This Is So Wonderful I'm Dead

this is so wonderful I'm dead

*Kicks down the door* YOU KNOW WHUMPY TROPES I LOVE SO MUCH BUT BARELY EVER SEE?

MAGIC FATIGUE/EXHAUSTION/OVERUSE.

Give me those sweet side effects of overusing magic:

Getting lightheaded and weak, struggling to stand let alone keep fighting

"Are you ok?" "Yeah I'm fine. *immediately faceplants because their legs can't support their weight anymore*"

F a i n t i n g

Physical injuries like burns, broken bones, etc

The risk of permanent damage either physically or mentally

Can I get uuuuhhhhh "loses a sense either temporarily or permanently depending on the severity of the overuse"?

Stopping their heart (cue the team scrambling to drag their dumbass friend back from death)

THERE'S SO MUCH YOU CAN DO AND I SO RARELY SEE IT.

Don't kill yourself, please.

If you’re suffering from depression and are looking for a sign to not go through with ending your life, this is it. This is the sign. We care.

If you see this on your dash, reblog it. You could save a life.

Hello there Bug!! I've been thinking about Archie and Simon a LOT they have a house in my brain I love them so much

So of course I have obtained some headcanons for them and I just wanted to know what you thought of them. So this isn't an ask exactly but I wanted you to see it :)

You have my permission 100% to make ANY of these canon of course (it would make me super happy but like you don't have to obviously)

SO OKAY onto the headcanons

Archie really loved fireworks pre-superpowers! As a kid he always got very excited to watch them because he had such an appreciation for the beautiful way they lit up the sky with vibrant colors and the way everyone around him seemed so joyful when they came. And after he got his powers he was more than a little heartbroken because he simply couldn't enjoy them any more without enduring excruciating pain every time he heard the booms.

Simon keeps so much Archie stuff at his house. A lot of it is for medical or comfort purposes, like ear muffs and weighted blankets for sensory issues or a million bandages and other med supplies LITTERING a bunch of rooms. But also. Some of it is just for fun, like souvenirs based on Archie's interests (Star Wars figurines?) and many many of his favorite foods all over the kitchen. You've already mentioned him keeping his favorite foods around so that's not really a headcanon but this is kind of an expansion on it

Archie has bad dreams. A lot of bad dreams. Usually he doesn't tell Simon about them, but he does talk to him. Simon can tell something is wrong, but he can also tell that it's purely emotional and that Archie isn't ready to share, so he doesn't pry. He just stays with him and talks to him about whatever he wants to talk about. He'll be ready eventually.

One time it came up in a conversation that Simon was a dog person who wanted to have a dog someday, one thing led to another, and he said he'd let Archie name them. Archie got SUPER EXCITED and decided he would take this job VERY SERIOUSLY and started brainstorming immediately and Simon eventually had to be like "okay I don't even have one yet and you need to take a breath"

As a sequel-headcanon to the first headcanon about the fireworks, Simon goes to fireworks shows whenever they're in his area, not because he particularly likes them but because Archie is always overjoyed when he comes back with blessedly soundless pictures and videos of the fireworks for him.

If you've read this far thank you so much I LOVE YOUR WRITING I LOVE YOUR GUYS

ANON THIS IS GENUINELY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I COULD HAVE OPENED MY ASK BOX TO. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

okay right off the bat. every single thing you said is canon. everything. you got their characterization EXACTLY right and if you ever have more headcanons about them or any of my other Guys PLEASE don't be afraid to send em in because this made my YEAR

under the cut i'll elaborate on them because they are genuinely. so perfect. anon you are so awesome.

✮⋆˙

archie and fireworks:

headcanon IMMEDIATELY accepted. archie loves colorful things that sparkle. he LOVED fireworks as a kid. i'd even venture to say he liked how loud they are. he liked the crackly ones.

i feel like he'd look forward to every 4th of july just to see all of them.

the first 4th of july he had after he got his powers was. rough.

i'd like to think he didn't fully understand what his powers were for a while. he was only 7 after all. so maybe he thought it would be okay.

and then the first of the fireworks went off. and archie though his eardrums were genuinely exploding.

i also would like to think his mom wasn't that equipped yet. she didn't have noise cancelling headphones or anything like that, so that night archie spent the entirety of it in the closet, every blanket and pillow he had pulled over his ears, sobbing.

