The grandfather clock struck ten, the heavy gongs echoing through the house.

The door to the study slammed open and Simon stumbled in, his hands bound in front of him. Behind him, the guards pulled the door shut, cutting off the sound of the clock's gonging.

Gabriel sat in a chair near the ornate fireplace, smiling, and he waved at the chair opposite him. Cautiously, Simon walked closer, stopping in front of the chair.

"Simon. Please, take a seat-"

"I'm fine standing, thank you. Where's River?"

The older man's smile fell and he leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.

"Why must you be so stubborn?"

"I don't know, it might have something to do with the fact that you never cared-"

"I'm doing this because I care about you!" Gabriel spat. He stood up, glaring, "I did this for you-"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Simon deadpanned, "I didn't realize caring parents kidnap their own children-"

The slap echoed through the room, plunging it into silence.

Simon spat out a glob of blood, grinning when it landed on the expensive Persian rug from Earth-That-Was.

Gabriel sighed, flexing his hand.

"They were right after all," he muttered, looking at his son mournfully. He shook his head and sat back down.

Simon looked at his father in confusion.

"What-?"

The door opened and the guards came back in, their faces expressionless. Wide eyed, Simon glanced at them.

"Take him back to his room-" Gabriel began, running a tired hand over his eyes.

"River she-," the doctor struggled against the guards, his feet sliding on the wood floor, "- she needs her meds-"

"Your mei-mei will be looked over by a competent doctor," he ignored the hurt look in his son's eyes, "I will see you tomorrow, when you've hopefully learned to behave."

What did you just do to me?

I mean it’s kinda the real life tragedy of love exaggerated, innit? Irl people die young or one person dies old and another person dies even older. At the end of it all someone gets left behind and has to learn how to move on after that. And for the one who dies you know you’re leaving them behind. You know you’re dooming them to moving on and if you believe in an afterlife god only knows how long you’ll be waiting for them on the other side. The tragedy of the immortal loving the mortal takes those feelings we all know about and rips your heart out about it.

FIREFLY - JAYNESTOWN

There ain’t a one of us looks the part more than the good Doctor.

THE GOOD PLACE 4.09 | The Funeral to End All Funerals

been thinking about fantasy/scifi rule systems and free will

THE GOOD PLACE 4.09 | The Answer

Give me more shaking whumpees.

Give me whumpees who are shivering so much from their high fever that they can't even hold a bottle of water up to their lips, leaving caretaker to hold it for them like they're bottle feeding a baby animal.

Give me whumpees who've lost so much blood that they're pale and trembling violently, their skin cool to the touch. Their body is desperately trying to keep them warm, but with each new shudder they're just bleeding more and more.

Give me whumpees in shock- whumpees who find out something so emotionally distressing that they can do nothing but shake, eyes fixed on a single point, jolting away from any touch.

Give me more shaking whumpees.

FIREFLY (2002) — “Objects in Space”

It was late, most of Serenity's crew already asleep. River was curled up on the extra bed in the infirmary, her face turned towards her brother's, her breathing matching his.

Mal sat on a chair between the two med beds, idily keeping an eye on the door. He wasn't taking any chances, not after everything that had happened.

The rustling of fabric brought Mal out of his reverie and he glanced at Simon, smiling slightly when confused blue eyes met his.

"Hey, doc', how're you feelin'?"

Simon mumbled something, turning his head to look at River, smiling softly when he saw the blanket thrown over her.

"She passed out not long after you did. Today's been hard-"

"Wish you were my dad," Simon suddenly mumbled and Mal froze, his smile slipping.

"Shen me?"

"Would have been better," he went on, looking at the Captain through half-lidded eyes.

He tried to move his leg and hissed, sluggishly trying to throw the blanket off. Without thinking, Mal put a gentle yet restraining hand on his ankle, stopping him from moving. Rolling his head, Simon looked at the hand on his ankle and giggled, trying and failing to tap the Captain's chest. Frowning in concentration, he tapped Mal's arm instead, his eyes drooping.

"See. Better. You- you care."

Mal shook his head and folded his arms, looking at the doctor like he lost it. Maybe he did. Whatever Zoë drugged the doctor with was off limits whenever it was Mal's turn to keep vigil as far as he was concerned.

"I'm gonna let that slide, doc', 'cause you got shot and all-"

The doctor smiled, his eyes sliding closed.

