds, overly soaked. • kenshi stands on the other side of the door, unbeknownst to you, touching himself to your screaming sobs that turn into whispered sniffles the longer the machine pulls orgasm after orgasm from you. • he does return, albeit eventually. you're knocked out, the only sound in the room being the horrid squelching of your pussy and your faint breaths after passing out from how many times you came. • kenshi helps bathe you, cleaning you gently of the rope wounds and slick before dressing you properly for the night after changing the dampened sheets courtesy of your arousal, pulling you to his chest. he couldn't help himself but laugh at your sleepy sniffles, consciousness lost to you after all the time of agony. • "did so good," he hums into your hair, kissing the top of your head. "always so good for me."

#mortal kombat #mortal kombat x reader #mk1 #mortal kombat smut #kenshi takahashi smut #kenshi takahashi x reader #kenshi takahashi #marley writes ☆

[seaslugfanclub]

bestie, beloved mutual, Neptune, I have for real been getting hit on at work by creepy older men and sometimes women multiple times a day, so I was wondering if you could do the more romantically inclined villains witnessing y/n having to deal with several of these people within a short amount of time? You could do any writing style that comes to mind, this is just my way of coping :D ily!!(platonic)

{if this is out of your comfort zone, please message me and kill me :)}

Omg I am so sorry you have to deal with that, as someone who’s had the same experience, I totally understand your frustration. Hang in there pookie ❤️

Villains reaction to (Y/N) being creeped on

TW: old man being creepy/harassment (stay safe everyone)

—————————————

During their time at Disney Parks, the Villain’s realized they aren’t the most evil people there

There was this older park attendant working in the same branch as (Y/N) and of course, in typical creep fashion he. would. not. leave. (Y/N). alone.

When they clock in for work “Good Morning (Y/N), I was thinking about you last night.”

During (Y/N)’s lunch break, he’d try to sit across from them. “I saw some kid spill her drink all over you, I have an extra shirt in my locker if you’d like to come with me and get it.”

God, even when they’re both supervising interactions with the Villains “I noticed that new Mickey Mouse pin on your chest, I should call you ‘my little Disney girl’”

All of this was enough for the Villains to notice, and if they’re existence wasn’t dependent on Disney, they would’ve flayed this guy the moment he made eye contact with (Y/N)

Each Villain has seen at least one instance of (Y/N)’s coworker hitting on them, and they all have their own idea of how to deal with the creep

Hades wants to tie the creep to the top of the magic castle and let the seagulls eat his liver

Maleficent is shining up her collection of medieval torture devices

Frollo wants him flogged

Facilier is currently sewing up a voodoo doll, all he needs is some of the old man’s hair

Scar is scheming ways to make his hyenas mauling the man look like an accident

Clayton, Gaston, and Sykes just want to shoot the guy

But for now everyone makes sure that (Y/N) isn’t alone with the guy, something (Y/N) appreciates more than anything

When (Y/N) come teary eyed to the Villains, you know damn well they’re gonna be treated like royalty.

Hook cooks the their favorite meal as Hades brings his best jokes to take their mind off being harassed

Cruella actually understands what (Y/N)s going through, having been a female in the male dominated fashion industry during the 50’s

“Chin up now dear, don’t let some man-thing get to you. Heavens know I had my fare share of degenerates when I started out my illustrious career!”

Even though they can’t physically touch the creep, it’s not a surprise that the man eventually disappeared quit

Something about a series of unfortunate circumstances that coincidentally happed in progression that lead him to have a mental breakdown and leave on short notice

When news of the creeps resignation, all the villains were like:

There are only two reasons the Villains could get along. 1. It’s for (Y/N) 2. The destruction of someone’s life.

(Y/N) has scary dog privileges, but the scary dogs are middle aged magicians

—————————————

Hope you enjoyed! Try not to let those old creeps get you down, they’re miserable folks who don’t deserve the time of day! (And for real a man called me his ‘little Disney girl’ when he noticed my Disney pin…. I’m 20..)

#disney villains #self insert #disney imagine #disney x reader #disney hades #captain hook #dr facilier #claude frollo #malificent #cruella de vil

[paper-starz]

Hi hi hi! So, quick question, what's your opinion on The Amazing Digital Circus? It's been trending and I wonder what's your opinion on it. Also, your amazing!!!! (And if you do like it, who's your favorite character???)

OH I LOVE TADC! Its a VERY interesting show! As for my favorites, i absolutely ADORE KINGER AND CAINE!

Kinger because... well, look at him

silly lil guy energy right there!

As for Caine, he is MUCH more gentler and sweeter than he seems. A lot more interesting then the regular "sentient AI that wants to torture humanity"

He seems like he does genuinely care, but he has no idea how humans work.

also, a cool thing my beloved mutual @ch3rie-pop figured out! (<-go check out her lovely art too!)

