#;; FROM STRAIGHT UP SAYING 'I WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE.' because she *respects* the dothraki ways

[callmeizukunotdeku]

The worst part, of course, is why they notice.

It's because Robin got in over his head during patrol and Red Hood broke his no-kill streak.

Bruce's rules snapped back into place, just as taut as before.

Jason pulls back. He doesn't visit anymore and then Alfred's giving him the cold shoulder too. Dick is insisting that he get over himself.

"What was it that made you accept him? What made you okay with him before, B?"

"I...just got some good advice before."

"From who?"

Quietly, he admitted, "Tim."

The name jolted Dick, as he realized that his brother had slipped his mind.

He couldn't remember the last time he talked to Tim.

He couldn't remember the last time he thought about him.

"Call him," Dick said, "and put him on speaker."

If Bruce had taken Tim's advice just once--taken it and implemented it long term--then that was more than he'd ever done for Dick.

Bruce took out his phone.

It rang and rang and then--

"This number is not available."

Bruce furrowed his brow and muttered, "No, that can't be right. This is his contact..."

He messed around on his phone for another minute before calling again, and--

"This number is not available."

Dick swallowed, and thought, bitter and hopefully, that maybe Tim blocked Bruce, before remembering that they didn't want any more problems. Their family couldn't handle going back to the way they were before Bruce came back.

Dick couldn't handle a return to the way things were.

He'd break under the pressure. He knew he would.

Dick called Tim, but--

"This number is not available."

He didn't get a response.

"Try his secretary?" Dick suggested and Bruce called Tam.

And again, the phone rang and rang and--

"You're speaking to Miss Fox, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, how can I help you?"

You could have heard a pin drop in the room.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Bruce."

"And Dick," he added, "hi, Tam, how've'ya been?"

"Busy," she said, with some amount of humor in her voice, "Tim wasn't kidding when he said this job was grueling. I still wanted it though, and he thought I was the best person for it, so...here we are, I guess. Why are you calling, though? Y'all never call."

"Um," Dick started, not trusting Bruce to form a proper answer, "we were wondering how Tim was doing. We couldn't get ahold of him."

"Oh," she said, voice flatter than it was before, "yeah, he has a new number. I'll tell him you're trying to get in touch with him--"

"Give us the number," Bruce said.

It was silent on the other side of the line before there was a brief beep.

Tam hung up.

Bruce tried her number again, but it went straight to voicemail.

Dick was in the middle of trying to figure out a reasonable plan when Bruce called out, "Clark."

The man was there not a moment later, "Bruce. What do you need?"

"Where's Tim?"

"Ivy, I presume. Why do you ask."

"What's he doing with Pam?"

Clark gave him a confused look. "Who?"

"Pamela Isley? Poison Ivy?"

"He's...I meant to say that he's in Ivy Town. He's been attending university there for a few months now. Kon visits him often--brings him back to the farm, sometimes. Ma loves him--says he's a natural baker but Tim just always argues that it's because he's studying chemistry and--I'm sorry," he cut himself off, "why are you asking?"

Again, it was quiet for a moment before Dick said, "We were just trying to get ahold of him."

"Ah," Clark nodded, "his number changed again, didn't it? Do you want his new one?"

"No," Dick said at the same time that Bruce said, "Yes."

Dick glared at him, "No. We'll wait for him to call us."

Bruce comes back from the dead and wants to make things better. Bruce comes back from the dead and Tim was the one who brought him back, so it's obviously Tim who'll know best how to help him reconnect with everyone.

It's Tim who should give him advice on how to bond with Dick. Dick has always been his idol, after all. Tim would know best how to bring him back, and he does. He gives good advice and the two of them begin to get closer.

So Bruce asks about Jason, too. Asks about how to bring his son back into the fold and Tim wished for a brief and brutal moment that it weren't so obvious who the favorite was.

Tim told Bruce to give Jason his space, to loosen his rules, and make it clear that no matter what the Red Hood did, no matter what the Batman believed in, Jason was always welcome. Bruce would always want him.

It worked. Bruce wasn't surprised. Tim was a special sort of bitter.

Bruce asked again for Damian and Tim had to push down his anger. "That boy tried to kill me," Tim wanted to say. "I hate him and I want you to hate him too so that I can remember a time when we had something in common," Tim didn't say, but he got close.

He instead told Bruce how Damian liked art and animals and loved hearing stories of the wonders of Batman.

He told Bruce just how much Damian loved being Robin. Told Bruce to tell Damian what a good Robin he was.

God bless or maybe damn him, but he did and it worked and Tim wanted to start screaming and clawing at something because that would have never worked if Tim tried it and it wouldn't have stopped Damian from cutting his line--something Bruce did not and would never know about.

Bruce asked about Babs. How should he make sure she knew that she was a part of the family? They they loved her and not just for the work she did?

He asked about Steph. How should he make sure she knew that she was more important than his rules and that, if something else should go wrong, she didn't need to run away?

He asked about Duke. He never got the chance to get to know him before leaving--not as well as he wanted to, at least. How should he let him know that he was just as much a son as everyone else? That, whether or not his parents woke up, he'd always be welcome?

He asked about Cass. How should he show her that he loves her even though he has nothing to teach her? How can he convey how much he cares about her, his first daughter?

Bruce gets brought back from time and he makes things better. He brings his family back together by following Tim's advice.

And Tim?

Tim brings his dad back from the dead and Bruce changes, becomes a better father.

Bruce changes, but not everything can.

That, Tim thinks, is why Bruce never calls Tim his son.

[kaerinio]

i really cannot stop thinking about dany's "brother, euuugh" moment: when viserys rejected the beautiful dothraki clothing she had made specifically for him and accused her of wanting to braid his hair. like, rejecting the clothing was one thing, but babygirl was so taken aback by his gall, by his ignorance; he doesn't deserve a braid. he's won no battles. he's displayed no strength. she's so shocked by not only the presumption, but by the fact that he hasn't even bothered to learn the most basic tenant of dothraki life.

[vamphrrr]

%% tough love

in which the daughter of aphrodite is head over heels for the most ruthless warrior at camp, & all she can do is try to court her while simultaneously killing her.

— clarisse la rue x f!aphrodite!reader

warnings ; idiots in love, ooc clarisse?, pining on both sides, flirty & bold reader, flustered clarisse, tall & muscular clarisse / short reader (reader reaches her chest), fool clarisse (JUST SAY YES!!), bad flirting attempts (i’ve never flirted), a little bad since it’s my first oneshot srry guys

There she was, the most beautiful girl you had ever know. Tall, dark, strong and powerful in all her mighty glory. She was sparring with one of her brother’s, Lucas? you presumed. They’ve been at it for hours, Clarisse beating him almost every single time. But no matter how many times Lucas fell or almost got his head cut off, he would just not give up.

You needed him to leave already.

It was as if the gods heard your prayers, because one second Lucas had Clarisse cornered, and then the next she swung her spear with all her might. A woosh was heard, nearby leaves shaking and falling with how much strength she used. Her brother's weapon went flying, and so did he.

Oh gods, you thought, biting your lip to stop a giggle from escaping. I love women who could destroy me in a heartbeat.

You watched behind a tree as Lucas struggled to get back up, clearly dizzy from the hit he took. He wobbled a bit, and Clarisse realized he could seriously not stand up by himself. She leaned down, one arm on his waist while the other helped put his arm around her shoulder.

Lucas stood up successfully, and you were able to see that he slightly looked over at your direction for a moment. You gasped, quickly moving so that your face was out of sight. If he saw you, he didn’t make a big deal out of it, but oh, Clarisse sure did once he told her.

She immediately stood up straight, pushing her brother back down to the ground and whipping her head around. A thud followed by a groan was heard as she sped walked towards the tree you were hiding behind. Not knowing that she was getting closer, you twisted your body around, about to peek to where you thought she was. Although, that thought seemed to not go as planned.

“Ow!” you said, feeling your nose hit a solid wall. I don’t remember a wall being there.

A familiar huff was heard, causing you to stiffen. Looking up, you made eye contact with Clarisse who had her arms crossed, muscles bulging from the pressure. Sweat was still clinging on to her face, and you saw as a droplet of water ran down her neck.

She made dirt and sweat look beautiful.

“Oh, hey Clarisse!” you exclaimed, eyes turning pink, pupils dilated. “Fancy seeing you here!”

She raised an eyebrow, ears slightly burning when she saw your eyes change color. “Hm, I’m pretty sure you were stalking us. Unless… you were waiting to spar, princess?”

You smiled, twirling a strand of your hair around your manicured finger, watching as Clarisse got a little distracted with that move. Oh how you loved when she called you that.

“No,” you shook your head, leaning a little closer to her. “I just wanted to ask if you were free later today.”

Clarisse wasn’t surprised. Every week you would do the same thing: follow her around like a lovesick puppy, waiting secretly for her to finish whatever she was doing. Someone would notice you and tell her, teasing her about how she held the heart of an Aphrodite girl, to which she glared at. Then she’d turn around to see you standing there, looking like the prettiest flower in a field full of plain boring wheat. She’d walk to you, and as soon as you’d see her, your eyes would turn pink. Which was a very endearing thing that she’d be an idiot to not know what it meant.

“Like I’ve told you countless times,” she began. “I’m busy.”

Which was true. Unfortunately for you —and her—, your timing was gods awful. As the counselor of the Ares cabin, she was expected to lead the new and younger demigods on a weekly camp journey through the wild. That, plus the fact she was in charge of training clumsy kids, did not give her a lot of free time. And it seemed like you always had a knack for asking things at the wrong time.

You looked up at her through your eyelashes, pouting your lips a bit in what you hoped was a cute way. “Awe, I was really hoping to take you out on a date this time. You know, I heard the little lake by the strawberry fields is a really good place to make out.”

Clarisse gulped, leaning her shoulder against the tree, feeling her heart beat faster than normal. Gods, she could not believe you just said that.

These Aphrodite kids are a danger to society.

She cleared her throat lightly and composed herself. “Well that’s a real shame princess. I guess you’re gonna have to find out if that’s true with somebody else.”

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Don’t kiss anyone else.

You gave her a pretty smile, touching one of her forearms with your fingers, painted nails tracing her scars. “But I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

Oh, I really hate you. Clarisse thought.

“A-and like I said,” she breathed out, cursing at herself for stuttering. “I can’t.”

She moved away from your touch, taking a big step back, hating for the first time that she was in charge of all her siblings. She’d get punished if she didn’t do her duties. But, would it really be that bad?

“Ah,” you let out, eyebrows furrowing a bit, immediately being replaced by your eyes brightening. “Well then, maybe next time!”

“I—” Clarisse started, not being able to finish her sentence because you swiftly turned around, walking away. She clenched her fists. If only you stayed for a little more while, she would’ve gave in to your date. Cursing at herself for being a good counselor and taking her duties seriously, she groaned loudly.

