lizzie is a supervillain, joel is a superhero, lizzie has been a thorn in joels side since day one on the job
one day, lizzie is sent on a mission by the villains to infiltrate the superhero headquarters and spy on them. she pretends to be a trainee hero. joel begins to fall in love with her, but she is only pretending to like him because she only sees him as the hero she hates and never his secret identity (theyre not allowed to share their civilian identities with heroes on lower levels to them).
meanwhile villain!lizzie and civilian!joel meet and joel has to pretend not to be a hero to hide his identity, and instead uses her to gain intel on the villains. lizzie begins to fall in love with joel but he is only pretending to like her because he doesn’t know that she is actually the girl he likes from the hero hq
and to complicate things even further, civilian!lizzie and civilian!joel meet each other and have to pretend they don’t know each other but they’re also in love
Part two of my desert skies au with @applestruda! You can read part one here :)
Reblogs are appreciated :3
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Standing on the edge of the rocky outcrop, Grian took a deep breath as the cool air rustled through his hair. The breeze here was stronger than it had been in the Isle of Dawn or the prairie, bringing with it the scent of rain and petrichor. Gazing down at the trees surrounded by clouds, Grian was lulled into a sense of relaxation and calmness by the quiet peace of it all.
“Whew! Bit more chilly here, huh?” Scar’s voice pierced through the quiet, and Grian glanced over at his companion as he shivered dramatically. “The wind’s really whippin’ out here.”
Grian snorted, amusement colouring his tone. “This isn’t bad compared to some other spots, but it has caught some moths off guard. I quickly learned that I had to hold on a little more tightly when it came to this part.” With that, he held out his hand. “I trust you not to let go.”
Scar saluted, before taking Grian’s hand. The sensation was already becoming familiar, and it made Grian’s chest feel warm. Happiness, he supposed, was a rare sensation when dealing with moths who ran off upon seeing anything remotely shiny– and in Sky, there were many such things. Honestly, one would think his job description was babysitter instead of guide.
“Ready?”
Grian and Scar took a few steps then jumped off the outcrop, spreading their wings to catch an updraft before tucking them in close to dive into the tunnel made of clouds. The wind whistled past them as they shot through the first section of forest, spreading their wings once more to slow themselves down for their landing in front of the stone archway. The landing was a little rough, causing Grian to take a couple quick steps in order not to pitch forward, but they made it in one piece.
“Oh, wow!” Scar giggled, stretching his wings out wide. “That was crazy. We should do it again!” He ran his hands through his wind-tousled hair, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. “We’ll do that again, right?”
Grian stretched his wings as well, groaning lightly. “Ahh, if you stick around long enough I’m sure we will.” He offered his hand again, and led Scar down the path to the large stone wall. “Right, just have to light this little thing…” He reached out and pressed his candle’s flame against the blue gem, waiting for the light to activate the gate.
Scar watched with the same fascination as before, jumping when the gate began to rumble open. “Oh! Ohh, that's fancy!”
Grian giggled. “It's just a gate, Scar…” He led Scar through the gate, the sound of rain hitting the ground an unfamiliar but welcome noise. “It's been too long since I’ve been here.” He glanced over at Scar, who was staring up at the cloudy sky. “Forgot what rain looks like, huh?” he joked, to an unusual silence.
Scar seemed to jolt back into himself, shaking the thoughts out of his head with a sharp jerk of his head. “Maybe! C’mon, G, let’s go!” He let go of Grian’s hand and jumped right out into the rain, letting out a surprised honk when he landed face first in the giant puddle that had collected in the middle of the area. “Oop!”
Grian didn’t even have time to shout a warning before Scar had his wonderful moment of grace, but he was quick to rush forward and help Scar up, leading him to the next gate and wrapping his arms around his companion. “Goodness, don’t go charging into the rain like that,” he murmured as his wings shimmered, “you’ll lose your light that way.”
Scar leaned into the hug. “I have you with me. I'll be okay! My light is in your hands!” He pulled away. “Thanks for that, G!”
Grian sighed. “Absolutely not. If you go running off into the rain, your light goes straight back into your own hands. I will not take responsibility for you being a goof.” He stepped forward and placed his candle near the blue gem embedded into the gate wall, watching as the light traveled up. The gate opened without much fanfare, and Scar once again took Grian's hand and followed him through the gate.
