A Basic Breakdown Of My Vampire Egos From My Base Vampire AU

🎩Clothes swap with the egos part 2👓

The Celestials Collaboration!

One week ago, I asked for six other artists to join me in a very ambitious collab on Instagram! This is the final result!

It features each of the Jacksepticeye egos as a celestial being!

From top to bottom:

JJ as time itself by @jayofmemory

Jackie as the sun by @cozune

Henrik as the moon by @chocolatetweetl-01

Chase as the earth by me, @leobashi

Jack as the fallen angel by @hawkiemuffin

Anti as the demon by @_liinhyet_ (idk if they have a tumblr)

And Marvin as the stars by @madeline.secules (also don’t know, but check out their instas anyway)

Please go check them all out! They are amazing artists! This project wouldn’t have been possible without them and I am insanely grateful for what they contributed!

Radio Silence

Description: Amazed and overwhelmed by the new technologies that the other egos have introduced, JJ is happy to find some peace and solace in listening to the radio, and his new friend :)

(TW: No triggers this time, at least I think)

The sequence of beeps startled JJ out of his stupor of listening to a rather nice station, he blinked, a smile lighting on his face as he noted the frequency had changed, another sequence of beeps came through, and he hastily translated, writing it down via paper, and prepared his reply.

……-.. .-.. — / .— .- – . … — -. –..– / …. — .– / .- .-. . / -.– — ..- / - — -.. .- -.– ..–.. (Hello Jameson, how are you today?) The man blinked at the rather odd politeness, his newly discovered friend, who had called themselves ‘Ti’ in their first correspondence, always had something quirky to say as a greeting, but he assumed it was because they had a stressful day, he assumed their job was very hard, given that the messages he received were few and far-between.

.-. .- - ……-. / .– . .-.. .-.. –..– / – -.– / –. — — -.. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. –..– / .. … / … — – . - …. .. -. –. / - …. . / – .- - - . .-. ..–.. (Rather well, my good friend, is something the matter?) He tapped his foot impatiently, awaiting the answer he heard a knock on the door, “JJ buddy, we’re gonna have dinner in a few minutes, you have anything in mind? Cuz Jackie was just gonna make pasta again-” Chase’s voice called through the door, he walked up and opened the door, smiling at the tired looking ego, ‘Pasta sounds wonderful, my good sir!’ he motioned, a wonder, this Sign Language was, he marveled at its brilliance, but it was nice every now and again to sit down and be near what he could of the old times, “Alright bud, see ya downstairs in a bit.” Chase nodded, running down the hall, and once he was gone he could again hear the sequence, turning back towards the radio he once again translated the message.

-. — - …. .. -. –. –..– / .— ..- … - / .-. .- - ……-. / -… — .-. . -.. .-.-.- / .. .—-. …- . / -… . . -. / - …. .. -. -.- .. -. –. –..– / – .- -.– -… . / .– . / … …. — ..- .-.. -.. / – . . - .-.-.- (Nothing, just rather bored. I’ve been thinking, maybe we should meet.) His eyes widened, he had suggested meeting to Ti before, but the mysterious messenger was always insistent that they weren’t fun to hang out with, a thought he found preposterous, from what he had gathered, Ti was a wonderful individual, a fan of all the novels he had read, a rather clever wit if they could learn morse code, he would scoff at the thought if he could in fact, well, scoff. .. / .– — ..- .-.. -.. / -… . / -.…-.. .. –. …. - . -.. / - — / ..-. .. -. .- .-.. .-.. -.– / – . . - / ..-. .- -.-. . / - — / ..-. .- -.-. . –..– / .– …. .- - / - .. – . ..–.. (I would be delighted to finally meet face to face, what time?) He had always assumed Ti lived in the area, given they had talked about the same place for quite a long time, it had to be the case

.–…-. …. .- .–. … / - — – — .-. .-. — .– / – — .-. -. .. -. –. ..–.. / .. / …. .- …- . / - …. . / -.. .- -.– / ..-. .-… (Perhaps tomorrow morning? I have the day free) He grinned at that, it just so happened he had that day free as well, as Marvin wouldn’t have his next show until the afternoon, Schneep was busy doing shifts at the hospital, Chase had visitation with his children and Jackie would be out and about buying groceries, - …. .- - .—-. … / .–…-. ..-. . -.-. - –..– / .- -.-. - ..- .- .-.. .-.. -.– –..– / .– ……-. . / . -..- .- -.-. - .-.. -.– ..–.. (That’s perfect, actually, where exactly?) A static sound came from the frequency, loud and so intrusive it made JJ jump, followed by a cut-off bit of beeps -….- — -. .—-. - / –. — .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- - .-. .- .–. another sequence followed rather speedily after that one .- …. –..– / – -.– / …. .- -. -.. / … .-.. .. .–. .–. . -.. / — -. / - …. .- - / — -. . –..– / -.. — -. .—-. - / - .-. .- -. … .-.. .- - . –..– / .. - … / .- / – . … … .-.-.- (ah, my hand slipped on that one, don’t translate, its a mess.) JJ who had just written down the sequence, quickly erased it, .–…-. …. .- .–. … / — ..- - … .. -.. . / - …. .- - / -.-. .- ..-. . / .– . / -… — - …. / .-.. .. -.- . ..–.. / .. .—-. …- . / -… . . -. / -.. -.– .. -. –. / ..-. — .-. / … — – . / -.-. — ..-. ..-… –..– / .-.. .- - . .-.. -.– .-.-.- (Perhaps outside that cafe we both like? I’ve been dying for some coffee, lately.) His stomach gurgled at the thought of a good cup of coffee as he remembered dinner was almost ready, he found he was slouching at the nice white noise in the background as he put his reply, … — ..- -. -.. … / .– — -. -.…-. ..-. ..- .-.. –..– / .. .—-. – / .- ..-. .-. .- .. -.. / .. / …. .- …- . / - — / –. . - / –. — .. -. –. / - …. — ..- –. …. –..– / -.. .. -. -…-. / .. … / .- .-.. – — … - / .-…- -.. -.– .-.-.- (Sounds wonderful, I’m afraid I have to get going though, dinner is almost ready.) He typed a quick farewell, leaving the radio on by total accident as another sequence of beeps followed, … . . / -.– — ..- / … — — -. –..– / .— .— / —… -.–.- 

The next day, after Marvin’s show…

Marvin walked into JJ’s room, concerned as to why he never showed up for his magic, the man had always enjoyed seeing the tricks he had pulled, as the radio played a song, it let out a static burst yet again, and the sequence itself was unmistakable.

… — …

… — …

.̙.͎.̩ ̙-̢-͜-͙ ̜.͓.̱.͕

(A/N: Oh no what happened to poor JJ?~ ;) Nah but seriously idk where this idea came from but take I guess? And again, if you would like to be removed or added to the tag list please let me know!)

Tag List: @anti-sharky @fairyofsomething @darcywillfindyou @char-arts-occasionally @miss-covert @pumpkin-demon @wyverwithy @ninjasinsocks@pyranoia @cai-the-savage777 @lonelyseiren @randowaffle

[Turn up ur brightness]

Ghost Hunted AU revamp whoop whoop

Erseptyl AU

Prologue Part2

So this is part 2/3 to the prologue of my fantasy au? I so apologize if this one doesn’t live up to the first. This one got a little too ambitious for me…. but I am still learning how to word ^^’ And dialogue.. i gotta learn to do that too. I’ll learn tho. I hope…. Criticism is appreciated ^^’

Part one - https://epicseptic.tumblr.com/post/660766644770062336/erseptyl-au

———-

“Ugh, this is so BORING!” Marvin groaned. He slumped in his place on the throne, leaning his elbow on the armrest with his head in his hand.

“Your Highness, please refrain from such inappropriate outbursts….” Anti was highly unamused by the misbehavior and the disapproving look on his face said it all. He stood to the left of the throne with a book as big as an encyclopedia in his arms and a quill in his hand. As Marvin’s royal advisor, he stood beside him throughout most of the day charting records and ultimately helping the prince make decisions on social and economical issues in the kingdom. He was typically very calm and passionate about his work, always wanting to get straight to the point and sometimes getting carried away. 

At least, that’s how Marvin saw it.

Weiterlesen

These Thorns Are Rosy

(This is based off a little plot-concept-thing from @septic-dr-schneep‘s blog! It happened…a while ago. Oops. 

Marvin accidentally cursed JJ, and now everything JJ touches becomes roses and his hands prick people he touches as though they’re covered in thorns. Title inspired by the song Hey Look Ma, I made It by Panic! At The Disco.)

“I called Marvin, just try to calm down. Just-just breath. In, out, in, out,” Chase said, putting his hand on JJ’s shoulder. The young ego jerked away, loosing his footing from how violently he did so. 

“I can’t!” His speech slide shook like it was in an earthquake. “I-I don’t understand what’s happening!” Chase tried to get close to him again, but JJ stumbled back. “No! No, you mustn't touch me!”

“Okay, okay! I won’t touch you!” Chase said, putting his hand up. “But please just breath, okay? Take a deep breath. Marvin can fix this. I’m sure.”