You heard her, practically smelling her regret. Smirking to yourself, you laughed, knowing the affect you had on her. Others might have given up, taking her constant “I’m busy” as a sign of rejection, but not you. You’re the daughter of Aphrodite, goddess of love. You know when someone wants you, you can sense it. And, well, every time you’re with Clarisse, the love and longing that she had for you was strong. You know she feels the same way. It’s just a shame that she’s always so busy.

Oh well, maybe next time.

[inbarfink]

So when I talk about how the Winter King is, on some level, far more removed from original-flavor Simon than Ice King ever was - Betty is the most obvious example. Ice King’s whole obsession with princesses and the kidnapping therefore and general romantic neediness has always been a Mad, Sad and Magical reflection of just how much Simon misses Betty.

Even when he was too far too gone to recognize Betty when she was standing right in front of his face

Ice King always carried the hole she left in his heart. Meanwhile, the Winter King has full access to his old memories, he just forgotten her because he doesn’t care anymore. 

Even while he was forcing Princess Bubblegum to dance along in a recreation of that same romantic grief.

But still, I feel like what happened Winterworld version of Marceline is an ever more poetic example, even if figuring out what exactly happened includes a lot of inferences and headcanons.

In “I Remember You”, during yet another emotional breakdown, Ice King accidentally shoved Marceline - and he was immediately absolutely overcome with regret and shame

Because although he didn’t consciously remember what Marceline meant to him, he still retained these feelings of fatherly care and affection. Some sort of core element of Simon’s being that persisted despite the effects of the Magic Crown. Because of that, he couldn't even stand the thought of hurting her, even slightly.

Ice King was capable of doing some fucked-up things in his desperation and madness - but hurting Marceline was the one line he never ever wanted to cross.

But the Winter King?

We only have hints of what went down between Winterworld Simon and Winterworld Marceline. All we know is: 

The Winter King and Winterworld Marceline had the same Simon and Marcy backstory as in the Mainworld, and the Winter King fully remembers it - since he conjures a vision of them during his song. 

Since Marceline’s Ax Bass still exists in its familiar form, it’s safe to say this version of Marceline did reach adulthood and probably had a pretty similar life to Mainworld Marceline.

The Winter King did something absolutely morally repugnant to the Candy Kingdom in general and Princess Bubblegum specifically. Although at the time the Winter King came to being, Marcy and Peebs were still reeling from that centuries-old breakup (assuming there are no other major divergences in the timeline) - I have no doubt that Marceline still had enough lingering feelings (and also maybe general human decency) that she would not stand for Simon’s actions.

And yet the real Marceline is 100% unaccounted for, only her Ax-Bass remains, in the Winter King’s possession. 

Or rather, in the possession of Ice Marcy, an icy duplicate of Marceline as a child living in a gilded cage in the Winter King’s palace - presumably just as lacking in Free Will as the Ice Scouts and any other creation of the Winter King.

The Winter King’s little conversation with Simon about Betty is the best hint we have to Winter King’s motivation for making Ice Marcy. Namely, he suggested making an ‘Ice Betty’ as a way for Simon to get over losing the love of his life. And he’s fully aware that this is unethical - he just doesn’t care.

I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume that Marceline and the Winter King would have some sort of confrontation about what he did to Bubblegum and since the Winter King implicitly compares it to the situation with ‘the dead one’ (Betty)… I honestly think it is not a stretch at all to assume the Winter King killed Marceline. 

And even if he didn’t straight-up kill her, I think most scenarios that fall under Occam’s Razor still involve the Winter King knowingly inflicting a great amount of emotional and potentially physical damage to Marceline. And it definitely involves the Winter King claiming Marceline’s most beloved posession as his own and giving it to a false icy duplicate of her child self he made to replace her. 

I mean, the fact that he even bothered implies that he at least misses her more than Betty. But his discussion with Simon still means he considers replacing her with a nonsapient magic ice construct that copies not the person she was when she was speaking out against him but the child who adored him to be more than a suitable solution. Which is a demonstration that whatever sort of love remained in the Winter King’s heart for Marceline was a very twisted and selfish kind of love. 

Even if you want to argue that the Winter King has nothing to do with Marceline’s disappearance - the fact that this is how he dealt with her being gone shows how much of the love Simon genuinely had for Marcy is now become a hollow and self-centered sort of thing. This is also a form of hurting her.  And again, with the way the Winter King is in general - I think it’s very likely he has a lot to do with what happened to Marceline.

Meanwhile in the Mainverse, the Ice King couldn’t even lightly shove her away in a fit of emotions without being overcome with pain and regret.

So which Ice Wizard really retains more of what made Simon Petrikov who has is? The one who kept his identity and memories but has lost all of the love and care that has once motivated him more than anything? Or the one who can’t remember his name or his old face most days but still retains this ever-persistent echo of his romantic love for Betty and his fatherly love for Marceline even if he doesn’t fully understand where it comes from? 

[dev-mars]

LITTLE DETAILS AND PLOT POINTS I FORGOT ABOUT IN SEASON 1

From like episode 65 onwards

• The Kiki and Zane baby pendent plot line is so odd like did that actually do anything that impacts the plot? Like why would Zane have a reason to do that? I know he’s evil and all but he has goal he’s trying to reach and what does Kiki having a werewolf baby have to do with that? I’m probably just forgetting more stuff that happens later in the season to be honest.

• Plus you would think that Garroth would have been more concerned about it seeing as Leona could have potentially been his niece.

• When the group gets lost after they leave Malachi’s castle Laurance suggests that Garroth could cuddle with the horses while him and aph cuddle

• He later also clears away poison ivy for a “romantic camping spot” at Lucinda’s while Aph kills crabs

• Garroth is the one that taught Levin to call Aphmau Mama (I think it would be funny if Levin sort of had a british accent because of Garroth and says some words differently like Mum)

• Garroth actively tries to start pursuing Aphmau after the castle with Malachi (presumably because Laurance spent the whole trip getting there convincing Garroth to tell Aphmau his feelings)

• While they’re traveling Laurance seems to constantly trying to force Garroth to confess his feelings to Aphmau and straight up tells Aph that Garroth has feelings for her at nether portal at the werewolf village

• Garroth tries to confess his feelings at camp at Lucinda’s house but Laurance is listening in and only interrupts when Garroth changes the topic to Brightport

• Laurance comes up with the idea of the phoenix alliance

• For some reason Laurance knows everything and is always explaining stuff to Aphmau like he’s the human equivalent of an lore info dump like he’s the one that forces Garroth to talk about his father (Laurance is the world building of this universe)

• Neither Aphmau or Laurance ever sleep

• Dante stays up a lot too and in the beginning he likes to be alone

• Laurance is always eavesdropping on everyone’s conversations literally he is the nosiest.

• Laurance is also way too chill about knowing Gene and for some reason just never says anything to Dante??

• Also I skipped some episodes because season one is slow and I haven’t finished rewatching season 1 but Dante is really chill about Laurance being a shadow knight despite having his entire life being torn apart by his shadow knight brother

• Laurance tells the shadow knight lady and innkeeper in Pikoro to never stop loving her probably because it helps keep her human and wishes Aphmau would do the same for him.

• Laurance is more of a realist than Garroth is both are good at reading situations but Laurance tends to less optimistic than Garroth is (probably from his experiences in the nether.)

• Laurance is also just very good at reading people and understanding their weaknesses

• Laurance realizes that love is able fight against the shadow knight’s magic and that furthers it as a theme in the story

• Garroth despite having a rivalry with Laurance confides in him often and this gives Laurance an intimate look into Garroth’s thoughts

• Laurance pretends to lean in but there’s actually a ladybug on Aph’s shoulder before just telling her about the Magicks and Witchcraft war

• Garroth goes out of his way to try and to spend time with Aphmau like trying to walk her home.

• Dante asks for a combat doll from Nana and thinks he’s met her somewhere before (I don’t remember if this comes back later in the series) and I feel like it hints at a future romance pretty well as first interaction.

• Garroth catches Aphmau when she falls from the tree and Aphmau is pretty calm about the whole situation despite that being a terrifying thing to happen (plus I feel like Garroth should have been more scared and thankful he caught her time like he nearly lost the woman he’s in love with.)

• Then they play with both Levin and Malachi in the tree house like a little family

• Laurance gives Levin and Malachi a book that Zoey reads to them (in my rewrite it would be the legend/fairy tale of aphmau’s name)

• Lucinda and Nana used to have rival cat cafes! Then they have duel!

• Laurance wears gold armor for couple episodes before getting the armor upgrade

• Garroth removes his helm when Aphmau asks him to immediately where before he refused. He trusts Aphmau and presumably Laurance and Dante completely.

• Garroth designed armor when he was younger probably at guard school that somehow Katelyn got a hold of and turned into armor for the guards along coordinating colors that match their personalities

• Garroth, Dante, and Laurance are all on the jury of 9 waitlist

I’m rewatching season one and it’s so much information to sift through. Also there are millions of other things that I probably forgot. Don’t get me wrong, I love it but after season one Jess went a different direction with the storytelling and that was a great decision.

[barelylivingscholar]

Arlecchino with a daughter prt. 2 tw: Dottore (mentioned), gore(?), torture.

I’ve been hearing from Pantalone, that I am being searched for. Interesting. I sipped on tea as Pantalone had given me updates in regarding the new “successor” that had replaced me. Lyney was his name. He has a twin sister, Lynette. I have not met them before. I fiddled with the fur of my cloak, as Pantalone then switches the topic about the Northland Bank… A few weeks had passed after my exit from the House of the Hearth. I have been working alongside Pantalone to establish plans and how to manage each branch. I have learned a lot from him in regards to Mora, and how to use it effectively. In one week, I learned how to negotiate, bargain, and put someone into debt… Then on the second week, I have learned how to use different torture methods to instill fear upon people who are unable to pay their debts… By the third week… I learned how to control people. By using Mora.  

So far, Pantalone has been nothing but more of a figure that I have learned to respect… Unlike “Knave”, Pantalone gives me time to explore places, areas that I have not seen before… I am free to do whatever I want to. There is no limit to what I cannot do while I am under his wing. Pantalone is more honest and straight to the point. He is not vague on wording things regarding any type of situation. He feels more familiar than the “Knave.” While I do not have any obligation or whatsoever to call him “Family”, I feel more connected to him rather than what I had with the “Knave”. Pantalone had given me permission to call him by his name, rather than his codename. I like to think that Pantalone grew on me as I grew on him too. He started little, he invites me for tea after finishing missions, gifts me things from other nations, and values my input rather than ignore it. Pantalone was never shy on telling me what life was like back then when he was once someone who had no Mora in his name…

Pantalone had told me stories about his coworker “The Doctor.” Stories that had my bone chilled even until now. He warns me to not wander off far from his radar. “Who knows what Zandik would do to you once he had set his eyes on you as another project of his” Pantalone remarked, as he shakes his head and switched topic. It seemed that he had noticed my discomfort about his coworker. Pantalone mentions that the “Knave” seemed very adamant on not believing that I was dead. My expression had hardened. Pantalone as always, caught onto it. He nods in understanding. “You’re in a better place now.” “Am I really?” “It depends on how you see it.” We then finished our tea and left to go back at his base. I encountered a few children from the House of the Hearth on the way back, their eyes widening as I walked alongside Pantalone. A child who I presumed to be Lyney, as Pantalone had described to me what the boy’s appearance was approached me. “Are you Blanche? The one who has been missing for weeks?” I stiffened at the mention of my former name, but regained my composure. “Surely you are mistaken. I am not Blanche.” I answered, staring at him curiously. Is this the person who is the “successor” of the House of the Heath? “You look exactly the same as the image “Father” had provided.” “I may look the same as the person in that photo but that isn’t me. That person is dead.” I say bluntly, scanning Lyney’s surprised expression. “But-“ I cut him off. “I am not the same person you are looking for. I am a disciple of “Regrator”. As you can see, we are busy. He is a busy man. If you’d excuse us…” I then walked away from Lyney. His twin who I assumed to be “Lynette” had come up to him and exchanged glances. I am not coming back from that place.

