#mod writes

Mark

M - Memory. What's their favorite memory together?

Tricky to say. Mark's memory has never been the greatest. It'd probably be some small, casual moment earlier in your relationship, a moment where you cemented yourself in his mind. If he had to give a specific one, it might be the time you'd shown up at his place to hang out when he'd figured the weather had cancelled your plans. He'd been waiting for a call back from you, having tried multiple times over to see what your plans were now that the rain was suddenly pouring. Each time, went to voicemail, leaving him staring out the window just in case. The second he figured you'd entirely given up, you'd knocked right on his front door. You tracked in an awful amount of water, woke up the next day with a partially-gone voice, but it'd all been worth it to see you. Heck, he swears the hallway lights might as well have been haloing you! It'd proven something to him in that moment, that you cared and that you wanted to be around him. It certainly gave him plenty to sigh and swoon about.

A - Attractive. What do they find attractive?

Courage. Above all else, he respects people who know what they are and what they stand for. The ability to get up and keep going on means a lot to him. It inspires a lot of hope and confidence for him. In such a loud, messy world, being able to just focus on what you hold dear and continue on is invaluable.

R - Romance. How romantic are they? What do they do?

He's trying. He doesn't have a lot of experience outside of Wallter and a few short-lived things, a lot of romantic gestures are a little lost on him. He's just not familiar and a lot of it comes off a little silly and ingenuine to him, he doesn't need big shows to be happy with you. That being said, that doesn't mean he doesn't make an effort. Despite his worries, he knows romance is important in a romantic relationship. His own version of getting you flowers is getting you snacks. Drinks, candy, actual food, all of it ends up getting handed over to you. Quickest way to someone's heart is through their stomach after all! Besides, he just likes making sure you're in good condition. It might not be the healthiest things, but sometimes you need just a liiittle something to keep going.

K - Kiss. Are they a good kisser? What was your first kiss like?

Ehhh? He's not bad persay, he definitely puts heart into it, he's just a little brash with it. He's got big emotions, emotions that can only be translated into accidentally slamming your heads together a few times. He does definitely try and be gentler after the first few bruised lips. He's a little unsure of himself, always either a little pulled away or a little too close, but he does try and follow your lead for the most part.

Party Noob

P - Pet names. What pet names do they use?

You can't diss the classics. Very much so a babe/baby user, uses it more than your normal name. It comes naturally to them, it's how they always refer to you in casual conversation. It's the easiest and clearest thing to squeal out whenever you show up to their parties (if you weren't there helping set up). Less common but still important ; sweetie/sweetheart. It's just so cute to them and so are you! It's perfect!

O - On cloud nine. What are they like when they're in love? Is it obvious?

It's not the most obvious, only the most keen eyed and familiar could really identify it beyond Poob just being gigglier and more excitable than normal. Their crushing phase is characterized mostly by an almost teenage-girl-level thrill at all times. If you're not around, they're swinging on their feet and staring off smiling to themself about you. If you are, they're practically vibrating talking to you, hands usually balled up or gesturing wildly. They're about a hair's width away from kicking their feet and skipping around. Most of their feelings are clued on by them suddenly inviting specifically you to parties. Sure, they've always invited you but it's different once they start developing feelings. They go out of their way to make sure you're one of the first people, you almost always get handmade invitations, and the snack bar always seems to lean in your favor. It's what they know best, if they really want to knock your socks off then they've gotta keep trying.

Q - Quirk. Some random ability they have that's beneficial in a relationship.

Poob, despite the intensity of their emotions, is incredibly level-headed. They're very good at sitting down and listening when you talk, no matter if it's positive or negative. Though, it especially helps in those negative conversations. They're able to acknowledge how you feel and that you're right and okay for feeling that way while also trying to pull you into a more neutral-positive direction. Things might be hard, someone might've unintentionally hurt your feelings, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. If you're the type to spiral, they're the goat of distracting you from catastrophizing.

B - Beauty. What do they admire about you?

It's criminal to ask them this and not expect them to go on and on. If you really, really forced them to name one specific thing, it would just be how nice you are. They've got a lot going on, they've had a lot going on, having someone at their side at all means a lot to them. The way you're able to start conversations with them (even if you might not be the most confident or the best at small-talk, it's the care and effort to try at all that counts) is what really gets them hooked with you.

Bive

B - Beauty. What do they admire about you?

