#<- his debut short for those curious

[trees-to-meet-you]

Happy Father’s Day to Poor Papa himself, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

[mrsfancyferrari]

Our Doggie

Summary: 4 moments of you, the proud mom and Lando Norris, the protective dad of Chase Norris, the dog.

Song: Miguel - Sure Thing

Part 1 Author’s note: Happy birthday to my favourite boy! Please like, reblog and share this! <3

Word count: 5.8k

MASTERLIST - F1

The sun hung high over the bustling Formula 1 paddock, casting a warm glow against the vibrant team banners fluttering in the light breeze.

The aroma of fresh coffee and fuel mixed in the air, tickling your senses as you navigated through the crowd, Chase nestled contentedly in your arms.

Lando walked closely beside you, his signature grin plastered on his face, a look of particular joy you loved to see.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked, glancing down at Chase, who was blissfully oblivious to the world around him, his tiny paws resting lightly against your chest.

“Absolutely!” you replied, adjusting the fluffy cream-colored fur of your little dog. “I mean, if the internet exploded over how cute he is, I can't wait to show him off in person again,”

Lando chuckled, his laughter filling your heart with warmth. “I still can’t believe how many fans have taken an interest in Chase. I mean, he’s adorable, but it’s not like he’s driving a car,”

You shared an amused glance. “True, but I think we both know he steals the show everywhere we take him. With those big eyes? He’s irresistible.”

As you made your way towards the McLaren hospitality area, the familiar sight of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc caught your eye.

To your surprise, both drivers were squatting beside their own dogs—Lewis with Roscoe, a distinguished-looking bulldog, and Charles with Leo, a spirited miniature longhaired dachshund. It was a rare sight to catch them both not in race mode, but at play.

“Hey, you two!” you called out, waving your free hand. “Look who we've brought along!”

“Oh wow, it’s Chase!” Lewis exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he stood up with Roscoe. The bulldog ambled over with a curious snort, eyes fixated on Chase.

“Is that our little Instagram star?” Charles teased, his accent thick with amusement as he crouched down, already reaching out towards Chase. “I’ve seen more of him than myself lately.”

“Guilty as charged!” you laughed, beaming with pride. “And this little guy is ready for his paddock debut for real.”

Lando stretched out his arm and playfully nudged you. “But first,” he leaned in conspiratorially, “let's see if these two dogs can keep up with the fastest little dog in the paddock.”

You raised an eyebrow at Lando. “Fastest? You realize he’s like, what? Two pounds?”

“Let’s not underestimate Chase. He’s a champion at heart!” Lando shot back, petting Chase’s head lovingly. “Right, buddy?”

Before you could respond, Leo dashed forward, tail wagging enthusiastically, and nudged Chase’s paw.

Chase blinked up at the Dachshund, seemingly unsure at first but then quickly warming up to the new canine friend. You felt a smile spread across your face; this would be fun.

“Looks like they’re already sizing each other up,” you said to Lando, who watched proudly.

Lewis rose, laughing. “I think all we need now is a proper doggy playdate. What do you say for a few minutes?”

“Absolutely,” you affirmed. “This could be a whole new Instagram series for me.”

The three of you found a patch of soft grass a short walk from the bustling hospitality area. The sun-kissed spot gave the dogs plenty of space to romp while the energy of the paddock buzzed pleasantly in the background.

As the dogs began to play—Chase scampering after Leo, who darted with boundless energy and charm—you leaned into Lando, who slung an arm around your shoulders. “You know, I didn’t expect today to turn out like this. It’s kind of nice, isn’t it?” he murmured, his eyes glinting with affection.

“It really is,” you said softly, wanting to freeze this moment in time.

You looked over at the three furry friends, enjoying their newfound friendship, and you couldn’t help but laugh as Chase surprised everyone by catching up to Leo and tugging playfully at his tail.

“As long as they don’t dig up the paddock or cause chaos,” Lando added, chuckling.

“Who would have thought you’d become a dog dad this quickly?” you teased, nudging him with your elbow.

Lando feigned distress. “Me? It’s all your fault! My life used to involve fast cars and loud engines, and now it includes this little ball of fluff demanding cuddles.”

“Looks like you’ve traded one love for another,” you smiled, leaning in to steal a kiss.

The soft brush of his lips sent a tiny thrill through you that never seemed to fade no matter how many times you shared these moments.

You watched as Roscoe plopped down beside Chase, who was busy barking up a storm.

“Is Chase bringing out the playful side of Roscoe?” you quipped, noticing the bulldog’s effortless charm as he nudged the tiny dog with his nose.

Lewis approached with a proud grin. “I think he is. I’ve never seen Roscoe this active since… well, forever, to be honest. We might be onto something with these doggy meet-ups.”

Charles laughed, joining in their amusement. “Next season, we might need to think about forming a dog team!”

With the race weekend in full swing, you felt a sense of peace that was rarely achieved in the high-speed world that encapsulated your lives.

The dogs chased each other in wide arcs, occasionally stopping to check in with their humans, tails wagging wildly. It was a cookie-cutter version of bliss—a world away from fast cars and flashing cameras, grounded in pure, uncomplicated affection.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden hue across the paddock, you and Lando settled onto the grass, Chase nestled comfortably between you.

“Can you believe they’re all sleepier than we are?” Lando mused, watching the dog pile settle down in a heap of fur.

“I can’t. It’s like they burned off all their energy in five minutes,” you laughed.

A thought crossed your mind, and you turned to Lando, feeling slightly more serious. “What if we brought Chase to more races with us? He could be a mascot of sorts.”

“I love that idea!” Lando grinned back at you, his eyes sparkling. “I can already see the team merch: Chase-themed caps or something. It’s perfect.”

As laughter filled the air around you, you realized that amidst the chaotic world of Formula 1, filled with roaring engines and high stakes, it was these quiet moments, shared with Lando and Chase, that truly defined your happiness.

You rested your head against his shoulder, knowing deep down that no matter where this journey took you, together, you’d always find the joy in life—the little moments that felt like magic.

★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★

You sink back into the soft layers of your bed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp.

The world outside is alive with the gentle trill of crickets, but here, in your sanctuary, the only sounds are the steady heartbeat of Lando beside you and the slight rustle of sheets as he shifts to get more comfortable.

You take a moment to relish this perfect calm after the day’s chaos, the two of you finally alone together after putting Chase to bed in the living room.

You can’t help but look over at Lando, his messy hair fanning out on the pillow like a halo, his lips slightly parted in that relaxed way that makes your heart flutter.

He glances up at you, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief.

“So, what should we do now that we have time?” you tease, half sitting on top of him, enjoying the playful tension in the air.

He raises an eyebrow, a grin breaking across his face as he fights to suppress a chuckle.

“Hmm, choices, choices,” he says, pretending to ponder deeply. “Should we play a game? Or maybe I could serenade you with my terrible singing?”

His voice dips into a mock dramatic tone that sends a wave of laughter bubbling up your throat.

“Terrible singing sounds perfect,” you reply, grinning as you mockingly glare at him. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear your off-key renditions of popular songs?”

“Hey, at least I’m better than the last guy who tried,” he shoots back, pulling you closer to him. “But, fine. You might be the perfect audience for my next hit single then.”

As he leans in, you stroke your fingers through his hair, enjoying the moment. It’s easy to forget about everything else with him here.

The chaos of your day fades, leaving only the warmth of his body and the sparkle of his laughter.

You leaned down closer to brush your lips against his. The kiss tasted like sweetness and laughter—soft and familiar. Just as you were about to pull back, Lando deepened the kiss, his free hand finding its way to your waist.

You melted against him, feeling the electricity coursing through your entire body. “If we keep this up, you might end up forgetting your song.” you murmured against his lips, smiling playfully.

But just as you find a comfortable rhythm, the door creaks open slowly, and you turn your head just in time to see Chase, your little dog, making his grand re-entry.

His tiny body clambers up the stairs with determination, climbing onto the bed with gusto. His tail wags furiously as he reaches you, giving you both a salute of excitement and wanting attention.

Lando bursts out laughing, his beautiful joy filling the room.

“Look who decided to join! Chase! You’ve missed all the fun!” Lando exclaims, rolling onto his back and reaching out for the playful pup.

“Seriously? I thought we put him to bed!” you giggle, scratching Chase behind his ears as he wriggles happily between you and Lando.

“He’s a tiny troublemaker,” Lando laughs, showering the little dog with love as he lifts him into the air. “Just like his human.”

You roll your eyes playfully. “I’m not a troublemaker!” you retort dramatically.

Chase, ever the attention-seeker, wiggles in Lando’s hands, finally settling on your lap, looking up at you with big, innocent eyes. You can’t help but melt.

“Okay, but really, what are we going to do?” you ask again, this time scratching behind the little dog’s ears while seeking Lando’s gaze.

“How about this: let’s have a little movie night right here?” Lando suggests, nodding towards the television tucked in the corner of the room. “But we’ll need snacks, and I have a secret stash of popcorn hidden under the bed.”

You raise an eyebrow, feigning skepticism. “A secret stash? Why wouldn’t you share this with me sooner?”

“It’s a special treasure reserved for awesome moments,” Lando says with a wink, and you can’t resist the charming way he always manages to make the mundane feel special.

“Alright, you win. Movie night it is!” you chirp. “But you better make that popcorn perfect, or…”

“Or what? I’ll have to serenade you?” he interjects with wink, causing a giggle to erupt from you both.

“You’d better run and get it, then!” you tease as you flail your arms dramatically, punctuating your point.

You watch as Lando slides off the bed, throwing on a T-shirt, not even bothering to get fully dressed before darting to the kitchen.

While he’s gone, you indulge Chase with a few more scratches and gentle rubs, finding solace in the way the small dog relaxes into your touch.

You love this moment, the cozy intimacy, and the way it feels like your little family is all together in this sanctuary of warmth.

