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acourtofthought · 1 year

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I would like to clarify that I am Lucien Stan and I ship Elucien.

I would like to know what made you shippa Elucien?

Me: The whole cauldron scene BEFORE Lucien WHISPERS that elain was his partner.

I would like to point out something about the fandom, I notice that some people in the fandom do not know how to interpret Lucien's attitudes, which is associated with a Raposa (Foxes are beautiful animals and solitary in nature, they are known for their cunning and cunning) people assume that he changed his Personality when in Acowar we have clotheslines telling us the opposite and stating that that sarcastic, acid and courageous personality is there, we have people saying that they are depressed when in reality he is in a scenario where he does not have intimacy with the people around him to be that Lucien from book 1, We still have people who disregard something that is in the books, which was not written for nothing, which is the interaction and relationship between Lucien and Vassa, which in my view is very similar to the relationship between Elain and Az.

However to me it's clear with all the clues, the formula of Sjm writing and with the factor that Elain found her way to Lucien while Sjm was writing the second book and knowingly their names both mean the same thing and both have so much in common not just equals but complementary, since elain is a flower that needs sunlight and lucien is the son of the sun incarnated, i think it's simply fantastic.

Hello !!! It's nice to see the extra message from you ❤️

I agree that it seems like certain readers don't grasp the character of Lucien. I regularly see "what happened to the sarcastic Lucien from book 1?!" It seems pretty obvious though, doesn't it?

Since then, one of his closest friends has physically assaulted him, turned his back on him, he's been chased out of the only home he'd had for centuries, had his brothers once again try to attack him, fought in his first war, was SA by Ianthe, found out he had a Mate after he spent the last however many centuries under the impression that Jesminda was his Mate and had emotional loyalty to her after all that time which is now being challenged by the discovery of his Mating Bond.

And like you said, he's not surrounded by his "people" right now. Maybe if we saw him alone with Jurian we'd see some of his sarcastic nature coming back out from time to time but he's going to be a muted version of himself around the people in the NC. I think they're beginning to develop some sort of positive relationship but it's early stages and I don't think he's ever going to be best friends with Rhys, Cassian, or Az. And his relationship with Feyre has taken a hit so they are on slightly shaky ground these days. There's not really opportunity for Lucien to act like he once did and I think he need to deal with all the stressors in his life before he can think of getting back to that place anyway.

As far as Vassa and Lucien being to one another what Elain and Az are, I might see that a little different than you (though I have no idea if my way of thinking is valid since we don't have a lot to go on with Vassa and Lucien). I definitely think Az and Elain are a rebound of sorts. Him from Mor and her from Graysen. I don't think either one has fully let go of their past loves (which we'd probably need to see them working through in their own books) but I think that it's a step in showing us that they will be able to let go of their first loves when it's time so they can be with their endgame. Both aren't ready to fully deal with moving on from their pasts so they've found a temporary substitute to avoid dealing truly letting go.

With Lucien and Vassa, I just see friendship. I think Lucien feels discomfort when he tells Nesta "at each others throats as they like to be" when discussing Jurian and Vassa. Not because he has feelings for Vassa but because once again, he's in the middle of a romantic pairings drama (i.e. Tamlin and Feyre) when he's just trying to find a place where he belongs. Once again, he's becoming a bit of a third wheel. And the reason I don't think he's feeling anything romantic toward Vassa is because Lucien hasn't felt ANYTHING romantic toward any female since Jesminda's death, until Elain. He's been physically intimate but canonically, he's never been ready to even consider having an emotional connection. Since he thought Jesminda was in fact his Mate, his heart has always remained loyal to her.

Elain is the first person to put that loyalty at risk which is why he's struggling so much with the bond. Because the second he feels actual intimacy and connection to Elain, he feels like he's betrayed Jesminda. I really don't think (considering it took a mating bond for him to get to that point), he'd suddenly feel a connection to Vassa too, in a romantic way. If his Mating Bond with Elain (the most sacred of bonds to the Fae) causes him to feel guilty about Jesminda, than I don't think he's going to add to that guilt by feeling a connection to yet another female. I do think he respects Vassa and is all "Yeah! Girl Power!" towards her the same way he has always felt with Feyre. He really seems to respect women and has developed a lot of friendships with females over the years.

As far as what made me ship Elucien (my FAVORITE topic! 😄). It's who they each are as individuals. The things Lucien values, the things Elain values, their core personality traits. They are so similar without even knowing one another and in this Fae world where vicious fighters and outspoken, aggressive personalities seem to be the default, they are the two characters who stand out to me as being able to finally have their person who understands them. They are surrounded on all sides by this other type of personality and they are a bit misunderstood because they are so much different than that. So they've both spent their whole lives a bit "odd man out" and if they were to finally connect and really get to know one another, I think it would be the first time they'd ever truly felt seen. Neither has to sacrifice who they are to be together. Their conversations would be full of intelligence, depth, humor, sincerity, and a willingness to admit their wrongs. They wouldn't be a trigger for each other (like I think Az's aggression would be a trigger for Elain who doesn't like violence and I think someone like Feyre or Vassa, with their brash personalities, would trigger Lucien to feel like his opinions were constantly being undervalued and he was "less" than.

I don't think that SJM has ever written two more beautifully compatible characters, two complete equals and it would be such a shame to see that go to waste if they weren't endgame.

#pro elucien #pro lucien vanserra #antie/riel #ask

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marlowedobbeart · 5 months

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Daydream Skies Devlog #3

WELL WELLL WELLLLL I have been hard at work during the PIGSquad Finish Your Game Jam with the hopes of spending the jam time to polish up and finish my combat system! While I didn't get absolutely everything done (turns out RPGs are like, a lot of systems and numbers who could have guessed) I sure did make a lot of progress and got probably 80% of the way to having the combat system in a place where it only requires content from me rather than systems design.

So what did I get done? Glad you asked! First, here's where we started at the beginning of the jam:

I had basic attacks (attacking in 1 line) and attacking in different shapes (the x shape) as well as 1 enemy type that did just a basic attack itself. Players and enemies all took turns based on their speed values and all executed at the same time. First, I came to the quick realization that just throwing every unit into a pool and taking their turn based on their speed would not work design-wise for this game. With placement on the grid being an important mechanic, I couldn't make sense of having an enemy potentially move where they are located before the player had a chance to proc their attack on that tile. So this meant separating player turns and enemy turns entirely.

What I thought would be a very grueling re-architecture task ended up taking me 15 minutes. (Turns out, all the tutorials that showed me how to more modularly construct my code were RIGHT??? :O) So now we had enemies taking their turns squarely after the player. After thise, I wanted to create animations for the seaslime, my "complete" enemy to communicate better to the player what they were doing. This meant making them an attack and hitstun animation in addition to their idle. I also made a little script to squash and stretch their sprite when they move to a new tile to give them some bounce.

What was next was making a new "type" of enemy. I didn't want to use the same type of enemy only doing a regular attack but with slightly differing stats for the whole game. I knew it was time to make "special" attacks. So to start I got our new enemy in. His name is Kelponzo:

My intentions were to have another common encounter enemy that would teach players about status effects by applying Poison to a player if none of them were already poisoned. This resulted in the much needed "enemyattack" script where I could store information about any different type of attack I came up with now or in the future.

Setting up the poison counter and damage taken to the player was pretty simple. Once I had the enemy AI and attack figured out, it was smooth sailing and we officially had 2 different types of enemies with the structure in place to make any different AI or attack types that I wanted. Being poisoned of course meant that I needed to make edits to the player's portraits during combat to better communicate status effects. So I give you:

I couldn't think of a better way to make a skeleton look *more* dead.

After this, it was really about getting as much polish done as possible. I wanted to animate both trixie and davy next to the grid during combat. I didn't quite get all these animations done but I got them *at least* penciled out with idle, attack, cast, and hit stun animations and a fancy new state machine to take care of all of them.

look at them all wiggling.

What other things did I do? I made a lightning attack animation and added attack "types" and type weaknesses for enemies. I did a little (but not enough) work in timing out actions and adding pauses between things so someone who isn't me can understand what's going on during a turn. I am quickly realizing that, at least for myself, the most challenging part of programming is telling the computer to "wait a second" and give a little breathing room to digest what is happening. My next steps are to clean up animations and do another more earnest timing pass on things so that it doesn't feel like enemy and player actions are happening on top of one another too quickly to internalize. Once those steps are taken I can finally play the combat all the way through as intended and do a balance pass on these first to enemies to make sure they're fun. (oh, and I also have to fix the bug where battles just don't end anymore? Truly a problem for a future Marlowe.) Here's a little video of roughly where I left off:

Overall I'm really happy with the progress I made during the jam. Big shoutout to the PIGSquad community for keeping me company during the jam while they all shared progress on their own projects! It was very motivating. It's been almost exactly 1 year since I started working on this game in earnest and I have to say I'm really happy with what I've learned from basically nothing just chipping away at this in my free time. I am so close to just being able to make a demo of this game I can almost taste it and that's the ultimate goal in front of me right now! Till next time! -Marlowe

#devlog #gamedev #indiedev #art #indierpg #rpg #indiegame #pirates #gamemaker

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mothervvoid · 9 months

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kinda massively cheating here, but for the character ask game, would you spill your thoughts on Inoichi, Asuma, and/or the not-yet-invented characters of Obimama/Obipapa? I'm feeling interested in a lot of fictional parental units in this chilis tonight

character ask game

oh god oh fuck mable what have you done--

also this is SO LONG so i am going to put it under a read more:

one aspect about them i love

Inoichi - Now this might just be my POV here, but Inoichi is super goofy at times and others he's SUPER serious. I love it. When he's with the Analysis Team right before Pain's attack, he's a no-nonsense leader. When he's interacting with Ino off work he is her silly, well-meaning dad. We love a man who can do both!

Asuma - Just how well he gets along with Ino-Shika-Cho. Like they have their moments, especially when Kishi (and Studio Perriot) wants to play up the comedy, and ESPECIALLY in the early anime, but he meshes very well with Team 10 and they mesh very well with him. He's like their older brother, or an uncle they know really well.