JJ took a deep breath, and his hands trembled a little less. “Right, y-yes. Marvin can fix this.” He looked at the petals littering the floor, at the way chase was rubbing his hand and wincing. Oh god, he hoped Marvin could fix it.

Three days.

Three days and Marvin still had no idea how to reverse…whatever curse was on JJ. 

Whatever curse he’d put on JJ.

He didn’t even know how it had happened. All he knew was that he’d gone with JJ to pick up some rose seeds, and then…his eyes widened.

The car ride. During the ride back home, he’d been the one holding the seeds, and he’d fallen asleep. He had a dream, a dream where strings pulled at his arms and forced his magic out of him, where his magic was no longer his own, where whispers had swirled around his head in inside his mind and forced themselves out of his mouth, where stabbing pains wrapped around him and he could feel static in his blood, and hen it had all drained away and he was left with only the sounds of screeching broken records.

He felt the hairs on his neck stand up, but not just from the revelation. Static filled the air around him, and he knew it was no coincidence that he was only able to remember the dream now.

He whirled around and found himself face-to-face with the Glitch himself. Marvin raised his hand, but Anti just smiled and suddenly the magician was plunged into darkness.

Three days.

Three days that Jameson couldn’t touch anyone or anything. Not food, not a glass of water, and he refused to let his brothers come near him for fear of harming them.

Oddly enough, he didn’t feel hungry. He had taken to spending his time outside, where he couldn’t do any damage. He felt better in the sun, he discovered, especially when he took his hat off. 

He wouldn’t mind that so much if he hadn’t begun to find rose buds in his hair, rose buds that had no way to get there.

Unless they hadn’t gotten there, and had started there instead. The thought sent shivers down his spine. 

“JJ?”

He looked up, startled out of his thoughts. Marvin knelt down in front of him. “What are you thinking about?”

Jameson clasped his hands together like he was afraid they’d reach out and touch Marvin all on their own. “I’m not getting any better, Marvin, in fact I do believe I’m getting worse. I’m just hoping for when this nightmare will end.”

Marvin blinked, and looked down at the ground. “About that…” He sighed, and when he looked back up Jameson was taken aback by the defeat in his expression. “I…I can’t find a fix. I’m afraid…I’m afraid this may be permanent.”

Jameson reeled back. “W-what?”

Marvin ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been doing everything I can. None of my books or tomes have anything helpful, and a few of them just flat out say that curses like this are irreversible.”

Jameson felt panic swell up within him. “N-no. No, that can’t-”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down! You’re hyperventilating, just-OW!”

Marvin yanked his hand away from Jameson’s shoulder. Jameson’s eyes went wide at the sight of the bleeding cuts on the magician’s hands. “Oh goodness, I-I’m sorry…” 

Marvin had touched his shoulder, not his hands. Oh god. 

“It’s fine,” Marvin said, squeezing his eyes shut. He cradled his hand as the blood continued too pool in his palm. 

Jameson felt sick. He got to his feet and started running. He didn’t know where to, just…away.

Marvin opened his eyes and looked up, watching the young ego sprinting away. A grin spread across his face, and his eyes turned black before passed out. Anti materialized next him. He leaned down and pet the magician’s hair. “ T̕ha͘nk y̶o̧ư so̷ ̧m̢uch̡ f͞o͞r͟ ̀your̀ ̴hel̀p,” he sneered. He glitched away, leaving the unconscious Marvin to bleed on the grass.

Jameson slowed down, out of breath. He wasn’t sure where he was. Somehow in his blind panic he’d found himself in a wooded area of some kind, surrounded by trees and bushes that seemed to taunt him. No people. Only plants.

He put his hand in his hands, but quickly pulled them away. Another rose bud. He scowled and threw it on the ground, grinding it into the dirt with his shoe. 

“Su̷ch̛ ang͡e̢r for som͟e̵t̨hin͞g so҉ s͠m͟al̶l.͠” Anti’s voice echoed from the shadows, shadows that were gradually becoming deeper as the sun set. “A̡nd͞ s̡uch҉ a͝ng̶e͘r͝ ̧at ̵t͏he ̀bud, ͠as̕ we҉ll.̴”

“W-where are you, demon?” Jameson was sure he didn’t truly want to know the answer, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“W̡h̶ere a̶re͟ ̛y̕ou? ̨R̴u͠n̛ a҉w͜a̡y from͟ ̀home͘,̧ I̵ ̡s͘e͢ȩ”

Jameson spun around, trying to figure out there the voice was coming from, but all he saw were the old, creaking trees. Had they looked so rotten and dead before? Was it just a trick of the night? “What do you want?”