Your patience. Not many have the care to listen to her and not many does she let listen. If you can stick by her side, prove that you're not around for malicious intent, that's already quite a feat. It shows that you've got integrity, that you're not going to fly or snitch as soon as someone glances at you. It's a little confusing, she's not sure how best to word what exactly grabs her attention with you. Security? Kindness? Whatever it really is, it's always left her seeing you as one of the few allies she has, someone who really is on her level. Having you around, through good and bad phases, leaves her standing a little tallker knowing she has you in her corner.

I - Inspiration. Do you change them at all?

Yes. It's not a night-and-day change, she's never going to be a social butterfly, but she certainly feels a lot more comfortable leaving the house with you. She still staunchly prefers quiet, isolated places, but she's much more willing to go out now. It's the confidence you provide her that let's her risk going out and being seen by the world. She might not say it, her anxieties and paranoia still shake her down going out, but you really have made it so much easier. Even if she really would rather stay in and work, away from prying eyes, she knows that you're only trying to help her. So, she'll grit her teeth and go out to some cafe with you. (Any annoyance instantly fades once you guys sit down somewhere to enjoy it. I think she would be a coffee cake fan.)

V - Value. How important is the relationship to them?

Very important. As soon as you start cementing yourself as someone who can be trusted and can understand where she's coming from, you become a pretty vital figure in her life. Two minds are better than one, so it goes. She doesn't know how she would handle losing you. Likewise, she also can't help but feel obligated to care. With the level of paranoia she's got, she feels like she's put some kind of target on you as well. Obviously on a social level, but on something more vague and intimidating as well.

E - Equal. Are they the more dominant or passive one in the relationship?

Windforce

-FIRST ONE TO MAKE ME THINK OF ESC AND HOLLYBERRY ACTUALLY. im sorry i need a reader to worm their way into Windforce's vulnerable side by buttering her up and promising her this that and then some in their earlier years.

-Imagining Windforce before she even had a region to call her own getting caught up in a deal with reader who claims to just be interested in 'investing in new power.' She's not naive, she wouldn't be so easily swayed by a mortal, but a god older than her? One that she can find so little about? Clearly, there's room for nuance here.

-Reader promises Windforce will find her people and build a strong civilization, so long as Windforce 'keeps them around.' It's a vague clause, intentionally so, painted as a lonely deity bored and simply looking for some company ... which isn't entirely untrue! You just also know when to get yourself a ticket into a different league and an ally that's willing to work with you.

Firebrand

-The one that maybe fits ESC + Hollyberry more. imo. Firebrand seems to be the most levelheaded / down to earth of the swords so I think reader would be particularly interested in him. He would be the easiest target for manipulation, after all. I feel like Reader would approach him as more of a friend than a business partner, turning the deal into more of a 'favor-for-favor' situation. Whether they just hold their favor over his head eternally or it's some long in the future favor like 'hey everything you have is mine whenever you die haha lol!!!! (because you're never gonna die!! ^-^ of course!!! aren't i so nice? can you give me a million dollars.)'

-I don't know. I imagine their dynamic is actually pretty sweet for a good while. Reader hangs around mostly just to see what he's really doing, if only to be a step in front of the competition, Firebrand just likes having someone around that he can get advice from. Sure, his siblings are around but .. it feels easier to ask you, you're always there and you've been around longer than he has, you've gotta have the best understanding out of anybody, right?

-Also I imagine the reader having a hand in a lot of previous, smaller civilizations. Hearing reader talk about them would be extremely interesting to him, seeing how people have changed so much in history and how the world has shifted around this way and that direction. I think reader would, however apparent it is or not, like having another god to talk to that doesn't seem so ... worried about it. Not as power hungry or hasty as other new gods can be. It would be a breath of fresh air.

-I like to imagine maybe Firebrand disappeared with reader ... guilt of the scorch and getting his siblings banned from experiencing the same fondness he has for mortals would build up too high for him to handle. I think Reader, either out of pity or something else, would essentially take him in and 'give him the space to learn and regret.' They might not have any real reason for keeping him but it certainly keeps him from moping somewhere else, besides, maybe they just like to see how he handles it. Or he does just fully disappear and reader is miserable about it the whole time. In a superficial way they might explain it as 'SOMEONE IS TAKING HIS (MY) SHIT RN!!!!!!' but I think it would be more out of 'im so fucking bored where is my girlfriend.' Maybe they get weirder and eviller in his absence for true accuracy. Much to consider ... In a beautiful world they're filling in for Firebrand and supervising Valk and Dom. Hi guys your grandpa died you have to go to the Other One's house.