(don't worry it gets happier in the last one)

archie stuff at simon's place:

UGH THIS ONE IS SO SO GOOD. I GIGGLED AND SQUEALED WHEN I READ IT

so yes. absolutely yes. archie spends maybe 35% of his time in his own apartment and the rest is spent crashing at simon's because he just cant stay away

the thought of simon having things for archie's sensory issues makes me SO happy. he definitely has the weighted blankets and he also installed lights with different undertones that wouldn't give archie as much of a headache.

he has so much medical supplies. everywhere. he is perpetually tripping on first aid kits and empty boxes of gauze (don't worry. archie helps him clean up)

simon has also learned to anticipate archie's snack cravings. he knows exactly when he gets tired of goldfish and goes to pick up some oreos and peanut pretzels because he knows that's next in the rotation.

AND SIMON ABSOLUTELY HAS SOME STAR WARS STUFF. some of it was gifts from archie but also some of it was stuff he bought himself because it reminds him of his Friend. he has a little grogu plush that lives on his couch

archie and bad dreams:

this one is so sad but unfortunately very canon.

archie dreams of a lot of things.

sometimes, its a flashback of the day he got his powers. the excruciating pain. the guys that did it. the needle. those ones hes a little bit more open to talking with simon about. simon knows what happened to him. he's there for him.

the ones he won't tell simon about are the ones where he fails to save simon from something. its a recurring dream. different scenarios, but all the same outcome-- simon dies because he wasn't fast enough. he can't tell simon about those dreams but they eat him up inside. its a constant source of Stress for him.

they will talk it through eventually.

archie and simon's future dog:

i truly don't have much to add to this one because it was so perfect. EVEN THE DIALOGUE YOU HAD FOR IT IS SO PAINFULLY IN CHARACTER. JUST THE

"archie. archie please take a breath. there is no dog yet. archie please."

UGH this one made my heart so warm

archie and fireworks PT 2:

at first, i was like "mmm that probably wouldn't happen because simon doesn't like the fireworks either"

but then i realized that's what made it so good.

sure, simon doesn't really enjoy the fireworks all that much, but he can physically stand to go see them. its uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

so OF COURSE he would do that for archie. every 4th of july, simon sets archie up in his room, with pillows over the windows and doors to muffle outside noise. he gives him the soundproofing headphones and the weighted blanket and shuts off all the lights and then tells him

"stay here. i'll be back."

and he goes all the way across the city to get the best view of the fireworks and he videos the entire thing. all of it.

and the next morning, he and archie watch it together on the couch and archie has to fight his tears every single time.

because he never thought he'd find someone to go the extra mile for him. he never thought he'd find someone that loved him enough to do anything like this.

but he did.

✮⋆˙

anon thank you so so so SO much. seeing people so excited about my boys genuinely filled me with such Glee. if you have ANY more, PLEASEEE send them. i promise my ask box is always open to you. i am forever in your debt. THANK YOU!!

Whumperless Whump Event Day 5

Wheezing - whumpee Morrigan - 978 words

CW: panic attacks

--

There is something in their lungs.

Morrigan is not programmed to panic. Unless it's on command, or necessary for the sake of appearance, they are not supposed to freak out. A level head and calm tones are perfect for dangerous situations. It is part of what keeps them away from the company–that they function as intended. 

However, they are panicking. 

It feels like… spiderwebs. Like something has built a nest in their artificial chest and all of the fans and cooling systems have become cluttered with the dust of its new resident. It feels like they are choking.

Which is why they're now standing in front of Jace's apartment, with the key he gave to them not even a week prior.

They knock. An error flashes onto their vision. It's a warning, low oxygen content. Soon enough, their cooling system are going to start complaining too. Overheating is a problem.