The forest was beautiful, Grian had to admit, but it was still dangerous. Rain dripped down from the trees that stretched toward the cloudy sky, pooling on the ground in light-stealing puddles. Luckily for them, the roots of the trees provided cover, and little light sources had been set up ages ago, long before Grian made his first trip through.
He squeezed Scar's hand gently, glancing up at his green winged companion. Scar seemed enthralled by the area, head turning all around as he tried to catch every last bit of the sight. “It's so blue,” Scar whispered, as if speaking too loudly would break the scene.
Grian chuckled. “Yeah. Very blue. Is blue your favorite colour?” He glanced at Scar's wings. “I would've thought it was green.”
Scar honked happily, flapping his wings. “I love all the colours! They all work so well and…” He paused, as if rethinking something. “...except maybe this like… purplish red? I dunno. Something about the colour makes me feel ick.”
Grian tilted his head slightly. “Magenta?” he asked, confused. “Well, to each their own.” He raised his face to gaze out at the forest once more. “Right. See that tree? We're going to run there and stop to recharge. I don't doubt we could just run through, but that won't be the case in the actual forest and I want to show you what to do ahead of time.”
Scar nodded. “Right! Lead the way!”
Holding Scar's hand firmly in his own, Grian ran out into the rain, feet splashing in a puddle before landing on wet grass. The rain pricked against his skin and wings, cold and draining. Pushing himself a little faster, Grian reached the light source under the tree with a gasp. For a moment, he let the light warm him before he relaxed.
Scar's voice cut through the warm haze brought on by the light. “Whew! That was excitin'! You good, G?”
“...yeah. Thank you, Scar.” Grian took a deep breath. “Right, then! Let's go!”
They made it to the gate unscathed, without falling into any puddles. Grian opened the last gate, a strange feeling of excitement building in his chest. It had been a long time since he had seen her. He couldn't help but let out an excited honk, rocking back and forth on his feet.
Scar glanced over. “You're excited,” he noted, curiosity in his voice, “may I ask why?”
Grian stopped rocking, meeting Scar's gaze. “Oh! Well, you remember how I said I was a guide?” He waited for Scar to nod. “Well, I'm not all too good with the Forest. It's huge, and there are a lot of places to get lost in. Tiny cracks and crevices, you know.” He led Scar through the gate, continuing to talk. “Luckily, I have a friend who lives here.”
“Why would anyone live here if it's so dangerous?” Scar asked, to which Grian shrugged.
“She's just like that. Always has been a little crazy.”
A familiar voice interrupted their conversation. “Now, you two fellas wouldn't happen to be talking about me, would ya?”
Grian lit up, taking Scar's hand and running to the gazebo. “Pearl!” He let go of Scar's hand to throw his arms around Pearl, honking excitedly. “Pearl, hey! Hello!”
Pearl honked back, her call echoing and deeper than Grian's bird one. “Heya Griba, long time no see!” She twirled him around before setting him back down and offering her light to Scar. “Hey there, stranger.”
Scar accepted her light, eyes shining. “Well, hello there! I'm Scar. Nice to meetcha! I've been traveling with Grian for a bit, to catch all those winged lights!”
Pearl laughed. “Yeah, he's obsessed with them.”
“As if you don't go insane whenever you see something shiny,” Grian shot back, though his tone remained light hearted.
“Birdbrain,” Pearl retorted, giggling. She examined Scar, eyes landing on his wings. “No moths this time?” she asked, “I thought that's what you stuck to.”
Grian scratched the back of his neck, laughing nervously. “Funny story about that, really. I thought he was a moth. Turns out he was just really bad at flying.”
“It's true! That's how I got this!” Scar pointed at the crack in his mask proudly. “Face first into a wall. Bam!”
Pearl nodded sagely. “We’ve all been there. Griba especially.” She dodged Grian’s half hearted smack, laughing at his annoyed honks. “Right! I heard you boys needed a guide through the forest. Lucky for you,” she added, “I’m the best forest guide there is.”
Grian crossed his arms. “The only forest guide. Trust me, if I could find someone else who knew the forest as well as you did I would–”
“–Which is why you were so excited to see me and jumped into my arms,” Pearl interrupted, “because you just hate me so much.”
Grian covered his face with his hands, groaning. Scar giggled at the banter, looking at Pearl. “Well, I think you're amazin'! I'd love to be guided through the forest by you!”