Obiparents - The thing about Obiparents is that they just straight up don't have characters--they're the archetypal dead parents, a picture on Obito's corkboard full of all of the people that he loves and nothing more. However, they gave us Obito, and for that I am forever in their debt.

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

I don't actually have anything for this for Asuma or Inoichi--I just can't think of anything, though I haven't really read any meta on Asuma or Inoichi so I'm not really sure how the people feel about them and if I disagree with any common fandom opinions on them.

Obiparents - Because they're the stock dead parents they don't ever really get to parent their son or have any kind of meaningful character on-screen. It is their absence that is felt more than anything.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

Inoichi - He's a single dad. We never see his wife in the manga (i think she's there in filler but i still hc he's a single dad). He just gives off those vibes. He's the only person whose ever home in most of the scenes we see with Ino in her house (or he's just not there at all and she's all alone). Single dad Inoichi ftw.

Asuma - Had he lived, Asuma would have been the kind of dad who lets his daughter put make up on him and do his hair. You walk into Mirai's room and Asuma is sitting their on the floor with her with uneven pigtails in his hair and very badly done eyeshadow. He takes her to the movies and they both wear princess dresses. She paints his nails. He is having the best time of his life.

Obiparents - Obimama is the goofy one out of the two of them, she's where Obito gets it from. Obipapa isn't super serious but he's definitely not as goofy as Obimama.

one character i love seeing them interact with

Inoichi - I unironically love seeing him interact with Ino, even if it's sparse. He's so bad at relating to her it's kind of funny. Like there's a scene in a filler episode where he asks her if she's "finally chosen between Shikamaru and Choji" and she gets so mad at him for it. Peak teenage girl behavior, and he's soooo bad at understanding it. Like yes he is Inoichi of the Leaf, famed 1/3 of Ino-Shika-Cho but he is also Ino's lame ass dad.

And like it's very obvious he loves her very much because his final words to her (and his final words EVER) are of how proud he is of her and the person she's become. Like he is her silly dad but he loves her very much and so I treasure every interaction between them that we get.

Asuma - Shikamaru. There's a scene of them laying on the grass together having a conversation and they look so comfortable with each other. Like if they looked a little more alike you could believe that was Shikamaru's uncle or even older brother.

Gee Shikamaru, how come Kishimoto let you have THREE father figures?? - Naruto probably.

Asuma just really seems to GET Shikamaru and that seeps into every single interaction they have. Asuma knows how to get him to do things even when he doesn't want to, Asuma knows how to talk to him, Asuma knows how to work with him. Their interactions are always top tier to me.

Obiparents - If they were alive I would have loved to see interactions between them and Obito, and Rin and even Kakashi. Could you imagine?? Obito inviting Rin over after school only for her to drag Kakashi along and Obito is fuming and his parents think it's hilarious and adorable.

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

Inoichi - I wish we saw Inoichi interact with Shikamaru and Choji. Choza has a couple interactions with Shikamaru that leads us to believe that the older generation of Ino-Shika-Cho interact fairly regularly with the younger members (altho it might just be Choza's chill vibes). Choza's wife also seems familiar with Shikamaru considering she runs up to him crying in episode 82 of Shippuden while trying to comfort HIM. I can't remember if Shikaku has had similar interactions w the rest of younger Ino-Shika-Cho so if anyone knows please let me know. I crave Ino-Shika-Cho crumbs.

Asuma - I wish we had seen more interactions between Asuma and his dad, Hiruzen. We're told that there's bad blood between the two of them but we're never really shown WHY exactly the two of them had a falling out. I know they disagreed on some things and I might just not be remembering things but we don't really see many if ANY disagreements between Asuma and his father. And Hiruzen isn't just his father--he's his Hokage! There's so much potential there for some interesting conversations/scenes and we just don't get any.

Obiparents - (if they were alive) I wish we could have seen some interactions between them and Obito. Like maybe if they were alive when he was super, SUPER young we could have seen them interacting with him and how they treated him when he was a baby/toddler. Was he a wanted child? Was he born out of obligation? These are questions we never have answered because they're dead before the story even begins.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

Inoichi - I think Inoichi and Minato knew each other! Inoichi was the head of the Analysis Team in the Intelligence Division, I think there's a good chance he reported directly to Minato when he was Hokage.

Asuma - Since Asuma said that the Sarutobi serve as sensei to each new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho since Konoha was founded I like to think he was probably introduced to them when they were really young. He was probably sporadically in-and-out of their childhoods, like some cool older brother figure who takes them out to lunch to restaurants wayyy too nice for kids their age but he doesn't care, it just so happens that Yakinku Q became their favorite place to go so that's where he took them post mission.

Obiparents - Considering Obito is considered a bit of an outcast I think his parents were as well. Obiparents, for some reason or another, were not liked by Fugaku's parents (ie the clan head) and thus that extended to Fugaku as well. When Fugaku inherited the clan he didn't like Obiparents for one reason or another and thus that extended to not liking their son. Vicious cycle!

#ard answers #OH MY GOD THIS TOOK SO LONG #i was like 'ah yes ill come back to this tmmr' when i got abt halfway thru bcos it was like 3am #but thank u mable!! this was super fun to do!!

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lexisking · 2 years

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So this is going to be a big Smaugust post, encapsulating my drawings for the first 7 days of it. Firstly before we get into the dragon designs I made I wanted to introduce you all to the character who will be the narrator for these posts, Meira, a draconologist who will be researching these dragon prompts.

Well let's start with prompt #1!

Prompt #1 Ruined Garden

"This site is some form of dragon burial ground, it is noted that the mighty lightning dragon Sildrantas comes here about once every year, what testing I've been allowed to do has shown me this dragon was an ice dragon, which could mean that these are the remains of the dead sibling of Sildrantas who died rather tragically in an event that sparked the overthrowing of the old king of Xadal. I will go more in depth on this later since I am going to be doing research onto the dragon itself on Sunday, but this burial ground itself seems to harness the inate power of the dead Ice Dragon, which causes these flowers around this site to bloom all year long."

Prompt #2 Pitcher Plant

"These little dragons have been dubbed Pitcher Wyrms, these little gremlins are specifically the adolescent form of the species, but are the most common of its kind to see, these dragons prey mainly on bugs such as flies, bees, and ants by using a floral scent to lure them in with the promise of food, only for the bugs to become a meal themselves."

Prompt #3 Dandelion

"Adult Pitcher Wyrms grow very big when they reach maturity, at this stage they will actively hunt for larger game, but will often remain stationary between hunts to conserve energy, it is noted that dandelions often grow around and sometimes even on these dragons. When I was studying one of these dragons for the first time it decided to try and hunt me, so I can be a bit irritable when I'm having to study these, but I seriously have to ask what the hell was nature thinking when it let these things get this big?"

Prompt #4 Knight

"These dragons are known as Stonescale Knights, and they are particularly interesting to me, as they are some of the few types of dragons which seem to be naturally altruistic, often these dragons will defend an area even at their own peril, much like the Maegvid Chapter of the knights of Xadal. It has been noted that these dragons will cooperate with humans if the dragon believes these humans will protect the land which it protects. These dragons also notably lack any form of breath attack, instead relying on their sword like tails to deal with any potential predator or prey."

Prompt #5 Vampire

"Aurasapper Vampyrwyrms are just as interesting as they are intimidating, these dragons behave similarly to vampires, hence their names, being both able to live unnaturally long lives and being rather vulnerable to bright light, hence causing these dragons to be nocturnal. But the trait that makes them the most intriguing is that they feed not on meat or blood, but on aura. These dragons feed primarily off of the negative auras of fear and panic, and as a result they hunt what is considered one of the most dangerous monsters in all of Draipra, Aura Hunters, and even more surprising is that the Aurasapper Vampyrwyrms can hold their own against Aura Hunters. For those unfamiliar with what Aura Hunters are, Aura Hunters are monstrous golem-like creatures that are animated when one dies in such a way where they release a large amount of negative aura, these beasts are also extremely durable, being able to take a ballista bolt to the face and just shrug it off, which gives the Aurasapper Vampyrwyrms the notable feat of being one of the few things able to prey upon Aura Hunters, Vampyrwyrms hunt down Aura Hunters primarily due to Aura Hunters being full of concentrated amounts of the negative aura it needs to sustain itself, however if a Vampyrwyrm has gone too long without being able to feast it will resort to panicking nearby towns and villages to be able to feed upon the fear and panic, thankfully it does not need to actually eat town residents to feed upon the negative aura like it has to with Aura Hunters, but it will still rough up villagers to make it appear intimidating enough for them to actually be scared."

Prompt #6 Growth

"These massive dragons are known as Pteragores, though they have a very intimidating name, they are normally rather peaceful, however if they have to they can be very dangerous beasts. They usually live in large dense forests. These dragons can be very territorial and will not back down if threatened or challenged, as I accidentally found out when I ended up unintentionally provoking it by shrieking when I ended up getting startled by my girlfriend Pyr- I mean my um research partner, and me and her ended up getting chased out of the woods by that huge blue dragon. I once again state WHY THE HELL ARE THESE DRAGONS SO BIG."

Prompt #7 Decay

"As I said earlier, the ice dragon sibling of Sildrantas died a rather tragic way, this is due to how tyrannical the former king of Xadal was before the current king, one of the old kings most evil actions was abusing the trust the 3 elemental dragons that were raised by the very first ruler of Xadal, and trapping and performing gruesome experiments on the ice dragon Aesyth, it was when Sildrantas and her remaining sibling found out about this horrid act that the former king finally met his end, while his soldiers were busy trying to defend against the now infuriated dragons, Sildrantas and Xetail, the former personal guard of then-prince Anchier confronted the old king for his atrocities which he was hiding from the people of Xadal, and then killed the tyrant by kicking him out the window of his throne room, and the fall was a long one. Once the king was dead, Xetail and Sildrantas focused on putting their sibling to the rest they were denied, and then they buried him at the now sacred burial ground once they put him to rest."

