mafbr_

Page 29

oooooooh baby do i love an unreliable narrator. also i need you all to know simon did try to wrap up the neck mouths and extra face teeth, but it was too uncomfortable/didn't stay put so he just did the arm and hand

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close ups (+ transcript) \/

ok first post has to be the two blorbos living rent-free in my brain for a month RENT IS DUE MFKRS

fic that inspired this piece^^

Typically people who believed assumption two were those who were too young or have had yet to see Grace's very public crashout during his academia days (and Ryland dearly wished for the day where is outburst would be forgotten about entirely).

The truth was Ryland Grace had to learn how to be kind. He chose to be kind; Ryland's anger had always gotten him in trouble ever since he was a child. From slapping away hands who hadn't asked permission to touch his belongings to yelling at others whenever they 'weren't doing x activity properly.' Ryland had quickly been labelled as a troubled child, a classroom nusiance, a brat who thought he knew better and refused to accept when he was in the wrong.

In actuality Ryland just had trouble reniforcing boundries and asking others to follow them; instead his brain automatically went to anger because anger was better then drowning in shame and anxiety. Anger was respected. Anger was better than bursting into tears in the middle of the classroom and being accused of being a crybaby.

So yeah. Ryland was angry. Less so since now he had a classroom full of 20 something kids for six hours a day and he would rather eat gum off of the sidewalk than make a kid cry just because he, the adult in the room, couldn't keep his temper in check.

If Ryland Grace was kind, it was because he chose to be kind.

When people met Ryland's partner, Simon, (No last name, that last name was dead and gone for all Simon cared-) they often made two assumptions about him. Assumption one: He was always serious. Assumption two: He was the angry one in the relationship. People who made assumption two insantly changed their attitude upon properly meeting Simon and realizing the man was actually very kind, if a little sensitive, and just had the unfortunate luck of having a very intimidating resting face.

It wasn't always like that. The resting face.

Simon was an expressive child, he wore his heart on his sleeve. His facial expressions and body language always gave away his feelings, his thoughts, his fears. He was the complete opposite of the word 'stoic.'

Eden ate him alivd because of that.

Simon quickly learned how to school his expression, how to bite his tongue to repress sobs, how hold himself rigid and always at attention.

Simon learned that anger was respected, anger could be a shield. And so Simon learned to wield anger as both a shield and dagger, he hid beneath anger, he sheltred behind rage.

...It was tiring.

It was performative.

It wasn't real. The anger.

It was because if people thought Simon was angry they'd leave him alone, and he would be safe.

Crying wasn't safe.

When people saw Simon and Ryland togethet they'd always assume Simon would be the one that needed to be held back during an altercation.

And there were times where that was true, though Simon would always attempt to solve conflicts with words first. (The one time he had hit someone it was because they kept putting their arm around Ryland despite being brushed off several times. Stupid Tom Ryder-) and even then Simon had grabbed ice for the jerk celeb afterwards.

Simons temper didn't hold a candle to Ryland's.

Ryland would soon be getting his wish of his academia crashout being forgotten.

Because now he would be remembered for tackling a Brother Of Eden who had begun harassing Simon. From an outside perspective Simon appeared unaffected, bored even. But Ryland new his partner.

Ryland knew that when Simon's jaw tightened it was because he was holding back tears (Simon's true anger was always in the form of tears much to the man's chagrin. Ryland would always kiss away the tears if Simon let him (which he did)). Ryland knew that when Simon's shoulder's curled around his ears he was fighting against long honed instincts screaming at him to either run away or hurt the threat before it could hurt him.

(Simon wasn't a violent dog. He didn't want to bite but his body trained him to in order to keep himself safe).

Ryland Grace chose to be kind. He chose -when- to be kind and to whom.

Ryland's kindness was an intentional choice. Not an inherent part of his character.

So he tackled the brother of Eden and verbally tore into him, defending Simon with everthing he had while also denouncing the death cult that Eden was.

(If Ryland were asked if it was worth needing to go into hiding for about a month he'd say yes because it meant he and Simon got to spend more time together.)

Ryland Grace chose kindness and Simon chose to wield anger as a protective shield.

Their choices were not who they inherently were.

To the Bloodymary Big Bang!!!

(interest check)

Important note: This Event will be strictly 18+, due to the nature of Iron Lung's R rating, and admin comfort.

What is a big bang? A big bang is a celebration within a fandom, with a focus on making long form fanfiction and accompanying art! This specific big bang will feature teams of 1 writer, 1-2 artists, and 1-2 beta readers, and the number of teams will depend on applicants!

Our Interest Check is currently OPEN! And will remain as such until July 18th. As long as the interest check goes well, we're hoping to open mod applications at the beginning of July, and participant applications at the beginning of August, with August serving as an organizational month & time to settle into teams & ideas. The creation period is aiming for September-December, but as it stands, this is subject to change.

Writers will be expected to write 10k words minimum, and artists will be expected to make at least one fully rendered/colored piece to accompany their team's fic.

The interest form can be found here. Once again, this event will be 18+ and we ask that minors do not fill out the form.

this is mostly for me for when I finally write my fics,,

Personality notes

Simon's fear response is not fight. Its Freeze. He can fight, sure, he can choose when he needs to protect himself. But before the Horrors™️ kick in, everytime hes faced with something freaky or beyond his comprehension, he freezes. He goes absolutely still, only really moving his eyes as if his peripheral will show him if something is behind him. When he sees the first Freaky Ass skeleton. When the blood splatters on his face. He's absolutely still.

Those big anger moments I see people base his character on are ONLY when he is At his Breaking point. (I.e. SHUT THE FUCK UP- which was so fucking good oh my God- only got to that point bc of all the SHIT going on with the hallucinations and the Hull Breach and the fire, of course the repetition was going to make him snap. But thats not his go to nor his default.

He comes back to his apologies again and again. He keeps trying, keeps bringing it up, possibly until he feels better or until the person forgives him.

He haaaates someone being condescending to him. He doesn't like people thinking hes an idiot.

Comfort! Items! Comfort! Items!!! He's has a very clear nervous tic/self soothing touch. It was of course the thing his mom gave him, but I think it also switches to the seed. I need to see him getting attached onto things and not wanting to let them go.

Pats things in thanks. I think it only happened once but he gave something a little pat pat when it worked the way he needed it to.

Acting choices/ physicality

He tilts his head when curious, or when looking at something he doesn't understand its so cute thank u so much mr. iplier

He has a very closed mouth way of talking when casual. Really only opens his mouth for full words in those big emotion moments.

His face scrunches up when feeling things!! Like it almost physically pains him.

Quick Eden note

It seems like Simon Never believed the shit Eden was trying to teach him. "Whats more likely?" // "They say they're gone but we can See Them." // "I didnt choose either."

Definitely has his quirks from growing up there- Reverence for the seed, calling the unknown convict "brother" despite it all, "when we die, our bodies will become the soil."