Cherie said that Caine doesnt have the ability to watch over everyone (since Pomni DID find herself in the VOID) and only says these kinds of stuff just to discourage everyone from doing stuff that they obviously shouldn't!

ALSO HE DOES CARE SOMEWHAT! look how considerate he is of Zooble's feelings

AND YOU ARE AMAZING TOO @lemoncoffee-or-bored!!!

#the amazing digital circus #tadc caine #tadc kinger #answered asks #lemon its always a pleasure seeing you! #but yeah Kinger is so silly #and Caine is a LOT more interesting than he seems #I also dont get the Jax hype either #....Hes not all that interesting to me... #OH NO #WHY DO I HEAR BOSS MUSIC??? #AAAAAAAAAAA #THE JAX FANS #THEY ARE COMING FOR ME #OH NOOOOOOOOOOO

[mydearlybeloathed]

𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: growing worried about the degree of your nail biting habit, nico ignores the advice of his boyfriend and takes matters into his own hands.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: nico di angelo x platonic!gn!reader

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭:: 1.7k

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: a curse word i think, nail biting

Agitated was the only word to express how Nico Di Angelo felt, watching as you picked at the hangnail currently torturing you. The two of you were sitting in a mythos lesson at Camp Halfblood, but neither of you were listening. 

While you were focused on getting rid of this hangnail—biting off half your nail in the process—Nico gritted his teeth as he observed the horrible nervous habit of yours. Finally, he had enough, and swiped your wrist away from your face. 

His glare was firmly planted on your face. “Stop. You could get an infection that way.” He retreated into his seat beside you, slouching over. “Plus, its gotta hurt like a devil.”

You shrugged in reply as you tucked your hands in your hoodie pocket to keep them away from your mouth. “Eh. It does. Can’t help it though.”

“I know,” your best friend said through a sigh, a tiny grin sipping across his pale face.

“Besides, I won’t actually get an infection from biting my nails, Nico.”

His brows rose just slightly. “How do you know?”

“Because,” you snapped back, messing with your nails in the confines of your pocket now, waiting for when Nico was gone to finish evening them out. “That’s stupid.”

He scoffed and looked away. “Go ask Will, and he’ll tell you it’s not.”

“He’s biased.”

“How?”

It only took one look, one raise of your brows, and the boy’s pale face was flushed as he shoved your shoulder. “Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything,” you laugh, and the discussion was over. For now, at least. If anything, you’d only made Nico even more determined to prove you wrong.

He understood, of course. You really couldn’t help it. But he wanted to help you, at the very least, and if that meant scaring you into kicking the habit, so be it.

“Could you talk to them about it?” he asked—begged—Will. He was practically chasing his boyfriend around the infirmary, ranting about his deep rooted worry for their mutual friend. 

Will was being patient, or, he was really trying to be, but with the previous day’s Capture the Flag game gone awry, and every bed in the infirmary holding a whining little shit camper, Nico was really testing him.

“Nico,” Will finally said, leading him into the supply room and away from the gossiping ears of those around. “I’ll talk to them, but I think you should too.”

“I have been–”

“I mean talk to them and listen too.” Will silenced Nico with a look, pursing his lips as he chose the right words. “Have another conversation about it, okay?”

Nico wanted to ask again, but anytime he brought it up, you just shut down and found an excuse to leave.  Weeks went by, and Nico’s worry got the better of him. He decided to take matters into his own hands, much to the exhaustion of Will.

Coming out of the shadows, Nico entered into the throne room of Hades. The place was dim, torches alighting the walls just enough for him to make out the pillars and, most importantly, the three thorns at the end of the ling chamber.

Each throne was empty, but someone was there. He felt them, their presence, somewhere nearby. Scanning the area, Nico zeroed in on the archway leading out to the palace gardens, where all the beloved plants of the Queen were grown. Bingo.

Nico slinked outside, setting eyes on a pallidly beautiful woman tending to a patch of black roses. Her back was to him, but instantly, she rose from her knees and turned, her gaze burning into him with a malice.

Nico halted a few feet from her, hands stuffed in his hoodie pockets and his hair falling into his face. “Hey.”

Persephone looked down her nose at him. “Bastard son.” A subtle smile settled on her face. “About time you came home.”

He shrugged. “Haven’t had time, you know? Anyway, is Dad around?”

With a light scoff the Queen of the Underworld twirled her hand, sending black roots to wrap around Nico’s ankles. “No time for your stepmother? Typical. I give you and that nice Apollo boy gifts every birthday, and this is the thanks I get?”

Nico chuckled as he shook the roots off and said, “Sorry, I just have something really important I need from him.” 

“Fine,” Persephone snapped. “Hades!”

A moment later Nico’s father stepped out of the shadows, frustration seeping off of him. He gritted out, “Yes, my love?”

Persephone pointed to Nico, who waved weakly when his father’s eyes found him. “Oh. Hello, boy. What do you need?”