“Yo͝u ͢hur͢t ̡t͡hem͝, ̛r̡įg̛ht? You'͟ve͠ m̷a͘d̴e ̢t͜hém ̶b̨lee͝d.͝” Jamseon saw something flicker into view out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned to face it there was nothing there. 

“I- I didn’t mean to!” he shouted, the speech slide frantically weaving thought the trees.

“D̶ǫe͘s t͢ha̴t ͏m̴át̨t͘er?҉ ̢Yơu h̀urt̴ tḩȩm̸.́ Y̛ou'̛r̸e g͞u͝i̡l͜ty̴. Y̛ou͞'̴r͟é da̵n҉g̀e͠r͟ous͞. Yǫu͝'r͢e ha̸r͡mfu̡l͢.”

The echo grew louder, and combined with Jameson’s turning and spinning to find the source of the voice he was getting too dizzy to stand. He collapsed to his knees, holding his head. “No!”

“Yo͜ú'v͏e̢ al҉way̕s̵ ̸be҉en̡ a da͏n͠ge͞r̴,̶ ̷pupṕet̸. T͞he c̡ur̨se ̨j̨ust ̸b̸r͝ou̴gh͜t tha͞t t̸o̡ the ̴su͏rfa͢c̴e͡.̡ Yo̧u̧'r͜e ̧ju҉s̢t ͟as ͟da̸n̢g̀rous̀ to̶ the̶m͜ a̷s͜ ̢m̢e.̡”

“Be-be quiet!”

Jameson felt hands grip his shoulders. He jerked his head up and found himself staring into the eyes of Antisepticeye. They flickered between solid black and a toxic green. Jameson found it hard to look away. “Wh̶ý? ҉D́o̧e̕s t͝he̡ ̶trut͠h͢ ̛hu̧r͏t ́t͟oo mu̡c̀h?͏ Y͟ou'̢r͠é ͠m͡ine̕.͘ ͜Y͝ou ͟aļwa̕ys ҉h̸ave ́be̴e̢ń. O͝f͏ c͢o̴u͟r͝s̀e yo̸u'͏r̷e a͜ ͡r̸ós̷e.̛  Yo͜u͝ see̡m̛ ͠so̧ ͘s̀weet, ͡b͟ut ͞r̀ea͠l͢l͏y ̕y̨o̢u͞'re͞ còv̢ȩre̸d͠ ̷in ͏t҉h̶orns.”

Jameson tore his gaze away from Anti’s eyes and looked at the hand resting on his shoulder. “How-how are you not hurt?”

“B͜ec̨au̢se̛ tḩo͞rns ̴mean͡ not͢hin̨g̸ ̶to ̨me.”

Jameson tried to keep his eyes away from Anti’s, but the tip of a knife pressing into his cheek prompted him to look back into them. 

Green, black, green, black, green, black. 

“I'̷m͞ ̶t̴h̨è only͡ ̡o͡n͟e ͞w̴ho̢ ͢yo҉u̡ c͟an͠ ̶b҉e͘ ̴a͘rou̷n͜d wit̢hout̨ ͡hu̷rti͡n͜g.͠”

Green, black, green, black, green, black.

“I'͝m ͡t͜h͡e o̕nly̧ onę ẃh̶o͢ ̢yo̴u͞ ̀can̢ be̴ ̷n̨e͝a̧r̨.”

Green, black, green, black, green, black. 

“I͡’m th̕e ́only͢ o̧ne͏ ̢yo͢u ̶c͞án̢ ̕be͘ cl̛ós͢e̴ ̵to.̴”

Green, black, green, black, green, black. 

“I'͡m t́he͜ o͝nly on̵e҉ ̧y͡o̵u are ͏c͠lose ̷t͢o”.̶

Green, black, green, black, green, black.

Jameson felt dizzy, dizzier than he’d ever felt, lost in those flickering eyes. But it was becoming…familiar. Comforting.

What was Anti saying? He could hear his voice, and his words, but his mind was so foggy…

“I t͟ȩll̶ ͝you͡ ͟w̸ḩat̵ t͞o do.”

“You…tell me what to do…”

Green, black, green, black, green, black.

“Yǫu͏ ͞d̨o͝ às ͞I ͜s͠ay.”

“I…I do as…as you say…”

Green, black, green, black, green, black.

“Yo̡u ҉ar͘e͟ my̴ ̸ŕos͝e.”

“I am…your rose…”

Green, black, green, black, green, black.

“Y̴o̸u͟r ͘t͠h̨òrns ͘are̶ ̨m͞ìn̸e.”