Pantalone surveys my expression. “You look pale.” I attempt to calm down, as I answered him in a tight voice, “I am fine.” Pantalone does not buy it. “Are you afraid that the “Knave” will take you back to the House of the Hearth?” He goes straight to the point. I then replied in a harsh tone. “She can try. But I’m not coming back. I’m never stepping foot in that place again.” I looked haunted. “If it helps, I do not intend on surrendering you to the “Knave.” You are now my disciple. Not her orphan anymore.” I attempt to at least smile a little at his attempt of comfort. “Correct. But people like her do not intend to give up easily. There will be consequences.” I sighed. “She has no other choice. I provide the funds for the Hearth. She cannot act rashly.” I then looked away from him, staring at the path ahead. “I know someday I will return to that place eventually, but in a different standing.” Pantalone nods. “You will. But as my disciple this time. You have been well informed of our upcoming schedule.” I stretched my limbs. “Duty is duty. I am bound to it. You have been accommodating enough to me that I see this more as a business opportunity rather than… Revisiting trauma.” I shakily sighed. “Whether I have any negative feelings of that place… It does not apply to the agenda. This is strictly business.” I attempt to convince myself that there is nothing more than that. But thoughts still continued to plague me on the way back to the base. We walked in silence. Pantalone does not further question me anymore.

I was left to my own devices by Pantalone to deal with an unsettled debt by an old man. I subdued the man into torture, as usual. The torture method used is to mark their skin with an iron stamp, as I cast the iron to the stamp and brand their skin with the Fatui logo, I enjoyed the screams of my victims. Before, I was afraid. Now, I am numb to it all. I left the chamber with a bloody bag of mora in hand. I report back to Pantalone that I had collected the debt, and left to write down a report for Pantalone. I then scrubbed the blood off the bag of mora. I tutted as the old man’s blood was spilled on the bag of coins. I hate filth. I hate who I was once. I am now cleared of the filth that I was once covered in. This is me now. Blanche is dead. “Disciple” is who I am now. I emerged out of the washroom as a new person. In a month, I will revisit the House of Hearth under the banner of “Regrator.” If there is anything that Pantalone had taught me best, it is the language of Mora. I am just as obsessed with Mora as well. For now, I must stay in Snezhnaya.

Freminet had been searching for Blanche for a while now. She was a calm girl who only spoke a few words. “Father” had seemed to favor her over the many children of the Hearth, which led to many despising Blanche. All but Freminet. He never hated Blanche. She was the only girl who respects his boundaries and chooses to speak with him in a manner that is comforting. She indulges him in visiting “Penguin Town.” And had once gifted him a penguin plush that is still kept by him in his room. Although their interactions are limited, but he considers her as his only friend. Freminet believes that Blanche hadn’t died. Before her disappearance, he saw Blanche rushing out of the house, seemingly in a hurry. He paid no mind to it until he saw Father asking about Blanche’s whereabouts an hour later. He then went to search for Blanche. Only to come back with a frozen bloody pin. Blanche had disappeared. No one knew where she was.

Until, Lyney had come to him to inform him of Blanche’s reappearance. Freminet was stunned to know that Blanche had chosen to not come back to the House of the Hearth. Freminet believed she will be back after being found. The man she was with had something to do with it. “Regrator”, ninth of the Fatui… Father must know of this. Lyney had said to him. He then leaves Freminet to think about the news. Blanche should have no reason not to return, she was favored, loved by Father, why else would she not return? Surely, she had not been brainwashed by the man she was with. He vows to help Blanche come to her senses so she would return to House of the Hearth, to where she will spend time with Pers and him again. He just had to convince Father to let Blanche play with him. ̶S̶̶h̶̶e̶ ̶w̶̶a̶̶s̶ ̶a̶̶l̶̶w̶̶a̶̶y̶̶s̶ ̶u̶̶n̶̶a̶̶v̶̶a̶̶i̶̶l̶̶a̶̶b̶̶l̶̶e̶ ̶t̶̶o̶ ̶p̶̶l̶̶a̶̶y̶ ̶w̶̶i̶̶t̶̶h̶.

Lyney entered Father’s office. To where Father has been waiting for updates in regards to her beloved daughter.  ̶H̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶d̶̶a̶̶u̶̶g̶̶h̶̶t̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶w̶̶h̶̶o̶ ̶s̶̶h̶̶e̶ ̶h̶̶a̶̶d̶ ̶d̶̶e̶̶a̶̶r̶̶l̶̶y̶ ̶l̶̶o̶̶v̶̶e̶̶d̶. She had loved them so much that she didn’t want any harm to come upon her daughter…  Her daughter had run away from her after what she said to her, to which Arlecchino had come to regret deeply… Perhaps she shouldn’t have said those words.  ̶M̶̶a̶̶y̶̶b̶̶e̶ ̶h̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶d̶̶a̶̶u̶̶g̶̶h̶̶t̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶w̶̶o̶̶u̶̶l̶̶d̶'̶v̶̶e̶ ̶s̶̶t̶̶i̶̶l̶̶l̶ ̶b̶̶e̶ ̶h̶̶e̶̶r̶̶e̶ ̶b̶̶y̶ ̶t̶̶h̶̶e̶̶n̶.

Her crossed eyes had seemed to have a dangerous glow at the mention that her daughter was with Pantalone. ̶H̶̶e̶ ̶s̶̶t̶̶o̶̶l̶̶e̶ ̶h̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶f̶̶r̶̶o̶̶m̶ ̶m̶̶e̶! Silence had engulfed the office… Before she finally spoke up. “Thank you for the report, Lyney. You may now leave…” After Lyney left, Arlecchino angrily digs her nails on her desk, leaving a claw mark. Mɏ đȺᵾǥħŧɇɍ... Ɨ wɨłł ǥɇŧ ɏøᵾ ƀȺȼꝁ...

An: Things will get more confusing once part three rolls out... There is more to it now that there's another pov... Especially "Father's." Feel free to interpret things as there will be more misunderstandings to come in the next following chapters...  

[littlemissthunderstorms]

warp speed chic pt.1

“the shining city on the fritz”

a tranquility base hotel and casino alternate universe.

———

you were in awe.

warm, glimmering lights hung down from the ceiling, the soft glittering reflections painting the walls like a mirrorball. smooth jazz filled the reception area, muddled by various chitter chatter and conversations. the whole atmosphere was warm and welcoming, but you couldn’t help the shiver than ran down your spine when you caught a glance out of one of the big windows, vast space scattered with stars and nebulas stretching on and on above the spectacular intergalactic city lights.

you caught yourself staring, jaw agape.

“can i help you miss?” a man with a sleek suit holding a clipboard looked up at you through his thick rimmed glasses, waiting for an answer. “oh- um, yes! i’m actually supposed to meet um..” you glanced at your card, “alex turner?” the man raised his eyebrows. “mr. turner you say?”

you nodded, not really aware of his importance, or if he had any at all. you just knew you were supposed to meet with him first thing. the man glanced down at his clipboard, shaking his head and scurrying over to the phone at the desk, where he fumbled with the buttons, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose while he waited for someone to pick up.

you clacked your nails on the desk, looking around as you waited, still breath taken by the gorgeous architecture, the way design flowed so beautifully throughout the space. “good evening mr. turner! sorry to trouble you sir, i’ve got someone who’s apparently supposed to be meeting- oh! great, i’ll send her right up. thank you- you too sir.”

you smiled at the man, nervously biting your lip. another dude in a sleek suit came up to the desk, annoyed. “jeremy, i’m the phone guy. what are you doing?” the man with the thick glasses, presumably named jeremy, rolled his eyes. “mark, i don’t want to hear it. go take this young ladies luggage up to her room,” he snapped back, quickly clacking away on his keyboard. “room 505.” mark scoffed, mustering a fake smile for you as he took your luggage and scurried away.

“sorry about him. he’s got a knack for directing calls... anyway, mr. turner’s been expecting you, follow me.” you smile and nod awkwardly, following him as he treks down a long, red carpeted hallway.

———

turns out, it’s a little frightening riding the elevator up to the top floor. you’ve never been too afraid of heights, but this elevator is a round tube of pure glass, giving you a chill inducing view of all the buildings as the lift rises, just getting higher and higher, the tops of the neon buildings getting lower and lower.

it was frightening for sure, but interesting nonetheless. the booming metro city outside was a design of neon lights and intricate architecture. surely there were many lives and different storylines sprawling and networking throughout the city, as there was everywhere but it seemed so much more captivating on the moon. you wondered what it was like to live here.

once the elevator reached the peak of the building, dinging as the doors slid open, you happily slid out into the hallway. “go straight down the hall, through that big door. that’s his office.” you nodded, a little intimidated now. “thank you sir.” he smiled. “have a wonderful evening miss.”

and with that he was gone, the elevator dinging once more as it closed, followed by the low hum of the lift descending back down, leaving you on your own. the top floor was eerily quiet, the lights dim. you took a deep breath before walking towards the huge door at the end of the hall, noticing the shiny gold plaque in the middle that read alexander turner, founder of tranquility base hotel & casino.

great. you were set to be talking to the goddamn owner of this place. you seemed very mentally unprepared, all you knew is that you would be working on designing the new wing that was just built, along with a team of designers. of course you were qualified for the job, and it was an honor to design for a place this spectacular, you were just a bit intimidated.

you quickly fluffed up your hair and smoothed down your shirt before knocking, your stomach knotting up. a muffled shuffling sound followed by a few heavy footsteps were heard from behind the door before it swung open.

the man that greeted you on the other side was quite striking. you didn’t quite know who you were expecting, but he was much younger than you imagined, probably no more of an age gap of 3 years between you and him, you assumed. the man wore a crisp, perfectly tailored navy blue suit, the cream button up below equally sleek. his dark hair was slicked back, his vampire-esque hairline on display.

