#buggyask

The hallways are full, classes in full swing now that the semester has started. Pyro tries to take advantage of the crowded space, slipping in between other students silently, hiding in the large gathering of people.

He manages to make it to lecture unscathed, though avoiding Czeslaw's group of friends doesn't do much for him when he shares this class with Czeslaw himself. Mathematics has never been Pyro's area of expertise, so it isn't possible to skip like Czeslaw chooses to do most of the time.

It's just Pyro's luck that he decided to show up today. It's probably arrogant to think he did so to make them anxious, but Pyro wouldn't put it past him.

It's signing off on their fate when Czeslaw waves them over to sit with him. There's no reason he would invite them over if he didn't have some sort of plan to make their life miserable.

Still, Pyro plays along, ignoring the nerves pooling in their stomach when they sit next to him. They flinch when his hand lands on their shoulder, and it's clear Czeslaw catches it because his smile is a threat.

It doesn't matter if the other students or even the teachers see how Czeslaw treats them, but he doesn't like parading his cruelty, at least, not all the time.

Czeslaw likes it when he's with his friends, showing off on how helpless Pyro is to stop him, but not in front of people that might let it slip back to his family. It isn't a good look for them that only son is tormenting the Von Pyroscythe heir, especially since they've never done anything to stop it.

Not that the teachers have either, but gossip and venom spread regardless.

Pyro suffers either way, but less so if it doesn't get back to their own family.

They can't handle the disapproving looks sent their way when it's proven time and time again how weak and unworthy they are of their bloodline.

Ooo! That's a tough question.

I think probably the hotel scene with Neil and Andrew after Baltimore, or when Kevin visits Jean in California.

I love Andrew and Neil's dynamic, and I think you can really see how much they both care about each other in that scene, with Andrew racing in to see Neil, and Neil willing to leave if Andrew asked it of him.

Apo was just trying to organize her things, looking through for whatever could be useful, when she finds it.

She had forgotten it was there, under the roll of bandages and clothes she'd brought with her.

It's a necklace, a small flower blossom pendant hanging from the chain. It was cheap, hardly worth anything at all, but brings forward a wave of emotion.

She and Cherri hadn't had a lot of time to spend together between her deployments, but during one of the rare free moments of time, they had gone out to a festival.

There were stands, and dancing, and pretty lights. It had been beautiful, but Apo doesn't remember the event itself as much as she remembers how Cherri's face lit up with pride when she won them matching necklaces.

Cherri hadn't cared much for the jewelry itself, but she still clasped it around Apo's neck, smiling bright as she asked Apo to do the same for her.

Tears burn in Apo's eyes that she refuses to let fall, no matter how much she misses how things were before this mess.

Tucking Cherri's hair back, her fingers brushing her nape as Apo put it on her. Cherri's self-assured smile as she brags about beating the rigged festival games. Cherri's hand in hers, warm and steadying.

Would Cherri ever hold her hand again?

could you write some drownedglory propaganda <3

Anger brews in Pyro's gut as Czeslaw lords over them, mocking their notes, turning the pages of their journal carelessly.

It's stupid.

They know it's stupid, but they're moving before they can think it through. They pull themself to their feet, lunging forward and grabbing the journal from Czeslaw's hands.

Pyro feels a moment of victory, before it's sent flowing down the drain. The venom leaves them all at once at the look on Czeslaw's face. The rage there is dangerous, and Pyro knows they've made a mistake.

They take a step backwards, flinching when their back hits the wall behind them. They shrink into themself as Czeslaw approaches them, tucking their journal against their chest protectively.

Pyro looks up at him as Czeslaw presses into their space, swallowing thickly as his hand wraps loosely around their throat. Czeslaw isn't choking them, not yet, but the threat is clear.

He snarls, his free hand wrenching their journal out of their arms, throwing it behind him.

Pyro lifts their hand, holding onto his wrist, but they don't risk trying to pull him away. If they do, Pyro knows Czeslaw will tighten his grip around around their neck.

"You think you're so brave, don't you, Jack?" Czeslaw sneers. "You think you can stand up to me?"

Pyro is quick to shake their head, not daring to speak. They flinch again when Czeslaw brings his other hand towards their face, seizing their jaw in a harsh grip.

"Then don't be an idiot. I say what goes, and you listen like the dog you are."

Pyro face burns in shame, but they nod.

They only breath again when Czeslaw releases their throat, stepping away with a scoff. He stomps on their journal as he walks away, sending a pang of bitterness through them, but they force it down.

I love the core four coven! They're all awful for each other and I love it.

