Atem bit back a smile as he followed Seto out through the hemisphere, seeing a few guards saluting them as they swam away, and he stuck closely by Seto's side, unsure if he should be alarmed by another mood change.
Seto was calm once again.
Did that mean the rough words and anger was all just an act?
"Yeah, it is. No one respects princes," Seth replied blithely, throwing Atem a casual smile while his brown hair bobbed around his cheeks with every current that they swam by. "Especially not ones from dead colonies that were a half-resort slash military base."
Atem nodded gravely and understood that Seto truly realized where he stood, politically, and it was touching to hear him say it aloud.
They made a turn for deeper waters and Atem frowned, feeling the water grow colder around his fins.
"This isn't the way back," Atem said gently, and Seto nodded gravely.
"Yeah, pit stop to see Elder Gamma, or whoever Elder Gamma is right now," Seto replied vaguely, and Atem swallowed the thick lump that was rising in his throat.
An unannounced visit to the Elders?
Was it his imagination or was Seto being remarkably polite now?!
"We have no gifts," Atem said in a rush, grabbing Seto by the arm and attempting to slow him down. "Let's come back another day."
"I have a gift," Seto said flatly, and Atem was at a loss for words.
They approached the large glass hallway and Seto swam in fearlessly, whereas Atem hovered uncertainly by the entrance before following. He couldn't help but feel like he'd lost the Seto he'd known on the surface. That merman hated the Elders or anyone who showed an ounce of age or wisdom, and wouldn't go near anyone older than a jellyfish.
This Seto here was swimming boldly into the rotunda without wearing any finery.
They stopped at the large white doors, and Seto pressed his hand against it, calling out in his mind so loudly, the glass hallway seemed to shake, "I come bearing news about the Banished Elder Iota!"
Atem gripped the mesh sack tighter and heard no one answer the door.
"No one is here. Let's go," Atem breathed, grabbing Seto by the arm again to lead him away.
"There's always someone in there," Seto replied stubbornly, shifting the sack to his other shoulder. "Five Elders are in the chambers at all times—"
The door creaked open behind them and Atem grimaced, his blood running cold. Great.
It was now too late to leave.
He turned around slowly to see Elder Alpha floating in the entryway, eyeing Seto with a stern gaze.
"Prince...Seto?"
"Soon-to-be-anointed-king…Seto," Seto replied brattily, and Atem bit the inside of his cheek so hard, his eyes watered.
"By Solomon, yes, we heard," the elder sniffed, pulling the door back further to let them in. "Greetings, King Atem. Where are your manners? I'm pleased you could make it as well."
"May Ra grace you with health and longevity," Atem mumbled clumsily, hating that Seto had sprung an unannounced Elder visit on him.
They were ushered into the chambers and Atem eyed each of the towering pillars circling the room, noting that Elder Gamma was absent.
"Gifts? You may leave them by the door," the Elder instructed, and Seto shook his head, tightening his grip on the mesh sack.
"These are supplies we're bringing between colonies. The gift I have is a message, and a word of thanks, specifically for Elder Gamma."
Atem swallowed thinly and kept floating by the door, not wanting to swim too far into the rotunda, but Seto seemed at ease—too at ease.
It was alarming. His tone was eerily polite too.
Who was this merman?!
"Very well, speak freely," an Elder wearing the Epsilon circlet floated forward and nodded. "It is unusual that the gift is a message, but we accept nonetheless."
"Cool," Seto said stiffly, eyeing the other two elders floating apprehensively behind their pillars, wearing Delta and Chi circlets, remembering their faces clearly.
"Banished Elder Iota, from eight decades ago, sends her regards," Seto said, his voice echoing in the chamber, and Atem perked up, listening intently.
Everyone hung onto his words too, staring at the short-haired prince, floating in the middle of the room, carrying the sack of lumpy objects over his shoulder.
"Well?" Elder Epsilon demanded, scowling and patting his beard down his chest. "Speak, boy."
"She thanks Elder Gamma especially for sending financial help, because she used the funds to move me into a new home every time I didn't age," Seto said, willing his voice not to crack. "She thanks Elder Zeta for his understanding, and Elder Rho for accepting her messages when she needed help with difficult pacts. Those are the reasons why I'm still alive."
There was a cold chill in the room, and Atem backed closer to the door. It sounded like Seto was admitting…he'd committed crimes regarding illegal pact-making on land right now, also implicating three Elders as accomplices. Why?!
