how long did it take for torchbearer to accept his fate? how long did it take for his hands to adjust to the weight of the torch; how many times has he burned his fingers in the flames? how many cycles did it take for the flames to get bright enough for the other to see? how many cycles has it been? and how many more does he have to shoulder? and why, no matter how many scars etched into his skin, does he not care that he has to keep walking in circles; waiting, searching, guiding? there is something, someone, much brighter waiting for him, just out of reach, but maybe some day he will hold him close again
i love immortal torchbearer believers cause i'm like "oh yeah they have an entire ritual about how they go about choosing the next torchbearer before the current one dies cause the next torchbearer is gifted the power to guide by the gods" and y'all are like "hehe he's in endless suffering hehe" AND I AM HERE FOR IT
okay but i NEED a music video where it’s actually Jenna and Debby pretending to be Tyler and Josh. Jenna in the blurrypaint and Debby with the half dyed hair. You think haha this is so funny until the very end where Tyler and Josh are pretending to be their wives too. Full drag. Bisexuality final boss
I finally got around to listening to drag path by Twenty One Pilots and here’s how it makes me feel. Also thanks to @kefooneir on TikTok for the full version
Hi, I have an angsty clancybearer prompt for you: Post-City Walls Torchbearer runs into Bishop!Clancy while trying to get the new "Clancy" out of Dema
thank youuuu for sending this and sorry it took me so long to cook up something, flaky muse is a bitch! anyway, enjoy the suffering!
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
He looked scared. He did every time. And every time Torch was going to be there to reassure him.
He pulled his bandana down and smiled. “Don’t be afraid. I am Torchbearer and I’m here to get you out.”
Clancy’s eyes darted from Torch to the other Banditos. He turned around to throw a glance at those behind him as well. Then, he looked back at Torch. He was gripping the straps of his backpack, wary.
“How do I know this isn’t a trick? How can I trust you?”
This happened sometimes. Sometimes Clancy was cautious and untrusting, sometimes he needed more convincing to go with the Banditos. Torch didn’t mind it. He would do and say what was necessary every time.
“East is up,” Torch said. Code words usually did the trick. “You want to get out, don’t you? That’s the only way out. We can help.”
Clancy’s eyes widened. “You are him…”
Torch stepped forward and held out his hand. “We don’t have much time. They’re patrolling the city.”
“Yeah… Yeah, alright.” Clancy hesitated for a second, but he ended up taking Torch’s hand regardless.
“I’m Clancy, by the way,” he said as they hurried down the streets of Dema.
Torch knew the script by now. Things weren’t always the same, of course, but he knew that each time he needed to introduce himself and pretend that he didn’t know Clancy’s name.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Torch said with a smile.
He stayed alert. Despite it usually going smoothly at this stage, there have been times when Torch had lost Clancy long before they ever got to the battle. He wasn’t going to risk it this time.
To his dread, however, he suddenly got the overwhelming feeling that he was being watched. The others noticed as well and a few heads turned along with Torch. Just down the street, a flash of red.
Torch turned to Clancy. “The Bishops can’t see yellow.” He took off his hoodie since it had the yellow tape on it, he had an olive t-shirt underneath, and handed it to Clancy. “Take this, follow the others. I’ll catch up with you.”
Clancy took the hoodie, but he didn’t put it on just yet. “Are you sure? Will you be okay?”
Torch nodded. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.”
Clancy nodded, put the hoodie on and followed the other Banditos towards the eastern wall.
Torch took a deep, controlled breath, and turned around. He stood in the dark as the torches carried by the Banditos grew more and more distant. When Torch opened his palm, a flame ignited in his hand. He looked around, waited. Now that he wasn’t wearing yellow, he could be seen and it was only a matter of time before he would be spotted.
There it was again, that feeling. He spun around and found himself face to face with Nova.
“You’ve gotten him out of the city, haven’t you? But you must realize you will fail, just like every other time,” Nova said.
“That’s what you think,” Torch bit back.
“Have you not proven already how futile your efforts are?”
“As long as there’s hope, none of this is futile. You used to understand that.”
Nova smiled wickedly. “And you think you are that hope?”
“I have been so far. I will continue to guide them as many times as it takes for you to finally be defeated.”
“Your stubbornness is misguided. You can’t break the cycle. He can’t break the cycle, no matter how much you believe in him. Perhaps it’s time to admit to yourself that you only keep doing this because of your undying love for the person he could be. The person I could have been.”
“You two are not the same,” Torch said.
Nova chuckled condescendingly. “I don’t think you believe that. You can’t possibly be that delusional.”
“I don’t know how many times it will take, but we will succeed. When that day comes… I just hope I’ll be there to see the look on your face.”
“And how do you plan on getting out of this predicament?”
Torch closed his fist and the fire in his palm went out. A second later, the nearest parked car set on fire. A diversion. Enough for him to slip into the darkness and make a break for it.
He ran with tears in his eyes. Torch needed to keep reminding himself that Clancy and Nova were not the same. That there was still hope. As long as he was alive, as long as he had the strength to keep trying, there was still a chance.
The Banditos were waiting in the tunnel, agitated, waiting for Torch to catch up. They couldn’t stay below for too long. Despite the tunnel being hidden, staying there could put them in danger. They were all relieved when Torch finally showed up, closing the tunnel up behind him.
He was still shaken up, but he needed to put on a brave face for the sake of the others. Especially…
Clancy walked up to him, still wearing Torch’s hoodie. “Are you okay?” He asked.
When Torch looked at him, he saw hope. He would need to earn Clancy’s trust again, he would need to get close to him again, and he might just lose him again. But whenever he went back into the city to get the new Clancy out, whenever they met all over again, even if Clancy had no memories of their previous meetings, Torch felt the same warmth he always did as each time he was washed over with new hope.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Torch said and smiled. He held out his hand again. “Shall we?”
Clancy nodded and took his hand.
Together, followed by the rest of the Banditos, they walked out into the vastness of Trench.
the way the other banditos get offered their cloaks vs the way the cloak smacks against Torchbearer’s chest because when Clancy thrusts it towards him he can’t see Torchbearer clearly but manages to aim for his heart anyway
The banditos, but they're just kids who wanted to get out of there. Thr banditos, but it's a group of rebels that grew out of a disorganised bunch of escapees. The banditos, but they don't have all the answers and are stumbling in the dark as much as Clancy... Can anyone hear me?? Hello???
gracieabrams
yousharknotpass
gamechangershow
titsay
