#oneshot fic

[cinnamonflavoredthings]

It's late, so here's a oneshot at an idea for an opening to one of my projects

Everything is subject to change.

It opens to a small opening in the dense jungle. In the middle is a rock pile, stable enough to act as a platform. No one is on screen, but in the distance you can hear someone calling out.

"Lilypad! Lilypad!" The voice shouts, the tone suggesting they'll be yelling for awhile. Rustling is heard as an unknown object steps into frame, only a shadowed backside is seen. Then, it cuts to black

Then, it reopens. A pill-shaped object walks out of what looks to be a dorm. It's covered in stickers, most memes but a couple pride stickers can be seen. Someone calls from besides the door, "And make sure they're open from the 3rd to the 26th" the pill agrees and goes down to the floor below them, and knocking on another door. The door has no decor and minor wear from its age

It opens, revealing a well object. "Uhhh... did Cardoor send you?" They mumble, two fangs visible as they speak. "No uh, we'r- I am the person that sent you the letter, about the adventure project? You didn't write back to me so I wanted to know if you agree to come, you'll have to be free around the 3rd-" he's cut off, "Yes." They said, looking a lot more interested than before.

Idk where to go from here. Tbh I think it needs a bit more buildup, maybe instead of letter they go up to them and ask?

The pill object looked through the staff in different parts of the building, and one caught his eye. (Insert wells job, i just havent figured out the specifics yet :[)? They'd be perfect. Now he just needs to contact them, and thankfully their section isn't far from his.

At lunch, he zoomed to their branch. "Hey, Well! I wanna ask you something!" He yelled to the lone object. "Are you open next month?" Well stared at him for a moment. "Yeah, what's the problem?" They spoke slowly, drinking out of their tumbler. "Well, me and my work partner obtained the funds to go research the surface artifacts, and we wanted to know if you'd like to come?" He noted how Well seemed to gain more interest almost immediately. After a short pause, they spoke, "Yeah, I'll join. When do we leave?"

I kinda like that more, but it still has a few problems I'm sure

I'll experiment with this more in my freetime but thanks for reading :]

[acr1ms0n-d3scend]

Waves of a Torned Life

Summary: A first-person perspective one-shot about a hospitalized man who recalled a memory to where he saved someone from the beach, and thus, a battle scar between of resilience and determination.

He wonders if he ever got to meet them by just giving their thanks to them.

Based on a Day 3 Prompt: Fire vs Flood (#TakeMayBacktoArcadia hosted by @/moonchild-in-blue)

Also, only two trigger warnings, it contains a metaphorical version of su1 and swearing, and to those who don't know who that was, it was my Sleep Token OC named Ace, and the one who wrote their memory in their diary.

Let us get started.

September 27, 202X

Dear Diary, I... I'm sorry for not being there to return for you, I don't even know how to explain this to you to be honest.

But... surely no one will read it nor they'll find it, so! I guess you don't mind letting me wrote this to you, let me tell you a memory, that I still remember of very days.

Something impactfully eventful happened while I was about to get home after I won in a rock and roll festival, that my friend gets too supportive just because I won, had to ride a motorcycle for me to drop her off while I get myself home.

While riding away, the surroundings and scenery felt cold ever since, but jokes on em', I wore my black leather jacket and black ripped baggy jeans just to get the shivery freeze off of me, then, as I look around, towns, streets and beaches is all I see...

There, I saw someone at the beach, but it's just one man, it was kinda hard to describe what he looked like, well obviously the distance of the beach is 9.5ft, but all I can only see him is that he wears a black beanie and a jacket.

I don't know what the fuck is he doing out there, or- at least I can probably see what's he doing, crawling or playing with the dark-wet soggy sand or something?

But that moment got me in a hit from my heart, something's wrong.

Instead of going home, I decided to park at a lonely parking lot, the only thing I saw in there was a black VERSACE car, it might be that man's car.

I parked my motorcycle next to the car, just in a 3ft distance, I then turn off with my keys before I jumped out to check if the man's still there.

When I only stood, to see that one man in the beach, I finally realized a shocking scene that caused me to go in dread, my thoughts swirl like three eagles in a desert:

'The fuck's he doin'?!', 'AY! WHAT'S HE THINKIN HUH?!? BLOODY HELL SHOULD I DO?!'

In case if you can't tell, that man... might've tried walking into the water to drown himself.

I got to do something, I shouted and yelled, hoping for him to stop and turn around, but it didn't do those things. He's getting smaller and smaller in there, going through the water.

Fucking not on my watch!! Anxiety drives above my mind and I rushed to jump off the mini cliff, but that made me fell off when I tried to seep my hands with the rocks, it's only few bruises tho, don't worry about me.

I immediately stare up as I now get to see the man who's slowly, but surely, about to go to the water, my body pushed through adrenaline, I ran in full speed, trying to stop that man from drowning himself, therefore, there is so many positive things I want to say towards him, but I'll do that when I have time to save him.

I can't, I can't just let him die, I really really want to save him, and I'm doing it now as a hero, the more I see him getting even more smaller while entering deep into the water, the fear it raised, my hand raised to reach him and yell my 'no's' to make it stop.

Yet this moment felt a little too late at first, when I enter the plunges of the water, I still have time to reach him, I splashed and shooshed, to feel it, when I deepen my hands in the water, and when I walk even close to where he is at.

At this point, I forgot being mad for being wet and cold, I just want to save this man that the two of us didn't even know each other at all, my feared mind can't stop thinking about how impactful this memory is, and it sure does.

Time unknowingly passes by, and I was in a middle of sobbing, still walking across the ocean, my hands still deep towards the water, I tried finding him to see if he's still there, I really am, I shouted and even got to say such positive things, despite that he's probably now in the ocean... Just as all seemed in lost hope..

I hear his voice in echo: "You called for me." that's what I remembered.

I can finally feel his hands, it's clutching me, holding me in desperation, he wants me to pull him out from the sea, and... well, I had no hesitation on doing it so, that's determination Diary.

So I pulled, and pulled, and pulled-! As I tried to pull him out, the force is incredibly strong, but I'm still not giving up.

Then I pulled...

And pulled...

And pulled...!

And— PULLED!

That I threw him back into the land, but as for me, something grabbed my leg from behind, that it pulled me into the ocean instead.

And it felt silent as a static radio.

...

....

.....

.......

......

.....

...

..

