Do you think Aether is bitter? Do you think he sees Dew moping around, lost in the grief of losing not only someone he loves, but alos losing himself, unable to force himself to live the life Ifrit gave him, and resents him for it? Ifrit is gone, nothing more than ash and smoke, fuel burned up to keep Dew alight, and he won't even dignify that sacrifice by bothering to live?
Do you think he resents the whole business more and more each day, not only for taking Ifrit away from him, not only for changing Dew into something he barely even recognises as the ghoul he loves, but for proving to him that Dew always wanted Ifrit more? For mkaing him wonder if Dew would act like this if he'd been the one who'd flung himself away?
If Dewdrop was sitting there in Ifrit's arms with galaxies in his eyes and the pulse of the universe under his fingertips, would he even notice Aether was gone?
I think it's too easy to be bitter. Is that feeling somewhere deep down? Of course. Aether, Dew, and Mountain have been through a lot, and they're forced to grieve in many ways. But it's bitterness towards the Clergy, towards the ones that abandoned their pack first, then for the ones that were taken away. None of them had a choice--taking Ifrit out of the Project was something decided by outside forces. They wanted Dew up front, and that was what they were going to get (The only choice in this narrative is the one Ifrit is graced with: to be killed, banished, or give up his elemental being for another?).
I really think Aether is so painfully in love with Dew that he'll give his entire being until he himself almost shatters into a million pieces. He'll love Dew until the Earth dies out, if he has to. Even if Dew doesn't want him like he wanted Ifrit. Even if it means loving him quietly. That "old" Dew is buried deep somewhere, Aether can feel the shreds of that element still coursing through his veins. And he can feel Ifrit there too, fueling Dew's fire.
Everything you just said? That's what Dew thinks Aether thinks. Tries to hide from him, wallow in his own sorrows, because how could anyone else love him now? How is he supposed to take his mate's spot, how is he supposed to go on just like he's being forced to do? Maybe it'd be easier if Aether resented him. Hated him. So he tries to push him away prematurely, but Aether won't let him. Aether can't let him, because he can't lose yet another person.
Aether waits for Dew as long as Dew needs. He keeps him stable, retreats to Mountain for comfort when he needs it. He steps into the void when he needs to scream--until his throat is raw and he has nothing left. And then he pulls himself back together, because he has to. For Mountain. For Dew. For the rest of them.
If Dewdrop was sitting there in Ifrit's arms with galaxies in his eyes and the pulse of the universe under his fingertips, would he even notice Aether was gone?
And this? Dew would rather be the one to change. He'll play the martyr, so no one else has to. To him, that's easier. After everyone that's left him, that's easier.
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mmmm bit of whump writing based on this post by @i-eat-worlds and the tags on it by @fern-writes-whump
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"I'm gonna change the bandage again, okay?" mutters C, touching A's arm with a tender hand, where the gash is now wrapped up in gauze that is nearly soaked through with blood. "Are the ice packs okay? Do you need them cooled off again or are they good?"
"Mm," A hums distractedly, brow furrowed as they gaze out the window.
"A?"
A blinks, and for the first time in the last few hours they actually turn their head to meet C's wide, concerned eyes. "Sorry, what?"
"Bandages. Ice packs."
"Right. Sorry." A rubs their face and then winces when they accidentally touch the bruise that is blooming across their eye. The pain is bad, yes- they took a lot of blows, and the knife caught them pretty badly in the arm. But just now there is something bearing down on their mind even more heavily. "I'm just...I wish B would come home."
A shadow of worry crosses C's face, and their hands falter, falling into their lap. "Oh," they whisper. "Yeah. Me too." They share a pained look with A before A's eyes return to the window, longing, hoping, yearning.
When A stumbled into their home, sobbing, collapsing into B's arms and telling them about what had happened, they had been too frantic and upset to catch the rage in B's eyes. The utter, cold fury at all the descriptions of how they had been hurt and who hurt them. A misses B's soft hands rubbing their back soothingly, the gentle kisses to their temple; it's been hours since B stormed out of the house after only a bid to C to take good care of A's injuries and a long kiss goodbye for A.
"Changing the bandage now," C whispers, and A nods, swallowing hard, trying and failing not to cry. They weep silently, tears slipping down their cheeks, punctuated by soft sniffles and trembling lips. For C's part, there is nothing to do but touch them gently, whispering apologies when they have to dab stinging antiseptic on the wound and A gasps softly. They know that the crying is not about the pain. It is about missing their lover.
C doesn't ask about the icepacks, knowing A doesn't want to talk about it. They lift each one, trying not to wince at the bruises that mark A's body each place they were struck, and feel the bottom, most lukewarm now. They stand to go to the kitchen and get fresh ones, but A looks up suddenly, voice high-pitched and watery. "C-"
C turns in the doorway, looking back at them with sympathy and sadness in their eyes.
"What if B gets hurt," A whispers. "What if something happens to them, what if they-"
"They won't," C cuts them off sharply, and then their voice softens at the glistening, tear-stricken face they are looking into. "They won't, A. They're gonna come home. They love us. They love you."
A lets out a shaking sigh.
It is a while longer, more of C tending to A's injuries gently, in near silence only punctuated by the soft hitches of quiet sobs, before the door creaks open.
"Oh my God," C exclaims immediately, and jump up from where they were sitting on the couch beside A, holding an icepack against their bruised face for them to give them a rest. A doesn't catch the icepack they drop, too caught up in the moment, eyes wide. Their heart is racing. Please, please, please-
There is a fire in B's eyes as they limp through the front door, across the room, and drop to their knees before A on the couch, taking both their hands. Both pairs of hands are trembling.