"She also says, 'fuck all of you' for casting her out and keeping her out, especially during a time of war," Seto sneered, his expression changing dramatically, and a loud ringing silence filled the room. "You can see for yourself—"
Atem blinked and saw the face of an old woman with a strong, masculine jaw grinning manically in his mind's eye, giving them a clawed middle-finger and hissing, "FUCK YOU, PHILEMON! AND YOU, ALPHA LENORA! I've raised a future king who will bring greatness back to the ocean, and you'll regret putting me down like an old whale! If you're receiving this message, it means the war started by a human named Gozaburo has been won, I'm dead, and Seto is rightfully on a throne. Goodbye, you imbecilic cretins. I never liked serving in the court anyway."
The rotunda came swimming back into view and Atem felt faint. The sack, even though it was light, was growing heavier in his hands, threatening to drag him down to the sandy white floors of the Elder's chambers.
What…in the gods….
Seto had better mind projection skills than Mahad, and he'd only ever heard commands in his mind, never a full visual message.
"There," Seto said, satisfied. He turned with a regal swish of his fins and grabbed Atem by the arm, and Atem hastened to push the door open so they could leave.
They raced down the hallway together, hand-in-hand, and Atem felt like bursting.
Seto had come to get the Elders a piece of his mind and it had been done beautifully.
When they swam far enough away, Atem threw a nervous look over his shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief, sneaking a glance at Seto and catching his blue-eyed gaze. They burst out laughing at the same time, clutching each other and heaving for air as they tried to compose themselves enough to speak.
"I take it...Elder Iota is resting peacefully now?" Atem gasped, throwing Seto a smirk, and he saw the merman's face fall again.
"She died on land, serving me loyally," Seto said somberly, gazing up at the surface even though it was a million miles away and they were surrounded by darkness. "You've met her several times. She was my manservant. The one who brought you food in a cart."
And he swam ahead, biting back the tears that seemed to come automatically every time he thought about Isono.
Flabbergasted, Atem followed Seto into deeper waters and reached out to grab his hand, holding onto him tightly and feeling Seto give him a reassuring squeeze in return.
"She must've been an enchantress if she knew how to make me see a male face," Atem said gravely, hoping this was a compliment, but Seto shook his head and replied, "…Enchantresses are just really skilled pact-makers. Her pact-making surpassed everyone in the entire ocean, which was why she was asked to serve on the council. They deemed her knowledge to be valuable…until she wasn't anymore."
Seto's voice cracked with emotion, and Atem nodded in understanding, giving Seto's hand another gentle squeeze as they continued to swim.
They stayed that way for a long while, swishing their fins in unison, passing by many dark vents and fissures before the Hemisphere marker for Muran appeared in the dark rock beneath them.
"We're home," Atem breathed, gripping Seto excitedly and powering forward, pulling him along. "I can't wait to hold my egg! I miss him so much!"
"Him?" Seto asked aggressively, thinking he hadn't gotten any clues or visions to the gender of his egg yet. "How do you know? When did you know?!"
"I've always known!" Atem huffed, giving him a handsome smile. "Does yours feel like a boy?"
Seto opened his mouth to reply but didn't get a chance to speak, because a guard came swimming up behind Atem, raising his spear in a salute.
"King Atem. King Seto," the guard bowed low, his dark violet fins waving back and forth underneath him. "Welcome back. I've been asked to escort you directly to the palace the moment you returned."
Solomon's doing, Seto growled, deciding to ignore the fact that the old man had insisted everyone begin using a different title for him, even though he hadn't been formally crowned yet.
"King Seto, eh?" Atem nudged him playfully and to his dismay, he received a grimace in return. What? That was supposed to be good news!
"It's 'take on more responsibilities so I can retire' Seto," Seto replied stiffly, wondering how he was going to juggle being king here, while helping Seth do cargo drops at the resort, and properly receive Noah when he came down to stay for a year. He was also a parent to three children—three infants.
It was daunting.
He would only get busier when Adina returned from land.
Atem listened to Seto's inner turmoil and kept his expression pleasant. His heart was beating with a mixture of pride and apprehension at Seto's sudden awareness. He almost missed the oblivious, rude, brash, uncaring Seto who swam around dismissing everything as 'mermaid nonsense,' but that had been a dangerous individual to rule a kingdom with.
Kingdoms, plural.