Lando returns with a bowl of popcorn, grinning ear to ear like he’s just won the championship. “Tada! The prize for best boyfriend,” he announces, dramatically presenting the bowl to you.

“Now that is a worthy prize!” you laugh, taking a handful while he settles next to you, pulling both you and Chase into his arms.

You press play on the remote, the screen illuminating the dim room with the warm colors of the movie. As the opening credits roll, you lean back against Lando, enjoying his presence.

Chase shifts between you two, finding a cozy spot against your legs.

For a moment, the world outside feels far away, and it’s just the three of you. The movie is just background noise as you sink into each other’s company, laughing together, whispering jokes, and stealing kisses in between popcorn munching.

“This is perfect,” you whisper after a particularly funny scene, and Lando turns to look at you, his expression softening.

“It really is. Just us, our little family,” he replies, his voice low as he brushes a stray hair behind your ear. He shifts slightly, bringing you even closer, his warmth wrapping around you like a cozy blanket.

“And somehow, with Chase here, it’s even better,” you add playfully, watching as Chase squirms to get more comfortable.

“True,” Lando agrees, laughing softly. “He’s the best addition we could’ve asked for.”

The night passes in a blur of laughter, cuddles, and shared popcorn, making memories that cling to you like the warmth of Lando's embrace.

As the credits roll on the final movie, you find yourself feeling grateful for this moment, for the peaceful rhythm of his heartbeat next to yours, and the constant presence of Chase, who has curled up in a contented ball at your feet.

“Can we do this again tomorrow?” you ask playfully.

“Absolutely,” Lando says with a smile, kissing your forehead before stretching luxuriously. “Every day if that’s what you want.”

With that, you settle deeper into his embrace, feeling the warmth of love wrap around you, content in the knowledge that these quiet nights are the foundation of a happiness you hope will last a lifetime.

★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★

You quietly opened the front door, careful not to make a sound that might wake your boyfriend, Lando, or your dog, Chase.

The remnants of a night filled with laughter and dancing still tingled in your veins, igniting a rush of warmth as you stepped inside the dimly lit apartment.

Your senses were slightly dulled, having indulged a little too freely in celebratory shots and frosty cocktails, but the sight of your sanctuary—a place infused with memories of lazy afternoons and cozy movie nights—brought a smile to your slightly wobbly lips.

You tiptoed through the narrow hall, the familiar scent of sandalwood and vanilla wafting through the air, welcoming you home. As you reached the bedroom door, you pushed it open ever so gently and peeked inside.

A warm glow from the bedside lamp illuminated the room just enough for you to catch the tender scene: Lando, with his tousled hair sprawled across the pillow, and Chase, curled up against him, both seemingly serene and lost in a peaceful slumber.

You couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle at the endearing sight.

Lando had always been a snuggly sleeper, and when paired with Chase—who had an affinity for cuddling—it was a charming combination that made your heart swell with affection.

You took a moment to soak in the warmth of the image before deciding to give yourself a refreshing moment, slipping out of your party attire and into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Once the steamy spray enveloped you, you let the impulses of the night wash away. The coolness of the bathroom contrasted with the warmth of the shower, and as the hot water cascaded over you, it washed away the heaviness of the night.

You hummed softly to yourself, chasing away the fleeting thoughts of wild dance moves and flirty conversations, focusing instead on the love waiting for you out there.

After a few minutes, you emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a soft towel, the cool air of the bedroom brushing against your damp skin.

You glanced toward the bed and saw Chase stirring. He stretched slightly before lifting his head, his white fur glistening in the low light.

It was moments like these that made you realise just how precious this little family was to you.

And then, without warning, Chase unfurled himself from his cozy position and sprang from Lando's grip like a spring on a watch, bounding toward you with all the enthusiasm and sincerity only a dog could possess.

"Chase! Hey buddy!" you exclaimed, instinctively kneeling down and opening your arms wide.

He galloped into your embrace, nuzzling his nose against you as you laughed softly, your heart swelling with affection.

“I missed you!” you told him, scratching behind his ears, his tail wagging furiously. The rush of love you felt was intoxicating, and for a moment, all thoughts of your night out melted away into nothingness.

As you reveled in the sweet reunion with Chase, Lando stirred, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The moment he caught sight of you kneeling on the floor with Chase beside you, a sleepy grin broke out on his face.

“Looks like someone was waiting for you,” he mumbled, his voice low and gravelly from sleep.

You smiled up at him, a little bashful. “I was just trying to sneak in and not wake you two,” you replied, feeling a subtle warmth creep over your cheeks. “But I guess Chase had other plans!”

“Yeah, he always does,” Lando chuckled, stretching and propping himself up on one elbow. “You’re home later than I expected. Did you have a good time?”

“Yeah, it was great! Just some dancing and drinks with the gang. But honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about you guys. I was so excited to come home.” You paused, your heart racing a little as you spoke the words.

Deep inside, you knew there was something incredibly comforting about being home—not just in the apartment, but in the company of Lando and Chase.

Lando’s expression softened, and he sat up fully, running a hand through his messy hair. “I’m glad. I was worried you might not come back for a while,” he teased, winking playfully. “I wasn’t sure how long I could have kept Chase entertained!”

You giggled, rising to your feet, both Chase and Lando now fully awake and alert.

“I can’t believe how snuggly you both look together. I wish I had a camera—cute overload!” Your heart fluttered at the idea that even in sleep, your little family brought so much joy.

“Speaking of,” Lando began, scooting over on the bed and gesturing for you to join him. “Come sit with us.”

You quickly hopped onto the bed, crawling between the sheets and cuddling up against Lando's warm side, with Chase settling in at your feet.

Lando wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. “You smell like fun,” he said, a teasing smile gracing his lips.

“Is that a compliment?” you retorted, nudging his shoulder playfully.

“Absolutely. Fun looks good on you.” Lando leaned down and pressed a soft kiss atop your head, sending a ripple of warmth through you.

“But I have to admit, I’m glad you’re home. It’s always better when we’re together.”

You nestled against him, resting your head on his chest as you felt the beat of his heart. “I feel the same way. It’s like I float through the night, but my anchor is always back here with you and Chase.”

Chase, perhaps sensing the tender moment between you, looked up with his big brown eyes and tilted his head, as though he were in on the secret.

You couldn’t resist giving him a scratch behind the ears, which only elicited a contented sigh from him.

"Aren't you the cutest little anchor?" you whispered playfully.

“That you are, buddy,” Lando said, reaching down to ruffle Chase’s fur. The dog responded with a delighted huff, wriggling his body in appreciation.

The three of you were a perfect triangle of comfort, an unwavering circle of love in a bustling world. Evenings like this were rare and precious—moments you cherished.

“So, what did you get up to today?” you asked, breaking the comfortable silence. Your voice was curious, genuine interest lighting up your eyes that always captivated him.

Lando chuckled, turning to face you. “Oh, you know, the usual—work, a hundred walks and taking Chase to pee outside. I think he might be getting it.”

Chase, as if on cue, laid his head on Lando’s knee, letting out a sigh of contentment.

“Well, at least someone is satisfied with my work today,” Lando said, scritching Chase behind the ears, causing the dog to squint in pleasure.

“You’ve always had that effect on him,” you said, placing your hand over Lando’s for a brief moment, a simple gesture that spoke louder than words.

“I think he might like me more than you,” Lando teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “Oh really? Is that so? Right in front of me, too? Chase!” You turned to the dog dramatically. “How could you betray your own best friend like this?”

Chase merely wagged his tail, blissfully unaware of the banter as if to say, “Sorry, not sorry,” before burying his face deeper into Lando’s lap.

Lando laughed. “I guess I just have the magic touch. It must be all those treats I give him.”

“Magic touch or bribes? You’re not fooling anyone, Lando.” You shook your head, unable to keep a straight face.

After a moment, the mood shifted a little. “We should go to sleep now, we’re meeting my parents tomorrow, remember?” you said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

It was getting late, and the thought of the impending family gathering made your stomach flutter with nerves.

Lando nodded, but there was a hint of hesitation in his voice. “I know. I just... I want everything to go well. What if they don’t like me?”

“They’ll love you,” you assured him, rubbing your thumb along the back of his hand soothingly. “Just be yourself. You know how to charm a crowd, especially with your goofy jokes.”

“Right, my jokes,” he said, chuckling and shaking his head. “I think I’ll save the ‘dad jokes’ for later. Maybe I should just stick to polite conversation.”

A soft laugh escaped you. “Polite conversation could go far, or it could bore them to tears. They’re going to want to see the real you—silly, charming, and maybe a little awkward.”

“Awkward? Me? Never.” Lando feigned shock, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. “I’m the epitome of cool.”

“Sure you are.” You smiled knowingly. “But I promise you, they will appreciate your quirks more than you think. They just want to get to know the guy their daughter is dating.”

Lando sat up a little straighter, his posture shifting into something more serious. “But what if they have questions? What if they think I’m not good enough for you?”

“Lando, stop worrying.” You leaned in closer, taking both of his hands in yours. “They’re not expecting anyone perfect, just someone who makes me happy. And spoiler alert: you do.”

He smiled, the tension crumbling between you like a sandcastle washed away by the tide. “Thank you. I guess I just want to make a good impression on them. You mean a lot to me.”

“And you mean a lot to me,” you replied softly. “The sooner you realize that, the easier this will be.”

With a deep breath, he nodded, clearly trying to shake off his nerves. “Okay then. What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Breakfast at the diner down the road, then to their house for coffee. We’ll take it easy,” you said, pulling your legs up onto Lando's to move closer, snuggling deeper against him.

“Sounds good—unless they try to feed us the mystery casserole,” Lando joked. “Then we might have a problem.”

You laughed. “I can’t promise they’ll have their best dish on that day, but I’ll bring backup snacks, just in case.”

“As long as you’re by my side, I can handle anything.” He leaned closer, his forehead resting against yours.

The warmth of his breath mingled with yours, a shared moment that felt like a promise to tackle whatever came your way.

Chase stirred slightly and stretched, yawning wide as if sensing the change in atmosphere before settling back into a comfortable position.

“I think he approves of the plan,” you whispered, glancing down at the sleepy dog, who seemed perfectly content in his little world.

Lando smiled, squeezing your hands gently. “I’m ready, then. Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be great.”

“Definitely,” you said, feeling the drowsiness creeping in. Both of you started to settle in as the soft evening light faded into nighttime.

As you both surrendered to sleep, you felt grateful for this little family you had created together, intertwined through laughter, love, and even the occasional awkward moment.

Tomorrow would come with its challenges, but with Lando by your side, you knew it would all be worthwhile. . . .

★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★

You stood in the kitchen, a whirlwind of activity, as the smell of vanilla cake filled the air.

The clock ticked loudly in the background, each tick a reminder of the approaching moment when you would yell, “Surprise!” at your boyfriend Lando. Today's special occasion wasn't just any day; it was his birthday, a day you had been secretly planning for weeks.

You glanced towards the living room where you had set up decorations—streamers trailing down from the ceiling, colorful balloons bobbing in a corner, and a plethora of gifts waiting to be opened.

Family, friends, and their dogs had all pitched in. You couldn't wait to see Lando's face when he walked through the door; the surprise was your gift to him.

Chase, your fluffy golden retriever, sat obediently at your feet, his big brown eyes reflecting your excitement.

Normally, Chase was skittish around crowds, but you had coaxed him into staying close to you tonight.

“Just a little longer, buddy,” you whispered, reaching down to scratch behind his ears. “You’ll love seeing Daddy happy.”

The door swung open, and in walked Lando, his casual charm lighting up the room. You felt your heart flutter as you quickly gestured for everyone to hide.

The guests stilled their chatter, and you barely contained your excitement.

“Lando! You’re home!” you shouted, breaking the silence as he stepped inside, catching him off-guard. His brows furrowed in confusion before slowly transforming into realization.

“What is all this?” Lando’s voice was a mix of surprise and delight as his eyes roamed over the decorations, resting finally on the cake adorned with candles burning bright.

“Happy birthday, Lando!” you and the rest of the guests cheered, stepping out of your hiding spots with wide smiles.

Lando's face lit up brighter than the candles on the cake. “Wow, you did all this for me?” he asked, his voice warm. You could see the corners of his mouth twitch with disbelief.

“Of course! You didn’t think I’d let your birthday slip by without a party, did you?” you teased, walking over to him. He wrapped his arms around you in a tight embrace, lifting you slightly off the ground.

“You’re incredible,” he murmured into your hair, warmth radiating from his chest. You could almost forget the anxiety that had plagued you in the days leading up to this; seeing him smile made it all worth it.

After he greeted everyone, the cake was brought out, and the group gathered around him to sing “Happy Birthday.” You led the cacophony with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Lando chuckled, his face a perfect blend of bashfulness and joy as he blew out the candles, the wish dancing on his lips as he stole a fast glance at you.

As the cake was sliced and laughter filled the air, Chase had managed to find a cozy spot on your lap, grateful for the peace among the noise.

In fact, he looked slightly puzzled by the whole gathering of unfamiliar spirits surrounding him, opting to bury his head against you as if it might provide an invisibility cloak.

“Isn’t he the cutest?” a friend commented, pointing at Chase who had planted himself firmly into your lap.

You stroked his soft fur, providing him with reassuring pets. “I think he’s scared of us,” they added.

“He’s just a bit shy,” you replied, glancing down at Chase, who only lifted his head slightly with a soft whimper. “But he’ll warm up soon.”

Just as you were talking, Chase began to wriggle around unexpectedly, clearly seeking something—or someone. You could feel his eagerness in the way he shifted, nudging you.

“What is it, buddy?” you asked, slowly allowing him to move from your lap.

As if freed from a loose leash, Chase bounded towards Lando, catching him off-guard. His tail wagged with enthusiasm, sending a nearby glass teetering toward the edge of the table.

Lando’s face broke into a joyful grin at the sight of his dog coming alive, and it made your heart swell.

“Hey, Chase! You’re finally here!” he said, kneeling down as Chase found his place in Lando's arms.

The transformation from the scared pup to the ecstatic dog was instantaneous, and you couldn’t help but smile as Chase began licking Lando’s face animatedly, as if to say, “Happy birthday, Dad!”

“This is the best birthday gift,” Lando laughed, glancing back at you with his eyes sparkling with love. “Thanks for bringing here! Look at him! He’s so happy!”

You watched as Chase’s little tongue continued to bathe Lando’s face with affectionate licks, trying to express his own birthday wish. “Better than any present I could give you,” you said softly, crossing your arms while leaning back against the counter.

“You’re right about that,” Lando replied, grinning despite the slobber.

“And you know you’re the best present I could ever ask for.” His gaze lingered on you, the warmth of his affection palpable in the room.

As the evening wore on, laughter and chatter filled the house, enveloping everyone in a cocoon of joy.

You walked back to find more snacks for your guests, the melodies of chatter and occasional barks from Chase as he played tug-of-war in the background creating a cheerful, lively atmosphere.

When you returned with a tray of snacks, Lando spotted you and called, “You know, I keep expecting another surprise—like you revealing a hidden talent or something.”

“Oh, please! Not all of us are as talented as you,” you laughed, rolling your eyes dramatically. “What would I even showcase?”

“Juggling? Singing? Interpretive dance?” he teased, showing his cheeky side as he approached, Chase still at his heels.

“You’re lucky I love you,” you said, leaning into him playfully.

As the night continued with games and heartfelt conversations, you couldn’t shake off the feeling of pure bliss. In the moment, with Chase happily rolling around at Lando’s feet while laughter floated through the room, the pressures of life faded into the background.

Here, surrounded by friends and love, everything felt perfect.

As you nestled up next to Lando later that evening, sharing your warm spot on the couch with Chase snuggled between you both, you realized that just like the candles on the cake, these moments were to be cherished—light against the darkness, warmth against the cold.

“Happy birthday, Lando,” you whispered, leaning closer.

“Happy birthday, indeed,” he replied, his smile contagious.

All could be perfect birthdays that lead to unforgettable memories, yet this one would stay forever etched in your heart—a night of laughter, love, and your little family: you, Lando, and Chase. . .

★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★ ★・・・・・・★

[barbwritesstuff]

Hello there, I'm so excited for Of Monsters and Mainframes!

I used to write novels and short stories but have been almost entirely focusing on games for about the last 10 years... and now I'm kind of curious about trying out linear writing again. Do you have any recommendations for novel-writing craft books or other resources? And what's it been like swapping between the two ways of writing?

And I'm really happy to see how Thicker Than is going!

I have been on the hunt for a good nuts-and-bolts creative writing craft book. I pulled apart a bookshelf at a poor lady's bookshop last weekend trying to find one. The problem I'm having is almost all creative writing books are aimed towards people who are just getting started, and while that's amazing, it's not very helpful for me.

I started writing when I was 9ish and have had a long and messy journey as a writer since. I was that teenager writing self insert fantasies. I wrote escapist fanfic while struggling through university. I entered short fiction contests and never quite placed. I sold a short film script I wrote for one dollar. I tried to write popular fiction when everyone said self publishing was the way to go and discovered that was 100% not for me.

In 2018 I wrote my debut novel which I've since pulled and in 2020 I started writing my debut interactive novel which was my first real success.

My writing career isn't one of those 'young creative gets catapulted to success' stories. I sucked for a very long time. I floundered. I fucked up.

But I'm a persistent wee bitch, and I think that counts for a lot in this industry. You just gotta keep trying, keep getting better, and keep picking yourself up.

Now I'm in a place where I've had some (I think) successful stories. Blood Moon. Thicker Than. Of Monsters and Mainframes. My short fiction. I'm hoping to keep that momentum going, to keep that ball rolling, and I'm looking for craft books for people like me and I'm not finding very much.

So, I think what I need to do is make friends with writers who are in similar situations I am.

So... hi.

Wanna be friends?

I know I talk about cannibalism a lot, but I'm actually a really normal and nice person.

Oh, and, to answer your question: 'What's it been like swapping between the two ways of writing?' It's weird. There's the nuts and bolts stuff. I write my interactive stories in second person present tense and the current story I'm writing is in first person past tense. But there's also a different energy to a linear story I can't really explain. Neither better nor worse, just different. That said, my interactive fiction has 100% informed my linear style and my linear style has also informed my interactive style. They bleed together a lot more than you might expect.

I hope that helps.

💙

[forthegothicheroine]

@batmanisagatewaydrug set up a fun Book Bingo for 2025, and want to try and do it!

This planned list of books for me to read is extremely subject to change, especially since I always get a lot of books as holiday presents, but here's the plan as of this moment.

Literary Fiction: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. My mother got me a bunch of Steinbeck for my birthday, since I liked Cannery Row, so let's see if I can do now what I couldn't in high school!

Short Story Collection: The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. Another author I don't know super well but who has written at least some things I like.

A Sequel: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck. Like I said, my mom got me a bunch of Steinbeck and I like Cannery Row, so I'll try the sequel.

Childhood Favorite: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. I read and loved three quarters of this as a kid- but I had to stop before what I knew would be the grim finish, where Twain's depression took hold. It's time I see it through.

20th Century Speculative Fiction: Anno Dracula by Kim Newman. I've come around on Newman, so I should finally try his Bad End Dracula AU.

Fantasy: Fool by Christopher Moore. I keep seeing this when I shelve things at the library and thinking 'I should get that out sometime' so let's make it sometime!

Published before 1950: Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel. I loved the children's book Bea Wolf, and it gave me the urge I needed to find a good translation of the original.

Independent Publisher: Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng. Gothic? Fairies? Dark historical fiction? Amazing cover? Sounds great.

Graphic Novel: Be Very Afraid of Kanako Inuki by Kanako Inuki. Another great cover that's already making me very afraid!

Animal on the Cover: Earthlings by Sayaka Murata. I loved Convenience Store Woman and this has a cute hedgehog on the cover, and that's all I need to know.

Set in a Country You Have Never Visited: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. One of the books that's been on my tbr for the longest time, and I loved both film adaptations.

Science Fiction: Finna by Nino Cipri. I'm always down to read about genre-shifting trips through alternate dimensions.

2025 Debut Author: You are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego. I have a weakness for riffs on And Then There Were None, plus this seems like the kind of book my library will order.

Memoir: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I started this at someone's house and never finished it, so now is the time.

Read and Make a Zine: Archive.org has a bunch of issues of a Twin Peaks fanzine called Wrapped in Plastic, which I'm looking forward to browsing through! I hope it will give me ideas for what to create!

Essay Collection: The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang. Not much to say about this except that it sounds really fascinating.

2024 Award Winner: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. This won the Alex Award (for adult books with good YA crossover appeal) and I've been curious about it since I worked at a bookstore and put in the order.

Nonfiction: The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History by Edward Brooke-Hitching. I would indeed like to learn about those books! Because I missed the "learn something new" part, I will read The Feud: the Hatfields & McCoys by Dean King.

Social Justice & Activism: Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement by Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. This has been recommended to me as a good starting point to learn about transformative and restorative justice, something I would like to understand better.

Romance Novel: Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt. Duke of Desire was great, so I'm eager for some more of that!

Read and Make a Recipe: I'm hoping to find something good from the Moosewood Cookbook, I need to learn more good vegetarian meals.

Horror: Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne. More gothics, and as always, I'm late to a book everyone else always loves!

Published in the Aughts: Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood. Another book I always see on the shelves and always mean to get out next time when I'm not in the middle of something!

Historical Fiction: The Keep by F. Paul Wilson. Historical horror (with Jewish characters) is one of my favorite genres.

Bookseller or Librarian Recommendation: Poison Widows: A True Story of Witchcraft, Arsenic, and Murder by George Cooper. This was on the library website of recommended Philadelphia-set books, so I'll happily give it a try.

[queenjunothegreat]

Aaaaand I'm back for Day Two! Today I got to write for REYNA which is very exciting because I've never written for her! I've actually been REALLY nervous about writing for her, in her upcoming HoJ debut, so I'm kinda glad I was able to break the ice with this silly, unimportant little fic that got WAY longer than it was supposed to be lmao. Also! Fun fact! This fic's working title was "*Jason Voice* Hey There Demons. It's Me Ya Boy." Just so you all know.

Without delay, may I present day two: Comfort Zones and Ice Cream Cones

Reyna watched the exchange with arched eyebrows until she heard quiet snickering at her side. She turned to see Piper standing there, her mouth curled up in a devious smirk and her eyes shining with delighted mischief. “You did that on purpose,” Reyna accused. Piper was completely unrepentant. “Obviously. Leo’s gonna be swooning like a Victorian lady about this for weeks. He owes me big time.” Reyna snorted out a half-aborted laugh before she could stop herself and Piper grinned at her. She stuck out her hand in an offer to shake. “Piper McLean.” She took the hand. “Reyna.” “Just Reyna?” “I mean no offense, but I doubt you'd be able to pronounce it. I've made Jason swear to never attempt it in my presence ever again.” Piper giggled and Reyna stifled the urge to puff out her chest like a peacock. “Just Reyna then,” Piper agreed. *** Reyna is introduced to Jason's friends, and perhaps bites off a little more than she can chew. Ao3 Anniversary Collection Day 2: Angel/Demonverse

To say that angels and demons were diametrically opposed and inherently incompatible was, in all honesty, narrow-minded and short-sighted. To claim that one group was superior to the other was even moreso. There were, of course, people who subscribed to that line of thinking – Octavian, for example, came to mind without much effort – but Reyna liked to think herself above those kinds of prejudices. She knew that they all served the same goal of balance in the mortal world. Truly, angels and demons were one in the same, two sides of a coin: Order and chaos. She knew this to be true, and would stand by those truths to her dying breath. 

But there was a reason the two groups preferred to keep to themselves. Reyna liked structure, as did most every angel she knew. She liked organization and discipline and rules. She liked knowing what was expected of her and how she was expected to do it without having to overcomplicate everything. Similarly, most demons found themselves chafing under those same rules and hierarchy. There were, of course, exceptions to the rule – Annabeth was so resolute in her routines and rituals that she was sometimes mistaken for an angel – but in general the two groups rarely meshed well.

Jason Grace was an exception to this rule.

He himself preferred to work under the same rules as Reyna, but she had never met an angel who delighted in the chaos of demons half as much as he did. For the first thousand years she’d known him, that wasn’t the case. In fact, he’d been closer to Octavian’s ideology than anything else. Then, he met a pair of demons, and his whole demeanor shifted. He was still her best friend, and she his, but there was more to him now. He smiled easier, laughed louder, and there was a sparkle in his eye that had never been present before. He’d wanted to introduce her to the pair of them, but she’d heard quite enough of his stories about them to know that she wasn’t interested.

But even immortals have their limits and after two and a half centuries of watching Jason fraternize from the sidelines, she finally gave in. She was, admittedly, a little curious about anyone who could have such a profound impact on the angel she called brother. Still, she didn’t have to be happy about it.

“Where are they?” Renya demanded, narrowing her eyes at Jason. “We were scheduled to meet nearly half an hour ago.”

Jason shrugged, clearly unbothered by the delay. “They’re demons, Reyna. Punctuality kind of goes against their whole ‘harbinger of chaos’ thing.”

“And just how long are we meant to wait for them? This is inconsiderate on their part.”

“Patience is a virtue.”

“And not one I make an effort to employ.” Jason said nothing, he just raised his eyebrows, amusement written on his features. She cut her gaze away from him and crossed her arms. She could almost feel the way her wings wanted to puff up and flutter in outrage, but they couldn't. They were stuck in the human world, which meant she had to keep her wings folded up all neat and tight and out of the way, regardless of her discomfort. Another reason to dislike their outing. “Why do we have to meet here, of all places?”

“Demons can't get into Heaven, and I don't particularly enjoy visiting Hell,” he said easily. “Besides, humans are fun. Watch this.”

He pointed across the street, and as she watched a shiny silver coin materialized out of thin air on the sidewalk right in front of a toddler and his mother. The little boy gasped loud enough for Reyna to hear and pointed at it, shrieking, “Mommy, look! A coin! It's heads up just like you said!”

“Oooh, it is!” the mother agreed. “That means it's lucky. Go on and pick it up.”

Gleefully, the child did as he was told and carefully stashed the coin in the big front pocket of his overalls. Then he tugged on his mother's hand and they were walking down the street again, happily chatting back and forth. 

Huh. Reyna had never really spent all that much time among humans. She did her missions, of course, but she rarely dawdled once she was done. Were humans really so easy to please? Her gaze fell on another one, a haggard- looking young adult who trudged their way along like the weight of the world rested on their shoulders. She crooked her pointer finger in a ‘come here’ gesture, and she felt the sharp tingle of a Miracle zing down her arm. 

There was a crisp autumn breeze that carried with it a large dead leaf, and it curled around the human's legs for a moment before coming to a perfect stop right in front of them. They paused, staring at the leaf for a second, then glanced up and down the street as if go check if anyone was watching before crushing the leaf underfoot with a loud, satisfying crunch. Their whole face split open in a grin and they continued on their way, though they held themselves a little straighter now. 

Reyna’s lips quirked up at the corners and she could practically feel the shine in her eyes. Her gaze darted back to Jason who was looking at her with unmasked amusement and affection. She looked away again, cheeks going warm. “I concede your point,” she huffed. 

Fortunately, the demons arrived before Jason could speak. She heard them far before she saw them, the two of them racing down the street, laughing and shouting at one another. They were both remarkably short, but that didn't seem to matter much in terms of speed. Right before they made it to where Jason and Reyna were patiently waiting, one of them (Piper, if Reyna was remembering their names correctly, and she always remembered names correctly) tripped the other and Leo practically somersaulted to land on his face at Reyna’s feet. 

He quickly scrambled to sit up properly so he could glower up at Piper. “You suck. Like, so hard. I hate you.”

Piper tilted her head back and laughed And Reyna found herself almost startled at the sound. She didn't often allow herself to delve too much into fanciful comparisons, but she couldn't help but think about how much Piper’s laughter and the bright glint of her sharp teeth reminded her of the Heavenly Chorus and their gleaming golden harps. She desperately shaved the thought to the side and hoped she hadn't revealed too much of her daydream on her face. Fortunately, it seemed that everyone was too busy with Leo’s impromptu tumbling routine to pay her much mind. 

“Are you okay?” Jason asked with a gentle smile, crouching down at his side.

Immediately, Leo’s expression warmed from his earlier irritation at Piper and he gave Jason a wide, goofy grin. “Never better.”

Jasmi's eyes crinkled at the corners before he noticed a bright red scrape on Leo’s chin that was sluggishly bleeding. He frowned and cupped Leo’s jaw so he could rub his thumb across it. “You’very got something– Here, lemme just–”

Leo visibly shivered as Jason's divinity coursed through him, healing the minor wound. Then he just looked up at Jason with gooey affection. “Thanks, Superman.”

Reyna watched the exchange with arched eyebrows until she heard quiet snickering at her side. She turned to see Piper standing there, her mouth curled up in a devious smirk and her eyes shining with delighted mischief. “You did that on purpose,” Reyna accused.

Piper was completely unrepentant. “Obviously. Leo’s gonna be swooning like a Victorian lady about this for weeks. He owes me big time.” Reyna snorted out a half-aborted laugh before she could stop herself and Piper grinned at her. She stuck out her hand in an offer to shake. “Piper McLean.”

She took the hand. “Reyna.”

“Just Reyna?”

“I mean no offense, but I doubt you'd be able to pronounce it. I've made Jason swear to never attempt it in my presence ever again.”

Piper giggled and Reyna stifled the urge to puff out her chest like a peacock. “Just Reyna then,” Piper agreed. She cocked her head to the side and gave Reyna a curious look. “Jason talks about you a lot, you know.”

Reyna nodded. “Based on how often he talks about you, I had assumed.”

“How come it took you so long to agree to meet us? Leo’s practically been gagging for it since day one.” 

Reyna smirked and raised her eyebrows in challenge. “Do you mean to say you weren't?”

Piper flicked her eyes down and to the side, now looking a little self-conscious. “I… kind of assumed you didn’t want anything to do with us because of the whole demon thing. I didn’t say anything to Leo because I didn’t want to disappoint him, or whatever.”

Reyna felt guilt claw at her chest. Piper wasn’t entirely correct with her assumptions, but she wasn’t entirely wrong either. She’d refused Jason’s invitations to introduce her many, many times and it was largely due to her assumptions that she would find little satisfaction from communing with demons, despite Jason’s insistence that she would have a nice time. But she doubted Piper would really want to hear that, and there was another reason she’d refused. “I’m afraid that I don’t really get out much, and I even more rarely stray from Heaven.”

Piper nodded in understanding, but Reyna couldn’t help but wonder if she also understood the unspoken things, too. “I get that. Jason was the same way when we met him.” She gave Reyna an almost shy smile. “Do you… think you might be willing to tear yourself from upstairs a little more often? I could really use someone to talk to when Leo and Jason start third-wheeling me.”

Reyna’s heart thumped in the back of her throat and she felt her cheeks warm, but she continued to smile. “I think I would like that very much.” 

She glanced over to where Leo and Jason were still talking to one another, completely absorbed in their conversation. They were staring at one another while Leo chattered, flapping his hands around to emphasize his point while Jason just stared down at him in adoration. As she watched, she could see the faintest glimmer of Jason’s wings – unseen by any but the divine – arched high and encircling them in a little dome. Her eyebrows immediately shot up towards her hairline, and she resisted the urge to awkwardly clear her throat at the sight. My, my. How forward of you, Jason Grace.

Instead of embarrassing herself, she turned to Piper and offered her an arm. “Might I ask for your assistance in something? Something of a more personal nature.”

“Uh, sure,” Piper agreed, linking her arm with Reyna and allowing herself to be escorted away from the sordid display. 

“As I spend little time on Earth, there are a few things that I don’t have much experience in, and there is one in particular that I am interested in,” she lied. “I was wondering if you would guide me through the experience.”

“Yeah, sure,” Piper agreed eagerly. “What is it?”

“Ice cream.”

Piper’s eyes practically gleamed in delight. “Oh, absolutely. Come on, I’m gonna show you the best ice cream place in town.”

Now Reyna was the one allowing herself to be escorted, or rather dragged away. It was a bit unseemly, but she didn’t think she minded too much. No, she thought as she stared down at her and Piper’s interlocked hands, she was more than happy to see where this led. 

[mzannthropy]

It's not every day that an international star turns out to be approachable and easy-going. Instead, while I'm talking to Sam Claflin, I feel like I'm chatting with a friend with whom I can discuss any topic, even astrology. "But is my star sign, Cancer, really resentful? Just like my Edmond Dantès," says the English actor. Yes, because on January 13, a blockbuster version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" will be broadcast on Rai1, a story of the most famous revenge in literature, written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844. And Claflin is the protagonist. The miniseries directed by Danish director Bille August, two-time winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, is just the latest in a long series of adaptations. The first short film dates back to 1908, the first film was in 1922, and sound hadn't been invented yet! Since then, there have been 12 other films, five TV series, a stage musical and even a Japanese animated series. This new international TV version, produced by Palomar with Demd Productions, Rai Fiction, France Télévisions, Mediawan Rights and Entourage Ventures, promises to do justice to the over 1,200 pages of the novel. The beginning of the story? Dantès is a sailor who on his wedding day is unjustly accused of treason and thrown into prison. After 15 years, he escapes with one goal: to take revenge on those who framed him. Claflin knows a thing or two about adaptations: he made his debut in 2010 with the miniseries “The Pillars of the Earth,” based on the novel of the same name by Ken Follett, and in 2013 he became famous in the role of Finnick Odair in the “Hunger Games” films, based on the famous literary saga.

With such a “bookish” CV, who knows what a thrill it must be to play one of the most famous characters in literature. «Actually, I confess that I only knew the title of the novel, I didn’t know anything else. But I understood that it was a big deal when I told my friends: they were more excited than me».

But it's one of the most famous books ever! "I know, I know ( laughs ). But I have to make a confession: I'm not an avid reader and, as an actor, I prefer that my first approach to a role comes from the script, without having preconceptions or judgments about the work itself."

But did he read the novel? "Of course, and I understood why it's so long: readers of the time read it in installments in the newspaper. For them it was a bit like today's TV series. In those days, people didn't travel much, so a book like "The Count of Monte Cristo", which touches on so many different places, allowed ordinary people to explore the world with their imagination, from the comfort of their homes."

Have you seen any of the adaptations that have already been made? «During filming I watched “Monte Cristo”, the 2002 film with Jim Caviezel because I was curious to find out how they managed to concentrate so many events and characters in just two hours. It seemed impossible to me, we take almost eight!».

The production actually seems impressive: how long did the shooting last? «About six months, and we traveled a lot: we started in Paris, then we went to Turin, Rome and finally to Malta».

Had you been to Italy before? "I had already visited Rome, Florence and Amalfi in the past. Turin turned out to be a hidden gem, I fell in love with its architecture. Coming back to Rome is always magical: it is a unique city, an open-air museum. It is my favorite European capital. And then there is no other: Italian cuisine is too good!"

“The Count of Monte Cristo” is an international series, with English, French, Italian and other actors. Ask us a question: did Lino Guanciale and Michele Riondino teach you how to pronounce a few sentences in Italian? «Yes. I would have liked to show off my new linguistic knowledge, but I have a terrible memory: I’ve already forgotten everything!».

So we are still waiting for him in Italy to speak our language together. In the meantime, he confides in us what were the most tiring moments on the set? "Definitely the endless make-up and hair sessions when I was filming the scenes in prison, with a beard and very long hair. Imagine that to make the wig more realistic they had to apply almost every hair individually. We started at dawn!"

The hardest day? "When we shot the opening scene, with the ship in the middle of the storm. We had a machine to create the wind and another for the rain, and on top of that the ship was rocking: the noise was so loud that we couldn't hear the director's instructions! On top of that, we shot it in winter, so it was freezing."

Edmond Dantès is a master of disguises. Do you also have some “tricks” to avoid being noticed by people on the street? «The secret is my children ( Pip and Margot, 9 and 7 years old, had by his ex-wife, the actress Laura Haddock, ed. ). I don't know why, but when I walk around with them no one recognizes me. However, when I finish shooting a film or a series, I immediately change my hairstyle to distance myself from the character. If I haven't had a beard for many months, for example, the first thing I do is let it grow back. Maybe this also helps to muddy the waters a bit».

Would you prefer to be recognized more often? "Not a chance! In recent years I've worked with fellow actors who are so targeted by paparazzi that they need bodyguards 24 hours a day. A nightmare. I think the best thing to do to not attract attention is to behave normally: if you wear sunglasses indoors, people will notice you."

You play one of the most vengeful characters in history. Are you a resentful person or do you forgive? "I would like to belong to the second category, but the truth is that I bear resentment. I am willing to give a second chance to those who have wronged me, but if they continue to behave badly I don't want to know about it anymore."

Have you ever taken small revenge? "No, I try to avoid conflicts, I never fought even as a kid ( laughs ). And then I'm lazy: taking revenge requires too much time and patience. I prefer to hope that karma punishes those who make others suffer."

What did the character of Dantès teach you? "Every role I play allows me to discover something more about myself. Edmond Dantès certainly has admirable qualities because he is methodical, loyal and full of motivation. Of course, then he is blinded by revenge, so perhaps he taught me precisely this: to never lose sight of the things that are truly important."

Dantès moves to Paris. You too have moved to a metropolis: after high school you moved to London to study acting. "I grew up in a small town 150 kilometers from London, which has always had an incredible fascination for me. When I took the big step and moved there, I understood that it was my place. I have lived there ever since and I am happy."

Let's close with a movie question: a movie that changed your life? «“Notting Hill”, the amazing 1999 comedy directed by Roger Michell with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. It's a perfect movie and I watch it every time I feel down. I'm an incurable romantic, it helps me believe that there's the right person for me out there».

Translated by Google Chrome. I amended Margot's age from 6 to 7 as she's just had her birthday.

[kittenshift-17]

I want to know, if you don't mind and if you feel comfortable, your honest opinion, from the bottom of your heart, why you choose zutara over kataang. I'm really curious to know an adult's perspective about this ship.

Hi,

Thanks for asking this. Hopefully, it's with genuine curiosity and not a means to find things to argue with or attack me over.... anyway... I've been thinking about this a little bit, and the answer is two-fold.

The short answer is that I pick Zutara over Kataang because I don't like Aang very much, and I do like Zuko; I think the characterization of both just lends itself more to an appreciation of Zuko and his redemption arc over Aang's hero struggle.

The long answer is a summation of the following:

Aang's a child in the series, not yet even a teenager, and I think we can all agree that he often displays his lack of maturity throughout the series in several places. Now, this isn't necessarily a fair argument to bring to the table, given that he would undoubtedly mature as he grew (we assume) and did some growing up, even during the series. That said, his age - his being younger than Katara, is another reason I prefer Zutara, because most of the time - at least when I'm writing them - the gaang are either in their mid-late teens or early twenties, and I think at those ages, most girls don't want to date someone younger than them. Partially, it's social conditioning, but developmentally, boys tend to be two years behind girls in regard to maturity, etc., so it's a big factor.

We see throughout the series that Katara goes for guys that are... shall we say, more "manly" than Aang? Jet is a sexy schmooze with mixed-up ideals, but he's older than her and well-fit. Haru is buff as hell and kind of adorable (before the mustache makes its debut, anyway). In that regard, Zuko is much more Katara's 'type' than a scrawny, short, skinny bald kid with arrows tattooed all over him. Also, I mean, she seems to prefer men with great hair, and Aang just doesn't fit the bill.

Aang is the Avatar and, by merit of being so, needs to put his connection to the spirits world, his responsibility to the physical world, and his role as an avatar before everything else, including worldly attachments. We see this throughout the series, wherein his unwillingness to let go of his attachment to Katara inhibits his chakra pathways and blocks him from entering the avatar state. We also see him finally choosing his responsibility over his love for Katara, and while that's the right thing to do for the sake of the world, I just think Katara deserves more than that. It's the embodiment of the uptick in a preference for falling for the morally grey villain over the hero because the hero will sacrifice you for the good of the world, while the morally grey villain will let the world burn as long as you're safe.

Now, you could argue that the above isn't fair because Zuko has responsibilities, too, in that he needs to take on the role of Fire Lord, but I think there's more room for love/romance/attachment in that role than there is in Aang's role.

Zuko is so much more interesting than Aang; I don't know how else to put it. He's got the tragic back-story, the anger issues, the redemption arc, that morally-grey-what-can-I-say-grey's-my-favourite-colour vibe about him, and he's just so much cooler and more mature. Like, yes, he has his moments of childishness and temper tantrums - as does Katara - but he's matured far beyond what we witness of Aang and it makes him a more likable character. An example of what I mean is probably best illustrated in the Southern Raiders chapter. Aang tries to impose his own ideals and morality on Katara when she's burning for revenge, which, while he's trying to encourage her to do the right thing, doesn't really suggest that he's supportive of her feelings. I found him quite dismissive in that chapter with his insistence that she just forgave the man who killed her mother without any attempt at growth or chance for closure. Meanwhile, Zuko just grabs his gear and goes with her to make sure she'll be safe and to support her in whatever decision she chooses to make. Yes, it might've meant that he would be an accessory to murder, but at least he was supportive. Also, his reaction to learning Katara can blood-bend - an insanely frightening ability when you really stop and think about it - is alarmed but then accepting, and it's just so much more palatable than the lecture I imagine she'd get from Aang if he learned she'd used the ability for harm and revenge.

There's too much of a brother-sister vibe between Aang and Katara - at least when it's shown from Katara's perspective - and it wigs me out that the writers put them together in the end. Throughout the series, Katara treats Aang much the same way she treats Sokka, often mothering him as opposed to seeming romantically inclined towards him. Whereas with Zuko through the entire series, there's the ongoing thread of parallels between their characters and the underlying unresolved sexual tension between them - put there intentionally BY THE WRITERS, I might add. Like throughout the series, we were SUPPOSED to be shipping Zuko and Katara; the intention was to have them end up together. It's only the last-minute switch of writers and/or change of heart to fulfill the "hero gets the girl" trope that made Kataang canon, and I just think it's a disservice to the characters, the fans, and the series in general, to backflip like that at the last minute for a lame reason.

I could probably go on - and have before, in GCs and sometimes on Tumblr, about the many reasons they're just better suited to one another, but you're probably bored by now, so I'll stop here. Hopefully, the above gives you something to think about and a better understanding of the reasons so many ship the two of them. If nothing else, it's got me thinking about my Zutara fics and maybe even planning an update.

xx-Kitten

[makemeimmortalwithahug]

hello and happy new year!

I just discovered you seconds ago through the snippet for your F1 AU and fell in love with it immediately. had to check your blog. anyway saw the writer goal ask thing and I'm curious, so here it is:

👾 Do you have any "bad" writing habits you want to break?

💥Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

🪩 Do you have any "good" writing habits you want to cultivate?

have a nice day!

heya there!! Happy new year :D

omg this totally made my day, thank you so much!! And thanks for the ask as well c:

👾 Do you have any "bad" writing habits you want to break?

answered this one already, but short answer here as well: not doing anything to stop being distracted and too much time on tumblr c:

💥Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

Oh aren't there tons of those!

And since you specifically stumbled upon me through my F1 AU, I guess it's only fair to share a scene c: I won't share any snippets just yet though because what I've already written is pretty vague and rough, but I can tell you about it:

when Charles has his first race with Edwin in F1, he is under a lot of pressure to perform well. He is still just a reserve driver but he wants to become a proper one, but his past races haven't ended that well, either engine failures or careless mistakes or simply bad luck. When he gets a good qualifying position for the Grand Prix, he's over the moon but the pressure only builds. Meanwhile, Edwin is set on his goal to be the youngest driver to score points on debut in F1 history. The Grand Prix starts but Charles is not on the top of his game, sluggish movement, nervous energy buzzing. It's past the middle of the race, roughly 25 more laps to go with Charles in 6th position, Edwin in 5th. If Edwin plays his cards right and they don't mess up the pitstop, he might even get a podium finish - and wouldn't that be a dream come true? Until suddenly, everything goes wrong, Charles' car touches his, Charles spinning out of the race into the gravel pit while Edwin loses multiple positions. Charles is forced to retire while Edwin places 11th. No points. His debut dreams go up in flames. And they both know it's Charles' fault.

(I am SO excited to write this properly and especially the aftermath of that)

and because I literally am incapable of not yapping, I'll also share a few fun facts about another little fic I've been thinking about:

Charles is angry at the fact that Edwin never had a proper burial and decides to go on a quest with him to make Edwin a grave so that he can (emotionally) move on

they don't realise that "digging your own grave" as a ghost can connect you to the grave itself. It's so rare that even Edwin doesn't know about

Edwin disappears at the grave, nowhere to be seen anymore, cursed to stay there

when Charles runs out of ideas on how to rescue Edwin, he continues to come to the grave every day, sitting there and talking to Edwin as if he might respond

(I promise it'll have a happy ending <3 sort of <3)

🪩 Do you have any "good" writing habits you want to cultivate?

Being less distracted lol but that's too vague so I'm gonna say: write at least one sentence every day. One sentence can go a long way. And stay away from tumblr during writing time. Surely I can manage that (manifesting!)

have a great day!!

[saelterlude]

Don't mind me just compiling my favorite lc musical clips so I don't lose them. No particular order. pt.1 (pt.2, pt.3, pt.4, pt.5, pt.6, pt.7 here)

(Mostly fullcam fancam because I prefer those to focused fancams)

24/01/2024, Ji Xiaokun's birthday, very cute and wholesome, Guo Hongxu got very excited introducing him

5/12/2023, Shu Rongbo and Du Guangyi singing the sofa song together

15/01/2024, Ji Xiaokun tries hogging the sofa, Guo Hongxu and Cai Lu disagrees

29/12/2023, I mostly like this one bcs its zoomed out and you can see how the room spins but if you're curious, it's also the one where Shu Rongbo drags Wu Yihan to the couch

13/01/2024 noon, I found their first performance a bit stiff so it kinda catches me off-guard when on their 2nd perf Wang Yifei slaps Zhu Hanbin's ass

22/12/2023, short one of Wang Minhui hating on a bubble gun

21/11/2023, Xian Donyue yeets Shu Rongbo across the room

30/11/2023, Overthink and Dive Back in Time special performance by Fan Ka and 白鲨Jaws. Also, Teng Chunpeng being hyper

28/11/2023, Ding Xingchen being cute, also he shared some smol kicks and punches with Du Guangyi

28/11/2023, same performance as the above but extended and fullcam, DXC, DGY and Li Zexi shares some funny high-fives, also it's Qian Anqi's birthday.

15/11/2023, Cai Lu introducing the cast after "Qiao Ling Jie save mee" -Guo Hongxu, also Ji Xiaokun is being cute here

23/11/2023, Wang Minhui focused but offscreen, Cai Qi is really having fun singing Dive Back in Time

07/01/2024 noon, have I mentioned how much I love that Cai Qi and Wang Minhui now plays their rock paper scissors legit? They got genuinely frustrated over it and it's funny

21/01/2024 noon, Ji Xiaokun and Deng Xianling armwrestling. Also Deng Xianling struggles reaching the table bcs Ji Xiaokun's dramatic ass pushes the sofa

26/01/2024, Zhu Hanbin focused but I'm just happy I finally found a Jing Yanqiao clip

31/12/2023 night, was hesitant to include this one bcs Wu Yihan was having a hard time, but he did still great and that should be appreciated

17. 24/12/2023 noon, Shu Rongbo and Wu Yihan being cute with the plushies. Also Shu Rongbo accidentally stabbed himself with Xian Dongyue's headband

18. 22/01/2024, Guo Hongxu gotta forcefully remove Shu Rongbo's leg off his. Also Shu Rongbo's laugh when he won rock paper scissor pls he's so cute

19. 30/12/2023 noon, Du Guangyi looks so happy poisoning Shu Rongbo

20. 11/11/2023, the first ever. Wang Minhui and Cai Qi still did the tutting facing each other

21. 25/01/2024, have this one of Cao Muzhi looking very dazed and out of it at first for some reason. Also Zhu Hanbin gotta change the dialogue a bit bcs he unexpectedly won with rock instead of paper

22. 15/01/2024, Guo Hongxu flustered bcs of Ji Xiaokun with a professional camera

I will add more to this list as they come, probably semi-frequently. Especially since Cao Muzhi's birthday is tomorrow so I wanna search a clip of that, as well as one of Bai Zhuoming bcs how come I have none of him? And of Fu Xiangan as soon as he debuts.