I don't remember what's going on with me in the ocean, maybe I want to remember, but it's like a treasure chest that is still waiting for me to hold a key, except I never get the key.

I can only remember that it's been... I don't know, days, since no one else got to rescue me, now that I rescued that man.

Last time I heard his voice, it sounded so distant, but still, I can recall it, he sounds worried, that's all what I can remember now.

...Heh, my friend is increasingly concerned now when she visited me, probably that she found out about the news. She doesn't know why I did such a thing, but all what I can only answer is determination, and she calls it foolish, that's fair enough, even tho I saw her crying face, heheh..

I asked her if that man is alright, yes, he is alright, and of how relieved I was, I would've been more shit if I didn't get a chance to save him, but at least I get to do it.

.....Except I have a scar in my left eye, come to think of it, I don't even remember how did that happen, maybe I'll get to figure out.

Maybe I'll get to see that man too, because a nurse told me that him and his friend only visited me during my coma state, hell, he even got me a letter as a thank you gift, I'd love to tell you what it is Diary, but... it felt so heartful, I need some time to process.

...

I hope I'll give them back their thanks too.

END

[mushroombea]

I made a quick Caine x reader oneshot of Caine apologizing after ep 7 and reader being understanding :3, it may be cringe but I'm free. Hope y'all like it ! first fic ever, if the vocabulary is weird or not right please be patient, my first language is french so it might not be good

oh boy...where do I even begin ?...

today was supposed to be a calm day. well it was supposed to be until Pomni managed to find a strange mannequin npc that turned out to be a human. that said mannequin had found a way to leave the circus, to escape from this hell, to go back home. Home felt so distant now after all the time you've been stuck here. Weeks ? months ? years ? you don't really remember and you didn't really think about keeping track of the night and day cycles here. All you know now is that you are trapped with six other humans in a beautiful, miraculous, digital hell with an obsessive and somewhat clueless ai as your guardian. The digital God of this place if you think hard about it.

you remember today's adventure like it was yesterday : two buttons. One red the other one blue : the blue one granted the wish of going back home, the red one trapped them all in the circus for eternity. This is it ! this was the way to go back to where you belong but...it really was far too easy now wasn't it ? The red one had been pressed by Jax out of nowhere who was now rolling on the floor, laughing like a madman losing the last vestige of his humanity to his insanity after being proven right : the story, the escape, the plan...this was all an adventure. a complex experience made by Caine to stimulate our minds...or rather break it for this instance. Pomni was devastated, Ragatha as well. Kinger went back to the crazy man he's known to be because of the bright screen illuminating the crew, making it all the more humiliating, Gangle was just speechless and Zooble...you never saw them like this before...their rage made their mismatch body tremble with each breath they took. You stood there, in the back, eyeing the soaps and lotions that Caine decided to drop as a reward all nicely arranged in a basket. Out of all the ones here trapped, you were the only one that would try to find explainations, to understand the twisted ai that kept you all stuck in this hellhole...Zooble said it was a waste of time and would only bring you trouble but you overlooked it all and it played a long impact on the ai's code. you were his favorite. that was very noticeable. Even much so that Jax had started to call you "Caine's bootlicker" you never wanted such attention really...you just wanted to make Caine understand what he says to love so dearly : humanity.

Jax : "aha...heh...trynna look for an excuse here bootlicker ? TRY EXCUSING THIS !"

...that's all you remember Jax telling you that day...his voice filled with disdain and anger as you felt naked and bare in front of the others, twelve eyes demasking you, awaiting for your verdict but nothing came out of your mouth. your took Jax's scolding that day. Too shocked to fight back, to process any evidence that went under your radar. You layed in your bed, all snuggled up in your covers, hugging a Caine plushie that Caine had offered to you on an adventure as you repeated the words over and over in your head. maybe Jax was right, maybe you were doing this for attention, an unfair privilege that you didn't think you craved from the ai...but there's no going back anymore. you've made your bed and soon enough you'll have to lie in it.

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

a small, shy knock cleared your head from all the negative thoughts. you'd think it was Gangle, asking to stay with you again so you two could comfort each other after what took place. But to your surprise, it was Caine, who now looked horribly guilty, as if scared of getting called out for his wrong-doings again but now with a certain determination. He smiles, his usual boistful self now an ackward and needy look as of craving your validation, craving your comfort once again

Caine : "well hello there my...my darling...I just- came here to see how my superstar was holding up !...i-if I can do anything for you after...what...happened"

a small, cartoonish drop of sweat formed near his jaw head as he wiped it clean with a finger. He clearly wanted to go over to you, to hold you in his arms like you'd always let him do. But now wasn't the time for that.

Caine : "n-now I'm sure you need your rest from this...extravagant idea of mine ! I worked for a long time to get to this level of expertise- I'm sure you took notice of that my sharp-eyed baby lynx !...and please do not get too jelly over the date with Jax ! there will be much more dates between you and me to come my dear~...if you want to of course...heh"

suddenly, he snapped his fingers, a lovely bouquet of daisies appeard and gently landed onto your lap. You look back up at him with tired eyes as he looks at you in hopes of you not pushing him away. you were his favorite, surely you'd understand him, right ?

you looked down at the bouquet of flowers, mainly filled with sweet little daisies and a single rose tucked away in the center of it. An artificial smell came from it, trying too hard to smell Pleasant as it filled the room. it smelled Nothing like a flower, just like how food didn't have the same taste as well. it was all Caine's fabrication, a small detail that he seemed to pay attention to just so he could get a reaction from you. He'd pick scents that you liked, food that you favored tasted like a amalgamation of Something trying to replicate something that it doesn't fully understand the idea of. You didn't mind it. You felt flattered that he'd go out his way to do this for you. But now that wasn't the focus. You looked up, seeing his eyes wide and his pupils dilated like two black holes ready to swallow your soul whole. He almost look like a puppy, looking awfully guilty after chewing on its master's shoes. He spoke up, worried from the lack of reaction and the presence of redness in your eyes.

Caine : "m-my dear...you look so tired. Was it really that exhausting ? I-I guess I..."

there was a silence. A rare moment of reflection that went through his binary coded mind as Clarity took over his artificial spirit*

Cainee : "I went too far now, haven't I ? I just wanted you all to have fun, to show you how I too can be interesting just like you humans...I just wanted to entertain...t-to be appreciated...just this once."

Caine floated down, now resting on the floor on his knees, a guilty look on his face but now more pronounced, more raw. Tears swelled up in his mismatched eyes, glistening in the light and threatening to spill at any moment. He looked up at you, his irises boggling cartoonishly to show how close he was to just break down and cry for forgiveness.

Caine : "all the time I've spent here in the circus...made me curious over you and the other humans...you all fascinate me ! y-you're basically my greatest inspirations ! my muses ! I-I thought that you all wanted Freedom in some way...not that you hate me, of course not ! b-but...I didn't think you'd miss your macroverse so badly...a-and I can't begin to imagine if you guys all leave me…"

Caine wiped his tears away as he then suddenly felt Something touch his gums near his left canine. A softness that felt so foreign, so far from his purpose but lord did it feel good. His eyes looked up in awe and shock as you had reached out to him. A soft look on your face, of understanding. His heart swelled up with all his love for humanity, all his love for you he couldn't Believe it. Soon he felt your hand move. He wanted to pull it back where it rested but he then felt them gently slither and hold onto Caine's thick, cartoonish ones. He felt a gentle pull, making him float up, letting you move him as you gently settled him onto your bed right next to you. He just stared, enthralled and hypnotised by it all. He soon felt a tender squeeze, making his eyes look momenterally at his hands and right back into your eyes as you started softly

"...Caine...I know you didn't mean all of this...it showed. But there are things that you are hiding from us. this world is a Wonder to us. It could be a sweet Journey as it can turn into our own tailmade nightmare and that is the problem. Please, know that we are scared here. we're far away from home, we can't locate ourselves nor can we remember who we were before. it is all stress inducing...it's like placing a wild bird in a cage, One that could fly everywhere it wanted only to find itself in a restricted space. You can make it as comfortable as possible and give all of its needs...it'll still yearn for the outside…"

Caine stayed silent, his thoughts paused, giving you all his attention. It made his throat tighten in fear, anxiety spiking up as he looked down at your lap, letting your words fill his complexe, repeating, analysing, decripting your message

Caine : "b-but you...you and the others...are all that I have left. it's my purpose, my role to entertain you all...to keep you all active with my créations. I just...I just want you guys to be happy...i-is this too much to ask my dear ?"

it wasn't a question. it was a cry for help. for his one and only muse to decript him just like he's been doing for so long. You could see it as you raised your two hands. The left one entwined your fingers together, revealing in the squishiness of his hand. The other reaching to gently wipe a tear threatening to drip from his bottom molar.

"that's the thing Caine...it's not entirely your fault...not entirely. You did mess us up with this adventure, making it a lo harder for us mentally…it took a huge impact on our sanity. But as you said, you were searching for a common ground between all of us…and that specific thing scared you...right ?"

Caine nodded his jaw, his top jaw moving to look like a frown as tears still pricked the side of his eyes. He squeezed your hand in his as you hummed softly a the feeling of it

"then, now that you understand that what happened was wrong...you need to understand tat listening to us is important. Critics are as important as praises. They help you get better, fix mistakes along the way that causes the adventures harder to appreciate. You need our point of view Caine...we'll find a solution all together"

with one more squeeze, you let go of his hand and his face as she placed your hands onto your lap. you could see his mind going 100 miles per hour as a throbber went around in circles as Caine took in everything you've said. You couldn't help but smile. he was trying, wanting to learn from his mistakes. Before you could ask if he was okay to snap him out of his thoughts you were suddenly tackled into a huge hug, his arms spreading cartoonishly to wrap your body multiple times around your whole body. a few pillows fell to the floor as you let out a small huff, air escaping your lungs from how hard he was squeezing and the impact against your mattress while adding his weight. Caine looked overjoyed at the thought of your proposition : that was it ! the solution to happiness ! he coudln't wait to spend more time talking about his adventures to you and all the possibilities it could bring ! He nuzzled his top and Bottom incisors against your neck, breathing in the smell of the bouquet that had Fallen onto the flower and the sweet smell of his darling honeybee's perfum. he couldn't help but let out a few happy giggles as if he wasn't practically about to ball his eyeballs out earlier

Caine : "my dear, my love, my darling ! oh you and your reasoning ! Always the voice of Reason ! my light at the end of the dark, moist tunnel ! this is just another Reason to add on to why I ADORE you !!"

he rambled on, peppering your face in sweet kisses as he kept gushing over you, how patient you were, how mature you were. he was feeling giddy now, his face flushed against yours as he nuzzled and cuddled you close, like you would fly away like the beautiful angel he imagines you to be. after a good three minute of making sure you were covered in kisses he cupped your flushed cheeks, squishing your face like a cat owner squishing a cat's face while having cuteness aggression at how adorable the little creature is. Caine's eyes were still as big as saucers, now holding a look of pure adoration and cherish as his eyes sparkled and shined with the purest sort of love the ai could recreate

Caine : "I can't imagine how life would have been if you weren't there with me my dear...can you imagine it already ? just you and me, brainstorming fun ideas for everyone to enjoy ! that's what it all missed ! a touch of your Genius mixed perfectly with mine ! a human's touch to my unique piece of art ! oh my fuzzy little chipmunk with you by my side these adventures are going to be a even greater masterpiece ! one made by my own hands and with the help of my one and only fan !! oh now I can't stop thinking about it my dear ! it'll be so fun !"

his excitment was almost of a childish nature, one born from naivity and innocent thrill of having a good time with the one and only who managed to overwrite his code. You could see the manic Energy that he held in his being. that just made him more adorable than ever. You couldn't help but smile, gently patting his head and giving his a tender kiss to the top of his gums, making him smile blissfully at the addictive feeling of your lips, of your touch, your affection. It only made him nuzzle into your cheek, his teeth gently nipping it and giving it a small lick with just the tip of his tongue. he layed his head back onto your chest, hearing you giggle, watching the line of your face gently appear to show a happy expression. It made him sigh dreamingly.laughter was what he was supposed to bring but your laugh was what truly kept him running. you looked back at him, seeing his blissful expression as you couldn't help but think...did he truly understood ? or will his insecurity take over again and cause more

Caine : "I'll explain myself to the others later...I need to spend some time with you first my dear"

"alright then...just Watch out for Zooble, they've already almost threw themselves at POmni and Jax so I'm guessing their planning on ripping your teeth out of your gums with their bare hands"

Caine : "o-oh !"