Seto, with his memories intact, seemed more refined and present, and Atem let the breath out that he didn't know he'd been holding. Together, they were escorted into the palace, and everyone who passed them waved happily.
Atem raised his hand to wave back, trying to hide his shock when he saw Seto do the same and put on a gentle smile for anyone swimming close enough to see their faces.
A mermaid came zooming towards them, dragging her red-faced friend in tow, and Atem paused politely to receive her, but to his rising surprise, she was addressing Seto.
"My Prince!" She cried, clasping her hands underneath her chin, her eyes shining. "I see you're still wearing the bracelet I made!"
Seto blinked and glanced down at his arms, noting that yes, he was still wearing that bracelet, including the ones Atem had made for him decades ago. Yep. These bracelets had been his default jewelry for years, and he refused to take them off, even when soaking in the Chrysalis.
"I love them," Seto said genuinely, and the mermaid flushed happily while her friend continued to hide shyly behind her back.
Atem watched this interaction with deep fascination, not daring to blink lest he miss an important moment.
"W-Well, I noticed you do…love them," the mermaid said, starting to regain her confidence after receiving a smile. "So I made three more! Would you like them?"
"If it's no trouble," Seto replied politely, and Atem wondered if Seto had been possessed by Seth or maybe a tidepool siren.
The mermaid's friend held her arm out shyly, still hiding behind her curtains of hair as the bracelets were slid off her wrist and offered out to the prince.
"Thank you. I'll enjoy wearing different ones," Seto said calmly, curling his palm around the mix of shells, beads, and gems in his hand, giving her a curt nod. "Excuse us. We're being summoned."
"Ah! Yes, of course!" The mermaid backed away respectfully and elbowed her friend aside. That mermaid bowed hastily too, and Seto gave them a boyish grin before he turned and grabbed Atem by the arm, pulling them away from the hallway with haste.
"You really love them?" Atem asked incredulously as they made their way down another long, curving hall with remnants of colorful streamers still braided onto the pillars.
"Yeah, I'm still wearing the ones you made me. Remember?" Seto held up his arm and Atem flushed.
Yes, of course he remembered.
He just thought Seto never switched his jewelry out because he was lazy.
"I am also too lazy to pick out new gems to wear every moon, so yeah, that too," Seto replied playfully, giving Atem a wink while he slid the bracelets on his arm to admire the way they sparkled in the low lights. "If I like it, I'll just keep wearing it." And he froze when he felt Mahad's presence floating somewhere behind them.
"What? Throne room is down this way…" Atem said, wondering if he should stop by the men's wing to put down the sack. "Are you tired? Hungry? Want to eat something?"
"…Mahad," Seto said stiffly, turning around to stare at the empty hallway behind them.
Oh? Atem wondered, also turning around but seeing no one. After a few heartbeats, Mahad appeared from behind one of the pillars, looking unusually bashful.
"My kings—" Mahad began, bowing low, and a mesh sack was shoved under his nose with supreme rudeness.
"It's Seto, or don't talk to me at all," Seto said gruffly, grabbing Atem's sack and pushing it closer to the warrior's chest. "Take these both to my room, and when you're done with that, I'll repay you by honing your spear."
Mahad's mouth dropped open and he snatched both sacks from Seto's pale hands, neglecting to bow before he turned and swam off in a rush, his heart thundering in his ears.
Seto was offering to re-hone his spear?! DEAL!
"You made him happy," Atem commented, feeling a twinge of jealousy followed by mild amusement. "You two made up?"
"Yeah, I guess," Seto shrugged. He did feel bad for nearly killing Mahad with commands in their past interactions. He didn't know his own strength back then, and until recently when he'd been unexpectedly commanded by Solomon, he had no idea what that had felt like.
The kelp privacy curtain hovered into view at the end of the stone hallway, and Seto grit his teeth, bracing himself to face the old king. Thankfully, Atem swam in first and hovered in the middle of the throne room, which was completely empty.
"Oh, he's not here," Atem said mildly, turning and giving Seto a relaxed smile. "I'll face him for you. Don't worry. Let's go see our eggs!"
He grabbed Seto by the arm and dragged him out of the throne room and towards the infirmary, passing by Mana and Isis, who both waved half-heartedly while gaping at them.
"You're BACK?!" Mana squealed, dashing after them and throwing her arms around Atem's neck, ignoring Seto pointedly. "How was land? How was Adina? Did you bring me anything?"