@dragonherder2030 @cinnamon-flame @lemongrassi @want-some-pasta

#smaugust #art #fantasy #dragon art

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shoppncarticles · 2 years

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The Cyndaquil Family

Succeeding Charmander as the second Fire type starter is Cyndaquil. And ain’t it cute! It’s a pretty clever idea, a little hedgehog-like critter with sparking flames on its back where its spines would be. The permanently shut eye is a charming touch, as is the elongated snout. It’s one of those touches that makes Cyndaquil’s real world basis more obscure and unsure, which as I’ve said numerous times is a good thing.

Cyndaquil’s backside is also revealed to be a set of four circles which produce its flames, not unlike that of a kitchen stove top. Another very clever little design touch.

Additionally, Cyndaquil is titled as the Fire Mouse Pokemon, further obscuring what exact animal it’s supposed to resemble. I bring this up because a common theory around the internet is that each Fire type starter in Pokemon is meant to resemble an animal on the Chinese Zodiac. Charmander, or rather Charizard, represents the dragon, and Cyndaquil is believed to represent the rat. Cyndaquil of course looks nothing like a rat, but it’s the closest animal to whatever Cyndaquil is. While it’s never been confirmed that this is a pattern that the designers intentionally work to mirror in their designs, it is odd that every single starter besides Cyndaquil does have a clear place on the Chinese Zodiac, at least by Gen 8’s release. I’ve seen some heated debate thrown around about the legitimacy of this little observation, though, so I think I’ll cut the subject short here.

Anyways, it’s a bit unfortunate that Cyndaquil loses a lot of what made it special when it evolves into Quilava. It now resembles a sort of haunched weasel rather than hedgehog, though with a flaming tail and mohawk at least.

Quilava is another case where its earlier sprite did it a lot more favors than its later interpretations as well. Not only is it black furred rather than blue, but its flames rage stronger and it features a more beady, animalistic eye rather than the cartoon one it ended up with. Sadly, I think this was another product of early developmental unsuredness, since Quilava’s original artwork doesn’t reflect this kind of design.

We wrap up with Typhlosion, who now resembles a large badger-like creature with a flaring collar of fire… and not much else. Typhlosion is another Pokemon who holds a lot of nostalgic fans who admire it from when they first played the games, but looking back on it now there’s very little going on with its design here. It really doesn’t help Typhlosion just how small those flames are, that’s all it’s got going for it.

…which is to say nothing of how these designs look in the 3D games. If you really love Typhlosion, you have my pity. The poor thing is not only forced to stand upright at all times, but also completely lacks its flames when it isn’t attacking, just leaving it as a fat badger with its arms stuck out somewhat.

Something else worth mentioning is that in the original Gold/Silver games, the Cyndaquil line had cool Shiny colors that gave them purple and orange tinted flames, but recent games just changed their fur color to pinkish-brown. It’s not clear why this change was even made, since most Pokemon kept their Shiny colors between generations. Poor Cyndquil family.

Luckily, where in the past I might’ve had to end the review on a sour note, Typhlosion was lucky enough to get a Hisuian form where it became a Fire/Ghost type, with appropriate wispy flames around its neck, a darker fur color, slimmer build, and even eyeshadow around its half-lidded expression.

This Typhlosion is said to cleanse lost souls in its flames and guide them peacefully into the afterlife, which is neat! Another Fire and Ghost type Pokemon later down the line instead uses spirits as fuel for its ever-burning flames, so it’s nice to have the more mellow and kind Typhlosion as a benevolent contrast to that.

Hisuian Typhlosion even has the cool purple flames that used to be in its original Shiny palette! Even if it's just a coincidence, I appreciate the connection.

Score: 3/5

Cyndaquil and Hisuian Typhlosion are pretty nice designs, but the other half of this family holds them back a bit.

[Gen 2 Archive]

#pokemon #pokemon review #cyndaquil #quilava #typhlosion #hisuian typhlosion

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mehbzz · 2 years

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How do you see Billy and Stu characters in your stories? Could they turn and ever kill reader?

My take on them is pretty similar to how I see them in the movies, just with a little more softness and added polyamory! A very quick ramble of an explanation under the cut.

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My fic interpretation is basically that both are narcissistic misogynists. I see Billy as able to feel guilt, empathy, remorse etc but has reached that stage where he doesn’t care anymore, he can ignore all those pesky emotions in favour of what he wants or feels. Struggles a lot with reacting appropriately to other people’s emotions, knows how he should feel, but just can’t anymore. Thinks he's acting and playing the part well but he's really not. His abandonment issues are obvious, I think he was probably a little too close to his mom, an unhealthy co-dependency that encouraged the way he has latched on to Stu first and then reader.

I see him as having panic attacks and anxiety, especially when he deems things as getting out of his control. Which includes reader. Very clingy when he deems someone as worthy of him and his time, doesn’t know how to love normally, and probably comes across as controlling and possessive. Needs to know where you are and what you’re up too, gets antsy if you’re late or not where you said you’d be.

Stu I see absolutely as a borderline psychopath. Really struggles with empathy, doesn’t feel guilt or remorse for his actions, but is very very good at mimicking it or faking it when he has too but really doesn’t care what other people think about him, or maybe genuinely forgets his act sometimes, which is why people see him as insensitive or stupid. I think Stu is a lot lot smarter than he pretends to be.

I see him with neglectful parents who turned a blind eye to his behaviour, although I can imagine him seeing a Child Psychologist for a while. Tortured animals growing up and more than likely killed at least one childhood pet. A bully at school, picking on girls and kids smaller than him in the playground, until he learnt how to “behave” and temper those more aggressive temperaments of his. Can’t have as much fun if people always have an eye on you. His parents were probably called to the school on more than one occasion when he went too far, but they probably paid them off in some way! Most likely to hurt you for fun.

I think they are on equal footing with regards to who’s in charge, it’s just not reader! Although I think I write Billy more as believing he's in control of the situation and of Stu. Whereas Stu doesn’t care either way! Been friends since they were very little and know each other inside and out.

(My favourite thoughts for their relationship in the movies flick between two ideas. They are definitely more than friends but don’t care enough to explore it, or have found common ground and are just selfishly using each other to get what they want, which is revenge on Sid for Billy, and purely the excitement of the chance to kill for Stu. Each believing they are using the other when in reality they're absolutely looped into a toxic co-dependency, fuelling each other’s worst traits.)

Both are selfish, entitled horny assholes with superiority complexes. They want, they deserve it, so they take it. Both have no qualms about pushing you way way past your boundaries. Masters of gaslighting and manipulation (fun for Stu but more from abandonment fears for Billy, useful for both.) but in my fics I think they do love reader in their own twisted ways! For Stu, I think it’s more ownership and an obsessive possession than all out genuine love, emotions are a struggle for him! Billy feels the same possessiveness but does love reader in the more conventional sense too but tries to hide it, (thanks to an emotionally stunted father, - men conceal they don’t feel)

They wouldn’t ever kill reader. Unless maybe…. they get caught during the killing spree and its ends up a murder suicide type situation. You are theirs but they see themselves as yours as well.

I see them as needing each other to survive now; if they ever got forcefully separated it would end up in a bloodbath of self-destruction, Stu outwardly and Billy internally. They fuel each other, in the worst and the best ways. They wouldn’t survive without each other. They both see reader as worthy of them but still sort of a little below them, because you know, misogynistic asssholes!

#billy loomis #stu macher #scream 1996 #poly!ghostface #billy loomis x reader #stu macher x reader

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smolalienbee · 2 years

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(vaguely inspired by Prompt #1905 @promptsforthestrugglingauthor // soft s1 geraskier with a wolf!)

"Geralt?"

"Hm?"

"Don't you think it's... a little strange that this wolf is still following us?"

Geralt heaves a sigh as he pauses. For a while, they've been walking like this, Geralt at the front, leading Roach, then Jaskier, a few steps behind and at the very tail of their little traveling troupe, a white wolf.

A literal white wolf, much to the amusement of Jaskier who has already voiced as much multiple times during their walk.

"No."

"Oh really?" Jaskier drawls, stepping forward until he's at Geralt's side. He glances over his shoulder at the wolf who lingers behind them, not comfortable enough to approach. "Because in all the years we've been on the Path together, this -" He gestures towards the wild animal. "- has never happened."

"It's just a wolf, Jaskier."

"Yes, and it's following the famous White Wolf. You really don't find anything unusual about this?" Geralt can tell there's a ramble oncoming. He looks past the bard and at the wolf who meets his gaze with seemingly the same amount of exasperation in its eyes. Not that wolves are particularly expressive, but he supposes they have that in common. "How do we even know it's not a - a -" Jaskier continues, apparently not noticing the silent exchange between the two wolves accompanying him. "- a mage? Or a shapeshifter? Maybe it's some sort of an elaborate prank?"

"There's no magic in that wolf," Geralt grunts, turning to begin walking again. Roach follows obediently while Jaskier waves his arms in some sort of protest. "Come on, bard. It's just an animal. Or are you afraid of wolves after all?"

He throws a look over his shoulder in Jaskier's general direction. The bard huffs and puffs but hurries to follow, this time catching up in long strides until he's walking directly at Geralt's side. "No!" he mutters. "But how do you -"

"My medallion isn't vibrating."

"Right. And what if -"

"It's not the first time."

Jaskier sputters, taken aback by Geralt's interruption. "What?"

"It's not the first time this has happened."

"You - it's - alright, now you definitely have to elaborate, don't you dare leave it off like this, I need to hear all about this -"

All the while, Jaskier's fumbling with his pockets, trying to dig out his notebook and something to write with. Geralt doesn't slow down, only glances over at him with a glint of amusement in his eyes - it wouldn't be the first time Jaskier has attempted to scribble down notes all while walking at once.

"When I was young," Jaskier shuts up as soon as Geralt resumes speaking. "During one of the trials. I found a wolf and her cubs. She was protecting them - but she never attacked me."

"Huh," Jaskier's little noises is accompanied by quick scratches against paper. The bard is not paying any attention to the road ahead of them and so Geralt stops yet again, the corners of his mouth quirking up into a barely there smile. He doesn't need Jaskier tripping over his own feet and then complaining about it for the rest of the day. "And what then?" Curious blue eyes look up at him.