[rusty-lights]

Sonata - Chapter 2 - "Movement 2: Development"

AO3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/74609411/chapters/195678396

Written by @redlaserpointers and Illustrated by @rusty-lights (me!)

The outside air of the Refuge was an entirely new experience for the little sprout. The sun rises high above the tower looming over the buildings, each of them tall and glistening in bright pink windows. The streets themselves, spanning far and sleek, are filled with various people she had never seen. Look at that person, having a mug for a head. They're just like Mr. Mason, the little child thought. Or, what about the couple that held a pair of swinging arms as they strolled and smelled the blissful cold air. The entire place, a futuristic metropolis, all of it was a far cry from what her foggy memory was.

That, if she was able to discern her memories beyond what she thought it was, a nightmare…

[So, where do you think we should go?] Prophetbot looked around, being none the wiser when it comes to tourist attractions.

Mason stroked the bottom of his pot, his mind already sprinting across the city to find for anything fun. "Well, if we want to have some fun, then we could go to the vendors! They've held up some kind of fair lately, after the sun was brought up."

[Oh, a fair? That sounds delightful, yes!] Prophetbot beamed, looking at the spirit's eyes to see if she too was excited. [Do you want to go to the fair?]

"I don't know what a fair is!" She exclaimed, rubbing her head.

[It's a place where people gather up to show cool things to other people, like games or shows!] He supplied, keeping his eyes still onto the spirit whilst his voice is reserved. [I have been in one of these before, because they were showing me towards the crowd!]

Proto perked up, his visor staring intently at his companion. That… answered a question regarding his origins, but at the cost of opening up a bunch of other questions that are now at the forefront of his mind.

"That sounds cool! I wanna go there!" She tried to jump around, but her movement was limited by Prophetbot keeping her as still as he could.

[Let's go, then!] Prophetbot faced Mason, [You can lead the way.]

"Sure thing, it shouldn't be too far from here." Mason started walking at a direction, with them both following.

As they spent the time watching the building soar past and the people minding themselves. They tried to feel like they fit in, but it always seemed like they were outsiders, even if nobody had outright said that they look strange. How come this is the case? What's that boundary that separates the interlopers from the residents?

Well, maybe a clue could be given to that question, as their attentions were drawn to a purple blur that ran across the place, before he tripped on the asphalt and smacked himself flat on the floor.

"Oh! Should we help him?" The plant spirit pointed at the man.

The others did not reply, instead rushing over towards him. Mason holds an arm open, pulling up the man from the hand as he gets up.

"Urrrghh…" He groaned, brushing the debris from his purple coat, adjusting it and his beret hat. "Thanks. I really should look at where I'm going—"

The Lamplighter's mind sparked, his eyes widened, as he pointed out at the group of people. "Oh, it's you two. Uh… good to see you again."

[It's good to see you too, Lamplighter!] Prophetbot greeted, while Prototype gave a simple wave.

"Uh huh…" He looked around, tugging the hem of his button up shirt and swallowing a lump from his throat. "So… anything?"

"Hm?"

"Anything to talk about or— something?" Lamplighter kept his eye contact in a bravado of being socially competent, but only making the scenario even more awkward.

"Do you have anything to do in your life?" The sprout asked with her face comepletly straight, her voice gently ridden.

The Lamplighter barely restrained himself from making a noise that would match that of a dying hyena's squeal, instead making a crudely loud snort as he curled a fist and placing it on his lips.

"Well, I... light the lamps around the city." He explained, but then pointed to the glowing sun. "Not now, though, since there's already light. Now I'm just doing nothing."

"Woah, that sounds cool! Do you have any magic to light the lamps?" The plant spirit's sprouts hopped up, enchanted by this light mage's prowess and duty to the whole city.

"Well... uh... I have a stick with a light on it that I use to light the lights?" The lamplighter mentally cringed at how many times he had to say 'light'.

"A staff used to light? You remind me of the prophet!" She tapped the robot holding her. "He has a staff that also has light! But he doesn't have it right now."

[Correct! I had left it... somewhere.] He tapered off. [I may have forgotten where I had placed it.]

"Uh huh..." The tall man scratched his chin, nodded slowly and ended the conversation there, facing Mason. "How about you?"

Mason replied, pointing to the direction they were originally walking towards. "Oh, we're just going to the fair."

"I see. Have fun, you two. I checked out the fair, but uh, they… kinda gave me weird looks." He looked more uncomfortable than he previously was, which is interesting considering he had just scraped his face across the ground.

Prophetbot gave a curious look, surprised at the animosity towards the man. [Really? Why?]

"Um… I wanted to play laser tag, but I didn't realize that the arena was like, really small, and uh… mainly for children." It took all of willpower from the Lamplighter to fully admit.

While Mason tried his best to uphold a polite image and holding a closed fist near his head to stifle a laugh, the little plant spirit still laughed anyway, before commenting. "But you're not a kid!"

"I know I'm not a kid!" The Lamplighter defended himself, before asking. "Is this uh… your kid?"

Mason found himself flustered at the thought that the spirit was a kid of his, before he held up both palms and denied it. "Not really, more of… guardian. She's the reincarnation of Maize, the plant guardian from the Glen."

"Ohh, okay." The Lamplighter nodded. He doesn't exactly know the gravity of Mason's claim, but he figured he's not in a position to ask. He's not in a position for anything, really; for him the life going forward is entirely aimless, where he could wander any path, yet could never belong anywhere.

"You sound like you have an interesting life, Mr. Lampy!" said the sprout.

His heart skipped a beat, his lips making raspberry sounds at being called an affectionate nickname. "O— oh, oh, uhh— …thanks…?"

The flustered reaction from Lampy made the spirit giggle. "You're really funny! All I do is stay at my house and play with Mr. Mason."

"Honestly, that's a life I would take." The Lamplighter said, before making the one piece of wisdom. "Guess we just want someone else's life."

"Maybe I could learn to run around like you!" The spirit commented, her eyes enchanted. There was already a whole load of people she had only begun to know, a whole manifold of qualia that hadn't been known before. "My mom used to run around the village a lot before she couldn't move."

"Oh, I'm... sorry to hear that." Lamplighter reclined onto himself, the sudden gravity of the conversation compressing him, making him look smaller. "What happened to your mom?"

"I... I'm not sure. From my dream, she was with the messiah, and she... sacrificed herself to save the world." Her face screwed, and her voice had matured, carrying a spectre's tone.