“My thorns are…yours…”

Green black green black green black greenblackgreenblackgreenblackgreenblackgreenblackgreenblack

“Ý̷͓͔̀Ò̡҉͕̗͚̤U̳̜̼̣͕͟͝ ͏̡̖̮̳͠A͏̱̤͙͖͙R̗̗̼͟E̶̯ ͝͏͓̖̤̘̩͓̳̗͈M̶̜̹̺̻̪̥̟̝I̛͉̖̬̞̜͍̭N̬̳̝͙͞E̴̝̪.҉͎̼̻̲̬͖”

Jameson fell. He fell away from the world, into a world of flashes of green and black, a world of buzzing and static and a voice, one voice, that told him what to think. And he let it, because he was too confused and too lost to think for himself.

“I am yours.”

Anti grinned as Jameson’s eyes glazed over, static filling them. He stood up, and his puppet stood up with him, though it’s head lolled to the side a bit. “V̕͘e̸͜ry҉̨͠ ̴͘͜ǵo͞o̷͘d͝͏̢.”

His puppet didn’t even blink.

“N͜ow̶.̨..̷l͞et'́s̴ ̀pu̴t thǫse̴ ͏thor̶n͞s ̴to ̸us͠e.”

(Taglist: @victory-cookies @beerecordings @starlightxnightmare @sadcat5555 @miishae)

Lil bit of role reversal shenanigans,,,

*shyly enters* Um--hi? Could I get a puppet!Chase and a scared Jameson? Who about the word 'salvation' as a little motivator. UwU

(Sorry this took so long!)

“Chase, I’m begging you, you must snap out of it!” JJ put his hands up, edging closer to the kitchen counter.

Chase’s strings held his arm up, steady and locked on target. “R̡e͢l̴ąx̢, JJ̛.͞ ͏Th̀i҉s̷ ҉is ͡fo͢r the best̴.̸” He tilted his head, smiling, the blood leaking from his eyes changing course. Some of it got in his mouth. He didn’t react to it. “We͟ ͞g͡ęt̶ t̡o ́sta̶y t́o͡ģéth͞er this̸ way!͞”

“There’s no danger of us being torn apart, save for Anti! You’re stronger than those strings, fight them!”

“A̢n̕ti̸ ̡i̢s ͞h̢eĺp͝ing!” Chase pulled the trigger and JJ ducked, the bullet grazing his hat. JJ got back up, his hands shaking as he reached for the counter to steady himself. Chase seethed, scowling at his little brother. “J́a̛ck w͢an̢t҉s͘ to̸ ͠ke̸ep̢ ͞u̶s àll a͟pa̛r̕t̢!̵ He ͢wa̢nts me al̛one ͢a͟nd J̴a͝c͘kįe g̷o̢ǹe ąn͡d͟ M҉a҉ŗv̷i̴n͟ ̨ín ͡h͘id͘i͢n̨g͠ a͜ńd Sch͞ņe̕e͞p ̀a͟way ͏on̡ ͠a̡ beàc̕h҉ som̛e͞wh̛ere ́a̴n͘d̕ yo͘u͏ stuck i̕n t̵h̨is stu̸pi͟d͏ ̵ho͠use a҉nd͞ ̨fǫr A̛nti̴ t̶o ̢be ͢i̵s̡o͞làte̵d͞ ̛a͏n͡d ̀dem̸oni̛ze͠d!”

“He is a demon! You don’t mean these things!” JJ walked closer, his arms wrapped tightly around himself, his hands hidden from view. “He’s put thoughts in your head and words in your mouth, none of which would ever belong to you!” JJ reached out with one hand and grabbed the gun in Chase’s. He was still right in front of it, the barrel touching his chest. “You’re no puppet, Chase Brody!”

“Yoų'̨ll͟ ҉s̷e͘e̴.̡ W̡h͏ęn he give̷ yo͘u҉ ̷st҉rin͠g̛s ҉too,҉ ͡y͝ou'́ll̕ ͝see t͠he̕ ͝tr̀u҉t̵h.” Chase pressed the gun into JJ’s chest, hard enough that it would surely bruise. “Dơǹ’t ͜m̕a̵ke ̵me do͝ t̸ḩi̷s, ͠J̢J.̧”

“I won’t make you do anything, Chase, unlike that monster who’s strung you up like this.” JJ let his own power flow into him for a moment, turning him to sepia.

And revealing where exactly those strings had been tied.

Quick as he could he moved his free arm, Marvin’s magic thread scissors shining with soft blue light despite his power trying to turn it sepia, and he snipped the string on Chase’s arm.

Chase screamed, his arm going limp, falling to his side as the gun fell to the ground. JJ went for the other arm, and for the ones around his ankles, and the one squeezing his throat. Bit by bit, snip by snip, Chase went limp, until he fell to the ground completely.