“hello, it’s lovely to have you, i’m alex,” he shook your hand and you smiled, trying not to show your nerves as you introduced yourself. “come, have a seat,” he moved your chair out from under the desk, sitting in his own across from you after you’d sat down.

his office was a bit of a contrast from the rest of the establishment. instead of sleek, polished furniture and vast space, the room inhabited more of a homey, lived in essence. you could tell he’d actually done work here. mahogany bookcases lined the whole wall behind his desk, sprawling with books and journals. various paintings scattered the walls, an occasional sticky note or reminder stuck to a golden frame. instead of overhead lighting, vintage lamps scattered the room, basking the space in a comforting warmth that soothed your nerves.

he ran a hand through his gelled hair, fidgeting with the fold of his sleeves. “we’re really excited to have you here. i’ve got to say, i’m a big fan of your work.” this comment surprised you. “thank you, it’s an honor, really.” you smiled, your cheeks starting to hurt. “i just wanted to see you so i could get you all set up. just before you arrived, i emailed you everything you need to know, so um- just be sure to go over that.”

you nodded attentively. “tomorrow you’ll have a meeting with the other designers in the conference hall, which shouldn’t be tricky to find, there’s a map of the place attached to the email as well,” the man rambled on a bit, telling you a bit about the place, sometimes starting sentences just to never finish them, getting lost in his own thoughts.

you liked the way he spoke, his accent, the dreamlike quality his tone held. “any questions?” he chimed after telling you about the library. you shook your head. you had a lot of questions for him, so many you couldn’t even pick, and plus, you didn’t want to worry him anymore, so you saved those questions for another time, storing them in your mind as if they were books on his shelves. alex sat up, smoothing a hand over his blazer.

“well then, i’ll walk you to your room,” he smiled. “oh, that’s alright it’s no worry,” you stood up. surely he was busy, you didn’t want to bother him. he tilted his head. “do you know where it is?” you were silent for a moment, thinking of the plethora of hallways this place had, your chance of finding the suite on your own was small. “no…” you shook your head, smiling awkwardly.

———

“here you are, room 505,” he smiled, holding out a keycard for you. the walk to the suite area had been silent for the most part. the hotel was starting to quiet down since it was getting late. every so often he’d look back and give you a gentle smile before turning back, his heeled boots clacking against the sleek wood flooring. he was so intriguing to you, unlike anyone you’d ever met. you wouldn’t be surprised if he melted into the shadows, seeping away into darkness, like some sort of creature. you couldn’t explain it.

“thank you, mr. turner,” you smiled, grabbing the keycard. “it’s no problem, and call me alex,” he added, stepping away slightly as he realized he might’ve been a bit too close for comfort. “it was nice to meet you, alex.” he grinned. “it’s been a pleasure, have a wonderful night.”

as his footsteps faded off into the darkness, you held your keycard up to the scanner, eyes widening when the door clicked and swung open.

the place was stunning. a large, circular bed sat in the middle of the room, adorned in plush maroon and silky red pillows, with a matching maroon comforter. a white sheer lace bed curtain was tied to each of the four wooden posts, making a gorgeous canopy. the room was tasteful, soft, consisting of intricately designed carpets, sleek 70’s style furniture, and a plasma tv that slid down from the ceiling with a click of a button.

you almost squealed at the sight of the bathroom. the rooms porcelain tiles were pink and cream, matching with the patchwork carpet that sat in front of the clawfoot tub, which was filled with expensive soaps. you opened another sliding door to find a nearly empty walk-in closet, a cherry red silk robe hung on one of the racks, a matching pair of slippers below.

once you were snug in bed, practically melting into the mattress, being engulfed by the soft pillows, your eyes began to feel heavy. you slowly turned your head over to the exterior wall, sleepily gazing out of the large window. most of the city lights were off now, leaving only the inky black void of stars to lull you to sleep.

———

stepping into the conference room, you felt a little underdressed in your button down and slacks. there were about six other designers, all clad in an array of vibrancy. shiny space-age metallic tops, dynamic head scarfs, eccentric glasses. they all looked like they were set to walk a runway show, clearly you missed the memo.

you were a teensy bit late, thanks to the warm, soft bed that didn’t fail to keep you asleep through your alarm. you gave an awkward smile when they all turned to look at you, the door slamming a little too loud. you flushed, quickly setting your laptop and purse down as you pushed yourself into the seat across from alex, who gave you a gentle smile.

settling in, you looked up at the designer who was giving a presentation on his ideas for the new stargazing room. you fought to not scrunch your nose. white curtains? white furniture? white walls with gold detailing? it was cute, maybe for a suburban mom but it didn’t match the energy of the hotel whatsoever.

once it was your turn to present ideas, you couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. some of the other designers had okay ideas, but some were also good, and although you loved your plan, these people seemed intimidating.

for the stargazing area, you’d envisioned a more cozy, dreamlike room. the furniture and carpeting would be warm toned, various soft lamps and fairy lights scattered across the room. while you were walking everyone through your presentation, your nerves seemed to ease. when you turned back around to sit down, everyone was quiet, unreadable. great.

after each presentation was done, it was time to discuss. everyones attention redirected to alex. being the owner, he got a big say in the final decision. your heart raced once you heard him murmur your name. “i liked yours. we’ll go with that,” he concluded. “meeting over, see you guys tomorrow.”

your jaw was agape. no discussion, no nothing, he chose yours immediately. the other designers didn’t take it well either, mumbling and grumbling a bit as they gathered their things and stumbled out of the conference room.

the following week, you were in the conference room once again. everyone was discussing plans for the day spa, and you found yourself falling quiet. someone had suggested sleek wood paneled walls, which alex had liked. others had suggested fluorescent lighting installments, to which alex said no. you sat there, observing until alex turned to you. “what about you? any ideas?”

your cheeks flushed a bit. “i was thinking dim, hanging lights, a bunch of different kinds, all warm toned, it makes it more calming.” he fiddled with his pen, nodding and scribbling something down. “i like that.”

a designer across the table from you rolled his eyes subtly. you shrunk in your seat, feeling gross. you didn’t want to be known as some sort of suck up. you couldn’t help the way alex singled you out, agreeing with all your ideas.

nevertheless, it didn’t stop. you’d suggest paintings for the wall, he would agree, you’d bring up an interesting wallpaper, he’d find somewhere to put it, you’d point out curtains that complemented the room well, he’d nod approvingly and scribble it down on his notepad.

eventually, you learned to be quieter, trying to let the other designers have the spot light but sure enough, alex would ask you to share again, his eyes narrowing at you as he dismissed the annoyance that stifled the room.

every single time, you’d receive a subtle scoff or an eye roll from one of the other petty designers. you understood, it was annoying that they’d worked hard to get here and the majority of their ideas were being turned down, but still, were their egos just so fucking big that they couldn’t be at least a little happy for you?

———

the next morning, you found a loup mask outside your door. it was adorned in black satin and lace, small gold detailing outlining the eyes. underneath was a small, metallic gold envelope with an invitation inside.

you have been invited to the tranquility base masquerade party,

tonight, 7pm, @ the information action ratio, live music and free drinks.

so now here you were, clad in a black, lace dress, which mysteriously had showed up at your door later that morning, along with a stunning pair of gold earrings and a dainty necklace that matched the detailing on your mask. the black satin hugged you perfectly, making you wonder how they managed to nail your size and proportions.

chandeliers with bulbs of stars hung down in clusters, emitting a gentle glow. people danced and chatted, jazz flowing through the room from the band on the stage, the martini police. tons of different people wandered around, all masked and dressed in a variety of colors and textures.

letting your eyes linger, you spotted the group of designers all chatting at a booth. instead, you headed towards the bar, figuring they already hated you enough, why annoy them now. the bar was beautiful, lights lit up the whole structure, and as you ordered your martini, you couldn’t help but notice how good looking some of the bartenders were.

as you sipped your drink, you felt someone’s presence directly behind you, a little too close for comfort. you turned, trying to distinguish who was under the sparkly white cat mask. “so, are you fucking him or something?”

your eyebrows raised “huh?” the girl scoffed, and immediately you recognized her as one of the other designers. she had a model figure, super tall with platinum blonde hair, and a menacing scoff. she’d be a really good bully. “are you fucking alex? is that how you get him to pick all your ideas?”

you shook your head, cheeks flushed. “no. i have no idea why he favors me,” you stated, turning back to your drink when you felt a cold liquid down your back, making you gasp. you turned again, the blonde pretending to be shocked as she held her empty glass. “i’m so sorry! i’m so clumsy.”

you rolled your eyes, getting up and deciding you’d had enough. you just wanted to go back to your suite, shower and lay in bed. since you’d arrived, the crowd almost doubled in size. you fought your way through, bumping into a few shoulders as you tried not to step on dresses. a lady in a swan mask turned and bumped you, her feathery dress catching on your shoes. you lost balance, stumbling over your heels, about to fall onto another group of people when you felt strong hands on your waist, and in a whirlwind you were upright.

it was alex. he pulled you close to him and swept you away onto the dancefloor, his hand on your waist, a hand interlocked with yours. you almost didn’t recognize him at first. he wore a black masquerade mask, with dark shimmery sequins adorning the sides. his hair was fluffier, much unlike his usual slicked back look.

you looked up at him, noticing how your hand gripped his shoulder. he’d swept you away so swiftly, leaving you speechless. his dark eyes shimmered under the mask as he peered down at you, waiting for you to speak first. “i- i was just leaving,” you stuttered, hyperfixating on the way the spill made the wet satin stick to your skin. he made no remark, keeping his languid gaze, his mouth twisted into a subtle grin.

“there’s vodka all over my dress,” you added. alex shuffled, taking off his blazer and wrapping it around your shoulders. it didn’t help much, but you didn’t say anything. it was a nice gesture.

the mystery lingered in the back of your mind, you wanted to question him about his decisions to constantly favor you but his position of authority made you bite your tongue.

his position of authority. you noticed how many people were staring all of a sudden. you could sense it in his sharp suit, the expensive, musky cologne he wore. it was entrancing, he was quite entrancing himself, you couldn’t ignore it but you couldn’t do this. you didn’t want the taboo boss employee type of perception cast upon you and him. you wanted to be taken seriously. the other designers were already perceiving you as some sort of teachers pet. the thought instilled momentary nausea.

“alex, i’ve got to go,” you whispered. he looked down at you again. “i’ll walk you back.” you shook your head. “no, no thank you, i’ll manage.” you slipped out of his arms before handing him his blazer, maneuvering your way through the tight packed crowd, slipping around torsos and arms until you finally made it out into the secluded hallway.

you took a deep breath, the chatter, music, and clinking of glasses now muddled. the hall was dark, not counting the floor to ceiling window that casted a murky blue into the space. you pressed your hand up against the window. staring out, you still didn’t comprehend it all was real, convincing yourself that it was a dream, and dreams were merely fragments of space cut out and glued together, playing like a glitched out film reel in your sleep.

you snapped back to reality, the smell of vodka on your dress pungent. quickly, you headed back to your suite, heels clacking on the marble, loud in the silence.

———

hii! let me know what you think so far. sorry if this part is a little uneventful, i mostly wanted to set up the environment but trust, better things are coming.

taglist (let me know if you want to be added/removed)- @ultragirrl @inmyownfantasywrld @almluv @raven-ql @ohladymoon @yourstartreatment @missbabyjay @andulina567 @blair-s-world @rentsturner @indierockgirrl @kittyrob0t @averyzversi0n @michelleisheres-blog @kennedy-brooke @madeinuk @mathdebate00 @sstar-ggirl @tangointhequango @nela-cutie

[hylkun]

30 DAYS | L. HEESEUNG

DAY 8: the applications

SYNOPSIS: in which y/n l/n gives lee heeseung 30 days before graduation to prove his feelings for her are genuine.

PAIRING: popular!heeseung x quiet!fem!reader

GENRE: high-school!au, angst and lots of it, fluff

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It's been a week since Heeseung squirmed his way into your life - and it's been nothing but a rollercoaster ride. You don't know how you're gonna survive until graduation.

Well, you only had roughly about 3 weeks until then, and you were internally hoping that they would fly by quickly. But for now, you were onto the first step of finally being free of Heeseung.

College applications.

You definitely wanted to go to the University of Fashion Arts with Yunho. You were more of a person to design, while Yunho was one to model. Leeseo, on the other hand, wanted to be a doctor and would be going to med school.

The only issue is that the university is in California. And right now, you're in South Korea. But that didn't matter, right? As long as you were pursuing your passion it didn't matter where the college was located.

You're currently sitting in the school's computer lab, attaching documents to your email to the school's headmistress. Yunho and Leeseo accompanied you as well, sending emails to colleges of their preference.

It was oddly silent between the three of you. For such a chaotic friend group, when it came to serious situations like these, it was hard to be that chaotic friend group.

If you weren't so focused on your applications, you probably would've asked yourself what Heeseung was up to. After Yunho revealed that his first ever crush, Zoa, is back in Korea and attending this school, you assume that he was probably having the time of his life with his first love.

Must be nice, you think.

You click the 'send' button on your email and get up to stretch your joints. "Going to the canteen for water. Do you guys want anything?" You ask your two best friends, making them both look up from their computer screens. Leeseo asks for water as well, while Yunho requests a boxed juice.

You exit the computer lab and make your way to the stairs to get to the canteen faster. However, on your way through the halls, you hear two voices. You see a door open and look inside.

It's Heeseung and a girl. Presumably, Zoa, from what Yunho told you. She's sitting next to him, really close. She'd taken a chair and put it so close to him that the chair leg was practically on his toe. On top of that, she was continously poking his cheeks and caressing his face. Did you really have to walk in on this?

Heeseung notices you and calls your name in a panic, like he wanted you to help. "(Name)!" He exclaims, making Zoa halt her actions and turn to the door.

"Oh, is this the girl you were talking about? She's so pretty!"

It was hard to find her annoying when she immediately complimented you on seeing your face. Although you were supposed to go to the canteen, you felt compelled to walk in and talk to the two of them. So you do. "Hi," you greet them awkwardly, Zoa smiling brightly while Heeseung sits there quietly.

"Heeseung has told me so much about you, (Name)! I'm sure it's the same for you, right? Does he ever talk about me?"

"No, actually. He never told me about you."

"Oh."

The once soft and calm atmosphere was now one of tension and silence.

"Well, that's okay! Let's have a girl talk, one-on-one. Heeseung, I'll be back." She says loudly, trying to lighten up the mood. She takes your hand and takes you outside, far enough where Heeseung couldn't hear your conversation.

Zoa's sweet smile immediately drops, and it scares you. She stares you straight into your eyes.

"Heeseung told me about his little crush on you. And trust me, if I have competition, that's no issue at all. It makes it more fun."

"Huh? What? What do you mean competition?"

"Well, we both like Heeseung, right? So you're my competitor. And I'm yours."

What the fuck was this girl on?

"Look, it's not like that -"

Zoa shushes you, and then she continues speaking. "I knew him since we were born. Don't think you can just strut in here and take him from me. So, good luck, competitor."

This girl was crazy. She had to be. You're meeting her for the first time, and she wants to be rivals because her childhood friend doesn't have feelings for her anymore? Talk about possessive. By the time you shake yourself out of your thoughts, Zoa is gone, probably with Heeseung again.

You run back up the stairs to the computer lab. Your heart was beating out your chest. This is the most anxious someone has made you feel in years. You practically bust open the door to the lab. Thank goodness only your friends were in there.

"Where are our drinks?"

Oh yeah.

The drinks.

You leave the lab again. but turning to the left instead of the right like earlier.

You think you'll take the longer way this time.

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TAGLIST: @zerobaseone-zhanghao @jooniesbears-blog @heeswif3y @nshitae @llvrhee @ikeusimp @starfallia @softieluvsyou @rairaiblog @lhspeachie @nishiriks @13tter @acousarah

[redheadjustin]

Hi, i was wondering if you could do a Huggy Wuggy x Male Reader, I just wanna give him a hug, even if he tries to bite me.

So this is a first. I have to be honest. I have let my Inbox fill up and when I saw this one I knew It was time to return. I have a series planned. But this is to test the waters. So here we go!

Huggy watched as the human walked into the main room of the former Playtime Co. factory. He was intrigued. There hadn’t been a human in here for ten years. They had presumably killed all of them during the hour of joy. But honestly, he and a few other toys had always doubted that. He remembered a few faces missing. Some of them were the “nicer” employees. Some assumed they had taken the day off. He remembered a mechanic saying he planned to take a day off to spend with his child on their birthday. One of the caretakers for the toys had been missing too. And though he was angry they weren't there during the massacre when his mind cleared he was glad they weren’t there. You had always been kind to him and the others. Even Catnap was found of you.

And here you were. Ten years later looking at the toy you had cared for. You were 24 when you last saw Huggy and the ten years had not been kind. You looked mostly the same to Huggy. Sure you looked older. But your H/L, H/C hair was what identified you to the blue monster. Huggy stayed in his statue pose but he looked straight at you. But you weren't unnerved by this. You used to have epic staring contests with him. You used the grabpack to give Huggy a high five. “Come on big guy. I know you can see and hear me.”

You were right. Huggy could see and hear you. And while he was hungry? He was more happy to have his human back. His normal smile turned into a grin showing his teeth. You smiled as he kneeled. He had known from early on that your height couldn’t reach him and had no issue helping you out. You Stepped forward slowly. You were nervous, it had been ten long years and you had some suspicions about what happened here. And you had to be careful. Sure, Huggy was being nice to you but what about Mommy Long Legs or the Smiling Critters? Would Huggy protect you? It bugged you. “H-hey buddy. Been a while huh? I’m sorry I stayed away for so long. Have you been Okay?” you asked as you lay a hand on the bright blue fur. Huggy let out a purr. He couldn’t speak but you had developed an understanding of what his noises meant and how he could string them together to make a “sentence” and he had just said “I’ve been as good as I could be! What about you Angel?”

It was a nickname from Poppy that had stuck. You thought it was ridiculous. You weren’t an Angel no matter what. You knew what went on in this damned factory. But, you never said anything. And you hated that. And it was your guilt that brought you back here. Not your morals. You barely had any anymore. Working here had led you down a dark path and it had led back here. To hell. You swallowed nervously as you pondered what to tell Huggy. “I…I’ve been struggling.” huggy’s head tilted wanting more info. You just shook your head. He shouldn’t know. Huggy held his arms up. He was clearly asking if you wanted a hug. And you would have been insane to not want a hug. So you stepped into the hug and smiled as you felt the arms wrap around you. You let yourself cry. Huggy purred as he finally had the greatest treasure in Playtime. Your hug.

[ceruleanvulpine]

they're so goddamn funny. the cut from martin being like uhh no i think i will not call you by your first name, terrifying new boss?! to this really emphasizes that

a) they've been working together A Lot and

b) peter is a really annoying man. anyone who has more than three conversations with peter gets over their fear enough to start irritatedly interrupting him, which is presumably why he doesn't give people the chance most of the time

(transcripts under the cut)

PETER

Well, if your Archives were a bit better-organized, it wouldn’t have taken me almost three months to find the evidence you needed.

MARTIN

What?

PETER

I’m just saying that we’d all be better off if your Archivist actually knew how to archive.

MARTIN

(enough) Peter.

--

PETER

Anyway, I’m very excited to see this rota you’ve put together.

MARTIN

(overlapping) Oh – oh, okay.

PETER

Never had much of a gift for administration myself – too many variables. Now, this box on the left, that’s the library stuff, yes?

MARTIN

Wh– n,no! That’s the – Those are the dates! I – (clicking) Look, are you sure you don’t want me to teach you; i-it’s a very simple program –

PETER

No, no. Can’t stand computers. Besides, that’s why I have an assistant, isn’t it?

MARTIN

(sighing) Yeah. I guess so.

--

PETER

(patronizing) Martin. It’s going to be decades, if not centuries, before I get another chance to bring Forsaken into this world. (deep inhale) Your last Archivist saw to that. Honestly, if Elias hadn’t killed that woman, I’d have been very tempted. I warned him she was danger, but he was always –

MARTIN

(overlapping) Peter, Peter!

--

PETER

(long sigh, exasperated) As I said, one of the last shreds of the Circus delivered a gateway into Too-Close-I-Cannot-Breathe. I went to help, but was too late. Then, your detective friend –

MARTIN

(overlapping) No, she’s not a de–

PETER

(ignoring) – left on one of Elias’s wild goose chases. Then John willfully hurled himself into the coffin. I did not intervene because thankfully, I did not agree to protect your friends from their own idiocy.

[Martin huffs.]

--

So. So what; what does it mean? Am I supposed to be reassured that new entities can be born, that there’s some – some kind of precedent for the Extinction?(slight pause) Peter? (pause) Huh. Maybe he has gone to a party. (clipped exhale) Anyway.

--

PETER

I’m absolutely delighted with your progress, and I believe you deserve some straight answers.

MARTIN

…But not from you.

PETER

Oh, no. That sort of conversation makes me very uncomfortable; no, I’m owed a favor by a friend of mine. I’ve asked him to stop by, once he’s back in the country.

MARTIN

You’re not just going to tell me, maybe?

PETER

(can hear the smile) When have I ever?

[Martin sighs the longest sigh he ever did sigh.]

--

PETER

Oh, come now. What would life be without the occasional twist? Oh, speaking of, I’ve had report of a workplace dispute in the library, and I would value your input.

I’m trying to get out of the habit of, what did you call it – sending them away?

[Martin sighs again, weary and longsuffering.]

MARTIN

Fine.

--

MARTIN

Another day, another Extinction scare. The more things change, I guess.

[He sighs again, longer this time. When he picks back up, a familiar squeaky static begins to fade in, quickly.]

MARTIN

I just wish Peter would finally get round to telling me what we’re going to do about it.

PETER

Then I have good news for you!

[Martin sucks in a hard breath, and we hear what sounds like his chair scraping backwards in alarm.]

MARTIN

(admonishing, annoyed) Peter, we have talked about this!