"Not much. We've stayed together, for a while, in the forest. I fished. Shared my food with them. We had to part ways when we reached Kaer Morhen."

"What, Vesemir didn't want more wolves joining the pack?"

Geralt snorts, but his expression softens. "They were wild wolves, Jaskier. They couldn't have stayed.

"...did you want them to?"

He hesitates for a moment, considering Jaskier's question. He knows the answer, of course it is, but whether he wants to be honest about it is a whole another matter. As his eyes drift over to the wolf, he sighs and comes to a decision.

"Yes," he admits. Even out of the corner of his eye he can see the way Jaskier smiles at that, gentle and understanding. It makes something in his chest, but it's not an unwelcome sensation.

"Well - do not mourn, witcher dear, as it looks like at last you've got yourself a new wolf companion!" He grins, spreading his arms wide as he looks towards the animal. Geralt rolls his eyes.

"We're not keeping her."

"I never said -"

"I know you, bard."

"Oh, fine. Regardless - she can stay with us a while, can she not? You know, I do wonder, maybe she's related to those wolves you've met - a family, generation after generation, passing down stories of the White Wolf... This will make for a wonderful ballad, darling, Geralt of Rivia, friend of humanity and the wildlife!"

Geralt doesn't interrupt him, a small smile yet again forcing its way into his face. They continue on, a witcher, a human, a horse and now, a wolf along with them.

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astaroth1357 · 3 years

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Demigod MC Series: Hades

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades

Lucifer

Well… this is awkward…

He’s actually met Hades multiple times for business reasons (Underworld-Devildom relations are amiable if not a little odd. Hades was something of an uncle figure to Diavolo as a wee demon lad, which should speak for itself really). He’s a gloomy fellow and not much for chit-chat, but he never thought they’d end up taking one of his kids by accident…

He had to send a formal apology letter to the Lord of the Underworld immediately, but thankfully he didn’t seem very concerned for his offspring - if anything he appeared to think the Devildom would suit them nicely which was… concerning.

And he was not wrong. The darkness, demons, ghouls, and frights of the Devildom hardly seemed to faze the MC, if anything they fit right in. He’d dare say they were thriving if not for one thing…

They were So. Damn. Bleak.

Getting a smile out of this one AT ALL was rare. For once he felt the need to check up on someone constantly just to be sure they were alright... They’d keep assuring the House that they’re not actually as sad as they look but it’s hard not to assume…

He was a little mortified at first when they first met Cerberus cause… well they called him “Cerbi” and the massive demonic guard dog rolled over for them like a Golden Retriever!

Apparently he and the Cerberus that they knew are from the same litter and they must have smelt familiar... He would have probably limited their interactions just to keep his dog on his side but after seeing the MC smile for once while they played with the big oaf well…

Cerberus got a new playmate and the MC got a massive, three-headed therapy animal. Win-win. 😌

Mammon

Do ya really gotta be such a downer all the time, MC…? 😔

He thinks they’re nice, like really nice. They’re always super concerned when his brothers attack him or when he gets injured, but he’s pretty sure it’s because they’ve seen people die before so…

At first, he had no idea why he had to be saddled with this depressing wisp of mortal but over time he started to understand that they weren’t all that sad. They had… Resting Gloom Face? Is that a thing?

They also had a different way of seeing things. He could win the lottery and they’d tell him to stay inside so he wouldn’t get hit by lightning or if he pissed off the wrong people, they’d joke about him keeping his fingers and toes. Dark stuff, but not intended to be so… well morbid.

However, what he eventually found out that the REAL advantage to having a Hades kid in the Devildom was that nothing scared them. Literally nothing. Not even the ghosts - which to reiterate, are terrifying!

Cue Mammon getting dragged to horror movies nights with his brothers and pulling the MC along to be his personal security blanket. He’ll hold onto them for dear life as they just pat his head or something, watching and not even flinching at the jumpscares.

The first time the House had an unexpected power outage he clung onto the back of their shirt like a lost child while they calmly looked for the circuit-breaker...

If he could jump into their arms every time something scary happened like Scooby-Doo, he absolutely would. His brothers make fun of him, but after seeing the MC handle Cerberus like a puppy any time something frightens them they hide behind the mortal as well…

Leviathan

In some ways, he totally relates to their moodiness but come on! Who can still look so sad when watching The Magical Ruri Hanai: Demon Girl?? Ruri-chan can make anyone smile! 😠

When he first met the MC, he was a little confused about why they didn't find him intimidating at all. He even reverted to his demon form and showed his fangs but no dice! All they said was, "I've walked along the edge of Tartarus. You're gonna have to try a lot harder than that, buddy…"

That was probably his first sign that the "human" wasn't normal…

After Mammon told him who their Dad was, things made a lot more sense. A child of Hades in the Devildom? That's ironic enough to be its own anime plot!! They certainly felt like an angsty protagonist at times. 🤷‍♀️

Truth be told, they could relate to each other in a lot of ways. You wouldn't think that an offspring of the Underworld and a demonic shut-in would have much in common but the one thing they share between them is that sense of never really fitting in.

Turns out that Hades kids are black sheep, even among other demigods, and Levi? Well, he's had trouble relating to others since his angel days. He and the mortal were like off-beat kindred spirits!

Which, I mean, you wouldn't get just by looking at them together. Levi being the impassioned super-otaku rambling their ear off while his somber companion would just go along with him quietly, but hey, there's more beneath the surface. Probably.

Now if he could just get them to cosplay as the Lord of Emptiness with him… They'd be perfect! Perfect he says!!

Satan

Highly considered drugging their food with antidepressants for a while…

This was before getting to know them better, of course, but for the first couple months he honestly couldn't shake the feeling that the mortal looked miserable!

Now, he's one to particularly care for the comfort of strangers, but just looking at them like that every day would sour his own mood quite considerably. It was very irritating...

It was only on closer inspection that he realized there was something else at play, though.

The mortal was different - even for a demigod he imagined. They took to the Devildom easily and the realm almost accepted them right back!

The flora looked better in their presence, the hellish beasts that roamed the wilds would roll over for them, and they even seemed to be welcomed in by the never-ending shadows…

It was fascinating. Like the effects of the Underworld were baked into their DNA and mingled with the environment around them… Two layers of darkness coexisting within one person.

I mean, what other creature - other than Lucifer - could ride Cerberus around like a pony??

Had they not been so kind, they'd probably scare him shit-less... Their potential power was too great to ignore. But after getting used to their gloom, at least they made for pleasant company. 🤷‍♀️

Satan likes them well enough, but even still he has to wonder just what they were capable of… you know?

Asmodeus

Oh. My. WORD. What a buzzkill!!!

Really, the new mortal was no good at parties or pictures for that matter!

Not because they looked bad, or even because he couldn't get them to smile, but because GHOSTS would always photobomb any pictures they were in!! 😫

One time he got a selfie with them on the couch and a creepy ghost child could be seen hiding behind the cushions so NOPE. No more photos with the mortal around!!

Aside from that, he couldn't say the mortal was all bad or anything…They were pretty friendly, despite their general look and feel.

Though, personally, he thought they wore far too much black... Even in the Devildom, there's normally a pop of color, you know? Was that just the Hades dress code?

And you want to know the weirdest thing? Despite everything about them screaming "Doom and Gloom," they're straaaangely popular among the RAD dating scene…

Like. Not as some heartthrob, "Love'em and Leave'em"-type, but he's found that there's a LOT of his demonic classmates who think they're cute or have a crush on them in some way…

Naturally, he can see the appeal of the mysterious, moody demigod with a dark, troubled past. It's just the demigod in question is completely oblivious to it! 🤷‍♀️

He tried to give them dating tips or play matchmaker from time to time but eventually gave up when it was clear they weren't interested. Alas, students of RAD, this is one forbidden fruit that refuses to be shared…! Such a tragedy… 😔

Beelzebub

They remind him of Belphie… like. A lot.

The similarities were obvious. They had a similar feel, made similar jokes, and even the same somewhat dreary attitude about them...

If he were being honest, at the beginning there were times when he'd open up to them a lot more than he intended because he'd forget that he wasn't actually talking to Belphie…

Thankfully, he knew better than to try and treat them like his replacement or anything. They were two different people after all. But it didn't stop him from feeling extra protective around them for a while.

Besides, there was ONE thing that set them leagues apart from Belphie and that was the fact they were a shit cook. Not quite as bad as Solomon but uh… Actually no, that's a closer call than it has any right to be...

Apparently, Hades kids don't need to eat as much and when you hang out with shades and skeletons for most of your life, you don’t really worry about making food that's any better than… "Well, technically it's edible." 🤷‍♀️

Their food won't kill a person like Solomon's, but you WILL start seeing stuff you probably shouldn't. He tried their "soup" once and swore he saw the ghost of his mother… and he doesn't even have a mother!!!

He swears that if he ever sees the MC and Solomon working together in the same kitchen he's skipping town… Whatever culinary abomination the two of them could create would probably gain sentience and eat HIM instead. He's always figured he'd go out with Death by Food, but not like that!! 😫

Belphegor

Ever meet someone who’s like looking in a mirror? Yeah, he’s getting those vibes…

He never expected the "human" to be so similar to him, it was kind of uncanny.

Upon first laying eyes on each other there was a pause… then a squint… and then… a nod.

Honestly, their combined dry wit, dark humor, and pessimistic outlook played off of each other surprisingly well. Too well for him to hate, really.

Not that it mattered because they didn’t believe him for a second when he tried to trick them (they had dealt with loads of lying monsters before). He hated to admit it, but they had a good head on their shoulders and knew better than to trust a locked up demon…

And yet, they seemed to stick around with him anyway. Because of the good conversation or just empathizing with his loneliness was anyone's guess. 🤷‍♀️

Sometimes they'd come up and sit outside the door in comfortable silence… Or they'd talk about whatever:

MC: *sitting out by the attic with their back against the door* So what happens to demons when they die…?