Also thank you to @chocolatexiaoshi for helping me complete the schedules!

[over-rad-squad]

MORE JUMP! MORE MORE JUMP !

Where it all starts! (Chapter 0)

(Minori Hanasato x Haruka Kiritani)

—☘️—

The names Minori Hanasato... I'm a second year at Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy.

And my mom and I run a bakery since our apartment is on the second floor

And basically....I Love to meet an idol someday...

Hah...A Ordinary High School Girl

Who wants to meet an idol?

Nonsense What's the Worse that could happen—

—🎶—

"Minori Dear!, Time to get up you don't want to be late for school do you?"

Minori Got up from her bed with an exhausted groan as she looked at her time reading 6:20AM as she got off the bed

It's always something on a Daily Routine for Minori

Brush her teeth Get dressed,brush her hair...and get herself ready....

It's boring right for a school girl like her

Minori went downstairs to greet her mother

"Morning mom..."

"Morning dear the bakery will be busy today while you're away!"

"Are you going to be alright with the orders all by yourself mom?"

"Of course Dear I mean you helped me a lot!"

"Heh alright I'll come back and help you after school see ya mom!"

Minori left the house to go to Miyamasuzaka

—☘️—

I immediately Changed into my indoor shoes as I looked at my classmates

"Have you heard of the new girl she's an idol!"

An...idol?,is this a dream come true?!

OH MY GOSH IS IT REALLY REAL?!

"Yeah I heard she came from the bloodline of a demon"

A...demon but demons don't exist...?

But that's when we all heard the door open...

Revealing a short haired girl with bright blue hair

"This is Classroom 2-D?"

All of the girls including me all went silent and nodded but a girl spoke

"Are you Haruka Kiritani From MORE MORE JUMP?"

"Hehe I guess you could say that!"

All of the girls went around Haruka While I...stood there putting my bookbag down on my desk

As I sat down and looked away from the crowd of girls surrounding Haruka...

—🐧—

I noticed a Orange brown haired girl as I smiled politely to the girls

"Excuse me Everyone I need personal space!"

Those girls seem to know me since More More Jump's first Debut on public as I noticed that my desk is infront of her's as I placed my bookbag down and looked at the girl with a beautiful smile

"Hi there I'm—"

I was immediately cut off by her words

"Haruka Kiritani a Former idol of ASRUN and a member of the idol group MORE MORE JUMP?!"

I was surprised that she knew my old group as I smiled

"...yeah how did you know?"

"Well I watched your performances before MORE MORE JUMP debuted!"

"...you're a clever girl y'know maybe you want to hang out at lunch"

The girl started to blush and panicked

"W-WHAT ME HANGING OUT WITH AN IDOL?!"

I chuckled at her

"I forgot about names what's your name?"

"M-M-Minori Hanasato!"

Hanasato?...I heard that her mom's a baker and runs a business at her place...

"So are you...?"

"Am I what?...."

I shook it off and smiled at her

"Nevermind Minori!"

—☘️—

It was lunch time and I noticed Haruka on the rooftop

"Haruka!"

"Ah Minori you're here!"

"H-Haha!,Yeah Minori Hanasato in the flash!"

I immediately stayed quiet as me and Haruka enjoyed our lunch until I looked at Haruka

"Hey Haruka tell me About this Idol group you are in!"

I was always curious about her idol group but what if I asked her at the wrong timing AUGHHH I'M SUCH A MESS!!

"Well There's Rui and Akito who are both in Kamiyama but we always meet up after school what about your group I heard it's called Pegasus Exploration Team"

I immediately thought that I have a musical group as I look down

"I-I guess you and I have the same thing both of our members are from Kamiyama hehe!"

"But....what do you guys do after school"

I looked shocked as I shook my head

"We help my mom with the bakery then we'll go to Phoenix Wonderland to give out my mom's pastries to everyone!"

"So you work at a bakery?"

"Uh huh!,pretty neat huh?"

"...."

I looked at Haruka in confusion

"I know I might cross the line but...are you a demon?"

——🐧——

I immediately looked at Minori

"How did you—?!"

"The school knew about the rumors"

I looked down and got up

"H-Haruka I'm sorry I messed up didn't I?!"

I smile at Minori

"Just kidding I'm not a demon I fooled you!~♪"

"Hmph!,not fair!,it's the first time you pull a prank like that!"

We both laughed and spent our rest of our time at school together...

——☘️——

It was after school

Finally!

Free from homework at least I don't have after school work today—

"Minori!"

I turned around and saw Haruka

"Haruka what is it?"

"Is it okay if I could have your number and your friends as well?"

She wants my phone number along side Tsukasa and Toya!?

This feels like a dream come true!!

"Sure here I'll let you borrow my phone for a bit!"

I watched Haruka get our phone number exchanged

"Thank you Haruka I hope we can hang out together more often!"

Haruka Nodded as she walked away since she saw her group Members Akito and Rui and I decided to head to Kamiyama High School to wait for Toya and Tsukasa since Toya's in library Duty

Meeting Haruka was the best day ever...I wonder if I could tell Shiho And Kohane about it?...

[amischiefofmuses]

[Aya @ Stryfe] She normally stayed away from Manhattan island proper. It was too chaotic, too loud, too... much for her. But here she was, doing some last minute Christmas shopping. Walking along the edge of Central Park, she heard a commotion, people yelling. Curious, she approached - only to see a man in rather spiky silver armor and people running away.

Honestly Aya couldn't blame them. With how often super-powered evil villains, aliens, or other evil beings attacked New York City, a guy in armor that screamed evil villain would cause a commotion. But he didn't seem to actually be doing anything...

"Hello? Are you okay?" Her phone speaks for her as she approaches, shy, nervous, a little wary. But if he wasn't evil, maybe he was lost? Maybe she could help.

Random asks always welcomed || Accepting

Stryfe is a restless creature, used to the chaos of the fight, respite only ever granted for a short amount of time before the next plan went into action. Ever moving. Pushing forward. Certainly the Danger Room gave him somewhere to put SOME of that energy but he needed more, he needed out beyond the safety of the mansion, which had prompted his attempt to do this little patrol - hoping SOMETHING would happen for him to deal with. Woefully, he seemed to be the only figure of concern being addressed. People scattered as he walked or stared from a distance, some recording him as he went. Hm. Not ideal. He's aware of Aya's presence before she gets close, his gaze turning to her with some expectation of a fight - or perhaps the law, should this disturbance be considered an issue. So there's some surprise when instead he's faced with a petite pink-haired woman, clearly far too nervous for her to be pulling such a stunt, approaching him where no others would. Asking through her device if he was OKAY at that, as though he might need help. Ridiculous. -- ❝I feel as though there's been a misunderstanding.❞ He mutters sharply, not adjusted to speaking to those outside of the mansion, average people are a mystery to him and thus far his experience hasn't exactly been encouraging with their reactions to his presence. ❝I'm not in need of any assistance, I'm here to HELP you ungrateful whel-❞ There's barely-contained frustration there as he cuts himself off, his hands clasping tightly behind his back, this isn't meant to be his debut playing the hero. -- ❝… I'm patrolling, trying to ensure nothing… untoward is happening.❞ That's what heroes do, right?

[hollowsart]

The Shark (Karshon), an old GL villain who seems more suited to Aquaman, having a rewritten origin story.. an improvement upon the character.

Less "sharks are scary and evil" and more like.. focusing further on the whole pollution thing that is stated in his origin and debut comic.

Also.. why not play around with the species of shark he is?

if I had my way I'd go with my favorite shark, Goblin Shark.

I like to think of this new version of Karshon started off being encountered by and fighting off against the Green Lantern, but after some time of retreating back into the sea, he comes across Atlantis. He takes a form somewhere between human and shark to try his best to blend in with the aquatic humanoids, learning about them to see if they're a friend or foe to him. This leads into him becoming an enemy of Aquaman and ultimately becoming one of Aquaman's recurring villains within his rogues gallery.

Karshon is his real name from when he was a shark. That's the only thing he has from that time aside from his knowledge and memories. other sharks have names, too. After all, sharks can recognize familiar members of their kind.

He may not be a super genius intellect type, but he is capable of solving problems and puzzles quite well. He's quite adaptive and fast at learning, this adds to the level of a threat he poses. Although, he mostly just wants to be left alone.

As a Goblin Shark, he isn't necessarily the fastest at moving.. but his bite? Watch out for that! It can be nasty.

I think.. as a villain.. he's both curious and wanting to learn about this terrifying new world, indulge in the new expanse of potential food for him to eat without having to worry about not getting enough like he did back in the deep. He does have a strong distaste for pollution and the harm that the humans do to the ocean. After all, it's those radioactive polluted chemicals that found their way down to the depths where he swam and changed him.

He does not think himself as a higher being of evolution nor does he possess psychic powers like Gorilla Grodd, and he isn't like King Shark by being the powerful descendant of a god. He was just a normal shark swimming peacefully and leisurely in the sea when those chemicals rained down and engulfed him. Some may say he got the short end of the stick, but he's not a creature to be underestimated. He still puts up a good fight and knows enough of what he's doing.

Altered abilities:

Can change his appearance from human to shark and somewhere in-between at will. He figures this out sometime after his inception/evolution on max speed. This ability allows him to blend in both on land and in the sea. it also makes him a bit of a threat this way to those he deems a threat to himself and what he deems his territory.

Human level intellect. nothing really special here, but he does learn human speech (english) and even atlantean. it is when he is able to speak and communicate with other people that he reveals his name. He remembers his life as a shark and all he knew. he still has those instincts, but he lacks a full understanding on the human world. the world above the waves. (despite learning the language, he is a man of few words and likes his solitude)

Impressive strength and a terrifying bite, even in his humanoid forms. Regardless of the evolution, his body still retains some elements of his original shark form; rows of sharp teeth, electroreception, and heightened senses. Can likely also jut out his jaw like the Goblin Shark he original is. his heightened senses and electroreception makes him quite the foe when provoked. As well, due to his life originally as a shark, he is highly skilled at swimming and traversing any water.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

INSIDE OUT 2 slowly treks to possibly unseating Photoreal LION KING, now playing in Japan where the original made around $30-35m USD, while DESPICABLE ME 4 slowly climbs towards the big billion. If it does so, that makes it the first film in the franchise to do that since the third movie way back in 2017. MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU was close but no cigar two summers back.