Venomshank

-Ok. Now hear me out. Eternal flour + dark cacao dynamic. Just hear me out. Reader whose entranced by some new deity with that fight in him acting all posh and collected, how could they not pick on him? It wouldn't take much to break that facade, surely. They come to him promising they'll clean up after him, ensure all the victims are dealt with in a more humane way. Their wording is littered with little digs, poking and prodding at his seeming lack of control. Looking back on it now, it was childish of him to be so swayed by your words. The way you pushed him into wanting to prove a point to you was humiliatingly simple.

-Your relationship never has a true turning point. There's no moment where the dynamic shifts or changes suddenly. You've both just existed with one another for so long, constantly biting at the other. He was stuck listening to your jabs for as long as you were trying to repair his damages. (Truthfully, he didn't know how much you actually did. For all he knew, you'd done just enough to trick him. He was more focused on proving you were wrong, proving he could be just as powerful as an older god.)

The 'spot' had appeared a week or so ago. A small, circular section of the skin over your cheek had ... thinned? Died? You weren't quite sure, as much as the scientist in you wanted to understand, the patient in you didn't quite want to know just what had eaten away at you. It was the poison. You were sure of it.

Subspace had been wearing the mask since he'd been discharged from the medical bay following 'The Disaster.' He removed it only to eat, sleep, and shower, all behind closed doors. You'd seen his face a few times, only a few. Sometimes he could handle it long enough to eat, knowing that you were there and, obviously, aware of his appearance. Other times, he wouldn't be able to, eating in his room alone. Another few times, he'd try to, only to end up staring at you instead, waiting for some nonexistant, imagined threat to leave you, breaking his eye contact only when the fog of threat cleared and revealed his teenage kin focused on staring the complete opposite way. The realization would make him shrink away in embarrassment, gather his things and slink away to his room to recoup himself.

Of course, you would succumb to the same fate. Not as severe, for sure, but who knows? Maybe it would only be a matter of time, this was only the first development of many to come, surely. The gap stared at you, invisible in the dark but a sore thumb to your eyes. Your hand shifted, joint locking up before finally acquiescing to the movement with a 'crack.' That was another thing, next it would be your joints. The cartilage would become thin and leave your bones grinding themselves to dust. Or maybe the marrow would run dry and leave you with a limited amount of fresh blood. You'd heard him complain so many times, hiss with the pressure of writing or even just standing. It would only be a matter of time before your own body weight would be too much. You'd crumble apart, outside in. All because of some stupid-

"Hey."

The voice ripped you from your trance. Your hands tore away, one shooting up to the side of your face without a second thought. Your hands were cold, dragging a shiver up through your shoulders. He'd already seen it. You knew it. How obvious was it to him? Should you ask? Did you even wanna know?

"Pretty early to be up," Shuriken continued. You could just barely make out his figure in the doorway, hidden in the dark. You could make out the outline of a baggy shirt and sweatpants, the ones you'd worn a hundred times before because 'you didn't live here, why bring clothes?' If you squinted, you could just barely see his own squinted eyes. Was he judging you? Surely, he was digging for something here. (Obviously, not because he'd just woken up. Surely not.)

"Yeah, I just uh-" You turned, gesturing vaguely with your free hand to the room around you, "Just needed to use the bathroom and got distracted. Sorry."

"With the door open?"

You blinked at him, "What? Obviously not, are you kidding me? What if your sister woke up?"

"So you just opened the door to wash your hands then?" He tilted his head at you. If his gaze wasn't judgemental before, it certainly was now. Though, at least this time you had the reassurance it was more about your ability to lie than your appearance.

You clenched your hand idly, once then twice. "Um," you started, eyes darting to the side, "yeah."

Shuriken stared at you for a moment longer, assessing the situation. He already knew what this was about. Sure, he'd noticed, then forgot about it as soon as he noticed. It only became more of an issue as soon as he saw how much you were freaking out about it. This had become something of a ritual. Not for this long, not at the same time, but you'd always find yourself in a mirror looking at it again. You'd brushed it off as 'looking for changes' once but he knew that was only part of it. He'd never seen Subspace's face, not in a million years would he let that happen, but he could see the edges of the rot. He could see how it crawled up his face, just a little further than the mask with every passing day. Admittedly, the Subspace he saw just a few days ago did look rougher than the Subspace he first seen. (Though, that could've just been because he'd had to get to know him over the years. Maybe the ugly in him had been seeping out the whole time.)