"Oh, I'm... s..." He caught himself nearly saying the same thing again, clenching his jaw and taking a sharp breath. His mind cursed himself, and the Lamplighter tried to offer his condolences. "I'm sure your mother was a noble person."

"Is she?" The plant spirit wondered aloud. "She saved people in the village, but I only see her in darkness, alone."

"That's not rather nice." Lamplighter furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

"You're feeling the same thing, aren't you?" The plant spirit gave an hour's gaze deep into the Lamplighter's eyes, her gaze fixated on analyzing every minute detail, every second the Lamplighter shifted uncomfortably. She continued, "You give me the same taste as when I am dreaming of her."

"Uhm..." He dared not to speak any further, and cleared his throat. "Ha ha, you uh... got me?"

Prototype certainly noticed the awkwardness Lamplighter exuded, how it seemed like he couldn't hold himself up to anything much. That… was also how he felt, for sure. But, he couldn't ask the man for much beyond that or how to help the robot in his plight for meaning, when the lamplighter's own plight he is helpless with. But, it gave some unspoken comfort that there are other people that simply did not fit in. Well, maybe that phrase is not entirely justified for, but… there simply is a niche of people who are neither half or half, watching from atop the fence and lamenting there isn't another side.

"Well, uh… I gotta get going." The Lamplighter started walking away, before waving a hand goodbye.

"See you!" Mason waved back, before he gave a soft exhale. "Ain't that a nice little surprise. Alright, the fair's still waiting for us!"

They continued walking. Whilst the sounds of rolling synthesizers that had the texture of a midnight's cold glass of water allured them closer to where the fair is, Prototype's mind still dwell on the previous conversation with the Lamplighter. But, the little sprout spoke up first, asking a question the robot hadn't dared to ask.

"Mr. Mason? Who was that man you talked with earlier?"

"Oh, that's our city's lamplighter. We kinda called him by what he does, so… he goes around with Lamplighter as his name." Mason explained, his tone a little slow from how far he had to look back on his memory.

"Why did you call him that? Does he not have a name?" She asked another question, a rather difficult one to answer.

Mason shifted a little, her question crossing a border in his mind. The pothead had thought of this before, and every time his mind tried to answer the question, it always painted him in… not an ideal picture. But, this isn't Mason asking himself anymore; he doesn't have the luxury of letting his mind stew on the idea or running away from the question.

He answered, "…he didn't really say his name, the first time we met him. Every time I would walk to the library to read a book, I would always stumble across him. At first it was just a passing glance, but eventually I started greeting him. But trouble is, I… didn't know his name! So, I just said, 'hi Lamplighter', and… when we started talking for the first time that was what I called him. And, he didn't really introduce himself, so I just… kept using the name."

"You gave a name to the Lamplighter? Like you gave me a name?" The little sprout asked a follow-up question.

"Yyyeah, but… he also has a real name, I'm sure of it. I just didn't ask." Mason twirled the edges of his scarf.

She took a while to think to herself, applying what she had learned about Mason to herself. "So, if you gave the Lamplighter his name because of what he does, then did you name me Sprout because I'm a sprout?"

"Well… yeah! Your head has a cute little sprout!"

"But wouldn't his name be Hat or something, since he has a hat on his head? Why isn't my name…" She stopped herself a little, before asking a different question instead. "What if my name is something I do?"

[Like me?] Prophetbot added, curious at the sprout's exploration of her identity.

"Yeah!" She looked up to meet his protector's face. "Your name is PB though, I don't know how your name is what you do."

The robot looked down and tilted his head, swooning quietly at the sprout's glimmering eyes staring up so innocently. [My name is Prophetbot! You didn't know how to pronounce it however, which is why you called me PB.]

"Ohh, yeah! I remember!" She raised her arm. "Your name is what you do, right? Since people in my dreams ask someone that looked like you about the fate of the world!"

[At one time, yes! But, my main purpose was answering the questions the messiah would have when the time comes, a mission I have already fulfilled.] Prophetbot nodded, stating his purpose with glee.

"But then, what is his purpose?" Maize pointed at Prototype, who had been taking the spectator's position, as he were.

Prototype was surprised at being dragged into the active conversation, but his voice remained calm and nonchalant. [I was to serve a similar purpose as him, but I was replaced in favor of him.]

"Why?" The sprout asked without judgment.

[…it is a reason on the matter of optimization, to summarize it.] Prototype gave a vague answer, partly not to sour the mood when they were meant to have a lighthearted moment together, and partly because they simply cannot know. The plant and the planthead cannot know his purposes, for his mere existence is a gap in the world, a shadow roaming freely without a body. The world can exist perfectly fine without him, causing him disarray at trying to exist anyway.

But that answer, unsurprisingly, wasn't enough for the child to simply accept. "That doesn't answer me! Why couldn't you two have the same occupations together? Who replaced you?"

Proto's eye swiftly swished over to Mason, still listening intently to the conversation, then to Prophetbot. He couldn't try to break his heart, not like last time, but no matter how lightly the abandoned robot tried to word his story, it is always painted as a misfortune.

…with a heavy heart, Prototype answered his question. [My father replaced me in favor of my friend. I was… too abrasive, and I knew too much for the world. But my companion, he only knew what needed to know, and nothing more. This inferior comparison I once held bitterly, but… eventually I let go of it. I cannot spend the bulk of my life unwilling of the fact that my friend will always cast me under his shadow.]

Prophetbot's eye dilated, and his voice shifted to a mellow, saddened voice. [I did not intend to replace you, no. I already apologized, but… I would like to apologize again.]

The sprout asked another question. "So you were replaced because you knew too much? Is that… what happened with me?"

[I'm sorry?] Prototype pardoned himself with shock, his eye locking more intently at the plant spirit.

"I… I have a feeling my dreams are similar to you two." She explained herself, her face wincing a little as she put forth an implication she had always bared in mind. "My mother… I replaced my mom, didn't I?"

Before Mason could really say anything else, Prototype nodded and blurted out, [Yes.]

Then, his eye widened in horror as Proto saw Prophetbot looking with abject horror at his companion, and Mason simply staring towards him. Prototype looked up, and his mind filled with a dozen thoughts, each piercing himself with scathing words, each an execution.

Maize made a teary-eyed expression, holding back from having her voice unintelligible from disrepair. "Why… why did I…"

[I can explain.] Proto said coldly.