Pearl held out her hand. “Come on, then! Let's get some winged light!”
“I'm not too sure how I feel about you flying,” Grian muttered, taking Pearl's hand and gesturing for Scar to take his. “Last time we flew together…” He grimaced. “At least you don't fly in the forest, I guess.”
Pearl glanced back at Grian. “Oh, maybe you don't fly in the forest. I'm a little different.”
“Pearl? What does that mean–?”
Without another word, Pearl spread her wings and jumped off the edge of the cliff, honking as Grian shrieked in terror. Scar was just as happy as Pearl was, judging by the spamming of honks he let out as the trio soared through the air.
When they landed safely tucked away under tree roots, Grian immediately turned to Pearl. “What was that?!” he demanded, shaking off stray droplets of water from his wings. “You aren't supposed to fly in the hidden forest, you'll lose your light and–!”
“Grian.” Pearl's voice was uncharacteristically serious. Not the kind of serious that came alongside anger, but a gentle kind of serious. “Look at me. Look at Scar.” She gave him a moment to look between the two of them. “We're not moths. I know this area better than I know you. I would never–” She squeezed his hand gently– “put you or Scar in danger. Okay?”
Grian was silent for a moment. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, Pearl. And, uh, sorry about that.” He shrugged slightly, trying to play it off. “Guess I'm just a little too used to being a guide, huh?”
Scar squeezed Grian's other hand gently. “Yeah. C'mon G, get out of teacher mode.” His joking remark helped lift the mood, and Grian squeezed Scar's hand back in appreciation. “Alrighty! Let's get back out into that rain!”
Pearl laughed. “Hold on there, give me a second.” She pulled out her umbrella, taking a moment to open it. “This should protect us from the rain.” She glanced over at Grian. “Does this make you feel better?”
Grian stared at her. “If you had that, why didn't you take it out in the first place?”
Pearl shrugged. “Didn't feel like it.”
Grian spluttered indignantly, but was unable to form a sentence before Pearl took his hand and dragged them all back out into the rain, laughing as they splashed through the puddles on the ground. Scar honked excitedly as they ran, holding tight to Grian's hand.
Pearl took off the ground with an echoing honk, and Grian had to admit he was impressed with how she maneuvered through the air. She had certainly gotten better at flying since Grian had last let himself be led by her, which had turned out to be the biggest mistake of his life. Needless to say, he hadn't let her forget about the incident in the valley ever since.
Of course, she wasn't as good at flying as he was– but that was unfair to her. Grian had a reputation for being sky's greatest flier for a reason, and it wasn't like anyone was going to take that title away from him any time soon. Flying was as essential to Grian as light was– perhaps even more so. He didn't know what he would do if he wasn't able to fly.
Pearl spread her wings and pulled back as they landed in front of a shining winged light. “Here ya go! First light of the forest, just for you!”
Grian's wings fluttered as light shimmered down from the proximity to the winged light. Holding out his hands, he brought the winged light toward him, feeling warmth spread through his entire body. The winged light disappeared into his wings, and Grian let out a content sigh.
Next to him, Scar had done the same, cupping his hands and bringing the winged light close. “Oh, well isn't that just lovely?” Scar murmured, letting the light seep into his wings. “Ooh, it's so warm!” His voice was filled with the same kind of awe Grian heard in moths, and for some reason it made Grian want to take Scar's hand and never let it go.
But that was a very odd thought, and Grian shook his head slightly to clear it from his mind. Turning himself slightly to face away from Scar, Grian cast his gaze out over the hidden forest. From the high vantage point, he could see the vast expanse of the forest stretching out in every direction.
It was then that Grian realized that Pearl was amazing.
Well– that was a lie, he had known this ever since they met, when they were faceless and nameless and she took his hand to lead him through the afterlife. But it was just now, gazing out at the forest, that Grian really understood. The forest was a dangerous place. Full of twists and turns and dead ends, hidden cracks and crevices tucked away in the dark. It was the one place that Grian couldn't guide moths through– and the place Pearl lived.
“Ahem. Care to join us, or are you going to spend the rest of forever staring at the rain?” Pearl's voice shook Grian out of his thoughts, and he turned to see her holding out her hand. “We have an entire forest to go through, Griba,” she reminded lightheartedly.
Grian snorted, taking her hand. “Yeah, yeah. Lead the way, Pearlie.”