While he didn't understand exactly what Subspace's poison was or did, he could guess this was the side effect of it. Being in constant proximity to it every single day, breathing it in, no matter how trace, for hours upon hours, it was tearing him apart. So, of course, when you suddenly 'mutate' (If he were any less aware of how miserable this was for you, he would've burst out laughing the first time he'd heard you utter the word. If you were really were mutating, maybe he should start talking to you about developing superpowers.), it was only natural to jump to Subspace's situation as your next stop.

I mean, you'd been around him every day of your life, all hours of the day, for years now. He didn't know much of your life before phighting but from what he had heard, it was a whole lot of 'work with subspace my boss, go home (still at work) where I live with subspace my brother (still my boss).' As much as he didn't like the thought (and as much as you loathed the thought), it was pretty likely you would have to pay for the constant exposure too.

This wasn't helping though. The trance you'd go into just staring at yourself. It wasn't about the exposure, wasnt even really about the mark. If it was, you would be doing more tests. God, if there was anything he'd know, you'd do tests. Your entire life revolved around testing and data collection. Every phight was reviewed with keen eyes and intense attention to scores and efficiency. You would have something to say, some idea or drive to improve and fix things. You never did though, never muttered some hypothesis to yourself. Just sat there in silence. It was deeper than that, more of a symbol than anything. It was the first physical change you hadn't chosen, your horns was a change you made all by yourself, this was done entirely without your say. Your brother had put you here and Subspace had lead you down the road, you'd never had a moment to weigh the consequences. Blackrock had pushed you down one long, harsh path blocked off on either side by thick woods.

"Why don't you come lay back down?" Shuriken offered carefully. He couldn't tell you anything that'd make it better. He couldn't tell you you weren't sick because you very well could be. He couldn't tell you that you didn't deserve it because you already knew that. All he could do is try and walk you through the trail hidden in those woods.

You sucked in a breath, glancing at the mirror one last time. You weighed your options, swaying in place. Your ankles whimpered with an ache you knew would be worse tomorrow from standing in place for so long. Before you could sulk yourself back into spot, the logical side of your mind tinged awake, stirred by the presence of someone else with an even head on their shoulders. 'Rest is good for health.' The over-simplified, lazily attentive part of your mind chirped.

"Sure, I have a few hours before sunrise," you responded, hand falling slowly from your face. Shuriken gave you a little half smile, somewhere between a 'thank you' and something like pride. (If you were more awake, you would pry a little more into why exactly you thought you were reading that and why you were happy to read that but it was pretty late for that.) He stepped aside, making his way back to his room. You followed after him, just barely catching him looking over his shoulder to make sure you hadn't changed your mind.

His room wasn't anything special, littered with gifts from friends and a few work shirts laying around. It wasn't particularly messy but it wasn't spotless clean either, the kind of room you got from forcing yourself to keep the place together if only out of shame. Your room was only marginally better. The fact you'd been sharing it with him had gone entirely undiscussed. You were only visiting and they didn't have a spare bedroom afterall, you just tended to spend most of your visit there with him so it made perfect sense to sleep there too. Obviously because it would be annoying to move to the living room that late when you were done hanging out or talking. You never really bothered to question it and doing so now would only serve to make things more awkward and anxiety-inducing for you.

He flopped back down onto the bed face first, blindly yanking the blankets over himself. Following suit, you sat down, raised the blanket and pulled your legs up onto the bed underneath it in a perfect line. He turned his head to look at you for, finding you facing the ceiling with open eyes. He wondered if he should say something about earlier. Sure, he didn't have anything helpful, really, but maybe he could say something at least?

You blinked and he couldn't help the stupid, smug thought that crossed his mind.

"You know you usually close your eyes to sleep right?"

You turned to look back at him, instantly recognizing his expression even in the dark. You couldn't help the wry grin that crawled onto your face, even if you knew you were only feeding into it.

"You know you have to shut up to sleep right?"

"Don't you know that?"

You grit your teeth. He smiled back at you.

"You're so fucking annoying you know that?" You kicked at his legs, Shuriken shuffling away quickly to evade you.

"You're so annoying! You always target me in phights!" He argued back, kicking at your legs in return.

"No I don't!"

"Yeah you do!"