Belphie: *laying on the floor on the other side, staring at the ceiling* Depends on the kind. If I die, I'll just reform later.

MC: Like a reincarnation?

Belphie: Eh. *shrugs* Maybe. Haven't died yet.

MC: You could die in there, you know.

Belphie: *throws a side glare* Well thanks for bringing that up…

MC: *shrugs* What? It's true. But don't worry, I won't let you. *small-ish smile*

Belphie: *stares at them wide-eyed and pink-cheeked before turning on his side quickly* Ugh… whatever…

They did their word, somehow. They eventually got the door open and let him out, but by that time the anger was gone and he was just happy to finally talk to them face-to-face...

And good thing too, because apparently it's not smart to fight a death-child in what is essentially their element - as he saw when they summoned an army of skeletons to kick Levi's ass when he cheated them in Devil Cart...

He would not have lasted in that fight... Dodged a bullet there.

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me headcanons #obey me demigods #obey me scenarios

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rhouxxx · 2 years

Text

Lemonade MC!

Hino Nuru , [M], Year 1 Class A

“Hino Nuru. . . ? OH! You mean the short, quiet kid who suddenly attacks when you mention his height? That guy has a mean glare! Just yesterday, i bumped into him on the way to class and the look he gave me could rival even the scariest of villains!”

“One time, I arrived to class extra early - what?! That’s the best time to sleep! Anyway, I walked into class early and Hino-san was there. Nothing weird about it, right? WRONG! He was doing homework with his left hand and taking notes with his right! What’s the word for people like him . . . ? Amphibian? Ambidinosaur? Something like that!”

“When Hino-kun turned in the form to join the music club, it said he played the violin! What a beautiful instrument! But, when I asked him why he chose the music club, ha....he said it was because we didn’t offer chess. Only old people play that kind of thing.”

“My next words are top secret, okay? Don’t tell anyone and do not write this down, I can’t imagine having a shorty attack me in the hallway...okay, so, Hino is a pretty cold guy and all, like he doesn’t even like people touching him without a good reason. B-But after school, I asked if I could walk him home, he agreed and we ended up stopping at a convenience store. Hino-kun bought animal food and started feeding the stray cats and dogs in the area! He even smiled at them! A guy like that doesn’t deserve to be called a machine, right?! I mean, sure, he rarely talks, his responses seemed automated, and he blows a fuse whenever a problem he can’t fix appears...but that smile...I-I want to see it again!”

“Nuru-san offered me a pen after mine broke and then said I could call him by his first name...so that makes us friends and...uh I'm turning red just thinking about it. He’s like a prince!.”

Club ; Music

Height : 4 feet and 11 Inches

Hobbies: Reading, chess playing and feeding the strays in his area

Nationality : Japanese

Ethnicity : African / Asian ( Egyptian and Japanese )

Personality : There’s plenty that people hate or find chilling whenever they first meet Hino Nuru, but the fact that he’s thoughtless and uncaring is only the tip of the iceberg. This is also without mentioning that he’s aloof and has very little awareness for his surroundings. With his nose always in a book, he walks around without care. Expecting many people to move out of his way. Now, saying that Nuru is completely unaware would be insulting, he knows when to stop before traffic and has a way of seemingly avoiding people he would rather not bump into, but that is as far as it goes. Ask anyone and they’ll say that Nuru has a mean glare, and short circuits whenever someone mentions his height for a boy his age.

But, alas, there are good qualities that people tend to overlook when facing the short boy. Firstly, Nuru is quiet and in his quiet presence, it’s hard to feel uncomfortable like many would first think. He’s an observer, noticing things about people that they thought they could easily hide - this stems from his arguing parents, always being able to pick up on the tension between his mom and dad, even when they thought they could hide it.

Nuru, while offering little room on his face for a wide emotional range, has been known to do kind deeds. Sharing his lunch with someone who forgot to bring one. Silently handing over utensils to those that didn’t bring any.

Nuru has an air of professionalism around him. Always dressing in fancy or business casual clothes when outside of school. He’s a studious person, his high grades from other schools being an example of this. He usually wears cloth gloves and a surgical mask , due to the idea that skin to skin contact, even cloth to cloth contact, makes him uncomfortable around people he hasn’t gotten use to.

“Hino-san!”

“. . . what?”

“When life gives ya lemons?”

“If you can’t finish a common saying on your own, don’t expect me to finish it for you.”

Okay I saw other mcs being made for the story being written by @lemonade-if and had to give it a try myself! The image, because i am not an artist, was made in picrew! I made him after writing down three words on a sheet of paper, quiet, book smart ( the opposite of me ) and kind, and boom! Hino Nuru was made. The quiet reader who’s so socially unaware that he practices his responses to the different personalities while alone in his bedroom. I hope you like him!

Hino, the Japanese surname with the meaning sun field! Nuru, the Egyptian first name with the meaning of being born during the day!

#mc

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drarrily-we-row-along · 3 years

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Day 108: Ideal (Happy Birthday, Harry Potter)

Harry hadn’t had very many good birthdays.

Somehow, in spite of that fact, he’d imagined that his 19th birthday would be different. Last year, on his 18th birthday, when they’d spent the day rebuilding Hogwarts, Harry had reflected on his many terrible birthdays and told himself that 18 would be the last bad one. He’d told himself that on his 19th birthday there would be a party, he’d have his friends around him, and maybe just for that one day, they could forget everything bad and just have fun.

But now he was single, living in muggle London, without any friends nearby, and without any happy plans in place. He decided that he had to do something today, there must be something that could make his birthday not quite so glum.

He set off toward a coffee shop a few blocks from his house and ran smack into a door as a woman was coming out. She apologized but Harry was too distracted by what he saw inside of the store. From where he stood he could see reptiles, and birds, and he thought he could make out cats in the corner, and somewhere there was the faint sound of puppies yipping.

Waving the woman off he entered the animal shelter, feeling like might have found something good after all. He wandered in; first past the birds, then the reptiles, then to the kittens and full-grown cats. He paused with the cats for a little while, trailing his fingers along their cages and talking to them softly. Then he moved past them to the dogs and puppies.

There had to be about 10 altogether, different breeds and types, some sleeping, some playing together, some just wandering about sniffing. Several came charging over to the edge of their pen when they saw him, wagging their tails eagerly and he just knew. He looked up and waved to a sales associate who was straightening some pet supplies. “Sorry, I just wonder if I could meet some of the dogs?”

“Oh, sure!” she replied brightly. “Draco is on the dogs today, I’ll call him over. Just a mo.”

That was an odd name, Harry thought, it must be a coincidence. Surely Draco Malfoy wouldn’t be working in a Muggle Animal Shelter of all places. It was preposterous. Yet a moment later he heard a voice he’d recognize anywhere, “Sir, is there something I can help you with?”

Harry’s jaw dropped and he turned to look at the boy who had been his nemesis for several years, “Malfoy?” he asked incredulously, yet somehow he couldn't find it in himself to be surprised. It was his birthday after all.

(Read more below the cut)

“Potter? What in Merlin’s name are you doing here?”

“Oh, you boys know each other?” Annie asked with a wide smile.

“Uh,” Harry said inarticulately even as Malfoy said, “Yes, we went to school together.”

“Oh, it’s always nice to run into old friends!” she exclaimed. “Well, I’ll just leave you two to catch up and to find this young man a puppy!”

“You’re here to adopt a puppy?” Malfoy asked incredulously.

“Or a grown-up dog,” Harry replied defensively, feeling like this sort of luck was quite typical of his birthdays.

“And you just happened to show up at the one shelter in all of London that I work at?”

“Well, it’s not like I knew you worked here. It’s my birthday and I just wanted one happy thing-”

“A dog is a big commitment. It’s not just something you decide you want one day then discard the next.”

“I know that!” he protested. “And I want a commitment. I want something to love and take care of, something that loves me in return. I want something that is there all the time.”

Malfoy stared at him for a long moment. “Alright. What kind of dog are you looking for?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe I could meet them and then I’d know which one was the right one.”

“Trust me, Potter, if you do it that way you’ll take home 5 dogs.”

“Maybe I want five dogs,” Harry said stubbornly. “It’s not like I’ve got anything else on at the moment.”

Malfoy snorted, “Have you ever owned a dog, Potter?”

“No,” Harry replied. “Have you?”

“No,” Malfoy said. “For one thing I’m not allowed to have them in my flat and for another, I don’t have the time and energy for a dog. Dogs are a lot of work and I’m not saying you can’t do it,” he said, as Harry opened his mouth to protest. “I’m just saying, maybe you should start with one dog.”

Harry frowned but it did make sense, he supposed.

“Come on, Potter, tell me about your ideal dog and I’ll still let you meet all of them,” he said as he started toward the back. When Harry didn’t follow he said, “Come on, you can’t meet them out there.”

Harry followed him through a door that led behind the glass.

“So, when you imagine your perfect dog, do you think you want a dog with a lot of energy or that’s a little more lowkey?”

“Umm,” Harry said, imagining that he’d like a dog who wanted to play but also thinking of how hard some days were. “Maybe a little lower energy, but one that would still like taking walks and want to play a little bit each day.”

“Well, most of our dogs will want to play at least a little bit here and there,” he replied. “So meet Artemis first,” he said, as he went into the area all of the dogs were in and led one dog out. “She is not for you,” he said as the dog bounded over to Harry and Harry knelt down to pet her. She licked his face and put her paws up on his shoulders to sniff his hair.

“Why isn’t she for me?” he asked, tipping his head up to avoid being licked in the mouth. “Hi Artemis,” he said. “Hello, beautiful girl,” he said as he stroked her sides, combing through her soft fur. “You’re a lovie, aren’t you?”

“She is,” Malfoy confirmed, rubbing her head between her ears. “But our Artemis is part Australian Cattle Dog which means she is very high energy. She needs to run every day regardless of the weather and she needs a lot of stimulation. She is a very smart girl and there will be a perfect home for her, but you aren’t it.”

“But I like her,” Harry said, wrestling with her a little bit.