“It seems Anti used some older thread on you, didn’t he? I wasn’t sure that would work.” JJ knelt down, and with more struggle than he’d care to admit, picked Chase up and took him to the couch. “You’ll be alright, I promise. I’ll just call Marvin and Jackie and Schneep and you’ll be fine. No-one is leaving you, Chase. We’re all staying together. No matter what Anti says or does, we’re staying together.”

OH SHOOT BEE'S TAKING PROMPTS UMMM Okay yknow how I love JJ and Marvin, so maybe something with the two of them and 8. “I’m never letting you go” from the drabble prompts? I love all these AUs BUT I'm gonna ask for the Graceling AU cause I really like those books and also I'm interested to see what you do with it ^-^

Graceling AU: Based on the Graceling books by Kristin Cashore. Eleven-year-old Jameson lives with his half-brother Anti, a supernaturally beautiful person called a Monster who has spent his life hiding from or destroying anyone who would try to hurt him. While wandering the fields one day, Jameson discovers another Monster named Marvin being held captive in a nearby keep and befriends him.

Tws for implied rape and mentions of past child abuse. Please be aware that the Graceling AU is a little more mature than my usual fics (nothing remotely graphic, it's from the POV of a sheltered eleven-year-old, but lots of implied, messed up stuff having to do with Monsters). No pressure to anyone who is uncomfortable with any of that <3

This is super late because I originally had this whole huge story in mind but it was too big of an idea to handle. So I just wrote a snippet. Thank you Ninja!! Okay, have at it and thanks for reading.

.

He chases crickets in the weeds and swaying grass by the apple trees, leaping after them and trying to snatch them up with his hands, scraping his knees and scratching his calves as he pounces. Most get away. One he does manage to catch, and this he scoops up in proud hands and turns as if to display the prize to the nearest adult – but no one else is there with him.

Jameson deflates, releasing the cricket back into the grass. The garden around him is quiet but for the bugs and the wind. Marvin has not come.

For days now, he has waited for the Monster in the castle across the field to come find him as he usually does, slipping away from his master's grasp to come play with Jameson. Jameson has become accustomed to running over to the keep after he finishes his lessons to visit the Monster, but for three days now, there has been no sign of Marvin.

He stares up at the castle, scraping absent-mindedly at his scratchy calves and ankles. Marvin has not come to see him. There must be a reason. He intends to find out.

Jameson shoots a glare back at Anti's keep on the other side of the fields, now just a toy in appearance. Anti wants to keep treating him like a baby? Well, he isn't. He is eleven now and he can handle himself.

And if he wants to sneak into another person's castle, he can handle that himself too. He's done it with Anti plenty of time before.

He's shoving open the big door to the servant's quarters a minute later, darting down the hall and only stopping to listen for footsteps. There's people in the kitchen, talking as they cook something that smells tasty – he pauses to grab a strawberry off the cutting board – but nobody's going to pay mind to a little kid racing along the hallway in the middle of the day. There's probably servant kids, pages, and everybody's miscellaneous children running around here all the time. As Anti always tells him, the most important thing is to act like you belong, and in most cases, everyone else will believe it. In theory, the only problem is that he can't ask anybody where Marvin stays, but luckily for Jameson, Marvin has waved to him from his window before coming down to meet him more than once, and he's confident he can find the way to his room. He gives a bow to an old man hobbling down the hall and bounces up the stairs, licking sticky strawberry juice off his chin.

The corridor is quiet, but that's how things are in his home too. JJ slides towards the second door – nope, empty. Third door? No. Fourth door – found it.

He would recognize Marvin's blue hair from anywhere. He's asleep in a huge white bed, bundled up to his nose, his eyes closed. Jameson beams and shuts the door behind him, padding towards him.

But up close, Marvin looks... bad.

Jamie whistles softly, deflating as he creeps up to the side of his bed and Marvin does not so much as stir. He clicks his tongue for attention, reaching gently out to tug on the blankets. Marvin shifts, face scrunching up in pain, and his eyes slide wearily open – or at least the right one does. The left is swollen closed.

“JJ,” gasps Marvin, sitting up and then groaning and shaking his head, pulling the blankets close around him again as he lies back down. “What are you doing here? JJ, go home, now! You can't be here.”

Jameson reaches out to touch Marvin's neck tenderly, his fingers tracing a line of bruises locked around his throat. Marvin flinches back and pushes his hand away.

“JJ, please go home.”

Jameson shakes his head, struggling to get onto the bed beside him. Marvin sighs in exasperation, but he helps pull him up, staring at him the whole time.

“How did you even get in here?”