This whole thing is a problem, and the feeling of discomfort in their chest is making their hands shake as they push the key into the lock.

Morrigan has no god but the ones that put them together. But they pray to whatever is out there to let Jace be at home.

“Woah, hey, terminator, what's–Morrigan? What's wrong?” Jace's face drops the moment he sees them. Concern is a rare expression for him, when he's speaking to them in particular.

They must be genuinely panicking now. “I can't breathe.”

“What? Come here, sit down, is it a technical thing? Why did you come to me?”

They are guided to the bed and the next breath they take is a horribly mechanical wheezing thing. But they run yet another diagnosis and their lungs are undamaged and unencumbered and they don't understand, they don't–

“Hey–Morrigan, you're psyching yourself out, you gotta relax.”

“I'm not supposed to–” they try to say, and their voice is glitched and wrong and they can feel Jace flinching away from him. “Sorry, I don't–know what's wrong.”

“You're alright. I think you're freaking out, is there something else? Did you check for, I dunno, a virus or some shit? Or–”

“No. Not a virus. Just.”

There’s nothing left to do. There are no errors. No abnormalities within their lungs, no differences in their cooling systems, but they cannot breathe and the only person there to help is someone who hates them more than anything else in the world.

Something grabs their hands.

At first they flinch, but the grip is strong and unmoving and grounding. Jace’s. He’s there. They are not alone.

“I don’t know how you breathe but I’ll give it my best shot, in for four beats, I’ll count. Come on. Hey. Breathe in for four.”

They try to follow. It catches, and wheezes out all in one breath, in one horrid mechanical jerk.

“Again. Let’s try again. One, two, three, four, good, you’re doing great, now hold it for seven counts. It’s okay. It’s alright.”

They don’t make it to seven, it rushes out of their lungs, but something in their head is clearing, somehow, and Jace doesn’t seem afraid anymore. Just concerned.

Concerned for them. That’s… new.

“Let’s go again. Good. Hold for seven counts, then breathe out for eight. You’re doing fantastic.”

The cycle continues. Jace’s hands stay tight around theirs, his eyes level and calm, his voice soothing something inflamed deep in their chest. He… cares. Cares enough. Why does he care? Jace has no stake in this, could have just let them die, let them suffocate at his doorstep like a broken machine.

“--why?” they finally say, once his calm demeanor has shifted to something more like pride.

“Wasn’t so hard, was it?” he grins, all freckles and dimples and sunshine. “Why what? Why couldn’t you breathe? I think it was a panic attack, I get ‘em sometimes. It’s fine. Counting helps.”

“Why are you helping me?” 

It stumbles out like the wheezing of their breath, disjointed and hardly human. Jace doesn’t look away. He seems… the crook of his eyebrows, downturning of his shoulders, slight flush on his cheeks, he seems ashamed. Guilty. “I wasn’t gonna let you suffer, Morrigan. I’m not that bad.”

“You hate me,” they say, simply. 

He huffs. “No, I don’t. I’m just… human. Messy. Complicated. I don’t like change, you’re a new thing, it’s complex. I’m sorry I made you think that.”

They try to see past the lie. To put together the pieces of the past, the glares, the imbalance, how Morrigan would push down their own posture to give him the head of the scene, to give him all of the power in play, but for all of their training, they cannot deny the truth. Jace Vela Journey is telling them the truth.

“I’m sorry I scare you,” Morrigan manages. “I don’t–I tried not to, but it’s not easy when people know what I am.”

“It’s fine. You just came into my house hyperventilating. Seems pretty human to me.”

Morrigan can’t help the eyebrow raise. That’s the first time anyone has referred to them as human-like outside of the purpose they’re built for, the tool they have to be. “If that’s human, I am sorry for every single one of you.”

Jace just laughs. “So are we, Morri. That’s pretty universal. You should take a break though, it’s not like you’re fine now. Just relax.”

“What did you call me?” 