“You’ll like lots of them,” he said. “I promise.” Then he added, “And if she is your favorite, there’s nothing saying she can’t come back out so you can have her.”

“Alright,” Harry agreed reluctantly.

“Alright,” Malfoy repeated. “So that’s Artemis, you can meet Pontus next,” he said, before calling Artemis back to the playroom where the other dogs were. “Pontus isn’t completely trained yet, we’re still working with him on basic commands, so I’ll just have to go in and get him.”

Harry nodded and sat back on his heels to wait, a moment later a huge dog came out, panting and dragging Malfoy behind him.

“Pontus,” Malfoy said reprovingly.

Harry couldn’t help but laugh as the dog barreled into him and knocked him off his feet with a couple of raucous barks. He pinned Harry’s shoulders to the floor and licked his face quite thoroughly, butting his glasses completely off his face. “Hey, boy,” Harry managed, pushing at his broad chest so he could sit up.

Malfoy was tugging at the dog’s collar, seemingly to no avail. Finally, between the two of them, they got him enough off of Harry that he could sit up.

“Well, hello to you, too, handsome,” Harry said with a chuckle as he scratched behind his ears and Pontus tried to sit in his lap.

“Pontus is very sweet but he is an oaf,” Malfoy said as he brushed his hair back out of his face. “He is part American Pitbull and part something huge and dumb. We can’t quite figure him out.”

“He’s a nice boy,” Harry said as Pontus tried to chew on a bit of Harry’s fringe.

“No,” Malfoy reprimanded the dog, tugging him back from Harry. “Yes, he is, but he needs a firm hand, Potter, and you are too soft. Once he’s trained a little bit he’ll be a very good boy but you just let him eat your hair so you’re definitely not his.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, patting the dog’s side. “I think you’re probably right.”

“Did you hit your head on the floor when he knocked you over?”

“Not really,” Harry said as he reached back to rub the back of his head and Pontus butted him to get him to keep petting him, “Yes, alright, you demanding thing,” he said with a chuckle. “Why do you ask?”

“Well because you admitted I was right and it didn’t seem to hurt you even a little bit.”

Harry laughed, “You’re a git. I’ll have you know it didn’t hurt me one bit.”

“My, my,” Malfoy said with a small smile, “Is this what we call character development?”

“Yes, I see you,” Harry said as Pontus flopped over onto his back on top of Harry’s legs so he could rub his belly.

“He likes you,” Malfoy said with a grin.

Harry looked up at him, “He seems pretty friendly, Malfoy. I bet he likes everyone.”

Malfoy shrugged one annoyingly elegant shoulder, “Not really. He’s usually not too keen on men, in fact.”

“And you let him all but attack me?” Harry asked in mock offense. “I mean, I know you don’t like me, Malfoy, but killing me seems a little much.”

Malfoy rolled his eyes, “He doesn’t attack people. It’s a common misconception about his breed. It’s all about how they are raised and trained, just like it is with every dog. Except possibly chihuahuas.”

Harry laughed, “I don’t know anything about his breed,” he said honestly. “I just meant that he tackled me to the floor pretty quickly.”

“Yes,” he said, “But when Pontus doesn’t like someone he cowers from them, he doesn’t attack them. He will do whatever he can to put as much distance and as many obstacles as he can between him and the person he’s afraid of.”

“Well, I think he’s sweet,” Harry said, his heart in his throat at the thought of this poor dog being so afraid. “Maybe I could adopt him-” he started.

“Oh no you don’t,” Malfoy said and he leaned down and grasped Pontus’ collar once more. “His person will come and in the meantime, he will have us to look after him. He is not the dog for you; he will wreck your entire house and you’ll let him. He deserves a family who will train him and teach him to be a good boy because he wants to be a good boy.”

Pontus stood up and wagged his tail at Malfoy, slapping Harry across the face. “Ow!” Harry said, shoving at Pontus’ rear end, “Stop hitting me with your tail. That hurts!”

“His tail is very strong,” Malfoy said with a chuckle, “Come on you,” he said to Pontus, “You can go back and play.”

A moment later he came back in, carrying a squirmy puppy in his arms. Harry reached out for it immediately, “Hello,” he cooed at it as the pup started to sniff him.

“This is Caerus,” he said. “He’s a beagle mix, which is quite obvious by his love of sniffing and by his sweet floppy ears.”

“Hi Caerus,” Harry said, holding him up so they were nose to nose, “You are very cute. Yes, you are.”

“He’s just going up for adoption,” Malfoy said. “He was a little touch-and-go for a while, his brother and sisters all died. He was in a very unsafe situation when we found him and we really didn’t know if he’d make it or not, but he’s a fighter.”

He squirmed to get down and Harry set him on the floor and he took off sniffing around the room they were in, following his nose.

“He will have no trouble being adopted. He is young and adorable, and people love puppies.”

“He is really cute,” Harry said as he watched him run around. “But he’s not for me.”

“I agree,” he replied.

“Why?”

“Oh, you’re looking for someone who’s a real rescue.”

“What does that even mean?” Harry asked.

Malfoy watched the little dog walking around the room, investigating and sniffing as he said, “It means that you have a hero complex, Potter, which I can’t even blame you for because you were raised to have one. But you want to rescue a dog who’s come from a rough life and knows it. You want a dog that will love you unconditionally and whose sun rises and sets with you.”

“Well-” Harry started, feeling a little defensive.

“That wasn’t a criticism,” Malfoy said quickly. “It’s a good thing. It means that you want to really bond with your dog and vice versa. Frankly, you’ll be a great pet parent.”

“Err,” Harry said inarticulately. “Thanks, Malfoy.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said with another one of those shrugs. “Besides, you’re not cut out to train a puppy.”

Harry laughed, “I could learn.”

“You could,” he conceded. “Maybe. You don’t like to be the bad guy and sometimes when you’re training a dog you have to be able to say a firm no. Especially with puppies.” Before Harry could respond, Malfoy was bending over and scooping up Caerus, “Alright, Mister. Back to the puppy room with you,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

When he came back he brought two puppies with him, both with curly, white hair. “Meet Castor and Pollux,” he said.

“Hello,” Harry replied, petting both of them as they squirmed on the floor and started to tousle with one another, both yipping happily as they played.

“We are hoping someone will adopt them as a set. They’ve never been apart a day in their lives and they basically only socialize with one another, no matter what we do with them. They both cry inconsolably when they are separated.” He crouched down beside Harry and stroked one of their backs, “They are also definitely not for you, but I told you that you could meet all of them.”

“Thanks,” Harry said with a smile as Malfoy scooped them back up and carried them back to the other room.

A moment later he came in, walking slowly and leading a dog who limped along behind him. “This is Molly,” he said as he led her over to Harry. She wagged her tail happily at him and plopped down next to him. “She is the sweetest, gentlest dog you’ve ever met.”

Harry stroked her head and she laid her head on his lap.

“She’s a black lab mix and she is a love,” he said as he crouched next to Harry once more, “She has had a hard life and she would love you until the day she died, but she is also not for you.”

“What?” Harry asked, looking up at Malfoy, “Why not?”

“Well first because she is special needs, she’s blind, her liver is pretty much shot, she’s all but deaf, she can’t manage stairs, and she is on a variety of medications.”

“I could learn how to deal with all of those things!” Harry protested. “Poor girl, she just needs a home.”

“That’s the second reason you can’t have her,” he said. “She’s already been adopted. She’s the owner’s dog. He just brings her along because he can’t leave her alone at home all day.”

“Oh,” Harry said.

“Yes, oh,” Malfoy replied. “She’s a good old girl.”

“Why doesn’t her name match all the others?”

Malfoy flushed slightly and Harry couldn’t help but find it a little charming, “I named all of the others,” he confessed. “We just need something to call them while they’re here and I like to give them new names if they’ve come from somewhere else to help distance them from their pasts. People can change their names when they leave.”

“That’s sweet,” Harry said.

“Shut up,” Malfoy replied.

Harry laughed, “What? It is.”

He rolled his eyes, “Alright, Miss Molly, let’s go. We have to find this prat a dog and you can’t be it,” he told her as he gave her a gentle tap and started leading her out. “No, you cannot. Your dad would never give you up. No,” he said as the door closed behind him.

Next, he came in carrying a tiny dog who was yipping at him, “Yes, yes, Hermes. We all hear you.”

He set the dog down and he immediately ran over to Harry, still barking at him. Harry held out a hand to the dog to sniff, “Hello there.”

Hermes yipped at him and then ran over to Malfoy yipping before returning to Harry once more.

“Hermes thinks it’s his job to tell everyone everything. He basically never stops barking.”

“Aptly named then,” Harry said as he reached out and stroked a hand down his back.

“He’s part chihuahua, we’re certain,” Malfoy continued. “And he is trained and housebroken, his only problem is that he doesn’t stop barking.”

“Will a dog like this find a home?” Harry asked, even though he knew it couldn’t be with him.

“Oh, certainly,” he replied. “He’s young and healthy and has his basic training. There are people out there who will not mind his barking one bit.”

“I’m not one of them,” Harry said as he handed Hermes back to Malfoy.

“No,” he replied. “There are two more,” he said. “And while I think either of them could be right for you, I’m saving the one I think is perfect for last.”

“Alright.”

“I only say this so that you don’t fall completely head over heels for the next one before meeting Penelope.”

“I’ll do my best,” Harry assured him.

A few minutes later he returned with a giant black dog ambling along behind him, “This is Gaia,” he said.

Harry’s heart melted as the dog walked straight over to him and flopped down on his feet. “Hello beautiful girl,” he said as he stroked through her thick fur.

“Gaia is a six-year-old Newfoundland mix. She is house trained already, she’s a very low energy dog but she’ll go on walks and play with you. She is a very sweet girl.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, he brushed his thumb along her cheek and she stared at him with her big brown eyes. “Hi,” he said softly.

“She would love you unconditionally,” Malfoy said as he knelt beside Harry.

“Why do you think she isn’t perfect for me?”

“More than half of her life is already over,” Malfoy said. “Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.” He glanced down at the dog and stroked her side.

“But...” Harry prompted.