I'm sure that it's a surprise to no one that Pyro is my favorite, and some of my favorite relationships he has are with the coven.

Fledgling duo on it's own kills me, but with the addition of a character like Scott, who Pyro is both so afraid of and admires so much, and Shelby who thinks Scott can do no wrong, it creates such a fun messed up dynamic.

Owen grew on me over time, and while he seems to be more of an outsider with the coven dynamics, I love all his interaction with them as well.

Proof!! I just binge read through a lot of your fanfics to get a sense of your writing and it’s sooooooo good!! I’d absolutely adore a little drabble of Avid and Pyro realizing that they shouldn't be jealous over Scott and instead should be holding eachother gently (the touch-starved, self-hating characters that they are!). I just love reading them being soft to eachother

Here you go! I hope you like it. ;)

-

Avid hums to himself quietly as he approaches the castle doors, licking the blood from his hunt from off his lips. It had been a successful day, and Avid could hardly sit still with the excitement. He couldn't wait to tell Scott.

The elder vampire had been surprisingly quick to accept Avid into the coven, and Avid couldn't help but want to please him.

He walks through the dining hall, but pauses outside the ballroom when he hears two familiar voices. Driven forward by his curiosity, Avid peers around the corner.

Scott is standing there, tall and proud as ever. His eyes are narrowed, his head cocked to the side. “Are you being serious, Pyro?”

Pyro is stood before him, their shoulders pulled in as Scott glares down at them. They fidget with their sleeves, not meeting Scott's eyes. “Sire, I–”

Their mouth shuts when Scott raises his hand, shaking his head disapprovingly. “You know, this is why you haven't found your place in the coven.” Scott huffs. “You need to do better.”

Avid bites the inside of his cheek, wincing at the harsh wording. Looking back at Pyro, Avid feels his chest tighten. The other vampire looks crestfallen, their eyes gleaming wetly as they stare hard at the floor.

Scott either doesn't notice or, more likely, doesn't care. He clicks his tongue, walking away without another word, his heels echoing against the wood floor.

Avid hesitates in the doorway, watching as Pyro scrubs furiously at their eyes.

Avid may not have liked Pyro much, but something in him ached at the sight of them so clearly in distress. He didn't know what had led up to the part of the conversation he heard, but he doubted whatever it was justified the cruel words Scott flung around so casually.

Taking an unnecessary breath in, Avid walks into the ballroom. Pyro turns to him as soon as he steps forward, looking startled for a moment before a fierce scowl takes its place when he sees Avid.

The hostility was expected, but it was harder to be intimidated by Pyro's anger when they looked so close to tears.

“Are you alright?”

Pyro's scowl deepens. “What does it look like?”

Avid winces again. Clearly not the best thing to ask. “I heard what Scott said.”

Pyro flinches at Scott's name, though they try to hide it. “Have you come to gloat?”

Avid frowns. “I think you and I got off on the wrong foot, Pyro.”

“You splashed me with holy water and threw me out of a tree.”

Avid looks away, shame settling in his gut. “I know. I was scared and paranoid, though I know that isn't an excuse. I'm sorry.”

Pyro doesn't react to the apology, staring at him with a dull gaze.

Avid swallows. “Anyway. I heard what Scott said to you.”

Pyro's eyes narrow, though they look more like they're bracing themself than trying to glare.

“I'm sorry he said that to you. You didn't deserve that.”

Pyro crosses their arms. “You don't know what I did."

Avid nods. “I don't. But I stand by that you didn't deserve to be told that.”

Something in Pyro's expression breaks, before it softens. A deep sort of hurt and loneliness that pushes Avid forward.

“You don't have to talk about it, and I won't ask, but you're welcome to stay with me until Scott cools down.”

Pyro stares at him cautiously before looking away again. They look tired.

“Okay.”

Avid tilts his head, shifting a little awkwardly. “Okay?”

Pyro nods slowly. “Yeah. Alright.”

Avid smiles before he can stop himself.

Maybe there could be something more with him and Pyro.

If you've been on my blog for a while, you know I love majorscythe, both romantic and otherwise. One of the reasons I like it so much, is because it's so toxic. I've always enjoyed exploring darker topics in my writing and art, and majorscythe is a perfect canvas for that.

Pyro fears Scott as much as admires him, and while I love to write romantic majorscythe, I don't believe Pyro was ever actually in love with Scott. I think Pyro has a lot of issues with authority figures and people of power, and Scott falls into both of these categories.

Pyro is desperate to be validated and accepted, and when Scott feeds into that desperation it becomes easy to manipulate Pyro into doing what he wants. Pyro likes to feel useful, but when they were younger, they weren't given the time of day.