Scar took Grian's hand, pumping his other hand in the air with an excited honk. “Woo! Here we go!”
It may have been raining in the hidden forest, but the group's laughter was like sunshine. Scar and Pearl became close friends incredibly quickly, and much to Grian's horror, Pearl began telling the most embarrassing stories about her and Grian's time together in sky. All of which were vehemently proclaimed false by Grian; he had never been a good liar, and Scar told him as much with a giggle.
Their time together was far too short, and the three of them found themselves standing in front of the temple soon enough. Grian reluctantly let go of Pearl's hand, Scar still holding onto his. “Thank you so much for guiding us,” Grian began earnestly, trying to keep his voice from trembling. “I've missed you a ton. It was nice to catch up with you.”
“It was nice to meet you!” Scar added on, “I hope we can travel together again soon!”
Pearl nodded. “Of course! And Grian–” She held out her arms, and Grian practically threw himself into them. “Oof!” She staggered back a few steps, laughing. “You better come and visit me, mate. It gets lonely in the forest.” She ruffled his hair, earning an indignant squawk. “If you don't visit me, I'll have no other choice but to come to you. And no one wants that,” she joked.
“I will,” Grian promised, pulling away. “I'll visit you so much you'll get annoyed with my presence and never want to see me again.”
“Impossible.” Pearl glanced up at the temple, her gaze following the glowing jellyfish that bobbed and spun midair. “Well, I suppose this is goodbye, then.”
“How about see you later?” Scar suggested. “We'll be back, after all! The dynamic duo, Grian and Scar! Don't worry!” His voice took on a dramatic tone as he bowed. “We'll be sure to grace you with our presence again soon!”
Pearl laughed, shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah. See you later, then. And have fun!”
Grian took Scar's hand, and with one last wave goodbye to Pearl, took off toward the temple.
It was time to leave the forest, and enter the valley of triumph.
Sky: Children of the Light au I've been working on with the lovely @applestruda! We've given it the name Desert Skies AU :)
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Grian was, in his humble opinion, far too kind for his own good.
He'd risked light and limb to guide moths through the treacherous golden wastelands, to hold their hand and to run while the dark dragon wasn't looking. He guided moths through the storm to the red thunderous skies of Eden, through the rocks and the krills and finally, through the stars. All so that they wouldn’t have to be alone– not like he had been, on that first fateful journey through the storm.
So yes, Grian was far too kind. He couldn’t help it; when he saw a moth asking for help or struggling through the sands, he saw a bit of his younger self in them. He was always willing to lend a little light to those who offered their candles. He was always willing to hold out a guiding hand, to shine his directing light toward sanctuary.
How could he resist offering a healing light to the moth that had just flown face first into the wall?
…wait. That– that was most certainly not a moth. The shimmering green cape told Grian otherwise, as did the soft giggle that rang out as his new companion shook out his wings. “Thank you very much, friend! My name’s Scar, how about you?” Scar stuck out his hand, and Grian stared for a moment before reaching out and taking it.
“Grian.” He offered a smile. “Sorry, I mistook you for a moth– had quite the landing there, huh?”
Scar shrugged, dusting the sand off his pants. “Yeah, that happens! Quite a lot, actually. You know how you just get distracted looking at all the pretty things and thinking to yourself and then–!” He clapped his hands together– “wham! Wall to the face! That’s how I got this lil thing, actually!” He pointed to the crack in his mask.
“I see… well, I was just about to start regathering the winged light I lost in Eden.” Grian shrugged his shoulders, letting his wings flutter slightly with the movement. “It gets lonely, traveling without a companion.” And more dangerous. Traveling alone meant you didn't have another person to recharge your wings, meant you were alone if the krill caught you, meant the darkness was just that much more scary. “Would you like to come with?”
Scar hummed in thought. “Well, I did lose quite a bit of light to that silly little dragon in the wastelands… and you seem pretty nice, so yeah! I'll join you on your perilous journey!” He struck a heroic pose. “The spirits will tell of our heroic deeds for eons to come!”
Grian let out a weary chuckle, shaking his head slightly. He wasn't very used to the excitement and energy that he was getting from Scar, not from people who weren't moths at least. “I really doubt we'll be doing anything very heroic, Scar. And it's not all that dangerous, for the most part. Even the wastelands have their sanctuaries.” He offered his hand to Scar.