“But,” Malfoy said before taking a deep breath. “You’ve seen a lot of death,” he looked up at Harry then, his eyes so clear and sincere that they seemed to pierce into Harry’s very soul. “Newfies typically live 8-10 years.” He raised one shoulder, “She would be great for you, but she is going to leave you far too soon.”

Harry’s eyes stung and he looked away from Draco and down at Gaia who had fallen asleep. “Will she get adopted?”

“Yes,” Malfoy said without even a moment’s hesitation. “She is a sweet, sweet girl and people love big dogs. I give her two weeks in here tops.”

Harry stroked her ear between his fingers, “If I tell you to bring in the last one but decide I like her better?”

“You can still adopt her,” he said quickly. “Sending her back now doesn’t hurt a thing.”

He nodded once, “Alright.”

Malfoy nodded back, “Come on, Miss Gaia,” he said. “Up you get, you sleepy girl.”

She stood up, turning to look at Harry for a moment and wagging her bushy tail at him, before lumbering after Malfoy once more.

When he returned he was leading a small tan dog behind him. “This,” he said as he scooped her up, “Is Penelope.”

As Malfoy started to hand her to Harry she started wagging her tail so hard that her entire body wiggled with the movement. Harry laughed as he took her into his arms, “Well hello little one,” he said. She bumped her nose against his before licking his cheek. “Hi,” he said again.

She squirmed a bit, so he set her down, thinking this is where any that had gone wrong went wrong but she didn’t walk away, she stood up on her hind legs and pressed her front paws against his chest so she could lick under his chin.

He laughed and stroked down her sides, she was super soft and he said as much to Malfoy.

He nodded, “Yeah, our best guess for breed is a chihuahua-frenchie or chihuahua-pug mix. The pug or frenchie would account for the wrinkles that she gets in her forehead, how soft she is, her barrel chest, and the way her little ears look. Chihuahua would account for the long legs and slender build in spite of her barrel chest.”

She took her feet off Harry’s chest and Harry held his breath to see what she would do. She turned away and he thought that his mind was made up but then she turned in a circle in between his legs, then another, then a third before laying down pressed against his body as close as she could get.

Something made Harry feel like he was choking as he watched her settle against him.

“She likes you,” Malfoy said softly. “Miss Penelope is almost two. She is potty and kennel trained already but will need a little help learning basic commands, she’s relatively young so it shouldn’t be too hard. She doesn’t like going on walks when it’s too hot or too cold, but when the weather is nice she enjoys them. She likes to play fetch and she really likes to chew things. But her favorite thing is a lap to curl up on under a blanket.”

“She’s so small,” Harry said softly.

“Fifteen pounds,” Malfoy affirmed.

“Would she want to sleep in a kennel at night?” Harry asked.

“If you wanted her to,” he said.

“And if I didn’t?”

“She loves to get up on furniture with people. I’m sure she’d be glad to sleep in bed with you if that’s what you’re asking.”

She lifted her head up from where it was tucked against her chest and plopped it on Harry’s thigh, gazing up at him with warm caramel eyes.

“She would adore you,” Malfoy said softly. “I named her Penelope because I knew that whoever she chose as her person she would be unendingly faithful to.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, stroking her head before running her ear between his fingers.

Over the earpiece Malfoy was wearing, Harry could hear Annie requesting back up on the sales floor.

“Why don’t you two take a little more time together,” Malfoy said. “I’ll go check in with Annie and then when I come back you can tell me what you’ve decided.”

Penelope lifted her head as Malfoy left the room watching him until the door closed before turning to look at Harry.

“It’s alright,” Harry said, stroking his fingers down her side. “He’ll be back.” He picked her up, holding her in his arms like an infant, and she huffed a little breath before settling her head on his shoulder, tucking her nose into his neck.

“It’s alright,” he said again, even though she didn’t seem perturbed in the least. “What do you think, then?” he asked her. “Hmm?”

She pressed her nose against his neck and gave him a tiny lick.

“Do you want to come live with me?” he asked her.

Her tail twitched back and forth a few times.

“Is that a yes?” he asked as he turned his head to press his face into the fur on her shoulder. “Hmm? You want to come home with me?”

More waggles and Harry couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Do you like the name Penelope?” he asked her, shifting her so that he could see her face, he brushed his thumb over her black whiskers and she turned her head away, “Well you don’t like that, do you?” he asked and he brushed his thumb under her eye to clear a little gunk. “Sorry, little one.”

She let out a little huff at him and he couldn’t help but chuckle at her.

He held her and pet her, talking to her softly. He fell completely in love with her in a matter of minutes.

When the door opened and Malfoy stepped back in, Harry said, “Can I take her home today?”

“Yeah,” Malfoy said with a smile. “There’s a whole bunch of paperwork for you to fill out first but wait until you get a load of their quills. There’s no inkpot or anything.”

Harry laughed, “They’re pens, not quills.”

“You know about them?” Malfoy asked incredulously.

“I lived with muggles after my parents died until I was 11. Yes, I know what pens are.”

Malfoy huffed, “Why wouldn’t you have brought them to Hogwarts? Why didn’t you use them there? It would have been so much smarter.”

“You wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with pens,” Harry replied with a laugh.

“Well, that's probably true. But I was an idiot.”

Before Harry could say anything in response or even process that remark fully, Malfoy was reaching for Penelope, “Let me put her with the others while we get you squared away.”

“No!” Harry said quickly, clutching her tighter against him.

“I’ll give her back, I promise,” Malfoy said.

“Can’t she just stay with me?” Harry pleaded.

Malfoy looked at him for a moment, “Yes, alright, but don’t let her distract you from the work you have to do.”

“I won’t.”

“Here,” he said, holding out a contraption to Harry. “Put this on her, she can’t be loose out on the sales floor.”

“Err,” Harry said as he reached for it. “How do I?”

Malfoy rolled his eyes, “Merlin, Potter. It’s a harness,” he said. “Here, set her on the floor and I’ll show you how to put it on her. It’s so you can walk her on a leash.”

“Can’t I just use a collar?” he asked.

“No,” Malfoy said as he lifted one of her front legs through a hole, then the other. “Small dogs, in general, do better with harnesses than collars. Unlike larger dogs, she has a more fragile trachea so we put a harness on her instead.”

“Is she okay, though?”

“Oh, yes,” he said quickly as he snapped the harness over her back. “Right,” Malfoy said, passing him the end of her leash. “This way, I’ll take you in to see Jeff and get her paperwork filled out.”

“Great, thanks,” Harry said, “Alright, Penelope,” he said, “let’s go.” She wagged her tail and stared up at him.

“Do you have the things you’ll need for your home?”

Harry shook his head, “Can I get those things here?”

“Yes. After you fill out her adoption paperwork.”

“Will you help me make sure I get everything she needs?” Harry asked quickly, afraid he’d miss something essential.

Malfoy gave him a smile and a small nod.

When they went to the office, Malfoy knocked on the door and someone, Jeff, Harry presumed, called for him to enter.

“Hi Jeff, this is Harry Potter,” Malfoy said, gesturing for Harry to enter the room. “He’s here to adopt Penelope.”

The man at the desk looked up over the top of his glasses and gave Harry a warm smile. “That is wonderful news! Come in.”

“I’ll just leave you to it, then,” Malfoy replied.

“Draco, you should stay. I’ve been meaning for you to learn more about the actual adoption process,” Jeff said.

It took a while to fill out all of the paperwork, but once they did, Jeff said, “perfect. Now there’s just the home visit and you’ll be all set.”

Harry looked over at Malfoy and Malfoy looked at him, both realizing at the same time what a bad idea it was to have a muggle come to his house.

“I’ll do it,” Malfoy volunteered quickly.

“Your shift is almost over,” Jeff said, looking at the clock on the wall. “I can take care of it.”

“That’s alright,” he said. “I don’t mind. We’re old,” he broke off, glancing at Harry, “friends,” he finished a bit awkwardly. “I’m helping him make sure he has everything he needs anyway.”

The other man nodded, "If you're sure."

"I'm sure," he said, nudging Harry out of the office.

Malfoy helped him to buy supplies for her, laughing as Harry picked out far more toys and treats for her than he thought was necessary. The sales associate helped them to box everything up and Malfoy helped him carry everything out of the store. "How far do we have to walk?" Malfoy asked.

"Just a couple of blocks," Harry said. "Do you want me to take that?" he asked, offering him Penelope's leash in exchange.

He shook his head, "It's fine." He hoisted the box a little higher in his arms.

"Do you live near here, too?" he asked, watching Penelope trot along tail wagging as she sniffed.

"About twenty minutes by bus."

He couldn't help but chuckle, "Draco Malfoy riding a muggle bus, who would have thought it?"

But the other man didn't seem to find that amusing, he frowned, "I'm not the person you remember."

"No," Harry said quickly, "I know," he added. "I wasn't trying to say anything unkind."

"Sorry," Malfoy replied, shaking his head slightly, "It's been a while since I've seen anyone from the wizarding world." He paused then added, "People from the past don't generally say kind things."

Harry hummed, "The wizarding world is full of hypocrites and people unwilling to see the wrong they themselves have done." He shook his head, "It's a lot. It's why I left."

He nodded to the door ahead of them, "This is my house," he added.

"It's nice," Draco said.

"Thanks," he grinned as he opened the door. "Sorry, I didn't realize that I would be having company or I would have cleaned up a little more," he added as he let Malfoy inside.

He took the harness off of her and let her investigate her surroundings.

"Did you say that you aren't expecting company?" Malfoy asked.

"Yeah," Harry said, keeping one eye on the dog as he started setting up her little bed and basket of toys.

"But it's your birthday," he said.

"Yeah," he mumbled.

Malfoy stared at him for a long moment before clearing his throat, "Do you have a back yard?"

"Yes," he said, glad for the change of subject, "This way," he added, nodding toward the back door. "It's fenced in but it's not very big, I'll take her on walks," he hastened to add as he opened the door. Penelope wandered out and started sniffing around and something warm unfurled in Harry's chest just watching her.

The other boy glanced out the door and nodded, "This is fine, it passes the inspection."