Oh crap, Atem thought guiltily, but Seto spoke up for him.
"Yeah, I did," Seto said heatedly, and to his dismay, Mana treated him like the wall, continuing to hang onto Atem and gossiping happily while they approached the infirmary doors.
"Mai was wondering if you've read any edition of CELINE while you were on shore. Oh, and guess what?! Anzu met a man…and he's, well, let's say he's not the best man ever…"
Seto let out a stiff sigh and swam into the infirmary first, making a beeline for the incubators in the back. It was obvious Mana was angry at him for commanding her to sleep when she'd accidentally spotted him sneaking out of Adina's room while in the middle of a Resting period.
Mana was holding an obvious grudge because that had been a violation of her free will.
Fuck.
He was such an asshole to her, and now he knew just how much.
The Medic didn't bow at him and rushed to help extract the egg from the setting, her mind also eerily silent.
They're close friends, Seto realized quietly, understanding his actions had consequences further than he could've imagined. Mana must've told the Medic about it, and now the Medic was resenting him too.
Crappppp…..
Crap on a stick.
Some major apologizing was in order.
Maybe even some groveling.
And unlike with Mahad, he couldn't offer these ladies a spear-honing service or phones. They would only see it as a bribe for their affections…which, true, it was a transparent attempt at winning back their trust, but he knew Mana's forgiveness couldn't be won with material items. Knowing her, he probably had to verbally acknowledge his wrongdoing, and do it in front of as many people as possible.
Atem sank down into the spot beside him and hugged the egg, letting out a contented sigh.
"Thank you for convincing me to come back down," Atem said warmly, giving Seto a grateful smile. "I didn't realize that this was probably the reason for my nightmares."
"Nightmares?" Mana echoed, frowning worriedly. "Want to talk about it?"
Atem grimaced and shook his head.
"Crap. I forgot to tell Mokuba you left," Seto said quietly, glancing down at the egg in his lap, feeling it warm up considerably every time he rested his hand atop the soft shell.
"Call for a Messenger. Mana, could you please?" Atem implored, pressing his cheek, against the egg's milky white shell and smiling blissfully to himself.
"If Prince Seto needs a messenger. He can get it himself," Mana said icily, sitting down beside Atem and resting her hand atop his egg, her tone changing dramatically as she cooed and stroked it lovingly. "Who's going to be so handsome? You? Yes, you!"
The Medic said nothing and kept her distance, keeping her arms crossed so tightly, her fingertips were white. Atem frowned and wondered why everyone was in such a bad mood.
"Did something happen while I was away?" Atem asked carefully, and the Medic and Mana shook their heads in unison.
"Nope. Nothing interesting happened other than Anzu's new boyfriend," Mana said casually. "Oh, Warrior Joey says he has something for you, Atem, so go see him when you have time."
"Okay, but what's wrong?" Atem prompted, noting that Seto had gone deathly silent too. "I can feel it, you know. Don't treat me like an outsider when I live here too."
There was tense silence.
Seto got up slowly to set his egg back in the incubator, watching the steam hissing up from the tendrils as they curled around the shell, keeping the warm temperature consistent and securing it back into place.
Funny how he couldn't even remember how the incubators worked.
He turned around to face Atem, Mana, and the Medic, taking a deep breath and bent himself down into a bow, making sure to keep his hands clasped behind his back in a show of sincerity. And as if this wasn't enough, he could feel Solomon entering the infirmary and paused in the middle of the room, staring at him.
"First, I'd love to apologize for my behavior," Seto said quietly, and he heard a hush fall over the entire ward as people in the beds also began to listen in. "I was horrible, rude, and careless with my words and actions. I won't put blame on the pact that made me forget, because the decisions I made while in my other state were entirely my own. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me."
He straightened up and saw Mana's eyes had gotten so wide, he could see the whites around her irises. Atem was gaping at him, his mouth parted in a look of sheer surprise, and Solomon was also astounded. He was gripping the nearest bed post for support, blinking rapidly at him.
"Second," Seto swallowed thinly and hated how quiet everyone had become. "I'm apologizing for my unwarranted commands towards you, Mana. I don't deserve your forgiveness because what I did was disgusting. If I may say one thing in my defense…" Seto paused, amazed that no one was protesting, and they were all still listening and taking him seriously, so he barreled on with his excuse. "…My soundness of mind was unstable. I was rude, even to you, Medic, while you replenished my health in the pod. I remember. I remember it all. I still harbor hate in my heart for humans, and I have a lot of mental and emotional healing to complete. If you can't forgive me, I completely understand."