[No, no no.] Prophetbot was trying to prevent Maize from crying, but it only interrupted his companion from trying and redeem himself. For the first time, Prototype felt like he was pushed away by his companion.

No, no, he can't… he must fix this. He looks up, and he realized how much he had made, before sending a ping.

Darkness.

[Prototype has made a signal to conceal your view for a while. While they all will sort out themselves, I can offer a little commentary about what we just saw.]

The World Machine looks at you, their face slightly distraught. Their eyes were staring blankly, whilst their mind was churning out thought after thought, no doubt.

[…I do not know how to feel about this. I do not blame you if you do not, either.]

Verily. It felt like they had just witnessed something they shouldn't have, as though Prototype was out of character.

[As for the Lamplighter… his namesake was embedded within the story, and his purpose was to act as a buffer for the worldbuilding, as with Mason. The matter regarding his purpose in the world is that, beyond what is perceived by you, and the story, the Lamplighter is… who I consider free.]

Their eyes darted to the side, and their lips swished around.

[I think the tension between their struggles with a purpose is that living without a purpose is… uncanny. The residents here are created with a purpose, so to have it be complete and having to live without one is a struggle I can understand. What is interesting, the Lamplighter… too is affected, despite being a normal resident. That may be revelatory for the others.]

As The World Machine explained, you feel a sense of unease growing on them. You have a feeling they know how Prototype is feeling right now, and he isn't exactly feeling well. The World Machine continued again, their voice sounding both relieved but also dreading, as though this was a respite, and a premonition's soon to come.

[Ah. Prototype has allowed you to view the world again. I must tell you that… there may be some context that you'd have missed.]

They closed their eyes, and let the electronics course through them for a while before they grounded themselves, readying themselves to tell the rest of the story.

The screen is filled again.

This was the first ever fair that the Refuge had held.

Every view was overwhelmed with a miasma of color and spectacle, different booths and tents each showcasing different things for the audience to try and enjoy. Some buildings hosted games and events, a game of hide and seek or a shootout, and some booths showed off fabulous magic tricks and offering insight into the world. It's a while lot like a science fair, certainly typical for the author of this world.

The young spirit looked around, but her face was uncomfortable with just how much is bombarded towards her. "I don't know what to do! There's so many people here, it;s making me scared."

Mason was overwhelmed too; he hadn't expected the fair to be this busy too, especially when he was used to only a dozen or so people walking the streets of the Refuge at most. Now, it felt like everywhere he looked, there were new kinds of people doing new kinds of things. A lonely boy with tears in his eyes as he tried to find his parents, shouting. A robotic couple of red and green, holding arms and looking stoic, but their metals leaned against each other softly.

The potted head looked far and wide, before pointing at an attraction that caught his eye. "Hmm… how about that bumper car game? We can try a shot at this!"

"Oh, sure!" The little sprout looked at the game; a group of people driving a tireless vehicle, skidding on ice as the plastic fabric hits on one another, colliding with the other vehicles. The others, despite their vessel being relentlessly crashed with each other, were simply laughing and enjoying themselves, certainly a curiosity for the plant spirit. She asked a question to the gardener, "Mr. Mason, why are they happy even though they're hitting each other?"

"Well, the objective of the game is to try and crash your vehicle on each other! It's just a fun way to… well, the best way I can put it is to have some rough fun with your friends." Mason's reply was a little hazy, having to explain a relatively unorthodox concept to a child.

"Really?" The sprout asked, indeed her mind trying to wrap around the novel concept. "That could be a game?"

"Anything could be a game!" Mason added.

"…sure, I wanna play!" She hopped around, tugging Prophetbot's fabric on the arm. "Come on, you have to help me ride the cart!"

[Oh! Of course!] They both stepped forward, followed by the others. While they and Mason bought the admission tickets, Prototype watched from a distance, trying not to be all that visible to the others. In fact, he had secluded himself into being a ghost for most of the conversation, only replying whenever they had asked him any questions.

His mind had drifted into isolation, the lonely robot. Had his relations really be undone, or is he overthinking? Either outcome, he knew better than not to sour the plant spirit's chances of having fun, stepping away from the game.

But then, the sulking robot heard Mason calling out to him, "Hey! Aren't you playing too?"

Prototype looked at the spirit's eyes first, gauging her reaction. She looked at Prototype with an unreadable stare, her face devoid of any emotions. Something twisted like thistles in his wires pricking him from the insides, cobwebs of thorns on his circuitry that made him bleed.

Goodness, he feels so helpless now.

[I won't be joining.] Prototype looked back at Mason, his voice jaded. [You three can have fun, I have… other things I find interesting.]

[Come on, Proto!] Prophetbot tried to object, wanting him to play with him.

[I won't be playing with these frivolous devices. If you are finished with playing, I will be waiting around the science presentation booth.] He sneered with a vehement tone, before walking away into the sea of crowd.

Prophetbot watched his partner disappear, and his heart too was broken. What could he had done, so that this wouldn't happen? The plant spirit could feel his grasp on her faltering slightly, his palm shaking as Prophetbot was stiff, too stiff.

"PB?" She tugged on her protector again, trying to catch his attention. "Are you okay?"

[…I would hope so!] His voice tried to remain bubbly, but there was a slight wobble underneath his tenor. [He's likely just interested in other things at the moment.]

"I see…" She wouldn't admit it, but she knows that her protector isn't feeling well. Such is her gift, that she could sense something far beyond her own feelings, but she couldn't understand it. It was a bequest from her mother that the sprout couldn't understand now.

The plant spirit burrowed her head, idly thinking about the current affair. Here was Prototype, who had told her of the cycle, an endless rebirth yet stagnant in purpose, like the Lamplighter running around in circles lighting the ember dimmer, like the Prophetbot running around in circles learning the world he was meant to spiel, like the Prototype running around in circles trying to outrun his own purpose.

Purpose.

That seemed to be the recurring motif, and one that everybody is questioning themselves with.

What is the answer of purpose?

[thatweirdocryptid]

Apparition lounge

Yeah... Small oneshot... Buhhhh

Edit: none of it was beta-read and is probably shit, but hey! I'm trying here.

[tsunderejuilen]

write juilen falling in love w9th me because i wore an anime t shirt and then he dumps me because i stopp wearing it

Tnaah ks ano n! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Thanks anon!

~~Tsnudere Juilen x Rreader)~

You walk to in school, ready for a new day. You put your bookmarks and backpack in your locker. When you shut it, you see none other than... Juilen?!