"Mhm," he slurred, "Kaylee, she, she w's right. Ya ain't mean."

Before Mal could think of anything to say, Simon was out like a light, his head tilted to look at his sister.

"He's right," River whispered in a sing-song voice, glancing at the Captain with sleepy eyes, snuggling into the thick blanket, " 'for sons and daughters and fathers and everything and nothing, tis family in every sense if not in blood'."

Giving the Captain one last smile, she also drifted off, leaving the Captain with his thoughts and the ghosts hiding in the shadows.

I fell victim to one of the classic blunders (drawing a load of fan art when I should have been working)

I love it when whumpee shows up at caretakers doorstep so exhausted they pass out as soon as they know they're safe. Now caretaker sits by their bedside trying to guess all the worst case things that could have happened until whumpee wakes up and explains themselves.

Tag game!!!

Do this quiz

And this picrew

And tag people(obviously)

@anartistwithamask @gummy-axolotl @shadowthegay @auseryoumayknow @copper-ichor @moonysfavoritetoast @alexthescaredenby @invaderxeya @fungal-boy-witch-yay @artists-void @hazbin-hotel-lucifer-simp @ka1-the-pr0ot @theautumnalcat

Was expecting to lean more Chaotic

@purplevoidessence @pelahnar @temporary-temporal-temper @dragonicmoon moots? (Anyone else can hop on too)

Yeah that tracks

@autisticstannis @idlewildly @oloreandil wanna play ? :D

Time to tag @thuviel of course! And also @bravinto, @birchshutter, @gabriellovescandy and @snufkinshat!

Thank you for tagging me this was so much fun! ^^

I'm tagging @purpleatomicbreath , @automatisma , @strongindependenttrash , @majesticenbypancake and whoever else wants to do this! :D

Thanks for the tag, I really liked this picrew!

I'm tagging @transaeneas (of course), @bi-naesala & @bright-thehawksflight :)

Hehe this was so fun thank you

Tagging @hercorrupterofwords @girldante @cosmopiccione @boydrudolo :}

had fun ^^

@hercorrupterofwords (ti ritaggo perchè non lo hai ancora fatto e va corretta questa mancanza)

got called out quindi eccoci

tags: @iluz @girlcavalcanti @scribl1ta

on my adventure into the aristophanes frogs swamp🌚✨

tag @zaegreus @emperornero @skiaovidii no pressure <3

thank you for tagging me!! 💗💗 no pressure tags: @mcfallen-god @oulious @homosneksual and like...literally anyone else of my followers and mutuals that wants to do it!!!

thanks for the tag, @zaegreus!💞

tagging @worm-person, @tommyjop, @electroniccollectiondonut, @theredontbedragons, and everyone else who wants to join in on the fun

Not tagged but I really wanted to do this

Huh. So that's why I like playing Neutral Good characters.

Tag-you're-it: @cappuccinopoweredsprite @hyperobsession @quirkykayleetam @quiltcas @foxeddin @carcrash429 and anyone else who wants to! <3

Oh my goodness, look at all these super cool RPG characters!!! And me as my librarian bard self! Anyone feel free to add on, but I'll tag @redwingedwhump @burtlederp @stoic-whumpee @aquaace if you want to do this!

River carefully took Simon's hand, ignoring the confused look he gave her. Gently, she traced the faint white lines marring his hand, her mouth twisting when she found a thicker line twisting around his palm.

"You weren't meant to be there," she whispered.

Simon shifted closer, wrapping his fingers around hers.

"River? Where wasn't I meant to be?"

She ignored him, tracing the lines over and over again.

"Mei-mei?"

"You weren't meant to be there. In the Blackout Zone. Hurt you. I'm sorry."

River glanced up at him with tears in her eyes. "I took you away and I'm sorry and-"

"Shh," he cupped her cheek, letting her hold onto his hand, "You didn't River. You didn't take me away. You are all I have and I would happily go where I'm not meant to be if it means you'll be waiting for me."

Brown eyes met blue and it felt like they sat like that for an eternity.

"Really?" River whispered.

"Really." Simon echoed, and she curled up against him, never letting go of his hand.

Later when Mal walked into the common room he saw the two sibling curled up on the couch, fast asleep, River still clinging to her brother's hand. Shaking his head, the Captain gently covered them with one of the faded quilts Inara bought, careful not to disturb them.

Quietly, Mal left, the soft sound of snoring following him out into the cargo bay.