"A," B whispers fiercely, "I am 100% serious when I tell you that no one will ever hurt you like that again."
A stares at B. Their lovers face looks five times as bad as theirs. Covered in bruises, a trickle of dried blood trailing out of their nose. Their words are slurred- there is blood in their mouth too. A's eyes flick down to their hands- bruises bloom across their knuckles too. B clenches A's hands tighter as their own shake harder, and A's stomach flips at B's ragged breaths.
"B-" they begin tearfully, but B slumps forward, suddenly going alarmingly limp, their head thunking against A's knee.
"Shit," A and C say in near unison, and while C continues in a stream of "Shit, shit, shit, shit, oh my fuck, shit, God-" A is tearfully imploring B- "B, please, I love you, oh my God, why did you- please I'm scared I love you-" C reaches forward to help A, who is already in a panic trying to ease B up onto the couch, abandoning their own seat. They've been trying to go easy on their injured arm, but they have forgotten all of their own injuries- as they help C strip off B's shirt and examine them, it turns out B is injured far worse.
B's eyes blink open blearily a minute later, as C is running for more ice packs and more bandages. A strokes their face softly, leaning over them- "shhhhh sh sh B it's okay now, we're here, you're going to be alright-"
"They-" Just the pain of moving their mouth to speak makes B wince, shuddering a little, and A lays a hand on their chest gently when they find a spot that is not bruised or bleeding. "They hurt you, A."
"I know, I know, B, you didn't have to do that," A whispers, tears brimming again in their eyes.
"They hurt you," B repeats weakly.
"They hurt you worse."
"They hurt you..."
A opens their mouth and then closes it.
And they drop their head down and shakily, tenderly, gently, kiss B's forehead.
"It's okay, B," they whisper. "I'm okay. And you're gonna be okay."
"If I have anything to say about it," adds C softly, dumping the armful of supplies they've gathered onto the coffee table. "A- I got it, don't worry. I've got them."
A shuffles back with a sigh, feeling their wounds scream at them again.
They fold their arms over B's legs, burying their face there, letting themself cry. And they feel B's hand come to tangle in their hair, stroking their head softly; A reaches for B's other hand without looking, and every time B squeezes it from the pain of C dressing their wounds- accompanied by "Sorry, sorry, almost done-" A feels their heart pang, half with sorrow for B, but half with gratitude that their lover is home and safe and taken care of.
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So nobody asked for this but According to the dialogue
So FAR
Howdy has 6-7 siblings, one Aunt, and maybe a cousin
-Drew is a maybe because he said "Her (Sue's) brother" and not "Our Brother" like he tend to do with the rest.
-The same thing with Henry. Henry is "Barley's cousin" not "Our Cousin"
-Barley is either listed as both a brother AND a cousin
OR there is two "Barley"s in the family
-His father was mentioned, but we don't have a name yet
Also "Wooly" Aunt Molly I think could be a Moth, since moths are very fluffy, and she seems to be an obscure relative
I also think that there is a possibility that the entire family is grown into butterflies, while Howdy remains a caterpillar, although he is fully grown as well. But that's just my little thoughts
BUT anyways, these are just silly observations and I hope we get to hear more about his family!!!
Transcript of the OG conversation below:
HOWDY: …So my brother Charlie tells my sister Dolly that our brother Barley’s cousin Henry is turnin’ over a new leaf! But if ya ask me, Barn, a caterpillar’s always turnin’ over leaves! …We just call it a salad!
BARNABY: So you don’t believe the poor guy? Sounds like you’re just given’ him the short end of the stick.
HOWDY: Short end of the- [Befuddled sound] We’ve given that clown the whole branch!
BARNABY: So he’s a clown too? Now you’re speakin’ my language, Howdy!
HOWDY: You wouldn’t believe what happened next- So my brother Chuck wished our brother Buck good luck on gettin’ that cluck Henry to straighten up and fly right!
BARNABY: Fly? Wait, wait, wait- he’s a butterfly? I thought he was a caterpillar!
HOWDY: [Lets out a small laugh but quickly catches himself, tutting Barnaby] You’re bein’ a wise guy, Barn, but I’m serious! Then- You’re not gonna believe this- Outta the blue comes our sister Sue and her brother Drew talking to my sister Dolly about gettin’ Henry on a trolley to see our aunt Molly-
BARNABY: Woolly Aunt Molly?
HOWDY: Woolly Aunt Molly, Barn! On my father’s left hand side- My left, not yours! Maybe… My upper left hand-side!
BARNABY: [A hint of playful sarcasm] How could I get that confused?
HOWDY: But long story short- Molly tells Henry to listen to our cousin Barley and my brother Charlie who insist they’re through with my sister Sue and her brother Drew and to get back on that trolley and talk to Dolly about gettin’ his act together!
BARNABY: Oh brother-
HOWDY: No no, Dolly’s my sister!
[A brief pause, then both start laughing uproariously]
HOWDY: [Slowly winding down laughter] I know I can always talk to you, Barn. I tell ya, havin’ a big family ain’t easy- Too many things to keep track of.
BARNABY: You’re right about that- I’m just listenin’ in and I can barely keep track! The only family I got to keep track of is my dear, sweet Mama.
HOWDY: That’s right- Y’know, next time she comes around, you oughta let me serve her one of my strawberry soda pops!
BARNABY: Nobody makes ‘em like you do, pal. Speaking of which… How’s that drink treating you, Wally?
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