“Uh.” Jace winces. “Morri? Like Morrigan shortened? If that’s not cool, I get it, I’ll go back to giving you robot nicknames–”

“It’s fine,” Morrigan is quick to reassure. “I don’t mind. It’s new, but not unwelcome.”

“Cool. Call me JJ, then?” 

It feels like a truce. A contract. When their alliance breaks a little bit from tenuousness and into something stronger. “Alright, JJ. Thank you.”

He grins, flashes a thumbs up. “Don’t mention it. Take your shoes off, stay a while.”

--

a teensy insight into their rocky relationship starting to fix itself. also origin of the nicknames!!!

Mana-sicknes.

Mages generate mana and need to regularly use magic. If it builds up too much, they get sick. Whether it's weakness, nausea, fever, or symptoms related to poison, erosion, or decay.

I've used this on a Whumpee of my own 👍

Sounds delightful

Whumperless Whump Event day 9

Coughing up blood - whumpee JJ - 531 words

CW: Blood, panic, graphic description of being awake while dethawing from cryo (ouch)

also. deepest apologies. morri is not here right now BUT there is a caretaker!! you'll recognize them :)

--

It’s so cold.

There’s almost nothing to cling to besides it. Sharp, like ice crystals in his veins, almost white hot with the pain. He can’t move. Can’t breathe anything but quick huffs. If he could open his eyes, he’s sure the air would fog in front of him. But it’s like he’s frozen stiff.

Why is he awake?

Why is he conscious of this? He’s not used to anything but the gentle warmth that flows through him. The softness of the light he can cast. He was the stars, the sun. He was everything bright and warm he could touch with his hands, and now he’s just…

Cold.

It’s hours and hours before it starts to lessen. Trapped in his body, unable to move, unable to massage away the ice in his body, coating him. Each little huff of air is like lava against his top lip. He’s surprised he’s even breathing.

Sound filters in the quickest. It’s static, bursts of sound like yawning. His jaw aches.

“–vitals?”

“–breathing slower, I think he’s–”

“Journey, report.”

His eyes snap open. The world around him is too bright.

Journey leans forward and starts to cough. Harshly. There’s something in his lungs, need to get it out, can’t breathe through the ice in his throat, can’t–

“–c’mon, JJ, hey. Hey! There you are. Breathe. It’s alright. It’s okay.”

The voice is new. He recognized the others, just vaguely, barely on the edge of his memories frozen away with his skin and bones, but this one is fresh, bright and soft and–

Warm.

“That’s it. Good. Can you look at me, quickly?”

He tries to. Eyes flutter open again. There’s a smell, now, like copper in the air. The face in front of him is fair skinned and green eyed, short cropped black hair in a pixie cut and a splattering of freckles across their face. They smile, brightly.

“Hi. You were out of it for a long time.” They hold up a cloth, rubbing it against his mouth. He can’t fight it. He can still barely move. “Breathe. I’m Cavalry, I’m here to help.”

“Cav–” he tries, and fails. His lungs rebell, his breathing hitches, and he’s coughing again and it hurts, it hurts so much, it’s like taking a knife to his insides and prying up everything he has left, he can’t breathe–

“Side effect,” they whisper calmly. “It’ll pass. It’ll pass. There’s a medic a little ways away, but they thought it would help if you saw someone new right away. Hey. Hey, look at me–”

JJ grimaces, and glances up. His mouth tastes like blood. 

“Good. We’re thawing you out. It’ll be alright. I’m sorry, I know it hurts.”

He can’t help the huff of a laugh, even if it starts him coughing again. But Cavalry lays a hand on his shoulder and keeps him steady.

Finally, it stops enough for him to take a slightly more steady breath. His hands are on his knees. Everything is cold. He’s shivering. There is blood dripping from his mouth, splattering against his hands.

Cavalry smiles, too bright for the room. He can’t look away from them. 

“Welcome back, Journey. It’s been awhile.”

--

heyyyyyyy i know that's not exactly the prompt fill but. here are the first few moments after jj's awakening. i once again regret nothing.