“Worried,” signs Jameson. “Sad. You're hurt...”

Marvin never had a chance to learn sign, but he often gets the gist if Jameson is slow. The big frown on his face is probably a good hint too. Marvin sighs again and shakes his head at him, reaching out to stroke his hair from his eyes. Jameson throws his arms around him, squishing their faces together as he hugs him.

“JJ... oh, sweetheart.”

Marvin's voice breaks suddenly and his breath hitches. He pulls away from Jameson and covers his eyes, coughing and drawing shaky breaths.

“Who, who?” signs Jameson, tugging at his hands. “Hurt. Punch. Grab.”

“JJ, go home. When I feel a little better, I'll come see you again. I've been thinking about you everyday, wishing I could get up to visit you. But I'm going to be just fine. Go home to your brother, sugar.”

“Who?” insists JJ, hugging him again between words. “Who?”

The anger is boiling up in him now. He wipes at his own face, sniffling as he feels tears building. Someone hurt him. His friend. A Monster like Anti. Is this what Anti means, when he talks about how people hurt Monsters just because they're pretty? Marvin is, definitely. Even beat up and pale, he's so pretty. JJ hugs him again and hides in his shoulder. Marvin grips him back, air shuddering out of him as he tries not to cry.

JJ has never seen him cry. Not even when he talked about wanting to go home to his family or being stolen from his home. Marvin does not cry.

He'll kill whoever did this to him. He'll put a knife in them like Anti taught him to do. He draws back, crying, and pets Marvin's hair like Anti does for him when he feels bad.

“You're just a little boy still,” whispers Marvin, pushing at his hair in return. “Too little to have to worry about me. I'm okay, JJ, I promise. I'm going to be just fine.”

JJ wipes tears from his eyes and nods. He squirms forward to snuggle under the covers with Marvin, but his friend pushes him quickly back. “Sweetheart, I'm naked. And I think these sheets are... well, let's just stay above the covers. Here. I'll go get dressed. Close your eyes.”

Jameson scoots back against the headboard and covers his eyes. He hears a slow shifting of blankets and then, with a groan, Marvin's feet press against the cold stone floor.

Marvin sits there, half out of bed, for so long that Jameson almost peeks. But eventually, he hears him rise to stand. He must stop to breathe for a second. Then he limps across the room to his closet and disappears inside.

Jameson wraps his arms around himself, waiting for him to come back. He always knew Marvin was being kept here against his will – Anti has explained to him that sometimes Monsters are held like that and have to find ways to escape, which is why sometimes killing people is okay – but hurting him like this? Why? He doesn't deserve it. Any of it.

He doesn't get why people would be mean to Monsters. Even if someone just thinks they're pretty, wouldn't that mean you would be even nicer? And try to make them your boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe? For him, Anti's Monstrosity is the only thing he's ever known. And every story he hears about Monsters being attacked or kidnapped, every mark he sees on Marvin's body – they could just as easily be his Anti.

Worse, he knows what it's like to have someone leave bruises on you like that. It's mean and it's scary. Even if it's your daddy it's scary. Anti saved him and no one has left a bruise on him since, cause Anti knows about bruises too. He wonders if somebody ever beat Anti like this. Beat him up and left him in bed.

He squeezes his eyes shut and his fists together. That's why he has to protect him. Anti and Marvin too. He's not too little. He can fight. He won't let anything happen to them again.

“Don't cry, sugar, don't cry.”

Marvin has come back to wrap his arms around him, scooping him into his lap and sitting down on the bed with him, lying back as he rocks him. “I'm sorry, darling. Please don't worry about me.”

JJ sobs into his shirt, gripping his little fists in the cloth. He hugs Marvin and cries. Marvin rocks him against his chest, murmuring to him and stroking his hair.

“You can stay for a little while, okay, honey? I'm glad to see you again. I've really missed you. You know you're about the only comfort I have. But you have to go before the sun starts getting low. That's when he comes back.”

Jameson shakes his head vehemently. No. He's not going.

“JJ...”

“Hurt all over?”

“I'm okay, JJ. I am. I don't want you to worry.”

“Run away!”

“No. No. I won't let you get in trouble trying to get me out of here. I'll find my own way home. You know that. You're just a little boy, JJ.”

But Jameson's not having it. He heaves himself off the bed and grabs Marvin's arm, trying to tug him along with him. They'll go back home and he'll make Anti see that Marvin is nice and deserves to be helped.

“JJ, I can't – ow, hey, honey, please – ”

Jameson drops his arm quickly, flushing with guilt. Marvin winces and grips at his shoulder, smiling weakly at him.

“Hurt all over...”