PETER

In my defense, it is still quite funny.

[Martin takes an annoyed breath to keep his cool.]

[pinazee]

Murder?…Anyone? …Anyone?…Bueller?

First of all, solid title.

Secondly, im back (sort of). Lets get into it!

I LOVE this episode. I love the insight into who gus and shawn were as teenagers, i love how gus and shawn are both stuck in the past in different ways, and i love Abigail Lytar!

From the first moment we meet her, we know that she gets Shawn. She not only clocks his judd nelson pic, she also plays along with the joke and makes another obscure reference.

Abigail is the best love triangle addition in the history of television and i will die on that hill! They made her a genuine “competitor” to juliet by writing her as someone almost catered to shawns personality.

Normally with love triangles, they write the “competition” as less compelling of a choice to really emphasize how the mains are end goal OR they’ll make the decision split the center characters personalities, so like one choice will be the girl next door and represents the past version of them and the other is more career focused and represents the future (think sweet home alabama, uh, 13 going on 30, romcoms in general, you get it) And to a degree, thats sort of what this is with abigail and juliet, except it doesn’t split them in a way that is determined by shawn. Like, who shawn chooses doesn’t impact who he’ll be. The choice isnt a lesson or a determination of his character, if that makes sense. Plus, theres no caveat to Abigail. Like, she’d be perfect for him if it wasn’t for ___. None of that. Abigail and Shawn could have worked (ill go into it more in season 4 when they finally do get together).

Sidenote: i think her dynamic with both shawn and gus was really cute (which is another win in the abigail is a great love triangle addition column)

So apparently Shawns recall is so good he can do an instant replay. Idk if i should add that to his list of skills or just lump that into his existing memory power. I also love though, that its a blurry image because thats how Shawn saw it and they didn’t try to make him super human and see it in high definition.

Ravi shinkar is a heck of a reference to make and an even crazier one for lassie to have seen and shawn to understand haha

There was a joke made by Gus that Shawn didn’t know anything about their senior class or what happened senior year or the school, but I’d like to point out that his parents were on the brink of a divorce and then did divorce his senior year so im guessing he was pretty distracted. This is kind of random, but im wondering when Shawn decided he wasn’t going to be a cop like his dad. Like what was his tipping point. I always thought it was after his mom left because she said when she left she thought he would be okay, which to me meant that he had his path set. Now, because of how he didnt seem to care for school at all and was already off doing his own adventures (becoming part of the janitors society to get keys presumably for some reason) he was already aimless. Maddie was either delusional or Shawn lied to her? Idk im over thinking this silly cop show.

Now, the box of cop cars is not unexpected. We know who henry is. But this little bit actually tells us that Maddie never bought him other cars?? If I’m Maddie, and my husband is training my kid to become something i must have noticed he didn’t want to be because I’m a psychologist, I’m going to say something! Idk, maybe part of the reason they divorced was because of how henry was with Shawn, but then why would she leave him behind and think he was okay? So, i guess, i don’t understand why Maddie wouldn’t have pushed back. Why wouldn’t she buy shawn other toy cars for him to play with to provide choices for him. There is the possibility that shawn never told her that henrys training made him miserable because they were already fighting and didn’t want to give them another reason. Again, over thinking.

Some smaller notes:

-low blow for Gus to straight up tell Shawn no one had any expectations for him. Like i get he’s having a quarter life crisis or whatever, but, all the same, rude.

-that prom queen was Serinda Swan who was in a show called breakout kings with our own Mary Lightly aka Jimmi Simpson :)

-my favorite thing about carlton is that he’s a good head detective and yet has absolutely the worst instincts around. Like true south all the time.

P.S

“What does every great john hughes movie have? A love triangle!” Omg i just now saw what they did there and now i feel like an idiot lol

[camels-pen]

harbor on the sea

There was a woman by the water. A fishing pole was stuck into the sand next to her, line bobbing gently with the waves.

Before he'd realized, he'd already moved to sit beside her, just inches from the ebbing tide.

She smiled at him, her face entirely featureless. Yet he could imagine. Tired eyes, a kind smile.

And a lovely, long nose.

She was a harbor. A place to come home to. The only place he knew, a lifetime ago. And now, well.

If she was a harbor, then he was the sea. All of the seas. Everywhere and all encompassing. Beautiful at the surface but full of hidden depths.

A home to many people, not just Usopp.

The woman turned to the sunset ahead of them. She was admiring the light, the warmth.

He was warm too. First impressions were terrifying, but they were far past that now. Usopp had seen his acts of kindness as they were, despite the way he sounded like a jackass sometimes.

His kindness was what started all this in the first place.

But the light can blind you. The seas can be cruel too. The woman was saying as such, despite her lips not moving.

They could. They had. But it's about learning to sail on the sea- with the sea- not fighting against it. There would be ups and downs. Setbacks and mistakes. But the point of an adventure was the journey, wasn't it?

(And the sea would not erode. Not like her. He would make sure of it.)

When did he get so wise? The woman seemed to echo his absent thought.

He picked up a thing or two over the years. He'd also been reading a lot more romance novels of late.

The woman chuckled, a breathy, silent thing. She leaned over to pull Usopp into a hug, and it was like he was a little kid all over again. She pressed her face to his hair and a glowing feeling of rightness filled his being from head to toe.

He missed this. Missed her.

A spot of something warm on his cheek. It wasn't from the woman.

He couldn't stay.

Usopp shifted, staring into her eyeless eyes. He needed to ask her something if he never saw her again...

She smiled. As if he already knew the answer.

But he didn't. He didn't know. He needed to hear it from her, he could never just presume-

She tapped his nose. Overthinking again. She patted her lap, inviting him.

He didn't want to leave her.

She would always be with him. The woman placed a hand to his heart.

Usopp's lip wobbled. He took a breath and nodded. He lowered himself down.

By the time his head rested on her lap, Usopp was out like a light.

-

Usopp woke up. Sat straight up in his bunk. Sanji, right in front of him and lips still slightly puckered, quickly moved out of the way. “Geez, where's the fire?”

With an odd taste in the back of his throat and imprint of his pillow on his cheek, Usopp said, "I think my mom gave us her blessing to get married."

Sanji furrowed his brow. "Isn't your mom dead?"

"Yeah."

"Huh."

A moment of silence passed.

"You think we should wait for my mom to say something too, or do you just wanna go for it?"

Usopp groaned, covering his heated face. “If you're just gonna tease me, give it a few hours.”

“Actually, I was just going to tease you, but…”

There was a shuffling of cloth and a a creaking of wood. Usopp peeked between his fingers before dropping his hands entirely, mouth agape. “No way,” he whispered. “No way no way no way.”

Down on one knee. Hand aloft. An open ring box.

A silver ring.

“I think this is as good a time as any, don't you?”

As Usopp tackled Sanji to the floor in a heap of sobs and snot, he could almost see his mother's approving face. Hear her declare that this one- this one's a keeper.

[intermundia]

One thing that Stover does in the RotS novelization that gives me heartache is how he shows that both Obi-Wan and Padmé, the two people closest to Anakin, misunderstand him and how he works, specifically how and when he worries about things, with devestating consequences.

Anakin is so generally reckless and impetuous, it gives the impression that he lacks all caution and forethought. He doesn't seem to care about consequences and goes after what he wants. He just dives straight into things and is willing to risk his life to do what needs to be done for the people he loves.

This attitude would cause Obi-Wan and Padmé no end of worry about him, and bias them toward assuming he's like that all the time. This means they both don't fully understand the danger that he's in.. from himself.

There are two passages that are pretty close mirrors to each other. The first is Padmé and Anakin discussing the baby:

She shook her head. "What are we going to do?" "We're going to be happy, that's what we're going to do. And we're going to be together. All three of us. "But-" "No." He laid a gentle finger on her lips, smiling down at her. "No buts. No worries. You worry too much as it is." "I have to," she said, smiling through the tears in her eyes. "Because you never worry at all."

This line is immediately followed by Anakin's nightmares, and the juxtaposition stark and clear. He does worry. He worries deeply about the future and keeping those he loves safe. He doesn't want Padmé to worry, because he wants her to be happy, so he internalized all the worry for himself.

That exchange is echoed only 22 pages later when Obi-Wan is warning Anakin about a strange meeting requested by the Chancellor, and so presumably the callback is intentionally flagged for the reader:

This is a dangerous time to be a Jedi. Please, Anakin—please be careful." Anakin tried for his old rakish smile. "You worry too much." "I have to–" "—because I don't worry at all, right?" Anakin finished for him. Obi-Wan's frown softened toward a smile. "How did you know I was going to say that?"

This reveals that Anakin assumes that Obi-Wan is going to offer the same caution as Padmé, almost containing on a conversation like Obi-Wan is Padmé. They both are a figure that loves him and wants him to be safe. Obi-Wan confirms that he was going to say it, as though it's been said a hundred times, a long-standing point of contention.

Anakin then displays a level of self-awareness not often attributed to him.

"You're wrong, you know." Anakin stared off through the morning haze toward the shuttle, past the shuttle—toward 500 Republica, and Padmé's apartment. He said, "I worry plenty."

Obi-Wan and Padmé both want Anakin to be more concerned about consequences and his own health and happiness—they want him to be responsible and measured in his choices, they want him to care about himself. They assume (wrongly) he cares about the galaxy at large, about collateral damage, because they think they know he has a good heart.

They just want him to worry a bit more about his own life and safety, so they would have to worry about him a bit less.

The problem with this is that Anakin is already distracted with worrying about getting what he wants, to the point of tunnel vision and lack of concern for collateral damage. He's very worried about keeping what he loves safe—the problem is not worrying, it's that his priorities are messed up and deeply selfish. Neither Obi-Wan nor Padmé really grasp this, and it makes them blind to what is about to happen.

Stover as always is an expert at twisting the knife. We the audience, helpless to interfere, see the wreck coming, we see Anakin's dimming light and waxing greed, but Obi-Wan and Padmé can't. They're shielding themselves from the truth, their vision warped by how much they love him, and it's all so deeply tragic.

[cactusisconfused]

Cw- suggestive themes, no smut. Soap has shit gaydar.

-

John ‘Soap’ Mactivish is a proud and out bisexual man and has been aware of that since he was mid-teens.

He’s always been proud of his identity, never was one to shrink down from giving some homophobe a black eye- no matter how many suspensions he got.

He’s had a good few partners, men and women, enough to the point that he thinks he has a good understanding of how this all works.

The only problem is that he had the worse gaydar known to man.

One would think that given how long he’s been in the community he would get better at it, but nope.

So imagine his surprise when the hulking 6’4 lieutenant of his- whom he had presumed to be straight- shows up to a gay bar when the 141 found themselves with down time.

-

Soap had snuck off, whether to get a one night stand in or just a few drinks to wash away the ugly thoughts of their last mission, he isn’t sure and quite frankly, doesn’t care.