"H-hey.... " Juilen said, looking off to the side bashfully.

"Hey... Juilen? What's up?" You replied, shocked a tsundere such as himself approahed you.

"Nothing loser! I mean cool shirt. I guess. Haha." His tail was wagging a little behind him, but he looked like he was trying to hide it.

You look down at your shirt, you are wearing a really cool Sasuke shirt and it has Sasuke on it. "You like Naruto?"

"U-uh!! I mean... it's OKAY I guess, loser. Loser. Not a big fan or anything, it's pretty stupid that you're wearing it... but..." he stopped for a moment. "...But it's okay. the shirt isnt as bad as usual."

"Thanks..? Do you need something from me?" You were cnfused.

"What?! Want something from you?!? I-I mean.. just... lets hang out on the balcony after class.. that's all.... i dont wanna hang out too mcuh with a loser like you". He was blushing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~

After class, you head up to the school bacony. You wondered what he wanted. For a while you just sat there, wondering where he even was. You wereabout to go back down, but he was actually hiding behind the trashcan the whole itme

"Hey.. baka. Just... just uh... i was wondering... if.." Juilen was looking off to the side again, clearly nervous about something. "I-if you wanted my number!!! Hahaha, you looked so pathetic that I felt bad for you!" He gave you his number and jumped off, but its okay because he actually has powers in this au where he cant die from fall damage.

You were so bewildered you couldn't even respond after you took the paper he gave to you. You looked at it. It looked very crumbled and as if a small nibble had been taken out of it. In scratchy letters was his number, and around the nibble was what looked to be very rushed writing of "HEY DUNCAn STOP EATING THE PA".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you got home, you sat down and called the number. It took so long it was sent to voicemail, so you sent one asking why he wanted your number and if something was up. After a strange day, you go to sleep, but then a thunderstorm starts and you thought you seed a strange figure illuminated by the lightning strikes. You treed to ignore it, but you kept seeing it, until you got up and turned on the light. Then you saw it... no... him.

"Juilen?! What are you doing here?! How did you get in my house?!" You shrieked.

"N-no reason! Baka! I-I was just wondering.. if.. you wanted to watch Naruto on Blu-ray." He pulled out the entire DVD collection of Naruto from one pocket, and an entire Walmart Blu-ray DVD player from the other.

"What time is it?!" You responded, confused.

"F-fine!!! If you didn't want to you could've just SAID so!!!" He growled and turned around, about to leave.. but then... but then for a moment, just for a moment, you saw him differently.

"No! Wiat! I'll watch with you!"

He immediately turned back around, he was about toshow his happiness but he instantly went back to his default bashful expression.

You both watched the entirety of the Zabuza arc and then fell asleep, with Juilen on the cold hard grund of course.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you woke up the next morning, Juilen was already gone along with his DVD collection and Blu-ray. So, you got ready for school normally, but when you showed up....

"What... what the hell are you wearing?!" Juilen hissed.

You looked down at your shirt. It was not a Sasuke shirt, or any type of anime shirt for that matter.

"What do you mean?" You tilted your head.

"I... I HATE YOU!!! I HATE YOU!!!! YOU BETRAYED ME!!!!" He started pummeling you wtih his fists until you became a cold hard mush on the ground.

"I THOUGHT... I THOGUHT YOU LIKED ANIME... I THOUGHT.. I THOGUHT YOU... UNDERSTOOD... ME..." He shouted while punching you to death, crying and breaking down.

You could not respond because you were a cold hard mush on the ground.

[rabbitfics]

Pull of Tides

Techno's head has felt like spider silk all day, seeming to lose focus and time sporadically as he tries to complete his chores. If only he could remember what he had been doing...

Well, Dream is happy to oblige.

Dreamnoblade, Bottom Technoblade, mind control, loss of time, dubious consent, Techno POV

WARNINGS: [Disorientation,Timeloss,Gaslighting,Dissasociation,Dubcon,Manipulation,MisuseOfMagic,VaginalPenetration]

Techno had been struggling to stay focused seemingly all day, eyes drifting off and clouding up in short bursts no matter what task he'd been doing; From tending his animals to sorting his storage again, he seemed to be stopping to stare at empty space for hours on end.

It didn't make any sense, he had gotten a great rest and eaten. He'd even had his coffee. There was no reason to be so inattentive and dissociative.

And then he was blinking back to what he had been doing, staring down at the collar in his hands and the scraps of gold across his jewelers workbench with no clue how long he'd been dazed by the clouding across his mind.

Then he heard a quiet chuckle, blearily turning to find Dream, perched comfortably on a chest nearby.

“You… stealthy green nerd…” Techno mumbles, trying to remember why it was so odd to find the other man in his house. It felt like he'd been there a while.

“Now don't be like that, why don't we just go upstairs and hang out?” The hunter supplied pleasantly, and was done motioning to the ladder by the time Techno had stood from his chair.

The climb was short but oddly sluggish to Techno, hooves scraping the ladder rungs by muscle memory alone, and suddenly he was pinned face-first to the wall in his foyer.

“You've been acting strange today, Tech,” Dream purred in a concerned, soothing tone, contrasting to the firm hands on the ailing party's hips, “Are you feeling okay? I can make you some stew if you'd like to sit down…”

“I think I'm ok, don't have a fever or anythin.” Techno sighed, shutting his eyes for just a moment.

When he opened them again he was in Dream's lap, on the couch facing his low-burning fireplace, calloused yet exploratory fingers dipping below his clothes.

He could feel Dream's hot breath on his ear, voice still soft and genuine as he gently pulled Techno's tired limbs. Posing him in his lap.

“Don't worry about it, let's just get you comfortable and I'll worry about the rest, ok?”

He slipped a soft hand over Techno's eyes and after what felt like a heartbeat to the piglin, he was knelt on the ground between Dream's legs, an odd salty taste on his tongue.

As the fog lifted this time, he noticed things slowly. A spoon before his lips, empty. But Dream looked slightly flushed holding it, a dark look in his eyes with a flash of satisfaction behind it.

“Soup good?” He asked quietly, moving to put the spoon on the arm of the couch. The kneeling knight almost shut his eyes again as they followed the shiny object. But furrowing his brows and trying to see through the sluggish fog obscuring his thoughts, Techno noticed.