“Just a little sore, JJ. I'm just a little sore.”

“Why? Why hurt?”

“You'll understand when you're older, my dear. For now, you should be glad to be a kid. Okay? It's good that you don't have to know. I can take care of myself.”

Marvin pulls him gingerly back onto the bed with him and lies back against the headboard. JJ stays sitting up, gazing at the bruises on his neck and face. He wants to take care of him. He reaches out helplessly, then lets his hand drop again. He can't... he can't do anything. Marvin's right. He's just a kid.

“Don't cry, JJ,” murmurs Marvin yet again. “Tell you what, how about you draw something for me. Yeah?”

He pulls parchment and a pen from the drawer beside his bed, pulling JJ back to his lap and setting the paper in front of him. “Like we do in the garden.”

“What draw?”

“Whatever you want.” Marvin pets his hair. “Something happy.”

JJ sniffles, gripping the paper in his hands. It takes a long time before he's ready to draw anything. But Marvin's hand is nice in his hair, and the room is warm and cozy, and he wants to do something for Marvin, no matter how little.

He draws people shakily onto the page, snuggled up with Marvin on the bed. Eventually he gets lost in it.

“You remind me so much of my younger brother,” mumbles Marvin sleepily, still playing with his hair. “You even look like him when he was your age. Course, he talked non-stop – still does, sometimes. But he's a sweet kid like you. I'm so glad you're here.”

JJ snuggles against his chest, drawing himself and Marvin in the garden. He's old enough now that there's detail in the trees and flowers. When he's done, he presents it to Marvin, who smiles at him.

He really is beautiful. JJ stares at him, latching his arms around his neck. He has soft blue hair, summer ocean color, and eyes even deeper blue – wildly blue, unnaturally blue. He is not as ivory-pale as Anti is, but other than the terrible bruises, his skin is clear and flawless. There's glittering jewelry in his ears. He seems to glow from an internal, otherworldly light.

How can anybody hurt him?

He hugs him again and Marvin rubs his back in slow circles, pressing their heads together.

“It's time for you to go,” he whispers.

JJ shakes his head no.

“You have to, JJ. Trust me. I wish you could stay too. But if he finds you here... I don't know what he would do.”

JJ just clings to him. Marvin sighs, pushing him slightly back to cup his face. His cheeks still have a little baby fat in them. It makes him smile.

“My friend,” says Marvin softly. “Go home to your brother.”

JJ reaches down to grab his drawing. He sets the pen to paper again and leaves Marvin a message against the empty sky of the drawing:

I am never letting you go. Come home with me.

Marvin smiles at him. “You are a very good young man. And I know you're not to be messed with.”

JJ nods severely. No, he isn't.

“But this isn't something I want you to get tangled up with. Even if you were a grown-up, I'm not sure I would want you involved. JJ, don't you understand that you do plenty for me just by being with me? Being kind to me and drawing me things and hugging me when I'm sad?”

JJ wipes at his runny nose, mouth trembling. He wants to do more, though.

“Go home to your brother,” repeats Marvin. “And tomorrow, if everything goes well, I'll see you in the garden. Okay?”

Jameson stares at the floor, eyes burning.

“I'll get in trouble if I try to run,” says Marvin. “Or if he finds you here. So go, alright? For me?”

Jameson shoves himself forward for one more hug. Marvin wraps him in his arms and holds him tight, kissing the top of his head.

“I love you, Marvin,” he signs against his chest.

“I love you too,” whispers Marvin. “My only joy. Go now, little sneak. Run back down the stairs and go home. And later, if I get scared, I'll remember that you came all this way to check on me, and that you were so sweet to me, and that I get to see you again tomorrow.”

Jameson nods, his face set miserably and his eyes downcast. He slips out of the bed and over to the door, pausing to glance back at Marvin.

In the light of the late afternoon, he glows gold, his hair lit up in an azure haze and his eyes glittering like stars. His soft mouth curls into a smile just for him.

JJ smiles back and races down the stairs.

It's just as simple to leave the keep as it was to enter. At the top of the hill, he looks back at the castle, and watches as a man rides home on a tall white horse.

Something in his heart clenches. His hands play with the small knife tucked into his boots.

Anti and Marvin always want to protect him and tell him there are things that he does not understand. But all he needs to know is this: someone is hurting Marvin, and he cannot let it go on.

He'll show them he's a man. He will find away to get Marvin out of there, and then he will never have to let him go again.

Pull, JJ and Anti.

The white noise swirling through his mind punctured his free thoughts, riddling them with…dizziness, confusion. The only thing he could feel clearly was the tingly sensation of magnets, luring him forward into waiting arms that he couldn’t quite distinguish.