#jellyfishflan

[kitty-bandit]

Look what arrived in the mail!!!

Thank you, @jellyfishflan !! Your art is always so lovely!!

[nea-writes]

Hi! I've got an AU ask for Linkllen week: If Prince Neah goes missing and needs a double until he's found, how does his attendant/personal guard Link do in making a nearly identical commoner, Allen, a convincing Neah? Allen may or may not have been coerced into playing this part by a royal advisor. Link's main assignment is to make Allen pass for the prince at an upcoming ball to be attended by the royal court and nobles from neighboring countries. (pls disregard this if it's uninteresting;;)

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE THIS 

rubs m hands all over it, im absolutely going to take this, thank you

I had so many thoughts for this at once that it overloaded and now I can’t focus on a single one aside from (read for more)

“You don’t know how to dance?”

“Of course not, Link. When would I have had the chance to learn?”

“You don’t know how to dance?”

“Of course not, Link. When would I have had the chance to learn?”

Allen’s defensive, which is fair enough since Link came at the question with such incredulity. He holds back a sigh and eyes Allen up and down, trying to ascertain where they should even begin. “…if you know nothing, then starting you from scratch is easier than having you unlearn terrible habits. Perhaps it’s for the best. Then, shall we start?”

Allen blinks, eyes wide and mouth slack with not only hesitance, but disbelief. “You’re going to teach me?”

Link scowls. “I’m perfectly capable of not only dancing the waltz and other ballroom styles, but also of teaching it. Come here, Walker.”

With less confidence in his steps than Link would like, Allen crosses the short distance, stopping short of Link. His eyes flutter from Link’s, to his hands, across the room and then back. Then, with a settling breath, Allen dispels his nerves and meets Link’s steady gaze with resolve. “Prove it, then.”

It’s another test, one of the endless many Allen keeps subjecting Link to. He never quite knows if he passes or fails, or even what the tests are for, but there’s something weighty in Allen’s gaze, something indecipherable and heavy when it falls on Link. Lifting one hand shoulder level, Link reaches and, shoving down the brief flutter of hesitation in the vicinity of his chest, grasps Allen’s waist with his other hand, pulling him closer.

It was too rough and Allen stumbles forward, catching himself just short of falling on Link’s chest. “Relax, Walker,” Link grits out, squeezing the hand he holds. “No one’s watching.”

“That’s the problem,” Allen mutters to his feet before drawing himself up square. “I don’t suppose you’ll be dancing the woman’s part?”

Link almost quirks a smile. “Let’s figure out the steps before moving forward.” Then, with a repetitive one two three four— Link pushes Allen backward, guiding him slowly through the proper steps.

Despite how utterly frustrating Allen could be with his lies and misdirection, he’s quite good when given a task to focus on. It takes little to no time before Allen catches onto the four-step, leagues better than it took him to understand basic grammar. 

“There we go,” Link murmurs, watching Allen’s feet as they glide through the rhythm. 

Then, he makes the mistake of glancing up.

Allen’s watching Link.

Link falters, eyes catching on Allen’s storm cloud gray ones. 

“Link,” Allen says.

Before he can reply — nothing, there’s absolutely nothing on his mind, thoughts gone and all he can think is how gray, how deep, how soft Allen’s eyes are — the door to the ballroom slams open.

Link stiffens and immediately pulls away, finally breaking whatever had been building between them.

That aside, there’s so much to delve into here.

Dining manners, fine eating, the names of nobles, family members, current politics, how to dance, how to talk, how to walk (laugh). Then, there’s even Neah’s mannerisms Allen would have to learn.

It’s alarming how quickly Allen catches onto Neah’s personality.

Link had been by Neah’s side for years now, but even he still questions Neah’s motives for why he does what he does.

Allen, however, is right on the nose.

He smiles, frighteningly like Neah, and Link feels his heart in his throat, roaring in his ears. This isn’t Allen. It’s as if he’s somehow breathed Neah to life, replaced all of himself until all that remains is the wicked grin of the prince Link had served. 

“Link,” Neah demands, smile curling and sharp, “don’t tell me you’re going soft on me now, after all these years?”

“Never,” Link says, tongue numb, lips moving to a rote. 

“Good,” Neah is glittering, like he’s been given all he ever wanted, like he’s got the world cradled in his palm. “Prove it, then.”

Neah holds his hand out, fingers almost curling with indolence, and Link barely thinks before he’s kneeling, grasping Neah’s hand, fingers curling around his, and kissing the back of it tenderly. 

“I see,” Link hears whispered above him. “No wonder he nearly stayed.”

When Link glaces up, whatever doubt, fear, hesitance, that had tainted his voice before is gone, expression cleared. 

It almost feels as if he lost Allen.

It’d be a story like the prince and the pauper. Neah meets Allen, his nearly twin, and runs away for a taste of freedom. Allen takes his spot, but the longer he stays, the harder it’ll be the leave. He’d never expected to grow attached to Link, or the noah, or the life with the fine dining, good food, soft sheets and softer bed, to the man kneeling before him with his lips against the back of his hand. Allen’s too soft and Neah’s a fool to think he could’ve held himself above it all.

THIS GOT P LONG LOL but I LOVE THE IDEA thank you bianca, this is beautiful. I hope I understood the au the way you intended it,,,

[faeriexprince]

Changing Paths

Title: Changing Paths. Fandom: D. Gray-Man. Characters: Howard Link, Allen Walker. Words: 2.3K Summary: Link was just trying to get through the woods. But these woods are enchanted, and the path keeps changing. Maybe a faerie can help him find his way. Fantasy/Faerie AU.  Gift for @jellyfishflan. Excerpt:

“Wait!” The faerie started, as he stood.   He stumbled a little, probably from the effect of the iron having been on his leg, but caught up to Link. Link turned, eyes wary.  “What?” “I owe you a favor.” Link raised an eyebrow.  “A favor?” The faerie nodded.  “Yeah!  You know, it’s sort of faerie law – if someone does something good for us, we have to do something for them,” He explained, as he smiled.   Link paused.  He’d heard about this faerie law, but hadn’t known anyone to have ever engaged in it before.   What if there was a catch?

Read on AO3.

[kitty-bandit]

I already posted this on twitter, but thank you so much @jellyfishflan for the lovely Halloween postcard (and extra cards)!

I brought these in to work today and will find a nice place to hang them in my cubicle (aka weeb central).

[nea-writes]

jellyfishflan replied to your post “Hi! I've got an AU ask for Linkllen week: If Prince Neah goes missing...”

AAAAA THIS IS AMAZING so much more of a response than I'd hoped for lol. I've read it over 5 times now-- I'm so happy you like it! XD

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IM SO HAPPY??? YOU LIKE IT,,,,, THANK YOU FOR THE ASK

this is such a good au idea and I have so many thoughts for it. So many ‘accidents’ where Link’s touch on Allen’s shoulder lingers too long, or Allen breaks character to say something to Link, their own little inside joke,

And of course the eventual conflict when Neah returns and Allen must leave. ITS A GREAT IDEA BIANCA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT!!!!

[tifazine]

🌟[contributor spotlight] ✨ JELLYFISHFLAN ​🐬

As one of our illustrators, we are so grateful to have them in our zine. 💙Visit their social media for more great work!

[kitty-bandit]

jellyfishflan replied to your post: Between the Stacks

💖💖💖

(๑・ω-)～♥”

[spiccanart]

@jellyfishflan

Ooh, the scissors is a great touch!

Feel better soon! D:

Thank you..! I hit my head against the wall for a minute before giving up and accepting my fate. That didn’t really improve my sunken mood but your messages did, thank you for that <3 I do feel better now.