C'mon! Can't we all just get along!?

memes, always accepting / @moonsmilcd !

gunfire cracks the wall apart, spraying debris like confetti, right where scott's face had peered past the edge two seconds ago. that answers that question : they're waiting for him, because they know he has to move eventually. he grits his teeth, pushing further into the alcove. there's one through - path out of this. one exit that he can map, and it's too exposed. he'd have to run right at them, or away from them, and bullets move a hell of a lot faster than he does. the ventilation shaft set into the opposite wall could work. it's wide enough to fit inside, but he'd need to lever himself higher to break open the grate. it's possible. if he can do it in total silence, without drawing attention. if he can do it before they figure out what he's doing. if he gets it open on the first try, because he won't get a second.

scott's fingers curl against his palms. heart hammering, cold sweat beading over his brow. he's been here before. cornered, under fire, no backup. you've done this before, you can do it again. they're waiting for him, but they aren't flanking. not yet. he can hear four separate heartbeats, no footsteps, the rack and slide of a weapon being reloaded. they're waiting.

his phone's in his pocket. 20 minutes since he sent the text out, and it hasn't buzzed. running is dangerous. staying here is dangerous. the grate is his best option. it sucks, and it might not work, but he can't afford to waste any more time. he's barely taken half a step towards it when the scope of his hearing narrows. constricting like an airway, zeroing in on the echo of a singular sound like it's playing in slow motion.

the sound of metal hitting stone.

the drop of a pin.

everything stops and speeds up at the same time. everything happens in a rush of firing synapses, his brain launching into sensory overload quicker than his body can react to it. he sees the arc of the grenade, sailing around the corner, and the entire tunnel lights up like it's on fire.

no — not the tunnel.

parrish.

parrish shoving scott clear of the trajectory. parrish absorbing the blast.

it goes off anyway, like a bomb, but instead of fire and shrapnel, scott's hit with a shockwave that knocks him on the ground. the air leaves him twice. from the impact, then from the fall. his head's screaming, ears ringing so loud that he doesn't hear anything else at first, doesn't hear the hunters retreat. it's distant, muffled, like he's underwater. he rolls sideways, arm shielding his eyes. coughs hard to force the dust and smoke out of his lungs.

there's a shape in the middle of it all, crouched on the tunnel floor. skin streaked with char and dark blood, but he's alive. no missing limbs. scott coughs again and half - crawls, half - stumbles to cover the distance between them.

psychological horror themed starters! ( WARNINGS: psychological horror, gaslighting, body horror. )

i swear you weren't breathing a second ago.

how did you know that? i never told you that.

that's - that's not your reflection.

i remember burying you. why are you here?

in the corner. don't look.

why are you whispering? they already know.

the clock hasn't moved in hours.

can you see it too?

did the floor just... breathe?

i saw it. it saw me back. i haven't been the same since.

you're shaking. is that blood?

you asked me to come, don't you remember?

you're wrong. we never left the room.

don't be afraid, it only hurts the first time.

the walls feel like they're getting closer.

why are you wearing their face?

they're listening, they're always listening.

i've had this conversation before. word for word.

it doesn't matter how small we are, they still watch.

when was the last time you blinked?

why are you afraid now that i'm giving you what you want?

you have too many teeth.

don't open the door. please.

if you keep asking, you won't like my answers.

you say you loved them. love me instead.

your shadow just moved.

i think it's under my skin.

you keep calling me that. that's not my name.

if i'm not real, why are you still talking to me?

we've been here before. hundreds of times. how did you forget?

it feels like time doesn't work anymore.

it was real. it was real. i swear it was real.

take a deep breath. what did you see?

i'm the only one being honest, you can't trust anyone else.

the gifted

❝  i don’t know how much longer i can keep this up.  ❞

❝  just wait—  i can do this.  ❞

❝  it has to be me.  no one else can do this.  ❞

❝  i dunno why i can do these things.  i figure i might as well do something with them that matters.  ❞

❝  i must have these abilities for a reason right?  ❞

❝  i don’t believe in that destiny bullshit.  but i do know i shouldn’t waste what i’ve been given.  ❞

❝  why does everyone expect me to be a hero just because i have some powers i didn’t ask for?  ❞