He nodded and clasped his hands in front of him, remembering his manners, bowing directly to Solomon.
"King Solomon, I was insolent towards you and fully deserved the punishment you dealt. Thank you for putting me in my place."
He straightened up and could feel the water warming up around him.
It seemed his groveling had worked.
Everyone's temperament towards him had changed in that one instant.
Thankfully, even Mana's.
Atem wanted to say something encouraging, and a few words about how he accepted Seto's apology, but he was stunned speechless.
"What happened to you?" Mana whispered, speaking everyone's mind. "You didn't have to…apologize like that."
"I owe you, and everyone, an apology like that," Seto said gruffly, feeling his ears burn. "And as for what happened to me—it was war. War and abuse from a disgusting human who started that war, and I'm only alive now because of the efforts of Elders Iota and Gamma. Speaking of which, I still haven't found Elder Gamma to give her my thanks for privately funding my safe relocation on land. Repeatedly."
Repeatedly! Atem heard the Medic's shocked thoughts from afar and lowered his head, focusing on the pulsing heat coming from his egg. Yes, everyone was shocked. Maybe he was less shocked because he'd heard it so many times already. It was that, or he directly experienced Seto's pain from his rough personality and words.
"Well, m'boy, I'm glad you found yourself," Solomon chuffed, giving him a firm nod. "Elder Gamma lives in the Royal Village here, in dwelling block Tei, row VII. Give her my regards too while you're there."
"Thanks, I will," Seto said stiffly, sitting back down on the bed beside Atem, still feeling everyone's eyes on him, so he rested a hand on Atem's egg for lack of something to do. It warmed instantly underneath his touch and relaxed him instantly.
It was like a drug.
He could see why egg-bearing could become an addiction for some merpeople.
He'd written a whole journal and a half on it, ranting about the wonders of touching an egg.
He could now experience it for himself, once before without knowing, and now, again, fully aware of the benefits. He'd theorized this was why mermaids were more powerful than mermen. They naturally liked to spend more time around eggs and incubators, plain and simple.
Perhaps even after the twins hatched, he could come into the infirmary and touch any egg around a new moon whenever he felt restless or irritable.
So lost in his own thoughts, Seto didn't realize everyone was still staring at him.
He glanced up and reddened anxiously when he caught many pairs of eyes focused on him, causing his ears to heat up again.
"What?" He said defensively, holding his hands up with his palms facing outwards, showing he was truly remorseful. "Is there something I missed?"
"Yeah," Mana said slowly, watching Atem rise from the bed and float over to the incubators to place the egg back into the row. "Could you tell us why you chose to keep the murderer's surname?"
"I renounce the surname entirely," Seto said roughly, his eyes heating up with fury, thinking even Mokuba had more sense than him because he'd taken on his wife's last name. "I hate that man, and he tortured me for secrets which I never gave."
Mana and the Medic paled.
Atem floated back to sit beside him on the bed, reaching for his hand and giving it a squeeze, which encouraged him to continue talking.
"The pact that caused my forgetfulness was to keep him from learning anything about me, or anything that would lead him to other colonies in deeper waters," Seto added, feeling his heart race as he remembered the years of prolonged pain. "I gave up the most important part myself to fool him and took over his empire when he was weak. He killed my parents…and your parents," Seto met Atem's wide-eyed gaze and the king nodded fearfully.
"And Mokuba's parents," he continued, seeing people's heads peeking out from over their pods, listening intently.
"Headaches would rip through me anytime a memory tried to resurface. Meeting Seth…" Seto's voice cracked uncharacteristically, "…I couldn't remember him. I called him a 'freak wearing my face'. Anger or indifference would overtake me whenever I thought about anything related to merpeople. I had to lie to myself, thinking I was only interested in the science behind our fins. I think…that enabled me to break my pact."
Seto nodded thoughtfully, clasping his fingers over his fins and watching Atem and Mana's faces carefully.
"Then what happened that time you came down in critical condition?!" The medic cried, swimming closer and floating above him, brimming with curiosity. Mana and Atem nodded vigorously, and it was mirrored by the nurse, and several people in their beds.
"That time…" Seto grimaced thoughtfully. "It was probably an overload of severe shore illness, combined with the bad pact I'd made with Atem, and several other pacts Elder Iota had performed on me…all colliding."