He’s maybe 3 glasses of scotch in, maybe four, when a tall ass man built like a fridge sits next to him at the bar. A black face mask sits on the bridge of the man’s Roman nose all the way to his chin. From what soap can see, the man has scars all over his face, some bigger, some smaller- but really what gets him is those brown eyes, framed just perfectly by blonde- almost white eyelashes.

Naturally, Soap spurs up a conversation, hoping the man may have a bed that might need a bit of extra warmth tonight.

The man looks at Soap for a long moment, with an almost calculating look. The man looks long enough to the point where Soap shifts slightly in his seat, worried that he over stepped and the man simply just wanted to drink and nothing more. Yet, to Soap’s mild surprise, the man nods, effectively standing up from his bar stool and laying a 20 out on the table for the bare tender.

The man is quick to start moving for the door, only to pause to look back at Soap.

“You coming here or at my place?” The man says in a deep gravely tone, enough that Soap feels like he can drown in. Soap quickly felt himself blush.

“Fuck off.” Is Soap’s clever retort as he quickly slides off the bar stool and makes his way to the man.

“That’s what I plan on doing.” The man responds simply and fuck, Soap could die here and forever be a happy man.

-

Soap felt like he could barely move the next morning, stretching like a cat on the soft sheets below him, taking count of all the joints that pop.

When he left arm doesn’t pop, he tries again, trying to coax it to pop. What he doesn’t except, as he moves his elbow, is to touch skin.

Quickly, fast enough to make himself dizzy, Soap looks at the man in the bed. His scarred, pale body is bare, the blankets just barely covering below his naval. His deep brown eyes are half lidded, looking up at the Scot.

“Morning to you too, Soap.” That gravelly voice hits Soaps ears like a siren’s melody and-

Wait-

“I never told you my name.” Soap say scrambling off the bed, his mind already set in mission mode. How does this man know who he is? Is he an enemy spy?

Soap’s mind runs through a thousand and one loops trying to figure what to do, when all that is broken by a quiet but hearty laugh from the man in the bed.

“You did, ‘bout seven months ago.”

Soap’s mind races. Seven months ago? That was during the botched mission in Las Almos and-…why is there a skull mask on that desk?

Soap blinks, now focusing on his surroundings. The man’s closet is slightly open, peaking out is almost entirely black apparel, including one navy blue jacket and a jacket with the words ‘Lieutenant Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley’ written on the back.

Slowly, he looks back at the man- at Ghost- who of which wears a smug smile on his bare face.

Maybe all that flirting over the past few months wasn’t just joke between guys….

“C’mon, I’m gonna make some bacon and eggs.” Ghost states as he pushes the covers off, only boxers on, and walks out the room.

Soap, finally blinking out of his stupor rushes afterwards, really hoping this won’t be a one time thing.

-

On this went longer than intended.

Also sorry that this didn’t get too spicy, I don’t write that kinda stuffs :/

[gamerbearmira]

You know the cryptid au you had in the past with Dolores, Mirabel, and Antonio? How about we have a cryptid family au?

From the villager's perspective they talk normal, act normal, and look normal but up closely…something just seems OFF. When they look at you it’s like they're staring into your soul. Julieta does this the most. 

-

Let’s say cryptic people run on Alma’s side of the family, Pedro knew of course, he knew the first time he met her. He was in the woods and bumped into a tall, lanky, eerie looking woman. They had a stare down for a few seconds.

Pedro was a part of a cryptid/monster hunting/research team and he was told of weird creatures that reside in the woods. Supposedly two twin children got “taken” by one and were presumed killed when they couldn’t be found. 

In the dead of night, while looking for any mysterious creature, he bumped into Alma, which he mistook for a tree. She’s very tall, around seven feet to be precise. 

When they met their eyes, something happened. Pedro didn’t see malice, evil intent, or anything negative. He saw warmth, even with devoid eyes…he saw a person in shock, maybe even a little fear. She wasn’t attacking him, she was backing away, as if even with her tall stature, he would be able to hurt HER. But Pedro didn’t want to hurt her, in fact, he was just curious. 

But before he could say anything, she sped off QUICKLY! 

He tried finding her, night after night, day after day, in the woods. He would scream-

“I DON’T WANT TO HURT YOU I JUST WANT TO TALK!”

After a week or two, he found her but not in a way he expected, she was smaller, a bit shorter than him in fact. How the hell did she get smaller?

She seemed a little more angry this time though as she stood between two trees. Mist appeared around her, the whole forest in fact.

“If you think you’re going to come here and hurt my family, you are sadly mistaken” Her voice echoed in the darkness. Her devoid eyes staring straight into his. 

Family? She had a family? Were they like her too?

It dawned on him that she had family around here that were more than likely just like her. Strange.

“I- I don’t want to hurt you-”

“YES YOU DO! DON’T TAKE ME FOR A FOOL! I know what you and your whole team is doing and I won’t stand for it. Take your crap and leave!”

By crap, she meant all the traps they had set up around the forest and weapons she would see them with in town. Guns, machetes, bear traps, bullets filled with either poison or some tranquilizing BS…all the things ANIMALS should be hunted down with. And Alma (including her family) were in fact NOT animals. 

Pedro always saw cryptids as nothing but creatures that should be hunted and killed before they hurt anyone or anyone else. But he was never a man to harm anyone who didn’t deserve it. But…where did those twins go?

This woman seemed civil enough to talk to, maybe she he could talk to her.

“L- Look…I was told two twins got lost in these woods and didn’t come back out. People suspect that they were taken by-”

“Those two children were being abused, so my family took them in. End of story” The first time Alma saw Pedro, she didn’t have a clue who he was, hence why she ran off. But now knowing he was basically out to harm her family, she wouldn’t stand by that.

Abused?...Well, come to think of it, the tears of the mother of the twins did seem a bit fake. And the father didn’t cry at all, he was supposedly “comforting her”.

“You know I can’t just believe that, right?” Pedro raised a brow

Before she could give a reply, a small voice yelled out behind her. A little girl by the sound of it.

“Alma, Alma! You can’t be out here, people are out to hunt-” 

“Elesia! I told YOU not to be out here at night” Alma turned around to stop the girl from going any further.

“Elesia?” Pedro muttered

Alma turned around to meet his eyes, “yes, she’s fine. As well as her brother, happy?!” 

Pedro didn’t know what to say, yes, he was happy the children were okay but…a monster was protecting them? No, the woman in front of him wasn’t a monster, and by the sounds of it, they weren’t either.

“Uh…si”

“Bueno, now leave and take those people with you”

-

After weeks of searching those children were never found and neither were the cryptids. The team left but a few months after that, Pedro went back to the town again…just to visit. 

Alma was so confused as to why he kept coming back for her. At first she just thought he saw her as something to observe and stare at as if she was some science experiment but I turned out to be more than that.

Pedro would visit and stay in her town for a week or two before going back to travel some more. The more they spoke the more they learned about each other.

For example, Alma carries an amulet that helps her look human. It has been in her family for generations and all family members have one. However, it’s uncomfortable because it makes the wearer feel like they're in the wrong skin.

Pedro got into cryptid hunting because when he was younger, the infamous El Hombre Caiman, almost took his mother. Thankfully his father taught him how to use guns, and he managed to shoot the creature enough to scare it off.

He knew he didn’t kill it but at least his mother was safe.

(El hombre Caiman, A legendary creature said to possess both human and alligator features, El Hombre Caiman (or “Alligator Man”) was supposedly once a fisherman who was transformed into an alligator by the spirits of the Magdalena River. He’s a sort of werewolf figure, who returns every St. Sebastian’s Day to hunt for victims. The myth is especially prevalent in the town of Plato, in Colombia’s Magdalena department.)

His friends had similar occurrences but with different monsters and such. That’s why the team exists in the first place. Once Alma learned this information she wasn’t so upset at the thought of “Cryptid hunters”. Come to think of it, that’s probably why more exist in different places.

Because most cryptids weren’t harmless. Some thrived off of harming others.

Over time they warmed up to each other, got married, and had their three beautiful babies. I think you already know what happens next. 

Encanto is a little more different in this au. Houses are a little more spread out…farther away from Casita to be more specific. Casita emits mist 24/7, in the day it’s not too much, it’s barely above two feet, but at night you can barely see anything.

This is done so the madrigal cryptids can come out in their real forms without the fear of getting caught. I’m not sure what their cryptid forms would really look like but seeing as their part human it wouldn’t be so creepy. 

This is the cryptid madrigals au

-

Another idea I had is the whole family being cryptid hunters themselves, it started with both Pedro and Alma, after Pedro’s passing she took a break for herself and her kids. But when the triplets took an interest in cryptid/monster hunting as well, she decided to open the business again.

She taught them everything there is to know about them. History, biology, weakness, strengths, the whole shabang. They still have their gifts but they aren’t used for the benefit of the town.

Bruno uses his gift to see where a cryptid might actually be or any scary/ severe outcomes so they can plan to avoid them. Julieta cooks snacks just in case they get hurt along the way. Pepa uses her lighting as a defense mechanism. Over time she learned how to aim it so it can hit the target perfectly. 

Of course, when they got married and had kids they took some years off and stayed in Encanto to raise the children. And as they did when they were younger, their children got interested in the concept and their parents told them everything they could about it.

When Mirabel didn’t get a gift it was shocking and a little upsetting, but they moved on and made sure to let her know she’s special without it. 

I’ll try to think of more, but this is all for now, feel free to share whatever ideas you have. 

I DO❗❗ that au was so silly, causing havoc for their family, we love that 💪

DO IT AGAIN BUT X4❗❗ I mean. I like both ideas, but I like the one where they're all cryptids, that is SO cool and. It gives me an excuse to draw them as crytids and you know I'm taking the chance. And I genuinely find this au really interesting 🙏

UHHH VERY NICE SNIPPET?? REAL??? Good on Alma for being suspicious of Pedro but also understanding his pov. And Pedro understanding her pov. Makes me wonder how he died. Gee 🌚

ANYWAYYYY ERMMM...I know you said you didn't know what they might look like, besides Alma, which even I couldn't pin point an exact cryptid type for her so. You know I'm just gonna work with what I've got 🙏🙏 gonna be spitting my ideas, pick and choice as you please and. Lemme know if you have more cause you onto something right here buddy 🪕🪕

I did the husband too, idk if they're human or not but. I wanted to <33 I did some research on them, tried to match them up to best of my abilities but some of them might seem random. Isabela was definitely the easiest, next to probably Pepa and Bruno. Madremonte was an obvious choice, and then since Pepa is always pinned as emotional, I think her being in a constant state of either crying or on the verge of tears is somewhat fitting. At least she can get her emotions out 😭 Bruno, I just?? Associated him with sand rather than time, and he damn sure ain't no Sandman, bro is the BOOGEYMAN and you know we love that.

I think the one who could pass for human even without the amulet or fog is Camilo. He's basically a Doppelgänger, or Uncanny Valley. Not quite human looking, but you can't pin point what he does look like. If anyone glanced at him, he'd look human. But the more they look they notice that his eyes and smile are a little too wide, he's a little too tall, and his voice changes ever so slightly each time he talks. The other MIGHT be Félix, but he might have trouble keeping his head attached. Maybe Dolores.