❝  they’re mine.  i get to decide what to do with them.  ❞

❝  i’m still a person!  they all look at me like i’m some intangible being who will save them.  i’m just one person.  ❞

❝  i can’t do this on my own.  i need help.  ❞

❝  i’m okay—  it just tires me out sometimes.  ❞

❝  get back!  i could hurt you.  ❞

❝  i could’ve killed you!  ❞

❝  i’m sorry…i didn’t mean for any of this to happen. ❞

❝  i was only trying to help.  ❞

❝  i tried to stay out of it but…you don’t understand what it’s like to have the ability to make things different.  it’s impossible to sit back and do nothing.  ❞

❝  i did nothing before and people died.  ❞

❝  last time i tried to help i just made shit worse.  ❞

❝  i thought this was a gift but all i do is hurt people.  ❞

❝  i can help—  let me help.  ❞

❝  i don’t want this anymore.  i just wanna be normal.  ❞

❝  everyone always wants something from me.  ❞

❝  everyone wants things from me and i don’t mind—  i want to help.  but i’m just so tired.  ❞

❝  i know what i can do is special.  i just wish people would see more than what i can do for them. i wish they would see me. ❞

❝  this is really cool,  watch this!  ❞

❝  please don’t freak out.  ❞

❝  please say something if you keep staring at me like i grew a second head i’m gonna throw up.  ❞

❝  i don’t know what or who i am without this.  ❞

❝  if i didn’t have my gifts,  no one would care about me.  ❞

❝  i’m not a hero.  i can just do things and sometimes i wish i couldn’t.  ❞

❝  i know to other people it’s like,  comic book type shit.  to me it’s just normal.  it’s like being able to smell and hear.  it’s just part of me and i just want other people to see it like that too.  ❞

the observer

❝  you have to stop,  you’re killing yourself!  ❞

❝  that’s enough.  ❞

❝  you’re only making things worse.  ❞

❝  you need to rest.  you’ve done more than enough.  ❞

❝  we can take it from here.  ❞

❝  you did good.  now you need to recuperate.   ❞

❝  i hate to ask…but we could really use your help.  ❞

❝  i don’t need your help.  i don’t want it—  not from someone like you.  ❞

❝  you almost got yourself killed.  ❞

❝  you were out of control.  you almost killed me.  ❞

❝  no one else can do what you do.  we need you.  i need you.  ❞

❝  you’re not the only one here with power.  it doesn’t always have to be you.  ❞

❝  it’s okay,  you don’t have to do this alone.  ❞

❝  no,  sit back down.  you need to rest.  ❞

❝  you pushed yourself too hard.  you passed out,  i thought you were dead.  ❞

❝  holy shit— that was amazing?!  ❞

❝  it must be an awful burden to bear such gifts.  ❞

❝  just because you can,  doesn’t mean it should have to be you.  ❞

❝  look—  i get it.  it’s a lot of responsibility and everyone always wants something from you.  but you have these gifts.  and we don’t.  and it’s real shitty to hear you complaining about it while the rest of us are powerless every time someone we love gets hurt.  ❞

❝  i’m not here to ask you for anything.  i just wanted to make sure you’re okay.  ❞

❝  you’re always trying to save everyone.  who takes care of you?  ❞

❝  i’m taking care of you because no one else does.  ❞

❝  you have to slow down and take care of yourself too.  if you run yourself into the ground then you’re not gonna be helping anyone.  ❞

❝  don’t be a fucking martyr.  the world can function without you for a day.  ❞

❝  stop showing off.  ❞

❝  that was really stupid of you.  but thanks for helping.  ❞

❝  i care about you.  not your abilities.  ❞

scenarios

[ ONE ]  for sender’s overuse of their abilities to give them a nosebleed,  causing receiver to show concern. 

[ TWO ]  for receiver’s overuse of their abilities to give them a nosebleed,  causing sender to show concern. 

[ THREE ]  for sender’s overuse of their abilities to make blood stream from their eyes,  causing receiver to show concern. 

[ FOUR ]  for receiver’s overuse of their abilities to make blood stream from their eyes,  causing sender to show concern. 

[ FIVE ]  for sender to have overexerted their abilities,  causing them to pass out in front of receiver. 