"I see," Atem breathed, giving Seto's hand another grateful squeeze. What a close call.
From what he'd heard, the pod had turned dark red, and he'd foolishly thought that was Seth at the time.
"Well, if and when you're done telling war stories," Solomon huffed, acting like he wasn't listening, examining his fingernails with an air of disinterest, "I insist you start planning your coronation with Prince Seth. I can't do everything for you." And he turned to swim out the infirmary doors, leaving a lukewarm silence behind him.
"Yeah, I'm done talking about myself," Seto said gruffly, feeling the water warming up hotter around his fins as everyone's compassion floated his way. He could feel it.
It was strange and…sweet at the same time.
"Apology accepted," Mana sniffed, eyeing the mer-made bracelets adorning Seto's arm, her respect for him rising. "And nice bracelets. I can appreciate a nice, dyed seashell paired with an elegant pearl."
Seto spared her a tired smile and felt his heart swell with a mixture of triumph and joy.
Mana had been won over at last. And she'd complimented him. How nice.
"If you need help meal-planning for your coronation, I'll help," Atem said warmly, wondering if he could use this chance to learn all of Seto's favorite foods. "And we can call on the kelp decorator who helped with Adina's procession. What do you say?"
"I want a nap," Seto groaned, pressing a hand to his face, and he heard the Medic laugh sympathetically from above. He glanced up to meet Atem's eye and was thrown by the warm, appreciative smile Atem was giving him.
"I'm so proud to have you by my side," Atem beamed, and Seto felt his body heat up gratefully at the strong praise.
His exhaustion vanished in an instant and he basked in Atem's approval, thinking that for once in his life, he was finally doing something right.
Author's note:
(yes and I hear you guys when you say you wanna read a scene of them receiving the twins so I will write that in the next chapter! )
Also I have some big personal news! (yes I am using the author's note section to diary post)
Since the passing of Mr. Scissors, my beautiful, energetic, lovable dutch bunny who was the main reason why I wrote so much (to take on his surgery bills so he could have a good life, and he only managed to live so happily and so long because of you wonderful people who trusted me enough to support my work with unimaginable love), his partner, Silky has been holding up well these past few months but has been acting lonely. She would lick the edges of her blankets and pillows until they were soaking wet, indicating she needs a partner (who isn't human).
So we went on speed dates at a local rescue, and she found compatibility with one small gray rabbit. On their date, they didn't fight or bite each other and even shared food. This boy is 2 years old, and his breed is a gray silver marten / mixed with something, they don't know because he was born under someone's porch and then brought into a house full of dogs and children, so he's badly traumatized, but slowly he's coming out of his shell the longer he's staying with us.
Silky gives him lots of reassuring head licks, and they cuddle together for 2+ hours a day on their dates.
We're still in the process of bonding, but it looks like he's here to stay.
The shelter offered multiple male rabbits, saying to take them home, try them for 2 weeks, and repeat as needed, but we lucked out on the first try. ( thank god, cuz I cant keep stranger rabbits in my home for 2+ weeks at a time so my bunny can have someone to lick. I love her very much and I'm glad she chose a husband fast lol)
Here's what he looks like! :D (oop pls go to tumblr or ig to see him, this site doesnt let me link)
Decided to name him Dororo, for the intense trauma reaction to anyone and anything. He makes Silky very happy and has bonded with me enough to lick my face, so I'm quite happy with him. He won't fill the hole in my heart that Mr. Scissors left (not that any bunny ever could), but he's a great example of what a normal rabbit should be like, with no reoccurring health problems every 3 seconds. But because of Mr. Scissors' impressive array of illnesses, I feel like I can tackle any sick rabbit (short of actual surgery) and help them, because he taught me so much about bunny health. The vet for Dororo asked me in a very serious tone if I was a doctor when we chatted briefly (BWHAHAha AS IF. I have a PHD in writing dick-touching-dick fanfics, that's right.)
ANYWAY, that question shocked me, and then made me realize just how much I went through with Mr. Scissors.
Thank you again for reading my works, reaching out to talk with me on discord (ugli#7509), .. ig (prettiugli),... tumblr,(uglifish dot tumblr dot the com :P) because your kind words really helped me and my darling sick bun in my times of need, and I don't know where I'd be without all of your support and friendship.
This fandom is awesome, and I'm repeatedly astounded by how kind people can be.
Thank you, thank you…thank you!
_ugli