Scar took his hand, letting out a happy honk. “Well then, I'll be putting my trust in you!” Light shimmered down his green wings, reflecting off the glistening cave walls. “My light is in your hands!”
Grian snorted, leading them toward the exit. “A terrifying thought.”
The Isle of Dawn was a peaceful place to fly. Calm skies stretched over golden sand, sunlight glinting off of the rocks and shining from old spirits that Grian helped with soft words and a guiding hand. It was not his favorite place to fly; nor did it boast the sights of the prairie, the mystique of the forest, the entertainment of the valley or the knowledge of the vault. Nonetheless, Scar seemed so taken in by the land that Grian had to laugh softly. Scar's reaction reminded him of when he was a moth, and of the many moths he had guided before.
They had just landed in front of the last winged light before the temple, and Scar glanced over at Grian in mild confusion as he gathered the light into his wings. “Somethin' wrong?” he asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.
Grian shook his head, waving Scar off. “No, no, I just… you just… It was like this was your first time here, in the isle. It just reminded me of… me, I guess. When I was a moth.” And what a time that had been. Back when he was new to the world, when he wasn't aware of the dangers that lurked not only in the darkness but in the children of light themselves.
Scar seemed to perk up at that. “It's just so fascinating to me. I mean, there's so much empty space, it's like a blank canvas!”
Grian let out a confused note. “What do you mean by that?”
Scar made a grand, sweeping gesture with his hand. “I've always wondered what it was like, building everything. I mean, of course, things didn't just pop up out of nowhere, right? It's all pretty much ruins now, but some things are still around! It just makes me wonder…”
Grian laughed softly. “Our job isn't to build, Scar.” It's to bring light to the ones lost to the darkness.
“Yeah,” Scar conceded, before gazing toward the sky, “but what if it was?” He turned back to Grian, practically jumping up and down. “I've always pictured myself building these huge castles in the sand. Ones that stretch toward the sun, with big bells and shining inscriptions and–!”
“And what would you call these castles, Scar?” Grian asked, a light humor in his voice.
“Oh, I dunno. Monopoly Mountain has a nice ring to it, don't you think?”
“What– what even is a monopoly? Are those even possible?” Grian did have to admit, though. The sound of Monopoly Mountain was quite pleasing for a reason he couldn't quite place.
Scar shrugged. “No idea! I just like the word.”
After that thrilling conversation, Grian had once more offered his hand to Scar before taking off into the sky. He had to admit that the skies did seem a little brighter with Scar's hand in his. It has been a while since he had flown with someone who didn't struggle to keep their wings extended, who didn't quite know how to steer yet. It had been a long time since Grian had flown beside someone who spoke with such ease and a cheerful, carefree attitude. It had been so long since Grian had let himself relax while flying with another person.
Something about Scar was different. He hardly even knew the man and yet already he felt a sort of kinship to him. It made Grian wonder. Had it not been for his original group of friends and that fateful trip to Eden, would he have turned out like Scar? Happy, carefree, dreaming of a world in which he could build towering structures? If he hadn't been so desperate to prove himself, to keep the only 'friends' he had, what would he have been like?
No point in thinking of that now. Bitter words tasted like sour candy in his mouth, and Grian let out a quiet sigh. Stretching out his wings, he felt the wind buffet against him as he slowly began their descent to the temple. Landing gently on soft grass, Grian gazed up at the temple for a moment before leading Scar in.
They briefly split to light the candles on either side of the temple before lighting the door, and stepping into the elder spirit's room. It was a simple matter to light the candle placed at the shrine and watch as the door opened with a loud rumble, to stifle soft laughter at Scar's enthusiastic interest in the workings of the door. Then Scar was taking Grian's hand again, and they were off once more into the sky.
Scar let out an excited woop as they soared over the clouds, stretching his arms out as far as they could go. He didn't let go of Grian's hand, and the warmth was a welcome one. Despite the clouds, the air currents were easy to navigate, and to Grian flying was second nature. “Have you flown with others before?” he asked, his voice cutting through the wind.
Scar glanced up at him, white hair whipping around and blowing in his face. “Huh? Uhh, yeah, a couple times! Mostly by myself though, or just following someone. It's fun!”
Grian laughed alongside Scar this time, shaking his own pale hair back. “Yeah. Ever fly with moths?”