It's also worth noting that Pyro was bullied and preyed upon frequently before they came to Oakhurst. They're used to being in a position where people hold power over them, whether that being their family, or the people that bullied them.

Scott is familiar to Pyro in that way, while also giving them more than anyone else ever had.

I've mentioned before that by the time Pyro came to Oakhurst they were aimless. Sure, they had their thesis and a plan to prove themself to their family, but it wasn't thought out and Pyro themself was quick to abandon the plan when things went sideways.

Scott easily took advantage of this by offering Pyro a place of belonging. This heavily influences the way Pyro acts.

I could also go on to say that the coven dynamics, which are cult-like at best, influenced the way Pyro reacted to the things around them.

While the coven was a place of belonging, the relationships were unbalanced. Shelby was always taking Scott's side, unable and unwilling to accept that he could be doing wrong. Owen is more of an outsider, but even when interacting with the rest of the coven, he was standoffish and unavailable.

This left Pyro without any support network aside from Scott, who used it to his advantage.

I firmly believe that the reason Pyro helped Owen kill Avid was because they felt threatened by his presence. Avid had treated Pyro like a beast, something I imagine was triggering for Pyro. He was aggressive and mocking towards them. Then, Scott allows Avid a place in the coven, and Pyro is pushed to the side.

He no longer gets validation from Scott, and his sense of belonging is wavering with Avid's presence. I'm sure that to Pyro, Shelby being the one to have turned Avid felt like a betrayal.

They were there first, and had given so much to keep their place, and now that place was being taken away from them.

I think that once Avid was dead, Pyro lorded it over Scott because it was an opportunity for them to have power over someone who had so much control over them.

I also think that in the end, when Pyro and Shelby had their confrontation, Pyro mentioned Scott not because they thought Scott would care or save them, but because they knew how highly Shelby thought of Scott's opinion.

It's interesting to me, the difference between Shelby and Scott's relationship and Pyro and Scott's. Shelby sees Scott as a friend, and while she also admires him, she sees him as an equal.

Hey Buggy! Can't believe we are actually winning this one!

I don't know if you were planning on doing something like this at some point...

But could I please ask for a little drable of MerPyro still living in his pod? <3

Baby MerPyro in his pod. Poor little guy. T^T

-

Pyro lays down on his belly, poking at a small minnow while his pod is out hunting.

They never like when Pyro tries to tag along, baring their teeth in annoyance when he makes mistakes and clawing at him if he's too loud. It's easier for everyone when he stays behind, and this way, Pyro doesn't have to get hurt.

He pouts as the little fish he's playing with swims away, pressing his face against his arms.

It's boring to be by himself, but Pyro is used to it. Even when his pod is present, none of his pod mates want to play with him. None of the elders are interested in entertaining him either, so he's alone more often than not, even with other mers around.

Pyro fidgets with a shell nearby, pretending it's a one of the boats he's seen passing by the reef. He's never seen one up close, the elders not letting any of them get near them, but they're big.

He can't help his curiosity, but he's learned not to ask about the ships. The elders get mad when he does, and Pyro doesn't like it when the other mers are upset with him.

Pyro perks up at the sound of familiar clicks, dropping the shell and pushing himself up. He swims over to his pod, chirping happily.

His smile falters when no one returns the greeting, but Pyro doesn't let himself get discouraged. He swims up to his mother, chirping again as he nuzzles his head against her arm.

He wilts as she nudges him away, fins pressing back against his head. He trails behind her into the cave their family is staying in, sticking close to her side.

Pyro waits for her to acknowledge him, his stomach rumbling when she lays out the fish she caught on the hunt. There's enough there that Pyro is hopeful some of it will be shared with him.

He doesn't go hungry often, but his mother and father weren't always in good enough moods to feed him. Pyro is small, even compared to his other pod mates, so he knows he can live on less.

Once he's bigger, he's sure his pod will let him join in on hunts. Then Pyro can get his own food without burdening anyone.

For now, Pyro crawls over to his mother, whining softly as he nuzzles against her side. She looks down at him with disinterest, but she hands him one of the fish, so Pyro knows she's not actually upset with him.

He curls up in his corner, nibbling at the fish. He watches his mother and father settle in their spot, wanting not for the first time to be allowed to cuddle with them.

His pod mates parents kept them close, but Pyro's mother and father have never been the affectionate type. Maybe when he was younger, but they trust him to manage himself now.

It feels a little lonely, but he knows they must be proud of him for taking such good care of himself.