I think when Isabela was little (and this is if they have gifts or abilities), she had to wear boots becayse everytime she walked, especially bearfoot, plants and vegetation would grow like crazy. It wasn't until she got older that she could control is it better.

Julieta's cryptid is probably the most passive, it does heal. But Julieta herself is just off. Ironically, she keeps her eyes closed a lot, but she opens them when she's out and about, and by far she has the WORST staring problem. Like more than Camilo, but let's be real, he probably learned it from her, and she probably learned it from Alma. But Julieta somehow just has the creepiest stare. Maybe it's just cause the way her eyes look.

Speaking of eyes, I think even with the amulets, their eyes are a constant. Really dark, pretty much black, and dilated to the point where you can barely see the whites of their eyes. It might looked cute on the younger members like Antonio, but on the adults, its just unsettling.

ALSO. The fog reminds of the The Fog from DBD. In certain maps, especially the day maps, the fog doesn't affect it much, and you can use stuff to make it disperse. But on night maps its harder to see, and there's an exlcir that can make the fog thicker and make it hard to see 🤓☝

As for Casita uhhhh I got nothing. Just that maybe it's closer to the tree line. Maybe it's like that one movie monster house. Shiiii cause where's Pedro 🤨 he's trapped in the house 😛 jkjk, maybe Casita's a cryptid too. Or just anti social...to other houses 💀

[eithielk]

Zuko working at a cafe.. Part 2

Summary: After working together on a project you invited him out to a cafe to celebrate

So unlike him to smile, actually I didn't even think he was capable of that, but hey! live and learn.

Zuko's face falls as his eyes flicker with realization. He replied "Sorry No." He sent me an apologetic look as he started to walk away again.

"Hey! what?" I called out to him, following not far behind. "What?" He replies, not even bothering to turn his head.

"Well I would've thought you would give me an explanation?"

He looks at me with a deadpan expression, "What? Explanation for what?"

We continued walking along the sidewalk, as I tried to budge out of him an answer, sure it wasn't really our business.. but it was really fun to annoy him.

"I offered to hang out at an awesome cafe! I find it very suspicious of you to decline.." I replied, rubbing my chin slightly with my hands, as If I was thinking.

"Are you meeting up with someone?"

"What? No– I.. Why would you even think that?!" He exclaimed, crossing his arms together as he scoffed, walking a little bit faster.

"Ooh interesting reaction!"

"Argh! Don't you have something better to do?"

I caught up to him, as I smiled in response, "Nope!" he rolled his eyes, turning his head to me. "If you must know–"

"–I have work"

Silence followed as I stared at him blankly, before bursting out in laughter. Zuko got more annoyed as he turned straight ahead, "Seriously?!"

"Wait– Pfft! I'm sorry–" I try to explain, still a bit lightheaded from laughing, as I held my stomach briefly before taking a huge sigh.

I heard him scoff as I followed his pace, "I just– I didn't expect you to be working" his face looked puzzled as he looked at me.

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean– I never would have guessed you would work a day in your life! Is the money good?"

His face shifted into one of uncertainty as he answered, "I don't get paid, if that's what you're implying."

"What? So wait– its charity work?" I replied looking at him dumbfounded, and I could swear I saw a smile on his lips as I said that.

"You can say that, but I prefer to call it family business."

I fell quiet for a moment as I tried to grasp my head around the new found fact about Zuko and his somewhat mysterious life.

"Aren't you going to your silly cafe? Why are you still following me"

I scrunched my nose at his comment as I retorted, "Dont flatter yourself, I am going to the cafe, which happens to be this way."

I could feel him staring at me before turning his focus back to the road, "What cafe was it again?" Zuko asked, his hands falling into his pockets.

"Uh.. The Jasmine Dragon, Why?"

"You've got to be kidding me.." He replies, his voice so low I could barely catch what he said. "What?"

"Wait.. do you work at the Jasmine Dragon?!"

"Shut up." His voice was quick to shut your teasing down, turning his head slightly away, so you couldn't see the obvious flustered state he was in.

Zuko would have never thought to have his private life be exposed today, frankly to have even come this far without being discovered by the other students were incredible by itself.

"You didn't tell me you worked here!"

"Why should I." Zuko replied almost immediately, making me turn my head to him.

"I went here a couple of times already, how come I didn't see you?"

"Pure luck."

A huge grin on my face as I replied, "Guess your luck ran out!"

"Uncle! Quit staring at the customer!"

The man, presumably his uncle just laughed, his voice echoing from behind the counter, "I'm sorry Zuko, but I am just surprised is all."

"Surprised at what? I didn't do anything!" Zuko whispered as he continued to wipe the front counters, trying to keep quiet as to not let you hear.

"Well I didn't think you'd bring a Lady friend–" his uncle laughed and glanced over him, an embarrassed expression on his face, Zuko held his breath like a child.

I watched the interaction unfold, before bringing my attention back to the window. The shop was fairly quiet this time of day, I wonder why that is?

My train of thought was broken, when suddenly the man walked right up my table with a warm smile on his face.

"uncle!–"

"Hello dear, I hope you're enjoying your food?" The man asked, his hands kept in a poised manner as he looked at me. "Oh, yes! It was delicious."

He nodded at my response, turning his head back briefly before shifting his attention back to the conversation, "Forgive me if I'm rude.. but I saw you entering with my nephew.."

"–Could you be his girlfriend by any chance?"

I was taken aback by the bluntness his uncle had, straight to the point I see. I choked back my cup of tea, as I looked at him in a panic

"Oh! Oh– Geez no, its not like that!" I replied, setting my cup down as I waved my arms in defence. For a split second I could've sworn I saw his smile falter for a moment.

"We're just.. We're partners– project partners." He nodded, following my movements carefully. "Do you mind?" The man asked, gesturing the seat in front of me.

I shook my head, grabbing my cup as the man took a seat. "I see.. then forgive me for speculating, it's just that my nephew doesn't usually bring friends here"

Friends? Are we friends? Thats debatable.

The man continued his sentence, "I'm just really excited to finally see him break out of his shell!" He exclaimed.

He continued to fawn over Zuko, and boy how much did this man love him. His face was filled with so much excitement and endearment towards his nephew.

I was beginning to wonder if this man really was blood related to Zuko. The huge contrast between him and his uncle was Drastic, to say the least.

"..I'm so glad Zuko has a friend like you, you seem like such a nice person!" His face looks at me for a moment, "I never got your name young miss..?"

"Oh, its Y/N.. and thank you Sir–" my voice cuts off as the man interjects, "Please, call me Iroh."

I nodded, "Iroh.. your nephew has been... something of an experience" I replied, trying to find a better word to explain Zuko, but it was not an easy task.

Iroh belly laughed, his voice echoing in the quaint little cafe. "Oh, believe me, I know. Ive dealt with him a lot back home."

I could only chuckle in response, "–But I am truly grateful you gave my nephew a chance." His eyes glanced downward at the cup of tea on the table.

"People are like tea leaves. Some seem bitter and cold at first.." his voice trails off, turning his head slightly at the counter behind him, the sight of his nephew came into view.

"But when you take the time to steep them, you discover their true warmth and sweetness." Iroh's face darted immediately back at me, with a warm smile he spoke one more.

"Thank you for giving him a chance Y/N." His tone was clear and sincere, he truly loves his nephew. And it was kinda sweet to see how much he would talk about him.

The sudden door chimes shook me out of my thoughts as I glanced over the open door, a few teenagers entered, their loud chatter engulfing the once quiet shop.

And much to Zuko's surprise, Iroh didn't immediately rush towards the guests. Earning a groan from the boy, as he begrudgingly dragged his body along, walking towards the group of girls.

"Shouldn't you help him?" A hint of enjoyment seeing the whole interaction unfold. Iroh chuckled slightly as he replied, "Don't worry, he can handle it."

We both watched in silence at the table across from us, the sight of Zuko obviously being overwhelmed by the amount of questions they had asked.

"What's your best tea– or better yet, what's your favorite?"

"Whats your name cutie?"

"Do you come with the menu, cause you're a treat."

The last one wasn't even about the cafe, I dont know why, but hearing that irked me. Maybe it was because I felt sort of bad watching him get massacred by their questions.

I guess my face was too easy to read, seeing as Iroh had been staring at me the whole time I had been thinking.

"Penny for your thoughts, Y/N?" Iroh's voice startled me as I snapped back into reality. A sheepish grin on face as I try to come up with an excuse.

"Just thinking.. about school" his eyes studied my expression, "I see.." Iroh belly laughed once more before continuing. "For a moment there, I thought you were thinking about my nephew."_

A nervous chuckle left my mouth as, I dart my eyes across the room, "Why would you think that.." I tried to keep cool, but the trembling in my voice made it hard to do so.

"Ease up, I was only teasing."

A light gasp escaped my lips, I let out a sigh of relief I didn't even know I was holding. Iroh began to speak once more.

"Perhaps I should go ahead and help him.." standing up as he said those words. I watched him walk towards Zuko, patting him on the shoulder to signal he would take care of it.

I watch his posture relax, as he walks away with a weirdly strong grip on his apron. Looking down on the table, I realize the empty tea set still on the desk.

Deciding it was probably best to take your leave. The bountiful amounts of homework you still had were waiting for you back home.

You gathered up your stuff, walking towards the counter, reaching out of your purse to pay.

"You're leaving?" Zuko's voice startles you as you glance up to see him staring behind the counter.

"–Oh. Yeah, I still have a lot of things to do." I replied, handing him the amount as well as the coupon I had. Your fingers linger a bit, the way your hands sort of felt warmth in the places he touched.

"–Your uncle makes pretty good tea.."

"Yeah.."

Awkward silence fills the air, as he rings up your order. "Thanks." I replied, turning around as I slowly made my way out the door.

The door chimes rang as I opened it slowly, feeling the soft gentle breeze hit my face as I walked out.

"–Wait!" Zuko yelled out from behind, turning around as you saw him run towards you. Stopping in my tracks as I looked at him confused.

His breath hitched as he caught up to you, "Take.. this." Zuko replied, his voice a bit airy from the running. His hand raised out for me to take.

Another coupon.

"What's this for?"

"Uncle told me to give this to you, he says he'd love for you to stop by once in a while.. whatever that means." The last few words were incoherent, my eyes blinked in confusion but decided not to press further.

"Oh, Thank you!" I replied, a big smile on my face as I accepted his offer, taking the coupon off his hands.

"Yeah, you're welcome.." Zuko replied, folding his hands profusely and I could've sworn I saw him smile.

Waving goodbye to the boy, as I went on my way. I looked at the coupon in my hand, and I felt a small smile crept up my lips.

Ok i lowkey dk what I wrote here cause I felt like I jst blacked out while writing. I have a couple of ideas planned, more abt zuko but it might be a while for me to updatee

A/N: not proofread lmk if there are any spelling mistakes, I wrote this sleep deprived.