Scar gasped melodramatically, the sound almost lost completely to the wind. “Nooo, never.” His voice turned sheepish. “I tend to avoid moths. Don't want them thinking I'm a good role model, now! If I helped guide them, you'd see a lot more people smashing head first into walls.”
Grian snorted. “Yeah, not many people wanna deal with moths. I know those who will help out when they can, if they see someone struggling for light in the hidden forest, but when it comes to actually guiding them? Taking them through the Wastelands or Eden? Yeah, they're running away faster than you can offer your light.”
“Exactly!” Scar's wings fluttered as they began to descend, tucking in a little closer to help reduce their air resistance. Once they were close to the ground, Scar spread his wings when Grian did, slowing their descent so that the landing was soft. “Hey, we make a good team!”
Grian's wings fluttered into place as he took in a deep breath, turning his face toward the sun. After a moment, he snapped out of his trance and glanced over at Scar before leading them down the worn path. “I didn't have to yell at you to not slam yourself face first into the ground. That's a plus in my book.” His tone was light hearted and teasing, but there was an air of relief around him.
Scar waved his hand, tutting softly. “Pshaw, do I really look like someone who would– uh oh–!” Before he could even finish his sentence, he tripped over a rock, let go of Grian's hand, and fell face first into the grass. “...don't. Don't you start–”
Grian had to hold back laughter as he helped Scar up, silent as his shoulders shook. “You have to admit,” he began, his voice shaking from contained laughter, “that was quite the comedic timing on your part.” He almost lost it at the way Scar huffed and crossed his arms. “Oh, come on, don't be like that!”
Scar turned away slightly, grumbling loudly. “How am I supposed to have a sense of pride in these conditions?” he complained, though his tone made it clear he wasn't actually upset. “The spirits must have something against me. You know, I bet they were talkin' to themselves, saying how 'oh, it would be super funny if Scar tripped and fell!' Well, I hope it was! I hope they're all laughing!” Scar spread his arms as though he were pleading to the sky. “Oh, dear ancestors, why have you forsaken me?!”
At that, Grian could not hold back his laughter. He bent over, clutching his sides as he howled with amusement. “Scar!” he got out, gasping for breaths in between laughing fits, “Scar, it's not– I promise you, the ancestor spirits do not hate you. Oh my– oh my goodness, okay. Oh, man…” He straightened back up, running a hand through his hair as some leftover giggles worked their way out. “You're a dramatic one, aren't you?”
“You know it!” Scar's exclamation was every bit of pride, and he once more struck a heroic pose, putting his hands on his hips and taking a wide stance. “Drama's what they call me back home.”
Grian tilted his head slightly, offering his hand again. “And where is home, exactly?” Despite trying to put on an air of casual indifference, Grian was curious. Where has someone like Scar come from? Were there others like him? What was his life like? Grian found himself unusually intrigued by his new companion, and he really wanted to know more.
The answer was a slightly disappointing one, though it was common. Scar simply shrugged. “Wherever the wind takes me!” he said, taking Grian's hand and making sure to watch where he was walking.
“Hear, hear,” Grian mumbled, and that was the last of that conversation.
Their time in the prairie was spent, for the most part, collecting winged light, candles, exploring the area, and talking. Given that they were going to be traveling together for the next spirits know how long, the more they knew about each other the better. More for them to relate to, more for them to talk about. Silence was a traveler's greatest enemy, after all.
Of course, Grian got sidetracked once or twice when a moth asked him for help– he had always been too kind for his own good. Nevertheless, it was a successful trip, and Grian found that he had laughed more that day than he had in a while. When they both began to grow tired, Grian suggested that they go to the Sanctuary Islands to rest and recover, which Scar happily agreed with.
“Oh man, let me tell you. The first time I came here I was all like 'woah, this is so cool, I'm gonna fly around here forever' but it's just so peaceful that all I wanted to do was lay down in the sand and sleep.” Scar glanced over at Grian, who was relaxing in the white chair next to him. “Do you come here often?”
Grian hummed softly. “It really depends on if I'm with a moth or not. Most of the time I am, so then it's a question of whether or not the moth has the patience to gather four spirits. Sometimes they do, a lot of the times they just want to run straight ahead for the next area.” He chuckled. “I've learned not to push it with those types. Little speedsters, that lot.”