Nico looked out of the garden, and in the distance he could see the Fields of Asphodel. “How many people have died from biting their nails?”

“Honestly,” said Hades as he and his son approached the fields, shades parting for them as they went. “To think I can just tell you off the top of my head is ridiculous. Do you have any idea how many have died?”

Nico gave him a look. “Are you going to tell me?”

“No, because it’s impossible,” snapped Hades. “You can have your look around. Surely someone fits your description.”

Nico raised his brows. “No way I’m doing this alone. You see how big this place is?”

Sighing, Hades gave his son a withered look, before bellowed, “Come forth those who have died of... What was it?”

“Nail biting.”

Hades paused, questioned his immortal life choices, and continued, “Those who have died of nail biting!”

To Nico’s surprise, around thirty shades stepped forward. Hades stuck around for the time being, having the shades stand in single file as Nico interviewed them one by one.

By the time Hades grew bored and his departure inspired the scattering of the shades, Nico had what he needed, and promptly dragged a ghost to the Overworld.

“Brooklynn,” he called for you, walking into the Big House where you’d been filing papers for Chiron--for a price, of course. This wasn’t free labour.

You smiled at him. “Sup.”

Nico was nervous about something, you noticed quickly, abandoning your work for a moment to see why he was fidgeting with the end of his jacket. “You okay?”

“Oh, yeah,” he assured. “I just had something to show you.”

As you stood there waiting, Nico called out for someone, but instead of entering through the door, they just materialized out of thin air. Startled, you simply looked from the shade to your best friend. “Who’s this?”

“Oh,” Nico blanked. “I never asked.”

“I–I’m Jim, Your Highness” said the terrified shade. 

Nico nodded. “Right, this is Jim.”

Confused beyond all else, you screwed your brows together and just stared at him. “Nico, what is this?”

“An intervention,” he put simply, turning on the shade with shary eyes. “Jim, tell Y/N why you’re dead.”

“Nico!” you seethed.

The shade—Jim—shook his head hurriedly. “No, it’s no trouble, Your Highness. I–well, I–I died of a heart attack.”

Impatient, Nico waved him on. “Caused by…”

“Oh, uhm, it was septicemia.” At my puzzled look, Jim elaborated. “A blood infection.”

Nico still wasn’t satisfied, rolling his eyes and urging, “And how’d you get it, Jim?”

The gloomy shade glanced down at his hands, holding them up and saying, “Well, I had a nervous habit. Bit my nails down to the nub every day. I guess I caught something ‘cause of the constant open wounds.”

Now it all made sense. With your eyes locked on the shade, you became conscious that you were picking at a hangnail on your thumb as you stood there, peeling away skin and opening a fresh cut. “Oh.”

“See,” said Nico cheerfully, trying to clap Jim on the back, but his hand only passed through the shade. “Told you. You can die from biting your nails.”

The longer you said nothing, and the longer you stared into space, the more uncomfortable Nico got. He glanced over and locked eyes with Jim, who offered a shrug in reply. Nico sighed. “You’re dismissed.”

And the shade faded as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving only Nico and you. He rocked on his heels, watching you carefully. “Y/N?”

As his hand reache dout to poke you back to life, you swatted him away and did just that, but you weren’t as grateful as Nico had hoped you’d be. Instead, your eyes were narrowed and your fists were tight at your sides. “Nico, what the fuck?”

“I–” he stammered. “I thought this would help. Motivation to stop…”

“It didn’t,” you snapped, voice cracking. Nico’s breath hitched; your eyes were red and your chin shook. What had he done wrong?

“I… I don’t get it.”

You held up your hand, littered in Bluey bandaids fresh from Will’s kit. “I can’t stop, Nico. I’ve tried.”

Try harder, he thought, but didn’t say. “I–I’m sorry. I thought I was helping.”

“Helping would be leaving me alone,” you said slowly, swallowing thickly. 

Now, Nico wasn’t great at this comfort thing, but he knew one thing for certain: leaving was mostly never the right call. Will had taught him that. Talk to them and listen too. “Y/N, I really am sorry.”

Your eyes didn’t meet his, shame crawling up your neck as you hid your hands in your hoodie pockets. “Yeah, I know. I know. Just… leave it, okay?”

“Okay…”

He didn’t bring it up again. He was always too scared of hurting you to do that. Instead, he listened, and watched for when your fingers were particularly more wounded than usual. 

Nico made sure there was always a fun box of bandaids in your cabin, and he knew the Paw Patrol and Strawberry Shortcake ones were your favorite. You were never out of neosporin, and new shades of nail polish showed up on your nightstand every once in a while. 

And though you never said anything about it, you were grateful, and you liked how he smiled when you painted your nails and got them to grow out a bit before it chipped away and the cycle restarted. 

Occasionally, a joke about a man named Jim will come up, first by you of course, and Nico could only stand locking eyes with you for two seconds before he keeled over laughing. No one else understands, and neither of you care to explain.

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