"Good," Harry said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Come on, Penny," he called and the little dog perked her head up and came dashing across the yard and back into the house."

"Penny, huh?" Malfoy asked with an amused little smile.

"For short," Harry nodded.

"I like it," he said as they turned and headed inside. "Well, I'll get out of your hair-"

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" Harry asked without really thinking about why.

Malfoy's brow furrowed, "Do you want me to?"

He shrugged one shoulder, "Only if you want to." When Malfoy didn't reply immediately he shook his head, "Never mind, it's silly. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm lonely, ignore me."

"No. I'd," he swallowed, "I'd like to stay for dinner, if you wanted. I just couldn't imagine that you'd want..." he trailed off.

"We're not the boys we were," Harry said, holding out a hand, "Harry Potter."

After a heartbeat Draco reached out and clasped his hand, "Draco Malfoy."

"Do you like pizza?" Harry asked.

He nodded, "As long as you don't put peppers on it."

"Done," he replied as Penny came over and put her paws up on his leg. He scooped her up and smiled, thinking for the first time in a long time that maybe everything was going to turn out alright.

------------

Sorry friends, this one really got away from me. It's super long. I hope that you still enjoy it! <3 Lots of love, -c

Day 107: Charge | Day 109: Coffee Shop

#100 drarry drabbles in 100 days #adopting a dog #happy birthday harry potter #<3 #blossoming friendship #drarry drabbles #drarry ficlet #this one really got away from me #sorry friends!#Day 108

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dr3amofagame · 3 years

Note

do you have any,,,post prison mute dream stuff??? or like, severely quiet, silent and obedient dream shtuff?? and the consequences thereof??? bc im reading your drabbles and i am in literal awe

aww, thank you so much !! yeah selectively mute dream post prison is absolutely a hc i love and write smtimes - it’s already been suggested in canon, and it’s super fun to play w/ in post-canon works. here’s some fluffy syndicate!dream bc gosh knows we need it after the angst that we’ve been getting

tw: implied torture, panic attacks, trauma - all v short mentions. this one’s definitely on the lighter side! :D

“I didn’t know you knew sign.”

Dream startles, arms flying to cover his face, and the crow he had been signing at squawks angrily when it turns towards Phil. He ignores its chatter, smoothing his own flinch behind a smile, lowering his wings, bringing his hands, palms up, in front of him at his waist - this song and dance has become all too familiar in the weeks that Dream’s resided with the Syndicate, and Phil is nothing if not patient.

Slowly, the boy uncurls from where he’d huddled into himself, arms clasped firmly around his ribs like someone will try and take them from him if he doesn’t hold on tight enough (and maybe, Phil thinks, imagining the messy lattice of scars underneath Dream’s loose-fitting hoodie that he has only seen a few times since they brought him over, someone has - but those are thoughts that are better left untouched for as long as he can manage it.) Dream’s eyes raise, flick over his face, his breathing quieting down from the discordant rattle it had been, and tentatively, ever slowly, he raises his good hand in a loose fist, letting it bob up and down. Yes.

Phil settles into the armchair across from him, raising his own hands. His fingers feel clumsy, but the memories come back with more ease than he would’ve expected - I know a little. Dream’s eyes don’t quite brighten, but his shoulders fall down from where they’d been hunched up to his ears, the hand he keeps tucked to his chest trembling slightly less, and it’s as much as a win as he’s ever going to get.

The silence stretches, familiar in its awkwardness, and Phil stifles a grimace as he forces long-forgotten memories to the surface. Dream’s hands, from what little he had seen from the doorway, had practically flown as he spoke to the crow still sitting by his right side - obviously practiced even with the still-healing injuries tracing over both arms. How did you learn?

We- He hesitates, left hand trembling violently, before pushing on, we all learned with- he signs a C, then lifts his hands to his head in a sign that Phil vaguely remembers as being the one for deer. Dream must see the questions written in his expression, because his cheeks flush as he backtracks. C-A-L-L-A-H-A-N, he finger spells, and Phil nods. That makes sense.

Some of the crows in the house must have noticed Phil’s arrival, because they storm into the room from the doorway, awkwardly hopping across the door with their wings waving by their sides as they eagerly voice their displeasure at the lack of attention. He’s not in the mood to pick out the words between their angry caws, so he simply watches as they scatter all over the room. Something almost like a smile tugs at Dream’s face as he watches them enter - the kid has grown inexplicably fond of both his flock and all of the assorted animals that Techno drags back into the house whenever he goes out, and Phil has long since resigned himself to being outnumbered one hundred to one by a literal army of mobs wherever he goes. Some of the crows had been pretty wary of Dream at the beginning, but after a few weeks more or less the entire flock has become viciously protective of the kid, sufficiently won over by gifts of head scratches and berries and various shiny things. Sure enough, the birds form a dark, squawking circle at Dream’s feet, a few flying up to tug impatiently at his clothes, and despite the (very obvious) favoritism, Phil smiles; the flock is good for Dream, as annoying as they can be.

DADZA, one calls, its lone cry soon echoed by the entire group of fluttering feathers gathered on the floor, DADZA AND DREAM DADZA DADZA. Phil laughs, a familiar warmth and exasperation filling his lungs, and he turns his attention back to Dream.

You up to some more? He tries; it’s a chance, for sure, and he brushes away the creeping anxiety crawling up his neck; he doesn’t want to make Dream panic, hopes that he’s doing the right thing. I could always use the practice.

Quiet, once again, only broken by the murmurs of his birds eagerly awaiting Dream’s answer as the boy rocks side to side in deliberation, and Phil is halfway through working out a frantic you don’t have to if you don’t want to when Dream raises his own hands.

Sure, he signs, a forced smile on his face but eyes still clear and bright, why not?

Somehow, they end up in a bastardized version of twenty questions, surrounded by birds that do not hesitate at any chance to voice their own opinions. They work through favorite colors (green), favorite flowers (roses for Dream, peonies for Phil), favorite mob (Phil answers this with a pointed definitely-not-crows, staring at the flock who have been shouting over themselves naming different colors for about five minutes, which immediately makes them devolve into screaming caws and divebombs at the edges of Phil’s cape that leave him thoroughly occupied for the next ten minutes), and at some point Phil falls further into the cushions of his chair and Dream’s legs lay against the sofa instead of being drawn up to his chest and it’s almost normal.

By the time Techno finds them, they’ve forgone structure all together, Dream watching intently as Phil signs out an embellished tale of one of the Antarctic Empire’s exploits with a crow held gently in his hands. Techno’s voice behind him startles him bad enough to send his wings snapping outwards, feathers standing on end, but Dream doesn’t react much beyond a twitch of his lips - he must’ve seen the piglin hybrid and tag-teamed to prank him, Phil realizes with a half-hearted grumble. Techno’s eyes sparkle mischievously, definitely planned, then.

“Hi Phil, Dream,” Techno shrugs off his cloak and drapes it over the back of Phil’s chair, “Looks like you’ve been busy. Can’t say I’m not feelin’ a bit left out, though; Phil, you never told me you knew sign language.”

“You never asked, mate,” he quips, even as Dream signs animatedly from the corner of his eye. T-E-C-H-N-O-L-O-S-T.

Techno narrows his eyes. “I get the feelin’ that you’re messin’ with me, nerd.” Dream blinks faux innocently, smiling wider, and Phil picks up on the bit. Oh, this is fun.

He can’t understand us, he assures Dream, feeling a wicked smirk of his own growing on his face. So what do you think for dinner?

“Phil- the betrayal!” Techno splutters, voice going high and pitchy, and that reaction alone would’ve made the prank more than worth it - but Dream’s shoulders shake, eyes glittering as his fingers fly almost too fast for Phil to catch, and oh, that’s laughter, tiny, breathless giggles falling from his lips, and Techno must catch it even as he begins to berate the voices in his head, “This is not a bruh moment, Chat, don’t you start-”

Stew? Dream signs, still snickering, and he looks happy, more than Phil has ever seen him, the sight of him smiling and bright-eyed with amusement almost enough to cover for the gaunt quality of his face, the pale scars left all over his skin.

Of course, mate, Phil signs back, throwing in a do you think T-E-C-H-N-O ended up lost in those same woods again for good measure, rewarded when it sends Dream into another round of giggles. Techno grumbles without any real heat behind it, plopping himself down in the remaining chair.

“Ok, nah, no more of this exclusive club; you guys are teachin’ me this tonight before Chat loses it - yes that was an insult, don’t you start it with the E’s,” and Phil laughs, hard, the flock cawing and beginning to spam E on their own, for some reason, and Dream signing through the alphabet with the biggest grin on his face, and-

“Oh, Prime, this is going to so scuffed,” Phil says, breathless, his warning unheeded as Techno finishes his rant at Chat to focus on Dream.

And it is scuffed - it is so fucking scuffed, between Phil’s lackluster memory and Techno’s frequent interrupting to quiet down an extremely rowdy Chat and the incessant calls of the flock further egging them on, but it’s warm and Dream doesn’t stop smiling and Techno looks more relaxed than he has in weeks and the helpless, singing urge of protect protect protect that has lived in Phil’s head ever since Techno had carried Dream, beaten and bloodied and broken, through their front door finally, finally, begins to quiet down.

He tunes back into the impromptu lesson - they’ve finished the alphabet, seemingly having moved onto common words and objects, and Dream- hesitates, raises his hand, all five fingers drawn together, to the corner of his mouth and then pulls it back. Home, he signs, moving to fingerspelling, H-O-M-E. Home.

For a moment, they’re all quiet, Dream’s hand still raised by his face, even the crows falling silent as they all stare at each other. Phil watches, breath caught in his throat, as the planes of Techno’s face soften, the teasing edge of his voice, for once, leaving. “Yeah, nerd. You’re home.”

Home, Dream signs again, then again, looking up, eyes bright, hopeful. Phil thinks, proudly, that it looks like a new beginning. I’m home.

#tw torture #tw trauma #tw panic attack #syndicate!dream #my beloved #queue <3 #q stream aftermath #long post #my writing :D #my asks !!

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