“So you've just made it your job to guide moths, then?” Scar shifted so that his elbows were resting on one arm of the chair, leaning closer to Grian. “What made you choose to do that?”
Grian's steady breathing hitched ever-so-slightly, unnoticeably, and if Scar had been looking closely, he would've noticed how Grian briefly tensed up. “Oh, you know.” His voice was a little more strained when he spoke, though he hid it with practiced ease. “I don't want some fresh faced moth to get caught up with some not so nice people. And besides, I have plenty of time on my hands! I've done… pretty much everything there is to do.” He tried to ignore how he sounded a little sad with that last statement.
Shaking his head, Grian turned to Scar. “What do you do, Mister Drama? What areas do you frequent?”
Scar sat back in his chair with a big sigh. “Oh, y'know! The usual, really. I pretty much just stick to the Isle of Dawn and the prairie… sometimes I go into the wasteland but…” He sat up and turned to show Grian the back of his wings and the few light marks that ran down the middle. “It usually doesn't end very well. You'd think I'd learn to dodge. Or run. Or, well, not get seen by the krill in the first place but–!” He stretched out as he leaned back into his chair. “Just another learning experience.”
Grian nodded, gazing off into the distance as a light creature breached from the water, soaring into the sky before arcing gracefully back into the waves. “Learning experience indeed.”
Silence may have been a traveler's worst enemy, but the silence that sat between Scar and Grian was a comfortable one. There would be time for noise later, but for now, it was time to rest.
And so, the sun set, marking an end to the day that would forever change the course of their flight.
Joel was going to die first. Joel was gonna sacrifice himself for Jimmy, so Jimmy could break the curse
JOEL DIED IN THE SAME PLACE, WITHIN A TEN BLOCK RADIUS OR SO, AS JIMMY
im going to be sick are you . JOKING? are you joking right now. i want to cry. someone fucking hold my bread boys
Joel, being willing to go first just so Jimmy didn't have too
Grian: "No Skizz, you've got friends -- Skizz, your friends are still alive. Mine are dying or dead." Grian, despite already "accepting" that Joel is going to die, insisting Joel takes lives from him. Describing how "Jimmy dying has kind of got an adverse effect on him"
my. god. i did NOT fucking think. that Bad Boys would be so fucking sad. Sad Boys for life dear god
I am thinking about the way Grian grieves, specifically in Limited Life after Jimmy and Joel’s deaths and in the hc x esmp crossover after Emperor!Grumbot was killed.
That immediate response of utter devastation - screaming his pain to the universe… only to immediately deflect with a joke about how he was evil anyway, it was his own stupidity, he had started going a bit insane.
It’s the way he only allows himself a single moment of unfiltered pain before he hides it all away. He guards himself so closely, only letting what he can’t contain slip through.
And I just find that absolutely fascinating in the context of the Life series specifically. After all, why would he show his pain? He knows better than anyone that negative emotions are exactly what the Watchers want. And he never was one to play by the rules of others, was he?
I said it once and now I can't stop thinking about everyone in Limited Life just being kids on a playground
They all have different curfews, and their clock runs out when they need to go home
Scott found a puddle and is making a very pretty mud-castle
Pearl and BigB are playing spies, sneaking up on everyone and watching them through the bushes. Pearl brought her cat from home, and BigB keeps finding and carrying around frogs
The TIES are trying to make a shelter for some bugs they found (probably slugs or caterpillars or smth). They have lost track of every bug they found (except for one, which Joel stomped on), and are constantly searching for more
Entertainment mountain is a giant boulder that the Clockers are playing house on. Cleo was declared Mom because she is the tallest out of the entertainers, and because she keeps yelling at Scar to put his shirt back on
Scar has a bunch of erasers and bracelets and stuff from the school store that he keeps trying to trade with everyone
The Bad Boys claimed the playground as their territory. They all have kiddie sunglasses. Joel's are too big for him and slip down his nose.
Cleo declares a game of The Floor is Lava every time the Bad Boys annoy her.
Boogeyman curse is a game of tag
The Bad Boys made Bad Boys Bread Bridge out of everyone's lunchboxes. They hopped on the lunchboxes during The Floor is Lava so Joel could tag one of the Clockers
Skizz and Bdubs' fight was an actual fistfight. Skizz tapped Bdubs once and was declared winner
Lotte (BabyPegacorn) @baby-pegacorn - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