Both movies continue to fill up the auditoriums at the cinema I work at...

However, a new movie on the block with a curious helping of *2D* animation in it... Is not... The Sony release HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, directed by Blue Sky alum Carlos Saldanha (ICE AGE 2, RIO 1 & 2, FERDINAND) in his live-action debut. I know some are having a lark at the weird Zachary Levi FX vehicle arriving a year after completion with no marketing, bombing hard, but I can't help but think... That just sucks.

And a big case of "what could've been?" Hollywood's been trying to adapt the Crockett Johnson-written book, first published in 1955, since the 1990s. Animated shorts and a TV series were made, but the movie just stalled and stalled, shuffling through different directors and iterations... And mediums. Sony Animation at one point, in conjunction with Amblin, was supposed to do a feature based on this... So now we got this movie, finished some time in early 2023 with an MPA rating and everything... Months before its initial release date (late July 2023), with no trailer in sight, it quietly packed its bags and left for this summer. I guess they were concerned that being wedged between BARBIE and MUTANT MAYHEM wasn't exactly the best idea...

So, it tried to arrive - unnoticed - nearly a month after DESPICABLE ME 4. Both DM4 and INSIDE OUT 2 charted higher at the weekend box office than CRAYON, which only took in $6m stateside. It's another "animation director goes live-action" endeavor that ended rather poorly. Andrew Stanton and JOHN CARTER OF MARS, Brenda Chapman and COME AWAY, even Brad Bird with TOMORROWLAND. Saldanha now has a picture called 100 DAYS lined up, an effort the Brazilian director is pursuing in his home country, so that's good for him.

It's also another largely live-action family/kids movie - not made by Disney - that didn't add up. They just become rarer and rarer by the year, it seems. I remember when those kinds of movies were everywhere. All your STUART LITTLEs and BABEs and LAST MIMZYs, off the top of my head. I think around the late aughts/early tens, they started to slowly go away, many of them just came up short most of the time. If they do exist, and aren't part of a movie franchise (like, say, WONKA and the SONIC movies), I feel they go to Netflix or whatever. There was IF this year, but that didn't make back its budget despite strong audience response/great WOM. So they still kinda exist?

Anyways, the summer belongs to emotions and gibbering tictacs on the family end of things... Though I saw quite a few parents taking their 4-7yos into DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, and hey, some of today's kids probably see and hear worse elsewhere lol. I recall being allowed, weirdly, to watch SOUTH PARK circa 1999 when I was in 2nd grade but certain levels of violence were off-limits. I don't think my folks would've taken me to see an R-rated Deadpool/X-Men movie in 1999, haha.

So that probably ends the summer seasons, animation box office-wise. I know the autumnal equinox technically begins two days after TRANSFORMERS ONE opens, but I peg the beginning of it there. Bring on the robots!

[fragaria-imagines]

I know that your an imagines blog and you responding to an oc was probably a one time thing but now I really wanna send in some info about my silly little guy… (I promise I’ll become a regular visitor of this blog once we learn more about the characters though!!)

So his name is Hamaru, and he serves for the Sanrio Lord Hanamaruobake (also known as marumaru)!! In case you don’t know who he is, he’s a little ghost that debuted this year in 2023!! He’s like this cute little ghost with poofy things on his head and a cherry front and center and he’s just the cutest 🫶🫶

But anyways!! Hamaru is very similar and very different from his lord, lacking any of the shyness his lord displays, but still having this air of mystery to him as he seems to disappear and reappear in random places without warning, usually scaring someone in the process… Hamaru is a very friendly guy, often times encouraging those who are also part of the red bouquet!!

Appearance wise, he has white fluffy short hair and what seems to be like two poofs that seem almost like Teddy Bear ears on top. He also has a cherry hair clip as a motif to the marumaru design <3 he has reddish pink eyes and wears glasses that have a dent designed to seem similar to a tear drop on the left lens. He wears a white cardigan with sleeves too long for his arms and light gray shorts, has a sort of pink ribbon tied around the right side of the band of his pants, and is barefoot with the exception of bandages tied around his feet!!

Some extra details are that he’s friends with Puruth, Merold, Cielomort, Klarkstella and Louterstella!! He’s also rumored to be a ghost, but nobody knows for sure if he is or isn’t. He is such a silly guy I love him 🫶🫶

Please do send me more about your little guy, I love learning more about people oc’s! I even made a tag specifically for OC’s and fanart, #🍒: chronicles

As for your oc, I absolutely adore him!! I love the fact that he’s Hanamaruobake knight, since marumaru has caught my attention since he first debuted!!

Hamaru seems to be such a fun and silly guy, he sounds so soft that it makes me want to hug him <333 and I’m very curious about the rumor about him being a ghost 👀👀

[celestiall0tus]

Since my favorite color is green, let's hear about the powers of the turtle (I'm really curious about the power it gives to an avatar)

Ah, the good ol Turtle of Protection. Let's dive into it, shall we?

As always, we start with the first, Nino Lahiffe from Miraculous AU as Carapace. His lesser power is the same as the show with shield generation, but his greater power is invincibility. Short, sweet, and simple.

Activation Phrases

Transformation: "Wayzz, Shell On"

Lesser Power: Shelter

Greater Power: Steadfast

Which now brings me to the other turtle, Bridgette Cheng as Aegis. As a holder, her only power would have been shield generation, however, she is an avatar, so she gets so much more. Before Avatar form is achieved, she can generate shields, is immune to all physical damage and ailments, can create her own fortifications, and is hyper evasive. With Avatar form, she unlocks the ability to counter any and all attacks whether they be magic or physical as well as generate her own decoys of herself or other people.

Activation Phrases

Transformation: None/Innate

Power: None/Innate

Gabriel Agreste takes up the turtle's shield in Paradise as Alexiares. And, after mulling over this a bit, Gabriel will have the turtle Shel-ter, but we're upping the power. The shields are able to protect against anything and keep the people and things they're guarding completely safe from whatever threat. The only thing capable of destroying his shields are the black cat's Cataclysm.

This includes (but is not limited to) an application where Alexiares is able to completely shield himself in a mobile, personal shield that would safeguard him from all enemies and powers except the black cat. It would essentially make him the perfect warrior that cannot be harmed or manipulated, until the black cat comes along.

Activation Phrases

Transformation: "Wayzz, Shell On"

Power: Steadfast

Socqueline makes her debut as the turtle heir in Court of Miracles. She is Midborn and her powers include:

Shield Generation

Fortification Generation

Chloe as Mariana in Siren's Song. And, to add to the song based powers, we'll make it so long as she sings, those she picks are safeguarded from all harm.

Activation Phrases

Transformation: "Wayzz, Shell On"

Power: Steadfast

Socqueline returns as Warden in All That Remained. Her power, rather simple, is shield generation.

Activation Phrases

Transformation: "Wayzz, Shell On"

Power: Shelter

[watcher-comic]

alright some fun facts [writing wise]

some of these won't be... fun facts, but they will give some info on nane :-)

1.) At the time of the comic, Nane is 16 years old and in their junior year of highschool! Unfortunate!

2.) Feel like I should've put this one first, but Nanehi's name is pronounced "Nah-neh-high". While their nickname is "Nah-Nay"

3.) His full name is Nanehi Toltecatl! In case you were curious about it. (Nanehi being Cherokee protector spirits, and Toltecatl being an Aztec surname for an artisan/creator)

4.) Nane is Irish, Mexican, and Shawnee! Hence the two little stars on his sweater (The Shawnee flag has those yellow stars on it)

---------

Alright, onto actual facts and writer's notes.

5.) Nanehi has hearing issues. He also has mild hallucinations, mostly auditory. He gets heavy ringing in his ears that is extremely disorienting.

This was based on something that had happened to me a bit before making the comic, actually! I usually get pretty heavy ringing in my ears, and in this specific instance I had to audibly tell it to stop until it did. Very odd.

6.) Nanehi wasn't originally supposed to know that the audience was...there.

(as seen here)

But, as per the results of a context-free poll, the unknowing audience wanted him to know that the audience was, well, an audience.

7.) Nanehi originally debuted as an askblog I very briefly ran in a private discord server!

During the course of this askblog, Nane wasn't aware of the audience all too much.

(as seen in this.. somewhat low quality discord screenshot) (as you can also see, i did not play into the fun camera angles idea)

During this askblog, Nane was about 14, so he was much more optimistic and relaxed about interaction.

8.) The comic was meant to feel short and somewhat choppy. We only get snippets of this person's life, particularly parts that would be seen as awkward or where it felt like eyes were on them. And obviously scenes where they want the audience's attention, but there aren't all too many of those.

Alongside that, cutting it short was supposed to be a representation of, well, his life being cut short. After all, he is only 16 years old - his life had barely even started.

9.) I did make it a goal to not reveal any names besides his own. I think I somewhat explained this, but the comic was never about anyone else - it was just about Nanehi. I had a brief idea of revealing only one other character's name, just to see what the audience would do with it, but decided not to because I didn't care all too much to explain the other people in his life.

10.) For one or two scenes I did actually go and ask people for responses! This was specifically noticeable in the first "what do you want" page.

11.) Nanehi is apart of a much larger Connected Universe called The Human Experience (might rename it, who knows).

This contains the characters Dakota Rivers and Noah Alguien! Nane might show up somewhere in one of those. Won't say which one though :-)

anyway! that's about it for now. Might add on as I think of more.

here's a doodle before I go ^_^