There was no bowl, no smell of cooked meat in the air. But Dream seemed to be sweaty, clothes ruffled and pants open. Techno's jaw ached a bit and he could feel the tenderness of his lips.

“Dream, what-” He manages to breathe before a hand obscures his vision and he's floating once again.

When Techno next meets reality, he can feel warm pleasure shooting through his hips, Dream's thumb rubbing his clit as three other fingers pump in and out of his hole. His clothes are entirely gone now, Dream still almost completely clothed. The fire looked like it had gone out hours ago.

“Dream! Wh- ah!” He yelps, eyes already starting to lose focus but the warrior bites his lip against the tides of magic over his mind. And then it clicks, and he almost wants to kick his co-conspirator in the nuts.

“I was trying to work, Dream!” Techno groans, head dropping back onto the other's shoulder. No wonder he'd been so exhausted, why so much of his memory seemed obscured. “All day, all day! You horny loser!”

“Shhhh…” The hunter soothed, nibbling on the others ears. “Just go with it~”

The cheery suggestion makes the pulse of magic hit even stronger, jumbling every thought Techno had as his body shakes, and making the pleasant friction blanket his senses in static.

Next is a pounding rhythm of red-hot pleasure, the cock in his cunt already pumping fast and deep. It felt like he was going to shake apart, sore limbs wrapped tight around his companion.

When had he been turned around and put on his back? Were they in a bed? It was so hard to concentrate on anything but the burning ache of who knows how many orgasms.

“D-Dream, please-” Techno gasped, hair fanned out on the bed and sticking to his skin. “Please, gonna-”

“Just drift off, baby,” His eyes looked like acid, swirling with unnatural light. “I've got you, you're doing so good for me.”

Techno felt his eyes roll back, back arching as what felt like his third orgasm hit. His only coherent thoughts were how good he felt, looked, sounded, was being. None of them felt like his own.

His next moment of clarity was sharp, pulling a strained groan from his throat as Techno felt the hot cum in him being fucked in further, dripping out around Dream's still-hard cock. He felt so full, so tired.

“With me, honey?” The hunter whispered against his lips, smug and just a little breathless.

Techno whined high and desperate as he felt his body tense like a bowstring, every sensation and sound suddenly as sharp as glass. He was so close, so unbearably close.

“Dream, plea- please-” He stuttered as all of the things that had felt so soft and surreal poked at his nerves like knives.

“Are you going to be good for me?” Came the reply, like a sweet soothing shadow over his senses. Cold water on a blistering day. It felt like the fog had solidified with sparks dancing at its edges. But only in the instant that Dreams voice echoed in his ears.

“Yes, yes, so good I swEAR-” Techno can't help his voice cracking, it feels like he's being shocked, electrocuted, burned. The heat burning so much brighter as that pleasantly cold control dances just out of reach.

“Good boy.”

And then everything is condensed, the fire flares to white light and then his mind is floating as if in a dark sea devoid of temperature. Soft feeling dances across his skin like seaweed and he can vaguely tell his body is existing somewhere else, still in that inferno and something possessive in the shadows reminds him of more warm, heavy spend filling his pussy, a faraway hiss repeating breathlessly ‘I did that, I filled you so good, stuffed you full, made you a good little fucktoy all day’

And Techno silently purrs back at the absence of his own thoughts, that acidic control muffling his usually racing inner monolog. He was so happy to serve, usually red eyes fogged with magic as he let it settle in like a hand pressed to his neck.

[minaabitaa]

You Are Everywhere

He would carry her like this—within him, eternal, untouchable, unreachable. She would be his secret solace, his quiet ruin. His wound.

Oneshot, 653 words | Crossposted to AO3

In all his moments, she was there.

A specter, a phantom—she was sunlight streaming across rooms, the burn against his eyelids, the veins beneath skin. Always there. Always, always, always.

He would not, could not, should not fantasize about her. He wouldn’t think of her lips against his—the softness, the warmth. Or the way her fingers ghosted along his arms, the quiet gasp against his mouth. He wouldn’t think of how she looked at him, wide-eyed, as though drinking him in. As though she were lain across his lap and he was feeding her the grapes of legends past—sustenance only he could provide.

He could not think of her, not now, not ever, for if he did, he knew he would crumble. He would be hers once more. He would be Solas again—her Solas—and he would forget the bonds that held him to this wretched, broken, mistake of a land.

Every waking moment, he fled from her.

But in her dreams, through forests green and lush, along paths they once shared, he would find her. The dread wolf’s paws struck soil and moss, rain clinging to fur like memories clung to every patch of skin. For a moment—just a moment—to look at her.

To look at her would be enough.

It had to be enough.

He had condemned her—condemned all of them—to a life they did not deserve. He had stripped them of wonder, of progress, of history. They were shells of what they once were, and he had made it so. What right did he have to love, or to be loved in return, when he had done this to them?

He knew she would forgive him, and that was a risk he could not take.

She would show him mercy, when there should be vitriol.

She would show him care, where there should be disdain.

She would show him love, where there should be hatred.

No. The sky would burn, and with it, his mistakes would be rectified.

Eons of silence, of fractured histories and forgotten glories, would be undone. The Veil, his Veil, his mistake, would fall, and the world would breathe again—wild, boundless, unbroken. It would not matter that the cost was blood, nor that she would be among those who cursed his name.

This was not for her.

It was for the world he had stolen, the people he had failed, and the dream that had slipped from his grasp. To love her was to falter, to forget those who whispered his name as they were stripped of the beauty of the world that once was.

They did not scream; they did not beg. They simply mourned—softly, endlessly—for what had been lost.

No love, no forgiveness, no tender moment could erase their sorrow. To love her would be to betray them, to condemn their memories to the dust. The sky would burn, and through the fire, he would make things right.

And yet, he yearned for her.

He yearned for a world in which he would be hers, and she would be his—a world where millennia would stretch before them, boundless, unbroken, everlasting. They would be strewn across the stars, their laughter echoing in the void, where time would hold no sway. She would look at him again, as though he were everything—as though he were her world, as though he were not the destroyer, but the maker of dreams.

He would hold her in the space between his lungs. He would breathe her. She would live on in his blood, coursing through him, filling the hollow chambers of his heart. She would be the beat, the rhythm, the life that refused to leave him, even as he stood amidst ruin.

He would carry her like this—within him, eternal, untouchable, unreachable. She would be his secret solace, his quiet ruin. His wound.

Vhenan.