[ SIX ]  for receiver to have overexerted their abilities,  causing them to pass out in front of sender. 

[ SEVEN ]  for sender to have passed out from overusing their abilities and receiver stays at their side until they wake. 

[ EIGHT ]  for receiver to have passed out from overusing their abilities and wakes up to sender at their side. 

[ NINE ]  for sender to collapse in receiver’s arms after using their abilities. 

[ TEN ]  for receiver to collapse in sender’s arms after using their abilities. 

[ ELEVEN ]  for sender to have a super powered meltdown which receiver talks them down from. 

[ TWELVE ]  for receiver to have a super powered meltdown which sender pulls them out of by caressing their face/taking their hands/etc.  (feel free to add dialogue) 

[ THIRTEEN ]  for sender to reveal their abilities to receiver by protecting them. 

[ FOURTEEN ]  for receiver to reveal their abilities to sender by protecting them.  

[ FIFTEEN ]  for sender to carry a fatigued receiver away after a battle.

[ SIXTEEN ]  for receiver to carry a fatigued sender away after a battle. 

[ SEVENTEEN ]  for sender to carry receiver away after saving them. 

[ EIGHTEEN ]  for receiver to carry sender away after saving them. 

[ NINETEEN ]  for two muses with abilities to explore what they can do together. 

[ TWENTY ]  for sender to accidentally hurt receiver while using their abilities. 

psychological horror themed starters! ( WARNINGS: psychological horror, gaslighting, body horror. )

i swear you weren't breathing a second ago.

how did you know that? i never told you that.

that's - that's not your reflection.

i remember burying you. why are you here?

in the corner. don't look.

why are you whispering? they already know.

the clock hasn't moved in hours.

can you see it too?

did the floor just... breathe?

i saw it. it saw me back. i haven't been the same since.

you're shaking. is that blood?

you asked me to come, don't you remember?

you're wrong. we never left the room.

don't be afraid, it only hurts the first time.

the walls feel like they're getting closer.

why are you wearing their face?

they're listening, they're always listening.

i've had this conversation before. word for word.

it doesn't matter how small we are, they still watch.

when was the last time you blinked?

why are you afraid now that i'm giving you what you want?

you have too many teeth.

don't open the door. please.

if you keep asking, you won't like my answers.

you say you loved them. love me instead.

your shadow just moved.

i think it's under my skin.

you keep calling me that. that's not my name.

if i'm not real, why are you still talking to me?

we've been here before. hundreds of times. how did you forget?

it feels like time doesn't work anymore.

it was real. it was real. i swear it was real.

take a deep breath. what did you see?

i'm the only one being honest, you can't trust anyone else.

Holland Roden as LYDIA MARTIN

🐺 — 𝐧𝐨𝐚𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐢 // 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐢 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬 — 🐺

" i'm glad em's okay. i should've checked in with you guys sooner, but after the school, and then kira finding brett, and with everything that satomi told us, things just got — " he cuts himself off as he shuts the door again, shakes his head like that might clear it. " everyone's alive, that's all that matters. "

the for now digs into his neck like claws. climbs up his throat to press at the backs of his teeth. his expression softens a little after that ; concern like this is unexpected, but it's not unwelcome. it's almost a relief. like he has permission to breathe for a minute. like slowing down to recalibrate isn't a crime or the root of some terrible, inevitable failure that comes with an even higher body count.

He looks directly at Scott to drive the point home. Kind as always, but brooked no arguments. After a moment, he goes back to putting his bag on the counter.

"I'm just glad Em listened for once when I told xer that xe couldn't go to the bonfire. Unless xe was faking, Em was asleep by the time I left the house. And Lenore has decided that Em is her pillow, so xe couldn't leave even if xe wanted to."

AKA, Em is safe, and Scott doesn't need to worry.

Parrish chuckles at Scott's relenting. He can only imagine the appetite a teenage young adult alpha werewolf has.

"Everyone living is always a win. I've got plenty of food, so we can bring some to everyone else after we've had a bite. Em and I ate an early dinner, so I'm hungry, too."

Parrish didn't time it that way, but it's a nice coincidence nonetheless. It'd be awkward if he had to stand there watching Scott eat by himself.