#laughingskeleton

No idea how did I not score this.

happy birthday!

*clutching wanda to my chest to protect her from that abusive piece of shit*

You know laughingskeleton ?

Well it turns out they’re not even a laughing skeleton. No, they’re a siren. A siren for rare ships. You know, the ships where it’s a miracle that they have any content IF they have anything to begin with? The ones that slip through the cracks past most if not all the fandom. The ones where only a few mad enough to imagine are drawn to them.

I was just minding my own business, sailing happily in the fandom sea. Staying in the waters where there was plenty of content: fanart, fanfics, headcanons and AUs galore. I have heard the rumors of those rare ships that float out past the mapped territory of fandom. Where those daring enough to go out into that fog never return. Or so most of us thought whenever anyone miraculous returned to our safe oceans. They rambled on about ships so rare, the fandom community will wave it off as nonsense and disillusions.

Madmen and daydreamers, most would say.

That was enough for me to stay clear from the unknown, or so I thought. Curiousity, as always, has slowly gotten the better of me. The more I’ve heard of these rare ships, the more I wanted to learn of them. While the ships in these familiar fandom shores were beautiful, I couldn’t help feeling drawn to the siren’s song. Quiet and gentle, whispering among the fog of unmapped territory.

Okay, but have you considered…?

“No, I shouldn’t let myself go out there.” I whispered as I looked out at the fog. My sailboat swaying peacefully in the clear blue waters of fandom. I’m content in my net of safety, so why would I want to leave? “There’s hardly anything to gain from rare ships.”

Okay, but have you considered…?

“There’s hardly any content…”

Okay, but have you considered…?

“Very few have returned! And all the survivors babble on about ships that never be.”

Okay, but have you considered…?

“What is there to consider!” I shook my fist to the fog, my tiny boat splashing in the ocean as I abrupty stood. “Should I, too, go out into those waters only to be driven mad? I will not be seduced, you- you temptress!”

I glared at the fog, expecting the same reply. But nothing came, only the breeze and water lapping along my boat. Like I was yelling at no one at all. I turned my boat around to return to fandom’s shores. But still in the back of my mind came the question.

Okay, but have you considered…?

I won’t lie, I only have myself to blame for what I do next. I packed up writing utensils, paper, and snacks into my bag. If I’m going to do this, it’s better to start early. I tossed my bag into my tiny boat, pushing off into the ocean. I slowly rowed past the beautiful ships, as if to admire them one last time. Further and further away I rowed, until I finally stopped before the fog.

“Challenge accepted.” I whispered, sailing off into the unknown.

This fog was impossible to see in, save a few feet. All to be heard is the water, the wind and my breathing. The silence was unbearable compared to the gushing and squeeing I cherished. I have made a terrible mistake and should turn around, but alas! The thickness of this fog makes it nearly impossible to tell which way’s which! No wonder few return to the fandom’s safe shores! I’m doomed and these waters will be my tombstone!

“If I’m going to die, it will be on a full stomach!” I cried, snatching out a bag of chips from my bag. “Plus I refuse to let my snacks go to waste.”

I swore under my breath in desperation because this blasted bag wouldn’t open! Oh, curse my tiny hands! And this blasted fog! And whoever made these bags so hard to open! And curse the whole world while I’m at it-

Calm down.

“Who’s there?” I squeaked, looking around the vicinity and nothing came into view. “Is that you, temptress?”

Stop calling me that.

“If you think you can trick me into whatever rare ships you hold, I won’t like them!” I threatened, waving my bag of chips like a weapon. “I mean it!”

I’m not here to trick you. I only ask you to consider…

“Well, I can’t consider anything in the middle of nowhere! Where are you, temptress?”

Silence.

“Temptress…?”

Even more silence as I shuffled nervously. I opened my mouth to speak again when the front of my boat hit rock. I flew forward with a undignified squawk, landing roughly. What on earth was that? It couldn’t possibly be land, i had just entered into this fog! But then again lord knows what was out here. I grumbled as I stood up stiffly, straightening my clothes.

And what caught my eyes made me freeze in fright.

There standing before me was a skeleton. Yes, an actual skeleton. YES, I KID YOU NOT. Words escaped me as they leaned forward, a vapor of air escaping from their mouth.

“I told you not to call me temptress.”

“Well, it was good while it lasted.” I shot out an arm. “If you must eat me, make it fast.”

“Eat you???” There was silence before they cackled. “Oh goodness no. I only ask you to consider.”

I soon followed this skeleton through the large bushes into this opening. And there before my very eyes, were the rare ships. While many wouldn’t see them as grand, I couldn’t help but get excited. And we weren’t the only two around, as a few others gushed and wrote about these rare ships too!

“You can come and go as you please, though you’re more than welcome to stay.”

These rare ships were unique, but so few things were told about them. And I couldn’t resist wanting to make records. The fandom certainly won’t fall apart if I wrote and drew for these ships. There was plenty of talent back home.

So, here I am asking you the same question posed to me: